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First Actual Con
Genghiscon [small fan run con in Perth] was very quiet while I was there. I was only attending for today which is why I’m writing a review now, though it is running tomorrow. I did mean to arrive early but had a bad night. When 8 am rolled around I still hadn’t got much sleep so turned the alarm off. Ended up not leaving home till 11 something, so I think that works out at about three hours attendance.
I’m back feeling the effects of riding the e-bike in the heat; copped some sun despite having used sunblock. It was good to do the ride from Subi Station to the Uni of WA again or rather, to the picturesque St Georges Residential College where the con was being held. It is the first fannish event in person which has gone ahead since, um, this time last year? I think it suffered from uncertainty over the COVID-19 restrictions; what they would be, what could be done and so on. I did hear some speculation to that effect while tracking down a cup of tea in the kitchen.
Numbers were way down, not that it isn’t always a small con, but a lot of the usual suspects weren’t around and the ‘market stalls’ were a couple selling toys.jewellery and stickers, somebody promoting a self-published fantasy book and a group promoting Nerf Guns. Nerf automatic rifles, more like. At my RPG game, which resumed this week, there’s a Nerf pistol which is used on those who make the most agonising puns. If we got one of these humungous things I saw being tested out, we’d all need to wear body armour!
The games room had two games running at its busiest and a couple of friends I briefly caught up with were stuck in one of them for the entire time. No trains in sight. [Waves sorrowfully at Rob and Leece]. And Elaine, the ‘teen’ rats were indeed asleep when I got home. They’ll be awake in a couple of hours when dinner arrives.
I did get to see Grant Stone, the con’s patron saint, at his traditional ‘morning tea’ and we managed to chat a bit. So now I know where I will bequeath my library when I croak. Hopefully Murdoch Library is still in the business of accepting science fiction collections at that (also hopefully) distant date.
A friend asked what I was reading and despite the fact that I keep lists, my brain did its usual blankening and refused to produce results. Except that I had been reading Faye Kellerman (g). Sorry, Andrew and Laura. I may have to add you to Facebook so I can tell you in print, because that seems to be how I remember things.
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This is a con which started up as an alternative students could afford, since the annual convention here, Swancon, got rather pricey. Some older fans in it, but a lot of students go, a lot of 'new blood' as it were. The con uses the student accommodation while the university is in recess, and the residential college facilities which don't cost too much, so an entire weekend's membership would set you back $35A. So even though I personally didn't find much to do there, at least I did get to see some fan friends for the first time in a loooong while. Had a chat with one person over which of us had the more annoying Aged Parent.
Grant Stone is a BNF associated with Swancon and fandom for a long time and before he retired, he was curator of Murdoch University's SF collection, which is truly impressive. I saw it when I was a student there for a few months in 1984 and it has grown ever since. He was asked in all seriousness to become Genghiscon's patron saint and duly shows up to have tea and scones with the fans each year (g) So he's like the Old Man of the tribe dispensing the wisdom and history of our people to the next generations! It was definitely worth it to catch up with Grant!
I hope things get better for you and all of England, really. I seem to be making similar wishes for the country of anybody I write to.
Oh, btw, my "no trains in sight" comment is a reference to no Ticket to Ride being played. The game I feature in "Crowley's Game!
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