Boskone

NESFA runs an annual science fiction convention, Boskone. In the words of the convention organizers, "Boskone is a regional Science Fiction convention focusing on literature, art, music, and gaming (with just a dash of whimsy)"^[1]. It is held over President's Day weekend every February, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The name is a reference to the classic Lensman series by E. E. Smith, in which "Boskone" is a council of villains, and also a name for their civilization. The obvious name for a con in Boston would, of course, be "Boscon"; the similarity was noticed and embraced. Continuing the trend, when a new Boston-area convention was formed, the organizers of that event named it "Arisia".

Boskone I^[2] was held in 1941 under the auspices of The Stranger Club, an earlier Boston-based SF club. Four more were held annually, ending with Boskone V in 1945. The current series of Boskones started in 1965 with Boskone 1^[3] and continued without interruption to the present. Boskone 1, 2, and 4 were run by BosSFS, the now-defunct Boston Science Fiction Society. The then-newly-formed NESFA took over with Boskone 5. The tradition of holding Boskone in February started in 1976.^[4]

Boskone typically features a guest of honor, an official artist, a science speaker, a featured filker, and a special guest. Boskone 47, to be held February 12-14, 2010, at the Westin Waterfront is scheduled to feature Alastair Reynolds as guest of honor, John Picacio as official artist, Mary Crowell as featured filker and Tom Shippey as special guest. Jim Mann is con chair for this upcoming event.

More information

See also

• Science fiction fandom
• Science fiction convention

External links

• Boskone
• NESFA
• NESFA Press

Notes

1. ^  Boskone Home Page
2. ^  Roman numeral I for one
3. ^  Numbering for the new Boskone series was restarted at one, and with Arabic numerals
4. ^  Boskone History