Well, we went to Loncon 3 and it was magnificent. The stats are now in, confirming the 2014 Worldcon as the biggest ever, but this in no way prevented it from being a friendly and spirited gathering with a surprisingly intimate feel. After the initial shock to the system (because it’s huge) the ExCel centre proved easy to navigate – much more so in fact than many of the smaller venues we have attended – and fun to explore. The facilities were excellent, the staff unfailingly helpful, the environment clean and tidy. The biggest shout-out though must go to the programme organisers, whose efforts in compiling a roster of events that genuinely did provide something for everyone must have been nothing short of Herculean. I would have needed a week or more to get to see and do everything I wanted to, but those panels I was able to attend, both as participant and spectator, were sure proof, if any were needed, of SF’s rude health as a genre. and the continuing and passionate sense of involvement felt by SF fans.

I would like to extend a massive personal thank you to everyone involved in making Loncon such a success and such an inspiring showcase for science fiction. I would also like to thank everyone who came to my book launch and my reading, who stopped me in the corridor to say hi, who shared time with us during those special few days. We had a fantastic time.

I came back to find this in my Inbox – the stunning artwork by Tara Bush that will be used to illustrate my story ‘Marielena’ in Interzone #254:

To say I’m pleased with this would be a rash understatement. The magazine will also feature the first in my new series of columns for Interzone. This is a whole new venture for me, and I’m excited to see how it pans out. I’m hoping to develop some arguments, talk about some books, and hopefully introduce some writers people may not have encountered before. So plenty to think about. At the moment and what with everything that’s been happening this summer I’m just relieved to have delivered the first column on time!