Robert J. Sawyer is the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Award-winning author of 19 science fiction novels and is the only author ever to win the top SF awards in the U.S., China, Japan, France, and Spain. The ABC television series Flashforward is based on his novel of the same name.

This reporter has just returned from another late-shift on the Dragon*Con scene and is ready to spill forth the 411 on the par-tay scene.

Nothing is more exciting than a walk through the lobby of the Hyatt or the Mariott after midnight. Costumes, conversation, and all manner of levity permeate the place. Even now, as I sit here writing at my computer in the Chicago Room of the Hyatt, I feel as though I’m missing something, as though I should get …

Over in the Hilton, this reporter thought she would attend a Science Track panel with pertinent, timely, and important information: “Influenza, Swine Flu, and You.”

Dr. John Cmar, who does Infectious Diseases outreach in Baltimore television and print media, Dr. Steven Novella, a neurologist who hosts The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, and Dr. Rachael Dunlop, a regular at the Australian site Skeptic Zone Podcast, each provided the audience with information about the flu in general and the current “new” version …

This year’s Dragon*Con has had no shortage of Battlestar Galactica panels. While this reporter missed Mary McDonnell and Michael Hogan’s early Friday panel, I managed to catch the Friday evening and Saturday morning panels with cast members: Luciana Carro, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Alessandro Juliani, Kandyse McClure, Mary McDonnell, Michael Trucco, Kate Vernon, and science advisor Dr. Kevin R. Grazier. Now that’s a fleet mouthful!

The lively banter of Battlestar Galactica panels never disappoints the fans. While the number of interesting …

A light morning mist failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds lining Peachtree Street Saturday for the Dragon*Con parade.  In nine years of attendance, these two reporters have never before been able to attend the event.  It’s not hard to catch sight of the amazingly authentic costumes around the hotels, so we wondered if the parade would be as good as advertised.  To dig up the truth, we squeezed into …

One of the classiest actors to ever work in the genre, Patrick Stewart spent an hour on a conversation-format panel on Saturday afternoon. Pleasing the crowd right from the start, he took off his cap and, with his signature gesture, Engaged the crowd.

Eric Watts sat behind a desk, orchestrating the interview Carsen-style. Stewart mentioned that he felt, “nervous and insecure,” but within moments, Watts had eased him into a …

This reporter couldn’t help but notice the explosion of steampunk costumes this year at Dragon*Con. It’s a downright invasion, or should I say incursion. And with the addition of the Alternate History track and their signature Time Travelers Ball, the style is most definitely happening! I’ve heard the look called everything from the new Goth, to the new pirate, even the new zombie, though no steampunker in their right mind would compare the elegant style to that of the …

Dragon*Con is not a convention for the ill-prepared, especially those of us who partake in all aspects of bliss from early morning panels to late night shindigs. To truly enjoy the convention, one must make careful, diligent preparations, and one of the most important components of those preparations is to break in the footwear.

And the feet, but I digress…

Boots from platform to combat, sandals from flip-flops to Roman, slippers from fairy to fuzzy, and stilettos from pump to glitter-toe; almost …

The most impressive panel to open Dragon*Con programming in years blasted off to a packed crowd Friday morning at the Hyatt.  Two icons of Science Fiction television, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, exuded warmth, camaraderie, and humor throughout the hour-long dialogue. Their friendship as apparent as their talent and enthusiasm combined into a remarkable “fascinating” exchange. Yes, Shatner used the line, emphasizing to Nimoy that, “Just because you used to say it, doesn’t mean you own the word.” He added, “Live Long and Prosper, I can say that, too.” To which Nimoy retorted, “You can say it, but it doesn’t mean the same thing!”

After the disappointment of Friday night’s parties, and the double-fun of the Firefly and Battlestar Galactica parties on Saturday night, this reporter ventured out once more on Sunday night and was absolutely, positively, geekily blown away.