Jeremy Haney, a Detroit artist, was commissioned in 2013 to create the Reading Robot statue for the Detcon1 Awards for Young Adult and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. Here are some of his initial sketches.
Tammy Coxen, our illustrious con chair, was seen toting Maggie Stiefvater's award around the convention on Saturday night.
I know, there has not been bloggening in forever. July has been and will continue to be totally crazypants as far as scheduling goes. But here, I have some stuff for you!
Storifies:
During my one long break at DetCon1, I went to the Detroit Institute of the Arts. I only had a bit over three hours there, which wasn’t nearly enough, but it made a profound impression on me.
I was going to write a formal write-up of Detcon1 over at LJ, but I haven't the energy to coalesce my brain. I do want to say again that Mark Oshiro is delightful and I just loved loved loved someone talking about the books I read as a kid being Actually Important, and I loved EVEN MORE that he acknowledged that yeah, there are some issues too. Nnedi Okorafor still reduces me to flailing-- she drew a picture on the outside edge of my book and said she liked the water damage because she liked books that had been through something. Jacqueline Carey is an author I never imagined I'd meet, and it reinforced the idea that I need to read her newer books. I could listen to Steven Barnes talk forever. I danced near Tananarive Due! I saw Merrie Haskell's YA award be lovingly caressed by pirates.
Moreover, I saw how fucking beautiful Detroit is. I attended so many panels on diversity, on social justice, on the need for representation and the capacity for sff to provide that. I saw families, and numerous panels just for teens and children. I genuinely think this is one of the best cons I've been to.
Lots of NASFiCcy goodness. It stayed very chill, and we had plenty of sleep both nights. I felt a little middle-aged, but I suppose that's appropriate.
This weekend I went to the North American Science Fiction Convention in Detroit and OMG Jim C Hines remains awesome and Mark Oshiro FLAILED HIS HANDS at me when I talked about Tamora Pierce and Jacqueline Carey and her partner were adorbs and John Scalzi and his wife dancing to "Head Like A Hole" might be the cutest thing ever and OMG Nnedi Okorafor is like SUNSHINE I mean she is so smart and so talented but she smiles and the world just lights up I am maybe in love.