Aftermath

Posted by Colin Harvey Sep 27, 2009

Cons always flash by, but Bristolcon was especially short and sweet.

Even coming from only a few miles away, we almost didn't make it in time: Bristol's notorious traffic was gridlocked, and it was only as we entered the hotel that we realized that with the student's returning for the new term, literally tens of thousands of extra cars would be pouring into the city centre. Others weren't so lucky, and attendees trickled through the door on a regular basis, culminating in a timetable re-schedule due to guest Charles Butler's lateness.

Kate and I did a little last-minute goody-bag stuffing, having found some chapbooks in the attic the day before, then we had an all too short chat with GoH Alastair Reynolds, who's a very nice guy, and Paul Cornell signed Kate's programme for our nephew Josh, who's a massive Dr. Who fan. Since my editor at Angry Robot is also a British Fantasy Society luminary, Lee and I dived out for a quick ten or fifteen minute interview for the forthcoming BFS book of interviews with SF writers.

Then we took the last panel --"Fantasy and SF – where is the dividing line? (And Does Anybody Care?)," in the company of Juliet McKenna and Eugene Byrne, who of whom showed themselves to be erudite, intelligent and witty panellists. In fact, what I had feared was an almost mined-out topic proved to be so interesting that with the audience participation we had to wind it up prematurely to avoid running over. Then I read from the opening chapter to Winter Song before grabbing some dinner.

It was a terrific afternoon and evening, and it was really good to meet Amanda again (sorry we didn't get a chance to chat properly!) and Nick Waller. The toss-up for the longest journey was fought out between Lee -who travelled down from York- and Chris Lake and Sue, who travelled all the way up from Falmouth.

It was also great to see Neil Beynon and Gemma -who ducked over from Aberdare-- and John and Pat Hawkes-Reed, Nick Walters, Jim Mortimore, Gareth L Powell, Andy Bigwood and the rest of the Future Bristol Massive, as well as Gareth's wife Becky and his brother Huw, also a writer. Hopefully Simon Gurr will make it to the next meeting in the King William on the 26th!

Finally, massive kudos are due to Cheryl Morgan, Meg and Jo Hall and her cohorts, and Philppa for making the whole thing happen.

Okay, so that was a longer list than an acceptance speech on Oscar night, but unlike Eastercon with its 1000-odd members, every single person on that list was important. They gave their time, energy and money to make it such a great little con.

Here's looking forward to next year.