Today -- October 8th -- is Frank Herbert's birthday. Had the master storyteller still been alive, he would've been 89 years old today.

Frank was born in Tacoma, Washington and passed away on February 11, 1986 after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.

This year was the first time I attended DragonCon, and what an experience! The staff there really know what the phrase "southern hospitality" means. Everyone was kind, informative, and handled my questions perfectly. The great thing about this event was that there were tons of resources for fans and guests alike. Information booths, guest services, a flood of volunteers, all made this a really fun event. Next year, I hope to attend again and experience more of what this amazing Con has to offer.

--Byron Merritt, Grandson of Frank Herbert