Octocon 2019 Programme Book

Programme Guide 2019

Code of Conduct Rules of Octocon These rules are in addition to the laws of Ireland, and the rules of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Breaches of these rules may lead to the removal of your Octocon badge and banning from future Octocons.

Badges Octocon is a membership-only event. All members must wear their membership badges at all times.

A badge is valid only for the person to whom it was issued; badges may not be shared under any circumstances.

Octocon requires that any children 13 or older have a purchased membership for the convention.

Octocon also requires that children under the age of 12 be registered, and be in the company of a guardian. We cannot take responsibility for minors.

Privacy, Photographs, and Recording Electronic Information Octocon event attendees and members should be aware that photography and video and/ or audio recordings are frequently made by Octocon during events and that their likenesses may appear in those recordings. If you’d rather not be filmed or photographed, please let the recorder/ photographer know at the time.

Personal Photography / Recordings: Please be polite and ask before taking photographs or recordings of attendees and members whenever possible. Photography for personal archival use only is generally acceptable, unless individuals make it clear that they do not wish to be photographed, in which case taking any photographs of them is expressly forbidden.

General Rating of the Convention All convention areas are open to members of all ages, with the exception of events or exhibits that are specifically noted to be inappropriate for minors and access to which is controlled.

Cosplay is not Consent.

In general, please request permission from a panellist before taking photographs. Video and Audio recording of panels by members is not allowed.

Respect for Others Octocon wants all of its members to enjoy themselves at its events. As such, we ask that you respect each other. All Octocon events should be a space where everyone feels welcomed and comfortable.

Discrimination is not tolerated. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated. If someone tells you “no” or asks you to leave them alone, your business with them is done.

If you feel that you are being discriminated against or harassed, or if you notice anyone behaving inappropriately (such as violating hotel or convention policies), we respectfully suggest the following: 1. If you feel comfortable doing so, point out the inappropriate behaviour to the person(s) involved.

Often this will solve the problem immediately.

2. If you do not feel comfortable talking with the person(s) involved, or if talking to them does not resolve the issue, please report the situation immediately to any Octocon Committee Member, or Designated Staff.

Weapons No actual weapon or any item that can be mistaken for one may be carried either openly or concealed at any time on properties being used for Octocon, regardless of any government permits which you may possess, unless it has been peace bonded by Registration.

Sales of Merchandise The offering for sale of any merchandise at the convention may be undertaken only in designated spaces with permission from the convention.

Non-convention Guests/General Public: Please remember that the convention is held in an area where we will come into contact with nonfans. Please try and be respectful of the hotel’s other guests and use common sense, especially in the public areas of the hotel. The full Octocon code of conduct can be found here: https://2019.octocon.com/code-of-conduct/

Welcome to Octocon 2019!

It has been quite the year for the Irish fandom community. After the massive event that was Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon, here we are again (albeit on a more intimate scale) to celebrate our love of books, comics, television, and everything else that is part of fandom.

We would like to extend our congratulations to the Dublin 2019 team for pulling off the first Irish Worldcon and our warmest welcome to everyone who is attending Octocon for the very first time. While the community has lost beloved members, who will be most missed, the fandom continues to grow. It was great to see so many members of the Irish fandom together at the CCD showing the world how the Irish do a con.

There was talk of not having an Octocon this year and considering the amount of work that was put in for Dublin2019, maybe we should have skipped it in 2019. But Octocon is not just an annual event. It’s a community. It’s a family. It’s home. Not having an Octocon in any year almost feels like skipping Christmas.

So thank you to the wonderfully hard-working committee, thank you to all of our guests, and thank you to you for coming to Octocon and helping us celebrate the amazing community that is Irish fandom.

