The Nerd Issue: CONvergence

This weekend, the 2011 CONvergence convention will come alive with nerds of all kinds. Veterans of the convention scene should have no difficulty spotting the different breeds in attendance, but beginners can reference this handy guide.

This neo-Victorian movement pays homage to alternate futures in which technology is steam-powered. Fans of the genre can be recognized by their clothing and accessories, which feature clockwork-inspired items, brown leather and oversized tools. Vintage leather flight goggles are a popular costume element. As this year's CONvergence theme is "Tomorrow Through the Past," Steampunkers will gather en masse.

These fans of "Star Trek" can be spotted at almost any sci-fi convention. They are interested in space travel, as well as the dynamics of romantic relationships between humans and aliens. Not to be confused with Trekkers, who share the same interests but are generally considered insufferable.

Live-action role players have taken role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons to the next level. Their live-action games often have a medieval angle. Swordplay is common. Huzzah!

Short for "costume play." Fans of Cosplay elaborately reproduce the costumes of characters from manga or anime. Expect Gwen Stefani to rip off their fashions in the near future.

An enthusiast of the "Star Wars" franchise, specifically Episodes 4-6 and the "Clone Wars" TV series. Many disown Episodes 1-3. Also known as Warsies (a term considered derogatory by many).

Whovians

Fans of the long-running British series "Doctor Who" can be spotted by Anglophile identifiers such as tweed blazers and bow ties. Check out the CONvergence Doctor Who Party Room, where Whovians will sip tea and discuss the inner machinations of the Doctor's time-traveling police box, the TARDIS.

Connoisseurs of the creative output of writer/director Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," "Dollhouse," etc.). Many Whedonites fall into subsets, like "Browncoats," who are devoted to the short-lived TV series "Firefly" and its follow-up feature film "Serenity."

An enthusiast of "The Lord of the Rings," also known as a "Ringnut." Their numbers dwindled for decades until the release of the "LOTR" films. Expect another boom with Peter Jackson's upcoming two-part film "The Hobbit."

Less common than the other nerds listed here, these fans of the Australian-American science fiction series "Farscape" are a fun-loving bunch. Though the series lasted four seasons, its cancellation was abrupt. Expect Scapers, much like Browncoats, to carry a deep bitterness.

"Battlestar Galactica" fans don't often dress in costume, but are easily identified by their vocabulary. Anyone overheard using a variation of the word "frak" is safe to be considered a Galactican.

"The X-Files" enthusiasts rarely travel in costume, but share an emotional investment in the romantic relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.