| February 13-15, 2004 Sheraton Boston Hotel (617) 236-2000 Boston, MA |
Stephen Baxter has written Raft, Timelike Infinity, Manifold: Time, and Flux, and has won the Philip K. Dick Award and the John W. Campbell Jr. Memorial Award. Look for The Hunters of Pangaea, the Boskone 41 book, on sale at Boskone.
Richard Hescox is the winner of the Gaughan Award and the Chesley Award, for excellence in everything from fine art to illustration.
Betsy Mitchell is the Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey at Ballantine, and has been managing editor of Analog and senior editor at Baen Books. She also founded the Aspect line at Warner Books.
Bill and Brenda Sutton are singers and songwriters who perform as Bed & Breakfast, playing original compositions, Irish Pub, Celtic, Traditional and Contemporary Folk, and Country/Blues music.
Registration for Boskone will be open Friday through Sunday on the second floor in the Independence Foyer. Get your convention material and name badge there. Everyone—committee, staff, program participants, artists, dealers—registers there. We will make it as painless an experience as we can! You can help: Please remember to bring government-issued photographic identification, such as a driver's license or passport, to the Preregistration Desk. If you arrive late, ask at the Convention Office (second floor, across from the Constitution Ballroom) about after-hours registration. If you haven't yet bought a membership and wish to do so before the convention, a registration form is available at www.boskone.org/. You may register on-line or print and mail the form to our PO Box or fax it to us at 617-776-3243. (It must be postmarked by Jan. 18, 2004.).
The cost of advance memberships is $41. We accept Visa, MasterCard, checks (in US dollars drawn on a US bank), and money orders. At-con rates are: Full membership—$50, Friday—$15, Saturday—$35, Sunday—$17. We also accept cash at the con.
The cost of Dragonslair and Space Cadets is included in the con membership, so all children who use these services must be convention members. There is no reduced rate for children. However, children under 10 who stay with their parents at all times are considered "kids-in-tow" who need not have memberships. ("Kids-in-tow" do not receive any convention materials.)
Transferring Memberships. Boskone does not refund memberships. However, you may transfer your membership to someone else. All membership transfers must be done in writing. Your transferee will be able to register much more quickly at the convention if you write to us in advance (at the PO Box or info@boskone.org ) to let us know of the transfer and have your transferee bring a copy of your transfer letter to Registration. Please note life memberships are not transferable.
Bostonians often insert negatives in places never intended, with the meaning only to be figured out in context. Example: Bostonian 1: "I wicked wanna go to Glosta to get some clams!" Bostonian 2: "So don't I!" The second Bostonian just expressed agreement. Go figure. —MIT Fun Facts (http://web.mit.edu/21w785/F98/HTG/mwohab.html)
In memory of a beloved friend of NESFA, the late Hal Clement, NESFA will bring to Boskone each year a science speaker. This Boskone's Hal Clement Memorial Speaker will be John Cramer, a physicist at the University of Washington in Seattle. A few months ago John Cramer made world-wide news with the report of his re-creation of the sound of the Big Bang which can be played as a computer file (see www.npl.washington.edu/AV/BigBangSound_2.wav). He is also the author of Twistor and Einstein's Bridge.
The Boskone 41 Program offers panels, talks, discussions, demos, and workshops on many aspects of the science fiction and fantasy field. We include items about hard SF and fantasy, science and art, fandom and movies, literature and TV, music and comics, and heaps of related topics! Once again our "wicked awesome anime" gurus are putting together a video program to delight you. The full schedule will be in the Pocket Program—what more can you ask? (If you have a special request, email us at info@boskone.org.)
