Fandom Talk Descriptions (in numeric order) (count 60)

Fandom has had paper fanzines from the beginning. At one point, it seemed like almost every fan at least read these paper fanzines or wrote for them or published one (if only for APAs). But their prominence has been on the wane for many years. Now, blogs are exploding. And fanzines published on the web seem to be increasing. Are these fanzines different or just a different form? What effect will they have on Fandom as a whole?

What are the common truisms in fandom? Aren't they all really myths? Let's list 'em and take a good hard look.

The world of Star Trek Fandom is different today than it was in the '60s and '70s. What's out there? What don't I know about? How can I get more involved?

How to preserve and conserve your books, magazines, fanzines, comics, posters, artwork, etc.

Because fans have such active inner, mental lives we sometimes neglect the physical bodies which encapsulate them. There's a joke where someone sees a group of fans in a hotel and asks if it's a convention for fat people. That's not so funny but why are fans so out of shape? What are the psychological issues and how can we talk about things like the future or immortality, if we might not even make it to our next birthday? What can we do to take control over our health issues?

Are Masquerades, Art Shows, Dealers Rooms, etc. really worth their cost in money and manpower? Or are they just so habitual that cons never think about getting rid of them? What would happen if a con did get rid of them? What would we replace them with?

Long time fan, writer, editor, agent, and collector Forrest J Ackerman gives a slide show of his fabled collection.

Alternate History seems pretty popular. How about some Alternate Fan History, for better or worse?

The WSFS Mark Protection Committee manages the registered service marks on "Worldcon," "Hugo Award," etc. This is the first of two meetings held at Worldcon. Meetings of the MPC are open to all members.

Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. The agenda for the main meeting will be set at today's meeting. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting.

Have we reached a point where SF fans no longer share a common literary background? Until recently, there was a certain body of work that almost every SF fan was familiar. Heinlein, Herbert, Bradbury, Bester, to name a few of the giants. But many SF fans today haven't even heard of them. Instead, they're choosing Mercedes Lackey and David Eddings or Greg Bear and David Brin. We used to share a common body of literature and that sharing drew us together. Is that no longer true? Does this lack of commonality matter?

Panelists survey and review some of the best recent efforts.

What are your favorites? (Or least favorites?) Our panel will tell you theirs and ask for yours. Have reasons waiting.

Burning Man is a world onto itself. Is it science fiction made real or a return to ancient days? Or a little of both. Come see a slide show and hear about just what happens at this extravaganza event.

Going to a con when the rent is due Monday. Helpful hints for cutting corners without cutting the fun. Or Hey Buddy, Can you spare a ride.

Come meet Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF) and Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) winners and hear about the multi-decade old funds to help bring fans from one continent to another. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about fandoms in the UK and Australia.

The historical perspective. Overview of some of the awards, current and defunct. What do they all mean?

Rick Sneary and other Southern California fans started a joke which became a slogan which begat a Worldcon.

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What's going to happen to your complete collection of Amazing or all those Whalen paintings after you're gone?

How has Worldcon bidding and organizing changed over the last 20 years. A few good SMOFs discuss the evolution, problems, and solutions? Any predictions about where we're headed?

Ideas, suggestions, and things you shouldn't miss. For fans, writers, and everyone who doesn't quite know what they've gotten themselves into.

Sure, there's the internet. But sometimes you want to talk to people who share your interests, see them face to face. it's hard to be a fan when the next nearest fan lives 100 miles away or more. Some ideas on how to do it.

A reception in honor of Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund delegate Bridget "Bug" Bradshaw. Come celebrate.

A meeting of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, this world's oldest (still-existing) science fiction club, still meeting weekly since 1934.

Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. Today most proposals to amend the WSFS Consitution will be debated and voted upon. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting.

Panelists discuss their dream fanzines, from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Everyone's heard that story. But that's not exactly the way it happened. Hear the real stories.

An exploration of minorities in Science Fiction Fandom.

A look at the people, if not for whom, we wouldn't be here today.

Did ya hear the one about the water bombs dropped out of the window of Room 770? Or the Columbus in '86 hoax bid? And have you seen any of those phony Daily Newszines that circulate every Worldcon? Some of fandom's favorite pranksters tell you some of their favorites.

