I'm freshly back from SoonerCon 27, and what an excellent convention it was! They had some great guests, excellent programming and fun special events. One blog post (or even several) couldn't do justice to it, but here's a small taste of what I enjoyed most.
One last time at the Reed Center in Midwest City
As ever, the people-watching at SoonerCon 27 was delightful, whether one was on the upper-level concourse, at the Artists Alley on the lower level, or in the Dealers Room.
This was SoonerCon's final year at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City, OK. Next year they'll shift to the first weekend in June (oh, goody! Back-to-back with ConQuesT!) and relocate to the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in Norman, OK.
The Art Show and "World Peace Through Chocolate" Artists Reception
I hope they can give the SoonerCon Art Show, capably run this year by Marcia Bull and her excellent crew, more room at the Embassy Suites, because we were really crammed in there pretty good, despite having both Reed Center Ballrooms A and B.
The Friday night "World Peace Through Chocolate"Artists Reception spilled out of the Art Show into the ConSuite area, dubbed "Ten Forward." The chocolate very quickly disappeared, of course. But we all stayed peaceful.
Panels and Readings
There were way too many interesting panels and readings to see everything I wanted to! I had a reading and five panels (to my delight, I got to moderate ALL of them! Yes!), and yes, I enjoy staying busy at an sf con, so that was just fine by me. I don't have pictures of my own events, but here are glimpses of some others I did have a chance to attend and enjoy.
Like all good things, eventually the weekend had to end. The magic, along with the costumes and props, game paraphernalia, art show, and panel discussions, went back into their boxes till next time.
I thoroughly enjoyed SoonerCon 27. Kudos to Con Chair Aislinn Burrows, the SoonerCon Committee, and the Future Society of Central Oklahoma! You put on a GREAT convention. I'm already looking forward to SoonerCon 28!
IMAGES: All photos were taken by me (Jan S. Gephardt), with appropriate permissions. If you wish to re-post any of them, please do so with an attribution to me as the photographer, and a link back to the post, if possible. Many thanks, and I hope you enjoyed them!
 |
| SoonerCon 27's lineup of featured guests included: L-R: Lloyd Lee Barnett, Glenn Garland, Jerry Bennett, Carrie Vaughn, John Picacio, Stan Love, Larry Nemecek, and Selina Rosen. Here they are at Opening Ceremonies on Friday, June 22, 2018. |
One last time at the Reed Center in Midwest City
As ever, the people-watching at SoonerCon 27 was delightful, whether one was on the upper-level concourse, at the Artists Alley on the lower level, or in the Dealers Room.
 |
| Some of the many talented people who showed up in costumes at SoonerCon 27. |
 |
| Some of the action in the Artists Alley at SoonerCon 27. |
 |
| One corner of the Dealers Room--pardon, the Exhibitors Hall--at SoonerCon 27. |
This was SoonerCon's final year at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City, OK. Next year they'll shift to the first weekend in June (oh, goody! Back-to-back with ConQuesT!) and relocate to the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in Norman, OK.
The Art Show and "World Peace Through Chocolate" Artists Reception
I hope they can give the SoonerCon Art Show, capably run this year by Marcia Bull and her excellent crew, more room at the Embassy Suites, because we were really crammed in there pretty good, despite having both Reed Center Ballrooms A and B.
 |
| The "World Peace Through Chocolate" Artists Reception was pretty crowded inside the Art Show itself, but maybe they'll have more room next year. Photo taken with permission of the Art Show Staff. |
 |
| The artwork of John Picacio, the Artist Guest of Honor, was the first thing you saw when you stepped inside the SoonerCon 27 Art Show. During the reception, a whole lot of people stepped inside! Photo taken with permission from the Art Show Staff and John Picacio. |
The Friday night "World Peace Through Chocolate"Artists Reception spilled out of the Art Show into the ConSuite area, dubbed "Ten Forward." The chocolate very quickly disappeared, of course. But we all stayed peaceful.
Panels and Readings
There were way too many interesting panels and readings to see everything I wanted to! I had a reading and five panels (to my delight, I got to moderate ALL of them! Yes!), and yes, I enjoy staying busy at an sf con, so that was just fine by me. I don't have pictures of my own events, but here are glimpses of some others I did have a chance to attend and enjoy.
 |
| I didn't have as many chances to listen to author readings as I like, but I did enjoy the trio of Urban Fantasy readings on Saturday morning by (L-R) Trakena Prevost, Seth Skorkowsky, and Rosemary Clement-Moore. |
 |
| It would've been lovely if the "Black Panther and Intersectionality" panel had been scheduled for two hours and the biggest ballroom--but we had a fascinating discussion, and the room was packed. Panelists, L-R: Kimber Chessmore, Trakena Prevost, Shai Fenwick, Vickey Malone Kennedy, Jeff Provine, Tyrell Gephardt, and Dan Erickson. |
 |
| The "Because, Aliens!" panel discussion ranged far and wide, from the gradual thinning of hominid species in prehistory, through cryptozoology, genitalia, and would you believe . . . Torah? Panelists, L-R: Tim Frayser, Tyrell Gephardt, Gloria Oliver, Selina Rosen, Linda L. Donahue, and Mark Alfred. |
 |
| Scheduling the "Do Cons Still Matter?" panel at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday of the convention probably skewed the bias of the audience and participants just a tad, but it was fun to get perspectives from individuals of several different generations, who participate in several different subgenres of fandom. Fielding questions from an engaged audience were (L-R) panelists James Murray, Tim Frayser, Summer Rain Cosplay, and Caleb Haldane. |
Like all good things, eventually the weekend had to end. The magic, along with the costumes and props, game paraphernalia, art show, and panel discussions, went back into their boxes till next time.
 |
| Lowering the "boo" during tear-down and pack-up after the con. This skeleton had spent the weekend suspended over an Artists Alley display, beneath a simulated Pit of Sarlacc. How often do you get to see that? |
I thoroughly enjoyed SoonerCon 27. Kudos to Con Chair Aislinn Burrows, the SoonerCon Committee, and the Future Society of Central Oklahoma! You put on a GREAT convention. I'm already looking forward to SoonerCon 28!
IMAGES: All photos were taken by me (Jan S. Gephardt), with appropriate permissions. If you wish to re-post any of them, please do so with an attribution to me as the photographer, and a link back to the post, if possible. Many thanks, and I hope you enjoyed them!
No comments:
Post a Comment