Welcome to the 2008 Dragon*Con Fan Track listings! This year we are proud to present over thirty fan tracks comprising over 3,500 hours of programming in just four days!

American Sci-Fi Classics

Director: Ron Nastrom

Wow! What a big year for American Science Fiction Classics. 2008 marks the anniversaries for a large number of Classics. We will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of King Kong, 70 years of Superman in the media, Planet of the Apes at 40, and Superman: The Movie turns 30. Returning again this year will be the popular Stump the Geeks trivia game, and the equally popular Faith and Fantasy. Check our website, http://home.earthlink.net/~rnastrom/ASFC/DragonCon.htm, for more info as it is added.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

American Sci-fi Media

Director: Kelley Harkins

American Sci-Fi Media dives into the vast pool of what’s out there to watch! We cover what’s made for the US audience in the world of science fiction & fantasy, in both television and film. Panels of enthusiastic, dedicated, and only slightly wacky fans gather to dissect and investigate the nuances of their favorite series and movies, while special guests will give you a different perspective and provide a new dimension to the fun-filled analyses.

Come visit our website at www.scifitvtrack.com, and see what’s upcoming and how to contact us further!

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Anime/Manga

Director: Jake Tarbox

The global impact of anime and manga continues to expand. This year, Dragon Con has created a special track devoted to world of Japanese sequential art and animation. Join us for an exploration of the world of creative pop culture from the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ll have a range of panels, speakers and workshops on subjects spanning from industry insiders and creators to fan culture in America and the world.

Anime/Manga website coming soon!

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Animation

Director: Jessica Merriman

From our earliest days we are exposed to animated media: Saturday morning 'toons, Disney movies, and much more. The American animation industry has evolved, for better or for worse, into a robust, multi-million dollar industry featuring major players and independent producers alike. No other medium has the unique feel of animation, and no other industry has developed in such a unique way.

From childhood favorites to the cutting edge animators of today, join the DragonCon Animation Track for a look through the animated medium. You'll have the opportunity to listen to presentations by some of the key players from new and classic animation, and participate in workshops to give you insight on how different forms of animation are crafted and produced.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Apocalypse Rising

Director: Tami Brown

Back for a second year at Dragon*Con 2008, Apocalypse Rising offers a contemporary look at the end of days and all that will follow. And as we all know you can’t have a good Apocalypse with out such fandoms as Jeremiah, Jericho, The Tribe, zombies, and more! Programming all weekend will look at apocalyptic themes in movies, television, books, and music.....even prophecy, theology, and mythology.

If you’d like to learn more about the track, please visit us at:
Official Track Website: apocalypserising.dragoncon.net

LiveJournal: community.livejournal.com/ar_dctrack

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Art Show Forums and Workshops

Director: Heidi Wallace

We are planning many exciting events for the 2008 Dragon*Con Art Show including the annual Iron Artist competition, a large canvas on which all the attending Artists can draw or paint (which will be sold at the Art Show voice auction), live music, demonstrations, and other wonderful events. We will be hosting our annual Artists’ Reception on Friday night of the convention. Art Show panel discussions and demonstrations are located just outside the Print Shop exit in Hannover F and G. There will also be booths for local colleges with Art programs, and don’t miss the incredible Western Ghost Town themed Diorama located in the center of the Art Show.

»  Back to Top (updated 07/20/2008)

British Programming Track

Director: Caro McCully

Britain has inspired every aspect of American modern culture. It has opened the gates to media innovation since it’s BBC worldwide radio shows during WWII. In becoming the first country with a national television network, genres and fans were born! Dragon*Con’s British Science Ficition Media programming continues with this exploration of every facet, fad, and pop-culture idiom of everything British for con-goers.

British Science Ficition Media, commonly know as the BritTrack, is hopefully safe environment for British Media fans to hide out in at the convention. The BritTrack programming is broad and diverse, spreading across every medium (film, TV, comic books, music, and literature) the Brit’s have to offer. Come, stop by, and get sucked into the world of BritTrack! Meet a huge fandom whose passions include Doctor Who, Torchwood, Blake’s 7, Red Dwarf, Monty Python, Who’s Line is it Anyway, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Prisoner, James Bond, Robin Hood, Life on Mars, and other cultural legacies of the United Kingdom. There is so much and not enough time to cover it all!!