Octocon Committee 2019

Co-Chairs: Janet O’Sullivan and Raissa Perez Treasurer: Joanna Schaffalitzky Operations & Hotel Liaison: Dav Waldron Guest Liaison: Catherine Sharp Memberships: MaryBrigid Turner Volunteer Manager: Raissa Perez Trade Hall Coordinator: Katherine O’Meara Reynolds

Promotions: Janet O’Sullivan and Raissa Perez Publications: James Brophy and Daniella Bella Programme Manager: Catherine Sharp Programme Team: Janet O’Sullivan, Raissa Perez, MaryBrigid Turner, James Brophy, Daniella Bella Website Content: Catherine Sharp Website Admin: James Shields

Friends of Octocon:

James Shields, Fionna O’Sullivan, Gerard Cunningham, Alan Stuart, Sonia Murphy, Janet O’Sullivan, Pat Fanning, Marguerite Smith, Gareth Kavanagh, Ian Power, Carol Connolly, Raissa Perez.

Cover and convention mascot “Octo” illustrations created by James Brophy

PEADAR Ó GUILÍN

Irish writer Peadar Ó Guilín is the author of the YA novel, The Call, inspired by the beautiful northwest of Ireland where he grew up.

The Invasion, a sequel to The Call and the end of the duology, was published in March 2018 and was a finalist for the 2019 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, awarded at Dublin 2019, an Irish Worldcon.

In September 2007, Peadar published his first novel, The Inferior, which the Times Educational Supplement called “a stark, dark tale, written with great energy and confidence and some arresting reflections on human nature.”

Foreign editors liked it too, and over the coming year it is to be translated into eight languages, including Japanese and Korean.

His fantasy and SF short stories have appeared in numerous venues, including Black Gate magazine and an anthology celebrating the best of the iconic Weird Tales.

With Octocon 2018 Guest of Honour Pat Cadigan. he formed the Toastmutant of Titancon in Belfast, this year’s Eurocon (22-25 August).

RUTH FRANCES LONG A.K.A. JESSICA THORNE

Ruth Frances Long writes young adult fantasy such as The Treachery of Beautiful Things (Dial, 2012) and The Dubh Linn trilogy set in the world of demons, angels and fairies that exists alongside our own in modern day Dublin (A Crack in Everything, A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End (O’Brien, 2014-2016)). In 2015 she was the winner of The European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award For Best Author of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy for A Crack in Everything.

As Jessica Thorne she writes fantasy and space opera romance – The Queen’s Wing (Bookouture, 2018) and The Stone’s Heart (Bookouture, 2019) As R. F. Long she writes fantasy & paranormal romance such as The Scroll Thief, Soul Fire and the Holtlands stories (The Wolf’s Sister, The Wolf’s Mate and The Wolf’s Destiny). She lives in Ireland and works in a library of rare, unusual & occasionally crazy books. But they don’t talk to her that often.

DIANE DUANE Diane Duane has been a science fiction and fantasy writer for nearly forty years. Her best known works include her long-running (since 1983) “Young Wizards” series — its (sort of ) eleventh and twelfth novels Young Wizards: Lifeboats and Interim Errantry 2: On Ordeal, having come out in 2017.

She’s also known for the nine bestselling Star Trek novels for which, among many other works, she was awarded the Grand Master / lifetime achievement award of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.

She is presently working on the epic fantasy series begun almost forty years ago with The Door Into Fire, having recendly added the bridging novella Tales of the Five #1: The Levin-Gad and bridging novel Tales of the Five #2: The Landlady. Three more bridging works are planned for late this year and early next in preparation for the publication of book 4, The Door Into Starlight.

Diane was one of the Guests of Honour for Dublin 2019, an Irish Worldcon (15-19 August).

PETER MORWOOD Novelist and screenwriter Peter Morwood was born in Northern Ireland, but has lived in various parts of County Wicklow for more than half his life.

He’s been married to fellow-guest Diane Duane for even longer.

Besides his own fantasy series The Book of Years, its prequel series The Clan Wars, the folktale-inspired Tales of Old Russia, several short stories and even a brief venture into comics, he has co-written half a dozen novels with Diane (including one on their honeymoon), as well as episodes for Gargoyles, Spider-Man Unlimited and Batman: The Animated Series, and the award-winning live-action miniseries Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King.

