09.20.08
Convention in Montreal
Posted in fandom tagged authors, convention, fandom, masquerade, science fiction at 8:22 am by åka
The next science fiction convention not too far from Kingston is Con*Cept in Montreal, October 17-19. One of the Guests of Honour is David Brin, author of among other things the Uplift books, about a future where humans have helped many other animals to reach conciousness and intelligence.
A fan-run convention is usually a very relaxed event, with lots of space to socialize and meet people. In contrast to the more commercial events, meeting people is actually the most important point. One way of getting involved and see things a bit from the inside is to volunteer. Usually it’s possible to volunteer for only a few hours, just to help out with some practical things — in that way you will not miss much of the programming.
At a convention, you can expect to see more discussion panels than lectures and readings. Here, pros and fans talk about a topic, and might also answer questions from the audience. Sometimes panels drift off the topic, and the quality of the discussion depends a lot on the moderator. If you know a lot about something, you can also volunteer for panels!
Many authors like to go to conventions, even if they are not invited as guests (not everyone can be a guest every time!).
You can also expect parties, of course. Especially if you stay at the convention hotel. And a masquerade, where people show off their costumes (see pictures on the convention website). Other common ingredients are the art show and a dealers room. Lots of fun!
I’m probably going. Are you?
Cliff Burns said,
2008/09/20 at 8:48 am
The problem with most SF cons is that they’re not centered around the, y’know, FICTION of science. Too many “fans” are more drawn to the genre by computer/video games, media tie-ins from movies/TV and comic books. The most attractive feature of READERCON is that it’s designed specifically around science fiction literature, authors and readers mingling and exchanging views; the true devotees, not just the ones who dress up like Klingons or are fluent in Wookie…
åka said,
2008/09/20 at 11:34 am
This is the eternal debate: inclusive or exclusive? I agree with you that the literature and discussion part is the best aspect of a convention, but concoms want to attract more people than would come to a purely literary convention. I’m personally not very interested in many of the things going on at conventions, but I enjoy the atmosphere. Usually I manage to find the likeminded in the crowd, and if the convention has succeeded to make space for us — well, then I’m happy.
Also: there is nothing wrong with comic books or video games, and I don’t like the elitist tendency to look down on media fans. What is boring (from my perspective) is that people sometimes come to conventions expecting just to be entertained. They are not interested in exchanging views or discussing ideas.
There is nothing preventing you from arranging your own convention if you don’t like the ones other make. This is the best part of fandom. The initative belongs to those who take it!
I can recommend you to go to a convention or two in Scandinavia, if you ever have the opportunity: they are mostly what you are asking for. Except that there is at most two authors invited from other countries, and if you are lucky about as many from Sweden… We have a strong literary fandom, but we don’t have the market to support many authors.
Cliff Burns said,
2008/09/21 at 9:52 am
Love to drop by your area of the world sometime–big readers over there AND we share the common perspective of Northerners (I’m a Canadian lad, right down to my hockey stick)…