Totally Texas -- Sci fi, oh my, at ConDFW XI

ConDFW XI

Crowne Plaza Suites, Dallas-Park Central

7800 Alpha Road

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So you exercised your will power (see "Perserverance, iron will & Wodehouse," January 11) and cleaned out your bookshelves. And now books are stacked knee-deep all over your living room, but you’re looking at the vacant shelves and thinking -- I need more books!

If you’re also a science fiction fan, get to the book swap at this weekend’s ConDFW. Swap or buy -- proceeds benefit the charities DonorsChoose (www.DonorsChoose.org/) and Half Price Books: Half Pint Library.

The con’s at the Crowne Plaza Suits on Alpha Road in Dallas this Friday through Sunday, February 17-19. In honor of the glitch in the Mayan calendar some believe predicts the end of the world in 2012, there will be parties! See www.condfw.org/ for details.

While waiting for the apocalypse, you can meet writing guest of honor Cherie Priest, whose steampunk novel Boneshaker won the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel; artist guest of honor William Stout, whose work inspired Jurassic Park; and several Texas authors including A. Lee Martinez, who clowned for the picture with this post at a previous convention. (Martinez’s books include horror, science fiction and fantasy with an underlying theme of humor.)

It’s a literary con, so there will also be readings, panel discussions and workshops on a variety of subjects (making leather masks, anyone?), gaming, and book and art sales. Stay late Saturday night for the costume parade. The first time I went to the Con, the costume highlight was the belly-dancing Redheads of the Apocalypse. The last time I saw the Redheads, they had turned from dancing to writing, but I still expect this year’s parade may move this family-friendly event into the PG-13 category.

Walk-in memberships for walk-ins are available at the door, single day or all three, adults and children. If you’re an adult student, bring your ID or a copy for a discount.

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Abandoned Towers promised to run my story “The Gates of Shaizar” -- one of these days. In the meantime, the print/online magazine is offering a writing contest to celebrate its relaunch. The concept of “abandoned towers” must appear in the short story, poem or flash fiction writers submit. See http://abandonedtowers.com/.