Glossary





Quick Legend Definition

Title: This is the distinguishing name of the fanfiction piece given by the author.

Length: TSCA's category system that measure's a fanfiction's wordcount to classify it for fast reference.

Wordcount: The exact number of words within the fanfiction, which does not include title, chapter names, or chapter closings such as "to be continued" or "the end".

Link(s): All known links to the fanfiction.

Pairing: TSCA's femslash coupling(s) system that denotes the two female couple(s) within the fanfiction.

Rating: A fanfiction denoted as "Adult" contains sexual content, violence, or a combination of the two. These fanfictions are typically meant for an audience who is eighteen or older.

Author: The individual who penned the fanfiction and is also the owner.

Material: TSCA's category system on the storyline's universe type to classify it for fast reference.

Italics: A record that is italicized denotes that the fanfiction is "in progress" or "incomplete".

* * LOST * *: A marking that denotes the fanfiction is no longer available on the internet and no known copy has been saved for availabilty. The only plausible source at this point is the author.

< < Archived > > : A marking which denotes a fanfiction that has been lost on the internet; however, it is saved to TSCA's archive. A copy is available through email request to the TSCA.



TSCA Category Systems

Length Category System
Each fanfiction is broken down into a length category, which is determined by the fanfiction's wordcount i.e. total words within the fanfiction. TSCA's length category system efficiently offers readers a fast reference point on the length of the story for ease of reading selection. Below is a simple chart that breaks down the eight length categories according to wordcount, which was influenced by Wikipedia's article: Length of a novel.

Length Category ||
Drabble ||
Flash Fiction ||
Short-Short ||
Short Story ||
Novelette ||
Novella ||
Novel ||
Epic ||
Wordcount Scale
Exactly 100
101 to 1,000
1,1001 to 2,500
2,501 to 7,500
7,501 to 20,000
20,001 to 50,000
50,001 to 100,000
100,001 and beyond


Material Category System
Each fanfiction is categorized by material i.e. the type of universe that the fanfiction uses as its setting, tone, drive, or other matters. TSCA's system provides a fast way for a reader to determine whether such material is of interest for them. Below are currently four material categories that have been defined and could possibly expand at a later date.
  1. Canon: A fanfiction that is "genuine" to the TSCC'verse from start to end. This includes characterization, television plot consideration, accurate facts, and other facets that reference to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

  2. AU: The abbreviation "AU" is short for "Alternate Universe". In this material, the fanfiction exploits canonical elements such as plot, setting, characterization, or facts and deliberately alters them to gently shift the canon universe or completely make a new universe. Often this material explores the "what-if" factor.

  3. Crossover: In this material, two or more canon universes will join either through characters, settings, or the entire universe to create a single fanfiction. Also crossover fanfictions are noted with the universe crossed into from the TSCC'verse. Example: From Inspector Boxer's No Rest for the Wicked the crossover is between TSCC and Firefly, which is marked as "Crossover: TSCC/Firefly".

  4. Uber: A term originated in the Xenaverse from the show "Xena Warrior Princess". These fanfictions are a distinct branch from AU in that the characters or events are portrayed closely to original canon but in a different time period, often featuring the ancestors, descendants or reincarnations of canon characters. Often, uber plots and characters are the last step from the fanfiction becoming an original piece.

Pairing System
Within the fanfictions, there will be at least one femslash coupling that makes the fanfiction valid for TSCA's archiving mission. From the coupling, at least one female character must either be canon or have canonical elements from the TSCC'verse for it to be archived. The other character is not required to be canon or contain canonical elements to satifisy the archiving requirements. Below is a breakdown of the most common pairings found in TSCA's pairing system that may also be expanded upon later.
  1. S/C (Sarah/Cameron): The most popular femslash pairing found in the TSCC'verse, which is Sarah Connor and Cameron Phillips. In the TSCC'verse this pairing is often fondly merged to "Camerah".

  2. J/R (Jesse/Riley): A possible emerging pairing that is between the Resistance soldier, Jesse Flores, and Riley Dawson.

  3. J/C (Jesse/Cameron): A rare pairing that has been seen between Jesse Flores and Cameron Phillips.

  4. S/Crossover, C/Crossover, etc (Sarah or Cameron/Crossover Character): In the case of a crossover, if a pairing consists of a canon TSCC'verse and a canon character from the other universe then the crossover character's name is spelled out. Example: From Inspector Boxer's No Rest for the Wicked the coupling is Sarah Connor (TSCC) and River Tam (Firefly) so in this case the pairing is marked as: S/River Tam.

  5. S/OC, C/OC, etc (Sarah or Cameron/Original Character): In some fanfictions, it is plausible for Sarah, Cameron, Jesse, etc to be coupled with an original character developed by the author. To be correctly marked, the record will place the canon character first followed by "OC" for original character.


  6. S/UC, C/US, etc (Sarah or Cameron/Uber Character): A rare pairing that may be found in an uber or uber'ish material where the canon Sarah, Cameron, Jesse, etc are coupled with an uber variant of a canon character. This pairing is marked by the canon character's first initial then the uber character being used will have a "U" ahead of their name. Example: In Red Hope's Lost in the Past, canon Cameron is paired with an uber version of Sarah Connor named Stagira Magni so the pairing is denoted as: C/US.


Confused yet? Well, it can take some getting use to but after a few glances and checks our markings become rather familiar. At TSCA we too get our data some times scrambled and continuelly refer back to this glossary for a refresher. TSCA also continues to update and adjust this glossary due to the TSCC'verse growth or for better accuracy. If you feel you're still left with questions then please contact us.