The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

[sovay]

This is not an FAQ. This is a short statement. Leave your questions below and I will work on getting them into an efficiently and sufficiently answered form.

Let us all agree that "This is your father's Readercon" is a really bad slogan. It has a deskful of negative associations and nothing to do with the current plan for Readercon 21, which is a temporary simplification of the program to something whose creation and coordination will not cause nervous breakdowns among members of the committee. Note that I do not mean simplified intellectually. The only issue is the density of program items. The dealer's room will contain its usual stacks of books. The traditional events—Meet the Pros(e), the presentation of the Rhysling, Shirley Jackson, and Cordwainer Smith Awards, and the Kirk Poland Memorial Bad Prose Competition—will all take place. And please, if there aren't parties all over the place in 2010, something has gone terribly wrong with the whole de-stressing idea. Further information will be forthcoming as soon as I have it, i.e., after the committee has a chance to check its e-mail, breathe for the first time since mid-April, and perhaps water some of its plants or pets. For now, please repost and link as you see fit. And if you have any concerns about Readercon, ask.

Don't Panic.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

... yikes, you sound like you're in a head role organizing this.

[sovay]

... yikes, you sound like you're in a head role organizing this.

Nah. I just have a livejournal and not a day job. Think of me as a chalkboard, only sentient.

(It's not even a yikes-type situation; it's a case of stupid press release. These things happen.)

[gwynnega]

Well, I for one am planning to go next year. (Would have loved to go this year, but previous commitments wouldn't allow it.)

[sovay]

Well, I for one am planning to go next year.

Excellent!

[skogkatt.livejournal.com]

I live locally, and would be happy to get involved with the planning for Readercon 21 if that's useful.

[sovay]

I live locally, and would be happy to get involved with the planning for Readercon 21 if that's useful.

That is certainly useful to know.

[oldcharliebrown.livejournal.com]

Not to be Devil's Advocate, but shouldn't this come from Eric Van or the Readercon livejournal, officially?

[yendi]

sovay is listed as being a member of the Readercon committee in this year's program, so I'd like to think this has some official oomph behind it. That said, it probably should be reposted (by a committee member) in the Readercon community.

[sovay]

so I'd like to think this has some official oomph behind it. That said, it probably should be reposted (by a committee member) in the Readercon community.

It has official oomph behind it. I am not so crazy as to think I can spontaneously speak for Readercon (or, God help me, want to). As the committee is in the process of coming up with an actual FAQ, this post is partly to signal their not-absence from this debate and partly to discover which questions people are, in fact, frequently asking.

[ckd]

I am rather reassured by this post and your further comments (and, to be honest, by the fact that it's you who's posting). Thank you.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Anything I can do to help?

[sovay]

Anything I can do to help?

I will let you know.

[time-shark.livejournal.com]

Reposted.

[sovay]

Reposted.

Thanks.

[catvalente.livejournal.com]

I apologize for my part in this misunderstanding, though I'm glad it's being discussed and I went on the information given to me by the flyer and Eric in person. I am staying tuned with an open mind.

[sovay]

I am staying tuned with an open mind.

I hope this frequency will reward your wait. Thank you for the apology.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Reposted.

Nine

[sovay]

Reposted.

Thanks.

[ckd]

Reposted, linked, and commented upon. (Edited to add link.)

[sovay]

Reposted, linked, and commented upon.

Thanks!

[eredien]

I have a question that I heard almost everyone asking: Why was it so damned cold in the panel rooms? Can anything be done about this for next year that doesn't involve making the room into a blast furnace? I had to leave a panel early due to being too uncomfortably cold to stay, and at the time I was wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I know I wasn't the only one who had to leave because of being too cold.

Other comments on individual panels will be written up to my LJ and I will try and repost this post of yours to my journal.

[eredien]

Reposted.

[sovay]

I have a question that I heard almost everyone asking: Why was it so damned cold in the panel rooms? Can anything be done about this for next year that doesn't involve making the room into a blast furnace?

Amen. It was like the atmosphere of Mars.

Reposted.

Thank you!

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

My main concern is that by complaining about the flier, the con, and the ideas for programing, people might well get targeted by the concom for exclusion or retaliation. Can you address that concern please?

[sethb.livejournal.com]

I think the appropriate punishment for complaining is being considered to have volunteered to improve whatever was being complained about.

[sovay]

My main concern is that by complaining about the flier, the con, and the ideas for programing, people might well get targeted by the concom for exclusion or retaliation.

Without even speaking to the committee, I think this is very, very unlikely. Complain, then come and help fix the problem!

[sparkymonster.livejournal.com]

FYI, I sent the con e-mail information on improving accessibility for next year.

[sovay]

FYI, I sent the con e-mail information on improving accessibility for next year.

Thank you; and thank you for letting me know.