On Sunday morning during the convention, Boskone held its first Flash Fiction Slam.
Eleven writers took up the challenge of writing and reading a short story in under three-minutes. A panel of esteemed judges not only scored the participants but gave short critiques on how to make their stories better.

The winner of this year’s Flash Fiction Slam was Sean Robinson. Sean won a membership to Boskone 52 and an opportunity to participate in the NH Literary Flash Finals sponsored by the NH Writers’s Project. Second place went Julie C. Day and third place went to Rob Greene.

Special thanks to judges Nancy Holder, James Patrick Kelly, Paul Di Filippo and Walter Jon Williams as well to the eleven writers who participated: Sean Robinson, John Wiswell, Rob Greene, Mike Douton, Carrie Cuinn, Michael Deluca, Julie C. Day, Kristabelle, Daniel Dern, George G. and Don Pizarro.

Each year at Boskone, the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) announces the winner of the Gaughan Award for Emerging Artist and the Skylark Award. The awards were announced as part of the Saturday evening program.

The Gaughan Award honors the memory of Jack Gaughan, a long-time friend of fandom and one of the finest SF artists of the 20th century. Because Jack felt it was important to encourage and recognize new blood in the field, The New England Science Fiction Association, Inc., presents the Gaughan Award annually to an emerging artist (an artist who has become a professional within the past five years) chosen by a panel of judges.

This year’s winner of the Gaughan Award is Sam Burley.

The Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction (the Skylark) is presented annually by NESFA to some person, who, in the opinion of the membership, has contributed significantly to science fiction, both through work in the field and by exemplifying the personal qualities which made the late “Doc” Smith well-loved by those who knew him.

This year’s winner o the Skylark Award is Robert J. Sawyer. He is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Canadian science-fiction writer, author of 22 novels including FLASHFORWARD.

Find him on Twitter @RobertJSawyer

Friday kicked off Boskone 51 with a bang. Here are some Twitter highlights from Day 1.

From Michael Robertson (@michaels2cents): Notes on day 1 of #boskone http://t.co/sMWJI7Ezn3 “James Patrick Kelly can moderate the hell out of a panel.”

From Richard Shuford (@richardshuford): “Holmes! Look behind you. The lizard has a rocket launcher!” #boskone panelist literary favorite quote.

From Sean Robinson (@Kesterian):@mightymur introduced me to @seananmcguire . I didnt barf. I win. #Boskone

From Elizabeth Bear (@matociquala): Photo: Blurry Beth Meacham, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Ginjer Buchanan: How To Edit Your Fiction #Boskone http://t.co/V1cwWxCtRn

From Mallory O’Meara (@sexoskeleton): Just corrected a professional film critic on Wolfman facts on my Classic Monsters panel at Boskone. High point in my nerd life.

Boston has great food options for everyone. Not sure where to start? Try our updated Restaurant Guide or use the companion Google map to help make finding directions a snap.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207615967234653304726.0004d37c687daf4fb0108&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=42.345921,-71.05442&spn=0.029657,0.04416&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Additionally, during the con, hard copies of the restaurant guide, as well as sample take-out menus, can be found at Information.

Using your smart phone, tablet, laptop or other fun mobile device at Boskone? No worries, we have you covered. Here’s a handy guide to help you stay connected.

Schedule
Use KonOpas, similar to Guidebook you can view the schedule, updates and mark the panels you want to see. http://b59.boskone.org/guide

Tweet out your experience
Use #boskone to share your thoughts on Twitter.

Internet Access
The hotel lobby offers free access.

Those staying at the Westin, select a Silver level* internet access from your room. At checkout, tell the clerk you have attended Boskone & the fee will be removed.

* Only applies to Silver level; does not apply to Gold level internet services.

Photo credit to Flickr user Rakka

A quick PSA that Registration has moved this year. You can find them on the right-side of the hotel lobby (the side with the Starbucks) in the Alcott room on the Mezzanine Level.

There are escalators next to the Birch bar or continue to go past the escalators and take the elevators to the Mezzanine Level.

Registration is open for badge pick-up for pre-registered attendees as well as at-con membership purchases. Please bring a government-issued ID photo ID.

