So LonCon3 was pretty awesome. I haven’t had a chance to write about it yet since I had to rush off to another con, but I’ll try to dredge up some memories now.
The venue (the ExCel center in the Docklands of London) might well have been called Spaceball One for how long it took to walk from one end to the other. I got to do this several times, since my hotel was on the opposite end from the one which hosted the events of LonCon3.
The programming, through intimidating in size, seemed to be of pretty good quality. Even the less glamorous panels (such as the FanFiction 101 panel which had been scheduled against George RR Martin and Connie Willis) were reasonably well-attended and had interesting panelists and competent moderators. The fan village was great, and the exhibit hall was fascinating. I particularly liked the Tiki Dalek and the Diana Wynne Jones bench.
I’d like to give props to the Art Show directors, Colin Harris and Serena Culfeather, who did so much to promote the show and its artists, and who, along with Sara Felix, put together a lovely Artist Showcase book. I gave one of my complimentary copies to my Wonderful Mother, while I took the other around getting as many of the attending artists to sign it as I could. This led to me getting acquainted with Anne Sudworth, SoMK, and (surprisingly) GoH Chris Foss himself.
I also got a chance to visit with John Picacio and his lovely assistant Tara. John and I originally met at WFC 2009, when the art show directors, in their infinite wisdom, chose to put our panels side-by-side. An intimidating prospect for any artist, but 2009 was my first time in an art show—ever. John was exceptionally kind, however, and has become a major influence and inspiration on and for my own work. I have written effusively about him before, and can only reiterate my recommendation that everyone go look at his site and subscribe to the Lone-Boy mailing list.
I had a really great time participating in the Diversity in Comics panel—so great, in fact, that I fear I talked a little too much. But I got to catch up with some of the attendees afterwards and we had fun conversations. I want to thank my fellow panelists, Jenni Hill, Dev Agarwal, Michael R Underwood and Kurt Erichsen—I wish I’d had more time to chat with all of you. Also thanks to our brave moderator, Megan Waples.
In a strange mix of genres and personas, on Saturday I also took part in a Meet the Furries panel, where I demonstrated fursuiting and later took Tachyon out around the fan village. A harrowing experience, since practically nobody at LonCon3 had any idea how to treat a fursuiter, but the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. It was wonderful playing with the ambient kids and posing with the model TARDISes they had set up. Big thanks to my Wonderful Mother and Awesome Aunt and to Mikepaws, for saving me from the more aggressive kids. Also thanks to the staffer who gave Tachyon a Hall Cosplay Award—we will cherish it always.
The highlight of the weekend was, however, the Diana Wynne Jones fan meet and greet that I hosted (with the help of WM and AA) on Sunday evening. When I realized that LonCon3 was taking place over what would have been her 80th birthday, I wrote to the organizers asking if they had any DWJ programming on the books. They had not. This was in early June. I volunteered as tribute to host such a programme, and was given the Fan Activity Tent for an hour and a half on Sunday evening as a result.
For me, the event itself was a bit of a blur: between greeting people, running the book giveaway, and drawing last-minute sketches to put in said books, I had little time for any actual visiting. However, from what people told me during and after, everyone had a great time. I must thank the WM and the Laura Cecil literary agency for sponsoring the books, and my AA for organizing the refreshments. Also thanks to Gili Bar-Hilel who helped promote the event and being awesome in general. And to Meredith MacArdle, whose contribution to the DWJ fandom is incalculable. Thanks to Shana for the brilliant Archer’s Goon-inspired ribbons, and thanks of course to everyone who came—even if we only exchanged a few words, I think of you all as my friends and comrades-in-fandom. It is my hope that we “Wynners” can continue holding such meets, if only because it’s fun to talk to other fans, but also as a way to remember DWJ and all she did for the genre. Now that she’s gone, I feel it is really up to us to make sure her work stays in print and keeps being introduced to new generations.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to email me—just put “DWJ meet” somewhere in the subject and I’ll be sure to see it. I hope to write up a more detailed report, including more photos, in the near future.
In the mean time, here’s the group photo with the bench (and a computer showing the google.co.uk doodle for August 16th) from Saturday. Thank you all!
In closing, here are some things I learned from LonCon3:
- People are generally delighted to sign things for you, be they authors or artists.
- SoMK is awesome. (John Picacio is also awesome, but I knew that already.)
- PAs are interesting people. Befriend them.
- Always be polite to staff. Always.
- Never underestimate the unbridled joy of a child confronted with what appears to be a stuffed animal come to life.
More stories from LonCon3 will no doubt trickle out of my brain as events settle, but for now I think this is enough to be going on. I have other stories to write, not to mention a report from the con that came right on the heels of LonCon3: Eurofurence in Berlin, Germany.
~G
