PRESS RELEASE #32

Renovation - 100 Days and Counting

Renovation, The 69th World Science Fiction Convention,
Reno, Nevada - August 17-21, 2011

press@renovationsf.org
www.renovationsf.org

Postal queries to: RCFI, PO Box 13278, Portland, OR 97213-0278

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 9, 2011

Reno, Nevada, USA - With just 100 days to go before Renovation, this year's World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"), excitement is building fast. Over 3,000 people have already joined as members and announcements of exciting plans for this unique, diverse, and global celebration of science fiction and fantasy are being made almost daily.

During April alone, Renovation has:

• Released the shortlisted nominees for this year's Hugo Awards
• Published ever expanding lists of Art Show and Dealers' Room exhibitors
• Confirmed a series of Dance Events ranging from the Girl Genius Steampunk Ball to the Serenity Space Western Ball inspired by the TV Series "Firefly"
• Announced a Teaching SF Workshop to encourage teachers, librarians and parents to incorporate science fiction as a teaching tool
• Supported an SF Outreach event in which over 5,000 free science fiction books were given away to attendees of WonderCon, a major comics and popular arts event held annually in San Francisco
• Welcomed the Klingon Language Institute, whose annual conference (qep'a') will be held in Reno immediately before Worldcon.

Renovation has also confirmed over 300 program participants. The list includes a wide range of leading science fiction writers, editors, publishers, critics, artists and fans. Notable writers who will be appearing on the Renovation program include Guest of Honor Tim Powers (whose On Stranger Tides is the basis for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film), George RR Martin (whose fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" has recently been made into a widely acclaimed HBO miniseries), Greg Bear, Greg Benford, David Brin, Lois McMaster Bujold, Cory Doctorow, Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert J Sawyer, John Scalzi, Robert Silverberg, Charles Stross, Harry Turtledove and Connie Willis. A strong presence from the comics and graphic novel community includes Paul Cornell (Action Comics, Captain Britain), Phil and Kaja Foglio (Girl Genius), Howard Tayler (Shlock Mercenary) and Bill Willingham (Fables). Major artists in attendance include Guest of Honor Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Bob Eggleton, Richard Hescox, Lee Moyer and John Picacio.

Voting for the Hugo Awards is open to all adult and young adult members of Renovation who join prior to the voting deadline of 11.59 pm PDT on Sunday, July 31, 2011. Members can submit their ballots online or by postal mail.

Renovation's current Attending membership rates of $195 for Adults, $100 for Young Adults aged 17-21, and $75 for Children aged 16 or under will be held until July 17. Renovation still has rooms available at the luxurious Peppermill Hotel which will host the Hugo Award Ceremony and Masquerade Event. Potential attendees are encouraged to become members and to book their hotel rooms soon to be sure of receiving the discounted convention rate.

Patty Wells, the convention Chair, reflected on the progress made: "It is almost exactly three years since we launched the bid to bring the Worldcon to Reno. As we enter this last hundred days, I am delighted at the way our plans and aspirations are coming together, and look forward to a truly memorable experience for everyone who attends, works on or participates in the convention."

ENDS

Renovation is the 2011 World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"). The first Worldcon occurred in New York City in 1939 and Worldcons have been held annually since then except for 1942-45 when there was no event due to World War II. Renovation's Guests of Honor are Ellen Asher, Charles N. Brown (in memoriam), Tim Powers and Boris Vallejo.

For more details about the convention or to purchase memberships, visit www.renovationsf.org. has Send press questions, or requests to be removed from the Renovation press release mailing list, to press@renovationsf.org. Send general queries to info@renovationsf.org.

"World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC", "Hugo Award", and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.