BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I’m guessing folks are looking for any reason to get out and about this week after being shut in last week. Snow is pretty and all, but enough is enough. Looking at the schedule, one of the things that jumps out is that Chattacon is Friday through Sunday at the Choo Choo. If you are looking to do something different, that would fit the bill.
LISA DENTON: You are a master of understatement. I’m always intrigued by the sci-fi fan boys and girls who show up for these conventions. But it’s much more than a chance for dress-up and role-playing. Chattacon also draws some big names in fantasy literature. One of this year’s guests of honor is Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who boasts a long list of awards and accomplishments. The other, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, is a writer who has earned a literary knighthood from, get this, the Transylvanian Society of Dracula. How cool is that?
BARRY: I attended one year ago when Robert Jordan of Conan books fame was there. He and the other authors made the point that science owes much to the sci-fi genre. Their point was that the creatives (that’s my favorite new trendy word, by the way) came up with seemingly far-out ideas like lasers and cell phones, and then the brainiacs actually made them. I also remember the costumes.
LISA: As strange as some of the programming is to not-so-hard-core fans, the convention is a family affair for many attendees. For instance, there’s a Young Jedi Academy where the youngsters can eat Wookie Cookies and watch cartoons. Proceeds from fantasy critter art created on-site will be donated to charity, and organizers are asking for donations of items to send to the troops (there’s a list of suggestions, as well as the programming schedule, at www.chattacon.org). All in all, it sounds like a fun time.
BARRY: It is a lot of fun and, like many things, it can get as “normal” or as “weird” — those being subjective terms — as you want to make it. Some might argue that a grown man wearing a Stormtrooper costume and playing Dungeons & Dragons till dawn is no stranger than a grown man wearing a football jersey with another man’s name on it and screaming at a television set convinced he is influencing the outcome of the game.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.