Virtual Balticon 54 has ended. Go to balticon.org for information about the next Balticon.
The Virtual Balticon channels on the BSFS Inc Discord Server are still active and recordings of the panels are being captioned and added to the BSFS YouTube channel.

Welcome to Virtual Balticon 54

The Maryland Regional
Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention

May 22-25, 2020

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) has canceled Balticon 54. In its place, BSFS is pleased to present a free Virtual Balticon over Memorial Day weekend. The virtual convention will kick off Friday night May 22nd, 2020 and run until Monday afternoon.

Our GoFundMe campaign is ending soon, but you may still donate to enable BSFS to continue our work developing new writers and fostering literacy among Baltimore City’s disadvantaged youth. You may use PayPal or mail a check:

BSFS donation page:

https://bsfs.org/donate.htm

Mail a check to:
Treasurer
BSFS, Inc.
P.O. Box 686
Baltimore, MD 21203-0686

How to Participate

To participate in Balticon panels, presentations, or events, see the schedules under the Programming menu. Be sure to check the Platforms page for general information about the platforms we are using, e.g., Zoom, Discord, etc. Here is a non-inclusive list of the activities in store:

Panels, Presentations, and Readings hosted as webinars (Program Schedule)
Music concerts streamed live (Program Schedule)
Open Filking hosted through an online platform (Program Schedule)
Social distant dance workshop and live dance on Sunday (Program Schedule)
Watch parties of past presentations at Balticon, along with discussions featuring the presenters on the BSFS Discord Server
Watch parties of TV shows, movies, and anime through streaming services, along with discussions on the BSFS Discord Server (Watch Party Schedule)
Virtual Short Film Festival on Sunday with a reprise showing on Monday. (Watch Party Schedule)
Online tabletop RPGs and board games (Gaming Schedule)
A collection of links to the online stores of our dealers and artists (Artist Alley)
Open conversation on the BSFS Discord Server and in a Balticon Second Life Region

Click to go to the Virtual Balticon 54
Platform Map

Guests of Honor

Wen Spencer is the author of more than a dozen science fiction and fantasy novels including the Elfhome series. She’s the 2003 winner of the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the 2002 winner of the Compton Crook Award. More Info

Lee Moyer illustrated book covers for Seanan McGuire, Kim Newman, and Iain Banks. His award-winning work has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, London, Santa Fe, and Helsinki; and featured in Communication Arts, China’s Top Artist magazine and 7 Spectrum collections. More Info

Cheshire Moon is the musical collaboration of Lizzie Crowe and Eric Coleman. The Cheshire Moon rises over the landscape, smiling down as only a trickster the size of planet could smile. Come join in the fun! More Info

Jay and Leigh Targaryen are well known for their cosplay and masquerade activities. They have won Best in Show from the Balticon Masquerade and many other awards. Jay organizes and runs the cosplay department for Magfest. They have also created over 500 costumes throughout the years for various dance companies and performances. They are now a happily married couple, partly in thanks of the Hawaii trip they won from the 2012 AUSA masquerade. More Info

Arkady Martine is the winner of the 2020 Compton Crook Award for A Memory Called Empire. Arkady Martine is a speculative fiction writer and, as Dr. AnnaLinden Weller, a historian of the Byzantine Empire and a city planner. She is currently a policy advisor for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.More Info

R. F. Kuang is the winner of the 2019 Compton Crook Award. She is the Nebula and Campbell Award nominated author of The Poppy War and its sequel The Dragon Republic. She will present the 2020 Compton Crook Award. More Info

Photo of Vernor Vinge: 2020 Heinlein Award

Vernor Vinge, a four-time Hugo Award-winning science fiction author, is the recipient of the 2020 Heinlein Award. This award is in recognition of Mr. Vinge’s body of work, including his nine novels, more than two dozen short stories, and many non-fiction articles. More Info