The World Science Fiction convention is well underway in Montreal by now. Up until a few weeks ago I was sure I would be attending, but when it came down to it I just could not justify it for this year. I’m doubly sad as many Clarion friends are there and I would love to see each and every one of them again, and our Clarion instructor Neil Gaiman is the guest of honour (I still find it hard to parse the reality that I spent six weeks being taught by Neil, Kelly, Jim, Geoff, Nalo and Mary-Ann just a year ago) and really wanted to see him take the Hugo (which I am certain he will).
But I refuse to be sad. Instead this weekend I am having a WorldCon of my own. My own micro-convention, to which I am inviting all my favourite authors (in their paper and print incarnations) and you. If you to are missing the party, then feel free to join me on Twitter @damiengwalter or #notworldcon and we can form our very own virtual con.
A few random links:
I say a bit about the Hugo’s for SF Signal
I argue for Neuromancer as the book that should have won the 1984 Booker prize. Others disagree. (perhaps more on this subject to come)
good plan batman. will check out the tweeting.
Genius, Damien. No more trudging for me at the sadness of not seeing friends or speaking the French. What will our activities be? Is there a schedule of some kind at our own virtual Not World Con?
Main activities:
Reading books you like
Imagining wonderful things
Writing weird stories
Open for suggestions on panel discussions!
I’ll be wandering by throughout the day. I simply can’t miss an opportunity to attend NotWorldcon 1!
I’ll suggest that the ‘dealer’s room’ add, as one of their offerings, a crying towel with the NotWorldcon 1 logo on it, lol.
Are we going to nominate and give out Not Hugos?
If so, may I offer a suggestion as to the format of the process? Don’t tell anyone, but all of the nominees should get ‘winner’ awards. This should be balanced by an extremely short nomination period…