For those who weren’t around in 1983 … a history lesson. Because, as I’ve said before, science fiction’s culture wars have been with us always.

The Sad Puppies, who have successfully campaigned their slate onto the ballot, hope they can break the Hugo Awards in order to rebuild them—a sentiment which has, I’m afraid, a bit too much of a “we had to destroy the village in order to save it” ring for my comfort. But note this isn’t the first time such a concept has been put forward.

“If you too are unhappy with the Hugo system, it’s time to do your bit,” wrote Charles Platt in his editorial to the March-May issue of The Patchin Review. He didn’t put a full slate forward back then, just a single novel, written by … well … you can see the name of the author in a box at the bottom of the front cover.

That’s right—L. Ron Hubbard, whose novel Battlefield Earth had been published in 1982. (more…)

How busy have I been for the past month? So busy I didn’t share here about my magnificent Fat Duck meal of August 13 until Friday, and I hadn’t even uploaded my Loncon3 photos to Flickr until just a short while ago.

You can check out the whole Loncon3 album here.

Don’t worry … I’ve culled out all the foodie pics and will be sharing those separately.

Now on to Spokane!

As I’ve told you before, Loncon3 was the 40th anniversary of my first Worldcon, which was Discon II. But I wasn’t alone in that—for Discon II was also the first Worldcon for F. Brett Cox.

Brett and I celebrated that anniversary with lunch at AL Masar Lebanese restaurant, after which Jeannie Beckwith commemorated the moment with a photo.

Only a single photo exists of each of us from that 1974 gathering, and I’ve cropped them together with the most recent pic to show what four decades can do to a fan.

Where did the hair time go?

Don’t forget to check back in 2054 to see what another 40 years does to the two of us!

I’m home from Worldcon … technically. Both my brain and body are still on London time, which means I’m tired when I should be awake and unable to sleep when I should be tired. But in this brief moment of lucidity, before I launch into a full Loncon3 report—as well as recaps of my meals at The Fat Duck and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal—I thought I’d share my personal highlight of the convention.

It occurred an hour or two into a party being thrown by the publishing company Gollancz. I was in a back room of the Aloft Hotel bar with Robert Reed, Ellen Datlow and others when I spotted the great Brian Aldiss standing by a pool table watching the action. And since I don’t get to see Aldiss often—in fact, the last time was likely during the 2000 Nebula Awards ceremony at which I was Toastmaster and he was named a Grand Master—I immediately left my group, because such opportunities are not to be missed.

I introduced myself and reminded him of when we’d last met. Joined by Rani Graff and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, we chatted for awhile, a discussion which eventually led to Aldiss reminiscing about the first London Worldcon, held in 1957. I pulled up a site filled with numerous photos from that event, which delighted him. Luckily, looking at all of those images of dead friends made him wistful rather than maudlin.

A wonderful moment … but not yet the most wonderful moment. (more…)

I’m at the London Worldcon right now. If you are too, then why not drop by the Exhibit Hall to see photographs and descriptions of my 10 favorite dishes?

And if you’re not at Loncon3, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. You can check it all out below.

Get ready to drool … (more…)

If Instagram had existed in 2004, back when the Worldcon took place in Boston, it would have looked a little something like this …

William Tenn and Scott Edelman

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I’ll be arriving in London a week from today to attend Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, and it occurred to me that this will be the 40th anniversary of my first Worldcon, Discon II. And since the con’s on the other side of an ocean, and some there might know me by name only, I figured I’d share a photo from that long-ago time in Washington, D.C.

Yes, that’s me on the right, taking a break from the con and sitting by the White House fence with three friends some of you may recognize.

So if you’re looking for me at the ExCel convention center, well, now you know what I look like.

I haven’t changed, have I?

Will you be in London next month for Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention? I’ll be there from Thursday, August 14 through Monday, August 18—along with (if estimates are correct) more than 10,000 others.

The programming committee has just released the final schedule, so if you’d like to track me down in that wretched hive of scum and villainy, take note of my official appearances.