All are welcome; our staff is here to make sure you’re having fun, laughing hard, and safe from all Daleks!

For more information and heads-up on BritTrack related guests, programming, and news check us out on our website at http://www.brittrack.org or join our Yahoo! Group, MySpace, or LiveJournal communities to chat live with the staff about EVERYTHING British. (Links for BritTrack communities are found on our website.)

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Comics

Director: Thom Trainor

Dragon*Con has expanded the Comics track for 2008 (now relabeled the Comics and Pop Art track), infusing designer toys, character design and illustration art into the already vibrant mix of guests taking part in this track each year.

In addition to an eclectic roster of programming and talent—including the Nexus creative team of Steve Rude and Mike Baron, character designer extraordinaire Shane Glines of Batman Beyond, Samurai Jack, and Kim Possible, illustrators/toy designers Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas, horror art icons Bernie Wrightson and Basil Gogos, Retro Art Master Derek Yaniger, The Goon creator Eric Powell, and painter Joe Jusko (to name but a few)—Comics and Pop Art will feature:

• a Dragon*Con exclusive toy release from MINDstyle’s “Scavengers” line of vinyl figures, designed by guest Kathie Olivas and strictly limited to only 200 pieces (click here for more info),


• a Lowbrow and Pop Art reception at the Garden Courtyard pool of the Atlanta Sheraton, presented in conjunction with our friend Chris Warner of the Alcove Contemporary Art Gallery (www.alcovearts.com) Friday evening—celebrating this exciting new direction with art on display, live music, custom toys and much more,


• a special appearance by Kid Robot’s divine Toy Baroness,


• a live comics art jam taking place Saturday evening,


• a cross-pollination of panels, programming and events with many other Dragon*Con tracks,


• and a few soon-to-be-announced surprises that will no doubt leave fans of these mediums salivating for Labor Day weekend to arrive.

We invite you to join us for what will surely be a spectacular inaugural celebration of the newly-christened Comics and Pop Art track at Dragon*Con!

»  Back to Top (updated 08/19/2008)

Costuming

Director: Brian Holloway

We are back again for our 5th year and we are looking to keep things new and exciting. This year we are focusing on form as well as function as we bring you a variety of panels and guests that will hopefully give you new directions as you create your own costumes for fun and profit. In 2007, we asked you to let us know what you wanted to see and boy did you ever let us know. We had a ton of emails and contacts that helped to point us in a new direction this year. This year we celebrate the art of “hands-on” panels. We wanted to make things new and exciting this year and you have really helped us to accomplish this. We are bringing you some of our regular panelists as well as some new things that include: Vacu-forming for props and armor, body painting, armor creation as well as a armor-making contest, dental prosthetics with vacu-form, wings and things, and even a panel that will demonstrate techniques for sculpting make-up prosthetics.

In addition, we are also bringing back some of the fan-favorites. We will see the return of corseting, local costume guild information, Sources and resources for costuming, and more from the world of contacts and dental appliances. But this year we bring back the old with a new twist: we are bringing in new guests to give a different slant to the techniques we have already shown. And we are also going with our strengths as we herald the return of “FNCC–The Friday Night Costuming Contest”; the only place where we award based on style and technique….not just presentation. And where would we be without our rapidly growing “Dragon-After-Dark” contest on Saturday that spotlights the slightly macabre and mature-themed costumes that cannot be shown in the more family-friendly Masquerade…just a little something for everyone. But we do not intend to limit ourselves…if you have an idea for a panel, do not hesitate to contact the Track Director and make your suggestions known as well. If we can find the place to put it, we will try to address your interests as well. See you all in September.

Please visit our website at: costuming.dragoncon.org for the latest information.

»  Back to Top (updated 08/18/2008)

Dark Fantasy (Horror, Romance, and Gothic Culture)

Director: Derek Tatum

Horror, Romance, and Gothic Entertainment intersect at the new Dark Fantasy track - Dragon*Con’s new home for all things dark, sinister, and seductive. From authors and metaphysicians to musicians and DJ’s, this track is sure to offer something for attendees with a love of “the dark side.”

