Four Cubed The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 1: Friday PM Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

When I’m Sixty Four • Genre Get-together (Saturday 7pm): How to get on WiFi Welcome to EightSquaredCon! This is Remove Jaine Fenn. Get a login sheet from hotel reception the con newsletter, FourCubed, which • Steampunk Morality and Victorian —each has two logins on it, for your should be your go-to-source for up-to- Values (Saturday 7pm): Remove phone and computer, each of which is the-minute convention news David Barnett, add Fiona Anderson good for 24 hours. On your device, throughout the weekend. Well, up-to- a nd Chris Butler. (Also, it’s Liesel choose the network ‘swisscom’; then the-day news at any rate. We’ll do at Schwarz, not Schwartz – our from your web browser you can log least one issue every day. apologies.) in. You’ll need to keep the window Michael Abbott open (laptop) or save a bookmark There are lots of different ways to get Times and Places (phone/tablet) to stay logged in. stuff into the newsletter. Drop stories The Dealers’ Room (at the Having said that, we appear to be off with us (we’re in Pine on the 2nd northeastern end of the ground floor) trying to set a record for ‘most people floor) or at Ops, email us at opens 10am each morning and closes logged on to one hotel Swisscom [email protected], or do at 6pm, except for Monday, when it server at once’. It’s the modern anything seriously embarrassing closes at 3pm. They welcome equivalent of cramming people into a while there’s someone around with a everyone and their wallets. phone box. camera. The Art Show (on the 2nd floor, at the Opening Ceremony Review We’d particularly like to hear from east end) is open until 8pm Friday, you if you’re running an awesome Hey! There’s a con. It’s happening. 9am to 9pm Saturday, and then only program item this weekend—plug it! 9am-11am on Sunday; please make If you’ve been to an awesome sure you make time to come and programme item or restaurant— enjoy looking around before it’s too review it! late. Get a bidder number from the Induction Reduction desk; it’s not your con number. We’re sorry, but the induction loop is Volunteer Call not currently working. A gopher has Eastercon runs entirely on volunteer been sent to look for a very special labour; every part of the convention is cable. put together and staffed by Programme Changes volunteers. Volunteering is also great 50 Scheds of Grey The Programme Guide went to press fun, and you can get involved this If you have a smartphone, point it at while we were still finalising the weekend. We need gophers, who do http://8squared2013.sched.org for the programme, and since then we’ve all sorts of odd jobs—go to ops. Tech 1 online version of the programme. It’s made some changes to who’s on also need volunteers, and offer free searchable, and will be kept up to w hich item. Here are the changes for Snickers. And if anyone fancies date over the weekend. Friday and Saturday: helping out on a newsletter, come and find us. You could be a cub reporter! • Head to Head: E Nesbit and C S Random Plug #1 Lewis (Friday 8pm): add Sarah Ash Access All Areas A major highlight of Saturday morning comes when Lee Hanson of and Bridget Wilkinson. Green Room volunteers are buying the JB Priestley Society tells us that • Underground London (Friday 9pm): drinks for panelists, and should Bradford turns out to have been good add Mike Shevdon. therefore be allowed to take priority for something other than curry. Come • Genre Get-together (Saturday at the bars. Please don’t be grumpy, along and learn about Bradford’s 11am): add Jaine Fenn. and allow them to cheerfully go most famous science fictional son. • Reinventing Urban Fantasy ahead and smooth your programme (Saturday 1pm): add CE Murphy. participants’ throats. Thank you! Parents Please Note • The Best Books of 2012 (Saturday Austin Benson The creche is in room G12. 7pm): add Paul Cockburn. Restaurant Reviews Random Plug #2 What do you call...? Akbars Indian Cuisine: 1276 Leeds We’re currently enjoying the sound Farah Mendlesohn asked us to let you Road BD3 8LF, 01274 773311— Not so check for Zulu Tradition, from 8pm all know that her hearing loss has nearby restaurant (taxi), quite good, till 10pm in Main. Songs, dance and worsened and she’s now legally deaf. although noisy. It probably helps to drums from Zulu cultural heritage. That means that if you want her to make a reservation in advance, Here’s a pic to whet your appetite: hear what you’re saying, she needs to although they managed to seat six of see your face. In general, do us within 15 minutes anyway. All we remember that people around the con tried (Balti dishes) were great, may have invisible disabilities, and including the nut and fruit nans. act accordingly. Jan van’t Ent Random Plug #3 Hanq's Diner is next to the petrol Come along to the TAFF Q&A tonight station opposite the Cedar Court at 8pm. Tag your questions with Hotel. As its name suggests, this an #askTAFF and they’ll be read out. American style diner with steaks and [What’s wrong with putting up your hamburgers being the main fare. The hand?—Ed] cheeseburger was very tasty, if I Will Walk Ten Satellite of Love slightly underdone, and it came with Thousand Miles Progress Report 2 for Eastercon next real chips, not American fries. For Well, not necessarily this weekend. year is now available for you to those who like to start the day with But if you’re wearing a pedometer collect. Also there might be an pancakes or waffles, it also does this weekend, let us know your albatross. American style breakfasts. stepcounts; we’ll print the highest for Steve Rogerson bragging rights. Cash In Last night was good. We went for a Slight Technical The nearest cashpoint with free withdrawals is located at the Shell lovely meal at Aakash, which claims Inaccuracies #1 garage across the roundabout. to be the biggest Indian restaurant in In the Useful Information booklet, all England, if not the world. The buffet the function/programme rooms that Directions on foot: leave the hotel car was great and catered for everyone. are described as being on the First park and follow the pavement on the It's popular so make reservations. Floor are in fact on the Second Floor. right until you reach the pedestrian Julie McMurray crossing. The garage is the other side Chris O’Shea of the road; a slow 6 minute walk. I am absolutely not recommending Wedding Bells the Sparrow Bier Cafe on the North Well, we were all gobsmacked to hear In the Swim Parade (an easy stroll from the of Chris Bell & Roger Burton-West’s We all know that you should make Midland Hotel). Amongst the dozen nuptials. Congratulations to the sure your regular congoing day interesting keg and cask beers they happy couple, and also photographic includes thirty minutes of your are currently serving one of my evidence: favourite vigorous exercise. But if favourites and I don't want you lot that’s not an option, the Health Club coming along to drink it all! opening times will be: Helen Cross ToDo List #1 Friday/Monday 9am - 7pm (kids 10-6) Unless you’ve been under a rock Saturday 8am - 8pm (kids 9-7) you’ll know that next year’s World SF Sunday 8am - 8pm (kids 9-6) Convention will be in London. So Monday 9am - 7pm (kids 10-6) excited! At any rate, if you’ve been Lost waiting to upgrade your Loncon3 1 Ivy green rucksack with friend or pre-supporting membership, multicoloured pocket and Pikachu now is the time. Come see the and skull badges attached. If found Loncon3 table this weekend to get please take to Ops (Sycamore room on your full attending membership at 2nd floor). rock bottom rate. An installment plan is available for the brassic, and the Code of Conduct Update rates will rise after May 1st. See you If you wish to avoid giving offense at in London next August! this convention, please do not leave women in Liam’s hotel room.

