Calling all fans of aliens, wizards and things that go bump in the night: Confluence, the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Literary Conference is returning to Pittsburgh July 24-26.

The conference is organized by Parsec, Pittsburgh's science-fiction and fantasy literary organization, and held this year at the Doubletree by Hilton in Cranberry. The long-running event hosts panel discussions, talks, concerts, opportunities to meet writers and artists, vendors, workshops and more.

This year's Confluence features three special appearances. Joan Slonczewski, a microbiology teacher at Kenyon College and two-time winner of the Campbell Award for Best Science Fiction Novel for The Highest Frontier and A Door into Ocean, will serve as the guest of honor. Brooke Abbey, a filk musician who won the 2009 Pegasus Award for Best Filk Song for "The Wreck of the Crash of the East Hill Mining Disaster," will serve as the featured filk performer. And the author of the "Dodgson/Doyle" mystery series, Roberta Rogow, is the the special guest.

The deadline to register for this year's conference is this Wednesday.