Con etiquette

Longtime Boskone participant Elisabeth Carey's advice for newcomers to a science fiction convention:

Don't wear your Spock ears or Klingon makeup. ''It's not socially fatal if you do, but people will just think you're young."

Don't call it ''sci fi." The term fell out of favor years ago among fans when it became popular for referring to trashy movies like ''Mars Needs Women." Instead, con-goers tend to refer to ''SF" or, sometimes, ''skiffy."

Behave yourself. The rules of normal social behavior apply, and Boskone (unlike some cons) has no open bars and no events geared specifically for adults.

Don't get too worried if your teenager wants to go. Although no public event can be guaranteed safe, Carey says older fans have a tendency to keep an eye on younger ones so that bad things don't happen.

Volunteer. ''A lot of fans are very shy people. The best way to get to know fellow fans is to work on something together," says Carey. Volunteers also are invited to pre- and post-con events like the Secret Buffet of Fandom and the Dead Dog Party. (To find out more about volunteering, e-mail volunteers@boskone.org.)

Check the party postings, usually available at a convention's high-traffic area. Fans will put on room parties, often with themes to draw together people with common interests (Buffy, anyone?). Groups bidding to host a future World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon, held in a different city each year) will also host parties, where ''they'll be happy to tell you why their group and city are completely fascinating," says Carey.

Arrive early to sign up for kaffeeklatsches and literary beers with interesting authors, artists, and guests. It's a great way to meet people who are active in the field. If you aspire to write SF, it's also a great way to learn how the industry works.