Archon 32

This year was the thirty-second St. Louis Science Fiction Convention. It is named Archon in honor of the St. Louis Arch.

Before getting to the convention, I must pause to review some nomenclature. SF fans (there is a minor disagreement about whether it should be SF [ess eff] or Sci Fi) have a few words of their own. Prime examples are con for convention and fen as the plural of fan. Non SF readers are called mundanes.




The convention is now held the first weekend of October. For a long time, it was held in July. The heat of a St. Louis summer made some of the costumes torture to wear. Costuming is an important part of a con. The weather in October is chancy at best, but this year was delightfully cool, allowing fen to wear an imposing array of the costumer's art.

Science fiction is a genre with many sub-genres. Some of these, like horror, are found in different parts of the book store. Others like fantasy, space opera, hard science fiction, alternate history, cyberpunk, steampunk and military SF are lumped in with the other parts of science fiction. It mostly depends on the management of the store or chain. But all of these can be taken under the mantle of SF.



Science fiction is not something new. Although Jules Verne is the father of modern SF, it goes back at least to the 17th century. During that time, Savien Cyrano de Bergerac (yes, the guy the play was written about) published his "Comic Story of the Countries of the Moon and Sun." If you're not familiar with the play, read it. There are some of the most romantic scenes ever written therein. The films based on the play are very well done and fairly faithful to the original by Rostand. However, there have been claims that science fiction goes all the way back to biblical times. When I was growing up, I read several articles that claimed that the "great wheel" seen by Ezekiel.

Fandom (another SF word) consists of a huge variety of people. There are science fiction clubs and authors all over the Americas, Europe and the Far East. In fact, each year, a world science fiction convention is held. More abut that in the parties section. While many fen are scientists and engineers, a multitude of other folk love the genre or part of it. There are teenagers, literature students, artists, clerks, accountants and policemen that I have met at cons. Fandom is also one of the most accepting, tolerant populations I have met. Almost any foible is acceptable at a con.

alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259777841943807890" />


The gentleman in this photo, by the way is running his computer from a solar cell.

The most common question I hear about science fiction conventions (cons is so much easier, but a little repetitive) is "What do you do there?" The answer to that is quite a bit. During the day, there are panel discussions ranging from weapons of the medieval warrior to surgery in space. Experts in writing and publishing talk about both writing and getting what you write published. Artists will talk about how they got into SF art or how they draw imaginary creatures. Astronomers can give lectures on how to make up realistic imaginary worlds or biologists might talk about what sort of aliens might exist. I even managed to give a few panels about my life with big cats.



In the evening, there is more programming, usually there is a continuous science fiction film show and the parties. Parties are an integral part of the con experience. Reasons for hosting parties can vary from the desire to get together with friends and others to a bid for a world science fiction convention (worldcon) location. You see, worldcons are held in a different city every year. There have been a number of repeat visits, to Los Angeles and to Denver, for examples. But the con itself moves each year. Attendees of the worldcon two years before vote on the location and the winner hosts the worldcon two years hence. Believe me, two years are the minimum required to organize a successful worldcon. It is usually the biggest SF con held in the year, hosting memberships from 3,000 to 10,000 in recent years. The parties are to convince fen that a particular locale is ideal for a worldcon. Since some delightful people love to throw parties, there are also fake worldcon bid parties for places like the moon or Mars.

The parties usually serve food typical of their areas and some serve beverages native to their areas. Especially notable among these was the successful Scotland bid party. Glasgow won hands down that year.

Last, but not least, many people ask about the "Trekkies". They are with us, along with fans of Dr. Who and other TV series. But Star Trek was the seminal science fiction television show and brought the medium to the attention of more people than anything until Harry Potter (there are Harry Potter fans too.)




Try Googling "Science Fiction Convention" and attend one in your area.

Con report

This is probably a very late convention report. Pretty much my whole family attended Denvention (the world science fiction convention [worldcon], held in Denver this year.) It was a good con (Fans, called fen in the plural by themselves, call conventions cons.) There were plenty of authors and artists in attendance. They made themselves available, for the most part, to con goers. The panels were multiple and of interest to a wide variety of people.

For me the best thing was that I got to get together with friends I see only once or twice a year. I'm assuming that most readers do not know about science fiction conventions (cons from now on). Along with getting to meet and talk with favorite sf authors and artists, there are lots of other things to do. Panels are just what they sound like. A group of four or five people talk about a subject of interest. Some are experts, others are just interested in the subject. Subjects vary. I've attended panels on how to start writing, how to write a query letter to a publisher or agent, small unit infantry tactics, the effect of materials science on weaponry, exotic pets and medicine in space. That is just in the last year or two.

In addition to panels, there are readings by authors. Some writers know how to read aloud very effectively. John Dalmas held a group of about 30 spellbound by reading from a first draft of one of his novels. Usually on panels and at readings, there is a question and answer period afterwards. That usually continues after the panel is over and the group has to give up the space for another panel. Fen just naturally follow the people they want to hear into the hall and it goes on until someone has to leave for another panel or reading.

Most cons host an art show. This can consist of available prints, but many have original works by everyone from juvenile artists to professional. Some of the art done by professionals sells in the tens of thousands of dollars. But there is quite a bit which is both attractive and affordable. In my opinion, some of the good art is sold for less than the frame is worth.

Almost every con has a dealer's room, often called hucksters. Depending on the size of the con, there will be from a dozen to hundreds of people selling all kinds of things that are of interest. Off the top of my head, there are costumes (sf and medieval), weapons (everything from swords to ray guns), new books, old books, comic books, books on tape... all kinds of books, not just sf and fantasy. You can buy tapes and DvDs of movies and TV shows, jewelry, gadgets like blinking light pins and electronic signs you program yourself, and stuff that is just neat.




