Book Review: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs

Sam Maggs is known around the internet for writing articles about how geek culture and women intersect. She’s contributed to the book Chicks Dig Gaming and sites such as The Mary Sue, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a bias toward her for being a fellow BioWare lover.

This is the her first published book dedicated to geek girls. I’ve been in fandom since the late 90s, and I’ve watched it evolved over years. I’m old, and I’ve seen many things throughout the years in the various fandoms I love(d). I dabble in everything from games to television. Much of this information wasn’t new to me for that reason, but I still found Maggs’ tone engaging and fun. This is a gentle guide for girls and women who may want to to be more active in fandom communities and meet more people who share those loves online and offline. It explains things such as how to deal with the various trolls they’ll encounter, how to protect themselves on sites even from other fans, and explain basic fandom terms to them. What’s a SuperWhoLock? Why does fandom hate Aquaman? What’s a glomp? What’s a squee? How do you deal with different types of trolls? These are questions she poses in her book along with ideas.

This book also serves as a jumping point for girls and women who may not be in fandom at all right now, but are curious and want to know different places they can start/what might interest them. This book is in no way divisive or says that one fandom is better than others. This book just grouped things together in the simplest terms that would make it easy for some who would be overwhelmed by everything fandom and wouldn’t know where to start. It gives a very general idea of fandom.

Briefly going back to the conversation I referenced earlier in this post, she also includes different levels of fandom geekiness without coming across as condescending (to me). In case you’re wondering my level is hardcore because I have at least one fandom tattoo. My first geeky tattoo (I have two, and coincidentally, the author of this book has the same tattoo) was the Spectre tattoo from the Mass Effect series, and if you’re wondering why this is so important to me, feel free to read my Tumblr post on the subject if you want to know more.

I also have a Deadpool Corp tattoo, too, but I will not continue to overwhelm you with just how much of a geek I am… today... I did appreciate little sections like that. To me, it didn’t come off as if she was saying that if you don’t have a tattoo of your fandom, then you’re no good. It was just a tongue-in-cheek assessment of how far some of us go for our fandoms.

On top of this, there are brief interviews with various notable women in the geek community such as Jamie Broadnax who runs BlackGirlNerds (who I absolutely squee’d about being featured) and Victoria Schwab, author of A Darker Shade of Magic. I wish these interviews were longer, but I was glad to see even short interviews with such a diverse group of women in geek culture. And there are fun, cute illustrations throughout to punctuate her writings.

I saw this book get some really bad reviews from other reviewers, so I was a little worried at first because it’s easy for me to fly into a geek girl rage about fandom. (Well, I’m an Aries; it’s easy for me to fly into a rage anyway.) It’s so easy for writers to write books like this and come across as being insulting. However, I found this book to be pure fluff and tongue-in-cheek that’s meant to be informative for new people and to poke fun at the same time at some of serious vets.

I guess some people were expecting some enraged geek girl manifesto as inspired by Anders (from BioWare’s Dragon Age) and nailed to the door. If you’re expecting that, this is not for you. You’re getting a kinder, gentler Anders hugging kitties direction here, and I was okay with that even as a fandom war veteran. If you want something more than that, I can’t really recommend this book for you. And I can understand wanting more from this book because there are bits that are lacking, but I’m not really the target audience other than to be support as a veteran for women and girls who may be slowly embracing this side of themselves. And I’ll totally hold your hand as you navigate fandom because, despite what anyone claims, that’s what this book encourages–camaraderie and safety because this can be a very toxic community.

This is a complete homage and love letter to the fangirl that encourages girls and women to embrace this part of themselves, even when some people would try to silence us or say that isn’t “ladylike.” Maggs shows that we are a growing force that refuses to be complacent, and no matter if you consider yourself new to fandom or an old hand, we’re in this together and we’re going to continue to change this landscape together.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher Quirk Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for providing me with this review opportunity.

21 Comments on “Book Review: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs”

Miss Mimz
May 12, 2015, 10:42 AM

I remember seeing this book around a while back, and I also remember seeing some of the negative reviews you speak of. As a fellow geek girl, (with 4 fandom tattoos LOL) I appreciate your review here most of all because I feel like you really were fair in discussing what works with this book, and what left you wanting a bit more. I’ll definitely be checking this one out now, thanks for the wonderfully thoughtful review^^

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- digitaltempest
  May 12, 2015, 11:10 AM
  
  I’m not going to say it isn’t completely for old-schoolers like us, but it felt more like the book was telling us vets to protect our new fandom babies with our lives. Don’t ridicule them. Teach them how to grow and get their wings. I understand some people wanting more, but I thought this was a fine primer and very fun.
  
