I'd call myself a science fiction fan, but I've "gaffiated". (Or is that gaffiated away?)
I've been to a couple worldcons in my time, but have lost track of them in recent years. I don't read sf anymore.
These days, I'm more aware of anime conventions. Not because I'm into anime. (I'm afraid I'm not.) But because I'll try to list the convention performances of some musicians in my music website calendar.
So it was a surprise to me to find out that the upcoming worldcon (World Science Fiction convention) will be in Yokohama (Aug.30-Sep.3). That's kindof one-upping the anime folks, you could say, in that they are so enamored of Jpnz. pop culture, yet how many have ever been to Japan?
(I'll admit that's unfair criticism, 'cause the anime fans tend to be much younger than the science fiction fans... so the former would tend to lack the money for trans-Pacific flights.)
Meanwhile, what's interesting about this con is that the co-MC (master of ceremony) for the award ceremony will be George Takei. (I wonder if he knows any nihonjin and will speak it at the event?)
Some people think he has a stentorian voice. I would agree, somewhat, but admit that I'm not terribly fond of his podium style. He can sound a bit snobbish. Not that he's trying to put on airs, but that's the way it sounded.
I heard him speak a couple times and the brittle, slightly snobbish quality of his voice was bothersome. But maybe his voice has changed a little since I last heard him (which was years ago).
Hey, maybe he's mellowed.
Whatever the case, this worldcon should be interesting. I wonder if there'll be large numbers of Asian fans. (Or would they only flock to anime cons?)
One fellow who ought to attend or be invited as a guest would be the Thai fantasy writer Somtow Sucharitkul. I don't know if he's written anything for many years. Seems he's quite busy these days writing and conducting operas and the like.
I met him a few times when he lived in Arlington, VA. Besides writing some paperback f & sf novels, I think he wrote some music on the side. I seem to recall that him writing some arias in an obscure language. (Bronze-age Greek?) and a witty marching song based on something by Isaac Asimov.
Which reminds me that I've got a picture or two of Asimov at one of the worldcons I attended.
In fact, Newt Gingrich turned up at that same con. Can't remember if I have a picture of Newtie, but I should have an audio cassette of him talking at a press conference. (Mind you, this is before he became nationally known.)
Posted by raacluse at August 23, 2007 10:01 PM