We beat COVID, but a decades-old entity is seeping into the pores of Albuquerque’s literature and media aficionados once again this weekend. Bubonicon 56 spreads slime, scares and sci-fi across the city with its fourth wave since defeating the pandemic: a celebration of magic and science in speculative fiction featuring over 55 authors, artists and sci-fi personalities.This year’s theme is “Mages and Mad Scientists.” The annual convention takes place August 22 through 24 at the ABQ Marriott Uptown (2101 Louisiana Blvd NE) and ponders the age-old question: why does everyone dig dudes with wild hair, weird threads and an affinity for stirring up trouble in the lab?
Like any good gathering of bookworms, the event will honor timeless fantasy and horror classics. This year the convention celebrates The Lord of the Rings, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Raven and Frankenstein as well as love-them-and-hate-them scientists such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Young Frankenstein and The Re-Animator. Bubonicon 56 also commemorates achievements in satirical and subversive theater and cinema such as Wizards, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Wicked, Hocus Pocus and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Speaking of authorship, George RR Martin — of “Game of Thrones” fame — will be giving a talk at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
This year’s Co-Guests of Honor are Delilah S. Dawson and Joe Haldeman, two of the hottest authors of science fiction, fantasy and erotica in the business. The event’s Guest Artist is Albuquerque’s own horror novel and rock ‘n’ roll album cover illustrator John Sumrow, who will hit the convention floor with award-winning author and Toastmaster Jeffe Kennedy of Santa Fe and Science Speaker Dr. J.L. Doty, an Arizona electrical engineer with a specialty in laser physics. Fans are invited to dress up, meet their favorite authors, play games and geek out to modern sci-fi and fantasy themed movies, television and artwork beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. The party goes almost nonstop until the end of closing ceremonies at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. A pass and badge is required for all Bubonicon programming events and in the Gaming Rooms and Hospitality Suite, but the Art Show and Dealers Room are free and open to the public. Admission to the event is available at the door and will run you between $15 for a Sunday one-day pass to $55 for 3-day passes.
Activities inspired by science and sorcery this year include a costume contest, art shows, retro movie screenings, trivia events and charity auctions benefitting organizations such as the Williamson Library Collection at Eastern NM University, Roadrunner Food Bank, World Central Kitchen and New Mexico PBS. Bubonicon will host real-life science lectures and panel discussion with fun topics such as “Fool’s Gold: The Marriage of Magic & Science (Alchemy)”, “Wands, Words & Will: Creating A Magic System”, “Perspectives: The Future Is What We Make It”, “You Can Do Magic: What Do Mages/Scientists Owe Their Societies?” Don’t worry, you can score up to three autographs at a time during a big mass-signing event at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The origin story of the Bubonicon epidemic has a New Mexico connection: cute little plague rats. The convention got its name in 1971 from Robert E. Vardeman, a UNM alumnus and former Sandia National Laboratories scientist, who was intrigued and playfully inspired by the state’s annual numbers of bubonic plague reports and an alert issued by Egypt warning the country to beware of travelers from New Mexico. Two years later, “Perry Rodent” – named after European science fiction series hero Perry Rhodan – became Bubonicon’s official mascot. Interesting enough, the inaugural event took place the same year as Apollo 11’s moon landing and Woodstock. Although it hasn’t been around as long as the plague, the convention has been celebrating “wretchedness in both science fiction and fact” since 1976 when it began presenting the Green Slime Awards, recognizing dubious achievements in television and film. This year’s nominees include Borderlands, The Crow, Snow White, War of the Worlds, “Star Trek: Section 31,” “Universal Basic Guys,” and “Uglies.”
For tickets, a list of featured guests, and tons of event information visit www.bubonicon.com.
Bubonicon 56
Aug 22, 3 p.m. – Aug 24. 5 p.m.
ABQ Marriott Uptown
2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE
$15 – $55