“Maya Phillips has done the impossible: She has rescued fandom from the toxic grip of trolling dude-bros and reclaimed it for the rest of us, reminding readers why we become fans in the first place. A personal Pilgrim’s Progress of one nerd’s journey from Hoth to Mordor, Wakanda to Sunnydale, the Island of Long to a mystical land named ‘Manhattan’ (via a fluid prose that inspires its own swooning acolytes), Phillips’s superhero origin story shows us an alternate universe in which fantasy lit, comic books, and anime do not stunt one’s personal growth and adult perspectives—they enable them. It’s worth its weight in mecha suits.”

– David Fear, senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine

“From its very first pages, NERD is a delight. Equal parts autobiography and history of the way these genres and fandoms—and fandom itself—has grown, this collection of essays provides an impressive look at the larger cultural context in which these movies, TV shows, and comics exist. In the same way that the fandoms Phillips addresses often provide community and a sense of connection, the experience of reading NERD feels like making a new friend.”

– Karen Han, culture critic, screenwriter, and author of Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema

“Like the heroes’ journeys that inspired her, Maya’s odyssey into fandom will resonate with anyone who ever camped out in the graphic novels section. Maya is a kindred spirit and Nerd a handy guide for fans of everything, everywhere.”

– Daniel Kibblesmith, author and Emmy-nominated TV writer

“With humor and exacting criticism, Phillips serves up food for thought—a whole meal, really—for anyone who’s ever struggled to see themselves as the hero.”

– BookPage (“2022 Preview: Most Anticipated Nonfiction”)