At 36 years old, LepreCon is the second-oldest sci-fi convention in Arizona, behind only the TusCon in Tucson. But in many ways, LepreCon is bigger: It draws about 500 fans annually and regularly hosts some of the biggest names in science fiction. Previous guests included Charles Vess (the artist for the popular Sandman comics), George R.R. Martin (Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire), and acclaimed Lord of the Isles author David Drake. But it's not just the guests that make LepreCon great; there are also sci-fi and fantasy art shows, gaming rooms, a Masquerade Ball, and even live music (the performer in 2010 was author and former Flash Girls folk rocker Emma Bull). With all its spacey, fantastic ambiance, LepreCon is heaven for sci-fi geeks, and a great introduction for newbies.