Malcolm McDowell is Cooler than You
Don't feel bad, though, 'cause he's cooler than me and everyone else, too.
I made an impromptu visit to Shore Leave in MD this past weekend, as an invited member of the press. For those who haven't heard of it, Shore Leave is a fan - run Star Trek convention held in Silver Spring each year. The convention has expanded to include panels and guests from various genre shows, including Stargate (various incarnations), Dr. Who, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, and more.
Shore Leave is a media con, but, unlike the souless, money-sucking media conventions hosted by Creation and their ilk, it is warm and fan-friendly, managing to feel intimate despite the impressive crowd of attendees. There was an ample assortment of guests, including authors, editors, and actors, all of whom were friendly and seemed genuinely happy to be there.
I had the honor to meet Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Star Trek - Generations, too much else to mention), and present him with an issue of Space and Time. He high-fived me on taking it over and (fingers crossed) had his publicist give me his contact info for a possible interview in the future. After chatting with him and watching him field audience questions and recount fabulous anecdotes from his career, I am convinced that you'd be hard-pressed to find a more approachable, warm, entertaining, and generally too-cool major star.
I also had the pleasure of seeing George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes). If you've ever seen George at an appearance, or heard him on the Howard Stern show, you know how funny, charming , and all-around entertaining he is. I watched the man cheerfully sign autographs for two days straight for literally hundreds of fans and his onstage chat was insightful and fun. George's fiance, Brad, was also there, and I had the great pleasure of shaking his hand and chatting with him while George signed like a machine. Brad also handles George's PR, so fingers crossed, I hope to secure an interview with this incredibly busy star down the line, as well. And yes, he got an issue of S&T, too!
Other celebs included Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate-Atlantis), who manages to be even more gorgeous and darling in person than her characters, W. Morgan Sheppard (Babylon 5, everything else ever made), who was class personified, and his son, Mark Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, also dern near everything else ever made), who was having a great ol' time and thrilled to hang with fans.
As for the writers, well, if you've ever seen a television or movie tie-in novel, one of these folks wrote it. Keith R.A. DeCandido, David Mack, Greg Cox, Peter David...the list goes on and on. All dashed around to panels and spent lots of time signing books old and new. Much partying was done by all (and no, I'm not going to reveal the details, you li'l devils -- remember to thank me next lunch)!
I have (non-incriminating) photos, and as soon as I figure out how to post 'em properly, I add them to this entry.
The good news is, despite delays caused by my vacation and the Fourth of July holiday, Issue #104 hits newsstands and mailboxes this week. I hope to have it before Readercon in Burlington, MA next weekend (www.readercon.org). If any of you are in the area (and I know some of you are - waves to Magid) I hope you'll drop by. We're going to have a Space and Time kaffeeklatch and I've got other cool panels lined up, plus the Rhysling Awards for Poetry will be handed out (we're up for two - fingers crossed!) It will be interesting to attend such a classic literary con on the heels of a wild media con - I'm looking forward to comparing/contrasting.
That's it for now. Hope y'all are having a terrific summer and don't forget your copy of Space and Time next time you head to the beach or pool!