Swancon

[nephron]

I don't think I'll be going to Swancon next year. Despite being able to get a student discount, I don't like the much higher prices, which have priced a few people I know out of being able to go. I haven't heard of the international guests (and having looked them up, have no particular interest in getting to know them or their works

Comments

[punkrocker1991]

It's a shame to hear you say that you "have no particular interest in getting to know them or their works". Ellen Datlow has edited a bunch of fantastic anthologies, and I heartily recommend them, from the fun ones like Alien Sex, to the fairy tales series co-edited with Terry Windling, to others like Poe, and is also a very entertaining speaker.

Justina Robson I am less familiar with, having read only a handful of her stories, but know many folks who rave about her novels.

I do appreciate that the price is higher than most years, but think with the guests and facilities it'll be an ideal con to go with the day pass option and spend a couple of days there if you're on a budget. It'd be a shame to miss the whole con.

[nephron]

That's fine, I'm sure there are people out there who will appreciate them. I am not one.

[nephron]

Sorry, I should have been a bit nicer and a bit more precise.

There are many fantastic authors and editors out there. None of us are interested in every single one. These two don't have much interest for me, from what I can tell- which doesn't, of course, mean that they won't have interest for others.

[punkrocker1991]

sure, all I can say is that I recommend checking them out.

Ellen is a good guest, she was here in 1995 and for me one of the highlights of the con.

And next year's con are offering a significant discount for students/concession, probably more than I've seen from the last few years.

I'll add that I'm biased towards this con, my partner is on the committee and it'll be my 20th, so there's no way I won't be there.

[editormum]

I guess it's a matter of opinion really. Everyone's tastes are different, and some people are bound not to enjoy some or all of the anthologies Ellen has edited. However, she is an internationally celebrated editor, a great speaker, and a lot of fun to party with, by all accounts (including those from Swancon 1995, as Russell noted), all factors in the decision to invite her to be one of the international guests.

I've read quite a lot of Ellen's anthologies, and many of them are aimed at younger readers, which may not appeal to an adult reader. Of her recent works though, I loved "Trolls Eye View", which contained one of the best specfic stories I read last year (Catherynne Valente's "A Delicate Architecture"). I'm really looking forward to hopefully getting to know Ellen in real life next year!

[theducks]

Yeah, if I want to get to know someone's work, I'll do it in the context of a second hand book, not a $150 con :)

[nephron]

$14 Swancon members (+ concession card holders, I think)/$16 non-members

[nephron]

For me, since as a Curtin Guild member I can get $8.50 tickets to Hoyts ($10 on Saturday after 5:30) if I buy at uni ahead of time, it really would be me making a relatively large donation to the cause.

I also object to the idea that non-members pay more than members- surely the members are the ones benefiting from a fundraiser for Swancon?