worldcon & wotf

[adelaidesean]

August is going to be a busy kind of fun. Or a fun kind of busy. I can't decide which, or if there's even a difference.

First up is the 22nd Annual Writers of the Future Awards, which will be held with all due ceremony this year at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. I'm very excited to be involved in the WOTF, having won it way back in 1992 and returning lately as the only Australian judge in a truly stellar line-up. (Our very own Cat Sparks was another recent winner.) The night is spectacular, and the days leading up to it confirm everything I've learned since my early days of a writer: that you never stop learning. I return wiser from every year's celebration.

This year, though, I won't be returning straight away. Worldcon is just around the corner, practically, so it's off to Anaheim straight afterwards and my first World SF Convention outside Australia. I'm pleased to be on the program, so it won't be all pink drinks and schmoozing. See my schedule below. I'll also be catching Gary Numan live in concert (as noted earlier) and trying to keep The Dust Devils on schedule.

Afterwards, it's off to New York for a few days, then home to promote The Devoured Earth, since it'll be on the bookshelves around then. But that's a whole other month, and I've yet to get my head entirely around this one yet...

Worldcon schedule:
Wed 3:00 - Kaffeklatsch
Wed 4:00 - Fantasy Doesn't Have To Be About Kings And Wizards
Thu 4:00 - Changing Human Nature
Fri 2.30 - Pyr: A Look Forward
Fri 5:00 - Autographing
Sat 1:00 - Reading (expect something saucy)

PS. New security restrictions are making me a tad grumpy about the flight across the Pacific but I see no likelihood of changing my plans at the moment. I'll update here as required.

Comments

[deborahkalin.livejournal.com]

Now that's just freaky. I make plans to visit Melbourne in August, and Tess skives off outta the country. And guess where else I'll be in August? That's right, Adelaide. A girl could get paranoid you know *twitch*

Have fun at worldcon and wotf!

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

No way! Well, that gives me extra incentive to stay here if they won't let me take my laptop on the plane. :-)

Or you could just come to LA and be done with it. That's obviously where the Fates are pointing you.

[deborahkalin.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't tempt me! I've never been to the States, and I reallyreally wanna. One day, I suppose. I'll let you know when I do get in to Adelaide, although I doubt it will be before you leave. You'll just have to schmooze it up for me as well :)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Consider it done. I'll ask for one extra pink drink for you with every order, and blame you the next day for the hangover. :-)

[chrisbarnes.livejournal.com]

Sat 1:00 - Reading (expect something saucy)

Are you going to treat the crowd to a dose of Simono the Saucy Pirate? :)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Not *that* saucy. Probably. :-)

[(Anonymous)]

Chris beat me to it.

You should, she says wryly. Had all of us at Brisbane hot and heavy. :-D

Heather

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure America is ready for Simono. (I picture him swinging in on a chandelier, only to be stopped by border guards and strip-searched.)

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy am I grumpy about the prospect of a transpacific flight without laptop or a decent book or 4.

Lee Battersbys another previous WOTF winner.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy am I grumpy about the prospect of a transpacific flight without laptop or a decent book or 4.

Tell me about it. I will feel no safer for it, just a whole lot more uncomfortable. And smellier, given the lack of mouthwash, deodorant, etc.

Lee Battersbys another previous WOTF winner.

He is indeed, and we have another Australian aboard this year. There are quite a few now, hence my restricting the list to just one. I had such fun with Cat last year that it's still fresh in my mind. The pirate photo was taken on my last day in San Diego, while sipping wine with Charles Brown and Cat, among others... Ah, memories.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Security theatre. Though at the moment its apparently only UK->USA flights that have the full lot of restrictions, the rest of us will at least be allowed to read our books.

But who knows.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Security theatre.

Brilliant, Dave. That's the perfect term for it. Thanks, and fingers crossed the madness doesn't spread.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I got it from security guru Bruce Schneir, whose writings on the subject of security are excellent.

[jonathanstrahan.livejournal.com]

Near as I can tell, travelling from Australia to the US we only have to worry about the liquids etc thing in the cabin. That means the only real differences will be (a) a delay at check-in as everyone gets scanned; (b) no drink of your own on the plane (though I wonder if you could bring an *empty* drink bottle); and (c) no access to toiletries etc during the flight. That's more irritating than anything else. We *should*, at this stage, still have our books, laptops, ipods etc etc, which is a relief. I did just see one thing which will have airport booksellers smiling. At least in the UK, you can't take a book onboard a plane with you, unless you buy it at an airport bookstore.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

The situation is completely fucking bonkers. If there's a genuine reason for such severe measures, they shouldn't let planes fly at all. If there's no real reason, why the severe measures? I just can't see how banning paper and pencils from aeroplane cabins will make anyone safer.

Furthermore, the authorities have known about liquid explosives for years. Presumably there are other threats they also know about that they won't take measures against until some terrorist organisation demonstrates their willingness to use them (as in this case). Shouldn't the airlines be taking precautions against these other methods now rather than waiting for security forces on the ground to find these malefactors first? The airlines won't, of course, because the only way to be certain would be to strip and cavity search everyone wanting to board a plane--and no one would fly under those circumstances. So these other methods won't be screened for and passengers won't be any safer than we were before. Gah.

The only upside I can see is that, as as result of these new draconian measures, there might be less people on planes, less flights, and therefore less damage to the upper atmosphere from stratospheric wakes. That's another silver lining.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

So, as long as we want to read King, Crichton or Dan Brown, we'll be fine :-)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Maybe Oprah's behind it. :-)

New In-Security

[(Anonymous)]

These new security restrictions are outrages. I am horrified at the notion of taking a transatlantic flight sans book or laptop. I am wondering, if this is permanent, if it will force the bookstores inside airport terminals to increase the range of their stock, however.