Fantasycon 2006 - UK

[I, Brian]

Another UK SFF event this year - the British Fantasy Society's Fantasycon, this year in Nottingham:
http://www.fantasycon.org.uk/

Looks like a great line up with some really top level guests - Neil Gaiman, Cliver Barker, and Raymond E Feist...

I'll almost certainly turn up for one-day minimum, but will try and get in for the full event if I can.

[Mark Robson]

Oh, I'm tempted ... very tempted. Now I just have to convince my wife that she wants to spend our wedding anniversary at a Fantasy Convention!

[I, Brian]

My g/friend's birthday is the 25th, so I'm cutting it fine myself.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Strange ... I personally would be thrilled if my husband took me to a major Fantasy convention for my birthday or our anniversary.

(Especially if it meant a trip to the UK.)

[nixie]

I'm very tempted to go.Nottingham isn't that far

[Lirineth]

Hi Brian

This is my first posting in this website, which by the way so far is excellent. Anyway, where was I? Ha, yes, the Fantasycon. Well, this is the situation. I would love to go, but unfortunately I don't have someone to go with. My husband is a NO + NO + NO. So there goes plan A. As for Plan B it would involve telling some of my friends and then having to put up with the usual c-a-c-a becaus its not really their thing.

So I was thinking if you may consider organising Plan C. That is to say, we send you our particulars and preferences (privately) and you let us know if there is someone who would like to share the cost of a twin bedroom eg: female&female / male&male / similar age&similar age / whoeverwhatever&whoeverwhatever.

You see, although many of us could easily go on our own its better if you could start with a friend/partner/future friend, its kind of depresing to find yourself alone whilst sorrounded by the happy groups, and by the time you found the courage and the time to 'make new friends' the 3 days are gone. So what do you think, bad idea, regular idea, good idea?

Cheers
Lirineth

[the_faery_queen]

i just left that city!
horribvle place, really is. fantasy convention probably the best thing to ever happen to it. watch out tho, highest crime rate in uk and all that!

[I, Brian]

Hi Lirineth, and welcome to chronicles.

As for travel and everything - personally, it might be worth suggesting you simply take a day-trip on the train by yourself and meet with people there - Nottingham isn't too far from London (and closer than Scotland!) so I probably have to book a room, not out of choice.

I wouldn't worry too much about being there by yourself either - everyone's generally friendly, and so long as you try not to feel self-conscious, you'll likely find yourself chatting to some published author before you know it (whether you realise it or not!).

I've only been to a few cons so far - but I have to say the Derby event was my favourite - it was small and friendly with a good room to sit and chat with people over coffee. By all accounts, I'm hoping the Nottingham event will be similarly friendly.

Hope that helps.

[kaneda]

I'm tempted to go my self (Neil Gaiman!), but like Lirineth not sure who I could go with. Hmmm, will decide closer to the time.

Faery queen - Nottinghams a really nice city! How peoples opinions can vary eh!

[jackokent]

This is so annoying. I'd promised myself I'd go to the next one but I'm in N. Ireland that week. Typical.

I agree Nottingham is a really nice city but it can be exceedingly rough at night. Last time I was there someone attached me at a petrol station while I was walking back from a club.

[GOLLUM]

Sure you didn't mean they tried to attach you to the petrol station....

Well it's sounds pretty interesting nevertheless but being down under distance and cost is always an issue.

I have a chance to go to WorldCon Japan 2007, as they're a neighbour of ours, so maybe I'll get lucky...

[jackokent]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Sure you didn't mean they tried to attach you to the petrol station.....

Good point Not sure what they were trying to do though

[Wayne Blackhurst]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I've only been to a few cons so far - but I have to say the Derby event was my favourite - it was small and friendly with a good room to sit and chat with people over coffee. By all accounts, I'm hoping the Nottingham event will be similarly friendly.

Agree, Derby had a great intimate vibe about the place. Probably won't be going to Nottingham, mind you. Just haven't got the budget at the moment. More than likely turn up at Derby next year and Eastercon is within driving distance for me next year too, so that'll be a possible option.

[pendragonpress]

Well, I can thoroughly recommend FCon: went to my first in 2000, but I understand the feeling of reticence from the above posters - it can be over-bearing if you're on your own and don't know anyone: back then, I was starting out in publishing, with two books, and knew a couple of people but still found myself slightly out of water.

Unfortunately, in 2001 & 2002 they went to one-day affairs in London which I didn't go to (due to the expense) but from 2003 they went back to "weekenders" and I've been going since - this year promises to be the biggest yet.

I thoroughly recommend it - even if just for the Saturday, which is really the busiest day. Most people tend to spend time in the bar... or the dealers room (come and buy a book, please... )

So, if you can attend... then do so!

[I, Brian]

Hey, nice to see you survived Derby - and welcome to chronicles.

EDIT: Whoops, said Notts instead of Derby.