Arisia

''For the DC comics character, see Arisia (comics).

Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention -- con -- and then altered the spelling to match the name of an organization in the Lensman books.

Arisia was first held in 1990, and its attendance has grown from 842 to over 2,000. Although it has been in a number of hotels, since 1992 most Arisias have been held at the Boston Plaza Hotel and Towers in January, usually over Martin Luther King Day weekend. Arisia 2007 will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, MA.

Regular events include one of the largest Masquerades on the East Coast; "Fast Track" programming for children; a demonstration of historical fighting techniques; gaming; and film, video, and anime rooms. Other events that have been recently included are a blood drive, a drumming circle, Friday and Saturday evening dances, and live radio dramas.

The Arisia Corporation is the body that funds and promotes the annual Arisia convention; additional activities include awarding grants to other related organizations. Membership costs $24 per year starting in September, pro-rated for members who join during later months. Corporate positions are elected by the voting body (defined as members who have attended one previous corporate meeting) in September. Meetings are held monthly, usually at MIT, and are open to the public.

External links

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