A... moment of... silence... please Spock...
We are gathered here today at this blog to mourn the passing of an Australian literary icon. Comes word from the science fiction newsletter Ansible of the passing of an all-time legend of the genre: an innovator who will be imitated for countless generations to come.
Some might remember Diane for her tireless work in organising Trek events in Australia. Her most memorable contribution to humanity, however, will remain the two-page epic short story A Fragment Out Of Time, published in issue #3 of the Grup fanzine in 1974. In amongst much coded prose could be found, for the first time ever, a description of a homosexual liaison between Captain James Tiberius Kirk of Earth and Dr Spock of Vulcan. This marked a turning point in the history of fanfic (which starts with the invention of paper - evidently fanfic was not suited to cuneiform), pushed along the history of feminist sf and kickstarted the slash fanfic phenomenon.
As we speak, tricorders are being switched off and jumpsuits worn at half mast in her honour. Diane, millions of Trekkies salute you.
Diane Marchant, Australian fan who in 1972 formed the Aussie Star Trek Welcommittee with Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and in 1974 published the first known `K/S' (slash) fan fiction, died from pancreatic cancer on 5 April.
Some might remember Diane for her tireless work in organising Trek events in Australia. Her most memorable contribution to humanity, however, will remain the two-page epic short story A Fragment Out Of Time, published in issue #3 of the Grup fanzine in 1974. In amongst much coded prose could be found, for the first time ever, a description of a homosexual liaison between Captain James Tiberius Kirk of Earth and Dr Spock of Vulcan. This marked a turning point in the history of fanfic (which starts with the invention of paper - evidently fanfic was not suited to cuneiform), pushed along the history of feminist sf and kickstarted the slash fanfic phenomenon.
As we speak, tricorders are being switched off and jumpsuits worn at half mast in her honour. Diane, millions of Trekkies salute you.
posted by Paul Montgomery | 11:50 am
10 Comments:
She will be missed. By perverts.
Chunk,
You are a jerk. Diana is loved and revered by literally thousands of her fans. Her stories weren't all about sex. They were about love, compassion, friendship, nobility, selflessness, devotion, humor, and the myriad of emotions that make up the human landscape. I suppose if you are another of those illiterate backward Neaderthals that have nothing better to do than rail against homosexuality there is no use in talking to you. So I won't.
To all fellow slashers (who are mostly female) I say bow your heads and say a silent prayer. God has a new angel and she can tell one helluva story :-)
Goddamn pervert.
Oh, they were about love, compassion & friendship. See, I thought they were about Kirk & Spock doing the wacky weasel dance. And Spock is pretty dreamy. But still, perverts.
And I'm a forward progressive Neanderthal.
Having spent many an idle hour in IRC with Chunk, I can vouch for his jerkitude... also that he really does not have anything better to do than rail against homosexuality.
I wonder what God would make of Diana's stories. I suppose if we're all God's children then technically we're all guilty of incest. He must be a dirty old bugger.
Really I'm just mad that no one reads my stories about Sappho & Hercules getting it on.
Here is a list of other major contributors to Star Trek fandom who have passed:
http://njpax.livejournal.com/6219.html?view=52555#t52555
It saddens me deeoly to hear of her passing, especially so long after it has occured. I've only just started getting into Trek fic and especially slash. I must say to Chunk that as a religious, heterosexual Jew, even I am not so intolerant and ignorant as to cause such problems on the boards. Especially not on the poor woman's obit. posting! Show some common courtesy at least!
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I can't believe she's gone. I have NOTHING against Slash fan fiction, in fact it's 99.9 to 100% of what I write, It's one of my biggest weaknesses, I'm always supporting a new pairing every opportunity I get. We'll miss you Diane :.(
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