SLSA 2008, Back in Kent

The conference was a lot of fun, and I’m glad that I got to hang out with Pawel, Michael, De Witt, Matt, Hannah, Amanda, and Cat. I passed out a lot of SFRA bracelets, brochures, and conference announcements, so I hope to see some of you not-yet-SFRA members, but soon-to-be SFRA members next year in Atlanta. Oh, Cat and I rocked our panel, and thanks to the audience members and their questions and discussion!

After a relatively easy eight hour drive from Charlotte to Kent today, I arrived home safely for a much needed nap before going to dinner with Yufang. I have some work to catch up on tonight before class tomorrow, but I have plenty of notes from SLSA. Expect a proper write-up over the next few days.

SLSA 2008, Awake in Charlotte

After an 8 hour drive, I arrived in Charlotte last night around 10pm. The drive wasn’t too bad, but the night driving through West Virginia was terrible for two reasons: poor road construction created a rough ride and a lot of noise, and eyes were constantly assaulted by cars with the high beams on.

There were a lot of people in the lobby carousing and having a good time, but I don’t know if they were here for SLSA or for another nefarious purpose. I can’t say that I’ve recognized anyone yet, but SLSA is a big conference compared to others that I have attended.

The OMNI Charlotte hotel rooms are very nice, and my view overlooking a plaza bordered by high rise buildings makes me think of Asimov’s The Caves of Steel–it makes you feel hemmed in.

Thus far I only have one complaint–croissants. As a Select Guest member, I received free coffee, orange juice, and a newspaper delivered to my room. They also offer special prices on breakfast items. I thought a croissant for $3 was a great deal, especially for a hotel, so I ordered two of them. This morning, I discovered why they are only $3–they are smaller than the home bake Pillsbury croissants available in grocery stores. Luckily, Yufang sent me away with small packets of Famous Amos cookies, which made up for the unfortunate state of room service breakfast. I’ll search google maps for a near-by bakery or grocery store so I can stock up on breakfast goods. What can I say–breakfast is an important meal for me.

SLSA 2008, On the Road Again

I’m driving down to Charlotte, North Carolina for the annual Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts conference. This is the second time that I’ve presented at SLSA. My presentation last year was on “Subversive Subjectivity in Battlestar Galactica,” and this year I’m presenting on the political efficacy of “transsexual technologies.” There are several concurrent panels during my session’s time slot on Saturday, so I’m wondering what the turnout will be like, and what reception my paper will receive. I’ll post about the conference, time permitting, from Charlotte. However, I have two papers to write while I’m there in addition to attending sessions, so my updates may have to wait until I return to Kent.

The International Fantasy Award

While researching a paper that I’m writing on the exchange of real and cultural capital in the major Science Fiction awards, I ran across this bit of trivia. I always considered the Hugo Award the oldest major SF award, but according to Reginald’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (1991), this distinction goes to the now discontinued International Fantasy Award. It was first given at the 1951 British Science Fiction Convention, and it was created by Leslie Flood, John Beynon Harris (John Wyndham), G. Ken Chapman, and Frank A. Cooper. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a long run, and it was cancelled in 1958.

Looking through the winners, I found it striking that John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids won 2nd place to John Collier’s Fancies and Goodnights in 1952. I had to search Google for information on Collier’s collection, because I had never heard of it before. It’s interesting to find works that win prizes, but are later marginalized–by this I mean marginalized in terms of recognition of the work and the sales of the work– compared to works that don’t win prizes or only make prize shortlists.

There are some great pictures from IFA ceremonies and more information about the prize on Greg Pickersgill’s GOSTAK website here.

SFRA Officers 2009-2010

Adam Frisch, the current Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA) President, sent out the results of the SFRA officer elections appropriately enough on Election Day, November 4. Congratulations to the winners, much respect to all the members who accepted a nomination to run for office, and many thanks to all the members who took the time to vote.

These are your new SFRA Officers for 2009-2010:

President: Lisa Yaszek

Vice President: Ritch Calvin

Treasurer: Mack Hassler

Secretary: Shelley Rodrigo