This issue was produced by Alison Scott, with help from Flick, Jan van't Ent, John Coxon and Steven Cain. Cub reporter: Marianne Cain. Masthead by Sue Mason. We hope shortly to be dongle positive. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. Four Cubed The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 2: Sat am Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

Fabulous Programme Items! Zulu Tradition The BSFA Wants Your Ears As well as the JB Priestly lecture at “Is that distant thunder I hear?” Dr Louise Livesey (Ruskin College 11am in Rowan, Saturday’s daytime “No, dear, it’s just the Zulus.” Oxford) will present the fifth BSFA programme includes items with two “Oh, that’s alright then.” Lecture on Saturday at 5pm in Main of our Guests of Honour. —Fran Dowd P rogramme. The title is A Highly Zulu Tradition seemed like a strange Political Act: speech, silence, hearing and At 2pm in Main, Anne Sudworth talks choice for an Eastercon but turned out sexual violence, a subject that should be about her wonderful art and, at to be an amazing one. Zulu Tradition’s of interest to many of the people 3:30pm in Main, Freda Warrington cast of six are from South Africa, and attending Eastercon. Louise is a Tutor will be interviewed by Anne Wilson they perform the dances, songs and in Sociology and Women’s Studies, about her wide-ranging and varied drumming of tribal warriors. The and has been an academic and activist works of fiction. original purpose was to motivate in the field of women’s studies for Bʼ eeblebears Picnic fighters before battle but also practise o ver a decade now. Louise is a The Beeblebears will be meeting at working together. passionate communicator, as those of 12pm on Saturday in the Cedar Foyer us who follow her on social media I have seen English Morris dancers— Bar, to tell their tales and give you all will know. She’s been doing some who also wave big sticks whilst a big surprise! serious research for this lecture, and dancing—but these guys and gal can there will be plenty of time for John Stewart really sing. discussion after the lecture, which Following John’s perambulation Their signature moves included s hould last about 35 minutes. Hope to through the hotel lobby waving from kicking the air above their heads and see people there. an ambulance trolley early on Friday jumping into the air and landing flat —Tony Keen morning, we would like to let you on their bottoms. Now that is hard. Eurocon 2013 know that he is currently in Leeds Find out more about the 2013 General Infirmary, recovering from a I was pleased to hear one song about Eurocon, to be held in Kiev in two “quickly diagnosed” mild heart ‘Ubuntu’ which of course is not just a weeks’ time, by coming along to hear attack. The treatment was swift and flavour of Linux, but also a Dave Lally give a briefing in very successful: within an hour of philosophy about humanity. Hawthorn on Saturday at 10pm. returning to the ward, he was tucking —Alex McLintock into a ham salad and talking tech. He Kʼ ids Art Show should be discharged in the next few Art Show has stuff to create art with days, and may make it back to the con for the under-16 crowd. Everyone’s before tear-down. work will be displayed and prizes 2will be awarded for the best three John and Barbara thank you for all your good wishes and the help from pieces. the Committee, and would —The Art Show particularly like to thank the first- Top Tips Spot your intrepid editrix-in-chief! aider from the health club for his When deciding which Shakespeare support and assistance. Plus, play to discuss during your answer Yorkshire Ambulance Service is really on Just A Minute, don’t pick Measure great. For Measure…. —Barbara Stewart A Job For The Fan Fic Team Peter Wareham and Gwen Funnell both Having seen it mentioned on Twitter, have Get Well Soon cards for John, and we’re eagerly awaiting the Noggin the would appreciate it if you could sign them Nog/Buffy crossover series. before the end of the con. The BSFA Wants Your Money Pub Crawl Report Free Stuff At least a dozen members of The eight courageous souls who Don’t forget that the Conservatory is EightSquaredCon are in arrears with braved the cold on Thursday night for the place to find free books that have their BSFA membership subscriptions. the pre-con pub crawl discovered that kindly been donated by publishers If you think that you may be one of beer prices in town are much cheaper supporting Eastercons. Details of the them, please come to the BSFA table t han at the hotel. We started at the genre get-togethers are in the in the Dealers’ Room and find out. If excellent Fighting Cock on Preston programme. you want to renew your subscription Street, a street corner pub a little out Restaurant Reviews at Eastercon, we’ll take cheque or of the way, but well worth the hunt as My Thai, 200 Keighley Road (closed cash, or you can pay online later. it serves a wide range of real ales and Sundays) bottled beers. The next stop was the PS: If you are not currently a BSFA Wonderful food and great service in New Beehive Inn on Westgate. The ten member, we are also taking new quiet surroundings. We had the hand pumps are a little misleading as memberships on the table! Bangkok Banquet for £20 per person, only three real ales were available. It —The BSFA which was excellent value, and I was a quiet pub that we shared with Will You Still Need Me…? would particularly recommend dishes just two locals. Statistically, some of the people at this 62 (Volcanic Duck) and 43 (Penang convention will be 64 this year. Do The crawl finished at Haigy’s Ale Beef). you know who they are? Please let the House: given that it was cold outside —Anon newsletter office know, so that we can and the pub stays open until 1am, we Akbar’s Indian Restaurant, 1276 Leeds Rd embarrass them as they deserve! decided to stay there. A good range of The food here is amazing. Each dish ales and a pleasant atmosphere also Dutch Arctic Toner-Mining can feed almost