Boskone is only a couple of weeks away, which gives you just enough time to check out the newly posted Boskone 53 Program Schedule and plan your convention! We’ll be posting the schedule in various formats soon for your convenience.

Free Friday Afternoon Programming:  Last year’s Free Friday Afternoon was so well received that we’re doing it again. Programming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 19th and is free to the public from 2:00-6:00 pm. Memberships are required after 6:00 pm on Friday and throughout the duration of the convention.

David G. Hartwell Tie Day: On Saturday, February 20th, we invite our members to join us in remembering David Hartwell by donning your favorite signature tie in memory of Boskone’s longtime friend, member of fandom, and one of the most influential editors within science fiction and fantasy who passed away on January 20, 2016.

Boskone 53 Program Highlights!

Be sure to check out the full Program Schedule to see what else you would most like to attend.

Friday, 7:15 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Opening Ceremony: Meet the Guests
Welcome to Boskone, New England’s longest-running convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror! Whether you are attending for the first time or the fifty-third, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests.
Tim Szczesuil (M), Richard Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner, Garth Nix, Vixy & Tony

Friday, 7:30 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Boskone 53 Reception
Connoisseurs and philistines alike: welcome to the Boskone Art Show! Join us in the Galleria for an upscale social mixer. Meet our program participants while enjoying refreshments, stimulating conversation, and exceptional art that is a feast for the eyes. Experience the music and the festivities as Boskone celebrates another year of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in Boston.
Richard Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner, Garth Nix, Vixy & Tony

Friday, 9:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Coffee House Concert with Featured Filkers Tony & Vixy
Vixy & Tony (disguised by day as Michelle Dockrey, mild-mannered officemouse, and Tony Fabris, mild-mannered codemonkey) are award-winning musicians with an easygoing style, catchy songs, accessible lyrics, and energetic performances — enjoyed by both SF fans and mainstream music enthusiasts alike.
Vixy & Tony

Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 1
Official Artist Interview: Concept Art and Bringing the Vision to Life
Richard Anderson is interviewed by Tor Art Director Irene Gallo on his past, present, and future as a concept artist. (He illustrates initial ideas that inspire team members, who refine them into final art.) His impressive credits? Video games from Guildwars to Batman: Arkham Knight. Movies such as Prometheus; Thor: The Dark World; Guardians of the Galaxy; and Edge of Tomorrow/Live Die Repeat. Plus book covers like Victor Milan’s series The Dinosaur Lords. In Richard’s work, edgy warriors stalk soaring cities and brooding landscapes, looking for trouble. Perfect preparation for getting interviewed at Boskone!
Richard Anderson, Irene Gallo

Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Interview with Guest of Honor Garth Nix
Boskone GOH Garth Nix is a man of many hats, who has worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, and bookseller, as well as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. He’s also a young adult and children’s literature author whose books have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian, and The Australian. His work has been translated into 41 languages. Join us for this fun and engaging interview with Garth and his longtime friend Barry Goldblatt, mastermind behind the Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency. Garth lives in Sydney, Australia, where it is nice and warm right now.
Garth Nix, Barry Goldblatt

Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Special Guest Dialog with Arnie & Cathy Fenner
Join us for a fun dialog between Boskone’s Special Guests Cathy and Arnie Fenner, the creative geniuses behind the formation of Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. They have also written, designed, and edited a series of titles devoted to masters within the speculative art world and have co-curated several special Spectrum exhibits, including the one at Boskone this year. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the Fenners talk, share their thoughts on art, their experiences within the industry, and everything in between.
Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner

Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Remembering David G. Hartwell
David G. Hartwell (1941-2016) was arguably SF/F/H’s most influential editor for decades until he passed away this January. He helped inspire generations of readers and fans — and played a critical role in the careers of many of our genres’ greatest authors. He won the World Fantasy Award in 1988, was nominated for the Hugo Award an astounding 41 times, and won it in 2006, 2008, and 2009. David attended Boskone regularly over the last 50 years, was a Boskone Special Guest, and won our Skylark Award. Please join us for a discussion about his sensitive, intelligent work; his fannish heart; and his signature neckties.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden (M), Kathryn Cramer, John R. Douglas, Gardner Dozois, Rick Katze, Beth Meacham, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Melinda Snodgrass, Michael Swanwick

Saturday, 6:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Boskone Book Party
Join us for Boskone’s Multi-Author Book Party, see what’s new from authors you love, and discover new favorites. Boskone is also launching three NESFA Press books tonight: The Collected Stories of Poul Anderson Vol 7, Conspiracy!, and The Grimm Future. (Authors and publishers with a new book and a current Boskone membership are welcome to take part; contact program@boskone.org for details.)

