"If you want to come meet our guests of honor, you're going to have the opportunity to do so," he said. The guests participate in meet-and-greets and panels throughout the weekend.

This year, the guests are fantasy/sci-fi novelist David Farland; Philo Barnhart, an animator on Disney films; actor Aaron Douglas of "Battlestar Galactica"; and Claire Eddy, an editor for Tor publishing house.

For fantasy/sci-fi newbies, here's a quick rundown on their work:

• Farland is best known for his "Runelords" fantasy series, as well as a popular "Star Wars" franchise book, "The Courtship of Princess Leia." He's also a Hollywood script doctor and a writing instructor. (Stephenie Meyer of the "Twilight" series is a former student.) He also judges the Writers of the Future contest.

• Aaron Douglas played a popular character, Chief Galen Tyrol, on the celebrated reboot of "Battlestar Galactica." Since then, he's had roles in "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" "The Strain" and "The Flash."

• Claire Eddy, a senior editor at Tor, worked with Jacqueline Carey, Sara Douglass and Juliet Marillier.