Our planned events include:
Confirmed Program participants as of 28 December 2003: Ellen Asher, Judith Berman, Terry Bisson, Michael A. Burstein, James Cambias, Jeff Carver, Bruce Coville, F. Brett Cox, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Daniel P. Dern, John R. Douglas, Debra Doyle, Thomas A. Easton, Bob Eggleton, Michael F. Flynn, Esther Friesner, Laura Anne Gilman, Barry Gold, David G. Hartwell, Dan Hatch, Jeff Hecht, Peter Heck, Walter H. Hunt, Matthew Jarpe, MaryAnn Johanson, Robert I. Katz, James Patrick Kelly, Daniel Kimmel, Rosemary Kirstein, Sharon Lee, Fred Lerner, Paul Levinson, Shariann Lewitt, Timothy E. Liebe, James D. Macdonald, George R. R. Martin, Terry McGarry, Ed Meskys, Steve Miller, Margaret Organ-Kean, Tamora Pierce, Don Sakers, Steven Sawicki, Robert J. Sawyer, Darrell Schweitzer, George H. Scithers, Josepha Sherman, Wen Spencer, Allen Steele, Geri Sullivan, Amy Thomson, Shane Tourtellotte, Jane Yolen
Kaffeeklatsches/Literary Beers—Interested in participating in an informal discussion with one of our program participants over coffee, tea, or beer? Sign up for these at Information at the convention.
Autographing—Get an autograph from your favorite writer, editor, or artist. Check your Pocket Program for times and locations.
Readings—Hear writers read and discuss their own works; as before, the Pocket Program tells all...
Discussion Groups—This year, we're setting up many individual presentations and focused discussions by a variety of our program participants. We'll also have some space available for you to form your own last-minute groups ("birds of a feather") at-con. Sign up for these at Information (or email us ahead at info@boskone.org ).
Filksinging—Filksongs are fandom's folk songs, with themes of SF, fantasy, and fannish interests. Planned items include an hour of concert sets, NESFA Hymnal singing, and a workshop conducted by Bill and Brenda Sutton. The program will of course have the usual open filking in the evenings, and dead dog filking on Sunday afternoon. Don't miss the theme concert on the subject "Wings", in honor of the Wright Brothers' centennial.
Regency Soirée—Learn the proper way to dance, play cards, and drink tea (albeit not all at the same time). There will be a Dancing Master to teach and call contra dancing (all skill levels are welcome), and instructors in whist and vingt-et-un. Regency period costume is appreciated but not required; spectators are invited (and invited to become participants!).
FANAC Fan History Project—Be part of the FHP, dedicated to preserving our science fiction and fannish heritage and making this material available to the present-day fan. Check out the web page at www.fanac.org . There are fannish reference works and thousands of photographs on the web site. You may even find your own picture there!
We will be at Boskone to archive our past. We'll have a scanning station to record photos and a small display to tell you more about us. If you have unusual items, we'll try to photograph or record them at the convention. If you have any photos, fanzines, publications or other memorabilia that you might be interested in donating to the FHP collection, contact Joe Siclari at jsiclari@optonline.net or talk with him at the convention. All donations are tax-deduct- ible.
FANAC and the Retro-Hugos: The Fan History Project has established special reference pages for the Noreascon 4 Retro-Hugo Awards. Go to www.fanac.org/fanzines/Retro_Hugos.html to see material by professional artists, fan artists and writers, complete fanzines and lists of the fiction eligible for the 1953 Retro-Hugo Awards, to be voted on this year.
Art Show & Print Shop—Our Art Show includes a special exhibit of the works of our Official Artist Richard Hescox, plus about 90 panels and a dozen tables full of original SF and Fantasy artwork, most of which is available for sale by written bid at the con. Also check out our Print Shop for many great items for immediate sale. The Art Show will be located on the second floor in the Back Bay Ballroom.
Dealers' Room—The Dealers' Room (aka The Hucksters' Room) will feature a wide variety of science fiction, fantasy, and genre books, jewelry, clothing, and all manner of other fun stuff. Check the Boskone web site (www.boskone.org) after January 20, 2004 for a list of dealers scheduled to attend. The Dealers' Room will be on the second floor in the Back Bay Ballroom, sharing space with the Art Show.