The Dark Fantasy track will be spread out over two rooms this year. One room will feature horror, and the other room will spotlight paranormal romance early in the day and gothic culture later in the afternoon. Among the topics to be discussed are vampires (of course), urban fantasy, Dark Shadows, steampunk, Weird Tales magazine, fallen angel lore, eroticism in supernatural fiction, the Cthulhu mythos, horror gaming, Robert E. Howard, and the depiction of goth culture in the mainstream - with more to be announced.

Leave the shadows behind...and embrace the darkness.

Note: The Dark Fantasy track director does not book musical acts. For more information, please click here for more information on band applications.

Visit us at: darkfantasytrack.blogspot.com for the latest information.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Electronic Frontiers Forums

Director: Scott Jones

Worried about freedom of speech, privacy, and your rights on line? So are we! Now in it’s tenth year, Electronic Frontiers Forums covers your rights on the Internet and the latest trends in online media. Topics include online privacy, security, freedom of expression, intellectual property, online activism, social networking, online publishing, and multi-player gaming. This year we plan to cover national security letters, electronic voting machines, where the presidential candidates stand on technology issues, legal issues in Second Life, Web 2.0, and IT employees vs. contractors in the post-Vizcaino era. Returning favorite panels will include Hacking 101, 201, and 301, Web Comics, and Self Publishing.

Please visit our new web site at www.efforums.net. Our 2008 schedule will be posted by July 31st.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Filk Singing

Director: Robby Hillard

Filk Singing began life as a typographic error of “Folk Singing” in a convention program book back in the early 1960’s. Instead of correcting the mistake, a new form of music called “filk” was created.

Filk songs come in two varieties - parodies of popular songs with an SF theme (or fantasy or horror, etc.) and original music with the same themes.

Join us each evening for the usual hilarity and throat-drying festivities (“where the heck can we get some water!?”).

»  Back to Top (updated 07/22/2008)

Gaming Panels

Director: Jeffrey Kahrs

Interested in Gaming at Dragon*Con but don’t know where to start? Then Gaming Programming is for you. Our panels introduce you to the various gaming options at the convention and include explanation and exploration of LARPS, RPGA gaming, non-MMO computer gaming as well as allowing game manufacturers and developers a chance to let you know what is coming in the next year. Topics of general interest to the gaming community such as the impact of gender or violence in gaming are also discussed.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Independent Film

Director: Matthew M. Foster

The place to be for filmmakers and film-lovers, with a combination of feature screenings, filmmaker panels, and Independent Short Films.

For the film-lover, we’ll have a full slate of the very best short films on the fest circuit: twisted animation, spine-chilling horror, cutting edge fantasy, challenging science fiction, fast paced action, and all kinds of comedy are just a start. Hours of great films, often with the filmmakers in attendance for Q & As. Awards will be presented on Monday—you won’t want to miss it.

We’ll also have panels focused on your interest in film. Some of the best critics will examine the state of the art, filmmakers will inform you of future projects, and popular actors will tell their stories. Past speakers have included Charles Band (Full Moon Entertainment), Dean Stockwell, Lloyd Kaufman, Tippi Hedren, Juliet Landau, Ernie Hudson, Marc Singer, Tom Savini, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, and George A. Romero.

For filmmakers, we’ll have speakers with insights you need. In the past few years this has included directors and producers discussing their work, make-up and FX artists describing the tricks of the trade, festival directors explaining how to get your film before the public, storyboard artists expounding on how to save time and effort, and lawyers spelling out what you absolutely need to know. It’s like a year of film school in four days.

And let’s not forget our features. We show only a limited number, so each is something really special. Just in the last few years, attendees have be treated to the best in indie horror with the apocalyptic The Signal and the satiric Blood Car, the best in fantasy with Pirates of the Great Salt Lake, and the Sun Dance favorite, Forgiving The Franklins. Our focus on the most exciting Asian films has brought in the Korean supernatural thriller Spider Forest, the controversial Lady Vengeance, the ghostly The Maid, the original Ju-On movies (before they were available anywhere else in the U.S.), as well as Takashi Shimizu’s follow-up, the dream-like, Lovecraftian vision, Marebito. This year we’ve gotten science-fiction noir, the destruction of civilization, and extreme horror up our sleeve.

