Fandom: Fic Writers, Vidders, Gamers, Artists, and Cosplayers

Francesca Davis DiPiazza grew up loving the smell of books; but as soon as she saw a computer, she thought, Terrific! more ways to share more words with more people! Online since 1994, she still uses an orange 1970s rotary-dial phone. One of her cultural geography books for Lerner Publishing Group, Zimbabwe in Pictures, won the Society of School Librarians International Book Award.

Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn is a hand lettering artist and illustrator located in Orlando, Florida, where she works out of her studio with her puppy, Teddy, the Director of Cuteness. She has been working professionally since 2010, and teaching workshops on lettering and illustration.

You can watch her work live at twitch.tv/shaunalynn.

"Filled with pop culture galore, brightly colored layouts and chapter headings, and enough information to make readers' heads spin, this book is an appealing tome on all-things fandom. Up-to-date background information from recent events, such as the presidential election of 2017 and the success of the musical Hamilton, make this book easily accessible to teens. They will surely appreciate the rich conversations on how race, gender, and sexuality are portrayed in fandom. The use of bold colors and eye-catching photos make the book just as appealing visually as it is informative and an easy pick for reluctant readers, especially those who participate in gaming, cosplay, or even fan vids. Perhaps one of the greatest sections within the volume is the chapter entitled 'People on the Internet are Being Mean (Maybe It's Even You),' which discusses the importance of staying safe when online and provides guidelines for online behavior. Lastly, the comprehensive back matter will suit the needs of curious readers looking to venture further into this subject area. A must-have nonfiction purchase for libraries where pop culture reigns strong."―School Library Journal

"'Fandom is a community of people who share a passion.' This short but detailed book describes the roots of the various types of fanworks and gives examples of each, using generous quotes from the fans themselves in 'a sample platter of fan voices and practices.' It describes vidders (video makers, including fan-film makers); cosplayers; visual fan artists (crafters, makers, and body artists); gamers; and fanfiction writers. As fans say, fandom is 'a huge sandbox where anyone can play.' Some fandoms still struggle with diversity―women, people of color, and different sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, body shapes, abilities, and social classes are often underrepresented―but, luckily, this is changing. The book is appealingly designed, with some color and black-and-white photos, but would have benefited from more illustrated examples of fanwork. Back matter includes guidelines for acceptable online behavior, further reading and viewing suggestions, and additional websites. This book fills a need for a positive, informative resource that covers the breadth of fandom in one book, even if it only skims the topic's surface."―Booklist

"A historical overview of fandom. Exploring the reason for fandom's existence―community in shared passions and desire for more from the fandom's source materials―this book looks at common forms of creative expression in fandom. The five chapters are devoted to fan fiction, fan videos, cosplay, fan visuals (comics, memes, fan art, and so on), and games. The book's greatest strength is its exploration of the historical origins of the various fandom forms, demonstrating that while the internet has transformed fandom, fan fiction and the like have been around for hundreds of years―even chess was once thought to be dangerously addictive in the same way Dungeons & Dragons and computer games have been. The highlighted fandoms skew American- and Eurocentric, leading to odd omissions of the influence of anime and manga fandom, beyond the coining of the word 'cosplay.' Occasionally, arguable ideas are presented as fact (such as which video was the first to go viral), and readers might find themselves wishing for more information regarding the tenuous relation of fandom and copyright. Overall, the book is upbeat and optimistic, and it has a prominent social justice lens that highlights fan creators of color and the ways fandom allows for greater diversity in media so often dominated by straight white men. Best as a starting reference for kids researching fandom-related topics―or perhaps for adults baffled by said kids' hobby."―Kirkus Reviews

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"Being a fan is more than enjoying a piece of art, music, or literature. To be a fan is to be inspired; to want to be part of the thing which one loves most. It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; this is true in various formats, including fan fiction, cosplaying, crafting, etc. DiPiazza's book begins with an explanation of 'fandom' and the history of fan roots and describes the various ways fans show their appreciation. Each chapter is dedicated to a realm of fandom: fan fiction, videos, cosplay, comics, and games. The inclusivity of this book will ensure broad appeal. Each chapter includes the history of the genre. For example, the cosplay chapter contains information about masquerades. Throughout the text, readers will be inspired by highlighted fandom tributes. Most importantly, DiPiazza includes information on bullying and how to cope if you are being bullied online because of your fandom. In today's cruel internet atmosphere, DiPiazza stresses the importance of staying true to yourself and standing strong in the face of bullying.

In Fandom: Fic Writers, Vidders, Gamers, Artists, and Cosplayers, readers will feel encouraged to embrace their inner fanatic. From Hamilton, to Star Wars, to Harry Potter and beyond, there is a niche for every type of fan. A glossary and selected bibliography are also included for further reading. Overall this is a recommended purchase for all public libraries."―VOYA