This collection of essays, artist papers, reviews, and literary works, found in this issue of Hyperrhiz, were generated from the Electronic Literature Organization's (ELO) 2008 conference held at Washington State University Vancouver, in Vancouver, Washington, from May 29 to June 2, and co-hosted by John Barber and Dene Grigar. The conference featured, along with the traditional scholarly sessions, three media art shows that ran simultaneously around the city. One hundred and twenty-one artists and scholars associated with digital-born literary work participated in the conference's concurrent sessions, shows, and performances. It is the aim of this special issue to open up the rich debates and the primary points of discussion begun at the conference to readers of Hyperrhiz, to excite others with the scholarship and art generating from the field, and to share the passion—and even infect others with the joy—those of us involved in electronic literature feel.