From early in the morning to well past midnight, it’s non-stop cinema. To learn more about what is going to happen this year, keep watching the D*C Indie Film website at filmfest.dragoncon.org.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Main Programming

Director: Regina Kirby

Main Programming refers to events, contests, presentations, and performances not covered under specific “programming tracks.” Main programming items are usually single events which are not part of a specific genre, including:

• Contests
• Performances (Theatrical, Musical, and Radio)
• Presentations and Ceremonies
  • Opening Ceremonies (Friday evening)
  • Closing Ceremonies (Monday afternoon)
  • Awards Banquet
• Miscellaneous Main Programming
  • Late-Night Dances and Drum-Circles (Friday - Sunday nights)
  • Red Cross Blood Drive (Vampires Anonymous)

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

MMORPGs

Director: Kevin Stallard

For those of you who spend more time in Azeroth, Norrath, Middle Earth, Paragon City, or the EVE Galaxy than you do in the “Real World”, the Dragon*Con MMO track is your home away from home while at Dragon*Con. We will have activities and panels for just about every flavor of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game including, but certainly not limited to, World of Warcraft, Everquest, Pirates of the Burning Sea, City of Heroes (and Villains), and Lord of the Rings Online. In addition, we will have information on upcoming releases in the genre, featuring demonstrations and Q&A sessions with the developers of Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Stargate Worlds, and many others. For the latest information on our panels and activities (including our weekend-long quest and costume contest), join our year-round community at http://www.dc-mmo.org.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Anne McCaffrey’s Pern

Director: Charlotte Moore

The official Anne and Todd McCaffrey fan track at Dragon*Con, Weyrfest is the place to be to discuss and explore Anne McCaffrey’s famous and fabulous universes! Meet Anne’s co-authors (or Anne herself!), get together with your fandom pals, and dicker over the details of dragons. For more about our track, check out www.weyrfest.org - where you’ll find our panel schedule, guest listing, news updates, and a related links page - or weyrfest.livejournal.com, our blogging community.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Podcasting: Now and Beyond

Director: Swoopy

Welcome to Podcasting: Now and Beyond. Here, there are no limits to what can be created in the realm of Portable Media. In Podcasting you'll find a world rich in Science Fiction, Fantasy and original Speculative Fiction content like no other and we're excited to once again be bringing a large contingent of talented podcasters to Dragon*Con.

Are you already a fan? Come and see panels and live shows featuring your favorite podcasts like "Slice of Sci-Fi", "The Signal" and "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" where you the listening audience, get to be a part of the action.

If you're looking to start your own podcast, we'll have panels to give you tips from the masters on audio and video production, promoting your show and building a fan base. Our annual "Podcasting Your Novel" panel is always standing room only, featuring popular authors like Michael A. Stackpole, Scott Sigler and J.C. Hutchins, with tips on how to turn your unpublished work into a podcast or Podiobook that may someday earn you best seller status.

We'll also be hosting the Third Annual Parsec Awards, dedicated to rewarding excellence in various aspects of Speculative Fiction Podcasting, Sci-fi & Fantasy Original Content, Podiobooks and a variety of other categories dealing with the new frontiers of Portable Media.

Like the world of portable media, events and schedules for Podcasting: Now and Beyond will be continually evolving in the lead up to Dragon*Con 2008. For additional information on Podcasting and Portable media, and to download Podcasts of our featured panelists and live shows come see us online at: http://podcasting.dragoncon.net.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Readings

Director: Regina Kirby

Offering readings by authors from their own works (and usually some discussion with the audience afterward), our past readers have included T.W. Miller, Janny Wurtz, Kevin J. Anderson, Jana Oliver, Karen McCollough, Tracy Hickman, Laura Curtis, and Caitlin Kiernan. Check the schedule closer to the convention for the latest on who will be reading for you this year!

»  Back to Top (updated 07/20/2008)

Robotics

Director: Michael ‘Shaggy’ Macht

The Robotics Track goal this year is to teach you to build your own robot. Children and Adults are welcome to come learn how to build a robot, for Combat in our very own Robot Battles™, to complete everyday tasks, or to help you take over the world.

