Robin of Sherwood Fandom and Slash Fanworks

The Robin of Sherwood fandom is unique in that the show's producer and writer, Kip Carpenter, specifically requested that fans avoid creating slash fanworks. 
This request, along with the close and integrated contact with Carpenter had with fans and the fandom, had complex and pervasive repercussions for this fandom regarding fan discussion and fanworks. In short, Robin of Sherwood slash fanworks are nearly non-existent, largely due to fans' desire to comply with Carpenter's request so that they could continue to enjoy what they considered the benefits of having an "official" in their midst.
While many fans were compliant to fall in line with Carpenter's stipulations about fanworks - considering it within his right as the showrunner to request this - others considered it (and the zines that upheld the policy) to be overly restrictive, if not outright homophobic.
Fandom history is full of similar instances in which The Powers That Be have intervened in an attempt to restrict or ban fanworks of their creation, with a lasting impact on fan behaviours. See for example J. Michael Straczynski's restrictions on fanworks, which drove the Babylon 5 fandom underground.
See also: Authors Who Discourage Fanfic About Their Work.
== Robin of Sherwood Fandom's Relationship to TPTB ==
=== Kip Carpenter's Letters to Letterzines ===
The show's creator, Richard "Kip" Carpenter was an occasional (though lengthy!) contributor to the letterzine Cousins, something that had to have to been on the minds of fans as they communicated with each other.
At least one letterzine reader backtracked on a previously stated opinion after learning Kip read and responded, writing, "I never thought that my flaky meanderings would be read by the Source Himself! I'm so embarrassed!" 
There was much mention of "what Kip requests" and that carried over to what kind of fanfic could be written - specifically slash, the big Robin of Sherwood no-no. More than one letter in Cousins mentioned that the universe of Robin of Sherwood belonged to its creator and that its fans needed to always keep that in mind; many, many letters discussed how to write the characters, in relation to its creator's desires. 
===Fans Sending Fanworks to TPTB===
Fans also sent Carpenter copies of the zines they had created. A 1990 comment from Carpenter: 
===Kip Carpenter's Presence at Cons===
Carpenter was sometimes a guest of honor at Robin of Sherwood cons. This was not that unusual, as actors, showrunners and creators were sometimes guests at cons for other fandoms. 
But as with all "official" presences, this had to have been a barrier to some fans' freedom to discuss fanworks with each other. 
Carpenter also stated his anti-slash requests at at least one 1991 con where he and Mark Ryan were guests. 
A fan wrote: "These characters were created by Kip and should remain within the bounds he created. True, he does not have ownership of the legendary characters, but as they are represented in RoS, yes he does. Generously, he has given his permission for us to play in his universe as long as we remain true to what he created (he told us this at Son of Herne's Con). Therefore, a writer must tread very carefully when attributing to a character abilities that were never manifested in the show." from Cousins #3 
Some other statements regarding fanwork content is what is quoted in the first issue of Forbidden Forest. This issue has a dedication to Kip Carpenter, "who told us at Son of Herne's Con: 'If you're going to do a dirty 'zine, don't mess about...do it all the way!'" "All the way" apparently didn't include m/m relationships.
==RoS Fandom and Slash==
RoS zine fiction is almost exclusively gen or non-explicit het as the creator of the show, Kip Carpenter, specifically requested people not slash the main characters. Most fans went along with this request.
===Same Sex for Minor Character's Got the Green Light===
 
From a submission request for Robin of Sherwood: The Early Years (1992): 
For similar "approval" by a PTB of relationships for minor characters in Star Wars, see The Executor Cycle.
===Kip Carpenter's Remarks in 1987===
From a Writers' Panel (with Terry Nation, and questions by fans, at Scorpio in August 1987):
===Examples of Slash Fanworks===
* In'sha'llah (1986) by Teleny (Robin/Nasir) appears in the first Robin of Sherwood anthology published, Wolfshead. Brotherly Love. Both were published in 1986 and are the first slash in the fandom.
* No Night So Dark by Elaine Leeke (Professionals/Robin of Sherwood) (1989)
* Cost of Redemption by Debra Hicks (Phillip Mark (the Lewis Collins character that appeared in the episode "The Sheriff of Nottingham"/Grey (Martin Shaw character; looks to be based on the very brief appearance he made as a "professional beggar" in the episode "The Cross of St. Ciricus", which, incidentally is a Gisburne episode, Adult Situations #4) (1990)
* The Shadow Twin by Linda Frankel (Robin of Loxley/Robert of Huntington) (early 1990s?)
* The Successor by Linda Frankel (Robert/Robin, No Holds Barred #1) (1992)
* Love's Gentle Bite by Cat Anestopoulo (Gisburne/Sheriff, No Holds Barred #1) (1992)
* The Yeoman of the Guard by Barbara Tennison (No Holds Barred #1) (1992)
* Private Lessons, Secret Places by Merlin (Robin/Scarlet, Adult Situations #5) (1992)
* Heron in the Mist by Jane of Australia ("For years Nasir was the property of the Sorcerer. Freedom came at the hands of the Hooded Man, but now the Baron Belleme is once more astir. Nasir feels himself called by the old Persian enchantment which bound him to Simon for so long.") (Full Circle #1) (1992)
* Jewel of Sherwood (1994) by Laurence Steele ("Captured by a ruthless enemy, Robin of Loxely is sold to a nomadic desert tribe as a slave. Given to a powerful Saladin in tribute, Robin begins training as a servant...a pleasure servant. When Robert of Huntington forms a rescue party, will he find Robin Hood alive? Or simply a man who is a treasured slave known as the Saladin's Jewel?")
* The Stolen Rowboat by Rutterkin ("Every day upon waking the Saracen Nasir searched through Sherwood Forest for places where his stolen rowboat might be concealed. Without his rowboat he'd be marooned forever in fog-ridden England and never again see the sunny shores of his beloved Arabia.") (Playfellows #6) (1994)
==Fan Comments==
Many comments in letterzines regarding slash were along the lines that slash was boring, disrespectful, stupid, and basically badly written soft porn. A few fans commented that it was a matter of reality in other fandoms, but thankfully not Robin of Sherwood. A few fans spoke up, saying it was fine for other people, just not themselves and that if you didn't like it, don't read it. see Herne's Stepchildren (November 1989-June 1992) for some of these comments 
===1989===
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===1996===
 
==References==
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