August 23rd, 1997 August 10th, 1997 August 28th, 1997 March 5th, 1997 July 14th, 1997	The Second Occasional LoneStarCon Science Fiction Convention and Chili Cook-off, Variously known as the 55th World Science Fiction Convention and LoneStarCon 2, the 1997 Worldcon, To be held from August 28th through September 1st, in the year 1997, in San Antonio, Texas. What's a Worldcon? magine getting together with a few friends to talk about something you all lovescience fiction and fantasy. You all read the books, see the movies, watch the stuff on TV, play the gamesyou've got a lot in common. And you invite a few of the people who create these works, toothe authors, artists, and others involved in the creation of the things we all appreciate. And when you all get in one place you count heads and find out there are six to ten thousand of you. What do you call it? Worldcon, of course. What You Get ive days of talking about SF, with panels and readings and autographings all day and special events every night. History of science fiction special exhibits: photos of every writer the photographer has found so you can see what your favorite authors look like so you can buy them each a drink in the bar; examples of each year's Hugo Award trophy; past grand champion costumes on display; examples of 50 years of amateur fan magazines. A huge Art Show with original art by many of the major SF cover artists, signed and numbered lithographs or photoprints of pieces you couldn't afford otherwise, and examples of original art by up-and-coming artists who may someday be major. All for sale at auction. An immense Dealers' Room. Hundreds of tables of new, used, and rare books; cool jewelry; art prints; videos; laser discs; funny buttons; fan writings; comics; and just plain weird stuff. A choice of video rooms, anime rooms, and a full film program. Science programs; how to behave at a convention programs; how to be a writer (OK, how to sell what you've written) programs; The Masquerade, a full costume contest stage performance; a hall costume contest, a wandering-the-convention performance; Filking (SF for folk singing); The Hugo Awards ceremony (like the Oscars or Emmys, but all our own). Dances from rock to Regency; Georgette Heyer high teas; Oz fan meetings; ERB fan meetings; gay fan meetings. And besides all this you can VOTE. Yes, vote on what you think the 1997 Science Fiction Achievement Awards (Hugos) should be given to, and you can vote on where all this should take place in the year 2000. Not Texas, because we'll be too tired to do it again (that soon, at least). When and Where he convention begins Thursday, August 28, 1997, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 1997. Most things will start around ten in the morning and the joint will still be jumping in the wee hours every night. We have the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, the Marriott Riverwalk and Marriott Rivercenter hotels in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Texas. We're about three blocks from the Alamo, and the Marriott Rivercenter connects to the Riverwalk Mall. The Chili Cook-Off will take over La Villita, San Antonio's outdoor festival venue. We're getting a bunch of questions about hotel reservations already, but the plain truth is, the hotels just won't take them this early. To get your best possible room selection, you should have at least a supporting membership, so that you'll get the progress reports at the same time as everyone else. The PR with the hotel reservation form in it will probably go out in the spring of 1997. The San Antonio Convention Bureau will handle all the reservations. The only way to get the low room rates we've negotiated will be to go through them. Making reservations now with the hotels for the tiny handful of rooms we haven't blocked will only get you a higher rate, so just hold your horses and wait for the PR. Do be sure to write us at our Post Office Box if you need a suite to throw a partythe convention bureau isn't handling the suites. Rates and Stuff ttending memberships are $135 until 7/31/97. Higher at the door! Supporting memberships (all publications and voting privileges) will always be $25. Children's memberships are also available. Write us. Questions about anything else? Suggestions? Call us at our office at 512-472-9944. Fax us at 512-472-4290. Write to us at P. O. Box 27277, Austin, TX 78755. E-mail us at alamowebmaster@alamo-sf.org.

Comments to maintainer: alamowebmaster@alamo-sf.org. Original web page design by Earl Cooley III. This publication ©1997 by LoneStarCon 2, a service mark of Austin Literary Arts Maintenance Organization (ALAMO), Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit literary, educational corporation. All rights reserved, except as otherwise noted. This page <URL:http://www.alamo-sf.org/whatis.html> last changed 08/10/97 15:57:38. Designed by a member of