Ten years ago, when those of us in the science fiction field were wandering Glasgow for the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention, Instagram hadn’t yet launched, and wouldn’t until 2010. But that doesn’t mean we can’t see what we would have looked like had Instagram been around in 2005.

With the next Worldcon about to begin in Spokane, check out who were were a decade ago, Instagram-style.

George R. R. Martin, Anne Groell, and David Keck

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When I shared my tentative Worldcon schedule a few weeks ago, I left out some of the specifics because rooms, dates, times, and even my the identities of my co-conspirators for each panel were open to change.

But now that Sasquan has released its final schedule, I figure I’m safe. So here are the definitive places to find me when I’m not otherwise wandering and schmoozing (more…)

Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, begins four weeks from Wednesday, and if you’ll be there, too, and would like to track me down, here’s a tentative list of programming items on which you’ll be able to find me.

As the schedule isn’t 100% finalized yet, I’ve left off the names of the possible co-conspirators who’ll be joining me at each event. But if you’re hoping to see me in Spokane, pencil these in and check back later for the full details. (more…)

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?