Eastercon 2010 - London

[Who's Wee Dug]

See you there Ian or at the bar. or at the World Horror con in Brighton.

 

[Ian Whates]

See you there Ian or at the bar. or at the World Horror con in Brighton.

Or even both, Billy!

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I'm quite tempted to come down for one day... Good Friday seems like the one.

 

[Ian Whates]

I'm quite tempted to come down for one day... Good Friday seems like the one.

It would be good to meet you in the flesh if you can make it, Stephen.

 

[Fried Egg]

Pardon my ignorance but I've never actually been to one of these. What actually goes on? What's it all about?

 

[Susan Boulton]

Pardon my ignorance but I've never actually been to one of these. What actually goes on? What's it all about?

Lots of panels (drinking) Lots of lectures/talks(drinking)Lots of authors, most certainly drinking! Agents, publishers, fans, book stalls, (drinking, drinking)

A general good time, talking about SF&F, talking with folks that like SF & F, and oh yes, drinking!

What is Eastercon

Eastercon

and this years.
Odyssey 2010 - Odyssey, 2 - 5 Apr 2010: Radisson Edwardian Hotel


Oh I am going, so too is youngest daughter, she is gophering this year(oh foolish youth! ROFL)

 

[Ian Whates]

Pardon my ignorance but I've never actually been to one of these. What actually goes on? What's it all about?

Well, FE (takes a deep breath). An ongoing programme of interviews, panel discussions, readings, book launches, workshops etc etc etc, which starts late morning and goes on into the night. Being Eastercon, the UK's Daddy of all Cons, this will mean between six and eight different things going on at the same time (ie a 'multi-stream' convention).

Taking part will be the announced Guests of Honour (in this case including Alastair Reynolds, Iain Banks, Liz Williams and Mike Carey) plus just about every other SF and fantasy author, editor, publisher and agent in the UK.

Then of course there are the parties, and the bars, and the dealers room (where wondrous books and other genre-relted items can be purchased).

Must confess, the dealers room and bar tend to be where I spend most of my time. Socialising is King!

Two years ago, Eastercon was at this same hotel, and they had over 1,600 attending. I know membership's rolled well past the 1,000 mark again this time.

Best way to find out, FE, is to come along!

 

[The Judge]

I was thinking of going on either the Saturday or Sunday, and getting membership on the door. I take it that is possible? I've spent some time going through the websites but it's all very new to me, and I'm conscious I may have misinterpreted something.

Anyway, I haven't quite worked out how to find the exact programme of events over the weekend to discover which is likely to be the better day. I appreciate things like the dealer's room will be the same, but presumably speakers and workshops will be different. Any opinions as to which is better from those who have seen the full programme?

 

[Ian Whates]

Just had a quick glance down the current membership list and noted the following attendees (in addition to the GoHs and those I've already mentioned being at Friday's book launch). Doubtless I missed some and others have yet to get around to joining -- I've yet to be to an Eastercon without the likes of Ken MacLeod, Charlie Stross and Jon Courtenay Grimwood being there:

Esther Friesner, Paul McAuley, Aliette de Bodard, Christopher Priest, Leigh Kennedy, Kim Lakin-Smith, Neil Williamson, Joe Abercrombie, Chaz Brenchley, Ian R MacLeod, John Meaney, Freda Warrington, Philip Palmer, Gary Gibson, James Lovegrove, Pat Cadigan, Ellen Datlow, Andrew Hook, Stephen Hunt, Gareth L. Powell, Paul Cornell, Martin Sketchley, Juliet E. McKenna, Jaine Fenn, Kari Sperring, Dave Langford, Suzanne McLeod...

 

[Ian Whates]

Anyway, I haven't quite worked out how to find the exact programme of events over the weekend to discover which is likely to be the better day. I appreciate things like the dealer's room will be the same, but presumably speakers and workshops will be different. Any opinions as to which is better from those who have seen the full programme?

No one's seen the full programme yet, Judge -- they're still working on it. As I'm sure you appreciate, this a mammoth undertaking -- six streams of events over four days -- and something of a moveable feast as new authors etc join up.

I was hassled for details of the book launch earlier this week, so I know they're close to finalising things. I'd imagine details will be up within the next couple of weeks.

As a general rule of thumb, though, Saturday tends to be the heart of the convention.

 

[The Judge]

Thanks for that, Ian. I thought it was me being stupid that I wasn't able to find it, especially as Tirellan knew about a writers' workshop on the Saturday. I'll check at the end of the month to see if anything's gone up.

 

[Tirellan]

Thanks for that, Ian. I thought it was me being stupid that I wasn't able to find it, especially as Tirellan knew about a writers' workshop on the Saturday. I'll check at the end of the month to see if anything's gone up.

That's because I'm part of the workshop.
Anyone want to sign up? We've got some great critiquers.

 

[J-WO]

That's because I'm part of the workshop.
Anyone want to sign up? We've got some great critiquers.

Ooh, don't mind if I do. How would one go about joining?

 

[Stephen Palmer]

As long as we can "pay on the door" it's a possible... would be nice to meet some SF folks!

 

[Tirellan]

Ooh, don't mind if I do. How would one go about joining?

1. Join the convention
2. Go here Odyssey 2010 - Guests Info and look at the section on the Writers Workshop

 

[J-WO]

1. Join the convention
2. Go here Odyssey 2010 - Guests Info and look at the section on the Writers Workshop

Have just done so. Hopefully not too late; it'd be nice to have a wee bit more context to my own personal four day odyssey. Not that necking a few, going to panels and generally meeting people won't be pleasure enough of course!

There's going to be a steampunk ball on the Sunday, I note. Don't know where to begin getting a costume together though. Perhaps I could buy a deerstalker hat and tape iPods to the ear flaps.

 

[Ursa major]

Not that necking a few [...] won't be pleasure enough of course!

They let real vampires in, not just people dressing up and wearing fake fangs?

* Adds garlic to the shopping list. *






(And "darn" would be as far as I'd've got myself. )

 

[J-WO]

They let real vampires in, not just people dressing up and wearing fake fangs?

* Adds garlic to the shopping list. *

Haven't you noticed everyone in British SFF avoids sunlight whenever they possibly can?

(And "darn" would be as far as I'd've got myself. )

C'mon, UM; sock it to us! (Oh dear... this punning business is a lot harder than it looks, isn't it?)

 

[J-WO]

Well, membership's crossed the millennial mark- 1039 so far, to be exact.

Scary stuff. About the biggest one I've ever been to had no more than 500. Scarier for my friend Matt whom I've persuaded to come along, by saying things like- 'Yeah, mate, I know you haven't been to a convention before but they're small-scale, intimate affairs. You won't feel crowded.'

Still, I think it shows British fandom is in rude--if not glorious--health.

And so many writers and industry peeps that I admire. I'll be sure not to kiss the hem of their garments or show my tattoos of their faces on mermaid bodies but its gonna take all my willpower.

(Bumping into people I've only seen on the sleeves of books is always a strange experience. It makes me feel like I'm walking around in an episode of Curb your Enthusiasm, except with a genre-twist instead of Hollywood celebrities popping up. Just hope I don't make a total Larry David of myself.)

Oh dear, this seems to be turning into a blog entry. Still; 1000+! Woot! Woot!

 

[Tirellan]

Still time to sign up for the writers workshop