Conventions are great fun!
Del Rey Books editor-extraordinaire Chris Schluep has supplied Suvudu with a diary of sorts cataloging some of his adventures at last weekend’s World Fantasy Con.
Want to know how an editor spends some of his time?
Below is his account! Enjoy!
Greetings from San Jose!
World Fantasy 2009 is now in the books, and I am leaving, tired and slightly humbled by other people’s energy, but with spirits high. What a great time! After a several-year hiatus, I found that little has changed on the World Fantasy front (other than the host city). There were still lots of writers, editors, and agents on hand. There were fans and pros. There were seemingly endless conversations, meetings, parties, drinks, ad hoc meetings at parties, meals, meetings over meals, and more drinks. To be honest, I feel like the weekend lasted about a week and a half.
I flew into San Francisco on Friday afternoon, where I met my friend and fellow editor Fleetwood Robbins. We had decided to take CALTRAIN down to San Jose together. But first, there was time for the initial Mexican meal of the weekend. I have included documentation.
Welcome to California!
After carnitas, a short train ride, and an even shorter cab ride, we got to the Fairmont hotel. Almost immediately, we began to see old friends. We spent the afternoon catching up, and then a dozen or so of us headed out to find dinner. we ended up sitting outside, enjoying a pleasant evening, and eating Moroccan food. I have included a picture I took from the evening.
The view from the table.
After dinner, we went to a few parties—the Locus and Night Shade parties being two of them—and by about 1am I began to realize that it was actually 4am back in New York where I'd woken up that day. It was time for me to go to bed, even if those around me showed no signs of waning. Apparently, there was a vicious coaster fight later that evening (or more appropriately, the following morning). I'm glad I missed it.
They made their own beer at the Night Shade party. It was very good.
Saturday morning began with a jolt, as I had meetings all day beginning with breakfast. That's how these things generally go for an editor at a convention-- I guess it makes up for all the time spent huddled alone with a manuscript. Something about being that busy makes time fly by, and before I knew it dinner time had arrived again. So several of us-- including Del Rey authors Alex Irvine and Daryl Gregory-- headed off to a dinner at a Mexican restaurant. There was lots of fine conversation, and since it was Halloween I was happy to see that our waitress was dressed up like a cast member from the Broadway hit Cats.
After dinner, we returned to the Fairmont where there was the promise of a night full of parties, drinks, and conversation with interesting people. As we were on the elevator heading up to the party floor, I excused myself to go to my room for a moment, telling everyone I would be along in a few minutes. I promptly went to my room and fell asleep in my clothes. So much for interesting people...
The advantage or falling asleep at 9:30pm was that I was up early the next day. On top of that, it was daylight savings time. There was much time to explore the city before the big World Fantasy Awards banquet at 1pm.
Good morning, San Jose.
I walked around the city a good bit, and my impressions were:
There was a surprisingly large police presence.
And...
There was a surprisingly large and beautiful Cathedral.
Beautiful inside and out.
I also ran into this...
Coincidence?
At last came the World Fantasy banquet. I was joined at our table by editor Ellen Datlow, writers Jeff Ford, Alex Irvine, and Daryl Gregory, Jeff's wife and son, copy editor-extraordinaire Deana Hoak, Fleetwood Robbins, and Scott Edelman of SyFy. We had a table full of candidates. Jeff Ford, Ellen Datlow, and Daryl Gregory were all up for awards. I was especially excited for Daryl, whose first novel Pandemonium was up for best novel. Nothing against Ellen and Jeff, but I've seen Ellen's awards in her apartment in Manhattan (there are a lot), and Jeff seems to collect World Fantasy awards like some people collect comics.
The ceremony went off without a hitch. It was relatively fast-paced as awards ceremonies go, and the food was surprisingly good. (You go, World Fantasy planners and Fairmont chefs.) I will include a full list of the winners below, but suffice it to say that the rich got richer. I have also included some pictures.
Ellen Datlow accepts Jane Yolen's lifetime achievement award, while Jeff Ford's two awards stare straight ahead, ignoring her.
I'm surprised this side of the table didn't flip over.
Deana Hoak smiles while Daryl Gregory and host Jay Lake look on, and Scott Edelman of SyFy tweets.
F&SF's Gordon Van Gelder calls Richard Bowes inform him that he has won the World Fantasy Award. Gordon dressed up Richard's award like Lawrence of Arabia, using a simple white napkin and a stretchy wrist watch.
Alex Irvine's shoes.
Baen editor Jim Minz's sweet threads.
There was another dinner on Sunday night, there were more conversations, and before I knew it Fleetwood and I were on the Monday train back to San Francisco. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Fleetwood reading on the train out of San Jose.
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