He’s keen on medieval military history and the sharp pointy stuff that involves; he likes foreign travel and the interesting places, foods and drinks that involves; and he does half the cooking and most of the photography for their hobby-foodblogs EuropeanCuisines.com and RealIrishDesserts.com.

Questions?

Answered!

An Interview With Our Magical Guests!

1. Which of your characters is taking up the most room in your head right now?

2. What words would you shout to rally your motley crew in stopping the apocalypse?

Peadar Ó Guilín: It’s a brand new character whose story will be full of sadness and blood.

POG: “Remember, all of my minions are equally beloved!”

Ruth Frances Long: I’m currently deep in edits for my fantasy romance novel Mageborn which is due out in February next year, so my head is entirely occupied with Grace and Bastien.

RFL: “Though we be but little we are fierce.”

Diane Duane: The demigod-in-training King of one of the countries in the Middle Kingdoms universe. The last time I saw Freelorn he was having a legal discussion with a magpie, and I’m kind of nervous at the prospect of where it’s going to lead. (Come to think of it, so was he.)

PM: “I say, you motley crew, rally round and stop the apocalypse!”

Peter Morwood: Aldric Talvalin and Tehal Kyrin, because of “The Shadow Lord”, though Flight Lieutenant Jack Conway, SS-Haupsturmführer Dr Jakob Metzger and Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill are also causing clutter, because of... But that would be telling.

DD: “We’ve 8pm reservations at Michael’s in Mount Merrion, let’s sort this so we can get a cab!”

3. Which of your works is your favourite? We won’t tell your other creations we promise POG: “The Call” still has that honour, I think.

RFL: It could be the writer-brain at work but my favourite (and my least favourite) is usually the one I’m working on at the moment. That said I am inordinately fond of The Stone’s Heart and in particular the heroine Petra.

5. What do you say to the god of death?

POG: Hey, Miltos, how’s the water dancing?

RFL: Sean Bean is over there!

DD: “You again? Didn’t you learn anything from the last time? Nobody likes a queuejumper. Sit down and wait your turn.”

DD: As usual, the next one. :) (Right now that would be Tales of the Five #3: The Librarian.)

PM: At the minute, “Firebird”. I like the characters, the story fits together well, and I’ve never before encountered a fictional background where real history fitted so seamlessly. I’ll probably have changed my mind by convention time.

4. Have you ever seen a flying octopus with fairy wings? Seriously, we can’t find them anywhere POG: There is something like that in my book, The Invasion. The wings are made by fairies, at least.

RFL: Have you checked down the back of the sofa?

DD: Not since we stopped dating in 1982.

Irreconcilable differences, very sad.

PM: No. But I did have a green plush Cthulhu on my head a couple of months back. Does that count?

PM: The cheque is in the post! (Oh, sorry, I thought you meant the god of DEBT. It must be your accent.) Okay. Um. Excuse me, god of death, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Sean Bean is over there...

6. But seriously, the wings were supposed to just mark the octopus as a Fae in our play and they just vanished?? We’re really worried.

POG: Don’t be. I swear I’ll give them back once the apocalypse is complete.

RFL: Be afraid, very afraid.

DD: Yeah, that’s why we stopped dating.

Unreliable. Plus when you’re out to dinner he always tries to stick you with the check. It got old real fast, you know?

PM: The wings vanished, or the octopus vanished, or they both vanished? Be more specific. And since you may well have attracted the attention of the Fae, you’ve now got more to worry about than missing aeronautical octopodes. Spin round three times widdershins, spit and touch iron. (It’s not a protection, but if you look silly enough they’ll want nothing to do with you.)

Panel Descriptions Opening Ceremony

Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, welcomes you to the 2019 event.