two people. The Nan aided our decision to remain. bread could feed an army. You need to Team Arrived —Steve Rogerson Spotted in the upstairs lounge, under Bloody Immigrants, Coming book in advance and there is a car park. It was very popular indeed. an alternating warm and cold Over Here, Taking Our Jobs streaming aircon, intrepid Dutch con —Julie Rigby Confact is a type-it-yourself time travellers Van der Putte and convention newsletter that comes Sheeshmahal, 6 St Thomas Road Boekestein were commiserating about over from the mainland, where it’s a Another fine restaurant, apparently the cold inside and out. Warning note landmark, especially at German frequented by Bradford taxi drivers, after this morning’s expedition: do conventions. Sitting down and typing and you do need a taxi, as it’s on the not try a walk around the hotel with a a few lines at the ancient, typewriter- other side of the city centre, although busted ankle. There is a nice straight style portable computer gives you a not too far from Jurys Hotel. Fairly slide down just west of the hotel, with bit of the old fan-ed experience. The quiet business (compared to other a walkable incline back to the first issue at an Eastercon is expected Indian restaurants) with great food - northeast though. to be finished soon, after which it will we tried the Biryani and Dopiaza —Jan van’t Ent be printed and can be picked up at from the favourites list (the last from Ecki’s table in the Foyer (first table on the Mughal Empire days). Note it’s the left when you enter). Go try it, unlicensed, but a nice jug of salted type a few lines on your convention lassi went down well with the meal. experience and help the team to finish —Jan van’t Ent yet another issue. Toner Sniffers —Jan van’t Ent As Yr Hmbl Ed began preparations Decorating Tips for this newsletter, the Chief Printer If you’re finding that your delicate, Wrangler was deep in the paper gauzy curtains are not only beautiful m ines, hand-crafting Issue 1. Minutes The Fannish Way To2 Exercise but also completely incapable of after the first, delicate scent of toner 1.Walk over to Pine to say hello to the reducing the amount of early- started to waft down the corridors, a Newsletter Crew. morning sunlight streaming into your steady stream of northern-European 2.Walk to the Boardroom programme room, do not despair! fans began to arrive, begging for the room. latest issue. Do the snowy wastes The largely pointless rug-like thing on improve the sensitivity of their noses, Congratulations! You’ve just gone up the bottom of your bed is just the one floor without climbing any stairs, or is it the genetically advantageous right height and width to hang over ability to seek out the printer-fresh thanks to the miracle of Radissonian the curtain rail and let you get a little architectural topography! sheets of paper that provide vital more sleep! warmth in the dark winter months?

This issue was produced by Flick, with help from Alison Scott, Mike Scott and Jan van’t Ent. Masthead by Sue Mason. Mike’s ex- and current wives would like to express their appreciation of his awesome dongle. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. We would like to apologise for the previous issue. FOUR CUBED The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 3: Sat PM Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

More Programme Changes Emma England ('When is Fiction Who’s For Food? Issue 1 contained the changes to the Fanfiction? (Fem)Slashing the Bible' There won't be a break in the serving programme for Friday and Saturday; - there is a parental advisory on this of con food this afternoon; instead of here are the changes for Sunday and talk) and Caro Wilson ('Making Mice'). stopping between lunch and dinner Monday. • Head to Head: Arthur C Clarke and they'll serve straight through. John Brunner (Monday Ham): add • Maiden, Mother, Who? Older This is because the hotel expects there Fiona Anderson and Ian Whates. Women in Genre Fiction (Sunday to be a rush on food after Doctor Who, • Eastercons: More Regenerations 10am): replace Fran Dowd with so they're making it easier for you to Than a Time Lord (Monday 2pm): Caroline Mullan. have your evening meal before the add Sue Mason and Ian McKenna. • Fast Fact Talks: Ideas To Go (Sunday show. And if you're not interested in • Beer, (Some) Beards and Duplicators 11am): our Sunday Fast Facters are Doctor Who, why not eat dinner (Monday 3pm): in addition to Tracy Berg (talking about 'Making between 6pm and 7pm? Edward James, this panel has Things Glow'), Malcolm Davies Caroline Mullan, Mark Plummer Remember that the hotel is also ('Why Hobbits Are Evil') and and Alison Scott. serving its regular bar menu Smuzz ('Writing SF Comics For Michael Abbott throughout the convention in the Younger Children'). Advice For Young Dragons main bar. If you do find that the • Alan Garner (Sunday noon): add Please do not smoke directly outside eateries are oversubscribed, we have Jacey Bedford. the hotel. Please use the smoking restaurant reviews over the page. • Cityscapes (Sunday 1pm): add Jacey shelter which is just to the right of the Bedford. The Mirror Mirror Ball, hotel entrance. • Head to Head: Bram Stoker and featuring Witching Hour Mary Shelley (Sunday 1pm): Why Is The Future Your chance to dress up and be remove David Barnett, add John Drawn So White? fabulous at EightSquaredCon, Lenahan and Sara Townsend. This programme item will be talking assuming that you don't mind • The Brothers Grimm (Sunday 6pm): about the whitewashing of ethnic missing the Hugo Shortlist remove Tiffani Angus. characters in art and media, and how Announcement and Spokane 2015 • Head to Head: H P Lovecraft and to fight this tendency. 