Failure to Launch (and NO, not in THAT manner)

I went to go check out Arisia today (apparently "name Arisia was suggested, that being the name of a planet from the "Lensman" books - whatever the Lensman books are???) only to find out that the Boston Sci-Fi Convention (aka Arisia: see previous blog for more details) has been sold out for some time. Funny how their website did not mention this little fact. So now I am even more curious than ever about this little convention. Supposedly there will be extra "memberships" available on Sunday, which normally has lower attendance. As I mentioned in my previous blog, way back in my high school days, I used to go to ComicCon once a year and loved it. However, the prospect of being almost 40, in the midst of other 30 & 40 year olds dressed up as Darth, Spock, Frodo, etc. makes me wonder, at what point did I make that right turn, when so much of Sci-Fi/Fantasy fandom just kept going straight into middle-aged Oblivion. Don't get me wrong, I purchased tickets for all three Rings movies a week ahead of opening day to make sure I could be one of the first to see the flicks. However, I don't spend my weekends concocting new recipies for the best Klingon skin makeup or trying to complete my pewter AD&D figurine collection with that elusive levitating Beholder.

I am beginning to view this convention as a kind of high school reunion. Having not gone to either my 10th or 20th (yes, it has indeed been 20 years since high school, let's not belabor this point) reunions, I am filled with that same intrigue mixed with disbelief. Did I really used to hang out with those people in the photos? They look so, er, different than me. I need to see if I still can speak their language, still walk among them without being pointed to and shrieked at ala Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I must find out if I can survive a day amongst the aliens, so to speak.

Now for those of you who love Sci Fi Conventions, who may even dress up as your favorite Star Wars, Star Trek or Narnia character, I mean no disrespect. I may no longer share or even understand your prediliction towards 36-sided dice and Todd McFarlane figurines, but obviously we still have some traits in common. I still would rather go see 300 or Spiderman 3 than The Holiday. I still love LOTR and have read every Tolkien book more than half a dozen times. I still remember the names Donaldson, Brooks, Cook, Herbert, Asmimov, et al are. Perhaps I am the one that took a wrong turn, traded in my reams of custom dungeon maps for a graduate degree, exchanged my Sci-Fi Society membership for a Subway card. Or perhaps I just grew up. I desperately hope that the latter is not the case. I must go play some GOW and watch City of Lost Children one more time, lest I forget what it is like to be a geek.

Stay tuned for more updates on Arisia. I hope to come back with photos and stories of wonder and strange folk. I can almost guarantee the second.