Yeah, I'm really glad now that we canceled our WorldCon plans, since we were planning to stop in London for a few days.

Dur, you're right. :D

Duh, I was confusing Calgary with Worldcon. I'm such a dunce. :)

Soooooo much to learn, young padawan... ;)

First, let me explain that I help run science fiction conventions. These are usually a weekend where a group of fans (none of us gets paid to do this, mind) invite authors, artists and media personalities that write, create or perform in science fiction, fantasy or horror genres to come together for a convention. These guests then sit on discussion panels on a wide variety of topics, and us fans get to come and listen to them speak and ask questions and such. There are also social events (dances, socials, etc.), a costume contest (the Masquerade), a dealer's room (vendors that sell SF/F/H merchandise), an art show (independent artists that hawk their work), and a few other neat things, depending on the con. They're a lot of work, but quite fun, and there are a wide variety of them - most are city-based, but some are regional (like Westercon), themed (like Gaylaxicon, which is for us queers), some are more literature oriented and some media oriented, some are for specific fandoms (Dr. Who, Star Trek, slash fiction, furries, etc.).

So that's the basic of what a con is, so specifically, Westercon is the annual west coast regional con held on July 4th weekend each year, which moves from city to city. This year was Calgary, and next year is San Diego. I'm helping out by being Guest Liaison, which means I get to sheperd the Guests of Honor around the convention and make sure they don't miss their panels and things. It gets around 700-800 people.

Worldcon is the annual international science fiction convention, usually held over Labor Day weekend, which also moves from city to city. (If the city that year is outside North America they hold a second convention in North America the same weekend called NASFic for those who can't travel overseas.) They usually get a couple thousand people. This year's is in Edinborough (NASFIC is in Seattle), and next year it's in LA (2006 is going to be a busy fannish year in Southern California).

Does that answer your question, or do you have more? Hee hee!

Yeah, that BRITISH place.

Oh, then that ENGLISH place then.

You're both wrong. It's in Glasgow.

Yes - don't know how to spell or pronounce the name of the capital... tsk...