11am in Rowan. party. The ball is at 8pm in Main. Robert E Howard (Sunday 6pm): Hugo Nominees remove Sara Townsend, add Sarah Tech Troubles Your chance to see who is going to Newton. Tech wishes to apologise for the potentially win a Hugo, assuming • Sex in Young Adult Literature sounds of sniper fire that came from you don't mind missing the Mirror (Sunday 8pm): it's 'Peadar the Non-Wes tern SF and Fantasy Mirror Ball and Spokane 2015 party. O'Guilin', not 'Peader'. Our panel. The culprit has been located Come and see what we'll argue about apologies. and the offending microphone has until LoneStarCon 3! The nominees • Extreme Rewrites (Sunday 9pm): been taken out and shot. will be announced in Rowan at 8pm. with Bob Neilson, Jennifer Delaney, The induction loop is now working in Sharon Reamer and Ira Nayman. the hotel. It's at the front of the front­ Spokane 2015 party • Gerry Anderson (Monday 10am): left section of the seats in the main Your chance to mingle and drink with remove Stephen Baxter. programme hall. those involved with the Spokane in • Geeks in the Media (Monday 10am): Beer! Beer! Beer! 2015 VVoridcon bid,assuming you with DougS, Tracy Berg, Anna don’t mind missing, etc. This will be Jo Fletcher Books and Quercus invite Feruglio Dal Dan, Phil Dyson and part of the site selection at the 2013 you to the conservatory to meet their Pat McMurray. Worldcon, LoneStarCon 3, so it’s your authors and chat about books at 7pm • Fast Fact Talks: Ideas To Go last chance to make your mind up! on Sunday. They would like to make (Monday 11am): our Monday Fast 8pm in the conservatory. Facters are cDave (telling us why it very clear that they’d like to buy ‘Comics Are Not Just For Children’), you a drink. Restaurant Write-ups Hot Off The Presses Shamrokon Raffle Eleven of us went to Omar Khan’s We hear from registration that there Win a stay in the four star convention (near the Jurys Inn) last night. have been 84 walk-ins so far. Full hotel for Shamrokon in Dublin, Fantastic food, quick service and dealt membership details to follow. Ireland. Raffle tickets cost £10 on the well with us being a large group. Fan Funds Shamrokon desk. Three raffle tickets Especially good was the garlic naan cost £20. Hopefully this is for the The fan funds are having an auction bread, although it was the largest actual Eurocon weekend. tomorrow night at 9pm. If you have naan I've seen! 30 Little Horton Lane, anything you’d like to see go to a Tantalising Texts BD5 0AL; www.omarkhans.co.uk. good home, please bring it along and “I fell asleep in the fan lounge. Emily January we’ll auction it. If you’d like to give I lounged too far.” We headed to Shalamar (fifteen the stuff we’re auctioning a good Andrew Hogg minutes from the Cedar Court) via a home, that’s also very helpful. Last Beeblebears’ Picnic rather circuitous route. Fortunately, it time, Alison Scott wore a Dalek voice- was well worth the trip! The staff A select gathering of Beeblebears met changing helmet—don’t miss out on were extremely helpful and today in the Foyer Bar. After this year’s hijinks. accomodating and even made a introductions, they participated in paneer saag for us despite it not being If you’d like to vote for either Theresa their usual drinking games and it was on the menu. It’s worth noting that Derwin or Jim Mowatt in this year’s discovered that yellow Beeblebears do despite an advertised 4:30pm opening TAFF race, please see Claire and Mark not enjoy yellow beers! A few late time, I spoke to one fan who got there on the Cold Tonnage table in the arrivals straight from the dealers at around 6pm and found it shut; Dealers’ Room or catch me in the bar. rooms were swiftly initiated in the head over in the evening! Although John Coxon rites of Beeblebears and all enjoyed the Cedar Court is in their delivery Paging Mike Cule the Haribo provided. zone… 862 Manchester Road, BD5 8DJ. Could you please go to hotel John Coxon reception because something of yours Mobile Weaponry has been handed in. We have discovered, via a careful Summer Is Icumen In reading of the EightSquaredCon Lhude sing cuccu! weapons policy, that all smartphones Snowe falleth from skye are banned as they emit light and Lamb freezeth in byre sound. Fans are advised that if they’re Clokkes forward go thys nicht seen using iPhones in the convention Bollucs printeth nywslettyre area, they will need to report to the con office to have them peacebonded. Print bollucs nu. Print bollucs Volunteers Needed! Print bollucs. Print bollucs nu. We still need volunteers for Sunday Fanfic Workshop and Monday in lots of areas of the The Fanfic Slash Fiction Workshop con. Green Room says ‘why not try produced a startling array of Beeblebears frolicking at their picnic, working in Green Room?’ Tech says crossover fiction, including (but not courtesy of Richard S ‘we always need more people in tech’. limited to) Heroes/House, Star Trek/The Manticore showed off his fine You get the idea. We particularly want Simpsons, Sanctuary/Doctor Who/ breastplate while his Gothic plate mail people to write us stories, bring us or Warehouse 13 and Captain Scarlet/Are was still being fitted by the armourer. send us photos, and give us news. You Being Served? (yes, really!). [They The Bear That Shall Not Be Named Almost OAPs both featured Captain Peacock, right? – arrived, still wearing last year’s Alison] The star of the show, however, Andrew Patton was 64 in January. costume bearing the stains of past 3was Arthur Chappell’s complete Dave Lally will be 64 in December. festivities. Dexter/Life on Mars story, which Linda Stratman is 64, but only until 4 Dan Smithers received a well-deserved round of April, when she will be 65. Editor Off To The Bar applause. I am being told off by Alison Scott for Fannish Yog’s Law Kate Keen threatening to retreat to the bar Mobile Vexation A fannish modification of Yog’s Law: instead of proofreading. Apparently, the flow of money should always be Please can you turn off your mobile this isn’t in the spirit. Who knew? towards the author but the flow of phones, tablets and other interactive Fortunately she hit me with a big beer should always be towards the devices in programme items, enough stick. fan. We approve! particularly Guest of Honour items.

This issue was produced by John Coxon, with help from Alison Scott, Flick and Jan van’t Ent. Masthead by Sue Mason. John compensates for his lack of an awesome dongle by having a smartphone instead. It vibrates. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. We would like to apologise for the previous issue. Four Cubed The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 4: Sun am Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

Site Non-Selection Healthy Exercise Time Stealers There were no bids for the 2015 Tai Chi is not all about gentle Satellite 4 would like to guarantee that Eastercon, so both 2015 and 2016 will movement and breathing. It forms the we will not steal an hour of your life. be voted on at next year’s Eastercon, basis of a martial art, used by Jane We can’t give you back the one you Satellite 4, in Glasgow. Assuming that Yellowrock in a series of novels by lost, but we won’t be taking any more. anyone volunteers. Please come to the Faith Hunter, the latest of which, Dyllanne programme item about the future of Blood Trade is released by Roc on 2 Art Show Admin Eastercon at 1pm on Monday in the April. In addition to the normal Could A Payton, membership number Boardroom. breathing exercises in the Tai Chi 0177, go back to the art show and get Adult Art Prizes session on Monday at 9am in Rowan, a bidder number please. Fiona Anderson will be demonstrating 1.Fangorn: The Angel Jordan some of Jane’s vampire-busting Teenage Gamers on Speed 2.Jackie Burns: Astronaut In A Pool Of moves. Ever wanted to help run a space Light station? Badly? Ever wanted to do so 3.SMS: Dog: Track Things (If I had a Tʼ oday s Programme Plugs from almost any Windows machine? dog… we could track things) At 2pm in Main, Edward James will Then Space Station 13 may be for you! ʼKids Art Prizes be interviewed by Kari Sperring. At Featuring a large variety of hilarious 1.Nathaniel Smithers: Pipe Cleaner 3:30pm in Main, Walter Jon Williams screwups and messups, in which Zombie Defender (Best 3D) will be interviewed by Roz Kaveney. players will be antagonists, traitors, 2.Cuil: Caltorp (Best Comic) The BSFA Awards will be announced aliens, cultists or central command. 3.Amrit Singh: Phoenix And Dragon at 7pm in Main, followed by an Think of it as similar to the Paranoia (Best Line Work) and Matthew update from the Loncon 3 committee. RPG, but a video game in space! Smithers: Chicken In Barn (Best Check out Baystation 12 on the Scene) The Fan Fund Auction will be at 9pm BYOND platform. You can visit a Honorable mentions: in Hawthorn; please come along and buy a superannuated newsletter Facebook group to find out more by • Libby Cooper: Easter Chick (Best Use editor. heading to http://on.fb.me/16oju3B. of Colour) There are also more instructions • Evelyn Fisher/Biggins: Pretty cDave’s Fast Talk on Monday will be available at http://bit.ly/16ojHUr. Flowers (Most Decorative) ‘Comics Are Still For Children!’ Alternatively, email me at • Jonathan Smithers: Falp (Best More Cons! [email protected]. Reproduction Remember that Jo Walton is the GoH James Walker • Katheryn Meenan: 8 Squared (Best at Novacon 43, in the Park Inn Hotel Better Than Euros Design) 4Nottingham from 8 to 10 November The Dealers’ Room would like you to Have You Seen This Panda? 2013. know that Groats are acceptable A 6” tall panda has escaped into the The Bad Death Awards currency for all debts, public and wilds of the con: if you find it, please private. The winner of the Bad Death award, feed it bamboo and take it back to Ops. by general acclaim of the audience, was Lazarus Reactor Fission Sequence by Tom Francis from the This Is How You Die anthology (note: not the Machine Of Death as announced in the item—this is the sequel), in which Victoria the tapir is dropped onto a prisoner from a height of 30 meters with hilarious consequences. No, Sue, the dealers are accepting groats... Hugo Nominations •Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks written Best Semiprozine A total of 1,343 valid nomination forms by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel •Apex Magazine edited by Lynne M. (1,329 online and 14 paper) were received, Rodriguez Thomas, Jason Sizemore and Michael with 468 originating from Chicon 7, 716 •Saga, Volume One written by Brian K. Damian Thomas from LoneStarCon 3 and 159 from Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples •Beneath Ceaseless Skies edited by Scott H. Loncon 3. •Schlock Mercenary: Random Access Andrews Memorabilia by Howard Tayler, colors by •Clarkesworld edited by Neil Clarke, Jason Best Novel Travis Walton Heller, Sean Wallace and Kate Baker •2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson •Saucer Country, Volume 1: Run written by •Lightspeed edited by John Joseph Adams •Blackout by Mira Grant Paul Cornell, illustrated by Ryan Kelly, and Stefan Rudnicki •Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois Jimmy Broxton and Goran Sudžuka •Strange Horizons edited by Niall McMaster Bujold Best Dramatic Presentation Harrison, Jed Hartman, Brit Mandelo, An •Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by (Long Form) Owomoyela, Julia Rios, Abigail John Scalzi •The Avengers Screenplay & Directed by Nussbaum, Sonya Taaffe, Dave •Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Joss Whedon Nagdeman and Rebecca Cross Ahmed •The Cabin in the Woods Screenplay by Best Fanzine Best Novella Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon; Directed •Banana Wings edited by Claire Brialey •After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the by Drew Goddard and Mark Plummer Fall by Nancy Kress •The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey •The Drink Tank edited by Chris Garcia •The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa and James Bacon Sanderson Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del •Elitist Book Reviews edited by Steven •On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Toro, Directed by Peter Jackson Diamond Bodard •The Hunger Games Screenplay by Gary •Journey Planet edited by James Bacon, •San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the Ross & Suzanne Collins, Directed by Gary Chris Garcia, Emma J. King, Helen J. California Browncoats by Mira Grant Ross Montgomery and Pete Young •“The Stars Do Not Lie” by Jay Lake •Looper Screenplay and Directed by Rian •SF Signal edited by John DeNardo, JP Best Novelette Johnson Frantz, and Patrick Hester •“The Boy Who Cast No Shadow” by Best Dramatic Presentation Best Fancast Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Short Form) •The Coode Street Podcast, Jonathan •“Fade To White” by Catherynne M. •Doctor Who:”The Angels Take Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe Valente Manhattan” Written by Steven Moffat, •Galactic Suburbia Podcast, Alisa •“The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Directed by Nick Hurran Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Sushi” by Pat Cadigan •Doctor Who:”Asylum of the Daleks” Rayner Roberts (Presenters) and Andrew •“In Sea-Salt Tears” by Seanan McGuire Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Finch (Producer) •“Rat-Catcher” by Seanan McGuire Nick Hurran •SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester, John Best Short Story •Doctor Who:”The Snowmen” Written by DeNardo, and JP Frantz •“Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard Steven Moffat, Directed by Saul Metzstein •SF Squeecast, Elizabeth Bear, Paul •“Mantis Wives” by Kij Johnson •Fringe:”Letters of Transit” Written by J.J. Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. •“Mono no Aware” by Ken Liu Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Thomas, Catherynne M. Valente Note: category has 3 nominees due to a Akiva Goldsman, J.H.Wyman, Jeff (Presenters) and David McHone-Chase 5% requirement under Section 3.8.5 of the Pinkner. Directed by Joe Chappelle (Technical Producer) WSFS constitution. •Game of Thrones:”Blackwater” Written by •StarShipSofa, Tony C. Smith George R.R. Martin, Directed by Neil Best Related Work Best Fan Writer Marshall. Created by David Benioff and •The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy •James Bacon D.B. Weiss Literature Edited by Edward James & •Christopher J Garcia Farah Mendlesohn Best Editor (Short Form) •Mark Oshiro •Chicks Dig Comics: A Celebration of Comic •John Joseph Adams •Tansy Rayner Roberts Books by the Women Who Love Them Edited •Neil Clarke •Steven H Silver by Lynne M. Thomas & Sigrid Ellis •Stanley Schmidt Best Fan Artist •Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey •Jonathan Strahan •Galen Dara Through Every Season of Doctor Who Edited •Sheila Williams •Brad W. Foster by Deborah Stanish & L.M. Myles Best Editor (Long Form) •Spring Schoenhuth •I Have an Idea for a Book… The4 •Lou Anders •Maurine Starkey Bibliography of Martin H. Greenberg •Sheila Gilbert •Steve Stiles Compiled by Martin H. Greenberg, edited •Liz Gorinsky John W. Campbell Award (NaH) by John Helfers •Patrick Nielsen Hayden Award for the best new professional •Writing Excuses Season Seven by Brandon •Toni Weisskopf science fiction or fantasy writer of 2011 or Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Best Professional Artist 2012, sponsored by Dell Magazines. Kowal, Howard Tayler and Jordan •Vincent Chong •Zen Cho * Sanderson •Julie Dillon •Max Gladstone Best Graphic Story •Dan Dos Santos •Mur Lafferty * •Grandville Bête Noire written and •Chris McGrath •Stina Leicht * illustrated by Bryan Talbot •John Picacio •Chuck Wendig * * Finalists in their 2nd year of eligibility.