Hosts: Janet O’Sullivan and Raissa Perez The Art and Craft of Making TV No production is ever perfect and some have more than their fair share of minor disasters. Even with the best intentions and plans, making a TV show can involve a series of unexpected requests and interesting requirements. Our panellist share stories of their experiences behind the scenes.

Panel: Diane Duane, Faranae, Peter Morwood, Dr Fox Purtill, Russell A Smith (moderator)

Fabulous Feasts and Where to Find Them

The more people watch food TV shows, the less they actually cook! Is it possible to write about food in such a way that people will despair of ever being able to cook that well? Our panel discuss their favourite fictional culinary inspirations, as well as those fictional dishes that they would never want to inflict on anyone.

Panel: Diane Duane, Gerry Mc Evoy, Fia Karlsson, Peter Morwood, Brian Nisbet (moderator)

The Fae in Popular Culture

On one hand we have the dangerous creatures of Irish mythology and Terry Pratchett’s malicious Lords and Ladies; on the other, sexy elf-lords and twee little creatures with their homes in trees. How have our perceptions and cultural understanding of the Fae been altered, influenced or completely disregarded by modern fantasy novels, Hollywood, and TV shows like Carnival Row and Charmed?

Panel: Jack Fennell (moderator), Ruth Frances Long, Lora O’Brien, Peadar Ó Guilín, Karina Steffens

From the Terror in the Night to a Bedtime Tale

Once gruesome cautionary tales of warning, fairy tales somehow became cute children’s stories instead. Is it time for a return to the horror stories of old or do they need to evolve to remain alive? Are any of them no longer suitable for modern audiences, and is there room for both Disney sweetness and the grimmest of Grimm for children and adults alike?

Panel: Karina Coldrick, Diane Duane, Ruth Frances Long, Peadar Ó Guilín, MaryBrigid Turner (moderator)

Hero for the Common Fan: Representation in Marvel and DC

As the DC and Marvel universes expand in film and TV, we are seeing a greater range of characters of different backgrounds. Are we finally seeing our diverse fandom reflected on screen, and who’s doing best at pulling at our heart- and purse-strings?

Panel: Daniella Bella, James Brophy (moderator), Faranae, CE Murphy, Russell A Smith

Irish Sidhe 101 A Foundation with ‘the Fair Folk’

Are they real? What are they? What different types are there? Are they small? Are they nice, or friendly?

While there aren’t exactly categorical, definitive answers to these and other common questions about the Fair Folk, in this talk Lora O’Brien looks at the Irish relationship to our Sidhe, and the views our ancestors might take based on our own folklore and traditions.

Is the Comics Mine Collapsing?

Moving pictures are strip-mining our best comics but are they giving us anything back? Films take the titles and summarise the characters, the TV shows steal the sagas and the weird stuff, and YouTube is filled with descriptions of the best and worst the medium has to offer. Is the overactive coverage of comics-related media diluting the need to actually read the books?

Panel: James Bacon, Daniella Bella, Michael Carroll, David Ferguson (moderator), Janet O’Sullivan

Preserving Nature in SFF Futures

The Earth is messed up: climate change, trash islands in the ocean, fires in the Amazon. What could our stories look like if we move to a more green way of thinking and being, such as by rewilding our environment? How can the lessons we have learned from this world be carried into our fiction of other worlds?

Panel: Noelle Ameijenda, Carol Connolly, Xander Cosgrave (moderator), Peadar Ó Guilín, Dr Fox Purtill

Romance in SFF: Not Just a Sub-Plot

Many SFF stories involve romance - it’s part of human nature, after all. SFF romance as a subgenre is as varied and creative as the genre as a whole but has often been dismissed and undervalued. But why should lovers (of romance) settle for it being considered second-best to dragons and rocket ships?

Panel: Ellen Brickley, Jack Fennell, Ruth Frances Long, Atlin Merrick (moderator), CE Murphy

Selling Your First Story From Pitch to Publishing

So you’ve conquered the blank page and crafted the perfect story but how do you send it out into the world?

