One hard-won rule about fandom: never, ever meet the wizard

I've been in fandom for over thirty years, and in that time, I've had only one hard-won rule about it: Never, ever meet the wizard.

Actors are always shorter than you think; writers don't always understand why their villains are your heroes; and the deep, meaningful conversations you've rehearsed in your head a thousand times tend not to go as planned. All too often, meeting the wizard is about learning to live with the awkward humanity of your heroes - and of yourself. Hanging out with your friends and writing fanfiction is usually a lot more fun.