Worldcon

[Lacedaemonian]

Has anybody been to a Worldcon convention? There is one in Glasgow next year and I was thinking of going to attend the Hugo awards ceremonies. There should be a load of SF and Fantasy writers there. Membership seems a bit steep though.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Has anybody been to a Worldcon convention? There is one in Glasgow next year and I was thinking of going to attend the Hugo awards ceremonies. There should be a load of SF and Fantasy writers there. Membership seems a bit steep though.

Never. Would love to, but it will only happen if it gets thrown somewhere near me (Los Angeles or San Francisco).

If you can go to a big con like that, I would thoroughly recommend it. I've been to LosCon three times, and it's a blast. The cool thing about LosCon is that the group that throws it (Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society), is - if I remember correctly - the oldest functioning science fiction fan organization in the world. It also counts among its members some of the biggest names in the science fiction world, most of whom usually are in attendance. I've been lucky enough to attend panels and talks by such writers as (and these are in no particular order) Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, Harry Turtledove, David Brin, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, David Gerrold, Kage Baker, and many others whose names escape me at the moment. I've even gotten to meet a few of them.

I don't know how the larger cons are arranged, but LosCon, which is fairly large but intimate, is very casual. The writers are, for the most part, around and available for conversation after the panels they participate in and at some of the evening events. One year, it was particularly fun to watch David Brin chasing his young children around the ballroom in and among the people doing Regency dancing.

Cons are also a great place to meet interesting and unusual folks. Everyone should experience one at least once.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Actually, I should really make the effort to go to one of these - I've privately complained that there aern;t enough good cons to go to for writers here in the UK, and it might be somewhere good to promote the chronicles-network. I'd need more details, though, as it's going to be seriously expensive, so it's going to have to justify itself pretty well. As anything does if it wants what's in my wallet.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

Brian, these sites will contain all the relevant details:


http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/


http://worldcon.org/

 

[Esioul]

Glasgow? Oh, if it's in Glasgow I might go, that's not too far, I mean, it's not like going to America or something, I can get on the train at Peterborough and go straight there. Might be too expensive though.

 

[Hypes]

You lot could have a little gathering and make my dream come to animated life.

 

[Esioul]

As long as no herbs attend...

Is there an airport in Glasgow, does anyone know?

 

[Lacedaemonian]

Glasgow has a big airport.

Hypes that is your best pic yet!! I am still laughing. Simple genius!!

 

[dwndrgn]

If I could afford it and could find a friend to go along with (hubby hates that type of thing) I would go. Peter, if it is feasible I would suggest going. If nothing else just for the experience.

Andreas - very funny pic. I actually look pretty darned good for a dark-haired blue eyed blonde! Poor JP, he'll never live the bikini down!

 

[Lacedaemonian]

My bleached mullet and ratty tash are too comical for words, and do not even mention JP...

 

[Kevin Standlee]

While looking at the messages list after posting to the more-recent thread, I noticed this older message, in reply to the question, "has anyone been to a Worldcon?"

Never. Would love to, but it will only happen if it gets thrown somewhere near me (Los Angeles or San Francisco).

I take it you didn't attend the 1993 Worldcon in San Francisco, the 1996 Worldcon in Anaheim, or 2002 Worldcon in San José. (As I chaired the last of these, I'm particularly sorry we missed you. )

Still, you've got a Worldcon coming up relatively close to you soon: L.A.con IV, the 2006 Worldcon in Anaheim.

If you can go to a big con like that, I would thoroughly recommend it.

Obviously, so would I. My first science fiction convention of any sort was the 1984 Worldcon in Anaheim, and I was instantly hooked. I've been a member of every Worldcon since then, and have attended every one since and including 1989.

I don't know how the larger cons are arranged, but LosCon, which is fairly large but intimate, is very casual. The writers are, for the most part, around and available for conversation after the panels they participate in and at some of the evening events.

Worldcons are not appreciably different from conventions like Loscon (LA area) or BayCon (San José) in that respect. [BayCon's web site is not responding as I write this, but I think that's just a temporary problem.] There is not a huge divide between writers and other fans. It's not like "gate show" events where you pay a ticket fee to be entertained and view famous people at a distance. These conventions are participatory events -- that's one reason we call the money you pay to get in a "membership" and not a ticket.

Cons are also a great place to meet interesting and unusual folks. Everyone should experience one at least once.

Agreed.

 

[David Stewart]

Is there an airport in Glasgow, does anyone know?

There are two: Glasgow Airport which the main airlines use and Prestwick which is much further away but which is Ryanair's hub. There's a coach from Glasgow Airport into the city centre and there's a train from Prestwick Airport to Central Station.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Still, you've got a Worldcon coming up relatively close to you soon: L.A.con IV, the 2006 Worldcon in Anaheim.

Thanks for that, Kevin. I had discovered that and definitely plan on going. My best friend and I are already starting to make our plans. I took the fact that it begins on my birthday as an omen that I need to be there.

And, I'm glad to hear that there is some comparison to Loscon; I've attended Loscon several times, the most recent being this year's installment at the LAX Marriott, and I love it dearly. I even did volunteer work one year. I had hoped to volunteer again this year, but I had my mother with me this year and so didn't have the time to do so.