The Third Conference On Middle-earth is a scholarly conference focusing on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, scheduled for March 26, 2011, in Westford, MA. (If you’re wondering how you missed the First and Second Conferences, they happened in 1969 and 1971, respectively.) Their website describes the event this way:
I call you here to speak of J.R.R. Tolkien, his works, works based on Tolkien and his works, criticism, teaching Tolkien in the classroom, the impact of the books on yourself, friends, family, and/or the world, the films & the film industry, the music, the art, the fannish side of this universe and its impact, and anything and lots more.
This is a gathering where you can sit in the Green Dragon and discuss Elvish or Orcish table manners, if they have any. This is a celebration of Middle-earth, and all that it implies.
The organizers have put out a call for paper and panel proposals. Since this event is nearly a year away, many details have yet to be announced, so keep an eye on http://www.3rdcome.org/.
[Tips from James and Mary]
The Improv Boston comedy troupe of Cambridge, MA has announced “Geek Week”, described as “a week-long festival dedicated to comedy based on and inspired by fantasy, sci-fi and general nerdy awesomeness.” The shows run from April 28 to May 2. Visit http://www.improvboston.com/shows/geekweek.html for more information.
[Tip from Jenna of Improv Boston]
The Steampunk Festival in Waltham, MA has had to change dates again. The new (and hopefully final) date is Saturday May 1st.
This just goes to show you that there is a fandom for everything: Fans of 80′s cartoon Jem and the Holograms will be gathering to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary at JemCon, being held in Manchester, NH September 24th-26th. Guests include actress Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem, and script writer Michael Charles Hill. Learn more at http://www.jemcon.org/.
[Tip via Con News]
Here’s what’s on the calendar so far in the month of April:
Massachusetts
April 2: Author Appearance: Christopher Moore
April 2-4: Anime Boston
April 3: Opening day for Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
April 9: Edgar Allan Poe Masked Ball
April 10-11: Boston Comic Con
April 15: Cinematic Titanic Live
April 16-18: Nexus Faire II (fan convention)
April 16-19: “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” Film Series
April 16-18 and 22-24: On This Moon (theater)
April 26: Author Appearance: Sam Weller
April 26: Author Appearance: Melissa Marr
April 30 –May 1: ROFLCon II (Internet memes)
New Hampshire
April 8: Application deadline for the Odyssey Writing Workshop
April 10-11: EconoCon XIII (gaming convention)
Rhode Island
April 7: Kickoff party for The Big Read: Edgar Allan Poe
Author Christopher Moore will sign his new novel Bite Me: A Love Story, the third novel in his Bloodsucking Fiends series, at Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, MA on April 2 at 7:00pm. Visit http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/events/mainevent.html for details.
Author Melissa Marr will present her new novel Radiant Shadows, part of her Wicked Lovely series, at the Cambridge Public Library in Cambridge, MA on Monday, April 26th at 7:00pm. See http://www.harvard.com/events/press_release.php?id=2512 for information.
“The Big Read” is a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts to promote reading, and among the current featured books are Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and The Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. (Ursula K. LeGuin’s A Wizard of Earthsea is also on the list, but it seems those events are already over and done with.) There will be events across the nation related to these and other books, focusing on one book each month; see http://www.neabigread.org/ for full details.
Providence, RI will celebrate Edgar Allan Poe starting with a kickoff party at Rhode Island College the morning of April 7th from 9:00am until noon. See http://ric.libguides.com/Big_Read_Edgar_Allan_Poe for more information.
The Worcester Public Library in Worcester, MA is planning several Poe-related events, including a free Masked Ball on April 9th from 7:00-10:00pm. See http://www.worcpublib.org/150/Poe.html for a full list of events.
Many of the Ray Bradbury events have already happened — sorry, I just now found out about all this — but there are some left. WUMB Radio/University of Massachusetts Boston is sponsoring a number of events in the Boston area; you can see a complete list at http://www.neabigread.com/communities/?community_id=1286.
Sam Weller, author of The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, will appear at the Boston Public Library’s Central Library on April 26 at 6:00pm. See http://www.bpl.org/news/author_series.htm for more.
The Langdon Street Café in Montpelier, VT is having a “Geek Week” of activities from March 24th to the 31st which includes gaming events, music, workshops, and parties. For a complete list of events visit http://langdonstreetcafe.com/.
[Tip via Held Action]
The Flat Earth Theatre in Watertown, MA will present the new sci-fi drama “On This Moon” April 16th through the 24th.
Living on a remote moon, Dr. Paulson seeks a better life for his daughter, Mary. To that end, he tasks his android servant, Ariel, with sabotaging a passing ship containing a potential suitor for Mary, Freddy–who later reveals that he is gay. Ariel, who desires freedom above all, performs Paulson’s bidding in the hopes that he will release her. Events are complicated by Mary’s secret relationship with Caden, an alien also living on the moon. Caden, meanwhile, wants only to remove Paulson from the moon which he feels is rightfully his. Drawing inspiration from The Tempest, On This Moon blends the conventions of a Shakespearean comedy with a contemporary tale of greed and betrayal, love and acceptance, posing the question: what does it really mean to be human?
For information on showtimes and tickets visit http://flatearththeatre.com/.
[Tip from Jake of Flat Earth Theatre]
Books, Conventions, Lecture, MA | nescifievents | 
March 30, 2010 10:31 pm | 
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