VCON

I was at VCon this weekend. It was my first visit to the Vancouver's SF & Fantasy Convention and I loved it. Here are some of the highlights.


A well-attended panel about the state of Canadian SF & Fantasy. From left to right: Lynda Williams, Lisa Smedman, Matthew Hughes, Robert J. Sawyer and Eileen Kernaghan.

Jean-Louis Trudel talked about the difficulty of translations…in French.

Matthew Hughes launched his latest book, The Commons. Matt and I are stable mates at Night Shade Books, which, by the way, has just released, The Spiral Labyrinth, the follow-up to Majestrum, and the second book in the trilogy featuring Henghis Hapthorn.

Random pictures of the banquet held just before the Aurora Awards ceremony.

Guest of Honour Matthew Hughes delivered a great speech.

Karl Johanson, editor of NeoOpsis Science Fiction Magazine, receiving his Award for best work in English (Other).

Robert J. Sawyer won best short-form work in English for Biding Time.

Peter S. Beagle presented the award for the best long-form work in English.

Winner on the Aurora for the best long-form work in English: Dave Duncan for Children of Chaos.

Karl Johanson posing proudly with his Aurora.

From left to right: Martin Springett, Christian Sauvé, Jean-Louis Trudel, Dave Duncan, Robert J. Sawyer and Karl and Stephanie Johanson.

Here's the announcement list of this year's Aurora Awards winners:

Best Long-Form Work in English:* Children of Chaos, Dave Duncan (Tor Books)

Best Long-Form Work in French:* Reine de Memoire 4. La Princesse de Vengeance,Elisabeth Vonarburg (Alire)

Best Short-Form Work in English:* "Biding Time," Robert J. Sawyer (Slipstreams edited by Martin H. Greenberg and John Helfers, DAW [and also in The Penguin Book of Crime Stories, edited by Peter Robinson])

Best Short-Form Work in French:* "Le regard du trilobite," Mario Tessier (Solaris 159)

Best Work in English (Other):* Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Karl Johanson, editor.

Best Work in French (Other):* Aux origines des petits hommes verts, Jean-Louis Trudel (Solaris 160)

Artistic Achievement :* Martin Springett (MartinSpringett.com)

Fan Achievement (Publication):* Brins d'Iterniti, rid. Guillaume Voisine(alegracia.com/brins/faq/faq.php)

Fan Achievement (Organizational):* Cathy Palmer-Lister (Con*Cept)

Fan Achievement (Other):* Fractale-Framboise, Eric Gauthier, Christian Sauve, Laurine Spehner (blogue/blog)