Back from ICon
Well, I went down to ICon in Cedar Rapids this last weekend. This was #39, and I've been to every one (save only two that I missed; one, I just didn't have the cash for, and the other, I was avoiding the GOH actively at that time) since #10. I had thought for sure that I was pre-registered, but either I wasn't or they'd lost my pre-reg; I had to pay at-the-door prices. This did not make me happy.
Cons have changed since I discovered them. For one thing, the huxter rooms are not nearly as enticing as they once were. I'd say that the rise of Internet retailing has hurt them. Between Amazon, Abebooks.com, and other such sites, used-book dealers do better staying at home and working from there than they would schlepping hundreds of pounds of books all over creation. I understand, but I do miss the old days in some ways. And I would think that having the GOHs' books available in the huxter room would have been a nice gesture.
I had a lot longer drive than I really needed to, because I had to pick up Melissa from Des Moines and return her when all was done. As it happened, the drive was fairly low-stress, so no harm done. Melissa and I share a room platonically at cons when we're both there; that way we can save money. It's not like I have any chance of getting lucky at the con, anyway.
I'd have made it to this ICon if I had to borrow the money from my worst enemy, though. Scott Lynch was going to be Author Guest of Honor, and I very much wanted to meet him. I'm a huge fan of his Gentleman Bastards series of fantasy novels, and after the long, long, long hiatus between books two and three, I wanted to know what was up with the next book. He says he's aiming for September of next year, and he agreed with me that a scene in the third book was very reminiscent of the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMcmaster Bujold. He's a real nice personable guy to meet, and I'm glad I got to talk with him.