VIEW CART
The upcoming Nat Con
by George Ivanoff - June 5th, 2012
If you’re a regular reader of Literary Clutter, then you’ve probably figured out that I’m a wee bit of a science fiction fan. So, of course, each year I attend my local science fiction convention, Continuum. This year they are up to the eighth one. And, this year Continuum is also doubling as the 51st Australian National Science Fiction convention. So you can expect it to be on an even bigger and better level of awesome than it usually is. Am I excited? You bet!
International guest of honour this year is award-winning author and anthologist Kelly Link. Her books include Stranger Things Happen and Magic for Beginners. For five years she has been co-editor of The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror (St. Martin’s Press) and she also edited the anthology Trampoline. She has won the Nebula, the James Tiptree Jr. and the World Fantasy Awards. To be perfectly honest, I had never heard of her prior to the announcement of her attendance at Continuum 8. But I look forward to hearing her speak and finding out a bit more about her writing… and perhaps even buying some of her books and getting them autographed.
Australian guest of honour is Alison Goodman, author of New York Times Bestselling fantasy novels Eon and Eona. Her books have been shortlisted for numerous awards and she has won the Aurealis Award a couple of times. I have heard of her. 
Although I haven’t read any of her books yet. 
She’s one of those authors I keep meaning to read, but just haven’t gotten around to yet. Perhaps hearing her speak at Continuum with inspire me to get a move on.
Aside from the guests of honour, there will be a plethora of authors in attendance, speaking on panels, doing readings and generally wandering about. These include: Jenny Blackford, Russell Blackford, Sue Bursztynski, Trudi Canavan, Lisa Hannett, Narrelle M Harris, Margo Lanagan, Kirstyn McDermott, Jason Nahrung, Michael Pryor, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Lucy Sussex, Kaaron Warren and others too numerous to mention.
I’ll be there, speaking on a few panels, including…
Short Shrift
Along with Peta Freestone, Steve Cameron and Kate Eltham
YA spec fic is booming in long form, but relatively uncommon in short form. Why is this? What are the challenges and opportunities for proponents of YA short fiction?
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Along with Cat Sparks, Kelly Link, Jonathan Strahan and Stephen Dedman
Short stories are the life-blood of speculative fiction, and speculative genres among the last still-flourishing domains of the modern short story. What makes the two fit so well together?
Book Trailers
Along with Travis McKenzie, Margo Lanagan and Cheryse Durrant
The new trend in book promotion. We discuss what makes a good one, what doesn’t work and why.
Let’s Traumatise The Kiddies
Along with Deborah Green and Melissa Walter
Kids are often more resilient than adults give them credit for — not to mention more bloodthirsty — but how much is too much? Have attitudes changed over time, and in what directions? Join us for a discussion of shocking moments in children’s television past and present.
Crossing The Divide
Along with Alison Goodman, Tor Roxburgh, Jenny Blackford and Narrelle Harris
Once you’ve written in one genre are you pigeonholed there for the rest of your career? Our panellists discuss how they’ve been able to write across borders.
Book blogs & Reviewing
Along with Sue Bursztynski, Alexandra Pierce, Gillian Polack and Sean Wright
Blogging has meant an explosion in book reviewing and discussion, but what makes good reviews and blogs? What boxes does a book have to check to receive 5 stars?
But what am I looking forward to the most? The Great Doctor Who Smackdown, during which I and fellow author Narrelle M Harris get to spend an hour arguing over various nitpicky elements of Doctor Who.
Continuum 8 will also see the announcement of the Chronos Awards (honouring excellence in Victorian science fiction, fantasy and horror) and Ditmar Awards (honouring excellence in Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror). Check out the list of nominees (here and here). Lot of great stuff being nominated… and no, I’m not just saying that ‘cause I’m a nominee.
So… wanna come along? Of course you do! For more info, check out the Continuum website.
Catch ya later, George
Check out my DVD blog, Viewing Clutter.
Latest Post: WINNERS — Doctor Who: Nightmare of Eden
.
.
.
Tags: Alison Goodman, Kelly Link
