So far pretty much so good. Last night’s award ceremony went off well, and then everyone got down to the serious business of partying. The hotel bar is very well stocked – European beer and good malt whisky. We like it here already.

One small black mark for the convention hotel. It is sold out, but there are two rooms occupied by people who are not attending the con. So where did the hotel put these folks? Why, right next to the hospitality suite in which the Australian party was happening. Hopefully we’ll get them to swap rooms today.

My hotel, on the other hand, is lovely. I’m sharing a room with Diana Paxson, so it is a sort of Bay Area enclave here (not to mention the Somerset connection giving that she writes so much about Glastonbury). Tim Powers is in the hotel too, as is Nick Mamatas. It is a small place, and Diana says it is family run. The folks here are very friendly.

So basically I have just one problem. The banquet is not on Saturday night. It is 1:00pm on Sunday. My train is due out at 3:53pm. This is not good. I’m going to ask around for people who might be able to drive me back to Manhattan.