Ficton
"Ficton" is another way to say 'verse — it refers to the characters and settings of a world, usually as it has been defined by a single author. The term was coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his novel The Number of the Beast as "a basic or indivisible unit of imagination". The term is used primarily among Speculative Fiction fans.
It is related to the film-school definition of narrative.
It is possible for two fictons to merge, usually through repeated Crossover.
Examples of Fictons include:
- Both The DCU and the Marvel Universe have many different universes, but only one ficton.
- Almost everything written by Stephen King can be connected somehow.
- As can most things written by Christopher Moore.
- Just about everything written by Larry Niven fits into his Known Space 'verse, somehow or other.