Posts Tagged ‘Worldcon’

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Pictures from the 2012 Chicago Worldcon: Saturday

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

Dantzel Cherry, show us your buffalo!

As long as you’re not using it to flack for another science fiction writer named Lawrence…damnit!

Part of a big crowd (along with Beth Mechem and Willie Siros) in the Tor Party:

David Brin, caught mid-laugh:

A very sleepy Lawrence Watt-Evans:

One spins, one measures, one cuts.

I attended the Worldcon SFWA Business meeting at 9 AM that morning, which included a “breakfast” of fruit and bagels. For San Antonio, may I suggest breakfast tacos?

Joe Haldeman also attended.

As did Eileen Gunn.

Gardner Dozois and Eileen.

Elizabeth Bear. If Elizabeth Bear and Greg Bear ever meet, they have the power to transform into a giant grizzly.

A crappy picture from the totally awesome “Secret History of Worldcon” panel. George R. R. Martin (who I was finally able to get my Hugo Loser ribbon from), Mike Resnick, Joe Haldeman, Robert Silverberg. Gardner Dozois, who spaced on the time, joined later. I hope someone recorded that panel. It was epic!

Paolo Bacigalupi and his crying/vomiting cat t-short.

Night Shade Press publisher and infamous clothes horse Jeremy Lassen.

And I never knew he was a Texas Longhorns fan!

John Two-Time Hugo NomineeOne-Time Hugo WINNER DeNardo of SF Signal.

Sue Burke and hubby. I wanted to get pictures to remember them by after the Iberian cannibalism breaks out.

Scott Lynch, with nifty Lovecraft & Tesla T-shirt.

Up close and personal.

James Patrick Kelly must be going.

Gardner Dozois and Amy Sisson:

Janis Ian. Yes, that Janis Ian.

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Pictures from the 2012 Chicago WorldCon: Friday

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

The obligatory Stina Leicht picture:

Stina was a John W. Campbell Award nominee this year, and she moderated a panel that included Gene Wolfe, Martha Wells, and Joan D. Vinge (below).

After the panel I had lunch with Gene Wolfe, Gary K. Wolfe (below), Gene’s daughter Teri Goulding, and Gary’s girlfriend Stacie Hanes.

Gary ordered the Frank Gehry Sandwich, impressively postmodern and completely impractical.

Alaskan David Marusek:

Laura Ann Gilman. “Smile broadly! Drink heavily!”

Bookseller and Tiger Eye Press publisher Chris Edwards:

Allen Steele.

Jim Minz and Catherine Asaro. I trust you can guess which is which.

James Patrick Kelly, John Kessel and David Marusek. “Look into my eyes!”

Toastmaster and SFWA President John Scalzi:

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Pictures from the 2012 Chicago WorldCon: Wednesday & Thursday

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

Always willing to get cheap blog fodder document science fiction history, I tried to take pictures of just about everyone I knew that I bumped into there.

Scott Bobo and Kurt Baty pretend they’ve been hard at work setting up the art show.

Elizabeth Moon, hanging out in front of the Lone Star Con 3 table.

The ubiquitous Guest of Honor Mike Resnick at one of the approximately 700 parties he attended over the week.

John Kessel looms large in science fiction.

Scott Bobo sitting in front of the portal to London that suddenly appeared behind him.

A blurry Adam Troy-Castro stands in front of an equally blurry Charles Stross. Obviously there was some sort of temporal disturbance in the dealer’s room.

Sue Burke contemplates her life after the collapse of the Spanish economy.

Noted lush Scott Bobo yet again, doing what he does best. Bobo, Kurt, Ed Scarborough and I ended up eating out together three times during Worldcon, hence extra pics of some of them. This one is from the original Morton’s.

Ed Sacrborough and Jonathan Miles. “Is that bastard taking our picture again?”

Kurt and Grady, whose skin has lightened considerably since his stint on Sanford & Son.

More pics, probably tomorrow.

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Back from the Chicago Worldcon

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Got home from the Chicago Worldcon today. Regular blogging to resume tomorrow.

On-tap: Photos. Lots and lots of photos.

