It's too bad that Star Trek and science fiction tend to hold all the press and get all the attention when it comes to conventions. We have seen the movies and the news reports of people dressed in Klingon and Vulcan costumes as they wait in line to hear William Shatner talk about being Captain Kirk.

The truth is that there are conventions held throughout the year all over the world to celebrate all things fantasy. If anyone has seen reports or actually experienced the grandeur of a Japanese fantasy and anime convention, then you know first hand the true definition of cosplay.

Science fiction conventions are filled with aliens and people in uniforms, but it's the fantasy conventions that are filled with mythical beasts and diverse characters from a variety of book, movies and graphic novels.

Science fiction is somewhat limited in what it can do. Sure, you can make an alien look like whatever you want, but it generally looks mechanical and futuristic. Creators want to tap into long held beliefs already established over decades of literature and media.

Fantasy is all about letting the imagination loose on the world and letting it run wild. Giant sword wielding cats or tall lanky kick-butt bunnies intermingle with orcs and elves. When you go to a science fiction convention, you already know what you are going to see. There's going to be hundreds Klingons and Andorians giving dirty looks to all the Wookies and sword-wielding Jedis.

When it comes go fantasy conventions, you never know who or what is going to show up.