OctothorpeJun 20, 2024

Octothorpe 112 is beaming down to a planet near you! In this episode we look at the financial report from Levitation (Eastercon 2024) before talking about FunCon, the UK Games Expo, and the upcoming Glasgow Worldcon.

Artwork is by Hugo Award Finalist, España Sheriff.

Listen here! https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/112-ceilidhs-i-have-been-to-are-not-generally-speaking-competitive/

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #HugoAwards #Worldcon #Glasgow2024 #Worldcon2024 #Eastercon #Eastercon2024 #FunCon #UKGamesExpo #UKGE

112: Ceilidhs I Have Been to Are Not, Generally Speaking, Competitive | Octothorpe

John was gaming, Alison was dancing, and Liz was batty. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], join our Facebook group, or tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Wealth privilege (chapter 3) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Starter Villain review David Ian Salter Ersatz Culture Peter Sullivan Sandra Bond Levitation (Eastercon 2024) Post-convention report FunCon Alan Fleming’s report UK Games Expo Glasgow 2024 (Worldcon 2024) Site selection is open for Worldcon 2026 Brisbane has (re-)announced their bid for Worldcon 2028 Picks John: The Beast Spoilery interview with George MacKay Alison: Baldur’s Gate 3 Liz: Godzilla Minus One (Netflix) Credits Cover art: “That Octothorpe Series” by España Sheriff Alt text: John, Alison and Liz stand in the transporter on a Constitution-class Federation starship. They are mid-transportation, made of sparkles instead of fully fleshed out. The words “Octothorpe 112” appear beneath them. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

OctothorpeMay 9, 2024

John is middle, Alison is even sadder, and Liz is sorry. We have a bumper mailbag in Octothorpe 109, and we continue our discussion about accessibility in Eastercon before segueing into a discussion of money and privilege with respect to conventions. We also mention the latest news out of Chengdu. Massive thanks to Ulrika O'Brien for the gorgeous cover art this week! Listen here: https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/109-but-also-a-worrying-one/

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #Eastercon #Eastercon2024 #ChengduWorldcon

109: But Also a Worrying One | Octothorpe

John is middle, Alison is even sadder, and Liz is sorry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Discussion of access issues (chapter 2), wealth privilege (chapter 6) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andrew January The Eastercon members’ portal Caroline Mullan DC Farah Mendlesohn Critical Friends 8 Jacob Holder Mark Plummer Meg MacDonald Doc Weir award Dave Langford receives the trophy Alt text: Dave Langford triumphantly lofts a blue Bag for Life from Tesco, which we are expected to believe contains the Doc Weir trophy. He is standing in front of a house. GUFF The results Chengdu 2023 “The Pidu district of Chengdu announces a 10-year science fiction plan” Glasgow 2024 Town Hall Event: Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Glasgow Town Hall Event: Site Selection Glasgow 2024 Eastercon and money Picks John: Dredge Alison: Hopeland by Ian McDonald (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Liz: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Voyagers” by Ulrika O’Brien Alt text: The background is a starry, lightning-filled square in blues, purples, and yellows. Atop that, there is a spaceship, somewhat like a rocket, with engines coming out of the sides. There are yellow lights shining from it, and a ladder reaches up to a central archway. John, Alison and Liz are depicted as silhouettes, regarding it with wonder. Their shadows stretch off the canvas, and they look faintly alien or futuristic in a hard-to-define manner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

OctothorpeApr 25, 2024

We bask in the post-Levitation haze, going into some detail on accessibility, venue, programme, virtual, social and other aspects of the most recent Eastercon. We also mix in a variety of witty and insightful commentary, probably. Listen here! https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/108-ramp-is-not-ramp/

