Byron's Page

Usually, I help run masquerades rather than entering them - once a decade is about right to actually go on stage! I have managed the masquerade green room at nine of the last thirteen World Science Fiction Conventions and numerous regional conventions. I have attended sixteen of the twenty CostumeCons and worked on many of them. At the 2003 Worldcon (Torcon), I portrayed Corwin in the Best in Show Trumps of Amber group.

I am a former president of the Pups, former recording secretary of the International Costumers' Guild, and former ICG president - in other words, a recovering ICGholic. The ICG honored me with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. I have a special costuming interest in military, paramilitary, and civilian uniforms.

Outside of costuming, I am a long-time sf fan. I like hard SF, alternate history, alternate worlds, and fantasy (as well as mystery). I also am a railroad buff. I am a historian by training and inclination (Master's degree in Russian history) and an employee of the State of New York, for which I evaluate colleges and universities.

Favorite Costuming Websites
Because of my interest in uniforms, my favorite costume site is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) site, which has links to the websites of the member countries, including their armed forces. Some of the more interesting Web sites for historical uniforms, accessible from the NATO Web site, are those of the British navy, the Greek army, and the Polish army. I also very much like the History of U.S. Naval Uniforms site, which has information on naval uniforms and insignia I have not found anywhere else on the Web.

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