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David Brin Plays the Harmonica

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

One final bit from Worldcon. Here’s an audio recording of David Brin playing “Camptown Races” on the harmonica on the shuttle bus from the 2011 Worldcon to the Reno/Tahoe Airport. (I’ve chopped off a couple of false starts on other songs before this.) There’s a little flutter toward the middle, but I think he does a pretty credible job…

Brin Harmonica

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Books I Picked Up at the Reno Worldcon

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Various issues have kept me remarkably busy the last few days, so it may take a little while to get my blogging back up to speed. In particular, I wanted to do a brief roundup of some of the books I bought at the Reno Worldcon.

This year’s Worldcon had a better dealer’s room than Denver in 2008 (the last Worldcon I went to), and there were many rare and tempting items there (including not one, but two copies of the first edition of William Timlin’s The Ship That Sailed to Mars, as well as a fine signed first edition of Alfred Bester’s Tiger Tiger listed for $2,500, and which sold for a bit less) which, alas, they wanted more for than I was willing to spend.

But here are a few items I was able to add to my collection:

  • Serviss, Garrett P. Edison’s Conquest of Mars. Carcosa House, 1947. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 copies, a Fine copy in one of only 500 (or fewer) dust jackets distributed with the book, a Near Fine example of dj with just a few traces of edgewear and slight age-darkening to the spine. The dust jacket is rarely found, and even more seldom found in such excellent condition.

    The dust jacket art itself is perhaps the finest ever drawn by an eight-year old…

  • Hubbard, L. Ron. Final Blackout. Hadley Publishing, 1948. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight age darkening to white portions of cover. I’m not a big fan of Hubbard (or his church), but this and Fear are reportedly among his best works, and I am less familiar with his output than almost any other Golden Age author. Plus it puts me closer to having a complete collection of Hadley Publishing, an important early SF specialty press.

  • Gaiman, Neil. Melinda. Hill House, 2004. First edition graphic novel, one of 1,500 signed copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Wanted this when it came out, but not enough to pay the $250 or so Hill House was asking for it, especially considering how slender it is. But the $50 I picked it up for was just right…


  • Anderson, Poul. Fire Time. Doubleday, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear. Not a difficult or valuable title, except this copy was inscribed by Anderson to Charles N. Brown, which I thought made it worth a good bit more than the $15 the Locus folks were asking for it.
  • Diaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Riverhead Books, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Been looking for a copy at various Half Price Books and not finding one, so I was happy to pick this up from Scott and Willie.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Keeper of the Secrets. Severn House, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of haze rubbing to the rear cover. First hardback edition of The Mad Goblin.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Love Song. Brandon House, 1970. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy, with slight cover wear and ownership stamps and stickers for Diana Ann Barbour. My best find at the convention wasn’t even a purchase; Barbour had specified that her library was to be given away, and when I spotted this green spine among the stacks of Philip Jose Farmer paperbacks being set out, I snagged it. (I left behind two of the Essex House paperbacks they were putting out, because it doesn’t pay to be piggish.) The only copy of the PBO online lists for $850. That’s too high, but $200-400 is probably realistic.

  • Moorcock, Michael. The Sleeping Sorceress. New English Library, 1971. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with color loss along inner flaps edges (possibly a printing flaw). First hardback edition of The Vanishing Tower.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Runestaff. White Lion, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with just a tiny bit of wear in a Fine dust jacket. First hardback edition.
  • Shute, Nevil. On the Beach. Heinemann, 1957. First edition hardback, a near Fine plus copy with dust staining to top page blocks and touches of wear to boards at heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket, with slight edgewear at head and heel and a few very short, closed tears.

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    Posted in Books, Science Fiction | 3 Comments »

    Worldcon 2011 Photos for Sunday, August 21

    Friday, August 26th, 2011

    Just a few more to round out the set.


    I’m sorry if my previous picture gave you the impression that Lauren Beukes is merely attractive rather than gorgeous.


    Newly-named 2013 Worldcon Toastmaster Paul Cornell.


    Gardner Dozois, 700-time Hugo winner and the man I made my first professional science fiction sale to, which obviously makes him an editor of superb taste…


    The newly married George R. R. Martin. I tried to get pictures of him and his bride Parris a couple of days before, but my camera battery died first.

