To say the Official Star Trek Convention in Chicago was a disappointment is like saying Mr. Spock is an important part of the Star Trek mythology.

The last-minute cancellation of Leonard Nimoy, known to Trekkers as Mr. Spock, because of a health emergency was a large part of that disappointment, but not the only cause of it. The general lack of big names at the “official convention” were other elements in that disappointment.

According to people at the convention, Nimoy had emergency appendix surgery. A great disappointment, but of course our first wish is that Mr. Nimoy recover and live much longer.

According to a British Daily Mail report, Nimoy also had to cancel an appearance at Cal State University Long Beach where he was scheduled to perform in “an intimate evening reflection over the role of Spock.”

A representative for the actor stated he had “undergone emergency surgery for a minor, benign, abdominal condition” but was “recovering beautifully.” He also had to cancel an appearance at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art the day before the scheduled appearance.

Clearly, there was a very good reason for his cancellation. The problem is the convention organizers didn’t offer refunds or rebates to ticket buyers who had come in some cases hundreds of miles for the rare opportunity to see the 79-year-old Mr. Nimoy.

This wasn’t a convention where a $35 charge, such as for two annual Indianapolis events, covered three days. This event had charges of $60, $70 and $80 per day. Some people paid nearly $400 for a gold weekend pass. And there are lots of other revenue streams including autograph and photo opportunities, table rental fees for vendors and special meals.

And how do they justify that? With a big name guest.

The people who plunked down their money for the day of Mr. Nimoy’s scheduled appearance wouldn’t have been there otherwise since there wasn’t anything else to attract anybody.

Although there were many interesting, second tier, character actors in the convention’s lineup, many with “Deep Space Nine” credits, the only other guest who would rank as a star would have been Christopher Lloyd, who appeared in the “Search for Spock” film and is also well known for his starring roles in “Back to the Future” movies (just out on Blu ray) and the “Taxi” television series.

Some of the other guests had interesting stories such as Jeffrey Combs, who appeared in “Deep Space Nine” and as Shran in “Star Trek Enterprise.” His story of how impressed he was with Peter Jackson while working on “The Frighteners” before Jackson made the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was particularly insightful. Combs told how Jackson’s style got the most out of actors.

The overall lineup, however, was thin on star power. This was while a fan-run Star Trek event in Dallas also had Lloyd on its roster, but also included William Shatner (one of the big three in Star Trek circles along with Nimoy and Patrick Stewart), Brent Spiner (Data), Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn. Other science fiction stars from other television shows and films were part of that lineup.

At the very least the Chicago event organizers should have offered all people with tickets for Friday a partial refund or coupons for merchandise. Yes, the organizers might have had a disclaimer about refunds in its promotions, but the right thing to do would have been to give refunds in this case.

Starbase Indy adds guest

Crystal Allen has been added to the Starbase Indy lineup.

Allen appeared in a “Star Trek: Enterprise” episode as “D’Nesh,” one of three Orion slave girls. She also had a role in “Star Trek: Of Gods and Men,” an independent film directed by Tim Russ, who also is scheduled to attend Starbase Indy.

Allen’s IMDB biography lists 31 credits for her acting work including appearances in episodes of “Desperate Housewives,” “JAG,” “Boston Legal” and “The Sopranos.” She is listed as starring in the SyFy Channel’s “Anaconda 4.”

Allen is slated to be at the event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Thanksgiving weekend event. She also will attend the “Dinner with the Stars.”

Starbase Indy is Nov. 26-28. For more information about Starbase Indy, check our Indiana Science Fiction Sojourns blog at blogs.Hoosiertimes.com/scifi or go to www.starbaseindy.com.

ConGlomeration changes

ConGlomeration, the annual Louisville, Ky., science fiction and fantasy convention, is being moved in 2011 to the Louisville Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, formerly the Executive West. 830 Phillips Lane, near the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.

The dates for next year’s convention are April 22-24. Guests for the event haven’t been announced yet.

For more information about ConGlomeration, go to www.conglomeration.info.

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