Welcome To 'Geek Like Me'

This is like that moment when someone intones, in half-seriousness, "Luke, I am your father!" and the words, "You know, Vader doesn't actually say that in The Empire Strikes Back..." fly out of my mouth, despite my very best efforts to hold them in. It's not (just) that I'm pedantic -- it's that I really, really, really love Star Wars. And they're getting it wrong.

This is a new column for geeks; for people like me who have an all-consuming interest -- whether convenient, popular, or even advisable -- in subjects other people may deem nerdy, weird, trivial, or childish. Welcome to "Geek Like Me."

Every week we'll feature a different voice from the community, dissecting aspects of geek culture spanning comics, TV, movies, games, and community events, both online and off (including cons!).

I know, I know. Geek culture is mainstream now, right? So why create yet another space to share our thoughts on superheroes, wizards, space, math, webcomics, and Python (even Monty)? Why bother?

Because I care about Isaac Asimov, and have ever since my mother gave me her copy of Foundation when other girls my age were reading The Babysitters Club.

Because I care about Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and I will debate with anyone, anytime, who argues that inter-dimensional beings are somehow less improbable (or less awesome) than the existence of the Holy Grail.

Because I care about girls and women on TV who seriously pwn, from Daria, to Veronica Mars, to Elena Gilbert, to Starbuck, to River Song.

And because I care about direwolves. A lot.

So, to anyone who scoffs at all this, and says, 'who cares?' We do. Geeks who love Star Wars or Star Trek. Geeks who love space or anime or microbiology. Fen, cosplayers, Gleeks, LARPers, Twi-hards, Browncoats, and Liz Lemonists too. That's what this column is about: owning our diverse geekery and reveling (or wallowing) in it.

Which brings us to the real question: what do you care about?

Write us your defense of the Harry Potter Battlestar Galactica Lost Hunger Games ending, your ode to Felicia Day, or your plans for fan fiction starring Han Solo and James Bond wearing matching chaps and fighting aliens (Oh, wait...).

And if you want to include an angry comment in Elvish, Klingon, Na'vi, or Dothraki, we will, of course, approve it -- just don't forget to spell a lot of words badly.

To kick things off, I'm thrilled to introduce the nerdiest actor-director-writer brothers on the interwebs, Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong, who have written a piece for us that will warm your geekstrings. (As will their short film, The Dungeon Master, which you can check out here.)

If you'd like to submit your own work -- or need a sympathetic ear for any blu-ray related angst you may be feeling right now -- email me at elizabeth.perle@huffingtonpost.com.

May the Force be with you, always.