This issue was produced by Flick, with help from Alison Scott, Mike Scott and Jan van’t Ent. Art by Sue Mason. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. We would like to apologise for the previous issue, particularly the dongles, the other dongles, that it contained jokes, and that some people copy text out of pdfs to read it. Four Cubed The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 5: Sun pm Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

Dress Up In Front ʼMy God It s Full of attitude and taste. A beer that you Of Thousands Restaurant Reviews! wouldn’t want to take home to meet If you had fun dressing up last night The Redemption committee tried your mother (unless she was a mean, at the Mirror Mirror Ball, think about Bharat Indian restaurant on Saturday ass-kicking biker woman). Ruby Mild costuming or cosplay at Loncon3. It’s evening, and a very nice meal we had and the Chocolate Stout will fulfil in London in August 2014, and you too. Bharat seats about 60 people and these requirements. Ruby Mild has a can find out more from the Loncon3 is at 502 Great Horton Road (BD7 strong dark taste with bags of desk in the foyer outside Main 3HR). The staff were friendly and character and the Chocolate stout Programme. efficient and the food was excellent, takes this and makes it just a tad the meat tawa was particularly well sweeter. Mine’s a Ruby Mild please You’ve got about sixteen months to received, the chicken korma was very Jim looks hopeful as he peers into an plan and make the most fabulous good and the lamb karai was tender empty bottle. Masquerade or Hall Costume ever. and flavourful. The naans were Jim Mowatt (for taff) Giulia de Cesare notably nice. We ended up paying Splashdown! Check Your Bollocks about £28 per head including drinks John Stewart has found a heat shield Those who remember little Kenneth and a generous tip. and achieved re-entry to the Bell (eg as a 7-year-old fool at convention. Follycon) might be interested in his If you want to know more, pop down latest venture. Climbing the tech to the Redemption desk and we will Random Plug #2134: scaffold gave him a taste for tell you as you buy your membership Creative Care CIC is a brand new adventure—this year he’s running 150 for Redemption 15. community interest company which miles across the desert in the Steve Rogerson aims to raise funds to research and Marathon des Sables to see the full For dinner we went to the Kerala provide support for writers and extent of his madness... Find him at Cafe, 139-141 Bradford Road. This artists with disabilities and caring saharakenny.com and help him raise unassuming and rather bare little café responsibilities. To find out more money for Orchid. deserves its fantastic ratings on contact [email protected] or Chris Bell Tripadvisor. The food had a very via www.fringeworks.co.uk Programme Plugs specific Kerala feel. We ordered the Theresa Derwin (for taff) Remember that the BSFA awards will fish moley, masala dhosa and Kerala Lifts be announced tonight at 7pm, to be chicken curry, all of which were great. Larry van der Putte is looking for a followed by a presentation from the They have no alcohol license but we lift to the Reading/Newbury area on Loncon3 committee. drank their delicious mango lahse and Tuesday 2 April, if anyone can help. at ten pounds a head it was a bargain. There will be a Guest 5of Honour Splashdown! #2 Nigel Fisher & family signing at 9pm in the Boardroom. The pool is opening at 8am tomorrow Beer! Beer! Beer! Quiz Call morning! Yippee! Come with your We are blessed with several beers at swim things and join Lizzit for a Participants in The Weakest the convention which all complement swim! [Bit early for me —Ed] Hyperlink should go to the Green each other rather well. There are some OAP Update Room at 11:45am on Monday. light drinkable little numbers such as Raving Toddlers the Clark’s Traditional and the Clark’s Mike Westhead is 64, and Kathy Westhead turns 64 in a couple of Some of the littlest people at the Blonde. Both of them taste very months. Linda Stratmann will be 64 convention have been having a great blonde indeed and slide down the for a few more days. Bhob Smith is time thanks to Tinies Creche throat with much ease. These beers very embarrassed to be 64 and even Yorkshire. If you’re one of their are nice but oftentimes nice isn’t more embarrassed that nobody told parents, consider leaving a enough and some actual flavour is the newsletter. testimonial at tiniescreche.com. required. A beer with character, Mʼ y God it s Full of NorEas’Con had been using the bobble hanging over their left eye, the Flash Fiction TeaNeck Hyatt through several hush descended over the room. They Thanks to Cory Doctorow for incarnations—the TeaNeck were awestruck. He just wanted to go suggesting that you might like to see Raddisson, the TeaNeck Hilton, even home and have a cup of tea. the results of the flash fiction panel, a brief flash when it was the TeaNeck The exec had that smile on his face. It who had to improvise short stories in Trump. The facilities chair knew the said money, and tie in deals and fame fi ve minutes each. These are our hotel better than any of its own and fortune and biscuits at every favourites from each of the four facilities people and had even meeting. If they liked it, if it took off, authors. consulted, once, upon a particularly they’d be drinking champagne out of difficult HVAC problem. The facilities each other’s shoes. Murder at the Convention people, they trusted old Tom. Or, as Bastards. “I suppose you’re wondering why his badge had it, 3TOM3. No one It ended. The lights were switched I’ve assembled you all here in the remembered what the 3 stood for. back on. Everyone sighed out, as if they’d been holding their breath. The Green Room,” said Robert Silverberg. The con chair was dead, and he lay only thing he’d been holding in was “It’s because one of you is guilty of a sprawled in the middle of the atrium. wind. terrible crime.” Some wag had deposited a hall “So,” the exec