fancompendia

Fancompendia are collaborative reference works created by fans to gather, organize, and annotate information about a specific fictional universe, franchise, or cultural phenomenon. They aim to assemble material from official releases and widely accepted fan interpretations, providing cross-references, glossaries, and bibliographies.

Typically online, fancompendia are hosted as community-driven wikis or databases where volunteers add entries, edit existing content, and discuss edits on dedicated talk pages. Editors follow guidelines for sourcing, neutral tone, and consistency, and they distinguish canonical material from fan theories or noncanonical content.

Common components include character biographies, timelines, locations, factions, artifacts, abilities, media releases, and differences across adaptations. Many entries also host fan theories, crossovers, fan art, and essays analyzing themes, worldbuilding, and authorial intent.

Use cases include quick reference for new readers, lore tracking for long-running series, and gathering material for research or fan creation. While primarily a hobbyist endeavor, successful compendia can become central hubs for a franchise's fan community.

Challenges include maintaining accuracy and distinguishing canonical information from speculation, preventing vandalism, copyright considerations, and ensuring accessibility to newcomers while safeguarding spoilers.