There is often a masquerade. These are shows put on by the con and the participants compete with fabulous costumes or skits. Some of the costumes are very complex and can take over a year to conceive and finish. A group of judges with experience in costuming preside over the event and award prizes to the best, the funniest, the cutest (hard decision when a bunch of adorable, little kids show up in constume)



and the best workmanship. Some fen like dressing up. They wear hall costumes that can be anything from a sexy outfit to a full suit of armor (even space suits). My very first con was one in St. Louis. I had heard of worldcon (thought you had to be someone like Isaac Asimov to attend) and knew nothing of the local cons. What attracted me was the sight of a van stopping in a hotel parking lot and a group of five or six Jawas (remember the little robed guys who kidnapped the "droids" in Star Wars?) running into the lobby. I parked and followed. My life hasn't been the same since.



In the evening there are parties. The site of each worldcon is chosen two years in advance. Cities bidding for a worldcon throw parties to show fen just how much fun their city can be. Other folk host parties because they like parties. A third category is the 'thank you' party that is hosted by a former worldcon city to thank fen who supported them. Ah yes, among the parties that are thrown by people who are just party animals is the "faux bid" party. These are for places that don't exist, like Oz or Utopia and for places that exist but are very hard to reach, like Mars or the moon. Quite a few of these parties offer drinks, both alcoholic and non as well as snacks.

Many cons host a con suite where you can get a free soda (or a beer if you're of legal age), a place to sit and talk or sometimes a dance floor. The parties and suite are no charge. But plenty of them have a kitty where you can stick some cash to help defray the host's expenses.

Worldcon and some others publish a newsletter. These can be daily or just once during the con. They contain changes in the programming schedule, gossip, information on the hotels and restaurants in the area. One delightful newsletter consists of just snippets of conversations overheard at the con. Of course, these are free as well.

Once you begin attending cons, you realize that there are regulars who show up every year. Some of them help organize the con, others just like the atmosphere and parties. It doesn't take long to make friends who can last many years (30 and counting for a couple.)

Oops, almost forgot GAMING. There are two basic kinds of games: board games like "Dungeons and Dragons" and live action role playing games (LARP). Board games and computer games have progressed far beyond D&D. There are some multi-million dollar game publishers. LARP started from a short story called "The Tenth Victim," about a society where murder was permitted so long as you signed up for it. An assassin was assigned a victim who knew that he was the target. The object of the whole business was to survive, either as assassin or victim while killing the other guy. After winning ten of these games, the player became somewhat famous.

At first, these games were played without costume. The weapons were pointed fingers and the rules somewhat vague. More recently, they have been organized, with headquarters and costumes. Vampire LARP is not the most popular. Some of the costumes are quite well done. Mundane (non-fan) hotel guests may be surprised by finding a realistically made up corpse in a hallway or stairwell who gives anyone passing information on what the crime scene looks like. At one con, a body outline was sketched on the floor with masking tape.

That is a basic outline of the science fiction convention. Don't forget that sf contains many sub-genres such as fantasy and horror, just to mention two of lots and lots.

Once again, into the breach...

It's been quite a while since I visited myself here.
At the beginning of May, I was found to have a perforated bowel. The surgeon began cutting about two hours after I was diagnosed. Since then, I've either been in hospital or too tired to write. As the recovery progresses, my energy comes back and I find more energy... and more things to say.
Belly surgery such as I had takes more out of a person than just the energy to do things. It cuts into dignity and privacy. I have a temporary colostomy. For the next three months or so, I'll be pooping out a new hole in my stomach. That involves more than a quick wipe with toilet paper. I have to empty the bag, clean it up and deodorize it before I can finish. It also requires a new position at the "throne of the porcelain God." Instead of sitting, I kneel, appropriate for a worshipper.
Changing the bag is done a couple of times a week. It involves removing the old bag and seals with a special adhesive remover, cleaning the area of my belly thoroughly and, sometimes, shaving it so the next removal will go more painlessly. In the mean time, I pass gas through every orifice connected to the gastrointestinal tract. One time, I felt like I was urinating a soda that someone had shaken up. Odd, but not unpleasant.
I thought that spending most of my time in bed would offer the relaxation to think and ponder. Not so. I've been sleeping and concentrating on just what I have to learn to do in order to stay clean and healthy.
My memory must be going bad. I do not recall this much trouble after I was wounded 40 years ago.
The garden is doing well this spring and yesterday, the first day I was allowed out, I took a bunch of pictures of the flowers that were blooming. While I was doing that, my wife and daughter were planting dozens more. I hope that I'll be able to walk to the place they were planted before they quit blooming.
Some of my friends have sent cards or flowers. Some have not. Of course, I did not publish a press release to announce that surgeons were rearranging my waste disposal system, so some have not gotten the word. 'Twill be interesting to see who, if anyone says something when I am finally permitted to travel.

Denvention (the world science fiction convention) is scheduled for this August. I'm particularly anxious to attend this year since many of my European friends only come near that one time.
If you have never attended an SF con, this would be a great one to begin. While it will be quite large, there will be many of the writers and artists that are widely admired coming there. There are terrific bid parties at "Worldcons". Various cities promote themselves as sites for future conventions. SF fans are a friendly lot. It's easy to get involved in the various panels that range from design and use of ancient weapons to current plans for the exploration of our universe.