Dragoncon 2007

A 2007 Draconian Experience

By: Sandy Lender

From the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster to Cookie Monster, from Peter S. Beagle (The Last Unicorn) to Margaret Weis (DragonLance), from Douglas Arnold (BSG) to Michael Shanks (SG-1), from shamefully vacant author readings to standing room only celebrity panels, from both impromptu and incredibly organized all-night gaming sessions to concerts that the fire marshal had to limit entrance to, DragonCon 2007 was geek and nerd Heaven. Not even on Halloween can a group of 50 plus Browncoats in full uniform walk down the streets of Atlanta to the cheers of modern-day citizens lining their parade route. But that’s exactly what happened this Labor Day weekend in Georgia’s capital.

Perhaps the citizens of Atlanta have grown used to thousands of excited and fun-loving sci-fi/fantasy/gaming/anime fans descending upon their fair city now that DragonCon is on year 21. Or maybe Mayor Shirley Franklin spread the word that the event would be pumping a ton of tourism dollars into the local economy: to the tune of at least $283 per attendee for each of the days spent in Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Whatever the catalyst, spirits were high and almost everyone was in a jovial mood for the convention.

A gentleman named Davian, Louisiana, couldn’t contain himself as he shuffled through his celebrity portraits, showing off the autographs he’d stood in line to get, telling the story of getting to move to the front of Christopher Judge’s (SG-1) line when the star’s delayed flight allowed his arrival. Fans young and old clamored around the stars along the Walk of Fame in the Marriott Hotel, waiting for their three or four minutes and possible quick picture with the likes of Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner or Jonathan Frakes (ST TNG); Mark Sheppard (BSG, Firefly, X-Files); Jamie Bamber, Douglas Arnold (BSG); Kevin Sorbo (Hercules); and others too numerous to mention in this short piece.

Something worth mentioning is the dearth of fans in the lines before such awesome celebrities as Peter Beagle. Considering the attention Peter Jackson has brought to Tolkien’s work, it is surprising more members of the fantasy community wouldn’t have fallen prostrate before a Tolkien commentator as intelligent and poignant as this one. Fan and future fantasy author Raven, Florida, could speak of little else after her wonderful experience speaking with the gentleman author. A 17-year-old high school student with a heart for literature and reading, she considered it a tragedy that the line for Beagle’s autograph didn’t match that of the line for the “visual” celebrities of the stage and screen.

Fantasy author Margaret Weis explained the shrinking of the publishing industry forces publishers and authors into merchandising and visual marketing for series these days. Perhaps the lack of attention authors along the Walk of Fame received, compared to the screen celebrities, is indicative of the visual marketing and merchandising trend Weis commented on. (See the upcoming article where I interview Weis about her company Margaret Weis Production, Ltd. for additional information.)

Despite the disparity between print and screen, panelists and attendees alike smiled for most of the convention. The complete lack of organization displayed by DragonCon staff, who should have just taken off the useless headsets and dumped the two-way radios, couldn’t really dampen spirits. If one security-like staff person appeared to be adhering to a set of archaic rules, a not-so-storm-trooper-like guard could be found elsewhere following a different, and more accommodating, user-friendly set of rules to make one’s experience enjoyable. When the Marriott finishes its renovations and makes travel from event to event actually convenient, attendees will be even happier than they were this year. It would be impossible to host all of DragonCon’s panels, concerts, exhibits, dealer tables, gaming rooms, autograph areas, etc., in one hotel; thus spreading the convention over three that are so closely situated is wise, and having the one in the middle “finished” will enhance the experience greatly. And if the emcees for the costume contest were serious about bringing the former star of MacGyver in next year, well, they’ll need another hotel to accommodate all those fans of the screen celebrities.

_{Sandy Lender is a new fantasy author of the novel Choices Meant for Gods and attended DragonCon this year as a new dealer but long-time fantasy and sci-fi fan.}

Check out more pictures from Dragoncon 2007.

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