oiled at him. “What do “I can’t help all those nominations,” costume coupon on his chest, which you think?” wailed Seanan McGuire. was considered to be in pretty poor The boss cooed and gushed. “I refer,” said Silverberg, “and I’m taste by all present. The con “ Wonderful!” She looked at him. going to keep you in suspense here committee, of course, had been “Tim? What do you think?” for a moment... and a moment more... expecting this. After all, they’d signed “I....” to the crime of murder.” off on all the progress reports. “It was quite a good murder, wasn’t “It’s only for a year. It won’t even it?” said Charlie Stross. “Not that I... 3TOM3 had given some thought to hurt, you won’t know its there.” well, actually yes, I did it.” the problem of disposing of the body. “But my life isn’t—” “...Pah,” said Robert Silverberg. Randall was a large man, and difficult “That’s sorted then. This it is people! Paul Cornell to shift, and that was before both arms TV 2050. We watch the books as they and both legs had been subjected to are written. Live!” multiple compound fractures. Bollocks, he thought. My brain Murder at the Convention Carrying the con-chair now was a doesn’t have a spellchecker. The con-chair was dead, but that was messy business, and there were sharp Emma Newman only to be expected. After all, he’d bits that protruded. Hippo Birdie been predicting it since the first But it had to be done. Tessa Stokes is celebrating her first progress update. Cory Doctorow birthday on Monday 1 April. Her Still, it was rather unsightly, the TV in 2050 parents missed last year’s Eastercon, because she was being born at an spectacle of a body in the main He wasn’t sure. It seemed like inconvenient time, but Captain Tessa atrium. The hotel people were starting everyone else could see ... more. The has enjoyed her first birthday and is to ask questions. others stood around him, the strange looking forward to many more.

Snow falling slowly and the music died In slow diminuendo. Giant flakes As white as skulls. Echo that slowly breaks Like waves or snowdrifts. And she sat and cried. Icicles on her lashes, broken strings Taut round her hand5s. The snow fell without sound And sheets of music lay upon the ground Now blank as snow. It is the silence brings A sense of death from cold. The music loud For one last second a cacophony Containing ends of every symphony In one last chord. And overhead a cloud Dark as the end of music. And her death Was silent and as white as frozen breath. “The problem with fandom is that it’s full of old men.” Roz Kaveney

This issue was produced by Alison Scott, with help from Jan van’t Ent, Flick and various husbands. Art by Sue Mason. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. We no longer need to apologise for the previous issue because we’re no longer allowed to publish jokes. However, we would like to apologise for the next issue. Four Cubed The Newsletter of EightSquaredCon, the 2013 Eastercon Issue 6: Mon am Email: [email protected] Twitter: #Eastercon or 8SqCon

Eastercon 2015 is go! Elmer T Hack writes. He has a trilogy Monday Programme Changes Fans yesterday were horrified by the coming out about space lizards from 9am George RR Martin is popping lack of an Eastercon, but luckily, an Aldeberan IV. He wants to be on a into the con with advance copies of emergency committee has come minimum of four panels, including at The Winds of Winter for 20 lucky forward. Eastercon 2015 will be held least one lizard related, and to give a attendees. in Stockholm and run by Carolina reading, and to be given an hour on 10am Joss Whedon previews Buffy: Gómez Lagerlöf. the main programme for a “special The Next Generation. item” that he “cannot explain in In compensation, the Helsinki 2015 advance.” Write back offering him a 10am Neil Gaiman and Terry Worldcon will now be held in panel on space opera and a reading. Pratchett read from the forthcoming Glasgow, and run by Colin Harris and sequel to Good Omens. [Ed: We’ll Vince Docherty. Many people ask about “Head to definitely get this issue out late Sunday Head” panels, and want to know if Bʼ ridget Jones Eastercon night, won’t we? It would be a shame if panel must work out which author is people didn’t know about these.] Programming Diary better. No, I explain, we are looking Monday. Cups of Coffee: 9 (too many). for a thoughtful comparison. Nigel Best Books of 2012 Bars of chocolate: 3 (too few). E-mails suggests I should call them “Cage Sandra Unerman’s suggestions: written asking people to be on panels: 36 Death Match panels” instead and I • A Face Like Glass—Frances Hardinge (far too few). flick a ciggy butt at him. • Boneland—Alan Garner First day in new job, putting together Wednesday. Pounds lost: 3 (good: is • Wonders of the Invisible World— Eastercon programme. All v exciting, Convention Programming key to losing Patricia McKillip new start, chance to meet people etc weight fast?). Panellists lost: 2. One David Hebblethwaite’s suggestions: etc. Con chair assures me I am very arrested on vagrancy charge, the other • Redemption in Indigo—Karen Lord important to process, and takes me to now Flat-Earther and therefore not • Jack Glass—Adam Roberts see co-worker, Nigel, responsible for willing to talk about near-earth asteroids • Diving Belles—Lucy Wood youth programming. Nigel! A any more. Francis Knight’s suggestions: promising name, I think, and then I • Blackbirds—Chuck Wendig meet him, and it is suddenly not so Elmer T Hack writes back. He knows • Stray Souls—Kate Griffin promising. Nigel is smelly, pimply of at least fifteen lizard owners going Paul Cockburn’s suggestions: and Too Young, but to give him his to the convention and six professional • Intrusion—Ken MacLeod due, is practically monosyllabic in my herpetologists and urges me to • Blue Remembered Earth—Alastair presence. I have brill idea for panels properly support lizard fandom. Does Reynolds about two authors together, not just not explain special item. I pass him • The Fractal Prince—Hannu one. Will call the6m “Head to