This year’s World Fantasy Convention starts Thursday in Crystal City, Virginia, but before it begins, why not take a look who we used to be? Instagram may not have existed a decade ago, but that didn’t stop me from taking eight photos I snapped back in 2004 and treating them as if it had.

Gordon van Gelder

Here’s Gordon grimacing. At least I thought it was a grimace. He told me he preferred to think of it as a sneer.

Jo Walton

Jo’s holding the Best Novel World Fantasy Award trophy she won for Tooth and Claw.

Brett Cox

Brett seems surprised. Or amused. Or something.

Amelia Beamer

Amelia hides behind Drew Barrymore. (Or perhaps it’s the other way around.)

Eileen Gunn

Eileen wants you to buy her (new at the time) short story collection Stable Strategies and Others. (And if you didn’t buy it then, you can buy it now.)

Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Nina shows off her coat of many colors.

Stephen Jones

Stephen had a good weekend, as the mess of Lovecrafts proves.

And for my final World Fantasy Convention 2004 flashback —

It’s me!

See you all Thursday!