Fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy
The virtual worlds and magical escapes offered by science fiction and fantasy books, shows, and movies draw legions of fans the world over. Here are some of the science fiction and fantasy franchises that have the biggest fan bases.
Star Trek
The ultimate image of a sci-fi fan is most likely a "Trekkie": somebody who dresses up like their favorite Star Trek characters, wearing Spock's ears or a Starfleet uniform. Though the Star Trek crew mostly has excellent vision (with the notable exception of Geordi LaForge on Next Generation) the Trekkie is almost always pictured with glasses.
In part because of this stereotype, most Trekkies prefer to be called Trekkers, making them sound more like intrepid explorers, who boldly go... well, you know. One of the most famous Trekkies (or Trekkers) was Barbara Adams, a juror in the Whitewater trial who wore her Starfleet uniform to court. She was dismissed from the proceedings, allegedly not for the uniform but for talking to a reporter about the case.
Harry Potter
"The boy who lived" lives on in the minds of fans, even after the cessation of J.K. Rowling's series of books and the Warner Brothers series of films. Harry Potter fandom takes many forms. There's this guy, who has an impressive Death Eater tattoo running the length of his arm. There is also this fellow, who claims to be the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world. Take one look at the Harry Potter memorabilia that clutters his room, listen to his tales of Harry Potter devotion, and you'll believe him.
Firefly
Fans of the cancelled Joss Whedon show Firefly call themselves Browncoats, after the rebellious, heroic faction in the universe of the show. Their online headquarters is at BrownCoats.com, where you can learn everything you've always wanted to know, and more, about the show's cast, crew, episode plots, artwork and costumes. You can also check out upcoming Browncoat conventions.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien is probably the most influential fantasist ever to put pen to paper. His Lord of the Rings novels, as well as The Hobbit, have inspired homages as diverse as the Dungeons & Dragons game series created by Gary Gygax and the Wheel of Time books written by Robert Jordan. And, of course, he has his share of fans. Two of the most popular Tolkien sites on the Web are Planet Tolkien, which is operated by fans in the UK, and TheOneRing.net, which has been "forged by and for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien."