s s s s s ee Member ee Member ee ee Member ee ee Member ee Member ee Treasurer, Dealer & Guest Liaison - Publicity/Promotions officer Membership Secretary Secretary Chairperson, Hotel Liaison, Programming - - - - I’m an avid modeller, principally of radio control principally I’m an avid modeller, Recently his Urqhart-like schemes paid off and he Recently his Urqhart-like he calls his mid-life year He is still enjoying what Committ Committ Committ Committ Committ After swearing never to be on another ConCom after the After swearing never to be on another ConCom after Lite 1997 Eurocon, and again after the 1998 Octocon and yet again after the 1999 Octocon X, David Stewart Octocon duties for has agreed to take on Press & Publicity e-12. He also edits and distributes the SF in Ireland newsletter and contributes crosswords to the LostCarPark In his spare time, he works as a freelance Website. ComputerScope and journalist for Business & Finance, the Irish Independent among others. Cassidy Ruth with the setting up of a fandom career started out Ruth’s school Sci-fi club, and continued through various local and national societies. Having attended and often helped she out at Octocon since 1990, she felt it was high time got more involved and volunteered to join the committee spent a while at the helm before This year she last year. real life commitments got in the way and she opted for secretary instead. Her favourite colour is not what you think. I’m a self confessed Star Trek nut (every episode of every I’m a self confessed Star Trek but series and films on tape - including the cartoons - a NO uniforms!), and thoroughly enjoy all sci-fi with heavy ship or technology orientation - Star Wars, etc -not Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, Farscape, of course! forgetting Star Trek for models (planes, boats & cars) but with a penchant plastic spaceship kits, and with a plan to make a model of a Klingon Bird-Of-Prey that will fly under radio control. David Stewart James Brophy James out in the hanging James started autumn of 1999 In the Flying Pig. and Pádraig Ó he met RoB McGregor There was through these two reprobates Méalóid and of the Dublin the whole seedy underbelly introduced to Club. As his culture, including the Sci-Fi science fiction help he would abilities would allow, wealth and modest of handing out to time in the endeavours out from time photocopying, posters, selling books, flyers, making so on. Quite by dealing with hotels and talking to guests, the Octocon committee in accident, he arrived on uncouth and ignorant of raw, January of 2000. He was up to be a model citizen much, but has since been trained of the new republic. has become Chairperson. Pádraig Ó Méalóid on the committees for Pádraig has previously been 10, and briefly appeared on Octocons 2, 4, 5, 6 and probably makes him the committees 7 and 11. This member. longest serving committee Besides which is now heading for its second summer. off, on the Octocon being a sort of jack-of-all-trades of this and that for the James committee, he does a little some small involvement with the and has White Award, co- Bar Book Market, and, most importantly, Temple in December 2000. founded SciFiClub Dave McRory masquerade ball, -made sci-fi, horror or simply sci-fi, horror or -made elcome elcome elcome elcome elcome know where we stand with the we stand with know where you a member, As so far. convention begun. This progress report is to let you progress report is to begun. This W W W W W from it now. Preparations have already Preparations from it now. Oh and don’t forget. Enjoy the quiet while it Oh and don’t Now we want you to tell us what you want The progress report tells you what the What do you want at your convention? Do you want to display a talent for making Now that I have challenged you, I want you So why are you keeping this a secret? mean spirited or just hoping to Are you shy, We’re going to have great panels, sword going to have We’re Well then it’s up to you to tell them about Well This year, the Octocon committee has sweated the Octocon committee has This year, We the committee are members too, the committee We Dun Laoghaire. You can’t distance yourself distance can’t You Dun Laoghaire. lasts. James Brophy Chairperson Octocon 2001 the convention to be. convention is. cool film then just send it in. If you want a large crowd of people to see you have metal shoved crowd. we can supply a through parts of your body, If you have something odd, interesting and (mostly) a tasteful then tell us about it so we can give you of platform to display your personal brand dementia to the world. costumes, crafts, comics or models? Then take a costumes, crafts, comics or models? Then take to dealers table and make some cash. If you want show off your home to challenge us. monopolise Harry Harrison’s time? monopolise Harry Harrison’s fighting,30 second ranting, a comics creators, battling robots, Anne McCaffrey the and a really great radio play recorded live at convention! Octocon. substances quite close to blood to bring you what substances quite close to only do so much. So but we can we have so far, it’s anyone who over to you. Do you know now, Octocon? Do you know would like to come to an the Octocon *flava* but anyone who would enjoy know about it. Do you know anyone just doesn’t who will with good people/ pay money to have fun with anyone in an voice their opinion/argue entertaining way? meaning we had to to get in as well. I pay money I my anguish. Personally found this out much to on the committee was all about being thought Oh well. bribes, freebies and kickbacks. Come October, all hell is going to break loose in all hell is going to break Come October, what’s happening.deserve to know

2 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 She nowlivesinIreland,withherMainecoon laude inSlavonicLanguagesandLiterature. Massachusetts, whereshegraduatedcum Anne waseducatedatRadcliffeCollege, goes. of ScienceFiction andmymemory, here from TheEncyclopaedia Anyway, withsomehelp now, AnneMcCaffrey. more importantlyfor by AndréNortonand, provided mewithbooks moment!!!). She mother regretsthat (I’m prettysuremy courtesy ofafamilyfriend of thePern Novels twelve whenIreadalot from thetenderageof books), andhavebeen I havesomesigned saying thatIamafan(yes I supposeshouldstartby McCaffrey andherwork. discussion ofAnne where tostartwitha It’s reallydifficulttoknow series andthe Pegasus series);thePlanet there istheTalents Series(includingtheHive usually referred to astheDragonnovels;then Octocon 3,1992, almostsavingAnne’sPint!), Born in1926ofIrish-American stock, cats, herpiebaldmareandsilver years ofPern, during weimaraner, cooking, attended thetalkon25 started in1968(I series isthePern novels Anne McCaf Anne McCaf Anne McCaf Anne McCaf Anne McCaf without notice.” subject tochange I freckle:therestis Her mostfamous my hairissilver, and “my eyesaregreen, about herselfthat writing! Shesays dabble with been knownto andhas knitting, again. readable andIgo backtothemagainand as beinglightbut herstoriesarevery a while.Herworkhasbeendescribed her worksstayinginprintforquite as isattestedtobylibrarians–with smaller version)andsheisquite popular– Dragons aregeneticallyengineered froma being mostlyactualScience Fiction (her stools ofScienceFiction andFantasy but romantic bent,oftenfallingbetweenthe Her workismostlydescribedashavinga (she wantedittobeGetOfTheUnicorn). ‘Ship whichsang’)andGetOffTheUnicorn (her firstchequeforitwassaidtobethe pedantic editorsbetweentheShipWhoSang Achievement LiteraryAward. the MargaretAEdwards’Lifetime Fiction BookClubawardsforhernovelsand “Dragonflight”. ShehasalsowonsixScience became Award winner“DragonRider”), combination withthe1968Nebula Novella “Weyr Search” whichlater(in awards includingthe1968Hugofor Moon andElizabethAnnScarborough. Anne seemstohaveaproblemwith She haswonanumberofmajorSF fr fr fr fr fr e e e e e writers asElizabeth collaborated withsuch recent timesshehas recent Acornanovels.In novels andthemore include theDoona prosiac). Otherseries used forsomethingless better thantojustbe thinking itdeserved from thecreamery, that shestolethename Singer (shehasadmitted Killishandra: TheCrystal Who Sang;and her seriesliketheShip are echoedinsomeof Her interestsinmusic Dinosaur planetseries. intersects withthe Pirates series which y y y y y Deirdre Thornton Deirdre

3 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 , a Space Hellblazer RazorJack 50 in 50 James Shields James Shields James Shields and , was broadcast by , was broadcast The Moon Looked for 2000 AD, and quite a for 2000 AD, ocon ocon ocon ocon ocon Judge Dredd 2000 AD’s Judge Dredd . Time Out For Bill Lizard As a writer he is second to none, as a He was drafted in 1943, on his eighteenth He was drafted in 1943, His forthcoming work includes Truckers number of collaborations with Malachy Coney, including the graphic novel John Higgins is not the “to draw bare naked ladies” Perhaps Or best reason for taking a night course in art. John Higgins stuck it out, perhaps it is. Either way, even after he discovered all the “ladies” were over and found out that he loved drawing. He forty, entered Art College and after becoming disillusioned with trying to sell paintings for a living became a Jack of all illustration, covering advertising, animation, book illustration, comics his and magazine covers. He is well known for work on and is now writing and illustrating magazine. J Holden Paul J Holden is a charming Belfast-based Paul cartoonist and comic artist. His previous work includes collection of fifty short stories from the fifty years Harry has been writing. convention guest he is always popular and entertaining, and as a person he is warm, intelligent and humorous. Roger Gregg Roger musician is an American playwright, Roger Gregg and voice-over for the past artist based in Ireland plays and has written numerous 20 years. He audio His one-manmusic scores. Science Fiction play, Harry Harrison - almost sixty novels and The author of - to date Harry Harrison is one over a hundred short stories, and best-loved science of the world’s most popular fiction writers. and was trained as a power-operated birthday, left turret and computing gunsight specialist. He to the army in 1946, having been promoted sergeant. RTE I and by WFAI-FM in Minneapolis/St.Paul, by WFAI-FM RTE I and “Best Audio was recently awarded USA, and of 1999” by the Production Science Fiction He Audio. Fiction American Society for Science in films and on has also made appearances science fiction film television, including the ts at Oct at ts Oct at ts ts at Oct at ts ts at Oct at ts Oct at ts Anne M Kletcha Anne M Kletcha Anne M Kletcha Gues Gues Gues Gues Gues his new book “Things Unborn” having “Thingshis new book Unborn” by in April 2001 been published up in Somerset. More likely it is due to More likely it is due up in Somerset. having been born in Waterford, but brought born in Waterford, having been Byrne is a man in turmoil. This may be due to in turmoil. This may Byrne is a man Besides these, he has written or co-writtenBesides these, he has Beneath a naturally modest exterior, Eugene naturally modest exterior, Beneath a Don Conroy of Don Conroy is a man of many talents - a writer( naturalist, and over 40 books), television presenter, environmentalist, not to mention a working artist best who has had numerous exhibitions. Perhaps of known to the young (and not so young!) people Ireland for his appearances as Uncle Don on RTÉ’s - Den2, Don has also had a TV series of his own from which came a very successful for Fun- Painting book. He still has a weekly slot on RTÉ television. A keen naturalist, Don is actively involved in conservation, and is a member of the Irish Wildlife Conservancy amongst many other protection agencies. Michael Carroll Michael Carroll’s roots in Irish fandom go very to deep, and it is always a delight to be able welcome someone as a guest to the convention who was once on the committee! Michael took the plunge into writing full-time on July 9th, 1999, far, as is at it still. He has published 4 books so She which are The Last Starship, Moonlight and all young adult Science Fiction/ Away, Fades order!), and If the Shoe (and in that Fantasy/Horror (under the pseudonym Jaye Carroll.) Michael Fits has also written a humunguous quantity of short fiction and wonderfully humourous articles, much of which is to be found in the Brentford Mercury, for which he is creative consultant. The fact that he seems to have an opinion on everything under the sun makes him invaluable to this committee, who love him like a brother. (with Kim Newman) several other books. We (with Kim Newman) if only for the information recommend his website, on Sprouts. Eugene Byrne Eugene fantasy about a parallel universe Earthlight. It’s to life, and includes as dead people coming back from Octocon 1999 who a minor character a guest in a raffle. Next time, it won a place in the book Eugene interview, could be you! In an exclusive on a non-SF/fantasy told me “I’m currently working that), which is partly set novel (whatever one calls in Dun Laoghaire, wey-hey!”

4 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 include original paperbackoftheyear. Othernovels the prestigiousPhilipK.DickAward forbest 1992 novel, published in1988togreatcriticalacclaim.His her backtoOctocon. Children’s BookTrust. We aredelightedtoinvite Morgan hasservedasatrusteeofTheIrish a numberofbooksforchildren,and,indeed, of ancientIreland.Therearemanymore,including with thelegendarychiefofFíanna,army on Cúchulainn,and“Finn MacCool”,whichdeals Malley, “On Raven’s Wing” -basedonthelegend - basedonthelifeofIrishpirate,GraceO HorseGoddess”,“Bard”,“Grania”,include “The Other hugelysuccessfulCeltichistoricalnovels has beentranslatedintoanumberoflanguages. sold overfifteenmillioncopiesworldwide,and Brian Boruandpublishedin1980,hastodate fantasy. “Lion ofIreland”,basedonthelegend Morgan LlywelynistrulythequeenofCeltic Morgan Llywelyn also isamemberofseveralorderschivalry. Degreeinhistory,Katherine holdaMaster’s she This isnodoubtduetothefactthatnotonlydoes convincing wealthofdetailaboutmedievallife. storylines andwell-realisedcharacters,a intrigue. Thebookshave,inadditiontocompelling fantasy seriessetinamedievalworldofmagicand The cycle, whichhassoldwellover2millioncopies. Katherine isprobablybestknownforthe Katherine Kurtz visit toOctocon. publications. Beafraid! appearing inoneoftheforthcomingconvention member PádraigÓMéalóidasBatmanwillbe caricatures. HisversionofOctoconcommittee Laughed And Down man bettersuited tohisjob! come upwithlots ofideas.It’shardtothinka Researcher, whichapparentlymeanshehasto Productions asaNetworkDevelopment IanworksforExtreme Serbian. Whennotwriting, numerous languagesincluding Finnish and year. Hisbookshavebeen translatedinto recent, (1998) and since 1965.Hisfirstnovel, Born inManchester1960,IanhaslivedBelfast Ian McDonald incredible Hunk incredible We aredelightedtowelcomehimonhisfirst Deryni Deryni Ares Express Ares Chaga Tendeléo’s Story Tendeléo’s King of Morning, Queen of Day of Queen Morning, of King cycle isarichlydescribedhistorical (1995)anditssequels . Healsodoessuperbcartoon andtheparodycomic , whichwaspublishedthis Desolation Road Desolation (2000),andhismost Anne M Kletcha M Anne Anne M Kletcha M Anne Kletcha M Anne Kirinya Deryni , won , was The second novel, agreed andnominateditforaBSFA Award. His first novelIhaveread.”ThemembersoftheBSFA and wasdescribedinBlankSpaceas“thefinest was alsoshortlisted.Nodoubthislatestnovel, convention couldwishfor. and youhaveoneofthemostversatile guestsa Fantasy, andhischarmingdebonairmanner, loveofSFand the paranormal,hislong-standing for themselves.AddtothisColin’s fascinationwith Liammóir’s literature ontheplanet.Titles likeLadyGregory's one ofthemostimportantpublishersCeltic from Trinity CollegeinDublin),Colinhasbecome Smythe Ltdin1966(threeyearsaftergraduating guest forthisconvention.SincefoundingColin and publisher, hewouldbeawonderfullygood Even ifColinSmythewasnotTerry Pratchett'sagent Colin Smythe is his Hismostfamous seriesofbooks,however,writing. Horror magazinegoing. and beenpublishedinjustabouteverySF/Fantasy/ fiction books.Hehasalsoeditedafewanthologies, collections,plus7non- novels andshort-story that ofJackYeovil: thusfarhe haspublished20 writer offiction,bothunderhisownnameand and finallyhisphenomenallysuccessfulworkasa cabaret, freelancejournalismandfilmcriticism, can be,havingbeeninvolvedinthetheatreand maladjusted adult.”Hiswords. became apsychoteenager, andgrewupintoa to befoundthereyet.Hewas“aweirdkid, Kim NewmanwasborninLondon1959,andis Kim Newman first Octocon.We aredelightedtowelcomethem. conventions formanyyearsbutthiswillbetheir wife Yvonne,havebeenafixtureatBritish Context His firstnovel, 1992 whenStrangeRainappearedinInterzone. John Meaneyhasbeensellinghisstoriessince John Meaney Additional information, including links including information, Additional Muirthemne of Cuchulain recommend themtoyou. and Folk Tales of Ireland of Tales Folk Men and to guests’ official websites, can be found be can websites, official guests’ to at www.octocon.com. at Not surprisingly, he’swonsixawardsforhis His careerisasvariedonlyatruewriter's , W. B. Yeats’ Anno Dracula Anno , willbeequallysuccessful.John,andhis The Importance of Being Oscar Being of Importance The Paradox To Hold Infinity Hold To The Celtic Twilight Celtic The cycle.We whole-heartedly , whichappearedlastyear, Anne M Kletcha M Anne and andMicheálMac , appearedin1998 Gods and Fighting and Gods Anne M Kletcha M Anne David Stewart David and speak Fairy

5 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 book has But thankfully every so often a every so writer bursts out of this categorical straitjacket of narrow-minded intellectual apartheid. Century’ list compiled The names of those who’ve done so are rare and Douglas th Adams is among them. to the Galaxy The Hitch-hiker’s Guide so far sold 12 million copies and easily made the ‘Top 100 Books of the the ‘Top 20 in 1999. It has even penetrated popular language. The words ‘Life, The Universe and stigmatise the genre. stigmatise dams dams dams dams dams egg egg egg But Douglas egg egg Everything’ are spoken by people who’ve never heard the original radio shows, read the books or seen the BBC’s winning TV BAFTA production. Douglas Adams’ place is already secure beside the likes of Edgar Jules Allen Poe, H.G. Wells Verne, and George Orwell. Adams accomplished more. There are those creative talents which contribute the milestones along the road but even more rare and significant are those whose creations The alter the very course of the road itself. work of Douglas Adams is such a turning eciation eciation eciation eciation eciation er Gr er Gr er Gr er Gr er Gr og og og og og The las A las A las las A las las A las A las y R y R y R y R y R b b b b b An Appr An Appr An Appr An Appr An Appr Fiction is Fiction the most influential investigates source of contemporary cultural iconography, it iconography, is at the same time a label with which highbrow cultural and literary pundits dismiss and genre of Science Doug Doug Doug Doug Doug the paradox that although the can remember It was a kind of ‘I It was a kind Hitch-hiker’s As Thomas M. Disch says in his wonderful Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of’ Guide to the Galaxy where I when I heard was It the news’ milestone. happen very doesn’t I often. The last time experienced it was when John Lennon was shot. in But last week of California the author The survey of science fiction ‘TheAge of Golden age’ ‘golden is 12.’ This Science Fiction explains not only the zestful imaginative but also its originality of Science Fiction book ‘ marginalised ghetto. Disch’s ignored his Doctor’s a advice, exercised on treadmill and died of a heart attack at the age of 49. He will be remembered as one of the most significant authors He was of the 20th Century. Douglas Adams.

6 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 Python’s Graham Chapmanandafew Sword formulasofStar with theYoung-Man-Strokes-His-Magic- Campbell MythologicalArchetypeoperas Wan Kenobi. more subtlethananywordsutteredbyObi absurdity oftenachievingaprofundityfar resulted inanewgenreofpoignantSCI-FI the consistentlogicofhissurrealimagination influence onhiscreations. proudly citedMontyPythonasTHEmajor Healways he waswriting‘comedy’. had toattachalabelhiswork, science fictionwriter. Ifhe considered himselfa interview, thathenever explained inaBBCradio no secret,Adamsonce Fiction withComedy. Itwas organically blendedScience mind thatforthefirsttime was clearlyagenius.Hisisthe Idea. Bythisdefinition,Adams another ideatocreateaNew one ideaandcombiningwith the realsecretofgeniuswastaking corporations, famouslynotedthat scientific researchfundedby light bulb,thephonographand point. ThomasEdison,theinventorof Need-Money Star Is-In-The-Military-Somehow-We-Don’t- monopolised bythesqueakycleanEveryone- fiction wasaltered.Spacenolonger After Hitch-hiker There isthefamousaccount later, afterwritingwith back ofhismind. Years much helodgeditinthe He likedthattitleso Trek , thecourseofscience Guide To theGalaxy’. write a‘Hitch-hiker’s ‘Some oneoughtto stars andthinking Wars. staring upatthe of Adamsasa around Europe while hitch-hiking field onenight ortheJoseph lying drunkina young student With Adams episodes ofDrWho,Adamsfoundhimself Roger Gregg is the author of ‘Invasion from ‘Invasion of author the is Gregg Roger lunchtime doublyso’. illusion, ‘Time isan notes; Prefect as Ford but ofcourse for alltime, Douglas Adams remember history. rest astheysayis series, andwellthe the secondradio bestsellers’ list,then which instantlyshottoNumberOneinthe show wasphenomenal,thencamethebook from Martianinvasion.Theimpactofthe newscast styleproductionof‘ such impactwasin1938whenOrsonWelles’ Planet Vampire’, the radio play radio the Vampire’, Planet Worlds’ Worlds’ broadcast live on RTÉ from Octocon from RTÉ on live broadcast 2000. He is currently writing ‘Big Big ‘Big writing currently is He 2000. Space’ a six-part SF comedy radio series, radio comedy SF six-part a Space’ the first two episodes of which will be will which of episodes two first the recorded at Octocon 2001. Octocon at recorded contributing comedymaterialforBBC And sowe The lasttimearadiobroadcastcreated born. Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy the to Guide Hitch-hiker’s Radio 4episodeandpilotof sent citizensaroundAmericafleeing for radio.Monthslater, thefirst title withaPythonesquestoryline combining hislongremembered forwarded thenotionof our style’criticism,Adams this cloaked‘youdon’t quitefit Radio 4’sweek-ending news affairs lampoon.Inresponseto surreal thantheusualcurrent contributions werefarmore noted thatAdams’s sympathetic producerwho taken tolunchbya satire programme.Hewas War Of The Of War was The

7 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 e e e e e e e e e e .irishrail.ie) www .stenaline.co.uk) eland eland eland eland eland www hin Ir hin Ir hin Ir hin Ir hin Ir e in Dun Laoghair e in Dun Laoghair e in Dun Laoghair e in Dun Laoghair e in Dun Laoghair it it it it it iv iv iv iv iv From many parts of England From r r r r r From anywhere in England or anywhere in From .buseireann.ie) are available from om W om W om W om W om W ou Ar ou Ar ou Ar ou Ar ou Ar r r r r r www F F F F F .irishrail.ie) from Connelly Station or Tara .dun-laoghaire.com. .dublinbus.ie for bus routes). Other buses serving Dun Laoghaire from Some bus routes stop at Dun Laoghaire turn right when you exit Port, the Ferry From When you get to Dublin, getting to Dun When Y When Y When Y When Y When Y www www www various parts of the city include: 45A, 46A and 75. Once you get to Dun Laoghaire, finding the hotel Dun Laoghaire Railway Station, cross From is easy. George’s Street and walk straight up Marine Road. The Hotel is on the left, next to the Shell Petrol so Station. Most buses stop at the railway station, the same instructions apply. here, walk back to the Shopping Centre. From traffic lights, turn right into George’s Street, and take the first right turn into the hotel. left and walk and walk down Queens Road. Turn up Marine Road and turn left into the hotel. about Dun Laoghaire, visit more information For From most parts of Ireland getting to Dublin From ( be a problem. Trains shouldn’t or buses ( most parts. get a DART train can You Laoghaire is easy. ( get Street Station to Dun Laoghaire. Alternatively, any of the 7, 7A or 8 bus routes from Burgh Quay (opposite Liberty Hall, to Dun Laoghaire (see and Wales it makes sense to drive to Hollyhead it and Wales ( and take the Stena Line prices from With ferry straight to Dun Laoghaire. this can work out £200 for a car and 4 people, for petrol. And if you quite cheap, even allowing convention, a car is very stay a few days after the bit of the beautiful Irish handy for taking in a countryside. Laoghaire, about a 10-minute walk from the about a 10-minute walk Laoghaire, convention. Ferry: By Rail and to Dun Laoghaire) via Holyhead (straight Wales ferry on this day or night. The HSS for around £49 around £59. recommended for route is highly Scotland via Stranrar and Belfast for about Form be bookable at your £50-£58. All of these should local railway station. By Car and Ferry: o Dun Laoghair Dun o Laoghair Dun o o Dun Laoghair Dun o o Dun Laoghair Dun o Laoghair Dun o .com) is t t t t t t t t t t .aircoach.ie) eland eland eland eland eland www .ryanair www o Ge o Ge o o Ge o o Ge o Ge o .dublinbus.ie) a operates .ireland.travel.ie). Overnight or daytime for £30- www

www RyanAir ( RyanAir w t w t w w t w om Outside Ir om Outside Ir om Outside w t w t w om Outside Ir om Outside om Outside Ir om Outside Ir om Outside .aerlingus.ie)Airways and British r r r r r

F F F F F Europe. Be warned: the cheap flights fill warned: the cheap flights Europe. Be available from many parts of the UK and many parts of the UK available from www probably the cheapest airline. Flights are cheapest airline. Flights probably the .stenaline.co.uk) ferry straight to Dun .stenaline.co.uk) .britishairways.com) often offer competitive .britishairways.com) often

Ho Ho Ho

By Air: Ho Ho See below for instructions for getting from Before you leave Dublin Airport make sure The Aircoach is a privately run express service. Dublin Bus ( If you don’t fancy spending that much, you If you don’t When you get to Dublin Airport, get a bus or When you get to Dublin www www Dublin city centre to Dun Laoghaire. By Bus and Ferry: £40 return from Liverpool, Birmingham, London, can get the Stena Line You Leeds or Manchester. ( you pick a map of Dublin from the Bord Fáilte Office ( Tourist Be careful to get on the right one. Aircoach also offers a service to the International Financial want to catch. Services centre which you don’t It costs £4 and also calls at a number of hotels on It costs £4 and also calls at a number of hotels the south side of the city including Jurys, Bewleys, Seasons and The Burlington. The The Four Aircoach runs every 15 minutes. ( number of services, only one of which is direct to number of services, only one of which is direct an Dun Laoghaire. The 746 costs £2 but it is not express service, which is why it’s only IR£2. The 747 and 748 are express services, which is why they cost IR£3 but only go as far as the city centre. Street. However Both services stop in O’Connell the 746 also serves Connolly Station and Busaras Street DART station while the 748 stops at Tara go and Heuston (though why you would want to to Heuston Station to get to Octocon is beyond me.) can take the Aerdart. This is a new bus service can take the Aerdart. airport to Howth Junction that operates from the can get a train to Dun DART station, where you Laoghaire. The company has negotiated a through the bus driver ticketing service with Irish Rail. Tell you are going to Dun Laoghaire and he will issue you a IR£4 ticket. u p RyanAir While flights online at www.ryanair.com. other airlines such as Aer is usually the cheapest, RyanAir can book You early. fast, so book Lingus ( will cost about IR£12 to A taxi taxi to the city. Laoghaire, but if you’re Dublin or IR£20 to Dun worth it for the hassle it in a group it could be saves. ( price of one. deals such two for the

8 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 website: www.ryan-hotels.com/htm/marine_i.htm email: [email protected] Fax: +353-1-2801089 Telephone: +353-1-2801911 The hotelcanbecontactedby: snacking sessions! room serviceisavailableforthose midnight garment pressandelectronicsafetylocks.24-hour control TV, direct dialtelephone,hairdryer, radio, room. member ofOctoconwhenyou'rebookingyour full Irishbreakfast,servicecharge&VAT. VAT. inclusive offullIrishbreakfast,servicecharge& the weekendofconvention. a specialattendeeroomratewiththehotelfor Maritime Museum. is walkingdistancefromJoyce'sTower andthe amenities. Tourist pointsofnotearethatthehotel back ofthehotel,soyouwon'thavetogofarfor easy accessbycar. to knowthatit'ssituatedclosetheferryportfor centre byDartandourU.K. attendeeswillbeglad in sizeorprice. quite measureuptotheoriginalhomeofcon for newplacestoholdOctoconnothingcould the conventionitistoday. Whenwewentlooking essentially evolvedwiththehotelandsobecome at theRoyalMarineforsomanyyearsithas it's inDunLaoghaire.BecauseOctoconhasbeen Octocon hasneverbeenmoreathomethenwhen The RoyalMarineisnostrangertoOctoconand convention. have foundthebestlocationpossiblefor this yearwecansaytoallourmembersthat the bestconventionspacepossibleforOctocon home forOctocon.Afteranexhaustivehunt this yearthesearchcontinuedforanevenbetter with movingtheconventiontocitycentreand Last yeartheOctoconcommitteeexperimented All bedroomsareequippedwithremote To getityoumustclearlystatethatarea £115 pernightforasingleroominclusiveof £130 pernightforadoubleortwinroom This yeartheOctoconcommitteehasarranged The centreofDunLaoghaireisliterallyatthe The hotelisonly20minutesfromDublincity The R The R The R The R The R Dun Laoghair Dun Laoghair Dun Laoghair Dun Laoghair Dun Laoghair More details canbefound ontheOctocon website(www.octocon.com). o o o o o y y y y y The Oct The Oct The Oct The Oct The Oct al Mar al Mar al Mar al Mar al Mar ine Ho ine Ho ine Ho ine Ho ine Ho e e e e e t t t t t el el el el el ocon Ho ocon Ho ocon Ho ocon Ho ocon Ho Innisfree email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2805764 Telephone +353-1-2809628 Rates -£20.00p.p.s.&£30.00single Laoghaire Avondale House email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2302258 Telephone +353-1-2806404 £29.00 single Rates -£17.00to£21.00p.p.s.&£29.00 Lynden email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2801664 Telephone +353-1-2801664 £28.00 single Rates -£17.50to£19.50p.p.s.&£22.00 Ariemond email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2800447 Telephone +353-1-2801663 Rates -(Notavailableattimeofsurvey) The Portview Hotel email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2801237 Telephone +353-1-2801810 £64.00 single Rates -£42.50to£45.00p.p.s.&£59.00 Kingston Hotel email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2800997 Telephone +353-1-2800997 £70.00 single. Rates -£18.00to£35.00p.p.s. &£18.00to Ophira email: [email protected] Fax +353-1-2803093 Telephone +353-1-2805598 £28.00 single Rates -£17.50to£19.50p.p.s.&£22.00 Laoghaire , 2MulgraveTerrace, DunLaoghaire. , 10CorrigAvenue, DunLaoghaire Ot Ot Ot Ot Ot , 31NorthumberlandAvenue, Dun , 47MulgraveStreet,DunLaoghaire her Placest her Placest her Placest her Placest her Placest , AdelaideRoad,DunLaoghaire , 3NorthumberlandAvenue, Dun , MarineRoad,DunLaoghaire t t t t t el el el el el o S o S o S o S o S t t t t t a a a a a y y y y y

9 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1 IRELAND’S LEADING MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY AND HORROR

WE’VE PUBLISHED FICTION BY:

BRIAN STABLEFORD IAN MCDONALD ANNE MCCAFFREY NORMAN SPINROD COLIN GREENLAND GILL ALDERMAN HUGH COOK JEFF VANDERMEER ESTHER M. FRIESNER PATRICIA ANTHONY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.YELLOWBRICKROAD.IE/ALBEDO s s No, Not Another... Crafts No, Not Another... s s s A094 Joe Nolan A095 Annie A096 Colette A097 Hugh A098 Claire A099 AnneMarie A100 Nigel G101 Harrison Harry G102 Harrison Joan D103 Dandelion Books D104 Dandelion Books G105 Jennah Higgins A106 Condit Emer A107 Geraldine Robinson J108 Aoife Condit A109 Neko A110 Joe Doyle D111 Oh D112 Lost In Space D113 Lost In Space D114 Lost In Space A115 Pib S116 Pog A117 Eoin Meehan A118 Pennell Vince A119 Batman A120 Zena A121 Gareth Kavanagh A122 StefZilla A123 Liam McGloinn A124 Ian Watson A125 Jessica Watson A126 Kris Laverack A127 Bazooka! A128 Kay Hancox A129 Tony A130 Angie A131 Gavin A132 Ian A133 Ian Sheppard A134 Maura McHugh A135 Martin Feeney A136 Bob G137 John Meaney G138 Yvonee Meaney G139 Rachel Armstrong A047 Bob Neilson D048 Christy Flood D049 Christy Flood A050 Erykah G051 Michael Carroll G052 Leonia D053 Slovo Books D054 Slovo Books D055 Cuts Paper A056 Matthew P Mulhall A057 Thomas Mulhall A058 John Richards G059 Ian McDonald G060 J Holden Paul A061 Graham Collier A062 Julian West G063 Katherine Kurtz G064 Scott McMillan G066 Don Conroy A067 James Hammerton G068 Eugene Byrne A069 Chip Livingstone A070 Jenny Gerbil A071 Noreen Monahan A072 Margaret Moran A073 ECH A074 Q A075 James Peart A076 Rod O'Hanlon G077 Morgan Llywelyn A078 Vampirella A079 Lor A080 The Bellingman A081 Colette A082 Andy England S083 Redfarn Peter A084 Kirsty A085 Liam A086 Cooper Steve A087 Phil Plumbly A088 Mark Bailey A089 Macken You!" "Hey, Brian A090 Linda A091 Jennifer A092 Seamus A093 Pearse ocon Member ocon Member ocon ocon Member ocon ocon Member ocon Member ocon Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct olfhound Rónán Dave-oh Jenny G001 McCaffrey Anne C002 Fraggle C003 Pádraig Ó Méalóid A004 Anders C005 W A006 Dave Lally A007 Lostcarpark A008 Meike A009 Reverend Jim A010Nisbet Brian A011 Tobes A012 Nolly A013 Deirdre Ruane A014 Alan Doherty A015 Starfire A016 Kickham Patric A017 Small Redhead A018 Rory A019 Baj A020 Gordon McCormack A021 Dave W A022 Ylva Spångberg A023 David Stewart A024 Highly Doped Emitter A025 Alan! A026 James A027 Alix A028 S029 S030 Albedo 1 S031 Brendan S032 Helen J033 A034 D C035 Grutok of Kurg A036 Wyvernfriend G037 John Higgins G038 Roger Gregg G039 Kim Newman A040 Cheryl Morgan A041 Cadelor A042 A Rood Paul G043 Colin Smythe A044 Mary O'B J045 Kerrie A046 Ali

12 www.octocon.com Octocon 2001 Progress Report 1