{"id":9,"date":"2022-08-09T18:45:07","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T17:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novaconuk.wordpress.com\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2026-11-03T20:15:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T20:15:42","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/","title":{"rendered":"WELCOME"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid alignfull column1-desktop-grid__span-10 column1-desktop-grid__start-2 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-8 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-none\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color has-raleway-font-family has-large-font-size wp-elements-1\" style=\"color:#027f8c;font-style:normal;font-weight:700\">NOVACON 55<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color has-raleway-font-family has-large-font-size wp-elements-2\" style=\"color:#6f5aa1;font-style:normal;font-weight:700\">6 &#8211; 8 November 2026<br>The Palace Hotel, Buxton, Derbyshire<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid alignfull column1-desktop-grid__span-4 column1-desktop-grid__row-1 column2-desktop-grid__span-4 column2-desktop-grid__start-5 column2-desktop-grid__row-1 column3-desktop-grid__span-4 column3-desktop-grid__start-9 column3-desktop-grid__row-1 column1-tablet-grid__span-4 column1-tablet-grid__row-1 column2-tablet-grid__span-4 column2-tablet-grid__start-5 column2-tablet-grid__row-1 column3-tablet-grid__span-8 column3-tablet-grid__row-2 column1-mobile-grid__span-4 column1-mobile-grid__row-1 column2-mobile-grid__span-4 column2-mobile-grid__row-2 column3-mobile-grid__span-4 column3-mobile-grid__row-3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-large\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/UnaMcCormack.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1313\" style=\"width:307px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/UnaMcCormack.png 300w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/UnaMcCormack-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Novacon 55 Guest of Honour:<\/strong><br>UNA McCORMACK<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-foreground-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Dr Una McCormack is a&nbsp; <em>New York Times&nbsp;<\/em>and&nbsp;<em>USA Today<\/em>&nbsp;bestselling science fiction writer of more than twenty novels, plus many audio dramas and short stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-foreground-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Una is well known for her TV tie-in work. She has published more than a dozen novels set in franchises such as&nbsp; <em>Doctor Who<\/em>,&nbsp; <em>Star Trek: Picard<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>Star Trek: Discovery<\/em>. Her audio work with Big Finish has been set in licensed properties such as&nbsp;<em>Doctor Who, Torchwood, Blake\u2019s 7 and Star Cops<\/em>. In 2025 her <em>Doctor Who<\/em> novel <em>Caged<\/em> won the BSFA award for Best Fiction for Younger Readers, and her <em>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds<\/em> novel <em>Asylum<\/em> won the Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel. Her shorter-form science fiction has appeared in anthologies edited by Gardner Dozois and Ian Whates. Her story \u2018Taking Flight\u2019 (2017) was shortlisted for the BSFA award for short fiction, and her novel&nbsp; <em>Star Trek: Discovery \u2013 The Way to the Stars<\/em>&nbsp;for a Dragon Con Award. In 2017, she was a judge for the Arthur C Clarke Award; in 2019 she delivered the Guest of Honour speech to the Tolkien Society AGM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-foreground-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><br>In a previous life as a university lecturer, Una taught creative writing for many years. She supervised creative writing PhDs (including a novel set in the MCU), and continues to mentor writers, particularly helping people working on their first novel-length project. She has run creative writing seminars and events at many institutions, including CERN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-large\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Palace-Hotel-homepage-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Palace-Hotel-homepage-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Palace-Hotel-homepage-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Palace-Hotel-homepage-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Palace-Hotel-homepage.png 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Novacon 55 &#8211; the venue: <br><strong>The Palace Hotel, Buxton<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Located in Buxton, Derbyshire, and a one-minute walk from the train station, this grand Victorian hotel is light and airy with high ceilings and some impressive decor. And possibly a ghost.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">As usual the convention will play host to a wide range of exciting guest panels, busy dealer&#8217;s room and vibrant art show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Information about making hotel reservations is now up on our <a href=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/hotel\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"420\">Hotel<\/a> page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid-column wp-block-jetpack-layout-grid__padding-large\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/N-icon.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/N-icon.png 1067w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/N-icon-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/N-icon-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/N-icon-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Latest news &amp; updates: <\/strong><br><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This link will take you to our programme guide online. You can use this to search for items and make a personal schedule. <a href=\"http:\/\/guide.novacon.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/guide.novacon.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Progress Report 3 for Novacon 2026 is now available! <a href=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2026_PR3_final_20th_October_2026.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"1659\">Download it here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Progress Report 2 for Novacon 2026 is now available! <a href=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_N55_PR2_final.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"1584\">Download it here (pdf).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Christine Davidson will be our Science Guest at Novacon 55! She is a Reader in Analytical Geochemistry at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She is also very involved with the fandom community as she runs the Satellite convention in Glasgow, co-Area Head for the Science &amp; Technology Programme track at Glasgow 2024 Worldcon, and received the Doc Weir Memorial Award in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Progress Report 1 for Novacon 2026  is now available! <a href=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2026-N55-PR1-final-31st-March.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"1424\">Download it here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center\" style=\"min-height:261px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-38\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/audience.jpg\" style=\"object-position:48% 83%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"48% 83%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-30 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-background-color has-text-color\">Join us&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1a9244c7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background has-large-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/memberships\/\" style=\"background-color:#027f8c\"><strong>Membership &amp; Payment<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1a9244c7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1a9244c7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1a9244c7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Novacon50\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"159\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/f_logo_rgb-blue_72.png?w=159\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28\" style=\"width:65px;height:65px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/f_logo_rgb-blue_72.png 159w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/f_logo_rgb-blue_72-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 159px) 100vw, 159px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Follow us on Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Novacon51\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twitter_social_icon_circle_color.png?w=400\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29\" style=\"width:63px;height:63px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twitter_social_icon_circle_color.png 400w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twitter_social_icon_circle_color-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twitter_social_icon_circle_color-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Follow us on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1a9244c7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Website of Novacon, the UK&#8217;s longest-established science fiction convention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":70,"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1699,"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions\/1699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novacon.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}