I thought we could use a thread for talking about these events. Mainly, because many of you have special interests that include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and so on. At these events, you can meet others with the same interests, and also the writers, editors, actors, directors, scientists, etc. that make it all happen.
If you can handle the crowds, that is. So I guess what I'd like to focus on with this thread is, how to enjoy such an event despite limited social skills, problems with crowds, noise, financial issues, etc. (If you went, it's not like you'd be the only one there dealing with such things.)
On a few other threads, I've already mentioned DragonCon (
www.dragoncon.org ). I'm there every year if at all possible. A typical convention draws maybe 500 to 1,000 into a medium-sized suburban hotel with some convention space. DragonCon brings in 30,000 people (all of them delightfully weird, myself included) and requires three large hotels and all their convention space, right smack in the center of a large city. This year, they're adding a fourth big hotel. It just gets bigger every year.
(just a few random Google Image search results for "dragoncon")
I've never been to one of these yet, but there's also the WorldCon (
www.worldcon.org ). This is the one where they give out the Hugo awards. It's in a different place every year. This year, it will be in Denver. Next year, Montreal, and the year after that, Melbourne. I'd love to use the 2009 and 2010 WorldCons as an excuse to travel outside the US, and if I can afford it, I will. People who have been to a WorldCon have warned me never to say "sci-fi" there. It's either "S.F." or "science fiction".
I'm sure you've heard of these types of events before, but the ones you've probably heard of are Star Trek conventions. Yes, those exist, and I've been to quite a few, but they are
not the core of science fiction. I've already made it known here how I feel about the Trekkie subculture, so all I can say to these is "Pfffffffft!"
There has been science fiction and gatherings of its fans since long before Gene Roddenberry dreamed up Star Trek. (I wonder what he was doing when he thought of it. It'd be funny if he was taking a dump when he thought of it, and even funnier to see the look on Trekkies' faces when they find
that out.
) Check out fanac.org to see an illustrated history of science fiction conventions all the way back to 1939 (
http://fanac.org/worldcon/NYcon/w39-p00.html ).
(an image from the 1939 WorldCon)
Anyway, who here attends these types of events or has considered attending them?
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