Countdown to Worldcon

by Judith Kindell

Who says we can't start Bucconeer a year early? On August 9, 1997—exactly one year before the final day of Bucconeer, we hosted an event at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. Nearly 50 local area fans met our Toastmaster Charles Sheffield and learned about our plans for the coming year.

The book-lined Edgar Allan Poe room was decorated with Bucky pirate banners and science fiction books for all ages from the Pratt Library collection. Several local fen brought cookies and lemonade for a festive prequel to the Worldcon.

Our illustrious chairman presented Dr. Sheffield with a buckyball necktie and asked him to speak about buckyballs [Buckminsterfullerenes—the official molecule of Bucconeer, see Charles' article in Progress Report Two. – Ed.]. Having been forewarned, he had brought his own buckyball—a soccer ball. Dr. Sheffield told us all about buckyballs, with a digression on Leonhard Euler and mathematical progressions. He later read an excerpt from his work in progress, Aftermath.

Peggy Rae Pavlat took the opportunity to talk about our plans for Bucconeer (as well as soliciting some new volunteers). She also discussed Bucconeer's plan to promote an interest in science fiction in young people by sponsoring a science fiction contest for students. [See "The Search for Younger Fen" article. – Ed.]

A good time was had by all as we took a break from preparations for LoneStarCon 2 and geared up for one of the most intensive years of our lives—getting ready for Bucconeer!