While we're doing awards housekeeping, just a reminder that the voting deadline for the 2026 Hugo Awards is this coming Saturday, August 8th, at noon PDT. Which means that when I finish this posting, it's back to the last novel nominee that I have to finish reading!
- Sid
Dedicated Canadian science fiction and fantasy fans (or international fans, for that matter, I've been getting an awful lot of views from Brazil*) are invited to watch the 2026 Annual Aurora Awards livestreaming on YouTube™ this Sunday, August 9th, starting at 5:00 PM EDT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMO5oUJ4zjE
In addition to the awards for this year's best Canadian science fiction and fantasy, Kelley Armstrong, James Alan Gardner, and Mike Glicksohn will be inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame.
See you there!
- Sid
* Although, sadly, probably not by people.
Although it's a bit of a trek down to New Westminster, I'm glad that I attended today's Fandom Bazaar, hosted by the West Coast Speculative Fiction Association. In addition to picking up a couple of replacement Ace Doubles in good condition for an affordable three dollars each (and just generally enjoying the vibe), I discovered some additional information about VCON 44.*
According to the promotional postcards available at the event, programming will take place in Buildings SE02 and SE06 at Burnaby's BCIT campus. The Guests of Honour will be SF author Holly Schofield, and veteran conceptual FX artist Eric Chu, best kown for his work on the 2004 Battlestar Galactica reboot. And, if the theme of your event is "Pick Your Punk", who better to make a special appearance than William Gibson, whose work virtually defined the subgenre of cyberpunk?**
If you're interested in attending, you can register at this address:
Reduced Early Bird pricing is available until August 31st.
- Sid
* This is actually a little puzzling. Yesterday, the VCON web site said (and still says) that there was no news other than to say hello. Today, I was able to pick up a postcard with information about the guests of honour and the special guest, along with a QR code linking to the registration site. If that info was available for a postcard, why would it not be posted to the website?
** The postcard describes him as "The Father of Cyberpunk" - I almost guarantee that William Gibson has NEVER referred to himself as such, I strongly suspect that his opinion of the relationship is far more nuanced than that.
