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So, I just discovered that Westercon (West Coast Science Fantasy Conference) is going to be in San Jose over the 4th of July weekend, just 10 miles from my house. Does anyone know anything about it? (Is it worth going to?) The website wasn't especially helpful, and I only recognized one or two of the participants.
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It's a regional convention, EmilyS, so it will be bigger than a local con, but not as humongous as a Worldcon.
I'd strongly recommend that if you go, you take someone with you, because it can be pretty lonely if you don't know anyone. That's not as much of a problem at smaller, local cons, but it really helps at big cons to have a buddy along.
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I thought it could be interesting since I live only a few hours away but I recognized only one name. Haven't read too many of her books but I remember seeing a bunch.
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I've never been to a SF con, so for me the decision would be simple. I see it's $40 for a weekend day. Not bad in the con world. Plus, it's 10 miles from your house. That's crazy close.
I don't believe the famousness of the name matters. You might see something cool, or meet someone awesome, or listen in on a panel of someone who is better at paneling than writing. Nothing wrong with that, if you're there to catch it.
Plus, there may be freebies. Books or pens or stress balls shaped like brains. (I've gotten several of these over the years... some things just can't be explained.)
If you have the time and money, go. Seems the benefits could far outweigh the cost in time and money.
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Patricia McKillip's been around for a long time in the fantasy genre and has a hatful of awards and nominations. The Foglios produce "Girl Genius", and Phil has done a hatful of comics and illustration work prior to that. They are pretty high-calibre guests.
If there was a con of this nature 10 miles from where I live, I'd go like a shot.
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I've been to Westercon a few times when it's been held in Los Angeles. It's a full-scale convention (when I went it was running about 1000 attendees, which is a nice size in my experience -- big enough to have plenty to do, small enough that you can find people who interest you), with the usuals for guests, panels, art gallery, dealers room, and most important, fan parties!! If it's that close and you can go...
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Patricia is the writer I referenced.. I should have said who it was... and the vast majority of the others I don't recognize. But than again half of the judges in last quarter's WotF contest I didn't recognize either.
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