Last week I wrote about how the Firefly/Serenity fan convention, Flanvention 2, had been abruptly and rudely cancelled by Booster Events. Hundreds of fans were already in Burbank for the con when they discovered it wasn't happening, and I joked that there would be riots in the streets of LA. Instead of riots, however, something happened that reminded me once again why I love science fiction fans in a completely mushy, non-ironic way. The California Browncoats, a local fan group, quickly planned a backup bash at a local restaurant, hired busses to get all the fans there from the hotel, and – get this – ALL of the stars from Firefly who had been booked to come to the Flanvention showed up to hang out. Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Mark Sheppard, Jonathan Woodward, Christina Hendricks and Adam Baldwin all came and they did it FOR FREE. Plus, Dark Horse gave out Serenity comic books and schwag.
I can't help but think that part of what makes SF fans, andBrowncoats in this case, such generous, sociable, good-in-a-crisissorts of people is their love for stories about heroes who struggle tomake the world a better place. Science fiction itself, even when it'sdark, requires fans to have broad enough imaginations tofantasize about remaking the universe. (Or the 'verse, as they say on Firefly.)
The kinds of people who think deeply about alternate worlds are alsomore likely to refuse to accept the status quo. Somebody cancels yourconvention? Well, just make a new one!
That's why I always have a blast at science fiction conventions.
It's also probably why I cried when I watched "Fix You," the fan videothat was supposed to air at the Flanvention. Thanks, Browncoats, forbeing the coolest!
Fix You [via Whedonesque]
