Worldcon 2019
I shall be at the World Science Fiction Convention in Dublin for a few days in August and have quite the packed schedule of panels, readings, signings, and generally talking nonsense in various contexts. Some details:
Writing beyond king and colony
Format: Panel
16 Aug 2019, Friday 10:00 – 10:50, Wicklow Hall-1 (CCD)
Fantasy novels often use monarchy, SF often relies on corporate governance, and space operas are full of planetary colonies. What other paradigms can writers bring to systems of government? What should they keep in mind when creating a new structure or repurposing an existing framework? What models can they follow? And what pitfalls should be avoided for stories set here on Earth, in a fantastical world, or on a far distant planet?
Erin Roberts, Joe Abercrombie, Sean Hazlett (M), Brenda Clough, Natasha Bardon
Kaffeeklatsch: Joe Abercrombie
Format: Kaffeeklatsch
16 Aug 2019, Friday 11:00 – 11:50, Level 3 Foyer (KK/LB) (CCD)
Reading: Joe Abercrombie
Format: Reading
16 Aug 2019, Friday 14:00 – 14:20, ECOCEM Room (CCD)
YA fiction: literary gateway or lifestyle choice?
Format: Panel
16 Aug 2019, Friday 16:00 – 16:50, Liffey Room-2 (CCD)
YA readers and writers are often asked when they are moving on to adult fiction, or ‘real’ books. Is YA just a gateway to other fiction, speculative or not? What’s the effect on YA readers? Do they move on? Should they? Or does YA have a greater, ongoing appeal to readers and writers, teen and adult? Our panellists discuss the history and relationship between YA and the other speculative genres.
Kate Elliott, Sam Bradbury, Carrie Vaughn (M), Joe Abercrombie
Autographs: Saturday at 11:00
Format: Autographing
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 11:00 – 11:50, Level 4 Foyer (CCD)
Joe Abercrombie, Justin Call, S.A. Chakraborty, Scott Lynch, James Smythe, Cadwell Turnbull
Panel show: ‘That was unexpected!’
Format: Quiz/Gameshow
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 21:00 – 21:50, Wicklow Hall 2B (CCD)
Ever wanted to know what your favourite fantasy novelist would do if they were suddenly turned into a witch’s familiar? Or how a popular sci-fi writer would communicate with an alien race that only speaks in bad puns? Watch a team of esteemed writers talk their way out of the kinds of problems they’re accustomed to writing their characters out of, and some that they would never have imagined.
Brandon O’Brien (M), Catherynne Valente, Charlie Jane Anders, Rafeeat Aliyu, Joe Abercrombie
It’s all gone to shit: grimdark worldbuilding
Format: Panel
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 10:00 – 10:50, Wicklow Room-2 (CCD)
Let’s build a dark and dreadful world, and then make it worse. Join our super-serious panelists as they discuss the darker aspects of worldbuilding in fantasy.
Dr Anna Smith Spark, Cameron Johnston, Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, Robert Corvus (M)
Using science in fantasy writing
Format: Panel
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 16:00 – 16:50, Wicklow Hall-1 (CCD)
When do you use science in fantasy? Whether you are dealing with medical problems, outbreaks of disease, or aspects of technology, how can these be integrated with fantasy – and what makes it different from SF?
Ginjer Buchanan, Joe Abercrombie, A. T. Greenblatt, Peter Adrian Behravesh, Jo Walton (M)
I’ll also be doing another signing at the Gollancz stall from 14.30-15.30 on Friday 16th. I’m not absolutely sure how things are working this year as they tend to change each time, but usually the Readings are in fairly small rooms so you may have to turn up early and really wedge in there to be sure of a place. The Kaffeeklatsches are by definition small and informal gatherings so you usually have to book a place via the convention. The panels tend to be much bigger, so there’s usually room for everyone.
Signing-wise I’m generally happy to sign anything of mine you’ve got, within reason, though time is sometimes limited at these sort of events so be aware that the organisers may hurry you through if queues get long, though they probably won’t. I’m usually happy to sign stuff if you just collar me in the halls and corridors too, though forgive me if I’m on my way to something. Hopefully I’ll see some of you there…
A Little Hatred UK Tour
I’ll be touring the UK for the release of A Little Hatred between 15th and 21st September, and the dates and locations are now out there… Typically the lunchtime events are just a signing, the evening ones are reading, talk, questions then signing. There’ll be copies of A Little Hatred available at all these events, of […]
Madrid, Aviles, London, Harrogate
A few appearances coming up over the next few months. 19th July, 19.00 – Espacio Fundación Telefónica, Madrid – I’m going to be talking about my books and stuff with Spanish author Juan Gomez-Jurado. I’ve been told to expect some other hijinks but my Spanish is nowhere near good enough to decipher the further details which are […]
Sharp Ends UK Tour
I’m going to be doing a quick 5 day tour in the UK in April for the release of Sharp Ends. We shall be visiting London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and Bath. Daytime events tend to be just the quick meet and greet, shake of hands, sign the book. Evening events come with […]
Progress Report September ’15
It’s been a bit of a whirlwind of a past few months, but a lot of overseas trips are now behind me. Half a War is out in English with many more languages to follow, and The First Law trilogy has been republished in the US by Orbit, so I’ve entered a brief period of (relative) […]
One Week until Half a War…
Half a War comes out in the UK in hardcover, e-book and audiobook in but 7 short days. Here be its cover… And here be its blurb… Words are weapons Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly […]
Konigsschwur and German Events
I’m going to be visiting Germany for the first time (other than a lightning overnight visit to the Frankfurt book fair last year) in June. Only a couple of events in Berlin and Stuttgart this time around, I’m afraid, at the Otherland Bookstore in Berlin and at the Dragon Days Festival in Stuttgart, but I […]
Half a War UK Tour
Half a War is out in the UK on the 16th July, and I will be a-touring in Scotland and England once again that week. We’re trying to take in a few places we didn’t reach last time, including Preston, just down the road from Lancaster where I grew up… Sunday 12th July 1.00PM – Signing at Waterstones, 128 […]
Forbidden Planet, Australia, Dubai
Details for a few forthcoming events. The UK tour for Half a King was but seven months ago, so we’re not doing a full tour this time around, just the one UK event at Forbidden Planet London, who have supported me with every book I’ve brought out, right back to The Blade Itself: Sunday 8th February, […]
ConFusion Detroit 2015
So I’m going to be over in the US of A later this week at ConFusion in Detroit as a guest of the wonderful Subterranean Press. I think it was 3 years ago I was last there, and it’s a great small con with an informal atmosphere and a lot of writers around. Plus there’s […]