Most fans have a passion for collecting, whether it's books, comics, art, teddy bears, or tea pots. The question is how do we keep these collections from taking over lives and our homes?

An introduction to Fanzines. We have an open solicitation to provide content for some of the best fanzines currently in existence, including four Hugo Nominated fanzines. Editors in attendence.

Representatives from the announced bids for the 2008 Worldcon will each give brief presentations and take questions in order to convince you to vote for them. Groups bidding for other years (and other conventions) will also have opportunities to speak about their bids.

Fandom in Japan is different from Fandom in the US. Or is it? Hear about the fans and Fandom of the country that will be hosting next year's Worldcon.

Is it the community, the gestalt, or the craft?

There have been all sorts of projects over the years, and some of them even worked. There have been bibliographic projects, fan funds, building funds, and conventions that even attracted hundreds of people. Also our never ending effort to get organized. Here about the ones that worked and the ones that plunged all of Fandom into war.

Richard Lynch is hard at work on his history of SF Fandom in the 1960s. He's got an outline worked out. Come hear about his progress, offer support, information, corrections, etc.

Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting. The results of Worldcon Site Selection will be officially announced at this meeting.

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Old and young fans discuss what motivates them and present views of fanwriting.

Is a difficult personality required for brilliance in fan art, writing, editing, and convention running? Who are these misunderstood bastards and how can we still love them?

Questions of Fannish etiquette will be addressed by our self-appointed arbiter of good taste. Some questions will be prepared, others will be taken from the audience.

We bring together the work that has been compiled and written by YOU, and prepare to dispatch it to various fanzines across the world.

John & Bjo Trimble present a slide show on the history of Star Trek , from the 1960s to now.

What's it like running an SF bookstore? Is there much hope for their survival? True stories from the front.

Let's go over the basics, from philosophy to raising capital to gaining recognition from fellow fans, businesses, and governments alike.

60 years ago, Los Angeles held its first World Science Fiction Convention. Come here some of the people who were there talk about what it was like and how things have changed, for Fandom, for Worldcons, for Los Angeles, and for them, in the sixty years since Pacificon I.

Using Mr. Spock instead of Dr. Spock. Morals, manners, and family. Do we really raise our children differently or are they just born that way? Hear comments from fannish parents and the adult children of fans.

FANNISH IDENTITY ISSUES What is fannish identity? How does fandom deal with identity issues (e.g. gender sub-cultures, filkers, Trekies, etc.) Is fandom more mature in some regard to other parts of society but less mature in others? How can we hold ourselves above mundanes in our outlook towards people different from us when we act just like them (e.g. pointing & laughing)?

Sunday's installment of the WSFS Business Meeting will only occur if all business isn't completed by the end of Saturday morning's meeting.

What is the lifespan of the average fan club? How do you define a successful club and what are the pitfalls associated with orchestrated group activities?

A panel of fanzine reviewers discuss fanzine writing that works and why. Brief examples of brilliant technique will be shared.

"All of the books on display in the Book Exhibit will be raffled off (in lots worth app. $100+ each) with proceeds going to pro-literacy charities. Come see if you've won.

Looking at any SF convention these days, it's easy to see that many people in attendance are weird even by Fandom's standards -- S&M practitioners, vampires, modern primitives, gender benders. Is this part of the continuum of oddness that fandom has always embraced? What is the cross-over between fandom and society's covert culture?

Veterans of the convention wars tell their favorite stories.

Highlights of the British fannish press. Examples will be shown, addresses shared.

We think everyone would pretty much agree that fanac has changed over the decades, but we might not be so sure as to what it now consists of. Just what is "fanac" and what's just doin' stuff?

It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. And if they didn't, we wouldn't be here. But why do they do it? It can't be the money. There isn't any. Come see con runners from around the country fumble for an answer.

Joe Siclari has Project FANAC. There's the Timebinders, Trufen, and other fannish e-mail lists. And LASFS and NESFA and other groups have their libraries and archives. Come discuss the hows, whys, and wherefores of keeping our fannish history from ending up in the dust bin.