potlatch n. (1) A ceremonial feast among certain Native American peoples of the northwest Pacific coast ... at which the host distributes gifts requiring reciprocation [Chinook & Nootka: patshatl, to make a potlatch gift]. (2) A gathering of the writers and readers of literary science fiction and fantasy at which participants exchange ideas.

Potlatch, the convention, is an all-volunteer, non-profit, literary event for the readers and writers of speculative fiction. At Potlatch, people talk to each other and participate in panel discussions about reading and writing speculative fiction. You’ll find conversations at the program events, in Algonquins (spontaneous member-generated programming), in writers workshops, in the consuite, in the halls, and in elevators. Each year, Potlatch donates proceeds to literacy and literary organizations, including Clarion West—an intensive six-week workshop for writers who are preparing for professional careers in science fiction and fantasy.

Potlatch 20 will be held at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, California during the weekend of March 4 - 6, 2011. Pre-registration is now closed. At-the-door registration will be $75. To get an idea what Potlatch discussions are like, check out these links to past Potlatch panels and Books of Honor.

Latest News

Potlatch 20 Program Schedule is now online.

Domain Hotel honoring convention rate if you call now to reserve a room.

We've learned that some letters have been inexplicably bouncing from our PO box. If this has happened to you, please email us about it.

Potlatch will host a book drive in support of the Science Fiction
Outreach Initiative. Donations of new or used sf/f books will be gratefully accepted.

Pre-registration is now closed. At-the-door registration will be $75.

Submissions for the Writers' Workshop are now closed.

Our Book of Honor is Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.

The Potlatch Livejournal Community is open.

FOGcon, a new Bay Area literary s-f convention, will be taking place in San Francisco, proper, the week after Potlatch 20. So, come to the Bay Area for Potlatch and stay for FOGcon, if you're up for it!

 

A Potlatch in Silicon Valley?

A Potlatch in Silicon Valley? Yes! We’d like to show off the South Bay’s thriving multicultural community. If Silicon Valley is any model, we can expect the future will have really good food. The Domain is a newly remodeled boutique hotel located 9 miles from San Jose International Airport and accessible by public transit. You'll find lots of good restaurants and points of interest to visit in the immediate vicinity.

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