Con Suite—The Con Suite will be on the Program floor (third floor) in the center of the convention. Everyone is welcome to stop by the Commonwealth Room for soda and munchies, to meet other fans (you might want to sign up for birds of a feather meetings with them!), or just to relax for awhile. Children may not be left unattended. Gaming Room—This year's Game Room will feature lots of options for players of Magic: The Gathering, specialized board games, and people who want to play everything from checkers to Dungeons and Dragons. It will be in the Independence East Ballroom.
Dragonslair & Space Cadets—Dragonslair is children's programming for ages 7 to 12. We plan some fun and interesting activities. We'll probably have some readings, storytellings, games and crafts projects.We're also looking for your ideas for things you'd like to do—you can email us at kids@boskone.org . Maybe we'll create some artwork to be hung in the Art Show and maybe we'll just hang out and play. We have firm hours of operation; please see the list on the next page. Dragonslair will close for lunch and dinner on Saturday. We reserve the right to collect a fee for children not picked up at these times. Let us know if you will be using Dragonslair. Then come and have fun!
Space Cadets is for children 2½ to 6 years old, with plenty of play time, rest time, and simple crafts. The room will be closed for meals, but will provide a snack. The room will be open in the evening for quieter activites. Some crafts and toys provided may have small parts unsuitable for infants. Advance registration is requested to assist us in planning and preparation. Pre-registered children will be given preference.
| Area | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. to Noon |
| Art Show* | 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 10 a.m. to Noon |
| Con Suite | 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. | 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Dealers' Room | 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Information | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Dragonslair** | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Space Cadets** | 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. | 9:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 9:45 to 3:15 p.m. |
| *Art Show Sales will be from 1PM-4PM Sunday; Art Show Auction from 1:30PM-3PM Sunday. | |||
| ** Both will close for meals. Space Cadets will close from 12:15PM-12:45PM on Saturday and Sunday, and from 5:15PM-6:45PM on Saturday. Dragonslair will close on Saturday from noon to 1PM and from 5PM to 7PM.* | |||
Volunteers—The best way to meet other people at a convention is by volunteering, and Boskone needs you! Science fiction conventions run on blood, sweat, and volunteers. The Volunteers department allocates volunteers among the many different areas that need them—opportunities are available for all physical and mental abilities. If you are willing to help, please fill out the volunteer form (including a Release Form) at Information. Those who work at least six hours will receive a gift. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must sign the Release Form (but you'll only have to work 4 hours for your gift).
Information—This year Information will be where everyone thought it ought to be last year—in the open windows of the Meeting Planning Office across from the Constitution Ballroom on the second floor. Information is your place to find answers to your questions. You'll also be able to pre-register for a discussion group, a kaffeeklatsch, or other event that requires sign-up; to drop off items for the convention newsletter, or get the latest copy of Helmuth. Stop by the Information office and see what we can do for you!
The restaurant guide will also be available on-line at www.boskone.org/rest-guide . Because Boskone weekend coincides with Valentine's Day, you may want to make reservations well in advance. If you have to cancel, the restaurants will have no problem filling that vacancy.
Club & Bid Tables—Want to publicize your club, convention, or bid? We will have tables available for this purpose. Table space is limited, so please write or email us (at info@boskone.org ) in advance.
Newsletter—Helmuth, Speaking for Boskone, the convention newsletter, features updates and changes to the program as well as lists of parties and other news. Copies of Helmuth will be distributed around the hotel—Art Show, Dealers' Room, Con Suite, et al. You can always find copies at Information on the Grand Promenade. Helmuth is always in the market for line art. If you have any convention-related illos, please e-mail them to lauriem@dpsinfo.com.
NESFA Press—This year the Boskone book is The Hunters of Pangaea by Stephen Baxter. The cover art is by our Official Artist—Richard Hescox. The book will be available in both a trade and boxed state from the NESFA Sales table in the Dealers' Room. We will also have the latest "NESFA's Choice" book at Boskone: Silverlock by John Myers Myers. Powers of Two by Tim Powers, a book produced by NESFA Press for Arisia 2004, will also be available.
