The South Florida Science Fiction Convention
Sponsored by the
South Florida Science Fiction Society
(SFSFS)
Coming to sunny South Florida from sunny Southern California is David Gerrold. David got his start as a professional nearly 30 years ago by writing the popular Star Trek episode Trouble with Tribbles. Since then he has had a long and distinguished career. Among his novels are The Man Who Folded Himself, When Harlie was One, The Galactic Whirlpool (a Star Trek novel), The Voyage of the Star Wolf, and its sequel, The Middle of Nowhere. His major literary work is The War Against the Chtorr novel series; the most recent volume is A Season for Slaughter. He was story editor for Star Trek - The Animated Series. He has also written for many other TV shows, including Believers for Babylon-5. David also won the 1995 Hugo Award for his novelette, Martian Child. In addition, he teaches screen writing for Pepperdine University, and is a columnist for several computer magazines.
David's current project is the most exciting one yet. He is producing his own syndicated television program: Star Wolf - The Series. Set in the distant future, the show will follow the exploits of the crew of an interstellar warship battling the ruthless "Morthan Solidarity". David expects the show to be in production during November. Look for a special Star Wolf presentation at Tropicon.
News Flash! It was recently announced by Paramount that, in celebration of 30 years of the original Star Trek series, there would be an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine entitled Trials and Tribble-ations where Captain Sisko and his crew are transported back through time and come face to face with Captain Kirk and the Tribbles by use of Forrest-Gump-like special effects. The episode is scheduled to air the week of November 4, the week before Tropicon!
For additional material about Mr. Gerrold you can link to Rik's (unofficial) David Gerrold Info Web page.
Peter David is a writer of stuff -- a lot of stuff. He has written popular comic books, many for Marvel and DC; motion picture screenplays for Full Moon Entertainment (and actually gets to die on screen in one of the films); a regular column, But I Digress , for the Comic Buyer s Guide; episodes of Babylon-5; horror and fantasy novels like Knight Life and Howling Mad: A Tale of Relenting Horror; and novelizations of feature films like The Return of the Swamp Thing and The Rocketeer.
Peter has also written a whole host of best selling Star Trek novels including two hard covers. The first is Imzadi, where William Riker travels through time to save the life of Deanna Troi, his imzadi or beloved, who mysteriously died years earlier. More recently, Q-Squared pits Captain Jean Luc Picard against Q and Treleyne, the Squire of Gothos. There s also a giant paperback novel, Vendetta, where the Borg return to menace the Federation and Picard finds help from a unique source. Peter brings a few inconsistencies in a Classic Trek episode to a brilliant conclusion in this one. His most recent work is The Captain's Daughter, about Demora Sulu, who we met in Star Trek: Generations.
But it doesn't stop there. As David Peters, the man has also written the Photon and the Psi-Man series of books. A brilliant satirist with a rapier-sharp wit, Peter produces volumes of consistently entertaining and high quality work.
For additional material about Mr. David you can link to the Peter David - Bibliography Summary Web page.
Arne is an illustrator; he has done work for many corporations, created airbrush covers depicting the guests for various conventions, and has even done some animation. After having started on the original Star Trek: The Next Generation Mini- Series for DC Comics, Arne became the inker of record on the Star Trek Classic Series. He worked on the series starting with its adaptation of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and issue #1, until issue #72. He also worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for Malibu Comics and is the longest running artist for all the Star Trek comic books.
Arne is also the head system operator for the Science Fiction Media Round Table (SFRT2) on the GEnie computer network, an online service. SFRT2 covers Science Fiction media such as Star Trek, Babylon-5 and films like Independence Day, the upcoming Star Trek: First Contact, Mars Attacks, and much more. He also created the Comics Round Table.
With his connections to Hollywood, he visits conventions with a slew of feature film trailers of the latest and upcoming movies along with lots of gossip on what is currently happening in film and TV.
Our other special guests include Ben Bova, Adam-Troy Castro, Hal Clement, Barbara Delaplace, Charles Fontenay, Joseph Green, Jack C. Haldeman II, Daniel Keyes, Mike Resnick, Rick Wilber, and Tananarive Due, columnist for the Miami Hearld, author of The Between and one of the authors of the Tropic serial Naked Came the Manate. Ms. Due was a finalist for the 1996 Bram Stoker Award for The Between, her first novel.
Hello everyone! Once again, Tropicon is in progress. The South Florida Science Fiction Society (SFSFS) is busy putting all the pieces together for another glorious weekend of Science Fiction and Fantasy Fannish Fun.
It's hard to believe that we're now up to Tropicon XV! Fifteen years is quite a track record, especially for an organization like SFSFS. It seems like it was just the other day that I was helping Edie Stern to do the programming for Tropicon XII. Now, here I am, actually chairing the whole show (even though, when I took over as Chair, there was a noticeable increase in the frequency with which my name appeared in sentences containing the word "sucker"). Chairing a convention is relatively easy when you have a staff as good as mine.
As you will see, we're all working very hard to bring you the best Tropicon yet! We have an excellent Guest of Honor, and a fabulous Toastmaster, as well as our usual slate of terrific guests. Read on, and see what we have in store for all our friends, old, new, borrowed, and blue (or any other color you prefer).
Tropicon Has Moved:
We're once again holding Tropicon before the holidays! Now our Dealer's Room and Art Show will be available for buying all your Holiday Gifts!
Originally, Tropicon was held in December. We moved the convention to January but found that many people preferred it earlier. So, to meet the needs and desires of our attendees, we are now in November!
