.
And if you aren’t going to be there, I’m sorry. Really I am.
And for those who are coming:
Remember that this timetable could change,
so you are advised to check your programmes
closer to the date.
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THURSDAY
- 1-2pm launch (no, not mine):
It begins for me when I wander along to Borders Bookshop, for the launch of “Baggage” edited by Gillian Pollack, published by Eneit Press. Borders South Wharf 20 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf. This, I assume, is open to the general public. Everything else below, only open to members of the con.
Destroying the future to save the planet: the environmental politics of SF/F.
SF/F has long dealt with environmental concerns, imagining the future impacts of overpopulation, climate change, peak oil, and water shortages. Contemporary writers talk about the importance of ecological themes in their work.
Tom Moylan, Kim Stanley Robinson, John Clute, Glenda Larke, Jonathan Cowie
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FRIDAY
Pure socialising. FB get-together: place as yet unknown.
I’m giving a reading. Come along. I shall read from Stormlord’s Exile and possibly also the beginning of the next book, set in the Havenstar universe… Last time I gave a reading at a worldcon it was to an audience of two, one of whom was Kate Elliott (bless her), so I am keeping my fingers crossed there’ll be at least 3 this time.
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SATURDAY
Thinking in trilogies
The trilogy seems synonymous with the fantasy story. Why is fantasy so closely tied in with the idea of the three-book story? Is it simply a marketing requirement, or are their structural advantages to the form that are not provided by the single novel. A look at the arguments for and against the trilogy, and whether it’s a tradition that’s here for good or due to be retired.
Glenda Larke, Trudi Canavan, Fiona McIntosh, Russell Kirkpatrick, Kim Falconer
Fantastic females: reworking feminism in women’s fantasy
Is fantasy the new vanguard of feminist politics in specfic? Fantasy authors discuss the role of gender issues in their work
Delia Sherman (mod), Catherynne M Valente, Gail Carriger, Alaya Johnson, Glenda Larke, Tansy Rayner Roberts
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SUNDAY
You know, the books of mine you’ll be bringing along or buying in the dealers room??*
*says she hopefully.
Come and talk to me. Your chance to tell me exactly what you think of my books and ask me “Why the &@# did you do that???“… Over coffee. You’ll probably remember more than I do about my books though… It’s a roundtable discussion with a handful of readers and me – remember to book your place. You can try through Andrew kaffee@aussiecon4.org.au but I don’t know if they are accepting pre-bookings yet.
*Lit coffee-gossip. And it doesn’t have an ‘e’ on the end in the singular
Crowns and swords: The intertwined worlds of fantasy and monarchy
With so many fantasy novels based in a setting drawn from medieval Europe, it’s no surprise to see so many stories based around monarchies – kings and queens, princes and princesses, tyrannical emperors and long-lost heirs to the throne. How much of fantasy’s appeal is grounded in a monarchic setting, and how can this long-standing tradition of genre be updated or refreshed – or abandoned entirely?
Glenda Larke, Fiona McIntosh, Duncan Lay, Kate Forsyth, Mary Victoria
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MONDAY
Where do you get your ideas?
It’s the age-old and widely derided question, and one more often than not dismissed or dodged by authors around the world. Despite this, the question actually deserves answering: where do authors get their ideas? A look at the hunt for inspiration, tricks and tools for stimulating creativity, and – perhaps – the ultimate answer to fiction’s oldest question.
Ellen Kushner, Robert Silverberg, Glenda Larke, Jack Dann
.
…when folk don’t care about the beautiful. Some of my happiest memories include times when the kids were young and we went to the hill resort of Fraser’s Hill. The first time I was there was in fact before the kids were born: 1969. The only buildings then were ones which dated back to colonial times, for this was the place where the Brits came to get away from the heat and humidity, to play a round of golf and sit around a fire at night and play bridge or backgammon or whatever.
To get to Fraser’s in those days you had to go up and down a one-way road (and in fact nowadays too, because the horrendously expensive and ugly new road remains closed). 
Odd hours up, even hours down. And as it was hard to judge just when you’d arrive at the bottom of the one-way road, there was a resthouse there for your comfort. You could stay there – in fact we did, often – and it became a focal point of birders from all around the world. It was called The Gap Resthouse. It ranked up there with places like Martin’s Place in Sri Lanka, or the cafe in Cley in Norfolk.
The signs tell it all. When the renovations were due to be completed was 2009, but the actual date has been scrubbed out. 
