Boskone

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For the fictional alien villains, see Lensman series.
Boskone
Status Active
Genre Science fiction
Location(s) Boston, Massachusetts
Country  United States
Inaugurated 1941
Organized by New England Science Fiction Association
Filing status 501(c)(3)
Website
www.nesfa.org/boskone

Boskone is an annual science fiction convention ("con") run by the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) in Boston, Massachusetts. 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)". It is held over President's Day weekend every February, in Boston. 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 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 I again (still using Roman numerals until Boskone XXVIII and then using Arabic numerals beginning with Boskone 29) and continued without interruption to the present. Boskones 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.

Boskone typically features a guest of honor, an official artist, a science speaker, a featured filker, and a special guest. Boskone 48, held February 18–20, 2011, at the Westin Waterfront, featured Charles Stross as guest of honor, Gregory Manchess as official artist, Erica Neely as featured filker, and Charlaine Harris as special guest. NESFA guests include Karen Anderson and Joan Slonczewski as the Hal Clement Science Speaker. The Higgins Armory Museum and other Historical European martial arts groups also usually hold demonstrations and classes.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Boskone 47: NESFA's® Regional Science Fiction Convention". New England Science Fiction Association. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2012. 
  2. ^ "Boskone History". New England Science Fiction Association. Retrieved 10 April 2012. 
  3. ^ "Boskone Program Book Covers". New England Science Fiction Association. Retrieved 10 April 2012. 

External links

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