Sunday, November 29, 2009

Resistance is Futile

Spent most of yesterday at Orycon, the local science fiction convention. Up to the 31st edition, and I've been to them all, save one -- we were living in Washington state that year and got snowed in. But I was at the first SF Symposium, before Orycon, so I'm batting .968 ...

Those of you who have been to a science fiction con, no explanation of what goes on is needed; for those of you who haven't been, no explanation is possible ...

Well, okay, I suppose it is possible. Basically, a bunch of folks connected to science fiction and fantasy get together for however long and attend panels, upon which sit various luminaries in the field. There are readings by authors, autographings, costume competitions, filksinging (fannish folksinging, as it were), parties, and a chance to escape from the mundane world for little while.

I generally wind up on the martial arts-guns-how-to-write panels, sometimes do a reading and autograph session, and make myself available for conversations with fans. I try to bump into other writers I know, meet new ones I don't, and now and then, get some business done with editors or agents, when they are around.

This is my chance to leave the introvert state in which I normally operate, put on my public persona, and dance around in lampshade-mode. It is fun, but tiring.

As cons go, Orycon is a good one. Not too large, well-run by the local science fiction fan group, Porsfis -- Portland Science Fiction Society -- and most hospitable to writers. (Some cons focus on gaming or media; Orycon has those, but much of the audience comes because they are readers. At least the older members do. And I noticed that a lot of the fans who have been showing up as long as I have are, well, much older than they used to be. I wonder -- how is it that the nice couple less gray than I who shows up at most of my panels now has great-grandchildren? Or that that baby I saw just last year is now eight years old and half my height?)

Everybody's so different, but I haven't changed ...

I had a chance to talk to some friends, did my panel stints and autographing, and, so far, haven't come down with what I've always called "conorrhea," a vague URI thing halfway between a cold and the flu that seems rampant at such gatherings ...

The biggest problem this year was the date. The new venue -- the Doubletree by Lloyd Center -- was only available the weekend after Thanksgiving, and I expect that kept some folks from attending who might have otherwise.

Still going on today. If you hurry, you can just make it ...

5 comments:

Master Plan said...

Nice to meet you in the flesh, sorry it was so brief. :-)

-Jonas

Steve Perry said...

The joy of conventions -- in, out, all a blur, three days to recover ...

Good to meet you and be able to put a face to the name, too. Always makes the discussions more fun that way.

Anonymous said...

Yes Indeed. Good to see you Steve. Thanks for the autograph. Gave away that copy of TMWNM too. Always seems I have a friend who has given up on SF, but hasn't read your book. Feedback is always positive. Think I've given away six copies.

And Mucho thanks, again, for Hap and Leonard. Way too much fun, those books.

Ron

Scott said...

Love the pic; must be cold in space.

Steve Perry said...

And we can see where the Borg did most of their enhancements, too.