WHEN FANTASY BECAME POP CULTURE

Dragon*Con 20th Anniversary Program Guide Signed by Larry Elmore & Vyxsin

This copy is signed on the front cover by anniversary cover artist Larry Elmore and featured guest Vyxsin (Kristen Fiala). Laid in is Vyxsin's original promotional business card, providing contemporary provenance that links her signature directly to the convention.

THE ANNIVERSARY THAT CAPTURED A CULTURE
Issued to commemorate Dragon*Con's twentieth anniversary, this official program records one of the defining moments in the convention's history as fantasy literature, role-playing games, comics, film, anime, cosplay, and alternative culture converged into the modern fan experience. 

A CONVENTION IN TRANSITION
Beyond schedules and guest listings, the volume preserves a snapshot of fandom during the mid-2000s. Hundreds of biographies, articles, advertisements, and event listings document the personalities, creators, performers, and communities that helped shape Dragon*Con as it evolved into one of North America's premier popular culture conventions.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Quarto, approximately 8.5 by 11 inches; more than 200 pages. Perfect-bound in full color illustrated wraps featuring Larry Elmore's anniversary cover painting. Illustrated throughout with guest biographies, articles, schedules, maps, advertisements, and convention information and period adverts.

Signed on the front cover by Larry Elmore in black ink and Vyxsin (Kristen Fiala) in silver ink. Laid in is Vyxsin's original promotional business card distributed during the convention, strengthening the association between the signature and the event.

CONDITION: Fine. The bindings remain tight and square. Text is clean throughout.  A well-preserved example with bright covers. The laid-in promotional card remains crisp and clean.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: A CROSSROADS OF MODERN FANDOM —
Dragon*Con's twentieth anniversary came during a formative period in convention culture, when traditional science fiction and fantasy gatherings increasingly embraced gaming, comics, anime, media franchises, cosplay, and alternative performance communities. Programs such as this became documentary records of the personalities and creative communities that defined fandom before the dominance of social media.

THE ART OF HEROIC FANTASY
Larry Elmore (b. 1948) helped establish the visual identity of modern fantasy through his celebrated artwork for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and numerous fantasy novels and gaming publications. His anniversary cover painting remains one of Dragon*Con's most recognizable commemorative images.

DOCUMENTING AN ERA
Vyxsin (Kristen Fiala), later known nationally through The Amazing Race, was already an established performer and personality within the goth and alternative communities that formed an important part of Dragon*Con's culture during this period. 

SUBJECTS: Dragon*Con; Larry Elmore; Vyxsin; Dragonlance; Dungeons & Dragons; Fantasy Illustration; Convention Programs; Cosplay History; Goth Culture; Pop Culture Collectibles. Fantasy Art; Convention Memorabilia; Pop Culture; Gaming History.

Item #22264

Price: $35.00