Overview
- The two-day convention at the Javits Center, which ran Saturday and Sunday, drew about 25,000 people after a years-long hiatus.
- Opening-day crowd control broke down as lines wrapped the block, reservation checks slipped at marquee panels, and VIP perks for signings and giveaways did not match expectations.
- ARC drops — free early copies meant for reviews — set off running and pushing that left some staff bruised, and at least one scarce title appeared for $650 on a resale site within a day.
- Sunday ran smoother after organizers added food options and tightened entry following Saturday’s chaos, and many attendees reported a calmer floor.
- Programming still delivered headline news as Veronica Roth unveiled The Sixth Faction, an alternate-universe Divergent book due Oct. 6, while other packed sessions teased Heated Rivalry Season 2 and previewed Dungeon Crawler Carl Book Eight.