World Con is fast approaching and I am starting to get excited. Not only do I get to go back to the LA area -- which I enjoyed ever so much more than I thought I would, and I have several friends there -- but I do love World Cons! Like all the science fiction conventions I attend, they are a chance to meet up with old friends, make a lot of new ones, network, connect and party -- but even more so! It can be a very intense 5 days. Groups and organizations from all over the world that are bidding to host the next World Cons always have parties -- some of them are great. The ones the Japan group threw at a few cons were really interesting with party favors like little manga books, head bands with Japanese lettering, and little fans.

At the last Boskone a party was thrown by the supposed Liechtenstein representatives.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a land-locked sovereign state on the east bank of the Rhine, between Switzerland and Austria. Two-thirds of its 160 sq km are covered by mountains. Its total population is 34,000 and the capital Vaduz has a population of 5,000, The country is divided into 11 administrative divisions. Liechtenstein has no airport and limited public transport (the only way to access Vaduz by public transport is using the postal buses).

This makes the whole idea of a WorldCon in Liechtenstein hysterically funny. WorldCons have an attendance of something like 5,000 -- the population of the capital of Liechtenstein! Carrying through on the theme of the small country, everything served at the party was tiny. Little tiny franks, little tiny M&Ms, little tiny cupcakes. It was a hilarious idea, extremely well-executed and very, very geeky.

I'm throwing a party at WorldCon myself this year, as is MaryAnn Johanson, writer, movie critic, and friend extraordinaire. Her party (Friday, August 25th from 8:00 p.m. until whenever) is a launch for her new book: *The Totally Geeky Guide to The Princess Bride* -- a really fast and funny scholarly study of the movie! She'll have copies for sale and I'm sure she can be persuaded to autograph them.

My party at WorldCon is on Saturday, August 26 from 8:00 to Midnight and it will have something to do with what I like to call "Speculative Art." There will be art for sale, and some door prizes too! Be assured, we'll both have food and drink of some sort. More than that, I cannot say at the moment. I'm still working out the details.