his comprehensive guide to the intricate world of science-fiction conventions can be a boon to anyone heading to their first con, covering everything from the lingo used by fans to tips on the best way to strike up a satisfying conversation when, after months of anticipation, reader comes face to face with their favorite artists or authors.
Text-heavy and strongly favoring function over flair in its approach to Web design, the SF Con Survival Kit for Neofans is built around a series of essays on the nature of SF cons and how to enjoy them safely. Topics include the nature of conventions, the reasoning behind weapons policies, ways to avoid alcohol poisoning and warnings to help readers avoid sex-related mishaps. The advice on offer is commonsense and reliable (though some readers may take issue with lesser details like the conservative one-list-fits-all packing suggestions for men and women, or the author's opinions on body size and costuming). The Web page delivers on the promise of its name, in other words, serving up a list of dos and don'ts that can guide a neofan through a first convention both safely and with maximized chances fun.
Naturally, much of what is on this site will seem self-evident to experienced con-goers, but a browse through the Survival Guide can still yield useful information: guidelines on panel creation, etiquette reminders, notes on the benefits of volunteering and insightful don't-forgets for costumers. At the same time, the SF Con Survival Guide knows better than to try being all things to all visitors. Rather than tackle larger con-related topics that don't bear specifically on having a successful first-convention experience, it refers visitors outward—to a filking webring, an SCA family called the Great Dark Horde, a list of conventions and an SF webzine.
As introductions to the world of SF fandom go, the Survival Guide is one of the best: gentle but honest, and capable of making even a newcomer seem like a savvy veteran.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—February 23, 2004
ciFi Slacker is a slickly put-together SF webzine, a nexus of news, reviews and links that makes a great stopping-place for any fan interested in reading up on the SF field. Skewed more to screen media than print SF, it is a particularly good resource for data on beloved television shows, movies and collectible tie-in merchandise.
The heart and soul of this site is its portal of links. Indexed by an array of topics—from Hollywood stars who have appeared in various SF movies to human space exploration—SciFi Slacker points outward to a wide range of relevant sites. At the same time, it does not function merely as a referral service: It hosts message boards, for example, and a cartoon. The Web page also posts reviews of movies, TV shows, music, toys and sometimes even books. (Its Web masters are actively seeking volunteer reviewers to cover a long list of recent films and books, so fans with a passionate opinion about the latest Harry Potter novel or The Matrix: Reloaded might want to check their submission guidelines!) Additionally, SciFi Slacker has a smattering of e-postcards from various films and shows.
Finally—and especially for any would-be slacker who is simply looking to waste a few enjoyable minutes on the Web—a definite don't-miss on this site is its collection of games. With a rudimentary SF word search puzzle, some scrambled-up classic film posters and a handful of Flash-intensive diversions with suggestive names like Alien Hangman and Whack-A-Dalek, these games are simple and silly enough to brighten a dismal day or provide a site visitor with a hearty laugh.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—February 17, 2004
cientific breakthroughs have always provided a fertile source of inspiration for artists. SF writers explore the potential of new discoveries as fast as scientists can make them, pushing the envelope of what is known while speculating about possible future findings. Similarly, illustrators can take ecologists' direst predictions about global warming (or any other consequence of human excess) and use them to create horrifying vistas of ravaged Earths of the near future.
At DNA Music Central, science provides a different sort of creative genesis for art. The site's name says it all: The human genome is used as the basis for a series of 24 musical compositions, one song derived from each of chromosomes 1 through 22, plus another from the X
and Y chromosomes. Visitors to the site can listen to 30-second samples from each and every piece of music in this oddball collection of electronica.
DNA Music Central and its songs are the creation of Henry Allan Hargrove, a composer whose passion is sampling human DNA and recoding it into musical form. His site is simple, barely more than a single page, and reflects a single-minded determination to create and disseminate this music. Though the page includes an essay outlining the nature of DNA and the genetic music derived therefrom, its primary purpose is not to educate but to share samples of Hargrove's music with anyone who happens to surf by.
Due to this narrow focus, DNA Music Central's sole link out to the rest of the Internet takes visitors to a scientific article about the history of genetic music, one that details the various uses to which this music can be put by researchers. Art, in this case, furthers the work of scientists, who return the favor in an endless feedback loop.
— A.M. Dellamonica
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