Worldcon, or the World Science Fiction Convention, is the annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans, writers, artists, musicians and other creators from across the globe. First held in New York City in 1939, Worldcon moves around the globe, held in a different city and organized by a different volunteer organization each year.
What is Worldcon?
Worldcon originally focused on and still has a strong emphasis on science fiction and fantasy literature, but has grown to include genre television, movies, animation, games and other popular media as well. It has truly become the world’s fair of science fiction and fantasy fandom. No other event brings together fans and creators, regardless of genre or medium, under one big tent with the face-to-face intimacy of Worldcon.
DiscCon III offers a massive selection of virtual readings and panels.
Via Mysterious Galaxy, Lavie Tidhar, author of the John W. Campbell Award winner CENTRAL STATION, celebrates his new book THE ESCAPEMENT with a conversation with New York Times bestselling Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Velvet Was the Night, on Saturday December 4 1PM PT.
The livestream is hosted by Crowdcast! To view and register for the event click here!
Sale ends Friday, December 31, at 11:59PM PST.
Free shipping via USPS Media Mail within the United States (except Alaska and Hawaii). No minimum purchase required.
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Join us for a very special in-person event with beloved children’s book author Jane Yolen (Owl Moon). The author’s latest book, ARCH OF BONE, continues the story from where Moby Dick left off. When a rough sailor called Ishmael turns up on a family’s doorstep, even loyal dog Zeke knows that the news is ruinous. This compelling boyhood adventure hearkens to timeless coming of age tales of yore. Lovingly illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, the journey of a boy and his dog comes to life on the page, renewing the joy of a classic tale.
Enjoy a free ARCH OF BONE reading by the author at 2pm, followed by a book signing. Bank Square Books will have copies of the book for sale at the reading. The reading is free, however registration is required due to limited seating.
Optional add-on experience: After the reading and book signing, take a Moby Dick tour aboard the last wooden whaleship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan, guided by Moby Dick scholar, Mary K Bercaw Edwards. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Museum’s exhibit Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers. Tours will run at 3:15 and 4:00.
$18 members / $20 non-members
GUESTS OF HONOR
The World Fantasy Convention offers a massive selection of readings,
signings, and panels. To find any of these authors, check out the entire
schedule on their site.
Mysterious Galaxy with Livia Llewellyn (Virtual)
The Ghost Writers Podcast with Brian Keene (Virtual)
Body Shocks: A Discussion on Horror Fiction
Los Angeles Public Library
with Nathan Ballingrud, Cassandra Khaw, and Alyssa Wong (Virtual)
Storyfest (virtual)
The Wesport (CT) Public Library
World Fantasy Convention Montreal
The Second Life Book Club (virtual)
Discon III Washington, DC
Founded in 2002, the Imaginales festival is one of the first international fairs for imaginary literature.
Discover the festival
For four days, more than a hundred guests from various backgrounds (France, Europe, United States, etc.), writers or artists, authors of fantasy, science fiction, fantasy, historical novels, tales and legends, share their passion with an increasing audience every year.
More than 45,000 visitors came in 2019 to immerse themselves in these imaginary worlds, between exhibitions, conferences, literary cafes and unusual activities, in a shaded park, bordered by the curves of the Moselle.
The festival naturally found its place in a town, Épinal, which has always been dedicated to culture and image.
ArmadilloCon is an annual literary convention sponsored by the Fandom Association of Central Texas, Inc. The primary focus of ArmadilloCon is science fiction and fantasy, but we also pay attention to art, animation, science, media, and gaming. Every year, dozens of professional writers, artists and editors attend the convention. We invite you to attend the convention, especially if you are a fan of reading, writing, gaming, and generally having fun.
ArmadilloCon offers a large selection of readings, signings, and panels. To find Liss and Klaw events, check out the entire schedule on their site.
Imagining the Journey: The Significant Role for Science-Fiction in Reaching Mars Successfully
Science fiction has long played a surprising and important role in science itself, inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers as well as shaping ideas that have led to technological advances; imagining a bright future helps us to attain it. In that same vein, science fiction has plenty to teach us in our pursuit of Mars.
The most obvious role for fiction is to help us think through technical and logistical hurdles, and there’s plenty of relevant work to turn to on these points. Perhaps less obvious, but potentially even more important, science fiction can help us appreciate the complicated and central human element that will shape any endeavor to visit or colonize the red planet. This includes paying attention to individual psychology—what it will really be like for a person to go on a journey like this—and also attending to social dynamics and to the ways that we carry culture, tradition, and human nature wherever we go, for better and for worse.
The speaker, author of the novel HOW TO MARS, will discuss fiction by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, Ellen Klages, and Kim Stanley Robinson. He will also discuss discoveries derived from his own creative process and share from his work.
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that the 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention will be convened Thursday-Sunday, October 14-17, 2021, all over the world via the Internet! The International Mars Society Convention presents a unique opportunity for those interested in the planet Mars to come together and discuss the science, technology, social implications, philosophy and a multitude of other aspects of Mars exploration.
Following up on our wildly successful 2020 Virtual Convention which boasted over 10,000 people attending, and more than 150 papers presented, we will again be using unique technology, to not only hold presentations, panel discussions and debates, but also to allow people from around the world to participate, posing questions and interacting with one another.
The Mars Society’s four-day international conference will bring together leading scientists, government policymakers, commercial space executives, science journalists and space advocates to discuss the latest scientific and technological developments and challenges related to the human and robotic exploration of Mars and the eventual human settlement of the Red Planet.