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #Eastercon #Eastercon2024

108: Ramp is Not Ramp | Octothorpe

John is ignorant, Alison is first, and Liz is a trendsetter. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 8). Letters of comment Chris Garcia Maundy Thursday Andy Openshaw Nuala on Bluesky: sorry! Raj recommends pizza crunch Mono Raj on Mastodon Track Changes Meg MacDonald DC’s loc Eastercon 2024 Telford Telford International Centre KFC Catchup Members’ area Catchup will be closing at the end of April Dealers’ room Beyond Cataclysm COVID No reported cases, as far as we are aware Picks John: Thunder Road: Vendetta Alison: Fallout (the TV series) Liz: Stardew Valley Credits Cover art: “Vibrant Food Culture” by Alison Scott Alt text: A drawing of a blackboard with text that reads: “Octothorpe 108 guide to Glasgow street food.” A picture of a deep fried pizza with glasses is next to text reading ’The “Coxon” pizza crunch’, a picture of three pakora with glasses next to ‘The “Scott” haggis pakora’, and a picture of a deep fried Mars bar next to ‘The “Batty” deep fried Mars bar”. Stars also adorn the backboard, and bottles of red and brown sauce are in the bottom-left-hand corner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

OctothorpeApr 11, 2024

At Eastercon we welcomed Stunt Liz @nwhyte to the podcast for the first time, and he brought an excellent tartan rocket! We discuss Glasgow 2024’s April Fool’s Day joke, before moving onto the Hugo Award finalists, what we think of Telford, and chatting about a lot of British TV. Listen here! https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/107-the-significance-of-the-acorn/

#HugoAwards #Eastercon #Eastercon2024 #GarthMarenghi #DoctorWho #Glasgow2024

107: The Significance of the Acorn | Octothorpe

John, Alison, and Nicholas are live from Levitation! A transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected] and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Thank you very much to our stunt Liz, Nicholas Whyte! Nicholas’ blog, From the Heart of Europe April Fool’s Day The rocket in all its glory! The Hugo Awards Hugo Award finalists The announcement video Thank you to everyone who nominated us! Congratulations to the other Fancast finalists: The Coode Street Podcast Hugos There Publishing Rodeo 科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma) Worldbuilding for Masochists The first Town Hall will be on 20 April 2024 Tickets available on Eventbrite The stream will be available on YouTube Three Black Halflings Tammy Coxen The Glasgow Gimlet Tammy’s Tastings Tammy’s podcast, My Tiny Bottles Bigolas Dickolas Gallifrey One BSFA Join their Discord! Picks John: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (Channel 4) Our cosplay Alison: Eastercon catch-up Nicholas: The Black Archive David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television by Simon Guerrier Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe at Levitation” by Sue Dawson Alt text: John, Alison, and Nicholas Whyte stand in front of a projection of the Octothorpe podcast and behind a panel table. Each of them wears a convention badge, and Nicholas holds the Glasgow Landing Zone Rocket. Nicholas is looking at the camera, while John and Alison are not quite as good at this. The table they stand behind holds beers, coffees, convention newsletters, phone batteries, microphones, and table tents. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

JulesJonesApr 1, 2024

"Booksellers: the trials and tribulations" was both informative and enormous fun. Strongly recommend watching it on catch-up if you weren't there.

#eastercon #eastercon2024

duckbunnyMar 31, 2024
Oh, fine, go on then. #eastercon #eastercon2024
JulesJonesMar 31, 2024

Now in Ironbridge waiting for panel on It's a Pink, Pink, Pink, Pink World!

Or in other words, Barbie! Barbie! Barbie! BarbieBarbieBarbie!!!

(I liked it. Can you tell?)

#eastercon #eastercon2024

JulesJonesMar 31, 2024

Retreated to my room for a couple of hours, on the basis that I've had a really good day and don't want to push my luck. Two panel slots where there are things I'd l'd like to see but won't cry if I don't, and I will probably hit the point of mild aphasia if I don't have a rest at some point today. And there is the Barbie panel this evening that I really really do not want to miss.

#eastercon #eastercon2024

JulesJonesMar 31, 2024

We have got to the audience question section of the romantasy panel. I am being very good and not asking "why not buy my books if you're looking for really explicit M/M romantasy?"

#eastercon #eastercon2024

JulesJonesMar 31, 2024

Now in the romantasy panel after starting with morning service, mainstream v indie publishing, fountain pen meet and greet, and social media platforms.

Already had a wonderful day of panels and tonight there is the Barbie panel!

#eastercon #eastercon2024