Anyone here going to WorldCon 2005?

[I, Brian]

Just a general enquiry - how many of the members here are planning to go to WorldCon in Glasgow this year?

So far I know Mark Urpen and myself are planning to go - anyone else?? Anyone like to go, can get accomodation, but worried about ticket prices?

[Tsujigiri]

It sounds interesting, do you have a link?

[Amber]

I'd like to go, and I have a few Scottish relatives with whom no doubt I could stay a couple of days... though the ticket price is prohibitive

[Winters_Sorrow]

I wouldn't mind going but the cliched image of my mind of 'convention people' puts me off (as does the price )

[Raven]

I'm going. It's my first con, but I am not too worried about the cliched 'con people' - they'll certainly be there, but so will lots of other people.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by Tsujigiri

It sounds interesting, do you have a link?

Here you go - it's effectively the year's major sff event:
http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/

For a list of "names" attending (generally authors), see this:
http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/proglist.htm

[dwndrgn]

Brian, do you have a digital camera? If not, beg, borrow or steal one because I would really like to see what a large convention like that is all about. Of course a picture won't capture the actual sense of being there but it's all I'll get since I'm effectively on the moon when it comes to getting to Glasgow.

Have a great time and please take pictures! I know you'll be busy part of the time but I'm sure you'll take some 'sightseeing' time too. Share!

[littlemissattitude]

Well, dwndrgn, it's in Anaheim next year. That's a little closer. I'm planning on going to that one. Unfortunately though, Brian, dwndrgn's comment about the moon and Glasgow apply to me as well, although I really wish I could be there.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Glasgow's too far away for me, too.

However, for those of us in the US and Canada (and particularly for those who live on the West Coast) perhaps the 2005 NASFIC in Seattle is slightly more feasible.

(That would be the North American Science Fiction Convention, a sort of consolation prize they hold whenever the WorldCon goes abroad.)

[Esioul]

I will actually be in Scotland at about that time, however the tickets are rather expensive and I'm saving for university.

[Raven]

Esioul: as noted on other threads, day passes are available for signings, panels, etc: and (more importantly) most of the parties will not require membership to get into, since they take place 'off-site'.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

Brian, do you have a digital camera? If not, beg, borrow or steal one because I would really like to see what a large convention like that is all about. Of course a picture won't capture the actual sense of being there but it's all I'll get since I'm effectively on the moon when it comes to getting to Glasgow.

I'm intending to show face so I'll try and remember to take my camera with me. I'm no expert but I'm sure I could provide a few snaps for you.

[Kevin Standlee]

Originally Posted by Raven

... most of the parties will not require membership to get into, since they take place 'off-site'.

Not wanting to be a party-pooper (literally), but most of the larger Interaction parties (such as the bid parties) will actually take place in convention-managed function space in the Hilton hotel. As that is convention-run space, not private hotel rooms, a membership is required for admittance. Even though the Hilton is not part of the SECC complex, it is not "off-site" for convention purposes.

This year's Westercon in Calgary will have something similar, as there is a row of function rooms on the hotel's second floor that are used for small panel discussions during the day but are available for parties at night. Those being convention function rooms, only convention members are allowed entry.

I had a similar experience recently at BayCon in San Jose, California. Although the "party floor" at BayCon contains private hotel rooms, including the one I rented, the convention (with the agreement of the hotel) limits access to the party during "party hours" to those people with membership badges or hotel room keys. (The latter being most important as while I was getting ready for the party that was going to be in my room that night, I ran down to get something out of my van and left my membership badge in my room. By the time I came back, ops was enforcing the access rule, so I had to produce my room key to get onto the party floor.

[Gary Wassner]

I will be there. I am planning to get together with a number of other authors from that side of the ocean and the West Coast of the US, with whom I have corresponded for years now, but some of whom I have never met. So for that reason alone, I am very glad to be going. I know there are a number of SFFWORLDers who will be attending as well. I am a moderator and I have an author's forum of my own there, so we've discussed the Con a number of times. It should be excellent.

It's a long trip from NYC, and I had contacted the Con committee early on about some level of particiaption on my part, but I have not yet heard anything other than some disclaimers about space and time constrictions, though DreamHaven Books will be selling my series during the convention. I am still patiently waiting to hear about a reading or panel.

[Kevin Standlee]

Originally Posted by Cairn

I had contacted the Con committee early on about some level of particiaption on my part, but I have not yet heard anything other than some disclaimers about space and time constrictions, though DreamHaven Books will be selling my series during the convention. I am still patiently waiting to hear about a reading or panel.

Hm, who did you contact? The Programming division contact address is programme@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.