Science Fiction Conventions

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

There was a time when the idea of a world-wide system linking people and computers might have been straight out of the pages of the latest science fiction magazine. No surprise then, that science fiction and fantasy fans, writers, editors, artists, and more have taken to the Internet in large numbers from the time of the early bulletin board discussion groups to the instant messaging, blogs, and chat rooms of today. Whether you're new to science fiction and fantasy and want to know more, have a favorite writer you'd like to know more about, are looking for information on actors, movies, and TV shows, or would like to meet people who share the same interests in science fiction and fantasy as you do, the Internet is the perfect place to find out what you need to know.

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Fantasy and Science Fiction History and News

Over the years, a whole culture has grown up around people's love of and appreciation for fantasy ... read more »

Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines and Books

For science fiction and fantasy writers, magazines, whether in print or online, are a place to try ... read more »

Sci-Fi TV

Science fiction has been on the screen since television was first born. Classic shows like The ... read more »

Fantasy and Science Fiction Films

Science fiction and fantasy in movies have a huge following. Every summer blockbuster season seems ... read more »

Science Fiction and Fantasy Art

As soon as science fiction and fantasy began to be published, books needed cover art and stories ... read more »

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Just because the content you produce will be imaginative and often unreal doesn't mean you don't ... read more »

Author Web sites

On their Web sites and blogs, writers use the opportunity to talk about subjects beyond what they ... read more »

Sci-Fi Fandom

Since the Internet began, fantasy and science fiction fans have used e-mail lists, bulletin boards, ... read more »

Science Fiction Conventions

While you may see some fans dressed up in costumes, the average science fiction or fantasy convention isn't much different than any other convention; people with a shared interest meeting to conduct business find out more about what brings them all together. Oh, and there are parties, too. You can learn all about them on the Internet.

Dulcinea's Insight

Fantasy and science fiction fans often differentiate between traditional conventions which are planned, organized, and run by volunteers; and corporate-sponsored conventions that are run to make a profit. At volunteer-run conventions, the writers and other pros are guests of the convention. At corporate conventions, the pros are paid an appearance fee and access to them is controlled. Both types of conventions can be fun; the difference is that of being a participant versus being a customer.

Science fiction and fantasy fans have developed many traditions and insider language over the years. If you decide to attend a convention, you might like to check out something like the SF Convention Survival Kit For NeoFans before you go.

Conventions come in all sizes, from fewer than a hundred members to several thousand and more. The conventions listed below are a few of the more popular conventions, plus a couple others to give you a feel for just how much variety is out there.

Dulcinea's Picks

The World Science Fiction Convention is the biggest show in science fiction and fantasy. Held every year in a different city, on or near Labor Day weekend, Worldcon attracts thousands of people for four days of socializing, panel discussions, autographing sessions, workshops, art shows, parties, and more. The Hugo Awards for the best in science fiction and fantasy are awarded here, and the Masquerade has to be seen to be believed.

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The World Fantasy Convention is just what the name implies, an annual gathering devoted more closely to fantasy than science fiction. While it also changes location yearly, World Fantasy is smaller than Worldcon; attendance is limited to about 500 people. That makes it a little more intimate, and perhaps, as a consequence, World Fantasy attracts a higher percentage of professional writers, editors, and artists than almost any other convention.

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Norwescon , held annually in Seattle in the spring, is the premier gathering of fantasy and science fiction fans on the West Coast. In addition to all the usual convention activities, the Philip K. Dick Award for best book originally published in paperback is awarded here.

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Wiscon bills itself as "The World's Leading Feminist Science Fiction Convention." Held Memorial Day weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, Wiscon is known for the number of professionals who attend, and for the quality of the programming. Registration is limited to 1,000 members.

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Readercon At, everything is simplified to books. Consequently, this medium-sized Massachusetts convention is a favorite of those whose main passion is reading, and for whom science fiction and fantasy are the best reading there is.

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SciFiConventions.com has information and tips for convention organizers and attendees, a guide for new fans, and a calendar listing over 800 conventions. That means there's a pretty good chance there's one near you soon.

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