Science Fiction Conventions
Fans of the science fiction genre are loyal and follow their particular shows and movies closely. The secret to a successful franchise is to keep the interesting characters and stories coming. One of the outlets for the fans is the many science fiction conventions. Some people call those that attend them nerds but they don't care! These gatherings of like-minded people are a lot of fun. They give the opportunity to buy merchandise and memorabilia, such as books, action figures, t-shirts and plaques. Several of them hold auctions for props and costumes and there may be guest celebrities, giving talks or signing books.
2007 was a special year for Star Wars fans as it was the 30th anniversary of the release of the first film. A celebratory science fiction convention for the movie was held over five days in Los Angeles. Fans attended in costumes associated with the six films and many had the thrill of meeting star guests. The films were screened and there was an exhibition of costumes and props and a race for R2D2 robots.
Star Trek is another famous franchise with a lot of output since the original television series that aired in the 1960s. Other series followed and movies too. The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel is presenting a Star Trek convention in August 2008 and claims that it is the largest one in the world. There is to be a daily auction of collectibles at discounted starting prices and a talk, giving tips on buying props etc. Many of the auctioned items are signed by stars of the shows. The costume competition has a first prize of a $1,000 gift certificate. The long list of celebrity guests booked to appear at this science fiction convention is impressive and includes well-known characters from all of the television series. They include Avery Brooks (Captain Sisco), Nana Visitor (Major Kira), Michael Dorn (Worf), Nichelle Nicols (Uhuru), and Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi).
The longest running series on British TV in the science fiction genre is Dr Who. The show is also popular in other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There are fan clubs in all of these countries and there are many events to go to. The largest convention for Dr Who fans in America is said to be Gallifrey One in Los Angeles. Other popular science fiction conventions include Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
