It is the custom for conventions to send members who don’t attend their copies of the souvenir book. However, as this is a post-con activity, to be done when people have recovered from their exhaustion, it often takes ages, or doesn’t happen at all. I was surprised to see that this year’s World Fantasy Con got their souvenir book to me within a week. But I was astounded to see that they send me the entire freebie book package, complete with super-checkable book bag. Obviously I have a few of the books, and there are others that I don’t have much interest in, but there was also a copy of Cat Valente’s In The Night Garden, which was a wonderful surprise. Thank you, whoever was responsible. (And thank you to the UPS girl who is smaller than me and had to carry the box.)

Note to Lou: I would have put Keith Brook’s Genetopia on the recycle table, thereby ruining your record, but only because I already have two copies and I want other people to be able to read such a good book.