Dysprosium: Monday

Left to right: Dave Mansfield aka Crazy Dave (moderator), Steve Lawson, and me yet again.

So it's Monday, and this is the final day of the convention, and therefore my final blog post giving a glimpse into what it's like to go to a SF convention.

The first panel of the day was my last panel of the convention, called Big Boys Toys - Real Superhero Weapons, scheduled for 10.00am.  After a long weekend of staying up late and drinking, this is a cruel time to get people to sit in front of a crowd, and attempt to be erudite and witty.  I was surprised at how many people were in the main hall waiting for us to speak to.  Did I mention that this was the only panel I was on that was in the main room of the convention.

A bit daunting because the main room is for the big name guests?

Still I mumbled my way through the various YouTube video clips that Crazy Dave had brought to discuss, and fielded a couple of questions from the audience.  I was told I was OK by my significant other, which will have to do.  Better that than having rotten vegetables thrown at one, which was what my partner said the audience felt like doing to the panel.

Left to right: Dr. David Clements, Jaine Fenn (moderator), and Dr. Simon Morden.

Then we stayed in the main hall while I wound down, and listened to the next panel talking about Faeries.  It had Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire and my friend Jaine Fenn, with several others whose names I don't recall.  Basically they talked about how the image of the fairy has changed from something that might be described as chaotic evil to the sweet little things that people think of today.

After that we grabbed a quick bite to eat, because we didn't want to crash later (sticking to the plan), and then we were off to the final panel of the day called What is a Planet Anyway?  This veered away from talking about is Pluto a planet, because it's not, it's special (name lead for Plutoids or Plutonoids, take your pick).  Dave and Simon were witty and entertaining, describing the various things we know, think we know, and what we don't know about planetary formation.

It was a very interesting discussion that overran by about fifteen minutes, because it could, being the last panel of the day.

Alice Lawson announcing the Doc Weir Award, which went to Martin Hoare.

Then we toddled off across the hallway back to the main hall for the Closing ceremony. Awards were given out, people thanked, much clapping occurred, and then the convention was over, and it was time for us to leave.