Registration hours
Friday 3pm-8:30pm
Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 9am-Noon

Full weekend Membership 
Adults $55
College Students (with ID) $35
K-12 Students (with student ID/proof of age) $25

Single day (Fri)
All ages $15

Single day (Sat)
Adults $40
College Students (with student ID) $35
K-12 Students (with student ID/proof of age) $25

Single day (Sun)
All ages $15

Lots of folks spend the year looking forward to friends and fun at Boskone. First-timers may be excited but may not quite know what to expect.  To help insure a good time is had by all, Boskone has adopted a code of conduct.

Please take a few minutes and review the code. Help us keep Boskone a great community.

Photo credit to Flickr user glsims99

We look forward to seeing you at Boskone. If you haven’t already purchased your membership, here’s the link.

With Boskone less than a week away, we have a few housekeeping items to share–and a few things that we hope you will share with your friends who might like to come to the convention.

Helmuth — Last Friday, we published a “pre-convention” edition of Helmuth (Boskon’e onsite newsletter), which highlighted some of the convention’s upcoming events. While we will continue publishing a print version of Helmuth during the convention, we also plan to publish a pre-convention Helmuth in August and again in January for future Boskones. If you’d like to receive the digital edition of these Helmuth’s you can sign up via the form listed below. For those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to read the pre-convention Helmuth for Boskone 51, here’s the link:

• Helmuth, Vol 51, Issue 0 (February 7, 2014)

• Note: While Helmuth is edited by David Grubbs, Dave asked me to make sure to let everyone know that the pre-convention edition of the newsletter was a team effort made possible by Erin Underwood, JoAnn Cox, Adina Adler, Sharon Sbarsky, and David Grubbs. We hope you enjoy it.

Pocket Program — We recently released the cover image (by Official Artist David Palumbo) for Boskone 51’s Pocket Program. For those of you wanting to download the Pocket Program to a digital device, here’s a link to the PDF.

• Boskone 51 Pocket Program (February 2014)

One of the great experiences of Boskone is the Kaffeeklatsch! 

It’s an informal small group setting where attendees can sit and chat with the program participants. Space is limited and you must sign up at the con via the Program Desk in the Galleria. The sign-up sheets for Saturday will be set out on Friday and the sign-up sheets for Sunday will be set out at noon on Saturday. Again space is limited, so be sure to sign up early to secure a place at the table.

Get your questions ready! Here is the list of this year’s Kaffeeklatsch offerings:

• Joan Slonczewski
• Beth Meacham
• Bill Higgins
• Bob Eggleton
• Bruce Coville
• Charlaine Harris
• Charles Stross
• Dana Cameron
• David Hartwell
• David Palumbo
• Elizabeth Bear & Scott Lynch
• Ginjer Buchanan
• Jack Haringa & Paul Tremblay
• Jane Yolen
• Jeanne Cavelos
• Jo Walton
• Melinda Snodgrass
• Michael Swanwick
• Myke Cole
• Neil Clarke
• Patrick Nielsen Hayden & Teresa Nielsen Hayden
• Seanan McGuire
• Steve Miller
• Theodora Goss
• Walter Hunt
• Walter Jon Williams

View the schedule 

Get your Boskone membership today!

Not only do we have an exciting program for Boskone 51 and a slate of fantastic guests, but we have a gorgeous Pocket Program cover designed by our Official Artist David Palumbo.

While you’ll have this beauty in your hand in a little over a week, we thought you’d enjoy a sneak peak at the cover.

Also, be sure to join us Friday night for some extra fun.

Boskone Meet the Guests & Art Show Reception
Day: Friday, Feb 14th
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 pm
Location: Galleria-Art Show

Connoisseurs and philistines alike: welcome! Come meet our special guests while enjoying a feast for the eyes that is the Boskone Art Show. Join us in the Galleria to enjoy refreshments — and refreshing conversation.

Panelists:

• Ginjer Buchanan
• Bill Higgins
• Seanan McGuire
• David Palumbo
• Bill Roper
• Jane Yolen

You can still buy memberships online as well as onsite at the Westin Waterfront Hotel:

• Adult Full Convention: $55
• College Student Full Convention: $35 (school ID required)
• K-12 Full Convention: $25 (school ID may be required)
• Adult Friday Only: $15
• Adult Saturday Only: $40
• Adult Sunday Only: $15