The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks

by Sam Maggs

This ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life is a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. Fandom, feminism, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159474789X
• ISBN13: 9781594747892
• Release Date: May 2015
• Publisher: Quirk Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

The fangirl's big sister

I don't care what anyone tells you, I did not cry during parts of this book. I did not tear up. I did not get that awful burning feeling in your sinuses you sometimes get right before you cry. I didn't. Anyone who says otherwise is a low-down, dirty deceiver. This book. This book, this book. This book is, in a word, glorious. It truly is a guide for fangirls everywhere. The ins and outs of every corner of fandom, the parts all fangirls learn about on their own, neatly bound in one book. It's a kickstart to a life of magic and wonder, and I love it so much it's painful. Not only does it cover the heart of fandom, from conventions to fanfiction, but it goes in depth in a light and fun way. You can read this book and feel like Sam Maggs is your friend, your older sister taking your hand and teaching you about this world that can seem so intimidating from the outside. "Sis, those 6-inch platform combat boots for your cosplay are AWESOME. Now, how are they going to feel after two days in a con, and you still have one more day and you have to stand in line for at least 2 hours to get Tom Felton's autograph? Yes, here, gel inserts. Love you, too." There's always a bit of cringe factor when it comes to reading anything based on being in a fandom. Because judgment. At 32, I'm a senior citizen to the fandom world, and at this point, if you're my friend and you think you're going to judge me for my shelves of Buffy books and my shoving Firefly in your face every time you say you're looking for something new to watch? You are easily replaceable. My friends on the internet? Don't even think about asking if they're "really" my friends. But when you jump into fandom young (I was 19, I believe, when I found the AOL Buffy boards), people pack their judgmental eyes. The more is known about cons and fandom, the more derision. Let's not even talk about talk show hosts and celebrities who deride fanfiction and fanart, who mock it openly. It is so hard to celebrate fandom publicly, and when it comes to reading or watching something specifically about fandom, it's scary. There is no scary here. There is only love, and positivity, and support. That's the most crucial word here. Support. Chapters devoted to what to do with jerk faces on the internet. An entire chapter devoted to feminism, for crying out loud, I want to hug Sam Maggs so hard she squeaks just for that chapter. The importance of intersectionality, the importance of supporting your fellow woman, the importance of understanding what feminism means, especially to women in fandom. This book is just golden, and magical, and I want to buy a copy for every little girl I know. Because even if she doesn't grow up to want to dress up as the TARDIS and hit New Orleans Comic Con with me (my currently 3-year old goddaughter is totally doing this some day, btdub, her mother doesn't know yet), I want her to see that whatever her passion is, it's okay and it's beautiful and there is a world out there that will support it.