If you are looking for information regarding the prior Westercon 57: Conkopelli (July 2-5, 2004), click <HERE>.
If you are looking for information regarding the prior WesterCon 62: FiestaCon (July 2-5, 2009), click <HERE>
If you are just looking
for Cons or Events, click <HERE>.
If you are just
looking for Clubs or groups, click
<HERE>.
First some basic information. Science Fiction is sometimes abbreviated SciFi or SF. Occasionally you will see the reference SF/F which stands for Science Fiction and Fantasy. These are often linked under the category of speculative fiction. Science Fiction has probably been around since the dawn of history. However the way it has been perceived has changed radically. Some have always considered it as simple stories for children. However it may have be responsible for all creative thinking for the advancement of mankind. SF is not just limited to outer space adventures. It applies to any form of conceptual thinking that uses the Scientific Method of thinking. We tend to do this subconsciously.
Popular Science Fiction is often categorized as "Literary" and "Media". Media is general considered Movies and TV. Literary is commonly thought of as just books and paperbacks, but lately Graphic Novels (aka Comic Books) are also included. Proponents of the forms of SciFi express strong attitudes as to which is best.FYI: The scientific method has a set of rigid steps students follow as they begin an investigation. These steps are:
- Asking Questions
- Looking at Prior at Research
- Constructing a Hypothesis
- Conducting the Experiment
- Analyzing Data
- Reporting Findings
Conventions (aka Cons) are often grouped as Commercial (for profit) and Fan-run (not for profit operated completly by volunteers). The commercial conventions are primarily Media oriented. The Fan-run Cons are mostly Literary but there are MANY exceptions.
Clubs can be commercial driven to sell mechandise, social based, business oriented to accomplish a task, a grouping of fans that meet to share expertise toward a project or interest, or Re-Creation based to "pretend" a favorite story line. Most clubs have some shades of gray in each of these categories but usually one purpose predominates.
"Star Trek: The Official Fan Club" or the "Planetary Society" are examples of the first category. In this type of club, you may not have any other interaction with the parent group other than paying your dues and receiving a newsletter with no contact with other members.For other Arizona Sci-Fi references, check out AZSF.org.The "United Federation of Phoenix" is an example of the second. This is a Star Trek based club but does not have any ranks, uniforms, and does not concentrate its activities towards just Star Trek. It provides a social setting for people that share the common interest.
The "Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society, Inc." or "LepreCon, Inc." are examples of the third. These clubs have little social contact at their regular meetings. They concentrate their meetings just to plan and prepare for their conventions. They are very business oriented.
"The Southwest Costumer's Guild" is an example of the fourth. It meets for the common interest of costuming design and work. This provides for a social setting as a by product of its primary interest.
And many chapters of "Starfleet International, Inc." and the "Society for Creatative Anacronism, Inc." (aka SCA) are examples of the last. They form personas, have costumes, and assume methods of behavior related to the primary interest. This catagory can also include Role Playing Game groups (RPG's) that can be casual or very elaborate. While most RPG games consist of players sitting around a table rolling dice, other groups such as Live Action Role Playing (LARP's) groups will be as improv actors carrying on a story line to see where it ends.
You should keep these club goals in mind when looking for a club that interests you.
Ongoing Arizona
SciFi Conventions include:
Amazing
Arizona Comic Con Last Jan 6-8, 2012.
Taiyou
Con Last Jan 6-8, 2012.
Mythos
Con Irregularly in January.
Dark
Con Irregularly in January.
Last Jan 12-15, 2012
Vul-Con
Irregularly in February. Last Feb 25-26, 2012
Wild
West Con (Steampunk) Irregularly in March.
Con-Nichiwa
Last Mar 23-25, 2012
LepreCon
Usually early April. Last
Apr 6-8, 2012.
Costume
Con occasionally in Arizona. Last May
11-14, 2012 (Tempe AZ).
KimeraCon
occasionally in Arizona. Last May 11-14, 2012 (Tempe AZ).
Phoenix
ComicCon Memorial Day week-end, end
of May. Last May 24-27, 2012.
CopperCon
traditionally the week-end before Labor Day, but deviates. Next Aug 31-Sept
3, 2012.
Saboten-Con
has been in September. Next Sept 1-3, 2012.
Tucson
Comic Convention Usually in November.
Next Nov 5-6, 2012.
TusCon
Usually mid-November. Next Nov 9-12, 2012.
Westercon Occasionally in Arizona, traditionally Labor Day Week-end but deviates.
Upcoming regional
SciFi Conventions:
WesterCon
65 July 5-8, 2012 (Seattle)
Costume
Con (Tempe)