Aug 13, 2009

Worldcon Through A Timewarp - Thursday

Pre-registration makes collecting my hard-copy programming stuff easy, and before you can say "Palais de Congres," which is the name of the vast barn-like structure that we rattle around in like peas in a tumble-dryer, I'm off and running. Or rather, mooching, a slow, semi-aimless stroll, often accompanied by perusing of documents or thousand-yard-stare into space.

Mooch into Dave Murphy and the rest of the splendid Albedo One team and make vague arrangements to meet later, but spend most of the morning orienting myself. Within a few days the place will feel as comfortable as an old pair of jeans, but right now it's more like new shoes, all awkwardness and friction in odd spots.

By mid-day find the SFWA table in dealers room and learn that I am not booked to do a solid seven hour stint as I feared, but I stick around anyway, because it's nice to have somewhere to anchor. Matt Rotundo from the Codex group also loiters and gloats because he's sold two t-shirts at $15 each. I resist the urge to point out that it's quality not quantity that counts, and my solitary sale of an SFWA Bulletin for $5 will help some aspiring writer develop and is therefore much more significant.

Mid-afternoon I sidle off for a quick cup of coffee with Aliette de Bodard and TL Morganfield. Lovely to see Aliette -who is having a fantastic year- again, and Traci seems very nice.

Back in the Dealer's Room catch up with Sharon Lee and Steve Miller who was on the same panel as me last year, and meet Steven H. Silver, who has traveled widely has a vast store of reminiscences.

Escape at 6pm for dinner with Jenny and my fellow clients. I'm stunned to discover that the husband of one lived only a few miles away from me in the UK before re-locating to New York.

Crash the Tor Party, and with the Albedo One team and Matt hog one corner, while Neil Gaiman and seven or eight acolytes lock themselves in a washroom for a suspiciously long time. Ventured out of the party with a bunch of New Yorkers -Matt Kressel, D. Mercutio Rivera and Alaya Dawn Johnson. I suspect the latter thought I was a stalker until she realized I was the judge of the SLF Travel Grant which she won-- but when they talk of hitting the bars at 12.30 am, retire gracefully to bed.