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stw07's review against another edition
3.75
The main thesis of this is solid, and a really interesting way to analyze fiction that rings true in a ton of instances. The overall message is one that anyone analyzing literature should consider.
But as a book, the writing style didn’t really work for me. It felt more like a research paper than a book for most of it… and I felt the last bit where the author kind of defends herself from an old Harry Potter fandom scandal a bit out of place… the commentary about JK Rowling also did not age well.
But as a book, the writing style didn’t really work for me. It felt more like a research paper than a book for most of it… and I felt the last bit where the author kind of defends herself from an old Harry Potter fandom scandal a bit out of place… the commentary about JK Rowling also did not age well.
moxiegirlzriot's review against another edition
4.0
When educating myself about issues as important as race (sexuality, gender and more), I know I am learning the most important things when the learning makes me uncomfortable with my own unrealized prejudices. "The Dark Fantastic" isn't only an advocate for more literature told from BIPOC perspectives, but a critique on the characters that already exist and how we have treated them. How they are "othered" from the moment of their conception as black. And how that "othering" goes nearly unnoticed by many of us. A necessary read for those who are still working to educate themselves, and who believe that, "ultimately, emancipating the dark fantastic requires decolonizing our fantasies and our dreams. It means liberating magic itself. For resolving the crisis of race in our storied imagination has the potential to make our world anew."
profeshbooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
White people: If you are doing anti-racist work, participate in fandom, work with kids-YA in an educational or library setting, and/or if you just enjoy any of the media covered in this title, this is mandatory reading.
kallypso's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
spookystaircase's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
theheartisanarrow's review against another edition
4.5
4.5*/ you can tell the immense amount of passion and expertise ebony elizabeth thomas brings to the table when discussing the dark fantastic as a phenomenon as well as its traces in series such as the hunger games, bbc's merlin, hp and the vampire diaries. (those chapters can be read without having read/watched the works in question, but do read better if you have.)
a must read if you're a fan of any of these and/or an avid writer or consumer of speculative fiction, 'the dark fantastic' is interesting, informative, well-balanced between academic text and personal anecdotes and includes fandom as a significant factor in the equation, which i feel like not enough researchers do. (in fact i feel the only reason it took me a wholeass year to get through was bc i originally planned to use it for uni.)
if i were to nitpick i'd say you can tell that this is a few years old now, as the lin-manuel miranda and jkr references made me cringe a bit, but that also means i would be interested to hear the author's perspective on race in media and fandoms post 2020 black lives matter, her updated views on jkr/the hp franchise as well as some media that's come out since including their reception and online discussion (rings of power, percy jackson, the list goes on)
a must read if you're a fan of any of these and/or an avid writer or consumer of speculative fiction, 'the dark fantastic' is interesting, informative, well-balanced between academic text and personal anecdotes and includes fandom as a significant factor in the equation, which i feel like not enough researchers do. (in fact i feel the only reason it took me a wholeass year to get through was bc i originally planned to use it for uni.)
if i were to nitpick i'd say you can tell that this is a few years old now, as the lin-manuel miranda and jkr references made me cringe a bit, but that also means i would be interested to hear the author's perspective on race in media and fandoms post 2020 black lives matter, her updated views on jkr/the hp franchise as well as some media that's come out since including their reception and online discussion (rings of power, percy jackson, the list goes on)
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for a review.
I am not entirely sure that I found each example used by Thomas to advance her argument equally persuasive: for instance, is Gwen the best choice for who/what haunts Merlin (and if not, just acknowledge it and make your point regardless)? In addition, I didn't really enjoy the chapter on Harry Potter, which felt incomplete and cut short while still containing what seemed to me to be a too long and somewhat misleading preamble concerning the author's own fandom life (I was in HP fandom for part of the period described by the Author and it was far larger and fragmented than she seems to present it; furthermore, many BNFs fell from grace quickly and painfully for a variety of offences). But that does not detract from the great points of her central premise concerning the role of the Black (girl) character in the Dark Fantastic Cycle. I was on my Kindle when my 12 yo Nibling asked me what I was reading.
"It's a book about how Black characters are represented in films and TV shows," I simplified.
"Oh, they die first," Nibling replied, and I am *not* making this up.
I found Thomas's analysis captivating and lucid, and thought-provoking, and a supremely enjoyable read as a piece of media criticism. I hope it will spark many debates and arguments.
I am not entirely sure that I found each example used by Thomas to advance her argument equally persuasive: for instance, is Gwen the best choice for who/what haunts Merlin (and if not, just acknowledge it and make your point regardless)? In addition, I didn't really enjoy the chapter on Harry Potter, which felt incomplete and cut short while still containing what seemed to me to be a too long and somewhat misleading preamble concerning the author's own fandom life (I was in HP fandom for part of the period described by the Author and it was far larger and fragmented than she seems to present it; furthermore, many BNFs fell from grace quickly and painfully for a variety of offences). But that does not detract from the great points of her central premise concerning the role of the Black (girl) character in the Dark Fantastic Cycle. I was on my Kindle when my 12 yo Nibling asked me what I was reading.
"It's a book about how Black characters are represented in films and TV shows," I simplified.
"Oh, they die first," Nibling replied, and I am *not* making this up.
I found Thomas's analysis captivating and lucid, and thought-provoking, and a supremely enjoyable read as a piece of media criticism. I hope it will spark many debates and arguments.
monikaben's review against another edition
4.0
Important read on represantion of black people in fantasy, solid points were made. I especially liked the analysis of Rue in Hunger Games beign just a plot device for the protagonist's character development.
The only reason I don't consider this a 5 star read is because it's very academic, making it hard to take in the insights. I read mostly non-fic and usually don't even see it when people call a book too academic but this one is too much even for me.
The only reason I don't consider this a 5 star read is because it's very academic, making it hard to take in the insights. I read mostly non-fic and usually don't even see it when people call a book too academic but this one is too much even for me.