More About Loncon 3

The Loncon 3 committee has produced a 6-minute video invitation for everyone to attend the 2014 Worldcon [YouTube].

It begins with signature perspectives of historic buildings framed by London’s latest and shiniest architecture.

For a change no maurading aliens burst onto the scene and lay it all to a black, smoking waste.

There’s just a quiet segue to Iain Banks’ self-introduction. Of course, he could tell us a thing or two about maurading aliens if asked… Then John Clute, Malcolm Edwards, Chris Foss, Jeanne Gomoll, Robin Hobb and Bryan Talbot follow with a few words of their own. It’s a very nice intro to what they have in store.

The full press release follows the jump.

PRESS RELEASE #1

Embargo: 1730hrs BST (1230hrs EDT/1130hrs CDT) 2 September 2012

Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention.

London, UK, 14-18 August 2014.

[email protected]

London to host the greatest show in the galaxy

The World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) is coming to London in 2014 – and it’s bringing some of the biggest stars in science fiction and fantasy with it.

London was confirmed as the venue today (2 September 2012) at the 2012 Worldcon, currently taking place in Chicago. The 2014 Worldcon will be the seventh to take place in the UK and the third in London; the capital previously hosted the event in 1957 and 1965.

Loncon 3 will take place in the ExCeL conference centre in London’s Docklands from 14-18 August 2014. The confirmed Guests of Honour cover the fields of fiction, comics, art, criticism, publishing and fandom: Iain M. Banks, John Clute, Malcolm Edwards, Chris Foss, Jeanne Gomoll, Robin Hobb and Bryan Talbot.

Worldcon joint chair Steve Cooper said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the Worldcon back to London. We have fantastic guests and we’re building an exciting programme covering all aspects of science fiction and fantasy.

“It doesn’t matter what area of this wide-ranging genre you’re passionate about – classic or modern, film or television, comics or cosplay. We’ll have something to interest, inform and entertain you.”

The Worldcon is held in a different city each year, and usually attracts around 5,000 science fiction and fantasy fans from across the globe. Highlights of the event include the Hugo Awards and the Masquerade, a spectacular live show showcasing fantasy and science fiction costumes. The programme has around a thousand individual items spread over five days, with panels, talks, workshops, quizzes, films, videos, autograph sessions and more.

Alice Lawson, joint chair, said: “Loncon 3 will bring the best of science fiction and fantasy into the heart of London, and we plan to make it a fully inclusive, family-friendly experience that is safe and accessible to all.

“The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics demonstrated that London has outstanding facilities, infrastructure and volunteers, and we hope to attract a record-breaking number of fans. I’m looking forward to welcoming them to London in 2014.”

ENDS

Note to editors

For more information, or to set up interviews, contact:

USA: Steve Cooper, joint chair: +1 312 859 5148

Alice Lawson, joint chair: +44 7751 882210

Europe: Alison Freebairn, media relations: +41 7925 19333

Email: [email protected]

Official website of Loncon 3, the 2014 Worldcon: http://www.loncon3.org

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/londonin2014 (Both available from 1730hrs

BST 2 September 2012)

London 2014 bid website: http://www.londonin2014.org/

About the Guests of Honour:

* Iain M. Banks is a writer who has received both popular and critical acclaim for his science fiction novels published over 25 years, including the Culture series, and for 15 other novels published under the impenetrable pseudonym of Iain Banks.

* John Clute is a critic and writer of international renown, whose extensive work in the genre includes co-editing the Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction and Encyclopaedia of Fantasy.

* Malcolm Edwards is the Deputy CEO and Publisher at the Orion Publishing Group, who has also been a science fiction editor, critic and writer, as well as a fan for more than 40 years.

* Chris Foss is an artist whose groundbreaking images revolutionised SF paperback covers from the early 1970s and shaped the way a generation visualised science fiction.

* Jeanne Gomoll is recognised as one of the prime movers in science fiction feminism in the 1970s, and has been influential in SF fandom as an artist, editor, writer and organiser ever since.

* Robin Hobb is the popular author of five successful series of fantasy novels, in addition to earlier works written as Megan Lindholm and a collection published under both names.

* Bryan Talbot is a comics writer and artist whose career of over 30 years in the field includes the creation of the first British graphic novel, The Adventures of Luther Arkwright.

About the Worldcon:

The World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) is a five-day event that has been held annually since 1939 (apart from a four-year break during the Second World War). The 2014 Worldcon in London is the 72nd, and takes place on the 75th Anniversary of the first Worldcon, which was held in New York in 1939. Recent locations include Glasgow, Scotland (2005); Los Angeles, USA (2006); Yokohama, Japan (2007); Denver, USA (2008); Montréal, Canada (2009); Melbourne, Australia (2010); Reno, USA (2011), and Chicago, USA (2012). “World Science Fiction Society,” “WSFS,” “World Science Fiction Convention,” “Worldcon,” “NASFiC,” “Hugo Award,” and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.