Head”. over to Nigel. Rajaniemi Spend hours shuffling authors into Whizz for Eastercons Audience suggestions: the right pairs. Nigel Molesworth • Catherynne M. Valente—The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led Tuesday. Ciggies 6 (so-so). E-mails Tune in next week when our hero the Revels There written asking people to be on panels: 57. NIGEL blow up entire lizard planet • Sally Gardner—Maggot Moon E-mails received accepting panels: 46 and their leader ELMER. • Keith Ridgeway―Hawthorn and (lovely people). E-mails received declining Nyyyooouuuwww! Child panels: 18 (perfectly decent people, Michael Abbott • Kim Stanley Robinson—2312 mustn’t judge). E-mails not received Good Advice • Ian McDonald—Planesrunner despite invitations having gone out over We asked Kari whether there was • Hugh Howie—Wool 24 hours ago: 8 (bastards, bastards, anything she thought the convention • James Treadwell—Advent bastards, why won’t they read their e- membership needed to know. “Don’t • Warren Ellis—Gun Machine mail?). Vote Tory”, she replied. Chris Hill Fan Funds • Newsflesh series—Mira Grant running movie critic; and Professor We would like to thank everyone who • The Medusa Project—Sophie Edith Hall of King’s College, London, came to the fan funds auction last Mckenzie one of the UK’s leading Classical night. We had a stonkingly good • Cherub series—Robert Muchamore scholars, with a particular interest in night, raising around £870. Thanks to • The Stainless Steel Rat series—Harry reception, who has written on the use everyone who came along and helped Harrison [shurely shome mistake—Ed] of the Greek hero Odysseus in science out etc. Mary is the best gopher in the • The Perks of being a Wallflower— fiction. The conference takes place at universe. Stephen Chbosky the Foresight Centre in Liverpool, Flick • Song of the Lioness—Tamora Pierce from 29th June to 1st July. For further Winter is Coming • Blood Red Road—Moira Young information, see the conference blog: The government has announced that • Void Trilogy—Peter F Hamilton swordssorcerysandalsspace.wordpress.com. British Summer time will be scrapped, • Soulless—Gail Carriger Tony Keen as the weather is too cold for anyone • Varjak Paw—S. F. Said Hotel Boobs #1 to think of summer right now. • Unwind—Neal Shusterman Bill Burns was perusing the useful Therefore the clocks will go back one Legal Clearance hotel information. “Our Four Season hour tonight, Monday, and the UK Simon Bradshaw was in the Bar. Brassiere is in our main hotel will remain in GMT rather than BST Sorry. The bar. “You’ll be pleased to restaurant… our Brassiere has a no until St Swithin’s Day. hear,” he informed me, “that I have smoking policy… our Brassiere is been in touch with Charlie Stross on very popular.” We bet it is. Membership numbers. the other side of the planet, and he Truth in Advertising Nobody seems to know for sure, but has given his consent to appear in a “We take great care to satisfy your there were 754 pre-registered members spoof article in the newsletter.” and about 80 walk-ins. Warm body slightest expectations”―the count is therefore about 800. Eastercon 2015 (really) Campanile Rumour has it that a fledgling bid Cory Doctorow Splashdown! committee has been formed, headed Old Classics for New Fans You may know that there has been a up by me. Maybe I'm really too sick to search on for a married couple to • Codes of Conduct of Gor―John be here, but details will be released as Norman travel on the first manned Mars we get a better picture of what a expedition. They’ll be shut up • Flying Ponies in Space―Anne possible Eastercon 2015 might look like. McCaffrey together in a small capsule for 500 Judi Hodgkin days with only minimal contact with • Telepathic Cats in Space―David Earth. We can exclusively announce I Know What I Like Weber the winning couple today. Our toddler's review of the art show: • Flying Ponies at Sea―Naomi Novik Congratulations, Cory and Charlie! “black and white cats, moons, and • My 50 Best Royalty Checks―Piers stars.” Anthony New Classics for Old Fans Zandy Hemsley • Sauron’s Laundry List―Christopher These were the recommended books: [Ed note— looks like you’ve got your art Tolkien • Power of Five—Anthony Horowitz show lead, Judi] • Miles’s Laundry List―Lois McMaster • The Name of the Star—Maureen Johnson 2013 Science Fiction Bujold • Larklight—Philip Reeve • Vlad’s Laundry List―Steven Brust Foundation Conference • Mortal Engines—Philip Reeve [That one actually exists—Ed] • The Fault in Our Stars—John Green At the end of June, the SFF organises a • Sharecroppers of Dune―Frank & • Timeriders—Alex Scarrow three day academic conference. The Brian Herbert conference is entitled Swords, Sorcery, • The Declaration—Gemma Malley Beer! Beer! Beer! • The Hunger Games—Suzanne Collins Sandals and Space: The Fantastika and It’s Monday morning and the bar has: • Uglies—Scott Westerfeld the Classical World. The theme is the 6interaction between the worlds of • The Enemy—Charlie Higson • ½ a barrel of Traditional • Gone—Michael Grant Greece and Rome, and the worlds of • 5½ barrels of Blonde • How I Live Now—Meg Rosoff science fiction and fantasy. The • plenty of bottles. • Percy Jackson and the Olympians— plenary speakers are: SFF novelist and Bottoms Up! [Are we allowed to say Rick Riordan former Classicist Catherynne M. ‘bottoms’?―Ed] • Rosemary and Rue (October Daye)— Valente, one of the decade’s rising Notable Quotes: stars; Nick Lowe of Royal Holloway, Seanan McGuire If the world were ending in two University of London, Reader in • The New Policeman—Kate Thompson months Curry's would still try to sell Greek Literature but better known to • Jigsaw—Garry Kilworth you an extended warranty. the sf community as Interzone’s long- • I, Coriander—Sally Gardner Paul McAuley

This issue was produced by guest editor Avril Fish, with help from the usual suspects. Art by Sue Mason. We’re following #Eastercon and #8SqCon on Twitter and Flickr. Never explain, never apologise. Some of the stories in this newsletter are true.