About Us

Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, Inc. (SCIFI, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

SCIFI, Inc. was established for the promotion and conduct of conferences, conventions or congresses relating to the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. SCIFI, Inc. is the past sponsor of the 1984, 1996 and 2006 Los Angeles World Science Fiction Conventions, the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFIC) and the 1989, 1994 and 2002 Westercons and the 1994 and 2014 Smofcons.

We are a group of literature fans who are looking forward to using our experience convention running to give back to the professionals who have entertained us for many years.

FANTASY NOIR

Fantasy Noir is a relatively new genre and has gained significant popularity in recent years.  Sometimes described as “magical cities in decay,” noir’s combination of urban grime and sleazy glamour brings a realistic and deliciously nasty flavor to the fantasy genre.  Fantasy Noir blends the setting, characters and plot structure of a Hardboiled Detective/Occult Detective mystery story with the more colorful elements of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Noir heroes are often extremely flawed or bad people or – on occasion – an honest cop or hero figure whose morality is distinctly at odds with the way the world works. Flawed protagonists are often motivated by greed, lust, anger, and revenge as much as higher motives. When they do something genuinely noble, it can be with great reluctance. A hero’s honesty and nobility often results in horrific personal consequences for himself and others.

The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armor. He’s dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he’s a hero the whole time – Frank Miller