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(Bluefield)—The Bluefield State College USS Yeager Chapter of the International Star Trek Fan Organization Starfleet will once more bring the magic of Science Fiction and Fantasy Fandom to the Bluefield area with the Rising Star 16 science fiction convention, October 12 and 13. The event, to be held in the Harris-Jefferson Student Center/Bluefield State College, opens at 6 p.m. and runs until midnight on Friday, then reopens at 9 a.m. and continues until midnight Saturday. Admission is free to all Bluefield State College students, faculty and staff, and $5 to the general public.
Presenters at this year’s event include popular local anthropomorphic (“furry”) artist Lisa Maloney of Blacksburg, Virginia; Barb Fischer and Chris Impink, creators of the popular webcomic “Fragile Gravity”; musical parody and comedy by White Plectrum (Keith Brinegar); author and journalist Paul Dellinger of Wytheville, Virginia and local author and artist Peg Fisher of Blacksburg, Virginia.
A special feature of this year’s convention will be the premiere of a feature-length fan-produced film set in the Star Wars universe, “Dark Balance 3--Balance of the Prophets.” Writer-director Drennon Laney and members of the cast will be present to discuss the production of the film and to discuss their future projects.
Other events include panels on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to costuming, filmmaking, writing, and, schedule permitting, and a discussion of Robotics Projects at BSC. Special entertainment will include a science fiction quiz game, costume contest, comedy music concert, and a collectibles auction, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the establishment of a memorial scholarship fund. As a special tie-in to the 100 th birthday of author Robert A. Heinlein, the Saturday evening activities will also include an audio adaptation of Heinlein’s classic short story “The Green Hills of Earth,” complete with music by Keith Brinegar.
Gaming in its many forms is an important part of science fiction conventions, and this year’s event features a number of popular game systems including Mechwarrior, Heroclix, and Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. A rare, but fun, system is “Evil Stevie’s Pirate Game,” a tactical game of ship combat played on the floor with Lego ships and crews. Last year’s “Evil Stevie’s” players ranged in age from ten to 53.
Dealers in games, rare books, and fantasy portraits, among other things will be on site offering for sale several items not normally found in the Bluefield area. Several new local vendors will also be represented.
One-half of the profits from Rising Star will go toward the establishment of the David Reid Memorial Scholarship fund. The fund is named for a visual arts student who lost his life shortly before he would have graduated from Concord University. David’s family has been long-time supporters or Rising Star and USS Yeager.
September 24, 2007
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