Are You Bored, Dear Reader?

Tired of the exigencies of Real Life? Is your Alter-Ego having way more fun than you? And do you remember the simple joy of actually writing a letter, and receiving handwritten letters in the mail?

In that case, THE FABULIST CORRESPONDING SOCIETY is for you! Your Alter-Ego can correspond via Inter-Dimensional Post, in partnership with various established postal systems across the Earth, with the likes of Lady Felicity Johnstone-Flood, heiress of Cobalt Hall, currently travelling through Trans Fatua, Siberia, in search of The Lost Treasure of Amphoteratsu the Magnificent!

Here’s how The Game is played:

  • Rule No. 1. Real Life is strictly VERBOTTEN. Your actual personage, time and place are merely Corresponding Agents for your Alter-Ego. You may not use this game to sell things, proselytize or just plain make your point about anything happening in The Real World.

  • Rule No. 2. Pick an Alter Ego. Anyone, of any Era in the History of any planet EXCEPT 21st Century Earth. Given them a back-story. Who are they? What are they up to? Why are they having so much more fulfilling a life than you are at the moment? Why might other Adventurers, Homebodies and Potential Correspondents want to hear from them?

  • Rule No. 3. Alter-Egos correspond only with other Alter-Egos, through actual, preferably hand-written, letters sent through the post. We do have a Facebook group where established Corresponding Agents can coordinate with one another if needed. Corresponding Agents should share physical addresses (a P.O. Box is a good idea) privately, and I shouldn’t have to tell anyone that you should NEVER, EVER post your physical address online without an excellent reason. (And never give your physical address to anyone you don't feel comfortable sharing it with!

  • Rule No. 4. If you’d like to play along, contact me (Fara Shimbo, Corresponding Agent for Lady Felicity) at fabulistsoc (at) gmail (dot) com. Give me your Alter-Ego’s name and a short biography, and I’ll include them in the list of Potential Correspondents below.

  • Rule No. 5. No Alter-Ego is required to respond to any other Alter-Ego. If you find someone is just not a good fit for your character, oh well, that’s the way things go. Similarly, trying to beg/harass,/cajole/threaten anyone into responding to your Alter-Ego will get you expelled from the game at MY sole discretion. I’ve been a game moderator for the last 12 years now. I have a very short fuse where harassment is concerned.

FAQ:

How do I come up with a character?
There's no real way to do this, but here are some hints:
A good character has a Past. A secret, scandalous or otherwise; a family member who is rather a bit shady, eccentric or just plain weird; a quest; or perhaps a bizarre job. It'd help to find something around which you can build for later correspondence. Or, perhaps you could just be someone who loves receiving and writing letters!

Must past events discussed be actual historical events?
No, not necessarily, but if you want to put in the time and research, knock yourself out!

Can I only be one character?
No, you can be as many characters as you can keep straight (and buy stationary and stamps for!)

Can I correspond by email or other electronic means?
Corresponding Agents may get in touch with each other via our our Facebook page but characters/Alter-Egos must correspond by physical post.

Must I respond to anyone who writes to me?
No. Some people just aren't a match, and this is fine.

Must corresponence be "Safe For Work?"
In general, yes, because these are alter-egos corresponding, and one doesn't necessarily know the age or maturity of one's correspondent. If you find your life simply won't be complete without mention of "mature" themes, the two Corresponding Agents must agree on this beforehand. A "no" answer is final.

Are we meant to be serious? In science fiction fandom, there are those who are "sercon"--serious and constructive. For most of us, "sercon" is an insult of varying degrees. So, no, you absolutely DO NOT need to be sercon! Have fun! Make your letters worth looking forward to!

Sound good to you? Groovy! Let’s see who’s out there and willing to receive post.

If you’re interested in corresponding with any of the below, or have an Alter-Ego who is looking for a correspondent (or a few!) please email Yours Truly and the Inter-dimensional Postmistress General will pass on your request.

LADY FELICITY JOHNSTONE-FLOOD. Currently travelling in the Siberia/Mongolia region searching for The Lost Treasure of Amphoteratsu The Magnificent, following a map found behind an oubliette by her father, after she “let him out for an airing” one day. Travelling with her childhood partner-in-crime, Margaret "Maggie" Fink-Nottle, and a mysterious Mongol ambassador, and his grandmother! A notorious Blue-Stocking, Lady Fee welcomes post from all Persons of any age. Corresponding Agent: Fara Shimbo

SIR GEOFFREY FITZROY, A bit of a ne'er do well, a free spirit who wanders the four corners of the world looking for adventure, fame, and fortune. Being the younger brother of the Baron, Geoffrey has a touch of fame, but no real fortune. A bit of a fool, but he is a cheerful sort. He is the type who is always optimistic and finds wonder in all he encounters. Corresponding Agent: Katherine Lowell

AMYRANTHIA ELIZABETH GRYPHONSTONE, Ria to her friends, born during a horrible snowstorm, hair as black as a raven’s wing, eyes green like emeralds, skin free of any freckles, and her voice light and lilting like a melody. Strong willed, determined, will do anything to protect her family, on a journey to find a sister she has never met. Handfasted to a man she hardly knows who is journeying with her. Corresponding Agent: Angela Honnigford

MARGARITA SANGRIA BACARDI-PATRON says: "I am an orphan of 19 years recently employed by Lady Deidre Blowheart as her companion. I have neither family nor history, but many interesting versions of my birth relating to the language of flowers. Currently residing in the Mayfair section of London in 1900, I am the unlikely host of a time traveler from 1964! Corresponding Agent: Ellen Marie Hafner Meli

It would be easy to mistake SORAE DEDRA-PLTZPHSSS, (Miss Phsss as she is known to her friends) for a cat of great size. But while she is a capable 2-stones-weight of brain, muscle, and luxurient black fur with an elegant white ruff, Phsss is no pussycat. From tufted ears down to polydactyl paws, she's a traveling scholar. Corresponding Agent: Sarajane Helm

4096 0512 Hello! I'm ELAN SIKES, I’m an exobiologist currently working as a field scientist for the Guiard Pharmaceutical Corporation. I’m 37 years old, 1.8 m tall, 90 kg, with brown hair (receding), green eyes and have been on this project for the last 14 years. As impressive as the title “scientist” is, my more accurate job description is “sample collector”. I travel around in an old (refitted) trans-light spaceship, visiting various planets and moons that support abundant life, like Earth. I’m doing this because the company believes that an actual human can do a better job in discovering and sampling unique life forms that might be exploited for future food or medicine. I love my job, but time between planets, usually with no human population, is tedious. I discovered a way to transmit and receive messages through trans-light transition points, and my friends who were able to decode my strange “message in a bottle” are willing to act as my agent for possible correspondence with others desiring contact. I don’t consider myself an explorer or adventurer, but someone may enjoy the stories I have to tell, and I am certainly eager to hear from others! Corresponding Agent: Mark Merlino

MARJORRY DONATELLO, freshman at a Lunar college where The Future is in full swing. Needless to say, this was hardly The Future she was expecting! "On the spectrum" and not too terribly social, she's taking the required "Public Writing" course and would be happy to tell everyone about her adventures as an Earthling on a campus filled with aliens, robots, androids, dolphins and a dragon, as well as professors, other students, and the odd crazy person, and her own special interest, astrozoology. Corresponding Agent: Fara Shimbo You can read Jorry's blog here.