You mean I've been doing this for more than half my life?

[major_clanger]

Back in 1987, as a first-year undergrad at Imperial College and an already keen member of the Science Fiction Society, I went along to Picocon 5, my first experience of a science fiction convention. Like the one-day hardened boozer being offered his first lager shandy, little did I know what I'd be letting myself in for... So yesterday, when I walked into Beit Quad for Picocon 24 (they missed a year in the 90s), it marked twenty years of con-going for me.

A few things have changed. When I joined, ICSF's library lived in a few lockers along a top-floor corridor in the Union building. We moved into our first permanent library and club room whilst I was a student, and now have a facility and a book collection (some 8,000 items according to current members) we could only dream of back in 1987.

But some things are the same, including good guests, good programme and lots of beer. This year we had Farah Mendlesohn, Charlie Stross and Ken MacLeod, so I had the particular pleasure of seeing three friends of mine as guests for my 20th anniversary Picocon; Liz Williams also dropped in (having been signing up at FP) for the afternoon. Highlights of the day included Ken's wiggle plot of economic cycles (which he added axes and a 'derive the formula' comment to, in the hope that it would confuse some students come Monday), a very thought-provoking discussion of Glorifying Terrorism by the editor and two of the contributors, and our team's victory in the Pub Quiz - apparently having fluffcthulhu on your team is a surefire recipe for success.

Ken and the MacLeod Curve:


mevennen and autopope in the bar:

Comments

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

You are still a mere child, m'dear. 1975 was my first one. God, I'm beginning to feel old.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

and our team's victory in the Pub Quiz

We'll take you next time.

My first con was also a Picocon; I think it was '99. So I'm not even at ten years of con-going yet ...

[fluffcthulhu.livejournal.com]

We'll take you next time.

You will have to persuade Me to be on your team.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Of course, I missed Picocon 5 because no one told it was on until a few days beforehand - when I'd already scheduled to go home and see Mater that day! But this did mean that Noreason 3 was my very first ever convention...

[willplant.livejournal.com]

Well this Picocon was my first ever con and was a good laugh as well as having interesting guests and discussions. I suppose that having a table crammed with Scf-Fi luminaries is only marginal help in the Quiz... My Team "Gandalf's Ferret" came second equal even though we thought we'd only got about 5 answers correct because the quiz was so hard.

Will

[frankiemouses.livejournal.com]

Was Liz Williams wearing a red suit?

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

No; she's mevennen, on the left in the second photo.

red suited blonde

[frankiemouses.livejournal.com]

Someone has asked if I know which female member of the con was in a red suit with blonde wavey/curly hair. Age hard to tell apparently a timeless appearence (that romance for you) if any one can help please do. I would hate to stand in the way of true love :-)

Re: red suited blonde

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Er, I'm not sure I want my LJ to be used for cyber-stalking!!

Permission

[lapswood.livejournal.com]

I will be celebrating My 20 year anniversary next year as Conspiracy 87 was my first con and hence, only found out about London fandom and Picocons afterwards. So I'll be raising a glass in 08'.
You may have possibly seen My Picocon 24 entries on LJ. I have just a few more short video clips I think might be fun to broadcast. Some contain content from the GOH's. Do you think I should ask permission of them before making them public. If yes, advise best way. Thanks!

Re: Permission

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Setting aside for a minute the legal technicalities (copyright etc) it would certainly be polite to ask them. If you mail me at sjbradshaw (at) mac (dot) com then I can forward it on.