For the Dragon*Con 2009 blood drive, we registered 2,439 people and drew 2,012 donors—1,836 whole blood, 85 platelets donors, and 92 double red cell. The drive resulted in a final tally of 2,623 units being put into inventory (140 platelets, 1,843 red cells, and 640 plasmas). That’s 2,623 chances to actively save a life! Many, many thanks to everyone who… Read more →
Wings and writers, that was what Dragon*Con meant to me. A few frazzled writers scurry through a crowd of winged—costumed individuals thrilled by anything with “star” in the title. I admit I was wary of this image. I was weird, but was I weird enough? Was Dragon*Con really an impenetrable group of eccentrics who have attended conventions forever? I was… Read more →
Cheers erupted in the Atrium Ballroom as fans got a second chance to see Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy. He began by discussing his early career, including his first film, Zombies of the Stratosphere. “I thought it would rocket me to stardom,” he said with a wry smile. After all, “I was the first zombie through the spaceship door.” Strange… Read more →
The preliminary 2009 Charity Auction proceeds (including the Stargate auction) total $25,000*! Thank you for your generosity! [*This figure does not include the Art Auction.]
What makes a book a science fiction or fantasy “classic”? Moderator Van Plexico led his lit experts into inquiries about the ages of SF achievement and what characterizes a classic story. The thorny questions carried the panelist and lively audience from early masterpieces to novels written today. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan and John Carter of… Read more →
This year is Stargate Atlantis star Joe Flanigan’s first year at Dragon*Con. I sat down with Joe to get his thoughts on his co-stars and the cancellation of Stargate Atlantis, as well as his views on a variety of matters.
The Knights Templar, a medieval order of warrior monks sworn to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land, have been romanticized in popular fiction since early in their history. The first Templars story, a poem called Le Conte du Graal, was written in 1180 by Chretien de Troyes. Troyes’ work was “imitated” by contemporary writers who linked the Templars with the… Read more →
In this Q&A panel in the Marriot M106-107 on Friday afternoon, Leigh Bennett-Conner, the X-Track director, and Rox Henkle were warm, friendly, and comical. They had the audience laughing from moment one, fielding several questions about the new series Warehouse 13. In tribute to Pete, one of the main characters, Leigh passed out cookies to all participants. Topics of the… Read more →