In 2008 we will be continuing our robotic competitions: Robot Battles™ on Monday (one of the longest-running robot competitions in the world) and our 4th annual antweight robot fight on Sunday.

For complete information about Robot Battles™ and Robot MicroBattles, including rules and contest times, please visit the Official Robot Battles™ web site at: http://www.robotbattles.com.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time

Director: Jennifer Liang

The "Wheel of Time" track is sad to announce the death of our favorite author, Robert Jordan on September 17th, 2007. We will be marking this solemn occasion with special memorial panels and events.

Brandon Sanderson, the author tapped by Jordan's family to complete the final "Wheel of Time" novel will be our guest this year. We will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dragonmount.com, the largest WoT fansite on the web and will feature a special presentation by the organizers of JordanCon, the first "Wheel of Time" fan convention.

For more information, please see our website at www.ageoflegends.net.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Science

Director: Jon Nyx

Mad scientists have a bad rap these days. We are stereotyped as being arrogant, callous and kind of creepy, all of which is true, but we're also accused of being boring. As if! The guests and speakers of the Dragon*Con 2008 Science Track are the folks who put the science in science fiction, baby! Since the word 'science' covers some pretty diverse subject matter, we've put together a veritable plethora of intellectual treats for giant throbbing brains everywhere.

Now everyone knows that nukes are just plain fun, so we've invited and/or blackmailed several nuclear scientists and engineers who will give us the good, the bad, and the deranged regarding Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, new and much safer modern reactor designs, and how we keep The Bad Guys from blowing them up (plus what happens if we fail). They'll even discuss how to optimize the effects of nuclear weapons - more bang for your taxpayer buck!

Yippee!

Evolution is always a hot topic; we'll look into whether humans are still evolving (short answer: yes) and examine why anyone is still questioning the validity of Darwin's theory in the the 21st century. We also check on our Pleistocene era buddies, the Neanderthals, and see what they were up to before our ancestors wiped them out and possibly ate them. Then we go back even further in time to 'Earth: The First Two Billion Years', which was NOT the kind of place where you'd want to spend your vacation.

Back in the present, we've got the latest on strange states of matter and energy, stuff that makes antimatter look tame by comparison. Speaking of antimatter, we'll have a gent present who makes it for a living; sorry, no samples. Feel free to bring your own, though. We'll examine strange but true scientific research that will boggle your mind and cause you to question the sanity of the researchers. We'll even tell you how to build your very own quantum computer for fun and profit. Seriously, we really will.

Next, we take aim at Hollywood. Alas, not literally; remember the optimized nukes mentioned above? Anyway, we'll look at the science of Dune, the science of Michael Crichton, the science of superheroes - is any of it possible and does anyone in movie or tv-land ever get the science right?

Finally, we'll cover an item of vital, nay, *CRITICAL* importance to the entire human race: the science (and fine art) of makin' booze. If after all of that you still insist upon the stereotype, well, there's always the Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow Annual Recruitment Drive and Bake Sale.

So why not grab a body, yours or someone else's, living or dead, drag it on down to our neck of the woods and donate it to Science for a few hours. We promise, we'll take really good care of it. In fact, we can proudly state that NONE of our attendees or guests have been maimed, blown up or otherwise killed a lot as a result of attending Science Track events, as far as we know.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Literature

Director: Sue Phillips

Welcome back to the Sci-Fi and Fantasy literature track. I’d like to thank everyone who’s helped us make it to our third year at Dragon*Con, a year with the most excitement so far! We are the track for those of you who like to read. More than that, we are the track for those of you who enjoy discussion of what you read, who you read and why don’t you like that book, hmmm? Tolkein or Lewis? Who are the giants of the genre? If you have an opinion on these or anything else having to do with the printed word, check us out.

Some of your favorites are back - Dead Author’s Society, SciFi and Fantasy Jeopardy, author showcases to name just a few. We’ll have some new things too - a look at some fannish history in addition to history of the genre - and who knows what else is in store. Our yahoogroup is dcsflit@yahoogroups.com; come and join us to get a feel for what we do. Give us your input because without the fans, we’re talking to ourselves. For more information, check out sffantasylit.dragoncon.org. We’re just starting out there but that’s the place to find schedules and news. Let’s have another great year!

