FOGcon 9 Report
The 2019 Friends of Genre convention (FOGcon 9) was held March 8-10 at the Walnut Creek Marriot in Walnut Creek CA. 227 memberships were sold, plus an additional 61 day passes. The theme was “Friendship”, with honored guests Becky Chambers, Karen Joy Fowler, and Ursula K. Le Guin (posthumously).
Programming included 66 participants and 32 items, with panels on science, writing, publishing, literature, politics, and more, such as “Creating With a Day Job”, “Can Villains Have Friends?”, “Life in Closed Systems”, and “Decolonizing Space”; as well as karaoke and small-group writing workshops. Additional options included the affordable Unaward Lunch Banquet with 125 attendees, readings, a hospitality suite, and programming for children.
The dealers’ room included businesses such as Borderlands Books and Cargo Cult; goods like books, jewelry, and accessories; and services including massage. The usually well-appointed space was partially partitioned, creating some confusion among congoers.
FOGcon 10 is scheduled for March 6-8, 2020. The theme is “Turning Points” and honored guests will be Nisi Shawl and Mary Anne Mohanraj.
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