EasterCon 2008

[iansales]

Originally Posted by neilwilliamson

I've always found that I've come out of an Eastercon full of enthusiasm...

That's what the bar is for :-)

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by iansales

That's what the bar is for :-)

No, bars are for making the train journey the next day a total blank. Or, as my other half said last year when he picked me up from the train station, "You look so rough, I am surprised you got on the right train."

[Figures]

OK, so it's my first Eastercon and I'll be coming in Saturday & Sunday (and possibly Friday as well). I'm going through the programme and trying to understand which panels to go to. Other than the aforementioned aspiring SF writers panel on Friday, what panels would everyone recommend?

[Tirellan]

The 16.00 Saturday panel on 'What does an editor do?' should be informative

[Ian Whates]

Yes, I'm on that panel, along with Ian Watson, Jetse from Interzone and Jo from Gollancz. Have to confess I'm looking forward to this one myself -- it'll be good to find out what it is I'm supposed to have been doing over the past couple of years.

[Montague]

So, what did everyone think?

[SJAB]

Totally shattered! I spent way too much on books, booze and food, but enjoyed every minute!

Caught up with a lot of old friends, made a few new ones, got a number of books signed, won a signed copy(all the writers included therein) of The Time Pieces Anthology edited by Ian Whates, did some productive networking, and have a daughter that has gone ga-ga as Neil Gaiman spoke for a while to her, as he was drawing a special picture for her .

[Figures]

I have to say I had an excellent time, despite being nervous about going on my own and not knowing anyone. I went on Friday, as well as the Saturday and Sunday that I'd booked, based on this thread's recommendation.

It was panel after panel after panel and only 2 out of about 30 I attended disappointed: Fantastical London which seemed about 30 minutes too long, and the Lovecraft panel which was a bit lackluster.

I found out what Editor's do and how to become a SF writer and a load of other useful stuff!

Excellent weekend

[John Jarrold]

Had a great time. 1300 attendees, the largest Eastercon ever (there were about 300 when I started in 1973) and it's already being talked about as one of the best Eastercons of recent times, with which I'd concur.

See some of you in Bradford next Easter. Tim Powers' first UK con - actually, it'll be the first time Tim and Serena have been in the UK, despite my urgings over the last decade and a half. He's a good man, wonderful writer.

[Barney]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

Had a great time. 1300 attendees, the largest Eastercon ever (there were about 300 when I started in 1973) and it's already being talked about as one of the best Eastercons of recent times, with which I'd concur.

See some of you in Bradford next Easter. Tim Powers' first UK con - actually, it'll be the first time Tim and Serena have been in the UK, despite my urgings over the last decade and a half. He's a good man, wonderful writer.

I read On Stranger Tides when I was a mere stripling and have been an avid Powers reader ever since. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to have as much presence in UK bookstores now as he did a few years ago, but (bless the internet) his books are still findable. I ordered Declare from Amazon and am just finishing it now, fantastic read.
The Anubis Gates and The Stress of Her Regard are probably my favourite Powers books.