Oh no! We've been transported to another world where podcasters fight in some sort of Battle Royale (and also Z has been turned into a washing machine)?! This week, we're talking about the fascinating fandom that is Light Novel fans, with special guest, [Justus R. Stone](justusrstone.com)! Next week, we'll be going to another other world... in ... space? Talking about... Galaga?! ## Where can I learn more about Justus R. Stone? [Justus R. Stone](justusrstone.com) is the author of the apocalyptic fiction series, The Bleeding Worlds, and has a podcast ([Light Novel Podcast](lightnovelpodcast.com)) and [YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/justusrstone) dedicated to light novels. You can also find him on Twitter ([@justusrstone](http://twitter.com/justusrstone)), Instagram ([@justusrstone](http://instagram.com/justusrstone)) and Facebook (... [@justusrstone](http://facebook.com/justusrstone)). ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Light Novels are short (approximately 50 000 words), Japanese novels primarily targeted at high- and middle-school students which are often accompanied by manga- or anime-style illustrations. The "light" in the name actually comes from the lack of hard-to-read kanji (ideographic characters in Japanese). Light novels are sort of the evolution of pulp novels and magazines in Japan: Somewhere in the 1970s, many pulp magazines had started to move away from classic-style covers towards more anime and manga style covers and including illustrations at the beginning of stories. In the 1980s, novels like _The Heroic Legend of Arslan_ and _Record of Lodoss War_ took a hold of audience, as did _Slayers_ and the _Boogiepop_ series in the 1990s (note that many of these were turned into anime). Interest in light novels really took off in the mid-2000s with the success of the _Haruhi Suzumiya_ series. **Search Data:** By Google Trends search volume, [Light Novels have become much, much more popular since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F06b_0_) and are arguably the most popular ...
How does the Alien cinematic universe fit together (and do fans care... about Predator)? How important is Ripley to the series? Is feminism an important part of the series? All this and more as Jaime of [Perfect Organism](https://www.perfectorganism.com/), an Alien Podcast, helps us to better understand the fandom around the Alien films! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Alien is a science-fiction horror media franchise centered on the film series depicting Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) and her battles with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien". > > Produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the series began with Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott. It was followed by three sequels, Aliens (1986), Alien³ (1992), and Alien Resurrection (1997), directed by James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, respectively. Scott also directed a prequel series, composed of Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). > > The series has led to numerous books, comics, and video game spin-offs. The Alien vs. Predator franchise combines the continuities of the Alien franchise with the Predator franchise, and consists of two films as well as varying series of comics, books and video games. A video game called Alien: Isolation was released in 2014 to generally positive reviews. > — [Wikipedia - Alien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(franchise)) **Search Data:** Interest in the Alien franchise is down a little bit since 2004, [but is relatively stable and oddly periodic](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F095d5f). There have been outsized spikes in search volume starting August 2004 (_Alien vs. Predator_), December 2007 (_Alien vs. Predator: Requiem_), February 2010, February 2013 (_Aliens: Colonial Marines_), October 2014 (_Alien: Isolation_), and May 2017 (_Alien: Covenant_). The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, ...
It's a new season, and what better than to draw parallels to our first season by talking about Star Wars fans! What do you call Star Wars fans? Is there really a big difference between them and Star Trek fans? How have they kept fans interested in the 40 years of Star Wars?? May the force be with you on this week's episode! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Play-by-play 00:07 - Theme Song 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Who are Star Wars Fans? 03:34 - Trivia 20:06 - Why are people fans of Star Wars? 38:36 - Gender segregation in (Star Wars) Fandom 44:09 - Fans of the week 56:07 - Spotlight: [The 501st Legion!](http://www.501st.com/) 59:32 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast 1:01:19 - Outtakes Citations ["Meet the Star Wars Fans Who Lined Up Two Weeks Before the Premiere"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuVrWbc9ijo) ["Why we love Star Wars: an explainer for 'normal' people"](http://www.wired.co.uk/article/why-i-love-star-wars-explained) ["People Watch Star Wars For The First Time | Syfy Wire"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BVxK0GUpWI) ["I watched all 6 'Star Wars' films for the first time, in one sitting"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ni7mxRCBrA) ["STAR WARS subreddit, I need your help! Why do you love STAR WARS?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/34agxp/star_wars_subreddit_i_need_your_help_why_do_you/) ["This Is What It's Like To Watch Star Wars For The First Time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/34agxp/star_wars_subreddit_i_need_your_help_why_do_you/) ["'I Got Emotional Reading This': Diego Luna Shares Touching 'Star Wars' Fan Tribute to Importance of Diversity"](http://ktla.com/2017/01/04/i-got-emotional-reading-this-diego-luna-shares- touching-star-wars-fan-tribute-to-importance-of-diversity/) ["An Unofficial 'Star Wars' Convention in England Was Incredibly Depressing"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/people-are-really-mad-at-an-unofficial-star-wars-convention-because-dreams-are-very-foolish-109) ["Carrie Fisher's Unsung Legacy"](http://legit-writing-tips.tumblr.com/post/155032253840/carrie-fishers-unsung-legacy) ["Culture Wars"](https://thewalrus.ca/culture-wars/) ["Fanlore - Don't Call Me ...