Today is day two of Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention. The convention will have multiple tracks of programming running nearly continuously through Sunday, with Guests of Honor Lois McMaster Bujold, Rick Sternbach, Tom Whitmore, Wil McCarthy, and Kathy Mar.
Those of us who aren’t attending are hoping to live vicariously through those of you who are. So if you’re at the con, please comment to let us know what’s going—who’ve you met, what fascinating things have you done, what interesting conversations or incredible views have you had—share your WorldCon experience with the rest of us. And if you’re not in Denver, but you’ve got memories of past WorldCons, or thoughts of the present you’d like to share, feel free. Comments are open (see below, and remember, commenting still qualifies you to win the Masters of Science Fiction DVD, whether you’re at the con or at home). We’ll also take links to your WorldCon comments on your own blog.
(We’ll start another one of these pages each day.)
My first WorldCon was TorCon 2 in 1973; I skipped Freshman orientation to go to it. The first thing I heard, as I entered the main function space was Lin Carter announcing that Tolkien had just passed away.
My favorite World Con was the following year, Disclave in Washington DC. I shared a hotel room with 20 college friends, most of whom I still go to conventions with (in separate rooms, though. I need a matress these days.) First program item I remember from that Con was Harlan Ellison at one end of a large room, Isaac Asimov at the other end… and they just talked, joking for an hour. An incredible experience.
I had a membership for Denvention, but Bear, Stearns was an intimate part of my life…
I remember reading/hearing about those Isaac-Harlan events, but I’m disappointed I never got the chance to experience one. I was privileged to know Isaac during the last three years of his life (which is when I worked at Asimov’s, and discovered conventions), and to know Harlan, but I never did see them doing their shtick together.
I wonder if there are any similar duos for this generation?
–Ian
I wonder if there are any similar duos for this generation?
I don’t know if Barry Malzberg and (I believe it was) Mike Resnick still do panels together; I remember listening to them at the Millenial PhilCon, but can’t recall seeing them together since. They loved taking opposing points of view and (amiably) thrashing out a question.
For that matter, just listening to Barry Malzberg is a delight and a joy.
And I would pay to listen to Harlan Ellison and Orson Scott Card debate…
Favorite Harlan Ellison convention story… I love his writing, but had heard all the stories about his personality. I knew he was going to be at DisCon in 1974, so I brought three of his books to get autographed. I’m walking down the hall when I see him approaching, trailed by a horde of people hurling invectives at him. I thought “Well, it would be horribly rude to ask at a time like this!”, and stood quietly by as he approached when…
He stopped right in front of me, looked at the covers, and asked what I thought of his three books. The mob of people are screaming, and he was chatting with me! Then he asked me if I wanted them autographed! He did so, while asking if I was enjoying the convention, and then took his leave of me, once more follwed by the screaming horde.
I was pole-axed. He has always epitomized Gentleman to me.