    And that’s the last of the Worldcon photos. And Armadillocon starts, er, today…

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    Worldcon 2011 Photos for Saturday, August 20 (Part 2)

    Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

    Now that I’ve recovered a bit, here’s another set of Worldcon photos.


    You may have seen the previous photo sets, and asked “Lawrence, do you think you have enough pictures of Gail Carriger?” And the answer, of course is: No, I don’t. So here’s her Hugo-night outfit. Indeed, I was only able to capture three of the six outfits she wore there. One man can only do so much…


    Steven Gould, tipping his jaunty straw boater.


    This picture of the Klingon Party Room is one the flash just ruined, as it was actually dark with red and orange flame lighting, but at least it gives you a hint of the work that went into it.


    Scott Bobo carrying Brad Foster’s Hugo.


    A congoer dressed in a traditional Mexican vaquero outfit.


    Karen Anderson.


    Deanna Hoak and Gail Carriger flank some lucky bastard that isn’t me.

    I should have one more post of Worldcon photos, after which it will probably be time for Armadillocon photos…

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    2011 Hugo Award Winners

    Sunday, August 21st, 2011

    Hot from the Renovation home page, here’s the 2011 Hugo Award Winners:

    Best Novel (1813 ballots)
    Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra)

    Best Novella (1467 ballots)
    The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang (Subterranean)

    Best Novelette (1469 ballots)
    “The Emperor of Mars” by Allen M. Steele (Asimov’s, June 2010)

    Best Short Story (1597 ballots)
    “For Want of a Nail” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s, September 2010)

    Best Related Work (1220 ballots)
    Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O’Shea (Mad Norwegian)

    Best Graphic Story (1263 ballots)
    Girl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse, written by Phil and Kaja Foglio; art by Phil Foglio; colors by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)

    Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form (1755 ballots)
    Inception, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner)

    Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form (1466 ballots)
    Doctor Who: “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang,” written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)

    Best Editor, Short Form (983 ballots)
    Sheila Williams

    Best Editor, Long Form (898 ballots)
    Lou Anders

    Best Professional Artist (1304 ballots)
    Shaun Tan

    Best Semiprozine (1112 ballots)
    Clarkesworld, edited by Neil Clarke, Cheryl Morgan, Sean Wallace; podcast directed by Kate Baker

    Best Fanzine (870 ballots)
    The Drink Tank, edited by Christopher J Garcia and James Bacon

    Best Fan Writer (814 ballots)
    Claire Brialey

    Best Fan Artist (993 ballots)
    Brad W. Foster

    John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (1138 ballots)
    Lev Grossman

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    Worldcon 2011 Photos for Saturday, August 20

    Sunday, August 21st, 2011

    I have solved my camera battery problem. It seems my MacBook does not have enough juice to recharge the camera, even when plugged in. So it’s a good thing I brought the wall to USB charger adapter for it. Packing Heavy for the win!


    Since I had gotten the lovely Gail Carriger in red before, you know I had to get her in green. “I’m a one-woman Christmas!”


    Steve Jackson, God-Emperor of Steve Jackson Games, my old Nova Express proofreader, one of the people that helped me move endless boxes of books into my house, and an all-around cromulant guy.


    Harry Turtledove. “So Harry, how many books did you write this year?” “Just part of one.” “Just one? You? That’s unpossible! Did all your daughters graduate from college?” “Yes.”


    His Majesty’s Subject Cory Doctorow, throwing up sum mad n3rdc0rz gangster signs, yo.


    Adam-Troy Castro. In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to snap his pic during that proctology exam.


    John W. Campbell Award winning author Lev Grossman.


    Joan D. Vinge. With the light behind her, this actually came out much better than expected.


    John Picacio, who was robbed AGAIN!


    Guest of Honor Tim Powers, who was not only Steampunk before Steampunk was cool, but was Steampunk before it was even Steampunk.


    Michael Swanwick and Gordon Van Gelder.


    Lois McMaster Bujold.


    Yvonne Daily, an old friend back from the halcyon days of the Austin BBS community, where we all hung 300 baud modems from our belt, because that was the style at the time.


    Phil Brogden, ditto. This isn’t perspective, his hand really is eight time larger than a normal human’s.


    Phil & Yvonne going for the full Irish experience.

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