Orycon I

Sunday, November 9, 1997

Friday: I worked for half a day and then hit the road for Portland. It was raining and the visibility was terrible, as is traditional for Orycon weekend. This makes for tense driving! but it cleared up south of Olympia. I enjoy listening to the country music which is all that is available on FM radio in that part of the state. It seems appropriate for a road trip.

I do have some small goals for a convention, things I like to accomplish if I can. I like to ask a question or make a comment in a program item. I usually try to buy something at the charity auction that is a feature of cons. I buy something in the dealers room, and make a bid on something in the art show. At some cons I volunteer in some way as well.

Rather than staying in the convention hotel, I stayed in the Oxford Suites which is across the highway and across the street. It's a short walk, but it means one can't just pop back up to one's room in between programming items. The first year I stayed there it was because I hadn't reserved a room in time in the con hotel. I liked having the "suite" effect, with a refrigerator in the room and breakfast provided. So I've been back for several years in a row.

I was scanning a message board to see if Cera "Time Stand Still" Kruger had left a note for Luke or me, when I saw some one out of the corner of my eye. "Hmm," I said, "that girl resembles the picture Cera pointed me to." So I tapped her on the shoulder and said "Hi!" even as she was taping up her note. A note never worked more expediously! We decided that we would cross paths later.

After buying my membership, I went to two programming items:

• Historical Fiction: Call it fantasy, and they'll buy it.
  Five folks, including Patrick Nielsen Hayden and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Editor/Fan Guests of Honor, decided that the Program topic was false on the face of it, and that historical fiction is actually on the upswing. The intersection of history and fantasy was discussed never the less.
• The Book as Artifact
  Debbie Cross, PNH, TNH, Dave Howell, and the rather handsome Bruce Holland Rogers discussed the physical makeup of books, and possible futures of books. I succeeded in making a comment from the floor in response to panelists talking about reasons one might buy a very fine edition of a book. The limited editions I have purchased have been to support friends who were trying to start small presses. The personal connection might prompt one to buy a book, even though not a collector.

Then I visited the Fan Lounge. This is a great spot (it isn't the same as the hospitality suite) where we traditional fanzine fans and hangers-on socialize and hang out. We have old fanzines on display, and try to interest any random folks who drop by in the fannish mysteries, but the main function of the room is socializing.

I went to dinner from there, with New York fan Vicki Rosenzweig, her partner Andy, and Janice Murray. I opted for the slightly longer and more social dinner with them at Chang's Mongolian Barbecue, rather than my original idea of the food court at the mall which would have got me back in time to see the Opening Ceremonies. These are rather good most years, but David Levine wouldn't be in Ed Wood drag this year, so I gave them a miss.

After changing outfits back at my room, I met up with Jerry Kaufman and Suzle Tomkins and went with them to the Art show reception. Jerry had said last Saturday at Vanguard that we would try to swing dance at Orycon, so we went to the dance. He tried his best, but the music and other dancers were very distracting, and I am not an experienced teacher. (but Jerry is a very good dance, when allowed to dance as he wishes.) So we moved on to make the rounds of the bid parties.

We ended up in the "Quiet Bar" along with Jane, Luke, Randy, Tami, Alan Bostick, Art Widner, and Lenny Bailes. Much good chatting till late at night.

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