Sam Maggs

I was really excited about this title since I've been a geek before I even knew the word, and was active in fandom before the word was even coined. It was the days when the Internet was becoming a thing, when we still had to use dial-up to sign into our AOL accounts ("You've Got Mail!"), and my parents got a second line just so they could get and make phone calls. But I tripped into a listserve called Star Wars Chicks and found my people, never looking back.

So, when I came across a book with show more the title "The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy," I needed it, my precious. Only, I think it needs to be emphasized that this book was not for me. I've been in fandom for nearly two decades, and active. I wrote the fanfiction, went to the cons, did some half-assed cosplays, spent late nights on messageboards, etc. And I watched fandom change and evolve. It's no longer the back corners of the internet, and the fans the people that are derided for walking the streets of Atlanta wearing full Stormtrooper get-up at Dragon*Con time. Instead, it's now mainstream. The Avengers broke box-office records. The new Star Trek movies were cool and awesome. People are finding Doctor Who and Sherlock on their Netflix queues.

So, welcome, new fans! Welcome, a new generation of fangirls and geekgirls. This book is for you.

Because, fandom is different and that's awesome. It's bigger, more public, and more inclusive. But at the same time, it saddens me that a large portion of this book features how to deal with gatekeepers, trolls, misogynistic dickweasels, and the like. These people crawled out of the depths of fandom to spew their hate because suddenly girls are invading their boys' club (though newsflash, we were always here!).

As a primer to fandom life, Sam Maggs' guide is pretty thorough. It covers both internet-space to meatspace, and acknowledges the power of finding kindred spirits in those spaces. She lists some media to explore (including some new to me, so yay!) for those who want more books, movies, anime, etc. She covers some feminist geek speak and language, because there is a huge overlap between feminist culture and geek culture for geekgirls. And lists some key websites to peruse, both for info and for geeky swag.

I did worry while reading that the book would get dated very quickly. I've seen fandom change so much (not to mention the internet) in just the past few years that I can see this book being out-of-date after only a year or two. I would love to see new updated editions of this coming out every few years.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley. show less

This is lovely -- warm, soft and cosy! It’s satisfyingly faithful to the novel -- I recognised a lot of lines of dialogue -- and it’s interesting to revisit the story in a way that isn’t always quite so tightly filtered through Cath’s perspective. The manga has a first-person narration, and the illustrations effectively convey, and focus on, Cath’s emotions. But you can see things, like the way Levi looks at her, even while Cath herself misinterprets his interest in her.

This volume show more is 2 of 4 and ends on a cliffhanger. Even though I knew how things unfold next, I wanted more -- and I wanted it now, not whenever volume 3 comes out! So I reread the novel (albeit mostly skipping over the part of the story covered in this volume). show less

One of Us!

(Full disclosure: I received a free book for review through Library Thing's Early Reviewer program.)

"A fangirl has no shame: she loves what she loves and she doesn't apologize for it, she doesn't restrain herself, she's not meek. Girls are often told to be quiet little ladies. A fangirl doesn't care about being quiet. She does exactly what she wants, courageously, to celebrate the things she loves." - Beth Revis

"You are a real geek if you feel it in your feels."

The Fangirl's Guide show more to the Galaxy is a love letter to all the geek girls out there: the cosplayers, the book nerds, the binge-watchers, the slash fic aficionados. Whether you're a Hunter or a Browncoat, a Ravenclaw or a Victor, Sam Maggs wants you to know that you're awesome, and you matter.

So. The The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy isn't quite what I was expecting, but in the best way possible. Whereas I thought it would be encyclopedic in nature, it's really more of a cunning pocket guide to the wide world of fandoms. Divided into four chapters (plus an intro and list of resources), Maggs offers tips and tricks for fangirling out in the real world; online; at conventions; and in yer feminism (best).

You'll find a wealth of advice: everything from cool events to check out IRL (zombie walks, pub trivia night, midnight screenings, book clubs) to safety tips for being a fangirl (or just plain girl) on the internets (think of everything shared online as a horcrux - part of you, set to roam the world for all of eternity), to how make the most of celeb encounters at cons (pro tip: signings will score you a few more minutes of face time than a photo op).

Maggs rounds out each chapter with interviews of several famous fangirls - I'm talking the likes of Beth Revis and Victoria Schwab (both of whom have books in my too-tall TBR pile) to Jane Espenson and Ashley Eckstein. My favorite soundbites come from Schwab ("You are an emissary, a missionary, converting new people to the fandom wherever you can."), Revis ("[R]eal happiness comes from that deep, honest place within myself that geekdom allowed me to embrace."), and Erin Morgenstern (fangirls are "leveled-up" fans).

ETA: The Fangirl's Guide is packed with inspirational, quotable bits. Maggs is an associate editor for the blog The Mary Sue, and it shows; the writing is trendy and hip, and packed with geek slang. (Don't worry, there are glossaries!) Again, in the best way possible: it kind of feels like you're getting the 411 from an older sister or trusted friend.

But my favorite part of The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy is, hands down, its strong feminist foundation. From the inclusion of "trigger warning" in the glossary to the mantra that "cosplay isn't consent," Maggs infuses her celebration of geek girl culture with a much-needed dose of feminism.

Best of the best is the how-to guide for critiquing pop culture. Cue must-know terms like the Bechdel Test; women in refrigerators; Manic Pixie Dream Girl; damsels in distress; sexy evil powers; tokenism/The Smurfette Principle; and romanticizing abuse.

And it should come as no surprise to readers of The Mary Sue that Magg's feminism is intersectional in nature. The super-adorable illustrations featured in The Fangirl's Guide include fangirls of color; racism, ableism, classism, etc. are addressed right alongside sexism; and her starter's guide to "kick-ass female characters you need to know" highlights LGBTQ women and women of color. (My love for Zoë Alleyne Washburne knows no bounds. Also, Gina Torres for all the things!)

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy is just plain shiny. Wonderfully diverse, unabashedly enthusiastic, and positively positive, it's likely to appeal to fangirls (and not a few fanboys) of all ages. (I may be an old lady at 36, but even I learned a few new things!) But I think it's best suited for new or budding fangirls in the twelve-to-eighteen-year-old range - girls who feel alone in their passions, who need a little validation and encouragement and to know that, no matter how obscure or unusual their interests, their people are out there. While sexy times are discussed on occasion (e.g., fanfic), the language is pretty tame overall. Parents, aunts and uncles, family friends, and the like should feel good gifting this book to the awesome young fangirls in their lives.

Bonus points: Hardcover books are generally pretty ugly naked (i.e. sans dust jacket), but this one's positively adorable. Printed on the cover are illustrations of geeky props - swords, superhero masks, Sherlock hats, the Tardis, etc. - on a bright yellow background. It's in the details, yo!

http://www.easyvegan.info/2015/05/13/the-fangirls-guide-to-the-galaxy-by-sam-mag... show less

I first became aware of Sam Maggs when her feminist fangirl statement popped up on my Facebook feed. Imagine my surprise to find out it was part of this charming book. If you are a passionate fan of anything, if you are a woman, and if you want to to feel a little joy in your girlpower, this book is for you.
She basically nails down all facets of being a fan, lays out how to make your nerdiness work in everyday life, and how to embrace and enjoy all things geeky! The most important thing is show more her call to support other geek girls, and to never let anyone tell you you're not a true nerd because, gasp, you're a girl.
She gives you a guide to attending a Con, lays out when and where to find your fandoms, and fun things to do to make your fandoms work for you. This IS the book every fangirl needs! Hell, it's the book you deserve! show less