The Alien Next Door

Vcon (Vancouver’s SF and F Convention) was a resounding success…for me as well. I wasn’t on any panels. Nor did I do a reading of my upcoming novel, Darwin’s Paradox…voice artist, Heather Dugan does a much better job, anyway! But that freed me up for…you guessed it! MORE BAR TIME! Yee! Ha! Beside me, is yours truly and Boba Fett as we are about to sidle over to the bar for a couple of Canadian brewskys. Being around Boba has its advantages. As you know, this guy gets around in the galaxy.

Within moments of getting our drinks, Boba introduced me to none other than Flash Gordon (Eric Johnson), who is even more gorgeous in person. And to Boba’s left (your right) is the graceful Dale Arden (Gina Holden) who no doubt keeps Flash’s heart nicely beating…

The con, of course, had its requisite activities such as filking, live theatre, masquerade, aliens and crazy people running down the halls (oh, that was Boba and I…never mind). Oh, yeah…and panels (like the one on medieval swordfighting) and readings and the hot tub on the 15th floor…The con’s program, which showcased a lovely ad of my book on the back cover, posted these wise words of advice (by Ross Pavlac), which most aptly sum up what a con is all about:

The Four Rules of Con Behaviour:

1. do good
2. avoid evil
3. throw a room party
4. please don’t damage the hotel

The Four Rules of Con Survival:

1. get at least five hours of sleep each night
2. eat at least two meals a day
3. do not confuse rules 1 and 2
4. shower, brush teeth and change into clean clothes at least once a day.

I met a lot of new people at the con and was delighted to see many old friends. Friends like:

• Rhea Rose, award-winning poet and short story writer
• Robert J. Sawyer, Nebula and Hugo award-winning author of Rollback
• Bruce Taylor, author of Edward: Dancing on the Edge of Infinity
• Karl Johanson, editor and this year’s Aurora award-winner for Neo-Opsis Science Fiction Magazine
• Stephanie Johanson, assistant editor of Neo-Opsis and extra-ordinary artist of many media
• Paula Johanson, writer and editor
• Nathalie Mallet, author of The Princes of the Golden Cage
• Lynda Williams, creator of the incredible Okal Rel Universe and series and recent nominee for an Aurora award for her book, Righteous Anger
• Linda Demeulemeester, author of the YA novel, The Secret of Grim Hill
• Mary Choo, poet and writer
• Rebecca Bradley, author (Lady in Gil) and anthropologist
• Dave Duncan, fantasy author and recipient of this year’s Aurora Award for best long-form
• Eileen Kernaghan, poet and Fantasy writer, including The Alchemist’s Daughter
• Donna McMahon, author of Dance of Knives
• Virginia O’Dine, author and editor of Bundoran Press
• Jean-Louis Trudel, author and recent recipient of an Aurora Award
• Alison Sinclair, author and historian, co-author of Throne Price
• Craig Bowlsby, actor, writer and creator of the hilarious TV series, “The Commander’s Log“
• Brian Hades and his team at Hades Publications (Edge Publications, Dragon Moon Press, Tesseracts)
• Matt Hughes, accomplished short story and novel writer and Guest of Honor at Canvention (part of Vcon to present the Aurora Award, Canada’s award for excellence in the SF and F)

Here’s the announcement list of this year’s Aurora Awards winners:
Best Long-Form Work in English:* Children of Chaos, Dave Duncan (Tor Books)
Best Long-Form Work in French:* Reine de Memoire 4. La Princesse de Vengeance,Elisabeth Vonarburg (Alire)
Best Short-Form Work in English:* “Biding Time,” Robert J. Sawyer (Slipstreams edited by Martin H. Greenberg and John Helfers, DAW [and also in The Penguin Book of Crime Stories, edited by Peter Robinson])
Best Short-Form Work in French:* “Le regard du trilobite,” Mario Tessier (Solaris 159)
Best Work in English (Other):* Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Karl Johanson, editor
Best Work in French (Other):* Aux origines des petits hommes verts, Jean-Louis Trudel (Solaris 160)
Artistic Achievement :* Martin Springett (MartinSpringett.com)
Fan Achievement (Publication):* Brins d’Iterniti, rid. Guillaume Voisine(alegracia.com/brins/faq/faq.php)
Fan Achievement (Organizational):* Cathy Palmer-Lister (Con*Cept)
Fan Achievement (Other):* Fractale-Framboise, Eric Gauthier, Christian Sauve, Laurine Spehner (blogue/blog)

Next Year’s CanVention will be: KeyCon 25 in Winnipeg, a four-day con over the 2008 Victoria Day weekend.