In connection with the launch of Silverlock, NESFA Press is pleased to welcome Karen Anderson, long-time fan of Silverlock and contributor of supplemental material for NESFA Press' reprint of this book, as its guest at this Boskone.
Last-minute information about Boskone will be available in the week preceding Boskone 41 on our answering machine (outgoing message only) at 617-625-2311, or, for the electronically inclined, on the web at www.boskone.org/ and USENET (newsgroup rec.arts.sf.announce). In addition, the near-final Program will be uploaded to our web pages about a week before the con.
Boskone's hotel is the Sheraton Boston in the Back Bay area of Boston, Massachusetts, located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike (exit 22, Prudential Center/Copley Square), an area overflowing with restaurants and shopping. The hotel rates per night are: single $125, double $135, triple $145, quad $155 (please contact us for suite availability). Reserve your hotel room online by going to www.boskone.org/hotel.html and following the instructions. Reservations can also be made by phone at 617-236-2000 (or by fax at 617-236-1702). If reserving by phone or fax, be sure to mention "Boskone" to get the convention rate. Additional rooms may be available after the deadline, but only on a first-come firstserved basis.
Deadline:Reservations must be made by 5PM EST on January 22, 2004.
Special Requests: A limited number of handicapped-access rooms and smoking rooms are available, so please let the hotel know right away if you have any special needs. Likewise, rollaway beds and cribs are in short supply, so let them know if you think you'll need one. Please specify a party or non-party floor room at the time of reservation. If you want to reserve a suite, please contact us at info@boskone.org or write to us at the PO Box.
Check-in and Check-out: Check-in begins at 3PM. Check-out time is noon. A late check-out of 2PM may be available. You can avoid morning check-out lines by pre-paying as early as the night before!
They Build Them Hardy in New England: David Kennison, the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party, lost a hand to a gunshot wound while fighting in the war of 1812. He was 76 years old at the time. Later, a tree fell on him, fracturing his skull. He survived. Then while training soldiers, a cannon explosion shattered his legs. He survived. Sometime after that, he was kicked in the face by a horse. He survived. He died peacefully in Chicago in 1851, at the age of 115.
By Car—The Sheraton Boston is located at 39 Dalton St in Boston's "Back Bay" area.
From the North: Take Interstate 93 South to exit 26A (Leverett Circle exit) onto Storrow Drive. Bear left when the road widens back to two lanes. You will quickly come to the Fenway exit which will be on the left. Stay to the left in this exit; bear left at the first and second lights into Boylston Street. At the fifth light, take a right onto Dalton Street. Proceed to the hotel.
From the South: Take Interstate 93 North to exit 18 (Massachusetts Avenue). Take a right at the bottom of the long off-ramp onto Massachusetts Avenue. Continue for approximately one mile, and then take a right onto Huntington Avenue. At the second light turn left onto Belvedere. The hotel is on the right.
From the West: Take Interstate 90 East (Massachusetts Pike) to exit 22 (Prudential Center/Copley Square). Once out of the tunnel and above ground, stay to the left. At the stop sign, follow the sign that says "Huntington Avenue" (not the one (on the right) that says "Prudential Parking"). On Huntington Avenue and at the first set of lights, take a right onto Belvedere. The hotel is on the right.
A note on parking: Being in a major city, parking costs are very expensive close to the hotel. The garage attached to the hotel charges $36/day ($35/day for valet parking, which includes in/out privileges). The hotel does not own the garage, so we can't negotiate a better rate. There are alternatives. Near the hotel (just on the right as you travel south along Dalton St. across from Boylston St., going toward the Sheraton) is the Auditorium Garage; marked by a large, vertical PARK sign on the outside wall; operated by Pilgrim Parking, Inc. This may be cheaper for you than the Sheraton garage.
