I started the day at the dealer room. My third day and I still hadn't made it to the dealer room. Can you believe it? There was a lot of great stuff, but I blew all my money on the new camera - so nothing for me. Except for Bat Girl's autograph. She was so nice when I took her picture that I had to buy one of hers. I got an autographed "Marta," and I didn't even know she played her. Then I wandered around some more.
At 1pm I saw Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson discussing the new Dune series they're working on. At least three more books are planned; House Atreides is first, followed by House Harkonon and then the emperor's house. They described Frank Herbert's development as a writer, the process, and some other cool stuff. Like trying to find Dad's old notes, Mom's ESP, and the strange things that happened to them when the got together - like the bank calling about an old safe deposit box.
It was immediately followed by the Anne McCaffrey hour. She, with her son Todd, the folks from
Zyntopo (making the TV series) and the Grolier Interactive (making the game) people announced the new web site http://www.pern.com.
They also discussed the plans for the future and answered questions.
On the panel were, left to right, Jerome Gastaldi (Marketing Director-Grolier Interactive), Chris Nicholls (Grolier Interactive), Eric Weymueller (Zyntopo), Joanna Robinson (Zyntopo), Todd McCaffrey, and Anne McCaffrey - the Dragonlady.
I made Annie cringe when I accidentally implied the Dragon Riders was going to be a soap opera. I meant the question, "Is the series more about the characters' interaction (like a soap opera or Melrose Place) or Action adventure (Like Star Trek) or a special effects show. Anne was shocked, but Eric Weymueller understood the question, "What Genre will the show be - and clearly said Action Adventure"
The funniest moment was when the discussion of book covers came up and everyone started telling anecdotes of bad book covers. Eventually they got to a Pern book cover from Sweden, and while they didn't go into detail, apparently it would have made Hugh Hefner blush. Annie did a little impression of the cover girl's pose, and the room exploded in laughter.
Annie apologized for not signing autographs, and Todd says she's really heartbroken herself, but her arthritis is just too bad for more than a couple at a time.
I took 10 pictures of these beautiful women and still don't know what Legynds is. I guess it's a game or role playing, since it was near the game room. Follow the link and let me know. They were suppose to make me take a flyer but we had so much fun with the camera they forgot.
I know Solar is a the Southern Organization of Live Action Reenactments because she made me take a flyer. But I don't know who this is. We weren't sure how this would come out so I took a few. When she smiled it looked like a bright light in the camera.
These people were in the dealer room. Of course the models look great, but you got to give credit to the everyday people who have fun and a sense of humor. Why not have Halloween all year?
You mean this isn't a costume? - Leon(?), from Steve Jackson games, sat at my table during the banquet
Todd McCaffrey presents a prize to Melinda Wilson after the "Dragon Hatching". She won a prerelease bookcover of "Dragonholder", the upcoming Anne McCaffrey biography he's writing. He gave a seminar about the book and had some wonderful stories. Like for instance: Originally Annie was going to write an Autobiography, but the publisher convinced Todd to write it so Annie would have more time for a Pern book. The biography is a year behind schedule. He's amazed at his mother's courage to follow her dreams - specifically moving to Ireland as a single parent and pursuing an uncertain and very risky writing career.
I didn't
see any little flying faeries all day. I guess I should have asked him why. Brian Froud is a renowned expert on Faeries and truly gifted artist. I guess that's why I gave him my money. I wonder if he liked having so many giant faeries around? I wonder if he caught any? I know I did.
Batgirl, Yvonne Craig, will never age. She has such bubbly personality and perky voice, I was really taken back to my younger days of sitting on the floor in front of the TV after school.
The ARTC put on live readings almost every night. They do a pretty descent job and were quite entertaining. They've been performing little known Robert Heinlein pieces at the DragonCons. At the Cons they get the invited guests to join in like Robert Trebor and Joshua Kane. Saturday's piece was Our Fair City. Take a peek at their website.
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| Started July 2, 1999 © 2001 Stefan Oestreicher [email protected] Updated Jan. 26, 2001 |  |