I'd been curious about science fiction / fantasy conventions for years, but now,
having spent part of today at Leprecon, I've
concluded they're not my heaven. I can see going again with a friend, or to meet
an author I really like, but not on my own and not just to go. I don't know how
this compares to other cons, but it was a bit smaller than I'd expected; four
panels at a time, yes, but not all that many dealer tables, and though this con
focuses on art, the art there clung rather more closely to the semi-naked-woman-
with-dragon school than I'd hoped it would. There were a few astronomical
pictures, but not as many as I'd hoped and not nearly as many new ideas as I'd
have liked to see. Also, I got annoyed at the myriad artists who had drawn either
semi-naked women with wings or cats with wings (can you imagine what the house
would look like??) without, apparently, ever having considered the musculature
that would be necessary to operate said appendages.
It was a bit of a
freak show, and I mean that as a compliment. Many of the people attending had
either physical or social handicaps (and I am not excluding the possibility of
being in the latter category myself) and it was clearly a comfortable and
accepting environment. I can't imagine anyone there making a comment to the man
with hands growing directly from his shoulders other than, "Nice
cloak."
I did very much enjoy meeting
href="http://www.charlesdelint.org">Charles de Lint and his wife Mary Ann
Harris in a small session. Not only were they gracious and interesting, but
they brought guitar, mandolin, and flute and made some most excellent music
together. It must be wonderful to make music and share writing with your spouse,
though I suppose divergent interests are rewarding in their own way. I did skip de
Lint's Guest of Honor speech though, and went home early. I couldn't imagine he'd
say more than I'd already heard and in a much more enjoyable small-group
environment, and all the other things I wanted to see were late enough that I
wasn't going to stay for them. It was a fiarly long drive home, and I wouldn't
have enjoyed it three hours after my normal bedtime, even if the body-painting
demo did sound interesting.
I may try again in a year or so, though,
when the world fantasy con is going to be right near home. Especially if a certain
calligrapher makes good on her threat to come use my spare room during
it.