Our panel takes you through some of the different ways of submitting your story or novel, and discusses what happens once you’ve sent it to an agent, pitched it on Twitter or published it yourself.

Panel: Edmond Barrett, Máire Brophy, Damien Larkin, Atlin Merrick, Catherine Sharp (moderator)

Sunday Service with James and Janet

A comedy round-up of the past year in film, TV, and genre fiction in general.

Hosts: James Brophy and Janet O’Sullivan

Suspending Scientific Disbelief

How many improbabilities and inaccuracies are we willing to ignore in the service of a good story? No matter how cool the costume or clever the time machine, if the science doesn’t ring true, the reader or viewer can be knocked out of the story. Is scientific rigour the most important measure or do we only care about bad science in stories we don’t like?

Panel: Noelle Ameijenda, Michael Carroll, Carol Connolly (moderator), Edmund Schluessel, Harun Šiljak

What Can Heroes Get Away With?

Heroes can do things in fiction that in real life would see them immediately branded as villains but by what standards should we judge them? Do real-world events, current and historical, influence how we write heroes and react to them, and where’s the dividing line between heroes, anti-heroes and villains?

Panel: Máire Brophy (moderator), Michael Carroll, Peter Morwood, Paul Anthony Shortt, Karina Steffens

Creating Indie Comics: From Idea to Print

Anyone attempting to get started in comics can face barriers to entry. In this workshop, Paul Carroll from Limit Break Comics will demystify the process of how a comic gets turned from an idea into a finished page. As well as introducing the different roles in the creation of a comic, Paul will show how to approach collaborators, plan finances for making comics, explain the printing and promotion processes for small press comics, and examine crowdfunding as a viable option for financing and distributing comics.

Suitable for older teens and adults; for anyone who wants to make comics and graphic novels but doesn’t know how to get started.

LEGO Daleks Workshop

Our programming does not permit us to acknowledge that any creature is superior to the Daleks! Except perhaps LEGO DALEKS! Come along, get some bricks and construct your destruction!

LEGO® is a registered trademark of the LEGO Group, who do not authorise, sponsor or endorse this event.

Host: James Shields

Winging It!

Decorate your very own fairy wings to wear about the con! After two previous successful art workshops (Octocon’s Next Top Monster and Build-a-Monster), local artist Eimear Kelly returns to Octocon and invites you to create something maybe a little less monstrous. No age limits; materials supplied.

Fan Chat: Creative Costuming

What can you do when your costuming plans go wrong?

Swap horror stories and hear tales of other costumers’ last minute heroic saves.

Host: Dr Fox Purtill

Fan Chat: Good Omens

In the same way that every cassette tape left in a car for two weeks becomes The Best of Queen, within a few days of the release of the Good Omens TV series at the start of June, 90% of Tumblr had morphed into Good Omens blogs. Come and chat about both the 1990 book and its 2019 TV adaptation.

Host: Janet O’Sullivan

Fan Chat: What Did We Miss at Worldcon?

Dublin 2019, an Irish Worldcon, was a celebration of all the things we love in SFF… and it was just too big for any one person to see everything! Whether you made it to any Worldcon events or not, join a chat about our experiences, and catch up on what you may have missed.

Host: Catherine Sharp

Author Readings

Guest authors Peadar Ó Guilín and Ruth Frances Long/ Jessica Thorne read from their recent work.

Closing Ceremony

Another Octocon is over. We look back on this year’s convention and forward to what’s coming up next.

Hosts: Janet O’Sullivan and Raissa Perez; with Carol Connolly and David Ferguson

If you find treasure mark it on here

of Octocon

Map of the world

Dublin 2019 would like to thank everyone involved in Octocon!

“World Science Fiction Society”, “WSFS”, “World Science Fiction Convention”, “Worldcon”, “NASFiC” “Hugo Award”, the Hugo Award Logo, and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Trophy Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.