Convention draws more than 'geeky' crowd

Fourty-two is a special number for those in the know of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
The number is the answer to life, the universe, and everything calculated by the fictional earth-sized supercomputer.

The 42nd annual Bubonicon will take place August 27-29 at the Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel, and it will focus on “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” so gather your terry towel. Originally, the annual science fiction convention was called New Mexicon until 1971.
Co-Con chair Kristen Dorland said the new name got its beginnings from a miscommunication.

“(Science fiction writer) Bob Vardeman read a press release stating that the country of Egypt was banning travelers from New Mexico because we have bubonic plague here,” Dorland said. “He was so tickled by the fact that we would be banned that he named the convention Bubonicon.”
Over the years, the convention has been able to bring in some of the bigger names in science fiction literature, and this year author Peter David and programmer Mario Acevedo will attend.

Additionally, the convention hosts a variety of activities that in the past have attracted a “geeky” crowd, Dorland said, but has since grown in diversity over the years.

“We get all kinds of people,” she said. “We see a lot of families, and we’re seeing a lot of younger people these days. It seems like we get a lot of people who’ve never been to a science fiction convention.”

On Friday night, there will be an auction with proceeds going to Eastern N.M. University’s Williamson Library Collection, Roadrunner Food Bank and Watermelon Mountain Ranch. A portion of the convention’s profit will also go to these charities.

To celebrate the theme, the committee set up a “Vogon Poetry Slam,” costume contest, “(Virgin) Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster Drink Contest” and a screening of the film “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.” Though the Pan-Galactic drink is fictitious and consists of components not found on Earth, attendees are invited to concoct something out of their imagination for the judges to test.

Bubonicon also offers an exhibit of fantasy art by professionals, amateurs and interested youth. Though the convention no longer accepts mail-in submissions, it will begin taking pieces in person beginning Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m. The committee encourages images of galactic hitchhiking rats. There is a small registration fee, unless you are attending, as well as a hanging fee.

Dorland said the convention is friendlier than most, taking first-time attendees under its wing and showing them a good time.
“If they enjoy the idea of science fiction, and that’s anything — storm troopers, avatar, anime, comic books, I think they’ll find somebody that they’ll enjoy talking to,” she said. “Attendees should bring their towels and peanuts and be prepared to have a very good time. Bathrobes are encouraged.”

Memberships for the convention will be sold at the door. It’s $42 for a weekend pass, $15 for Friday only, $25 Saturday only and $15 for Sunday only. Youth (14-17) memberships are $20 for the entire weekend.