About the zine
'zine' is short (in this case) for 'fanzine', a hard-copy, underground publication full of fanworks and even essays concerning a particular (or several) fandoms. zines were how fandom was run before the internet took firm hold.
these days, when fanfiction can be posted instantly on a fan's website, blog, or a number of archives, zines are mostly defunct. however, there is a certain degree of appeal in owning a hard copy volume of fanworks, a nostalgia for the old-school way of doing things.
and so, while the lotrips iron is still hot, a zine for the lotrips fandom has been created. Lotripping, the first of its kind - a zine containing nothing but lord of the rings real person slash stories.
Lotripping was conceptualised in November of 2003 and the recruiting of authors began the following month. although the original goal for publishing was May 2004, the task of writing, collating and editing such a volume proved to take longer than anticipated, and thus Lotripping ended up finally being available for purchase in August 2004.
there has been some controversy and discussion surrounding the circumstances of publishing this zine, but the editor maintains that Lotripping was made to create a 'slice' of fandom at a particular time and space, and is thus not at all objective, though it is intended to appeal to a relatively large body of fans.
Lotripping was not created as an anthology, or ultimate volume summing up the fandom's very broad life, and the editor strongly encourages other fans to engage in the experience of putting such a publication together themselves if they feel the urge to document their own corners of fandom.
