Award-winning Authors John Scalzi, Martha Wells Coming to Pop Madness®
Published on March 03, 2026
Free fan convention at Central Library features artists, authors, activities, vendors and more.
SAN ANTONIO (March 3, 2026) – Bestselling authors John Scalzi and Martha Wells will anchor a lineup of special guests and authors at this year’s Pop Madness®, San Antonio Public Library’s (SAPL) free annual pop culture convention. Pop Madness® will be held at Central Library (600 Soledad St., 78205) on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free, all-ages celebration of fandom will feature activities, cosplay, demonstrations, and a curated selection of exhibitors.
John Scalzi is the New York Times bestselling author of “Redshirts,” the “Old Man’s War” series and “When the Moon Hits Your Eye,” among others. Scalzi has won numerous awards, including the Hugo, the Locus, the Dragon and more. He was a creative consultant for the “Stargate: Universe” television series and writer for the video game “Midnight Star.” Additionally, he is an Executive Producer for in-development television adaptations of “Old Man’s War” and “The Collapsing Empire.” Scalzi’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages.
Martha Wells is also a bestselling author of the “Murderbot Diaries” book series and she works as a consultant on its television adaptation, “Murderbot,” which has been renewed for a second season on Apple TV+. Wells has also written “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Magic: The Gathering,” as well as short fiction, YA novels and non-fiction. Her accolades include the Nebula, Hugo, Locus, Alex and Dragon awards. Wells, a Texas native, is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Her books have been published in more than 30 languages.
Wells and Scalzi will participate in a panel discussion in the Central Library Auditorium followed by a book signing.
This year’s Pop Madness® will also feature authors Robert Jackson Bennett and Celso Hurtado, along with artists John Picacio, Kwanzaa Edwards, and Irving Herrera.
Pop Madness® brings together fans from a diverse variety of fandoms while celebrating authors, artists, and content creators from diverse backgrounds. Children’s activities will be located on the third floor with a special Jedi Training session at noon. Children will also be able to create origami and participate in a family-friendly escape room.
Tween, Teen, and Adult Cosplay Contests will take place in the Central Library Auditorium on the first floor starting at 1:30 p.m. Registration for the Cosplay Contests is required, and attendees wishing to participate in the cosplay contests are encouraged to pre-register online. Registration will be available on-site on March 7 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. near the library entrance.
Families attending Pop Madness can participate in arts and crafts, board games, card games, video games, activities for Pokémon fans and much more. San Antonio filmmakers will also share their work at this year’s event. This year, films will be screened in the Latino Collection and Resource Center on the first floor.
Admission to the event is free and parking in the Central Library Garage is free for up to three hours. For more information about Pop Madness®, visit the San Antonio Public Library website.
For general questions about library services, library staff are available to assist by phone at 210-207-2500 or by text or online chat.