LexBrew
Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Mid-century: TV and science ·1940

Fanzine

fan magazine

Meaning
An amateur-published magazine written by and for fans of a subject.
Source words
fan + magazine
Coined by
Russ Chauvenet
Year
1940

Background

Coined in *Detours* #8 by sci-fi fan Russ Chauvenet to distinguish amateur zines from professional "prozines." The pattern later gave us "grrrlzine" and "ezine."

Mid-century: TV and science

Two engines dominated: television (sitcom, televangelist) and post-war big science (pulsar, transistor). Many mid-century coinages came from scientific style sheets and industry journals.

Two words, one coinage.

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