Novacon News

Best fanzine: 1, Head, edited by Doug Bell & Christina Lake; 2, A Meara For Observers, edited by Mike Meara; 3, Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer; 4, Journey Planet; 5, iShoes; 6, Relapse; 7=, An Fleghes Hager-Na Yu Canjeons; 7=, Andromeda's Offspring; 7=, Ansible; 7=, Exhibition Hall; 7=, The Fortnightly Fix; 7=, Quantum Bollocks; 13, Flipping Heck; 14=, Pips; 14=, Plokta.

Best fanzine writer: 1, Claire Brialey; 2, Yvonne Rowse; 3=, James Bacon; 3=, Mark Plummer; 5, Doug Bell; 6=, Graham Charnock; 6=, Mike Meara; 8=, Christina Lake; 8=, Greg Pickersgill; 10=, Jinnie Cracknell; 10=, Ian Sorensen; 12=, Theresa Derwin; 12=, Steve Green; 12=, Roy Kettle; 15, Peter Weston.

Best fanzine artist: 1, Dave Hicks; 2=, Steve Green; 2= Steve Jeffrey; 2=, Sue Mason; 2=, Alison Scott; 6=, Harry Bell; 6=, Dave Hardy; 6=, David O'Connell; 9, Shep Kirkbride; 10, Lesley Ward.

Jaine Fenn announced as Novacon 42 guest of honour

The British science fiction and fantasy author Jaine Fenn will be guest of honour at Novacon 42. Her latest novel is Bringer of Light.

Read Jaine Fenn's blog

Friday's programme unveiled

19:00: Opening Ceremony
Your chance to meet the committee and our Guest of Honour, find out what treats are in store for you over the weekend, and find out how to volunteer your services.

19.30: They Tried To Make Him Go To Rehab
We tried for Jonathan Ross, but even the BBC couldn't afford his contract. At least Steve Green will host his infamous Novacon chatshow for a pint and a packet of peanuts, and actually he's not that fussed about the peanuts.

21.00: Book Launch Party
Come along and get a fresh, sparkling copy of John Meaney's new book Transmission, signed then and there by the author. Free wine and nibbles!

22.30: Charades
Take a break from all the intellectual cut and thrust, and free your inner child with some physical silliness.

Nova Awards: online launch delayed

The launch of the new online Nova Award ballot form has been delayed due to unforeseen technical difficulties outside our direct control. However, we do expect it to be up within the next few days -- and UK / Irish sf fans have until midnight on 5 November to cast their vote. Why not use the extra time to catch up with the many eligible fanzines now available online?

Please note that the electronic form is now available here.

Check out our newly-updated Nova Awards 'longlist'

Nova Awards: now open to all UK / Irish fans

Beginning with the 2011 Nova Awards, voting is being extended to all UK / Irish residents who have read at least six qualifying fanzines published during the eligibility period.

In addition, an electronic ballot form will be available shortly on the Novacon website.

Read the current Nova Awards 'longlist'

Major changes ahead for Nova Awards

Moves are underway to open voting in the annual Nova Awards up to all fans resident in Britain and Eire, not just those who are members of Novacon. A formal announcement will be made shortly.

Read the current Nova Awards 'longlist'

Programme update

Richard Standage: "Well we've reached that stage in the planning where we have lots of ideas for panels and talks and the people we think will be really good to have presenting, moderating, participating or at least placed strategically in the audience to heckle, so keep an eye on your inbox for a begging email that starts something along the lines of 'how would you like to be on a panel...'. We can be very persuasive - you have been warned.

"Ideas currently taking shape at the moment are the inimitable Steve Green engaging the GoH in some light hearted banter, Chris Morgan talking about the history of the paperback and Dave Hicks reprising his talk from Corflu on fannish artwork for those of us not lucky enough to catch it first time round.

"For the early risers the Saturday and Sunday morning science talks this year are courtesy of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nottingham. Dr Frazer Pearce is going to do a very cheerful talk entitled 'Megadeath', looking at potential catastrophes that could kill a million plus people, such as asteroid strikes, plague etc., giving the scientific background. Dr Meghan Gray will do a talk on 'The Dark Side of the Universe'.

"Our Guest of Honour will of course be dragged into as much as he can humanely bear, so there will be ample opportunity to get to know him and his work over the weekend. This is of course all in addition to the stuff that a Novacon really wouldn�t be the same without: a Friday night party, book and art auctions, a Sunday beer and food tasting, and of course a Big Saturday Night Thingy, details of which are still being kept under wraps.

"As usual if you have any ideas or want to volunteer, then get in touch, we'd love to hear from you. You know how..."

Doom, destruction & darkness

Richard Standage writes: "Science talks this year are being provided by the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nottingham.

"Dr Frazer Pearce is going to do a very cheerful talk entitled 'Megadeath', looking at potential catastrophes that could kill a million plus people, such as asteroid strikes, plague etc., giving the scientific background. Dr Meghan Gray will do a talk on 'The Dark Side of the Universe'."

Check out the Nottingham Astronomy Group's website

Past Novacon websites archived

This website now incorporates archive copies of the sites for Novacons 37, 38, 39 and 40.

Our thanks to Kevin Clarke for his technical assistance on this project.

Check out the list of past Novacons

Nova Awards: 2011 results

The 2010 Nova Awards were announced at Novacon 40 by guest of honour Iain M Banks.

Best fanzine: 1, Journey Planet, edited by James Bacon, Claire Brialey & Chris Garcia; 2, Relapse, edited by Peter Weston; 3, Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer.

Best fan writer: 1, Mark Plummer; 2, James Bacon; 3, Julian Headlong.

Best fan artist: 1, Arthur "ATom" Thomson; 2, Steve Green; 3, David A Hardy. [This is the first occasion a Nova Award has been presented posthumously; Claire Brialey accepted it on behalf of Arthur's family.]

The future of the Nova Awards is currently under review. An announcement will be made by the Novacon 41 committee in due course.