Joseph McDermott writes for the video game industry by day, at Xaviant Software. At night, he writes fictions. His novels include Last Dragon, which was #6 on Amazon.com's Year's Best SF/F of 2008, shortlisted for a Crawford Prize, and on Locus Magazine's Recommended Reading List for Debuts. Maze, his second novel, will be out in 2011, from Apex Books, along with Never Knew Another from Nightshade Books. If you see him scampering about the convention, offer him Peanut M&Ms, iced coffee, and high fives (because he is awesome!).
Anyone casually strolling through the crowds has witnessed them: Costumes–bright ones, wild ones, exotic ones, cute ones, scary ones, and everything in between. Spaces in the crushing crowd are usually reserved for photographers to capture posing cosplayers in all their glory. Of course, this means the Hallway Costume Contest is a large, exciting event, where fans can both participate and… Read more →
For all good demon experts, 10AM on a Sunday is a real challenge. Microphones had all been carefully adjusted for the panelists who struggled to maintain their voices after myriad late-night antics. Still, Dragon*Con must go on, and the “Face Your Demon” panel discussion started on time, with a sizable audience. During introductions, a blue, tribble-like demon also received his… Read more →
One of the greatest moments in the history of the general ease in intergalactic tensions across the universe came when the Klingons opened entry into their infamous annual beauty pageant to females of many and diverse species. Most of the Klingons, for instance the reigning Queen of all Klingon Beauty, Lucy Maria Boydston, was pleased at the inclusion. She said… Read more →
Daily Dragon: So, I am here with—now first off this came up in conversation with Eugie Foster and myself—how do you pronounce your first name? Alethea Kontis: Ah-LEE-thee-uh. DD: So, for the record, Eugie was right. AK: Yes, and anyone who watches Kung Fu is correct because Jodie Foster played a little girl named “Alethea” Ingram in the third episode… Read more →
“The Order You Appear On the Sheet is The Order You Appear on Stage…” An organizer struggled to shout all the rules across the crowd. The contestants listened intently before rushing back to their hectic preparations. Beauty worthy of a goddess does not come casually, even to these fair maidens, and they work hard to be this beautiful.
Do geeks “do” poetry? Stephen Segal, senior contributing editor to Weird Tales, asked this question with his panel dedicated to poetry slams on Saturday at 4PM in Greenbriar. Poetry was an important part of the Weird Tales tradition, including work by Clark Ashton Smith, H. P. Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard, among others. Weird Tales has always had poetry in… Read more →
The crowds gathered early, lining the sidewalks to witness a march of heroes and villains and spectacular examples of human and alien ingenuity. Waiting expectantly, gazing up and down the empty street, the energy in the air was ectoplasmic with excitement. Children clung to parents’ heads atop their shoulders to peer up and down the street. Numerous costumed individuals peppered… Read more →
