Don't look for deeper meaning when it comes to the title of this year's CONduit science-fiction and fantasy convention, "CONduit of the Gods," because you won't find one.
Instead, organizers say the title was simply a divinely inspired creation of a convention participant."I'd like to be able to say something impressive-sounding about fulfilling the need to explore the religious side of science-fiction and fantasy," said David Lee Powell, who leads ReinCONation, the nonprofit organization in charge of the event.
"If you want to know the truth, though, it's because during the vote for this year's subtitle, one of our better costumers began speculating on the costuming possibilities of the final contenders, and apparently had `divine' aspirations," Powell said. "He made it sound fun, and well, you know. . . . "
CONduit of the Gods, the seventh CONduit event, began Friday morning and continues throughout the weekend at the Quality Inn City Center, 154 W. 600 South.
Powell said this year's event is a mixture of panel discussions, events, local activities, information and interests that concern science-fiction and fantasy "and everything else that sounds fun as long as we can cram it into one hotel in one short weekend."
Guests of honor for the convention, who will participate in several discussions and workshops, are author Timothy Zahn ("Star Wars: Dark Force Rising"), Steve Jackson (founder and editor-in-chief for Steve Jackson Games) and cartoonist Phil Foglio.
Other special guests include authors L.E. Modesitt Jr., M. Shayne Bell and Michael Stackpole; local authors Anne Chamberlin, Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury and W.R. Thompson; and Michael Goodwin, an artist whose daily science-fiction comic strip "My Stars!" was published in the Deseret News.
Also included will be a three-day art show, a swap meet, a video contest, a dealer's room, gaming, live-action role playing, "filk" singing, an ice-cream social, a masquerade party and a media room with fantasy and science-fiction films and television series episodes.
The convention is open from noon to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday and again from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Three-day CONduit registration is $28 for adults, $26 for youth ages 13-17 or $14 for children ages 7-12. Admission for children under the age of 7 is free.
One-day tickets are $15 for the Friday events, $20 for Saturday or $13 for Sunday (youths' one-day tickets receive a $2 discount, while child tickets are half-price).