Chicon 7 2012

Hey Windy City Banner readers! This Labor Day weekend, geeks gathered for another convention in the Chicago area called Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention. I attended so I could tell you all about this science fiction event. Chicon features authors, artists, fans, dealers, and more. It includes genres of written speculative fiction including science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and alternate history, as well as science, media (movies, television, anime, and online), fanzines, gaming, costuming, filking, and more. 

So, what were the big events taking place each day? I’ve got photos and information on the whole con. Check it out!

The second day began with writing sessions, space panels, readings, drawing sessions, autographing, vampire novels, comics for kids, Q & A sessions, global warming panel, Marvel comics superheroes from the 1960s, young adult movies like Twilight, Hunger Gamesetc., LGBTQ in science fiction, geek prom, and more filk singing and short films showing throughout the day.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

On the second to last day, I attended some of events on the schedule. There were more readings, autographing, and an art auction and discussion panels. I attended Casting Basics. It was an introduction to casting for costuming, making molds, casting resin, and plastics, cheap alternatives, and making castings look like gems or metal. It wasn’t that interesting to me, but what I did attend that was interesting was Military Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was about what defines military fantasy and military science fiction as a sub-genre, what has to be present for it to be military, and examples of popular military fantasy and science fiction. It was a panel discussion and everyone on the panel was a writer and somehow in the military. It was interesting, especially since they all have had experience in the area. In the evening, I attended the Hugo Awards. It is the leading award ceremony for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. The formal ceremony started at 8p.m. and awarded people in many categories such as best fan writer, best editor, best dramatic presentation, best novel, best short story, and best graphic story.

Chicon 7 had some fun events but it was nothing like I thought it would be. I attended Chicon for the first time this year and I attended C2E2 for the first time this year as well and enjoyed C2E2 way more than Chicon. Plus, not many people were dressed up! And it’s all about the people watching! But despite that, it was a fun weekend of science fiction in the windy city!