Slash fiction is a type of fan fiction that focuses on relationships, ranging from tame to explicit. It uses characters from books, movies, and TV shows and can be divergent from the source material. Some authors support it, while others object, especially to explicit fiction. Slash originated in the 1970s with homoerotic Star Trek novels. The term “slash” refers to the relationship between two characters, and canon refers to fiction that closely follows the original series. While some see it as harmless, others are uncomfortable with darker aspects such as underage sex.
Slash fiction is a genre of fan fiction that focuses on relationships, ranging from relatively tame stories in which characters hold hands and kiss to extremely explicit fiction that leaves little to the imagination. Like other forms of fan fiction, it uses characters and concepts from books, movies, and television shows, although it can be very divergent from the source material. Many fan fiction sites have separate areas for the bar, which is typically categorized so readers know what kind of material to expect.
Because slash fiction uses characters created by someone else, it is subject to the same legal issues that fan fiction faces. Some authors are very supportive of fan fiction, since they really enjoy seeing what other people do with their characters. Others, however, object to fan fiction and especially slash fiction, because they believe it corrupts their original intent or work. This is especially true with explicit fiction, which can include controversial topics such as non-consensual sexuality, BDSM, or underage sexuality.
The origins of this fiction date back at least to the 1970s, when Star Trek fans began writing erotic novels about characters from the television series. Much of this fiction was homoerotic in nature and often featured the pairing of Captain Kirk and Spock, usually abbreviated as Kirk/Spock. For quite some time, people have thought of slash as specifically homosexual, although heterosexual, lesbian, intersex, and polyamorous relationships also appear. Lesbian slash fiction is sometimes called “femmeslash.”
The “slash” in slash fiction refers to the slash used to identify a relationship between two characters, such as Ron/Hermione, in a popular so-called canon pairing that often appears in Harry Potter fan fiction. “Canon” refers to fiction that closely follows the facts established in the original series, while non-canon fiction introduces unlikely concepts, characters, or situations. Some authors try to stick to the canon, while others prefer to be more adventurous.
Many people think of slash fiction as a harmless diversion, although it can place beloved or familiar characters in shocking situations. Others are uncomfortable with some of the darker aspects of slash, especially the fiction that glorifies acts of questionable legality, such as underage sex. Some people call fiction with underage sex “chanslash,” in reference to “chan,” a Japanese diminutive. Some authors who advocate fan fiction draw a line on chanslash, because it conflicts with their personal morals.
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