Despite many dire predictions of disaster, Eastercon is progressing merrily on its way with little sign of Blackpool-like disaster. Several of the dealers I have spoken to have been quite happy, and I understand that the £700 or so that the fan fund auction raised is quite good given the state of the economy. Possibly people are saving money by not buying as much beer, because even such legendary drinkers as Eastercon attendees are beginning to balk at the bar prices.

Programming is proceeding pretty much on time but is perhaps showing a few signs of lack of preparation and forethought. Alternatively maybe the world is just changing. All of the panels I have attended so far have reminded me of online discussion, and not in a good way. There seems far too little discussion, and far too much argument by anecdata and straw man, or just people wanting to “have their say”. I’m sorely tempted to head into Birmingham tomorrow, but it is Easter Sunday and everything will be shut.

Ah well, there is a very nice lake next to the hotel with a path round it, allowing Kevin and I to take a pleasant post-breakfast walk. Also I have bagged an interview with Liz Williams for Salon Futura.

I have posted the results of the BSFA Awards over at SFAW. I’m very pleased to see The Dervish House win, though the field was very tough. It was also nice to see wins for a South African artist and a French writer. Clarkesworld‘s on entry in the short fiction category didn’t win, but I have high hopes for Peter Watts in the Hugos. Commiserations to my pals Jonathan and Gary — I voted for you, boys.

One other piece of interesting news is that the same folks who created the DnA Award have also secured the rights to create a new version of the legendary New Worlds magazine. Things are at a very early stage at the moment so there are a few rough edges to be filed off, but I’m always happy to see interesting new projects getting off the ground.