Worldcon for Beginners

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Mike Resnick posted this on his site this week. I found it extremely informative, though I'm still filled with nervous excitement about going.

http://mikeresnick.com/?p=1217

[katsincommand]

that was an awesome post!

I will however feel much better once I have the schedule in hand. I need to work out a plan, even if it's going to change. Hmm. Kind of feels like writing/outlining. Hee.

We'll have to compare notes and identify a time/place where we can have a meet-up...

[ThomasKCarpenter]

that was an awesome post!

I will however feel much better once I have the schedule in hand. I need to work out a plan, even if it's going to change. Hmm. Kind of feels like writing/outlining. Hee.

We'll have to compare notes and identify a time/place where we can have a meet-up...

Yes. :)

The post was informative but overwhelming, in a good way. Ditto to outlining. I'll have the map and schedule memorized by the time I get there (not really). ;p

[AMcCarter]

Interesting he listed a Kaffeeklatsch with KJA considering he's going to be at Dragon Con this year.

[Rebecca Birch]

Wow. That is overwhelming indeed, but makes me highly envious of everyone who is going.

I hope that the Spokane bid for a few years down the road wins. Then I might actually be able to get there!

[dantzel]

Mike Resnick is awesome. Holy crap. It's posts like this that show how some people really do things JUST to help other people, not because it will benefit them in any way. None of this was for Mike's benefit - he spent however long it took to type all this up to help poor fools like me.

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Interesting he listed a Kaffeeklatsch with KJA considering he's going to be at Dragon Con this year.

I think he was listing an old one to show an example.

[AMcCarter]

Interesting he listed a Kaffeeklatsch with KJA considering he's going to be at Dragon Con this year.

I think he was listing an old one to show an example.

I think you're right.

[Mike Resnick]

It's clearly stated that the sample of programming listed was from Chicon 6 in 2000.

[Mike Resnick]

Not only is Kevin, who was autographing, at DragonCon this year -- but there's very little likellihood that Hal Clement or Charlile Brown, both listed in the program excerpt, will show up this year either. :-)

[Strycher]

Not only is Kevin, who was autographing, at DragonCon this year -- but there's very little likellihood that Hal Clement or Charlile Brown, both listed in the program excerpt, will show up this year either. :-)

Bah! You and your logic!

(Thanks, by the way.)

[AMcCarter]

It's clearly stated that the sample of programming listed was from Chicon 6 in 2000.

Apologies, Mike. It's been a long, exhausting week.

[E.CaimanSands]

I'm green with envy at anyone going. Greener than usual, that is.

A couple of years ago I watched the Hugo awards by live streaming. That was huge fun. It was the year China Mieville and Paolo Bacigalupi tied for best novel. At that point Neil Gaiman dropped into the chat channel and suggested they wrestle naked for it. Or something...

So, my question... Anyone know if any live streaming is planned for this year?

[Rebecca Birch]

Not sure, but I watched it by live stream last year and that was great. I certainly hope they do it again.

[E.CaimanSands]

I couldn't see anything on the website about it.

[Isto]

For those hoping to stay at the Hyatt where the convention is being held (there are two Hyatts with no shuttle bus between them), the entire hotel is out of REGULAR rooms. We were able to get one of the high-end rooms in the convention block ($ 220... breakfast and snacks included) and they still had room at $180 without food. Not bad prices considering the location and the holiday weekend. Those were in the non-party areas. Can't speak for the party rooms.

[Mike Resnick]

Re: the Hyatt. There are always last-minute cancellations. I'd suggest you make your
reservation at the overflow hotel (the SwissHotel) or another nearby one, then query the
Hyatt daily starting abuut 10 days before the con.

Re: streaming video. They haven't announced it yet, but I can't imaginie they won't have
it. Not only did they have it last year, not only will Worldcon and Dragoncon be Skyping back
and forth all weekend, but Chicon announced the Hugo nominees n streaming video. How
could they do that and not stream the Hugos?

-- Mike"

[E.CaimanSands]

Re: streaming video. They haven't announced it yet, but I can't imaginie they won't have
it. Not only did they have it last year, not only will Worldcon and Dragoncon be Skyping back
and forth all weekend, but Chicon announced the Hugo nominees n streaming video. How
could they do that and not stream the Hugos?

-- Mike"

Thanks, Mike. Yes, it certainly sounds like it'll happen, I'll just have to keep an eye on the website for announcements.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

I can't afford WorldCon.

