Worldcon Sci Fi Convention Lands in Anaheim
Written by Joyce Chow and William Hoehne
The 64th World Science Fiction Convention, L.A. con IV, opened to a conference room full of space cadets awaiting their captain’s opening remarks at the Anaheim Convention Center. The convention of enthusiasts with a wealthful of knowledge to share continues at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hilton and Marriott through Sunday August 27th.
The first episode of 1950’s science fiction classic television Tom Corbett, Space Cadet was shown to honor Frank Thomas, Jr., who was the honored Special Guest at L.A. con IV. Frank Thomas, the one and only Tom Corbett, was one of a handful of talented individuals who brought sci fi into millions of homes in the 1950s. Thomas had such an that impact in the science fiction universe that even with his passing earlier this year in May, he continued to be the Special Guest to be remembered and celebrated during the convention.
Connie Willis, honored Guest of Honor and Author shared her great sense of humor. She has been attending Worldcon since the 1980s. Before fans could ask, she’s working on an upcoming book, she’s behind, and no official release date is being given.
Similar to the Olympics, groups from different cities bid for the right to hold upcoming Worldcon’s in their cities. Space cadets collect merit badges with donations and to help determine where upcoming conventions will be held. This year, Columbus, Denver and Chicago are vying to hold Worldcon 2008 in their cities. It is voted on by the Last year’s Worldcon was held in Glasgow, Scotland. Next year it will be held in Japan.
Space Cadet and Past Chair Kevin Standler and Space Cadet Lisa Hayes (Standler)
The opening session closed with the singing of:
The Space Academy Marching SongFrom the rocket
fields of the academy
To the far-flung
stars of outerspace,
We are space cadets
training to be
Ready for dangers
we may face!
Up in the sky,
whistling past,
Higher than high,
faster than fast,
Out into space,
into the sun
Look at her go
When we give her the gun!
We are the space cadets
And we are proud to say
Our fight for right
Will never cease.
Like a cosmic ray,
We light the way
To interplanet peace!
Upon entering the convention, space cadets are greeted by T2 from “The Terminator”, Jessica Rabbit from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “Star Wars” C3PO and R2-D2, and Astro Boy.
Celebrating Star Trek’s 40th anniversary, the original crew of the Starship Enterprise were on hand for photographs. These original wax figures of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu & Chekov stood 32 years in the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, California.
The Lexus Concept Car 2054 from Minority Report and The Island, Men In Black’s Black Cadillac, Back to the Future’s De Lorean, Batmobile, and the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module were amongst the vehicles for fans to enjoy.
Whether you’re a fan of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Gallactica, anime or just sci fi in general you’ll delight in the variety of over 600 programs. Topics and discussions include Interstellar Travel and Biotechnology, The Cold Worlds: Colonizing The Outer Solar System, Collection, The Star Wars Saga: A Look Back, A Look Forward, Space Pirate Crash Test Dummies: Space Ship Build, Writing Classic Trek, The Business Side of Comics, The World’s Most Useless Superpowers, and Harry Potter Goes Forth.
If you’re a fan of the sci fi genre, this is one you’ll want to indulge.
