canondivergent

Canondivergent, often written as canon-divergent, is a term used in fan fiction and related fanworks to describe narratives that depart from the official or established storyline at a defined point in the plot. In a canondivergent work the setting and many characters remain recognizable, but a point of divergence marks where the events diverge from canon, and the plot unfolds in an alternate direction from that moment onward. The degree of divergence can range from small alterations to sweeping changes that affect outcomes, relationships, and world-building.

Canondivergent is distinguished from canon-compliant or canon-consistent fiction, which stays faithful to canon, and from broad alternate universes (AU), which may reimagine the premise entirely but do not require a specific linkage to the original canon. Canondivergent stories often justify the divergence through in-universe explanations or speculative what-if framing, and they frequently examine the ripple effects on character motivations and plot trajectories.

In practice, writers and fans tag and categorize works as canondivergent to help readers find stories that challenge or reinterpret key events. The concept is commonly used on fan-fiction platforms and wikis, sometimes alongside tags such as point of divergence or alternate outcomes. Critics and fans note that the label can be subjective, as the exact point of divergence may vary in interpretation, and the line between canondivergent and AU can blur in some projects.

Canondivergent narrative strategies include exploring moral questions, power dynamics, and implications of different choices, offering a space for speculative storytelling within recognizable fictional worlds.