Geek Lust: Pop Culture, Gadgets, and Other Desires of the Likeable Modern Geek

by Alex Langley

Get Your Geek On!Unless you're horndog Howard Wolowitz from "The Big Bang Theory," the words "geek" and "lust" are seldom found in the same sentence. Until now, bub.

Whether it's the most recent tweet from Felicia Day, the newest book from Terry Pratchett, or the latest anything from Joss Whedon, the world is a smoking hot, happening place for Geeks.

"Geek Lust," a humorous celebration of Geekdom's frenzied desires, heats it up like 1.21 Giga-Suns. It spotlights some of the awesomest real and fictional geeks in history, including Einstein, Madame Curie, Nerdist Chris Hardwick, and Steve Urkel (!); features classic science fiction and horror stories; the greatest experiences to have playing video games; gadgets gone wild; various top lists such as the hottest cryptids; and things from Star Wars that could be euphemisms for your genitals.

If you yearn for time travel, robotics and cloning; if Kirk still captains your imagination; and if, when all is said and done, you still can't decide between Linda Carter's Wonder Woman or Lucy Lawless's Xena, Warrior Princess, welcome to "Geek Lust."

And by the way, is it hot in here or did the next-generation iPhone just drop?

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2013

About the author

Alex Langley can control gravity, swim at over eight-hundred miles per second, and has a dangerous, borderline nuclear passion for writing. He also writes news, interviews, and comics for the website rocketllama.com, has over 20,000 followers on twitter, and edits content for geek girl/web celebrity @actionchick Katrina Hill at actionflickchick.com. Thousands follow his work online, and he has been a speaker on panels at conventions, including Wonder-Con, and San Diego Comic-Con International. His published works also include academic papers.

Reviews

[Joost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geek Lust, het boek dat iedere nerd/geek/fanboy/fangirl zou moeten hebben! Lees hier mijn overenthousiaste recensie over dit fantastische boek. Fandoms. SO MANY FANDOMS.
http://nerdygeekyfanboy.com/recensie/...

[Kayo · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book that's ostensibly a primer to understand all manner of geekiness, yet it doesn't really know who the audience is. The majority of the book is spent giving synopses of subjects that are 'objectively good' in terms of popular culture (e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Jeff Goldblum), which is fine if that's where the tone stayed throughout. It doesn't. A full page description of Ghostbusters, which is only necessary for an alien, suddenly jumps to three paragraphs about Troll 2 without setting up 'B' movies at all. In fact, almost nothing is set up. There are headings that reach painfully for any pop-culture reference it can, but after that the writing jumps from property to property without transition or closing thought. There are also occasional jokes that are far too inside blernsball if the audience is, in fact, people who are completely disconnected from pop-culture. Like the joke in the last sentence or a shout out to a minor recurring character from Red Dwarf. Geek Lust is too inside to be enjoyable to pop-culture novices, too basic for fans that will get a lot of the jokes, and too all over the place to make any comment on the fandoms it claims to be celebrating.

[Joel Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, one word comes to mind: SPASTIC!! The author is all over the place in this book. Don't get me wrong, the subject matter is interesting and the book is laid out traditionally. But the author really goes in three (or more) directions at once, making reading tiresome and challenging. It's as if the author wants to include everything but keeps remembering more info on one subject even after he's moved on to another. An ok read.

[Christine Bowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Packed full of geekdom from scientists to tv shows to comic books, Langley covers everything he can think of to describe why Geeks love what they love. Enjoyable if just a little chaotic.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry one liners and snarky bits abound in this guy's trek through all the geeky genres and mediums, and historic too. I enjoyed my travels, and the meaning of life is still 42.

[Cate's Book Nut Hut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time being called a geek was an insult that many tried to avoid, but now with advances in technology and a recognition that we can all be passionate about something without being a threat to society, the tag ‘geek’ is now one many seek without totally understanding what it encompasses, or thinking only those enthusiastic about sci-fi are entitled to claim it.

In this book the Author lays all that to rest by covering the geek aspect of everything from science through movies to books. Yes, all passionate readers out there you are worthy of the title ‘geek’. Using a combination of well researched facts, and more than a liberal dose of humour in some place this book will steer the budding geek through the never-ending world of meanings, facts and little known titbits that will have the reader thinking ‘hmm, I never knew that’. If you are a misunderstood geek, this book will, after you finish reading it, make an excellent primer for those around you who may think you have finally lost your mind.

I found parts of the book made me roll my eyes in disbelief, after all who doesn’t know who Dr. Who or Peter Parker are? But then I realised some out there don’t; I actually know someone who has no concept of the whole Star Wars universe, and so this will be lent to them to bring them up to speed. Along with breaking down geek culture into sections, the Author manages to weave the sections together showing how everything is, at some level, connected with the others. The Author is also not afraid of voicing their opinion of what they disliked about certain movies, for example, and this could cause a great jumping off point for discussion among lovers of these films; don’t worry book lovers, he does the same for some of our much loved reads too.

This is a great book to pull out at gatherings, throw pieces out there for debate before moving on to either watch, play or read the item you’ve been debating. As I said previously, but will say it again here, if you’ve got a friend or relative who is confused by the whole geek world that you live in, this book is something you should read and then pass on to them so they can get to grips on your world. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I did find it a bit basic in parts, the reason for the three thumbs review, but I put that down to my being a fully paid up member of the geek club. Enjoy this book, as it sings the song of your people.


Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/06/09...

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one just wasn't for me. It skims the surface of nerdiness. It seemed to me to be a primer for someone....like maybe your mom that is trying to fit in and understand what the kids are into. If what you are looking for is a paragraph or two on Farscape, then Galactica, then Quantum Leap.....then maybe this is for you. Do you not know who Peter Parker is? Or Doctor Who? Then grab this.

[Amanda Stanzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this look at all things Geek! If you are a geek or just want to understand what makes us tick then this is the book for you. LOVED IT!