Writers Workshop

ConDor will be hosting a Writers Workshop again this year. Again this year instead of writers bringing in their work, this workshop will entail writing a short fictional segment based on a prompt – a theme, location, concept, etc. – provided by the person leading the workshop. After time given to actually write, the participants will present what they have written for discussion and critique by the workshop leader and participants. To assure a position, those interested in attending the workshop should contact our Programming dept There may be places open at the con but priority will be given to those registering in advance.

Hogwarts Educational Retreat

Marked as His Equal joins the Friday night Wizard Rock concert. We are honored to have Marked as His Equal performing during the Wrock concert. This will be their third year at ConDor. We regret to announce that Catchlove will not be performing

The Science of Aliens
http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/upcoming/scienceofaliens.htm

The San Diego Air and Space Museum is opening its exhibit "The Science of Aliens", looking at such subjects as aliens in fiction, "alien" life right here on Earth, concepts of life on alien worlds and the possibilities of communicating with aliens. The exhibit will run at least through the year. You may want to allow time during your visit to ConDor for a side trip to the Air and Space Museum.

ConDor Scavenger Hunt

We regretfully must cancel this year's ConDor Scavenger Hunt.  The organizers, James  & Dan, have other real life commitments that will not allow them to run the event.  However, the San Diego Rocket Race, an annual sci-fi themed urban puzzle race around town,  will be held in November so check out their web site for details.  We hope the organizers can return to next year. (www.sdrocketrace.com) 

Mad Science Fair

Attention all ConDor attendees. Come participate in this year’s Mad Science Faire. Display and demonstrate your aetheric weapon, your ghost detector, your flying harness or the model of your volcanic lair. Put together a science fair presentation on your research into zombie population modeling, fairy anatomy or the effects of your time travelling on your family tree. (Steampunk and Retro Future entries appreciated but don’t feel you must limit yourself.)

All entries must be available for presentation at ConDor (exact time for fair to be announced when the programming schedule is created). The winner of this year’s competition will be made an honorary member of The Mad Scientists Hall of Fame, being started at this year’s ConDor.

Nominations open for Mad Scientists Hall of Fame

Come participate in ConDor's first annual nominations and voting for the "Mad Scientists Hall of Fame", honoring all those crazed inventors and explorers of the unknown who have captivated us in fiction and real life. Go to http://jameshay.tripod.com/mshof/mad-scientists-hall-of-fame.html . Here you will find a list of real and fictional nominees for our first year's inductees. In honor of ConDor's theme of "Tripping the Past Fantastic", this year's nominees are all from the Victorian/Steampunk age or earlier.

You don't see someone you think should be honored? Suggest them to be added to our nominees.

ConDor members, guests and staff can vote for the candidates of their choice, either before or at the convention. (Note: Pre-convention you might not see all the eventual all nominees.) Voting will continue through the beginning of this year's ConDor. You may vote for up to five fictitious and one real candidate. This is also the number of individuals who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this ConDor.

One of this year's potential panel topics at ConDor will be "What makes a Mad Scientist Mad?". Why do we consider some individuals to be mad scientists? Is it their crazy ideas? The out of the norm inventions? The ignoring of normal morality and propriety? Come discuss this with our panelists.

Gaming Page Updated

More information on our gaming schedule both sit-down, live-action and social.

Guest List Updated (Again)

Our annotated list of confirmed guests, with 20 new guests since the last update.

Dealer's Room Updated (Again)

More confirmed dealers with website links and brief descriptions of the specialities available in our 2010 Dealer's room..(One more added Jan 13)

                                                     Original art by Atanielle Noel Rowland

Media Ghost of Honor and Literary Ghost of Honor named!

Join our appreciation of Jules Verne and Ross Martin with programming and discussions around their works.

ConDor Academy of Magic

For 3 years, the ConDor Academy of Magic has offered continuing education classes annually during ConDor, This year the Academy is proud to be hosting the Hogwarts Educational Retreat.  There will be a welcoming Wrock Concert on Friday night.  Classes and presentations will be held during the day on Saturday.  Saturday evening we'll enjoy a costume show and another Wrock concert.  And on Sunday the Common Room will be available sit and chat or play games. Read more on our 2010 Programming Page.

Guest List Updated

Our annotated list of confirmed guests is now updated.

Knight Classes

The classes will continue with more subjects and continuing education. We have openings for new students and instructors. Contact our programming department for details and to request an application.

Condor XVII : Programming Theme

Our primary programming theme will be: Tripping the Past Fantastic: Steampunk, Retro Future and Early Fantastic Fiction

ConDor Potential Panel Ideas

• Cheating the Reaper: Immortality
• Retro Future
• Steampunk Costuming: More than Gears and Goggles
  Here are several series of pictures of the recent Victorian/Edwardian/Steampunk tea held in San Diego's Heritage Park.
• The Ultimate Minority Group: Civil Rights for Monsters
• Can There Be Good Without Evil?
  Saint Augustine apparently answered this question, "Yes".
• The Good, The Bad And JarJar Binks: What has worked in Star Wars and what hasn’t
• Classic And Not So Classic Heroic Archetypes

2010 Guest of Honor

CJ Cherryh
We are pleased to announce that CJ Cherryh as agreed to be ConDor's 2010 Guest of Honor. Her numerous awards include:

• John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1977

• Hugo Award, short story, for "Cassandra" in 1979

• Hugo Award, novel, Downbelow Station in 1982

• Locus Award, Best SF Novel, Cyteen in 1988

• Hugo Award, novel, Cyteen in 1989

Among her other novels are Rusalka, Pride of Chanur, Exile's Gate, Chanur's Legacy, Flood Tide, Regenesis, and Fortress of Dragons.