June 9, 2009 Literary Arts

The wait for Worldcon

World Science Fiction convention highlights Canadian SF

by Christopher Olson

Image: Phou Camvan

“We called the convention Anticipation because it really works with the whole theme of science fiction, and it’s a great bilingual name because in French science fiction is sometimes called anticipation.” — René Walling, Chair of Anticipations

Since the World Science Fiction Convention was founded in 1939, man has split the atom, landed on the moon and invented the Internet. But what of interstellar travel and site-to-site teleportation? A few more conventions and we’ll be there.

For the first time in its 70-year history, the annual World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Montreal on August 6 to August 10 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

Concordia University graduate René Walling has been campaigning to bring Worldcon to Montreal since Labour Day 2004. He is chair of this year’s convention, which has been titled Anticipation.

“We compare the bidding process to the Olympics,” said Walling. “Like the Olympics, the Worldcon travels from city to city. Unlike the Olympics, it’s every year and it’s not a committee that gets kickbacks that decides where they want to see it in the future; it’s just people who like science fiction.”

Worldcon is one of the largest conventions in the world run entirely by volunteers, said Walling.

“We don’t have this insular view that it’s just Montreal doing it,” said Walling, “because it’s totally not. No city has enough volunteers to do all the work and also the expertise needed to run it, so we have people from four or five countries on our committee in three continents.”

Montreal beat out Kansas City during the final vote in Yokohama, Japan in 2007.

“We called the convention Anticipation because it really works with the whole theme of science fiction and it’s a great bilingual name because in French, science fiction is sometimes called anticipation,” said Walling.

Out of the estimated 400 to 500 science fiction writers making an appearance at Anticipation, Walling figures 50 to 100 of them will be Canadian.

“There’s a lot of really good writers both in Canada and Quebec,” said Walling, adding that Canada dominates the genre’s airwaves since a large number of science fiction programs—everything from The X-Files to Battlestar Galactica—are filmed in either Toronto or in Vancouver and feature predominantly Canadian casts.

But before Montreal could host the convention, the six guests of honour had to be selected in advance.

“Our bid committee got together and tossed names around,” said Walling. “We were looking for people who had been involved in science fiction for several decades, had an influence on it, and were considered important figures. I like to think we have a very good guest list.”

Although filmmaker Ralph Bakshi had to back out as the Artist Guest of Honour, author Neil Gaiman signed on almost two years ago and has held fast to his word.

“Neil is very convention-friendly,” said Walling. “He’s just flooded by fans when he goes to events.”

Aside from the customary discussion panels, which will be on everything from “how to get your book published” to real world scientific research like the “use of satellites to predict weather” to an “astrophysicist talking about extrasolar planets,” there will also be art exhibits and a Dealer’s Room, says Walling.

If video games and role-playing aren’t your thing, Masquerade—a.k.a. Cosplay—will delight fans of frilly frocks and plastic polymer underwear.

Both the Palais des congrès and Tourism Montreal worked with Walling to ensure Montreal got the nomination.

“They were very interested and very enthusiastic about it,” said Walling. It’s not the Grand Prix, but with an estimated 4,000 people expected to visit over five days, Montreal is looking at a “big economic windfall.”

To make your reservation for Anticipation, visit anticipationsf.ca. Membership rates will increase as the convention nears, so register early. Read on for interviews with some of this year's honoured guests.

David Hartwell: Editor Guest of Honor

Julie Czerneda: Master of Ceremonies

Élisabeth Vonarburg: Invitée d’honneur

Taral Wayne: Fan Guest of Honor