If there’s anything SF readers and watchers, gamers and otakus enjoy more than their particular hobbies, it’s getting together to talk with like minded people. Doing so on tor.com is great, as is doing it in person.
What follows is a list of some of the events that will happen over the month of August. It in no means tries to be comprehensive, but I do try for geographical and thematic variety. Feel free to add events near you, large or small, in the comments.
GenCon
August 4-7
Indianapolis, IN
The convention for gaming fans, Gencon features way more events and exhibits than most gaming conventions: in addition to spending hours days sitting at a table and gaming, you can visit the artshow, view the films in the film contest or participate in workshops for more hobbies than you probably have time for.
Renovation, the 69th Worldcon
August 17-21
Reno, NV
We’ve been talking about the Hugos here for quite some and this is the event where this year’s winners will be announced. There’s still a few days left if you want to join and vote on this year’s Hugos, but you’re also welcome to simply show up and enjoy the ceremony (and the hundreds of other events and program items on the schedule).
Polcon
August 25-28
Poznan, Poland
Polcon is the oldest Polish convention. It also travels around the country and is organized by a different local club every year. Klub Fantastyki Druga Era are the people behind this year’s edition, and among the events they’ve organized is the Janusza A. Zajdla Award ceremony, where one of the nicest looking genre award will be handed out.
Pi-Con
August 26-28
Enfield, CT
Pi-Con is a small convention run by very friendly people. In addition to Tor.com blogger Jo Walton, this year’s guest are Dr. Pamela Gay, Heather Dale and Trisha Woolridge, who probably has the coolest title ever given to a convention guest: Guest of Awesome (because she just is).
René Walling is a fan of SF, animation and comics, this has led him to co-chair Anticipation, the 2009 Worldcon, be involved with fps magazine for more than a decade, write reviews of francophone short fiction for The Portal, and start Nanopress, a Canadian small press. He looks forward to living on Mars where he would benefit from having more than 24 hours in a day.
