obscure, but not random

[salixbabylon]

Have any of you guys heard of SPFII (Society For the Promotion of
Fannish Interests, Inc.) or WesterCon or specifically WesterCon60?

I sort of have an invite to speak on an erotica panel but I've never heard of this con or group before just now and so I wondered if any of you have and what you know/think about it all.

Anyone? Help? Please?

Comments

That was the year I talked to Harlan Ellison on the phone....

[telesilla.livejournal.com]

Wow, I had NO idea that WesterCon was still a going concern. I worked one a long time ago--WesterCon 38 I think. At that time it was a pretty good con, mostly book oriented with a pretty impressive guest list--Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Barbara Hambly, Katherine Kurtz, MZB, and a lot of other people I'm forgetting. In addition to some good panels, there was the usual art show, dealer's room and a costume contest. It was kind of like a mini WorldCon, really.

At the time it was kind of done like WorldCon, con committees from various West Coast cities put up bids, members voted on the locations and then the local con committee put on the con--which was how I ended up working it; I was friends with someone on the con committee.

I have no idea what that con is are like now; if I have any con going money, I'd be more likely to go to...um whatever they're calling the Bay Area slash con these days, or down to Ventura for Escapade. But back in the day it was a legit, very respectable, well-regarded con and a lot of cities and con committees treated it as a dress rehersal for WorldCon bids.

Re: That was the year I talked to Harlan Ellison on the phone....

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Excellent - I suspected you or lisagems might know something about it.

One question then - do you think someone into fandom (i.e. - me), but not very familiar with most scifi/fantasy books or tv shows would have any place on a panel about erotica? I'm seriously thinking of going...