Four Landmarks of Nerd Culture

Sparklers, reading your responses to our posts on nerd culture is giving us a warm feeling in the part of our brains that obsesses over nested fractals and waiting in line for the midnight showing of Harry Potter 7, so keep it up!

To continue our celebration of all things bookish, geeky, and recondite, we'd like to praise a few landmarks of nerd culture.

For Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nerds: Dune

Frank Herbert’s series of futuristic books set around a desert planet known as Dune is said to have been a major influence on George Lucas when he was making Star Wars. But more importantly, it’s full of the kind of far-out science and philosophy that makes the books virtually impossible to discuss with non-fans.

For Game Nerds: Settlers of Catan

Several of you Sparklers have given props to these nerdy board games, which seem to inspire cult-like loyalty. If you’re already a devotee of Risk, Axis & Allies, or Chess, give Settlers of Catan a try. You might find a new lifelong obsession.

For Music Nerds: Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina Music

Quick show of hands: How many people can hum this one? Wait—ALL of you??? If you're in the market for an equally nerdy but slightly more esoteric set of tunes, check out the Blade Runner soundtrack.

For Movie/TV Quote Nerds: Arrested Development

Arrested Development, which aired from 2003-2006, might be the only comedy since The Simpsons to inspire dialogue-memorizing, Halloween-costume-donning, sign-waving fanaticism. If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase, “Baby, you got a stew goin’!” you owe it to yourself to put all three seasons on the top of your Netflix queue.

Have you already gotten to know these landmarks of nerd culture? What books/movies/games/etc would you recommend to other people?

Related post: 5 Reasons to Listen to Classical Music