Review: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, ed. by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a Klingon and a Jedi slept in the same room together? What if the Popular Girl fell down the teen social ladder and became awkward and lonely (and thus, relatable to Geeks around the world)? Or if one boy discovers LARPing as a form of social expression; if another cruelly teases Geeks only to realize he’s become one himself? Geektastic is a collaborative effort between several Young Adult authors, born of the minds of Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (who edit the collection and co-wrote the opening short story) that includes fifteen short stories about what it means to be a Geek. While the collection offers a witty, tongue-in-cheek definition sure to make readers smile in recognition of their inner Geek, the stories all share something much deeper: Geekdom is the long and often trying journey of learning it’s okay to be ourselves, even if it’s contrary to popular opinion and especially if it’s with our friends. That’s a message sure to resonant with teens everywhere, not just the Geeks.
There were, of course, some authors I recognized (and implicitly became excited about their contributions), some I was familiar with by name and reputation only, and others I had never heard of before. Not surprisingly, I found a couple of new authors I want to read more from! Most of the stories involve Geeky interests (comic books, role playing, established and cult franchises such as Star Wars, Star Trek, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” etc...) and idols in a marvelous mixture of similes that bring perspective to identity and help shape the young protagonists’ most formative years. Very rarely were any of these overwrought, but the euphemistic flair really only served to remind me of the fact that if I can recognize the comparisons, I am a Geek, too (as if there was any ever doubt). There were so many wonderfully beautiful and hilarious stories in this collection that I’ll only mention a few that really struck a chord with me. Did I like all of them? No. Did I love most of them? Yes.
The first story, “Once You’re a Jedi, You’re a Jedi All the Way”-a cooperative effort between Black and Castellucci-was naturally one of my favorites. I say naturally because if even you’re remotely familiar with popular culture, you know this story is going to be about Jedi and thus, Star Wars; I am a huge Star Wars fan (do I have to explain the term “jawa” to you? Hopefully not!). I’m so glad the collection opened with this story. It’s about a couple of fans who take their fandom so seriously, they even stay in character during the private moments of their lives, away from the Convention (with so many SF/F/Comic Cons, you fill in the blank) floor. These fans are, metaphorically speaking, on opposing teams.
One is part of a Lightsaber Demonstration group and dressed as Jedi, the other is costumed as a Klingon. When they wake up in the same hotel room together-née, the same bed-deep suspicion and horror emerges, mixed with guilt and the kind of shame that arises when one begins to wonder, “what will my friends think?” There is, of course, the inevitable Star Wars vs. Star Trek argument that turns from flirtatiously probing to Convention floor brawl, but it sets the mood for the rest of the book: All of these characters will be Geeks. Let’s not split hairs over the types of Geeks and risk dividing the more important loyalty and solidarity derived from that common ground.
While this story was one of the most entertaining, it also had two of the most glaring typos and errors one could ever make in a book that sets out to appease Geeks everywhere. The irony of such errors being acutely recognizable by it’s key audience is not lost on me. I will, in fact, point them out to you. Anakin (Skywalker, not Solo-yes, there are two) is spelled “Annakin” on one page (p. 6). On another, Padawan Pete apparently has a cape (p. 9) when it’s rare even for Jedi Masters to have capes (Obi-Wan only had his as a General-a Republic, not a Jedi, designation), but Padawans might as well forget that fashion trend. It isn’t rare, however, for Sith Lords to have them, which is why that particular slip is so amusing to me. So there you have it. A spelling error and costume error.
David Levithan’s “Quiz Bowl Antichrist” was absolutely beautiful. Alternate Alec feels awkward with the other members of his Quiz Bowl team who are quite gung ho about their team spirit and nurture a love of winning. Alec has less than altruistic motives (bloating his college application, getting an ‘A’ in Physics, etc…), but his literary prowess also brings him closer to a boy he doesn’t quite know what to make of. A boy he doesn’t yet realize he has feelings for. Levithan’s writing is equal parts funny, penetrating, and accessible. He has a studied understanding of the intricacies and complications of teenage relationships and interactions. He can elucidate the hidden desires that motivate them, captures the confusing mess of identity development and the unsettling murkiness of hormones. It’s one of the most poignant stories and best of all: it’s sandwiched in the middle of the collection like the most perfect little treat.
Honestly, these two stories aside, there were so many I enjoyed, so many I want to gush about, that all I can do at this point is tell you to go find a copy of Geektastic and read it for yourself. From the bittersweetness of M.T. Anderon’s “The King of Pelinesse,” to Garth Nix’s uplifting tale (“The Quiet Knight”) about a boy who uses LARPing to unearth the hero inside of himself, John Green’s empowering story of friendship (“Freak the Geek”), Barry Lyga’s evolutionary showdown of Geektastic proportions in “The Truth About Dino Girl,” Wendy Mass’ hilarious competition of wills, tempered by attraction and rivaled only in the genuine sweetness of the romance, to Libba Bray’s “It’s Just a Jump to the Left”-an amazingly polished nostalgia tale of friendship, the strange and uncomfortable reality of adolescence-most of these stories are fulfilling in their own way.
Clearly these authors enjoyed engaging their inner Geek with full and unabashed embraces. The collection is also pulled together rather nicely with each story getting progressively less about the minutiae of Geekery itself (what we love that makes us Geeks) and more about the feelings and repercussions resulting from an utter love of dinosaurs, or an obsession over a new movie, and the friends that help us stay true to ourselves. With that in mind, readers unfamiliar with some of the more nerdy concepts or geek lingo won’t feel too alienated. Most of the stories don’t engage the unapproachable “”inside info” universally believed recognizable by Geeks everywhere very often. The protagonists are all ultimately just teenagers; Geektastic is a reservoir of their innermost confessions. Teens everywhere, and even adults, can relate to that. Although seen through the lens of Geekdom, it’s extremely entertaining and incredibly absorbing.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for my review copy.
As a reminder, you can read this and my other book reviews at Jawas Read, Too!