Consider parking in one of the large lots at the end of the subway lines, and take the subway in. Riverside Station (exit 22 off Route 128), on the end of the D branch of the Green Line, has a large openair lot where parking costs $2.75/day. Alewife station, on the Red Line, charges $4.50/day for parking for its multi-story garage lot (not suitable for tall vehicles). Alewife is a little closer to the hotel than Riverside is, but you will need to change trains at the Downtown Crossing Station for an Orange Line train going to Back Bay Station. There is also a large lot at exit 13 on Route 128 at the Amtrak station in Dedham. See directions below for "by the 'T'."
By Air—If you fly into Boston's Logan Airport, you can take a shared van service to the hotel for about $9. See details at the airport or at www.massport.com/logan/getti_typeo_share.html —some will let you reserve on-line. A taxi ride will start at $6 before you leave the airport; there are no flat fees in the zone that includes the hotel so costs will vary according to the time your trip takes.
You can also take the 'T' (MBTA) subway system. From any terminal take a free Massport Logan shuttle bus (#22, 33 or 55) to the Airport Station subway stop (Blue Line). Take an inbound train to Government Center and change for an inbound Green Line train. Alternatively, continue on the Blue Line to State Street Station and change for the Orange Line. Follow directions below for "By the 'T'."
Amtrak—The closest Amtrak stop is the Back Bay station (Amtrak's station code BBY), the last stop before South Station. Back Bay station is at 145 Dartmouth St. To reach the hotel from Back Bay Station, you can either walk (~½ mile, most of which is indoors but includes escalators and one short set of steps (with adjacent ramp)), or cross Dartmouth St., go into Copley Mall, then follow the signs through the Marriott Hotel and the Prudential Mall to the Sheraton Hotel.
By the 'T'—There are three reasonably close subway stops: Hynes/ICA on the B, C and D branches of the Green Line, Prudential Center on the E branch of the Green Line, and Back Bay on the Orange Line. Which stop is best for you probably depends on where you are coming from and whether you mind walking outdoors. Hynes/ ICA involves a slightly longer walk outside but has more frequent service and better connections. See www.mbta.com/traveling_t/schedules_subway.asp or call 617-222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100.
For expanded travel information, go to www.boskone.org/directions.html.
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| (Special Boskone Release of a new NESFA Press Book) | |
| The Hunters of Pangaea, Dby Stephen Baxter [LIMIT TWO BOXED COPIES] | |
| • trade state @ $15 ($25 after Boskone) | _____ |
| • boxed state @ $24 ($40 after Boskone) | _____ |
| I would like book # ____, ____, ____, ____ | |
| 1-190 boxed state, 191-1490 trade state | |
| Add 5% Massachusetts sales tax | _____ |
| Total | _____ |
Payment must accompany order. We accept checks, money orders, Visa, and MasterCard. Please don't mail cash. Your order must be received by February 1, 2004.
| I am paying by: __check/money order __Visa __MasterCard | |||||
| Credit Card # | ____________________________ | Exp. Date: | ___________ | ||
| Name on card: | _______________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Signature: | _______________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name(s): | _______________________________________________________________ | ||||
| _______________________________________________________________ | |||||
| Address: | _______________________________________________________________ | ||||
| _______________________________________________________________ | |||||
| City: | _______________ | State: | _____ | Zip/Postal Code: | __________ |
| Country: | _______________ | Email Address: | _____________________ | ||
| Telephone: | (_______) _______ - __________________________________ | ||||
| Advance-order books must be picked up at the NESFA Sales table in the Hucksters' Room. They will not be mailed. Limit 2 copies of The Hunters of Pangaea by advance sale. Prices increase after Boskone 41 |
Mail to: Boskone 41, PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701 Fax to: 617-776-3243 (only Visa and MasterCard on fax orders)
Boskone 41 P.O. Box 809 Framingham, MA 01701 USA
First Class Mail
Boskone 41
Progress Report #2
February 13-15, 2004 Sheraton Boston Hotel (617) 236-2000 Boston, MA
Hotel reservation deadline: January 22 ,2004