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Silk Road: Asian Cinema & Culture

Director: Susan Shockley

The Silk Road track covers all aspects of Asian culture from traditional to new wave pop and cinema.

We explore and discuss Asian dress, dance & history with interactive panel demonstrations and discussions. Our programming includes such topics as Chinese dance, eastern medicine, manga, haiku, origami, martial arts, green tea, geishas, and Godzilla.

Modern culture and cinema topics are explored through screenings and panel discussions that result in lively audience participation. We have screened as well as premiered short films and full feature length productions. Each year we have had film directors introduce their films, discuss them, and take audience questions. Our main focus is Asian horror, but martial arts and Godzilla films are explored as well.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Skeptics

Director: Derek Colanduno

After many years of Skeptics being represented in the Space and Science tracks at Dragon*Con, we are proud to announce the inaugural year of "Skeptrack", providing a full compliment of live entertainment and discussion panels for the legions of free thinkers, science enthusiasts and skeptics helping to put the Science in Science Fiction at Dragon*Con.

Our list of guests include many of the world's most prominent skeptics from the world of television, podcast and print media: 'The Amazing' James Randi, Skeptic Society founder Dr. Michael Shermer, Paranormal Investigators Benjamin Radford and Alison Smith, and "The Bad Astronomer" Dr. Phil Plait to name just a few.

In addition to the new programming, we are reprising by popular demand last year's standing room only "Skeptics vs. Believers" debate, where our skeptical heroes tackle the specters of pseudoscience and the paranormal in their quest for the truth, as well as live shows from the irrepressible George Hrab, and the cast of "Skeptic's Guide to the Universe".

For events as they unfold, to join in the discussion groups, and for more information about Skepticism, critical thinking and paranormal investigation visit Skeptrack on the web at Skeptrack.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Space

Director: Lorraine (rain) Glynn

We are the Space Track. We think the Astronomy Picture of the Day website is required daily viewing. That commercial space flight and finding better and cheaper ways to get people and cargo into Earth orbit and beyond is imperative. We’re obsessed about those over achieving Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. We enjoy debating the pros and cons of manned versus robotic space exploration and are fascinated by the symmetry of a dying star providing the material for the birth of new ones. And we don’t care if anyone made our universe or not - we just want to know how it was done and what’s going to happen to it!

At Space Track you can find out about past, present and future NASA missions. Learn about the reality of the harshness of exploring space - anything from the possibility of a punctured spacecraft to radiation poisoning. Find out the latest on the all of the various probes exploring our solar system (and beyond!) from the mission specialists who work on the projects. Discover the research and methods that are being discussed to protect our Earth from a future asteroid or comet strikes. Listen to people who are actively involved in making commercial space flight a reality or astronomers probing the secrets of stars, galaxies and black holes. You might even have the opportunity to speak to an astronaut!

So drop by the Forsythe room, on the second floor of the Hilton, and spend some time exploring space with us. Take advantage of our LIVE ASTRONOMY opportunities by checking out our solar telescope during the day and remote viewing from one of the telescopes at the Kitt Peak Observatory in the late night hours. If you catch us at the right time you might even get a cup of liquid nitrogen ice cream!

Keeping checking the Mad Scientist website for news updates and programing schedules as they are confirmed. Oh yeah, you can find information on jonnyX’s Science Track as well. See you in August. :-)

* with apologies to President Kennedy for butchering his quote!

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Star Gate: Offworld Fandom

Director: Marcia Patterson

The Star Gate Offworld Fandom track (SGOWF) welcomes you to another year of planned and unexpected treats for all stargate fans!

Last year, with the incredibly fan-friendly Paul McGillion as our host, we held a spontaneous charity auction and in just 20 minutes, raised over $2,500 for the American Diabetes Association! This year, we are planning a full hour charity auction—and yes, in a larger space.

