SFStory
Encyclopedia
SFStory was originally a creative fiction writing group on the now-defunct UMNEWS mailing list
service. After UMNEWS collapsed, the group was merged in 1991 with the more active Superguy
creative fiction writing group and mailing list, with which it shared many active writers.
SFStory is a parody
of the science fiction
genre, and is one of the first examples of a shared universe
on the Internet
. The first story was posted on January 19, 1987 by an unknown person, quickly attracting other contributing writers. Some of these writers went on to start Superguy, which soon surpassed SFStory in recognition and volume of output. SFStory has the additional distinction of having been active for over two decades, with new stories posted as recently as 2010. SFStory existed during the birth of the modern Internet culture, and along with Superguy helped illustrate the potential of the medium to mainstream users right when the Internet began to actually see mainstream use. It has survived much longer than similar Internet-based shared universe writing groups, diminishing in activity along with Superguy only when the webcomic
trend became widespread.
Mailing list
A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers is referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the...
service. After UMNEWS collapsed, the group was merged in 1991 with the more active Superguy
Superguy
Superguy was originally a creative fiction writing group on the now-defunct UMNEWS mailing list service. After UMNEWS collapsed, the mailing list became internet-based....
creative fiction writing group and mailing list, with which it shared many active writers.
SFStory is a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
genre, and is one of the first examples of a shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The first story was posted on January 19, 1987 by an unknown person, quickly attracting other contributing writers. Some of these writers went on to start Superguy, which soon surpassed SFStory in recognition and volume of output. SFStory has the additional distinction of having been active for over two decades, with new stories posted as recently as 2010. SFStory existed during the birth of the modern Internet culture, and along with Superguy helped illustrate the potential of the medium to mainstream users right when the Internet began to actually see mainstream use. It has survived much longer than similar Internet-based shared universe writing groups, diminishing in activity along with Superguy only when the webcomic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
trend became widespread.
Alumni
- Eric BurnsEric Burns (blogger)Eric Alfred Burns is an American critic, writer, poet, columnist and Role Playing Game developer who lived in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire...
of Websnark was one of the first and most prolific writers for SFStory, writing regularly from 1987 through 1993, with sporadic entries following.