Update: 12th May 2008
OK - some updates re P-Con VI.
First off, our Guest Of Honour Paul Cornell as you may know is working on a new Marvel comic. The first issue of this ongoing Marvel comic, Captain Britain and MI-13 is in the shops this week, on Wednesday in the States, Thursday in the UK (and one presumes Ireland as well). Wishing him the best of good fortune with this.
I’m sure that you have fond memories of Kim Newman who was the GOH for P-Con IV. The bad news was that he was unable to attend P-Con V. The good news is that he is looking forward to being a guest at P-Con VI (as always subject to work and other commitments).
It is hard to mention Kim's body of work without appearing to be exaggerating. He has written for just about every publication there is in Britain, as well as abroad. He has a vast amount of TV appearances to his credit, as well as a bit part in a movie; he has directed his own short movie, and has adapted a number of his own books into screenplays; he has co-written an alternative history novel with author and friend Eugene Byrne, and has written what quite possibly the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure book, the dark and visceral Life's Lottery. He has won a number of awards for his work, and has made the short list for several more. Any place is a good place to start reading Kim's work, which we strongly recommend you do. For more about Kim, check out his website.
Kim's vast range of interests, as well as his huge and varied body of work, makes him one of the most versatile guests imaginable for a convention.
Don’t forget that Kim will be presenting a paper on Radiation and Mutation at the "It Came from the 1950s" conference in Trinity College, Dublin (May 15-16 2008).
And finally, I’m delighted to announce another new guest to P-Con (and indeed to Ireland), all the way from Mooi River District, South Africa - Dave Freer. Reading his bio we learn that Dave Freer is an Ichthyologist turned author because he'd heard that the spelling requirements were simpler.
They lied about that. He lives in a remote part of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with his wife and chief proof-reader, Barbara, four dogs and four cats, two sons (Paddy and James) and just at the moment no shrews, birds, bats or any other rescued wildlife. He does his best to blame his extraordinary spelling on an Old English Sheepdog nose, or the cat/s on his lap. It has nothing to do with falling out of pear trees onto his head or spending too long underwater freediving for spiny lobster.
His first book -- The Forlorn (Baen) came out in 1999. Since then he has co-authored with Eric Flint (Rats, Bats and Vats, Pyramid Scheme, and The Rat, Bat and the Ugly) and, with Mercedes Lackey and Eric Flint (Shadow of the Lion, This Rough Magic, Wizard of Karres) as well writing as various shorter works.
Besides working as a Fisheries Scientist for the Western Cape shark fishery, running a couple of fish farms, he has worked as a commercial diver, and as a relief chef at several luxury game lodges. Yes: he can both cook and change diapers. (No man ever really gets tired of danger sports.) He spent two years as a conscripted soldier along the way, so he can iron too. His interests are rock climbing (he's still good at it), diving, flyfishing (he's still bad at it), fly-tying, wine-tasting and the preparation of food, especially by traditional means - smoking and salting, all the good unhealthy things.
Oh by the way, Dave is the GOH at Lunacon the week before P-Con VI.
You know this makes at least 3 guests / guest partners who are / were chefs. Methinks a panel on cooking, or maybe a guest cook off could be in the making.
All things being equal I'll be at the "It Came From The 1950s" conference this week as well
As always, guests appear subject to work commitments.
Be well all.
Frank