Honestly, the best route in is to find a local club. For the US: http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club For the UK: http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/first-step... Most nations have a national society that can help signpost you in the same way.

Also, come join /r/amateurradio, there's a pretty friendly, if small, community there, with a weekly "ask anything" thread and an alright "getting started" wiki.