  Which fandom tattoos do you have? Do tell! I want to get a few more myself. I do have one other tattoo, but it’s an ode to how much impact music has in my life as a musician and audiophile.
  
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Lisa (@TenaciousReader)
May 12, 2015, 11:28 AM

I maybe might of (ok, I totally) wrote one of the negative reviews. However, I am glad to see other people getting something from it.

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- digitaltempest
  May 12, 2015, 11:33 AM
  
  As I said, I can’t take anyone’s feelings about the book from them. As long as there’s no obviously trolling, opinions on the book are very valid. I see the point some people make against it. Don’t get me wrong, but it’s just all a matter of perspective. What everyone takes from it will be different, and I won’t begrudge anyone for their honest review of a book, even if they didn’t like it. For me, it just wasn’t a book written *for me* other than to remind me to keep our geeks safe in communities that can be dangerous. I feel like it’s just a primer for newer geeks.
  
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  - Lisa (@TenaciousReader)
    May 12, 2015, 11:42 AM
    
    Yep, I agree. That’s why I like seeing some positive reviews for it as well, because we all have different experiences with.
    
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blodeuedd
May 12, 2015, 4:15 PM

Could be fun, and I would not rage, not a rage kind of geek

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- digitaltempest
  May 12, 2015, 9:07 PM
  
  It was a fun look into the world of fandom, but I’m acknowledging it’s not for everyone. Some might feel left down because of it. I just thought of it as being the kind of book that I’d give my younger cousin who is an up and coming girl geek.
  
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Wendy B
May 12, 2015, 9:51 PM

As someone who was very much afraid of fandom back in the early 2000s, and viewing the vitriol that exists now, this sounds like an excellent resource that does exactly what it says it does: guides. It seems like this book isn’t aimed at seasoned fans, but it’s good that someone like you can appreciate it for what it is. It reminds me of Fangirl in your description. The latter isn’t a guide, but I felt it was a great way to introduce outsiders to the concept of fandom.

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digitaltempest
May 13, 2015, 9:22 AM

I think some people can just all in (like I did), but many need a gentle hand steering them in the right direction. That’s what this does. It’s an intro to fandom, not Anders trying to blow up the chantry geek girl manifesto. It really is just a gentle guide.

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Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
May 13, 2015, 11:39 AM

I’m glad to hear it takes a gentler approach and I’m not heavy in the fandom scene so this would probably work well for me.

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- digitaltempest
  May 13, 2015, 6:37 PM
  
  This is very newbie friendly. I actually should scour more of the reviews to see how a book like this translates to people who haven’t been in fandom forever like I have.
  
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Jenn
May 13, 2015, 6:05 PM

I’ve seen a couple of quite convincing negative reviews too! As always, it’s good to hear different perspectives, and good for me to remember not to set too much in store by what one or two other people think of something, since we all take away different things from books – particularly when its about something as personal as fandom.

I obviously love your Anders blowing up the chantry analogy.

Also having a Spectre tattoo officially makes you the coolest person I know.

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- digitaltempest
  May 13, 2015, 6:42 PM
  
  Exactly. Fandom can be so divisive among fans, even when you agree with them and on the same side. They can still drive each other absolutely nuts. I thought this was a good book. I didn’t find it condescending. I thought it was very gentle and I loved that she reached out to various geeky ladies. I understand why others don’t like it, but it’s fandom, there’s always going to be some drama. LOL.
  
  I should’ve said: “This is not gathering poop for Anders to blow up the chantry angry.” Dammit, Anders. I trusted you. LOL.
  
  I want to get a Renegon/Paragade tattoo and an Alliance tattoo, too, but getting the Spectre tattoo was very important for me, so very important. It means so much to me.
  
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  - Jenn
    May 14, 2015, 1:13 PM
    
    Goddamn Anders tricking me into gathering poop so he could blow up a chantry. Worst boyfriend ever.
    