Don’t Tell Me What To Think: Ambiguity in SF and Fantasy
Friday 10:00 – 11:00, Capital Suite 1 (ExCeL)
What does ambiguity (of setting, plot, identity, and so on) bring to a work of fantastic fiction? How is ambiguity created, and what effect does it have? Does it always work? Can a story be too ambiguous? The panel will discuss stories by [THIS WILL BE SHARED LATER], exploring exactly how they achieve their effects, and asking what divides a satisfyingly ambiguous story from an unsatisfying one.
with David Hebblethwaite (M), Nina Allan, and Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Stroll with the Stars
Saturday 09:00 – 10:00, Front of Aloft (ExCeL)
This will be a nice morning stroll with some of our favourite Authors, Artists and Editors. (And we stress, “stroll” – def: a leisurely walk. This will not be a heart-pounding aerobic activity, it will be a stroll). Join us for some fresh air, a healthy stroll and some good conversation. A leisurely mile – which will take a little more than a half hour but less than an hour. Strolls will leave at 9AM from in front of the Aloft Hotel, and will return by 10AM, rain or shine.
with Edward James, Robin Hobb, John Chu, Bill Fawcett, Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Jody Lynn Nye, Jeff VanderMeer, Ann Vandermeer

Old New Classics: The Off-Beat and Indie Comics of Yore
Saturday 13:30 – 15:00, Capital Suite 14 (ExCeL)
When people discuss the Golden Age and Silver Age of Comics the conversation is often dominated by the emergence of the superhero in both DC and Marvel. However, from its inception comics were always a fertile breeding ground for fun, weird, and alternative stories. What influential, under-appreciated comics from the past deserve a higher profile today? What kind of comics would people like to see more of now, that were plentiful in the past? Are we more progressive in comics today, or re-learning to embrace the medium?
with Smuzz, Allan J. Sim, Peter Sutton, Barbara G.Tarn

In Space No One Can Hear You Ink: The Best SF Comics
Sunday 12:00 – 13:30, London Suite 2 (ExCeL)
What science fiction comic book titles have expanded the genre, given us gorgeous visuals, and memorable story lines How have sf comics developed from Flash Gordon, Dan Dare, Astro Boy, through to Akira, and The Ballad of Halo Jones, and what’s currently revving everyone’s rocket ship: Saga, Ghost in the Shell, 2000AD, Lazarus, etc.
with Jon Wallace, Adrian (Ade) Brown, Phil Foglio, Anne Ghesquiere Sakuya

Literary Beer: Scott Edelman
Monday 10:00 – 11:00, The Bar (ExCeL)

And as for my unofficial appearances … just keep trolling the bar and wandering the parties, and you’re sure to find me!

I’ve already told you about my panels at Worldcon next month, but there’s one other official event where you’ll be able to find me—Stroll with the Stars.

For several years now, Stu and Stephen Segal, realizing that attending a Worldcon can be a bit too sedentary, have organized gentle morning walks to start each day off right. To encourage those who might not be that into walking, different guests participate each day as an incentive. Come for a chance to stroll beside one of your favorite writers, editors or artists, get a little exercise as a bonus!

I volunteered again this year, so you’ll be able to stroll with me if you’d like on Saturday, August 16 at 9:00 a.m.

Here’s the full schedule.

Friday, 9AM, meeting in front of Aloft
Stroll Leader — Edward James
Jeanne Gomoll, GOH
Lauren Beukes
Pat Cadigan
Paul Cornell
Andy Duncan
Ellen Datlow
Mary Anne Mohanraj

Saturday, 9AM, meeting in front of Aloft
Stroll Leader — Edward James
Robin Hobb, GOH
John Chu
Scott Edelman
Bill Fawcett
Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Jody Lynn Nye
Jeff VanderMeer
Ann VanderMeer

Sunday, 9AM, meeting in front of Aloft
Stroll Leader — Judith Clute
Cory Doctorow
Farah Mendlesohn
Joe Haldeman
Gay Haldeman
Mary Ann Mohanraj
Tricia Sullivan
Jonathan Strahan

If you’re heading to Worldcon, I hope to see you there.

It seems as if I’ve barely gotten back into the rhythm of my regular life after the one-two punch of the World Horror Convention and the Nebula Awards on consecutive weekends. But since it’s summer, there are two more cons around the corner to discombobulate and energize me—Readercon in Burlington, Massachusetts and Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, in London.

The con committees have released their tentative schedules to the program participants, which obviously will be subject to change as the final tweaks are made. But just to tease you, here—as of today—is where you’ll be able to find me during these two events. (I’m leaving out my co-panelists for now, since that’s also subject to change.)

First up—Readercon.

The Shiny, Candy-like Zombie: Commoditizing the Undead
Friday, July 12, 3:00 p.m.
On Twitter, M. John Harrison wrote about the appeal of zombies: “You can hate them without feeling wrong. You can kill them like eating sweets. Then you’re hungry again & you can kill more. They’re fully dehumanised. There’s no off-season, no moral limitation. They’re the *enemy*. What’s not to love? They’re what we really want.” So do we like zombies because they’re the consumer-friendly, ambiguity-free face of implacable evil? Are they, in fact, the most perfectly commoditised monsters?

Reading
Sunday, July 14, 9:00 a.m.
I’ll read my new story, “And, Behold, It Was Very Good”

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