Saturday, 7:30 PM
Room: Harbor II+III
Boskone Rapid-Fire Theater and Awards Ceremony
Tonight’s presentation: a fast-paced theatrical extravaganza, featuring a set of mini-shows that resemble live-action “podcast experiments.” This special Saturday night program has something for everyfan. We hope you’re entertained, amused, soothed, gratified, provoked, intrigued, informed, or if possible all of the above in swift succession. Hosted by Boskone’s very own David G. Grubbs.

7:30 pm – Music with Vixy & Tony: We kick off Boskone’s Saturday Night Shorts with a taste of the musical feast served by our Featured Filkers, Vixy & Tony. Come hear why they’ve won multiple Pegasus Awards — plus the hearts of a lot of fans here at Boskone already.

8:00 pm – NESFA Awards Presentation: The New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) presents its annual Skylark and Gaughan Awards. The Skylark Award honors the work and personal qualities of an exceptional contributor to science fiction. The Gaughan Award is presented to a talented emerging artist. We will also be announcing the winner of the NESFA Short Story Contest.

8:20 pm – The Wesley Chu Interview: Saturday Night Shorts continues with an all-too-short interview featuring fun, fascinating Wesley Chu —bestselling author of the action-packed Tao series plus recently released novel Time Salvager. A Boskone newbie, Wesley’s also the 2015 Campbell Award winner for Best New Writer.

8:45 pm – At the Movies with Boskone: Join Boskone’s movie mavens Dan Kimmel and Garen Daly for a lively film discussion. Hosted by David Grubbs.

9:10 – Mystery Radio Play: Boskone’s Saturday Night Shorts comes to a clueful conclusion with a short radio play featuring crime-solving private detective Kurt Krieger. Featuring Bruce Coville, David Grubbs, Bob Kuhn, Laurie Mann, Melinda Snodgrass.

Saturday, 9:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Superhero Open Mic
Kapow! Live from Boskone … enjoy the knock-out stylings of our program participants and audience members who share their open mic skills in the first-ever Superhero Open Mic. Each person gives his/her best 5-minute superhero performance – story, poem, song, skit, interpretive dance, or whatever! OPTIONAL: For extra appeal, feel free to come dressed as a superhero!

The Rules: Boskone members are invited to join our participants in the open mic by signing up for one of the eight open slots at the door to the event, which opens for sign-ups at 8:30 pm. Each performer is given a firm 5-minute time limit (max), including set-up time. So a quick transition between acts is key.

Walter H. Hunt (M), Kenneth Schneyer (M), C.S.E. Cooney, Carrie Cuinn, E.C. Myers, Garth Nix, Don Pizarro, Lauren Roy, Mary Ellen Wessels

Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 1
Interview with NESFA Press Guest Bob Eggleton
He paints an alluring spaceship, a spooky skull, and a mean Godzilla. He’s got nine Hugo Awards and a Chesley. He’s published eight books and helped concept films including Jimmy Neutron and The Ant Bully. But Bob Eggleton is also great at talking about landscape art, dinosaurs, all kinds of films, all species of monsters (especially dragons), the futures of physical art and convention art shows, and what it’s like to be a Japanese movie star (OK, movie extra). Join us for this special interview with Bob Eggleton, conducted by Boskone’s very own Joe Siclari.
Bob Eggleton, Joe Siclari

Sunday, 3:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Feedback Session
This con is over, people. (Except for Dead Dog Filking — and of course teardown, where we’d love to have your help!) But we’re already working on Boskone 54. Help us get a good head start with reports on what went right (or wrong) this time, and how to achieve perfection next year.
Tim Szczesuil, Erin Underwood, Bob Kuhn

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Want to attend Boskone? We’d love to see you there. All attendees need to purchase a Boskone 53 convention membership. Click here to buy yours today! 

Full Weekend Rates

• Adult: $65
• College Student: $40 (school ID required)
• K-12 Children: $25 (school ID may be required)

One Day Rates

• Friday One Day: $25
• Saturday One Day: $45
• Sunday One Day: $25