If I had won Q1, I could afford it. But I didn't.

If I sold my story to Analog, I could afford it. But not yet.

WorldCon is in my backyard this year.

Brad's getting a Hugo this year.

A bunch of you folks will be there this year.

Screw it! I'm goin' to Freakin' WorldCon this year!

If any of you would like to share the Hudson Hawk Memorial Suite with Evil Martin, PM me.

[dantzel]

Yay Martin!! See you there!

[katsincommand]

Suite? You're going in style! :)

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Suite? You're going in style! :)

The suite depends on having partners to share the cost. If I get no takers, we'll be watching Hudson Hawk in a tiny room in the overflow hotel.

[katsincommand]

Suite? You're going in style! :)

The suite depends on having partners to share the cost. If I get no takers, we'll be watching Hudson Hawk in a tiny room in the overflow hotel.

You'll find someone, I'm sure. There are enough people going to this thing.

[E.CaimanSands]

Suite? You're going in style! :)

The suite depends on having partners to share the cost. If I get no takers, we'll be watching Hudson Hawk in a tiny room in the overflow hotel.

You'll find someone, I'm sure. There are enough people going to this thing.

The question is, is anyone brave enough to want to share with Evil Martin? Nice Martin might be okay, but Evil Martin...

Maybe it's a good job I'm not going. I'd never find anyone to share a room with the Gator.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

I won't say this Hugo judging packet is worth the cost of admission by itself, but... Boy, it's a pretty good start!

We are delighted that this year's Hugo packet includes works from almost every award nominee, including all nominated works in the written fiction categories.

[Mike Resnick]

Martin> You can't imagine how difficult it was to get your hands on even half the nominees before
the electric agent and the voter's packets.

Back in the Jurassic, when Carol and I started going, the program book was the size of a thin trade paperback, and the entire program listing took about 3 pages.

Today it's 8 1/2 x 11, usually well over 200 pages, and the pocket program, published separately, is
about the size of a complete program book from the 1960s.

We no longer have a Hugo banquet. Had it every year through 1974, but we just got too damned big.
It used to be that the Guest of Honor gave his speech after the banquet and before they presented
the Hugos, thereby guaranteeing that he had an audience. I'll probably give mine to an empty room. :-)

Worldcon began all-night movies in 1969, -not- to accommodate the fans, but because so many of them
arrived without room reservations (or money to pay for a room) and crashed in the lobby, and the hotels
began objecting. The movies -- this was back in the days when the only sf films you didn't snicker or
guffaw at were by Stanley Kubrick -- weren't there to please the fans, but to give the impoverished ones
a place to sleep without getting thrown out. As movies got, if not better, at least more popular -- I think
sf and fantasy films come to 15 of the top 20 money-earners of all time -- the nature and purpose of
the film program changed.

-- Mike

[vanaaron]

I'll probably give mine to an empty room. :-)

Fat chance! I'm figuring on arriving early, to have any hope of getting a seat.

By the way, Mike, "The Homecoming" is terrific. It reminds me of "One Perfect Morning, with Jackals," one of my all-time favorites. You're in a tough category--the Nancy Fulda and Ken Liu stories are excellent, and John Scalzi has a big following--but good luck!

[Mike Resnick]

Thanks for the kind words; glad you liked the story. I never worry about the competition. When I was starting out I beat David Brin for one Hugo, and Harlan Ellison and Ursula Le Guin for another. And as an established writer, I've lost Hugos to people I've never heard of. It evens out. :-)

Mike

[Mike Resnick]

I see Chicon 7 is up around 5200 members. Should be pushing 5600 or so by the time it starts. They tell me that
the schedule will be posted on the web page early next week. The committee has not only rented out the Adler
Planetariun for Thursday night, but they've also bought 75 seats to a Cubs game, which they'll distribute among interested members. (As a kid who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, I of course abominate the Cubs, but it's a thoughtful gesture anyway.) :-)

Mike

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

I see Chicon 7 is up around 5200 members. Should be pushing 5600 or so by the time it starts. They tell me that
the schedule will be posted on the web page early next week. The committee has not only rented out the Adler
Planetariun for Thursday night, but they've also bought 75 seats to a Cubs game, which they'll distribute among interested members. (As a kid who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, I of course abominate the Cubs, but it's a thoughtful gesture anyway.) :-)

Mike

Oh, man... I'm not sure I can get Friday off. The Planetarium with the SF crowd would be incredible!