World Fantasy Convention 2009
Oct. 31st, 2009 02:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
furtechI needed to make a trip up to SJ to take care of some business and Gordon suggested this weekend: he had an extra membership to the World Fantasy Con. WFC is not like your typical sf convention: it's very sercon (serious and constructive). More like a writer's convention than a fan-con: there is a small art show, no masquerade (or anyone in costume for that matter) and the dealer's room is about 80% books. The con is almost all about panels and discussions.
A cool effect of the literate crowd is that the conversations are almost always intriguing: in the bar/lounge last night Gordon spotted (in various small groups) Greg Bear, Peter Straub, Richard Lupoff, Elizabeth A. Lynn among many others. Here's a complete guest list (fan and pro) Regardless of the individuals, you could just sit and hear conversations all over the lounge that were interesting. I'd forgotten about this phenomena: intriguing conversations are not what anime/furry/comic conventions are about. Fourth Street Fantasy Faire is another con like this: fascinating. I've also heard good things about Foolscap, in Washington.
Last night's event was the mass autographing session: a two hour session in the main ballroom where all the authors sit and autograph and chat with people. The authors there that I'm a fan of included Jane Lindskold and Stephen R. Donaldson, in addition to a number of old friends I hadn't seen in years.
The fans and authors (there's a lot of overlap) blended well with the elegance of the Fairmont: most were well-dressed and seemed to enjoy the elegance of the lush furnishings. I am both curious, yet dreading what kind of atmosphere a furry con here will result in.
Apache is off getting a tracking intensive from my sister and R0ndo is enjoying being an only dog again (or...IS he?).
A cool effect of the literate crowd is that the conversations are almost always intriguing: in the bar/lounge last night Gordon spotted (in various small groups) Greg Bear, Peter Straub, Richard Lupoff, Elizabeth A. Lynn among many others. Here's a complete guest list (fan and pro) Regardless of the individuals, you could just sit and hear conversations all over the lounge that were interesting. I'd forgotten about this phenomena: intriguing conversations are not what anime/furry/comic conventions are about. Fourth Street Fantasy Faire is another con like this: fascinating. I've also heard good things about Foolscap, in Washington.
Last night's event was the mass autographing session: a two hour session in the main ballroom where all the authors sit and autograph and chat with people. The authors there that I'm a fan of included Jane Lindskold and Stephen R. Donaldson, in addition to a number of old friends I hadn't seen in years.
The fans and authors (there's a lot of overlap) blended well with the elegance of the Fairmont: most were well-dressed and seemed to enjoy the elegance of the lush furnishings. I am both curious, yet dreading what kind of atmosphere a furry con here will result in.
Apache is off getting a tracking intensive from my sister and R0ndo is enjoying being an only dog again (or...IS he?).
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Date: 2009-11-01 09:11 pm (UTC)I've purchased several books that you may be interested in:
Jane Lindskold's Thirteen Orphans (http://www.amazon.com/Thirteen-Orphans-Jane-Lindskold/dp/076535621X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257108844&sr=8-1): you'll like this one-- it's about the animals of the Chinese zodiac, plus a cat.
An incredible anthology of Jame Tiptree, Jr.'s work titled Her Smoke Rose Up Forever (http://www.amazon.com/Her-Smoke-Rose-Up-Forever/dp/1892391201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257108943&sr=1-1). I love her work and I think you'd enjoy it, too.
Dog Days by John Levitt (http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Days-Ace-Fantasy-Book/dp/0441015530/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257109319&sr=1-3) is about an ex-magical enforcer and his ifrit/dog.
Peter S. Beagle's Tamsin (http://www.amazon.com/Tamsin-Peter-S-Beagle/dp/0142401544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257109402&sr=1-1)
Monster Hunter International, (http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Larry-Correia/dp/1439132852/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257109740&sr=1-1) which may be all right (but I love monster hunter stories).
Patricia Briggs' On the Prowl (http://www.amazon.com/Prowl-Patricia-Briggs/dp/0425216594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257109543&sr=1-1) and the second novel that came after, Hunting Ground (http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Ground-Alpha-Omega-Book/dp/044101738X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257109609&sr=1-1) (I need to track down the first book, "Cry Wolf").