    Aww. If I ever get a tattoo, there is a good chance it would be Mass Effect related. Playing the character of Shepard was a really empowering experience at a time I was feeling not-empowered, and it had a profound impact on me… YAY MASS EFFECT.
    
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    - digitaltempest
      May 14, 2015, 1:27 PM
      
      I wanted to know what they did with Awakening!Anders. I loved him in Awakening and then they give me that broken up mess of an Anders in DA2. LOL.
      
      EXACTLY. That is why Commander Shepard is so close to my heart. I linked to my Tumblr post in this review about the tattoo and the reason I got it. I found Commander Shepard during a time when I was getting over and healing from a lot of stuff going on in my life. I think I cried the first time I heard the Spectre oath thing, specifically these lines:
      “Spectres are not trained, but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle, those whose actions lift them above the rank and file. Spectres are an ideal, a symbol, the embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance.”
      
      I was like THESE ALIENS ARE TALKING ABOUT MY LIFE. I AM A SPECTRE, DAMMIT.
      
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      - Jenn
        May 14, 2015, 2:37 PM
        
        I miss sarcastic charming Anders. I’m glad I was romancing him my first time because it was ever so dramatic. But it was such a great relief to romance Isabela the next time and we sailed the seas together happily ever after as glorious pirate queens.
        
        And I am just restraining myself from putting a bunch of hearts for the rest of this comment because that’s beautiful and I have FEELINGS. They are powerful lines. I am so happy you have a reminder of them with you all the time, that is such a fantastic thing!
        
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      - digitaltempest
        May 14, 2015, 3:30 PM
        
        Isabela is about the only romance I can stomach in that game aside for the one with Varric in my head. I can’t romance Merrill, it’s like romancing my sister (which is also why I can’t romance Liara… LOL). Anders and Fenris make me so mad. I have to stay out of fandom discussion about them because that’s an easy way to get in a big fight. LOL. Sarcastic, charming, asshole Anders was so important. Then, they took out the sarcastic and charming part, but left the asshole part. And all that angst. I’m like Anders, tone down this intensity, aye. Isabela is the best romance on that game easily. But of course I have a Hawke for all romances except Merrill. LOL.
        
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      - Jenn
        May 14, 2015, 4:56 PM
        
        Ahhhhh YES to pretty much all of this. I try not to talk about romances I don’t like because everyone has their thing and I know people who love each of them, you know? But the angst of the Anders romance! That line about how he would drown everyone in blood to keep you safe? I was just like… this is the least romantic thing I have ever heard. And then I rivalmanced Fenris one time and it was the worst, such an unhealthy dynamic and I did not enjoy it. And Merrill is so sweet, but I feel like you never get to really level with her about what is going on with her… like you can ask her to move in, but then she never really does and keeps going back to her place.
        
        Sebastian is the only one I’ve never romanced. Just can’t do it, he’s really not my type.
        
        So basically yup, me and Isabela together forever!
        
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      - digitaltempest
        May 14, 2015, 5:18 PM
        
        I managed to have Fenris and a mage end up friendmancing each other. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life and I will never do it again. LOL. Ever. Sebastian is a chaste romance either way you go. If you rivalmance him he just promises to go home, take his kingdom back, and become the man you need him to be. Id you friendmance him, he wants you two to get married to Jesus together or something and be celibate or something. LOL. It’s funny, though, because apparently, Sebastian has quite the past. It’s always hilarious having him and Isabela together on a team because she makes him reveal all kinds of stuff about himself and then he plays all doe-eyed. Naw, Sebastian, I heard you telling Isabela you used to be a ho, don’t play with me. “I gotta pray about this.” I bet you do, honey. I bet you do. LOL.
        
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alexandra @ twirlingpages
May 16, 2015, 4:26 AM

i just bought/received this, but haven’t gotten a chance to thoroughly read it. i really enjoyed your review! i hope i won’t think negatively on this! fingers crossed hehe. p.s. your fandom tattoo is hardcore and EPIC.

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- digitaltempest
  May 16, 2015, 9:14 AM
  
  There’s nothing wrong if you don’t end up liking it. I guess I just put too much stock in other people’s reviews and braved for the worst when it really didn’t turn out so bad for me. You may like it. You may not. That’s okay either way. And thank you! I knew almost from the moment I finished Mass Effect 1 that I needed this tattoo.
  
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