Considered by many to be one of the most prolific writers of science fiction, Mike Resnick’s accomplishments include numerous awards from around the world, including the U.S.A., France, Japan, Spain, Croatia, and Poland. This year, Mike received his 31st Hugo nomination; he has won five Hugos to date. His work includes the Santiago series, the Widowmaker series, and the Starship series.

Peter S. Beagle is best known for his novel, The Last Unicorn. This is the fourth year Peter has come to Dragon*Con. In addition to speaking at various panels, he was gracious enough to sit down and chat with the Daily Dragon.

Amid the waving of scarves and wands, the “Meet the Stars of Harry Potter” panel began with the introduction of Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom.

The first part of the hour was prepared questions ranging from particulars about the Harry Potter movies to more personal questions, such as his favorite TV shows. One of the responses brought laughter to the crowd when Matthew revealed he had left his keys on the plane and wasn’t sure how he was getting home.

With a sense of wonder, fans stepped through the double doors of the Grand Ballroom at the Atlanta Hilton seeking T.V. heroes and movie stars. At every table, fans and guests interacted with smiles and conversation. At one table, Michael Rosenbaum gave a high five to one of his fans who responded with a grin. At another, fans crowded around Sean Astin as he related tales from his life. Further down, a fan reverently placed a poster on the table …

It was the day before the beginning of Dragon*Con in downtown Atlanta. Outside, lines snaked around the Hyatt as fans waited to purchase their badges. On the sidewalk, they discussed the merits of their favorite comic book heroes. A sea of bubbling excitement rolled through the crowd moving from hotel to hotel as the day faded and the night began. Inside, the hotel was filled with X-men, pirates, and an assortment of characters from various TV shows. New and old …

Every Labor Day weekend, Peachtree Street fills with the sound of clanging swords, the stomping of men in white Stormtrooper armor, and the twirling of lightsabers in the air. It’s not your typical day in downtown Atlanta. Once a year, the unusual becomes an everyday occurrence. Briefcases are replaced with bags stuffed with comic books, and neckties switch places with flamboyant, red-and-orange wizard scarves. Every year, thousand of fans invade Atlanta to attend Dragon*Con—with over 30,000 in 2007—upholding Dragon*Con’s reputation as one of the largest science fiction and fantasy conventions in the United States.