Links and stuff from panels at cons

For anyone else who can never remember the exact address of "that cool url they were talking about in that awesome panel", here is a collection of stuff I thought people might like to know, gathered at some of the local science fiction conventions.

The Panels

I like to get my ideas down on paper before I run a panel (and also have a mania for writing lists), and that's all most of these are. So don't expect a high quality of writing :)

The Conventions

Adapted from a rant about all the local conventions I sent to the unisfa list a while ago. This Guide to swancon has some pretty good fairly generally applicable info too.

Ghengiscon (January) : (I've only been once) Laid back and cheap, a fair amount of gaming and smaller amount of panels as well as a video stream. The cheap accommodation and membership means it's well suited to students and first time con-goers. You kind of have to make your own fun but there is fun to be had.

Swancon (April) : a huge rambling 5-day affair with hundreds of people, multiple streams of panels on every imaginable subject whether it be movies, tv, books, writing, or just random things people want to discuss or give a presentation on. Has international writers and other interesting people as guests. There's an art show, short story and fanvid competitions, gaming room(s), video stream with a mix of new stuff and obscure classics as well as fanvids, not to mention the room parties. There are frequently unofficial mini-cons held in side rooms, ie this year there was the traditional Gynaecon on feminist/womans stuff and the (I think) new Slashcon on slash which was apparently heaps of fun. It should be compulsory for any would be writers, there are editors (many ex unisfan), publishers (big and small), writers panels, etc Can be a bit intimidating for new people if they don't know anyone (and you should know some ie me, Maelkann, Liz&Alex *tries to calculate intersection of unisfa room and swancon types*) but people welcome newbies once they notice them, and day memberships give a nice taste. Sharing a room with a friend really adds to the experience, but commuting is cheaper :) (And yes, this is by far my favourite, I love Swancon more than chocolate.)

Once(ish)-off themed cons (Octoberish) http://www.nightsedge.blogspot.com/, http://fandomedia.org/: There have been a couple of these, I've only been to Fandomedia:Hunger, next November there's a cyberpunk con called "Nights Edge". Fandomedia was, as I said, like a smaller Swancon, but I don't know what the other Fandomedia was like, nor Borderlands or this upcoming con. Afaict everyone (including the guests) at Fandomedia was either a Swanconner or from the interstate con scene, but I'm sure people wouldn't exclude new people especially if they share a common obsession.

Waicon (January) : Anime con. I've only been once and got sick after the first day, but it was a lot of fun. Smallish rather informal panels. Lots of stalls (professional and amateur) with everything from cheap manga to pocky to hand knitted onigiri. HUGE cosplay competition which is lots of fun to watch (and from the sounds of things, be in)

Femmeconne September: Women and children only sff con. Haven't been to this yet. The participants all seemed pretty happy about it though.

I've missed a little one day writers con there was earlier this year since I didn't go and know nothing about it, as well as club camps like Terracon since while they're attended by fans they're not all that science fictiony. (Still heaps of fun, mind you)

So why go to a con? Well, you know when those rare times where you go to a party, or hang out in unisfa, and you have one of those amazing conversations on some fascinating topic, where you really engage with everyone else, explore your ideas and learn more about the world? Cons are like that. And you get to go to panels and meet people with exactly the same obsessions as you, whether it be furry art, Edgar Allen Poe or american breakfast cereals (mm...free food). You get to meet really interesting people, especially the authors (whether you've read their stuff or not) and have a wide range of fantastic experiences.

And (speaking from experience) as you get older you'll find the uni side of unisfa less and less engaging, and cons are one of the few ways to stay connected with the fannish community and express yourself as a fan.

So, check them out and have a think about going. Maybe organise a room at one with with some friends or try out a day membership. Just..come! They're great!