Not enough fun was had in the writing of this book. ( )

So this was pretty good but it always seems like the authors who write books about growing up gamers feel like it's a bad thing that they probably should hide or not be proud of. It's like the "normal" people finally got to them (or maybe they always felt embarrassed) and they feel like they have a disease. It always feels apologetic like and self denigrating like, "I used to play with toys, what a loser I was, now I'm an author."

Mr. Gilsdorf, in this book seems to fluctuate between saying, "Okay I give up I'm a geek." and "I refuse to let myself enjoy my childhood pastimes because I'm an adult now and people might think it's weird."

On the other hand, I've been a geek all my life and I never knew there were Harry Potter tribute bands. I also didn't know about a couple other things he covers in the book. So thanks for that EG.

Just one more note. The first chapter or two of this book deal with the author's mother and her health problems. It seemed a strange way to start the book, it was very dark and sad but it becomes more obvious later why it was included. So don't get scared off by that. The rest is a quest around the world examining everything geek (though it's more focused on fantasy than sci-fi). ( )

This book explored the concept of escapism and chronicled the prevalence of that phenomenon in modern society. RPG gamers, online games, board games, and LARP-like activities are all covered in addition to more in depth examples of escapism. ( )

Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks sets out to explore and perhaps even understand Tolkien enthusiasts, video gamers, table top gamers, LARPers, re-enactors, SCAdians, and other “geeky” “fringe” people. Gilsdorf looks at his childhood hobby from the point of view of a grownup who has never forgotten the thrill of sharing something exciting with like-minded people. He still struggles with the bad rep that role-playing games, fantasy, and science fiction have among the general public. Some of the author’s comments contain clear nostalgia; at other times there’s a yearning of acceptance for his “strange” hobby, maybe even a hint of shame. Grown out of his wish to reconcile the respectable status of an adult with the heart of a fantasy fan, the book nonetheless allows readers to weigh the evidence for themselves.
EJ 10/2010

Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks is everything that [The Elfish Gene] is not: Gilsdorf's travel narrative is endearing, open-minded, warm, and welcoming. Like Mark Barrowcliffe, Ethan Gilsdorf spent his youth buried in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. And, like Barrowcliffe, Gilsdorf eventually left the realm of fantasy, only to return as an adult to explore the ghost of an interest that remained.

Here the differences end. Ethan Gilsdorf's narrative is accepting of geek culture, even as he expresses adult reservations, and he seeks to explore the world of geekdom with an open mind. Fantasy Freaks sets out to understand just what draws certain individuals to a particular set of interests, and how their experiences influence their personal development. Gilsdorf shares a number of stories as he travels to cons, gaming events, and even joins in for a weekend of LARPing. Unlike Barrowcliffe with his scathing comments and sense of superiority, Gilsdorf allows his research material to speak for itself, and presents his findings with an air of sympathy that will not necessarily impact the reader's own interpretation of the cultural events.

Fantasy Freaks is a celebration of geekdom for those who are (or perhaps simply adore) geeks, and an interesting exploration of fantasy worlds for those who have no experience with the subculture. Gilsdorf's travel narrative will appeal to all readers, and I dare say there's at least one chuckle for everyone somewhere in the pages. ( )