Worldcon Report: Day 1

It often astounds me what incredible gems can be found within the things I would normally choose to ignore. My brother and I spoke at a panel today on the possibility of emergent AI (artificial intelligence) - a theme woven into our upcoming book. After the session we meandered over to the "Dealers' Room". For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Dealers' Room is a large space set aside for the selling of all things Sci Fi (books, gadgets, outfits, jewelery, etc). It's one of my favorite places to visit at a con not only for the eclectic collection of trinkets found within the stalls but also for the plain and simple fact that I love to shop - even if I'm not going to buy anything (which, trust me, is often the case). And worldcon dealer's rooms are just what you'd imagine - bigger, brighter better and more importantly - more-er. After our session I couldn't wait to get over there and start oggling, however on the way we bumped into our editor, David Hartwell. He too was heading in the same direction (though it wouldn't have mattered in that we'd have walked with him anywhere he pleased). We entered the great hall and...headed over to a wall of very faded, yellowing black and white photographs. This is what David wanted to do and so this is what we were going to do. There was never a question in my mind about it...only dissapointment at the delay.

The photos were of past Worldcons and of the young, wild-eyed visionaries whose words and worlds formed the epicenter of the cons' reason for being. A picture of Heinlein joking with "unamed", Bradbury standing within a group of smiling attendees, Anderson signing autographs, and Evans staring intently (to name but a few of the hundreds). As David moved us through the years he very patiently and nostalgically related his memories of the events, his opinions of the goings-on at the time and even the audacity of the outfits that so characterized the early 70's (pointing to one photograph of a girl's behind covered with nothing but a fig leaf).

The moment I realized what was happening I stood mute. Eytan and I hadn't been invited to view someone else's history, we'd been invited to view ours. We'd been made to see that in becoming science fiction authors we'd both become inextricably linked to the rich and storied history plastered to the walls in front of us . I'm not comparing us to the above named authors - heaven forbid. What I am saying is that my brother and I were being told in no uncertain terms that we were standing on the shoulders of giants and we'd better damned well appreciate the view.

It's funny. These are the moments we writers live for. How ironic that I resisted the chance to do so.

Thanks for listening,

Dani