Convention Beat: October 2011

There is a lot going on in October! So much so that even though I started looking ahead early, I am still late this month. Also, it almost makes me glad I don’t have the budget for these conventions–how would I choose? Being broke saves me from these difficult choices, .Note: I have tried to include information on a wide variety of science fiction/fantasy, gaming and generally geeky conventions, but I am not guaranteeing this covers everything. Please feel free to suggest other conventions, for this month or future months in the comments!

Archon
September 30 – October 2
St. Louis, MO

This past weekend, there was actually a convention close to my own home, but I still couldn’t go, what with 4th grade soccer, groceries and a sore knee. I am going to try for next year, though. This group put on the WorldCon in 2007, so they have a lot of experience putting on a good convention. They have gaming, filking, cosplay (with contests), children’s programming and a wide variety of panels for adults from anime to the business of writing to crafts to fannish discussions.

Hawaii Entertainment Expo
September 30 – October 2
Honolulu, HI

The describe this one as Hawaii’s newest multi-genre convention, but judging from the program, it is heavy on the anime and cosplay. I know @gamingangel would be glad to be there, too–they had a Lolita fashion show! Plus, what is not to like about a convention in Hawaii?

Manjiro Festival
October 1
Fairhaven, MAThis is a fun looking festival put on by the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society to remember Manjiro Nakahama, the first Japanese citizen to visit the United States. When he was 14, he went on a fishing trip that ended in a shipwreck, and he ended up coming to Massachusetts with the whaling captain that saved him and the rest of the crew. The Firendship Society has a small museum and a tour of the town that commemorate the friendship between Manjiro and Whitfield. There was be Japanese and American music, food, arts & crafts and martial arts, Taiko drumming, tours of the Manjiro trail, and our @GeekWoman was there.

Webcomics Con
October 1 – October 2
Norwalk, CT

This one is just what it sounds like–webcomics only. A lot of the programming is for the creators, with programming on technical details as well as the creative process, but they also planned a large exhibitor hall and lots of cosplay.

GeekGirlCon
October 8 – 9
Seattle, WA

This looks like a neat group of people that do a lot of community work in addition to putting on the convention. They have a lot of cool programming, but I was particularly excited to see @GailSimone and Katie Goldman. You may have heard about Katie a while back, when kids were making fun of her for liking Star Wars, saying that is for boys–that got a little bit of press. I tell you what, as a mom and former girl geek, it still makes me tear up when I think about little Katie being teased for what she loves, and also when I read about all the wonderful support she got thanks to the internet.

New York ComicCon/New York Anime Fest
October 13 – 16
New York, NY

When we talked about upcoming conventions at our staff meeting, @stealthyslyth told me she was going to New York ComicCon, and @VesVespaa said she was going to New York Anime Fest, I did not realize these are really the same convention! Apparently, though, the ComicCon hosts the Anime Fest and they are all in the same place at the same time, which just sounds like a recipe for more exhaustion and less sleep to me, . Obviously, there will be a lot of anime and artists of all kinds, but there will also be speed dating, lots of guests, and some great looking programs.

CapClave
October 14 – 16
Washington, DC/Gaithersburg, MA

A convention that tags itself as a place “Where reading is not extinct” is a convention that I like. Also, Catherynne Valente is the guest of honor, and the focus is on the short fiction form, which I really enjoy.

Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention
October 14 – 16
Memphis, TN

This convention has one of the coolest features I have ever seen–Geek 101 school field trips. They have a public school district approved program designed to stimulate interest in careers as an artist or a scientist. They also have laser tag and a lot of cool looking programs, largely centered around comics, costuming, movies and fiction.

BlizzCon

October 21 – 23
Anaheim, CA

Blizzard Entertainment is putting on this celebration of all things Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo, and it looks like a great time. There will be an opportunity to play the latest versions of their games, discussion panels with developers, contests, tournaments and commemorative merchandise based on game universes. @gamingangel and @stealthyslyth will be there and reporting back to us, but if you are interested in watching live, you can get a virtual ticket for streaming online or on DirecTV.

MileHiCon
October 21 – 23
Denver, CO

The website for this con does not provide a lot of details, but they do seem to have an interesting event I have not seen before–a Critter Crunch, which appears to be some sort of transforming robot battle, although whoever wrote the rules seems to assume you already know the gist of the competition, so the rules are focused on details. Otherwise, there appears to be gaming, programming, a kids track, costuming, parties and many SF authors attending.

Necronomicon
October 21 – 23
St. Petersburg, FL
The name comes from the Halloween time of year. Ben Bova is the Guest of Honor, and among other things, he is on the panel of one of the coolest programs I have seen lately: Science & Math in Everyday Life. There are a lot of interesting looking panels on how real science intersects with science fiction, like Women in Science, How Science Literacy Affects Your Perception of the World and Teaching Science, the Challenges and Rewards, plus programs on filking, writing, anime, art, gaming, Dr. Who, and many more.

World Fantasy Convention
October 27 – 29
San Diego, CA

The World Fantasy Awards will be given here. Once again, the nominations for best novel look great (Lauren Beukes, Zoo City, N K Jemisin, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Graham Joyce, The Silent Land, Guy Gavriel Kay, Under Heaven, Karen Lord, Redemption in Indigo, and Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death), and once again, I am pulling for Jemisin or Okorafor to win. I loved those books!

Icon
October 29 – 30
Cedar Rapids, IA

Jane Yolen is the guest of honor at this one. You know, Iowa is only, what, a 5 hour drive from St. Louis? And I could sleep in my car and bring granola bars to save money. Might be worth it to see Jane Yolen…