Artists

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(Sunday)

Started the day with a coffee klatch hosted by Cory Doctorow.  The coffee klatches are just informal round tables where people can sign up to meet with artists and authors and ask them just about anything.  It was fun and entertaining; a lot like listening to one of Cory's podcasts.

I met Christiana Ellis and Paul Fischer in the klatch and talked to them for half an hour after.  Really good to meet people in real life that I know from the podoshpere.  Fun, lovely people who have somewhat inspired me to actualy go ahead and start that podcast I've been thinking about, but more on that some other time.

Then to lunch and back to the art show to see if I had won any pieces.  I did, although I did not find out until later.  Primarily a nice little painting by Bob Eggleton, one of his Art du Jour pieces, of a dragon that I was quite pleased to get.

Watched a bit of the art auction, wherein pieces that had been hotly contested during the write in bidding went to voice auction.  Staggered at a work by Eggleton and a Japanese artist named Sato that sold for $16,000 U.S.  It was a nice piece, but still.  Anyway.

From the art show to the signing area where I was lucky enough to get both my English version and my wife's Japanese version of The Sandman:  Dream Hunters signed by Yoshitaka Amano.  Spent the wait in line talking to a very nice Japanese girl who was extremely nervous about meeting Amano.  She hadn't know he would be doing a signing and so had rushed to the signing area as soon as she found out; at one point she was literally bouncing up and down with nervous anticipation.  She was very kawaii in her fanishness.  Amano signed my books and seemed like a nice enough, if very strange guy.  Talked to the two American guys who were working there - one as Amano's U.S. Agent and one as a translator.  Both interesting guys in their own right.  Quite a fun time.

Lucked into another coffee klatch, this time with Michael Whelan, who was charming and funny at extremely cool.  He had lots of stories and lots of explanations of techniques and tricks that he uses.  Really enjoyed getting to talk to him.  The klatch had been a last minute formulation so there were only about six of us there to talk to him, which was nice as everyone got a chance to ask him questions and just, generally, chat.  At the end he was kind enough to sign a poster of his World Con image for me, which I appreciated quite a lot.

Made it back to the art show to pick up my winnings.  Had wanted to go to a Charlie Stross reading, but by the time I had gotten everything together the reading was half over and I needed to hit the trains.  Four hours later, I made it home.

Lovely people at the con, both pros and fans, and just a really good time.  Already looking forward to the next one.

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(Saturday)

Mainly wandered around aimlessly after having slept in too late to attend the Yoshitaka Amano panel.  Tried to hit a panel called "Transcendence or Mundane" about the singularity, but missed that as well due to a schedule mix-up.

Finally made it to a panel called "The Universal Library", all about when and how it will eventually develop.  The panel featured Cory Doctorow, Charlie Stross, Patrick Neilson-Hayden, a guy from Google, and a professional research librarian.  Interesting and smart; I felt underqualified to be in the panel as I am not an information architect.

From there to the hotel again to relax and clean up before the Hugos.

Hugos fun; George Takei and his translator were good hosts.  There were a lot of jokes and back and forth that were funnier if you speak English and Japanese; I didn't feel like there was a lot of good explanation of the linguistic jokes as there were several people around me who didn't understand them.  Still, a fun show and some good presenters.

Naomi Novik won the Campbell Award for best new talent, which was quite cool as I'm a big fan of hers.

Went to a party after the ceremony hosted by the Norwegian / Swedish contingent that was a lot of fun; talked to a lot of people.  Drank a bit of a Norwegian liquor called (I'm sure I've got this spelled wrong) Aqua vitae.  Very similar to whiskey but with a bit of an anise flavor.  Good, but very strong.

Lots of cool people; lots of discussion of things relevant and un.

A sign inside the party suite read "Movies (with an arrow); Friendly Norwegians (with an arrow in the opposite direction)".  I found it quite charming.  Lovely bunch of people.  Norway is now very high on my list of favorite places.

Missed the subway again, so walked to the hotel.  Again.

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(Friday)

Lots more people today.  A few cosplayers, but not too many, which is a bit surprising and a tad disappointing.  On the other hand, the maid cafe opened today and they're all in costume, which is cool.

Started the day by going to a reading by Cory Doctorow.  He read from his forthcoming children's novel "Little Brother" as well as a short story called "Other People's Money".  Both were fun, intelligent reads and it was a good session.

The readings are being held in a small room that seats, maybe, thirty people; it was about half full for both Cory and Naomi Novik, who I saw later in the day.  This makes for small, intimate readings that are really the joy of coming to cons like this in the first place.

After the reading, I went to watch an art demonstration by Michael Whelan, Bog Eggleton, and a Japanese artist whose name I can't remember and which I can't look up right now.  They set up three easels and began taking suggestions from the audience.  Mr. Whelan asked a girl from the audience to paint three lines and a kanji.  She wrote "悪" which means bad, or evil.  Then all three began painting around that idea on separate canvases.  Very cool to watch.  Taped a bit of it for later review of techniques to try.

Attended a panel about future crime, which was kind of so-so.

The reading by Naomi Novik was quite cool; she read from her new novel, "Empire of Ivory" which will be published later in September.

Then hanging out and talking to some people until it was time for the screening of "World Enough and Time", a Star Trek fan film that is far, far better than a lot of the professional stuff.  George Takei (Sulu) guest starred and did a fantastic job.  Highly recommend viewing the story.

Then parties.  Ate too much, drank just enough.  Talked to lots of interesting people.  Ate some more.  Missed the last subway car and had to walk about thirty minutes to my hotel.  Pretty good day.

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The con, so far at least, is a bit smaller than I had thought it would be.

About 50/50 Japanese and foreign.

I'm in the younger demographic; not to mention healthier / skinnier.

Sat through a panel run by two Japanese editor / translators called "Children of Haruki Murakami" which was basically a few recommendations by these guys of newer, Japanese authors they like who have similar writing styles.  It was a bit long and tedious, but good info and lots of new names in my notebook of authors to check out.

One of the cooler exhibits in the exhibition hall is a life-size, working replica of Nausicaa's glider from the manga and anime.  They have several photos of the glider in flight, being towed like a kite.  I don't think anyone was actually crazy enough to get on it though.

Opening ceremonies were fun; some odd translations between the staff and speakers.  The translators were definitely better at English to Japanese, naturally enough.  There was a nice tribute to the main Japanese guest of honor.  Both David Brin and Michael Whelon introduced themselves and did the beginning parts of their speeches in Japanese, which I thought was very cool and showed a clear difference in the geek mindset from the standard pop stars and actors who wash through every once in a while.

Took a bit of video but it turns out I am a thousand times better at still photos than I am at video.  Still, will try to edit something together sooner or later.

Few things in the dealers' room I'm coveting - a metal miniture replica of Porco Rosso's plane and some odd rubber monsters to hang on the wall.  I think Mayumi will kill me, not sure I care as I have spending money burning a hole in my pocket.

Back at the hotel got the living daylights weirded out of me by a little boy who got hurt somehow outside the hotel. He kept screaming "somebody help me" and "it hurts" over and over.  By the time I got out on the balconey to have a look several people had already gathered and were taking care of him and calling the ambulance.  Still, scary.

Finally watched "Idiocracy".  Some great lines and good premise, but, overall, just kinda so-so.

Tomorrow, signings and coffee klatches.

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