Calling all fantasy, sci-fi, magic, superhero, and manga fans! July 13, 2021 is “Embrace Your Fandom Day!” For those of you unfamiliar with the term “fandom,” it can be described as being a fan of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc. regarded collectively as a community or subculture. Some popular communities of fans include those of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, and so many more! The Piscataway Public Library has put together a book and film pairing of five fandom categories to celebrate July 13th. Enjoy your double features!
Fantasy
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a Heartrender, and a thief. Six dangerous outcasts must learn to work together after they are offered an impossible heist that can save the world from destruction. “Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity―and the adventure―of a lifetime.”
The Lord of the Rings (Directed by Peter Jackson)
Similarly to Six of Crows, The Lords of the Rings trilogy is an action-packed fantasy adventure where the characters have a dangerous goal to complete. In Peter Jackson’s film, Frodo and Sam must journey to Mount Doom to destroy the ring of the evil Sauron, whose dark powers flow through it. The world is in trouble because of dark sorcery and the main characters must leave their small town, known as The Shire, and save everything and everyone they know.
Sci-fi
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
“Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.” However, Ryland has no memory of the mission he is set to complete or even his own name. He is in space with nobody but two corpses to keep him “company.” He must figure out how to complete his mission all alone. What he doesn’t know is that there may be more help around him then he thought.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (Directed by Wes Ball)
Since the first film The Maze Runner, Thomas and the other Gladers have had to piece back together their memories after finding themselves locked in “The Maze” with no idea as to how they got there or their past lives. In the final installment of the franchise, the Gladers must break into the legendary Last City, controlled by WCKD, to free their friends and finally find the cure to the deadly disease, The Flare.
Wizardry/Magic
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Quentin Coldwater has always been intrigued by his fantasy novels as a child, all taking place in the magical world of Fillory. One day he is recruited into an elite university for magic, despite thinking all magic was only in his imagination. While in school, he learns the truth behind his childhood fantasy stories and that they may be darker than he expected.
The Prestige (Directed by Christopher Nolan)
While Quentin navigates the fantasy world of magic, Christian Bale (Alfred Borden) and Hugh Jackman (Robert Angier) practice their magic acts on stage, constantly competing against one another. When Alfred creates a trick called the “Transporting Man,” Robert becomes obsessed with trying to figure out how Alfred is able to do it and will stop at nothing until he figures it out.
Superhero
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
In college, Eli and Victor begin researching and experimenting with adrenaline and near-death experiences, where they discover that under certain circumstances, humans have the ability to develop “superpowers.” “In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.”
Birds Of Prey And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (Directed by Cathy Yan)
After Harley Quinn and the Joker break up, everyone in Gotham is out for revenge on Harley. However, when she is captured by Roman Sionis (aka Black Mask) and given the task to find a young girl who has stolen a rare diamond, Harley forms a relationship with the young girl and decides to team up with Huntress, Black Canary, and Renee Montoya to take him down.
Anime
Your Name by Makoto Shinkai
Two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.This fantasy manga has five books in the series and is also available to watch as a film, directed by author Makoto Shinkai.
Weathering With You (Directed by Makoto Shinkai)
This film is also directed by Makoto Shinka, author and director of Your Name. Hodaka runs away from his home to live in Tokyo, he realizes that he is not financially stable enough to “survive.” He finds a job as an assistant at a small occult magazine publishing company and meets Hina, a girl with the ability to control the weather. As their relationship grows he realizes that Hina’s powers come with unexpected consequences.