Thank you to each person who supported the SGOWF track in so many ways this past year. Here are a few more early planning highlights on the docket this year:

• Stargate Spam Fest: Friday, late night in the ConSuite. Bring forth your spam forming skills! (new!)
• Slumber Party: “where fangirling” reigns supreme. (new!)
• SG TWITS: (They Were In THAT?!) – more hilarious clips of SG actors in roles they might just want the universe to forget (but we won’t)
• SG Games: “McKay” and crew will be back to lead the fun
• SG Craftworks: New is SG scrapbooking along with the return of Small Toy Works (remember the wonderful SG-morphed My Little Ponies from last year?!)
• SG Fanworks Competition: Our 2nd year of recognizing and encouraging literary and artistic fan creativity.
• SG Shoot or Don’t Shoot: Test your military skills in this fast paced “kill or be killed” activity. (new!)
• Stargate SG1: the DVD years, and…what is the team up to these days?
• SG Online: delve into the realms of avatars, games and websites.
• Parade contingent: More SG troops and aliens march together featuring the return of the fabulous military truck. Be there to catch our parade throws!

…and this is just the beginning! Last year, we hosted some of the most raucous, side-splitting guest panels ever and look forward to more this year as the guest list forms.

The SGOWF fan community continues to expand and welcomes your participation in making this year of fan events the best ever! We need you to help “Open the Iris”!

We have again reserved a block of hotel rooms! You can learn more by visiting us today at www.stargateoffworld.com for more information! Or one of our communities located at: Live Journal, Yahoo Groups.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Star Trek: TrekTrak

Director: Eric L. Watts

TrekTrak: The Star Trek convention at Dragon*Con... devoted to Star Trek in all its various forms, and to its fans, in all of their various forms! Dragon*Con 2008 is proud to present TrekTrak for its sixteenth big year! Whether we’re celebrating the original Star Trek, the animated series, the motion pictures, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, or even Enterprise, TrekTrak consistently sets the standard for quality fan programming with its wide variety of guest panels, discussion topics and unique presentations, such as the world-famous Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant. Please visit www.TrekTrak.com for the latest information on guests, programming participants and programming events being planned for 2008!

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Star Wars: Matters of the Force

Director: Cathy Bowden

The halls of four hotels and the streets of Atlanta will be abuzz with Rebels, Clones, Siths, and Lightsabers as the Star Wars Programming Track, aka, Matters of the Force (MotF) celebrates its 15th year!

The tradition of the costume contest, prop building challenge, trivia, costume workshops, and special guest appearances will be ever present. However, we have a few surprises hiding in the wings - Steve Sansweet, Saber Idol, the New York Jedi Combat Team, and a revamped Cantina!

“What is Saber Idol?”, you ask.

Saber Idol: The Search for the Nation’s Next Lightsaber Champion

The hum of the blade, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of victory... Do you think you have what it takes to become the next Saber Idol? Bring your best solo Lightsaber performance and impress our panel of judges to make it to the Semi-Finals at Connooga on February 20-22, 2009.

Steve Sansweet will be there with a great presentation about what is to come from Lucasfilm in the coming months.

We are happy to announce that Jake Lloyd will attend his first Dragon*Con and we welcome back Daniel Logan, Jeremy Bulloch, David Prowse and Ray Park. What a contrast! Jake/David, Daniel/Jeremy and Ray to balance out the Force. Keep an eye on the Dragon*Con website for more guests as they are added.

For more information visit our website at www.mattersoftheforce.org.

Sit back, kick off your shoes, pour a Yoda Soda and enjoy some Wookiee Cookies.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Tolkien’s Middle-Earth

Director: Jean Baughman

One con to rule them all
One place to find them

One track to bring them all

And in Atlanta bind them

Welcome to Tolkien’s Middle-earth! If you’re looking for a fantastical place, filled with Elves, Hobbits, and talking trees, in a world full of myth and magic, then this is the place for you. The Tolkien Track pays homage to the beloved creator of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, and his myriad of works, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Silmarillion, and The Children of Hurin.

Our track is packed with fun and includes everything from the best entertainment Arda has to offer to exciting informational panels to an awesome group of special guests. The unique mix of scholarly sessions and fan forums guarantees something for every Tolkien fan. From talks on elements of Tolkien’s Middle-earth to discussing the films, live action role playing and costuming, we’ll take you there and back again on an incredible journey.

