I know the world at large is not wondering about this stuff, but I currently plan to attend Swancon 30 in Perth this weekend, Continuum 3 in Melbourne in July, and World Fantasy Convention 2005 in Madison in November. I think I may be on the program in Melbourne and possibly in Madison (I don’t know). I will be launching daikaiju at lunch time this Saturday, which should be fun too. Don’t know when else I’ll be at Swancon, but I hope to see everyone I can.

John Clute discusses Lisa Tuttle’s new novel, The Mysteries, which ‘echoes to the common sense of professional craft’, and from his description, manages to be a little less than the sum of its parts.

Hmmm…. this would be nice.

Swancon is on this weekend. It’s nineteen years since I attended my first, back in 1986 when C.J. Cherryh was guest of honor. Although I haven’t purchased memberships to every subsequent convention, I’ve attended all of them. Twenty, counting the one coming up this weekend.

The guest of honor this year is Charles de Lint. It’s nineteen years since I first read one of his books, Yarrow. Although I don’t recall every detail of the story, I retain a great affection for the book, and fond memories of the bookstore in its pages. I’ve read 21 novels and I don’t know how many short stories of his, and feel (as readers often do) that we’ve made something of a journey together. While I’ve met most Swancon guests over the years, I have the feeling I won’t meet de Lint here. Maybe in Wisconsin. Life can be like that.

…is this daikaiju?