Salt Lake’s Fantasy Con 2014 is a Magical Crowd Pleaser

If Salt Lake’s Fantasy Con is a sign of things to come, than fantasy fans can look forward to good times.

In his book Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing, David Farland speculates that the fantasy genre sells as much as six times as many books at science fiction. Over the years, especially since the late seventies when Terry Brooks rose to the top of the New York Times bestseller list for five months, fantasy has risen to mainstream popularity. 

Based on how things looked this week at Salt Lake City‘s Fantasy Con, it’s clear that a love for all things fantasy is alive and well in Utah. Josh Patel’s Fantasy Con raised the standard for cons, and I can’t wait to see what they do next year. Crowds coming out for the fantasy were met with life-sized sculptures of dragons, rock monsters, and knights, watched from bleachers as a battle ground featured Live Action Role Players (or, LARPers, as they are known) duking it out medieval style, and sat in on panels with celebrities, authors, and cosplayers.

Yes, cosplayers. Whether wizards, warlocks, dwarves, elves, Nazgul, Dothraki, or any number of leather clad characters that were probably a mix of various others, fan showed up in their cosplay best.

What I thought set Fantasy Con apart, though, was quality of entertainment interspersed throughout the hall. In one section, I listened to folk singers on fiddle, cello, and drum, and another to a comedy improv group. Meanwhile, not far from concessions, a group of firebreathers put on an impressive show. Then, as I passed the main hall on the way towards Simon Pegg (yes, THE Simon Pegg), I passed a magician doing tricks for a circle of smiling cosplayers, kids, and fans.

There was entertainment where ever you went, and I hadn’t even made it to the panels, yet.

I can’t wait to see what next year will bring.

Coming up: a few Fantasy Con panels.