We are planning an even more incredible schedule than last, and hope you’ll drop by the track room to check out all the fun. For up-to-date information including schedules, guest and staff bios, and the latest track news, please stop by our official website www.tolkientrack.com.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)

Whedonverse

Director: Wayne Hutchinson

Do you wish you could be as badass as Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Can't get enough of those Big Damn Heroes and their futuristic outlaw adventures? Do you want Angel Investigations to take YOUR case?

Then the Whedon Universe Track was made for you! We are your "key" to unlocking all the secrets to your favorite Joss Whedon shows, movies, and comics. Come and participate in the in depth discussions about characters, episodes, or even ask questions of celebrity guests from your favorite Joss Whedon TV shows. Participate in our original games, laugh until it hurts at the Buffy Horror Picture Show then dance until your boots fall off at the Shindig. Before the weekend is over we'll have you screaming "GRR ARRGH!!" for more salty Joss goodness!

Visit www.whedonuniverse.com for all the gory details.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

Writers’ Track

Director: Nancy Knight

If you're like 99% of us, you have a story to tell. Is it a novel? A short story? A game? A comic? A screenplay? Writers' Track will play host to 31 hours of programming designed to put you on the right "track" to publishing those stories--whatever form they take. This year's schedule features a two-hour segment by Debra Dixon based on her book: Goal, Motivation and Conflict--one of the best tools for writers ever published. In addition, those hour hours are chocked full of good advice, good laughs and good ideas to make your writing dream come true.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/23/2008)

X Track

Director: Leigh Bennett-Conner

Join us as we explore the world of the paranormal, strange and supernatural. We will discuss your favorite paranormal shows, including The X-Files, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen, Ghost Hunters, Supernatural, and many others. Additionally, X Track schedules panel discussions about the paranormal, ranging from ESP and hypnosis to cryptozoology with side trips to aliens, psychic encounters and questions of reality. Do you want to believe? Join us as we search for the truth.

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities we have planned, visit the track web site at: www.xtrack.dragoncon.net.

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Young Adult Literature

Director: Bev Kodak

This year is the fifth year for the Young Adult Literature Track at Dragon*Con, and we’re going strong. If you read speculative fiction and you’re not branching out into the YA section of your local bookstore, you’re missing out on the best work that’s being written in our field today.

We are far from being only about the Potter fandom, our track will be running panels featuring many guest authors. For those of you who missed it last year, screenwriter Peter Beagle will once again join us for live film commentary as we watch The Last Unicorn from his novel of the same name. We have other award-winning guests and authors, including Tamora Pierce, bestselling author of the Song of the Lioness series, featuring Alanna Trebond, a young girl who yearns to be a knight.

Tentatively, our home this year for Dragon*Con will be on the lobby level of the Marriott.

This year we’re featuring the Yule Ball Video Dance Party. We’ll be showing videos of your favorite dance tunes made by and for you, the fan. If you’re a vidder, stop by our website and see the list of songs up for grabs. The party will be held on Sunday night in the Sheraton ballroom. Please note that there will be some changes in the way we’re holding our Yule Ball Costume Contest. Pre-registration will take place in our programming track room in the hours leading up to the Yule Ball. The costumes will be judged as they are entered, and the top results will be announced at the ball. If you’d like to get in on the contest, we are not taking submission at the ball this year. Please plan ahead for your enjoyment. Of course to attend the Yule Ball, any attire is appropriate. Costumes are only required if you wish to enter the costume contest.

We’ll also be discussing Narnia, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, graphic novels, fan fic, folklore, sexuality in YA, books with strong female characters, books for boys, and Harry Potter fun and games. Come join us for these events, march in the parade, do some crafts, dance at the Yule Ball, and so much more in what promises to be an exciting weekend! Please see the complete schedule for more details.

To chat about these and other events within our track, you can join us online at our LiveJournal community at community.livejournal.com/dragonconyalit/. To get the latest information and the complete schedule (as we get closer to the convention), our track website can be found at www.yalit.dragoncon.net/index.html.

»  Back to Top (updated 05/14/2008)