'Across the Multiverse': Bubonicon 54 set to celebrate the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror

Rebecca Roanhorse, Carrie Vaughn, Rachael Mayo, Ness Brown, J.C. Cervantes, Stephen R. Donaldson, Melinda M. Snodgrass, David Lee Summers — and George R.R. Martin.

These are just a few of the authors and artists that will be participating in Bubonicon 54. The three-day event kicks off Friday, Aug. 25, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Albuquerque Marriott Uptown.

Bubonicon, which began the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landing and Woodstock, focuses primarily on the literature of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

It is one of hundreds of such conventions held each year around the world, and is considered smaller, drawing less than a 1,000 people each August. Fans come together to meet their favorite authors, socialize, admire art work, play games, have fun and celebrate science fiction.

“It’s our second in-person event post pandemic,” says Craig W. Chrissinger, event co-chair. “This year there is no mask mandate, but we are encouraging people to wear masks.”

Chrissinger says the line-up for this year’s event fell into place during the months of planning.

This year’s theme is “Across the Multiverse (Alternate Dimensions, Parallel Worlds.)”

Chrissinger says there’s a lot of appeal in science fiction/fantasy for slightly different space/time continuums and universes.

“The idea of a multiverse has shown up in classic ‘Star Trek,’ the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Philip K. Dick’s ‘The Man in the High Castle,’ ‘The Gods Themselves’ by Isaac Asimov, celebrated film ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once,’ Greg Bear’s ‘Eon,’ ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Doctor Who,’ and many other books, films and TV series.”

A portion of the convention proceeds will benefit Eastern New Mexico University’s Williamson Library Collection, the local Roadrunner Food Bank, and World Central Kitchen.

Chrissinger says this year’s convention features talent from the Southwest, East Coast, South and Canada.

Co-Guests of Honor are Roanhorse of New Mexico, and Vaughn of Colorado; Guest Artist is Mayo of Missouri; Toastmaster is Kelly Robson of Toronto, Ontario; and Science Speaker is New York’s Ness Brown, astrophysicist graduate student and debut author.

Roanhorse is a New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo and Locus Award-winning speculative fiction writer, and the recipient of the 2018 Astounding Award for Best New Writer. She has published multiple award-winning short stories and six novels, including two in “The Sixth World” series, “Star Wars: Resistance Reborn,” “Race to the Sun” for the Rick Riordan imprint, and two in the epic fantasy “Between Earth and Sky” trilogy – “Black Sun” and “Fevered Star,” with the final novel in the trilogy set to release in 2024.

She has also written for Marvel Comics and for television, and had projects optioned by Amazon Studios, Netflix and AMC Studios.

Chrissinger says Santa Fe resident and “A Song of Ice and Fire” author Martin will also be at the convention.

“George has always been a huge supporter of Bubonicon,” he says. “We have J.C. Cervantes here for the first time. There will also be panels throughout the event where guests can hear some interesting stories from their favorite authors.”

Chrissinger is expecting Bubonicon to track pre-pandemic numbers.

“I think it will be a really good Bubonicon,” he says. “Guests will get to meet other fans while meeting some authors and artists. It will be really cool to get back to normal after the pandemic.”