Programming for Tropicon has often been described by con committee vets as a "challenging task" for any new blood -- yet, we took the job anyhow. Tropicon has a great history that we hope to evoke for both panelists and attending audience members through innovative and thought-provoking programming. In addition to some of the more standard fare, we plan to schedule panels addressing the following topics: alien ecologies; what makes David Gerrold's Universe(s) work; the future of the comic industry; things written for money; the future of the American space program; vampires and why they should be put to rest; and author recollections of plots that never made it to celluloid. Traditional events like the Charity Auction and a Trivia Contest are planned. Additionally, due to their popularity at Tropicon XIV, both the Alien Casino/VIP Party and the Model Building Contest will be scheduled.
If you have any suggestions or requests for programming, or if there is some program that you think that we should avoid, please contact the Tropicon XV Programming Chairpersons:
For additional details about TROPICON's programming, including the Art Show, Dealer's Room, Banquet, and many of the other activities, please see the TROPICON XV Programs Web Page.
There are currently over a dozen games confirmed. They include, but are not limited to BattleTech, WarHammer, Magic: The Gathering, Illuminati, Vampire: The Masquerade, an official AD&D tournament sponsored by TSR s Role-Playing Gaming Association (RPGA), and a GURPS tournament sponsored by Steve Jackson Games. Of course, we are still looking for more referees and players.
For additional details on our Gaming plans, please see TROPICON XV's Gaming Web Page or contact our Game Master Caliban.
The Tropicon Member Sales table, located in the Dealer's Room, is the place to get your official Tropicon XV t-shirt. We will also have, at bargain prices, some of the Tropicon t-shirts from prior years, featuring art by Gail Bennett, Vincent DiFate, Mary Hanson-Roberts and others.
Thanks to the buying power of the SFSFS Book Division, we will also have available a wide selection of new books by our Tropicon Guests. SFSFS members will receive the usual 30% discount, and we are offering a 10% discount to all others attending Tropicon. Stop by to pick up books for signings - and don't forget that a signed book will make a great gift for the Holidays!
Tropicon XVI memberships: Tropicon XVI registration (at a special $18 rate) and SFSFS-Tropicon XVI combinations ($30 for first-time SFSFS members only) will also be available at the Sales Table.
Tropicon will again be held at the luxurious Doubletree Guest Suites on Cypress Creek Road in Fort Lauderdale (within sight of I-95).We have been able to keep the rates the same as last Tropicon -- just $79 single/double and $89 triple/quad. Every room in the hotel is a two-room suite so be prepared to relax in your own living room when you are not running around the con. Each suite has a wet bar with a refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave. There is a television with a VCR in the living room (in addition to the one in the bedroom) and telephones in both rooms with computer connections. Each sofa in the living room converts to a full-size double bed so you can have an additional, separate sleeping room if needed. Bedrooms have either two double beds or a king size bed. Of course, non-smoking and smoking rooms can be requested.
The Doubletree is a lavish 8-story property with a large tropical garden central atrium. For additional information about this fine hotel, please CLICK HERE to visit their new Web page.
For reservations, please call (800) 222-TREE ((800) 222-8733) (locally (954) 772-5400 or Fax (954) 772-5490) or contact them by mail using the Hotel Reservation form.
In order to get these rates, be sure to mention that you will be attending TROPICON XV, sponsored by the South Florida Science Fiction Society.
Directions:
For hotel and/or car reservations you can also send e-mail to Joe Siclari or call him at (800) 338-9577.
In the Doubletree, Ferguson's is a great place for a relaxed lunch or dinner. You can even eat in the tropical atrium.
If you need to get away from the convention for a while, there is a wide choice of food nearby. Bennigan s is next door and you can stroll to the likes of Chili s and other places. Within walking distance is fast food like Burger King and Miami Subs, etc. Within about a mile is a wide variety of restaurants including a British pub, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, & Chinese restaurants, a NY-style deli, as well as some upper class restaurants. A detailed list will be available at registration along with some sample menus.
Three Day Membership: $28.00 by mail or at the Tropicon Registration Desk. One Day Memberships: Friday $12.00, Saturday $16.00, Sunday $12.00, at the Tropicon Registration Desk only. Children 8 years old and under are free with an adult membership.
To Register or for more information, including Dealer's Room or Art Show Show information, please write:
TROPICON XVor send an e-mail message to Melanie Herz on AOL or Compuserve or to George Peterson.
c/o SFSFS
P. O. Box ×××××
Fort Lauderdale, FL ×××××-××××
(×××) ×××-×××× or (×××) ×××-××××
Please make checks payable to SFSFS.
For a TROPICON XV Registration Form please CLICK HERE.
Tropicon's Registration, Dealer's Room, Art Show, and Video Room will be open starting at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 15th.
No convention can be run without the warm, living bodies of Staff and Gophers. The South Florida Science Fiction Society appreciates the great help we had at Tropicon XIV. This year, we invariably will need help in all areas: Registration, Operations, Con Suite, Art Show, Set-up and Tear-down, Gaming, and Video. If you are interested in giving us a hand, even if it s just for a few minutes (every little bit helps), please contact Melanie Herz at (407) 724-9581. Melanie may also be reached by e-mail on AOL or Compuserve.
No, no, no, no, no, no, and NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Get the idea? The only sharp things you'll need are your wits. There is one exception. (Isn't that always the case?) Some weapons may be allowed as part of a costume but they MUST be peace-bonded. There is no exception to this rule.
Please continue to watch this space for information regarding TROPICON XV. We will be posting the latest and greatest news here as our plans develop.
Constructive suggestions for programming, panel discussions, and the like will be gratefully received.
This automatic registration service comes courtesy of NetMind's URL-minder.
TROPICON XV is sponsored by the South Florida Science Fiction Society, a nonprofit literary society recognized by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3).
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Copyright © 1996, The South Florida Science Fiction Society