The Beginning of Bulgarian Fandom: A Perspective on the Construction of Cultural History

This article examines the ways in which the Bulgarian science fiction fan community, commonly referred to as fandom, constructs its own cultural history and, more specifically, its origins through oral and written narratives. The oral narratives analysed here derive from biographical and thematic interviews conducted with representatives of the first generation of science fiction fans in Bulgaria, who were either witnesses to or direct participants in the events described. The written narratives consist of publications in fan anthologies and periodicals devoted to the first science fiction clubs established during the 1960s and 1970s. The study focuses on the ideology articulated through these narratives, which serves as a foundation for the social representations shared by members of the community regarding their collective identity, as well as their common goals, norms, and values.