The generally accepted truth about Worldcon programming is that it is not worth considering in a detailed manner until you are within 12 months of the convention. There are a number of reasons for that (including the major fact that the organising committee is unsure who will and who won't be attending) but it is still possible for some planning and development of the programme to begin early.
Some items on the programme nominate themselves. These include (but are not restricted to) the Guest-of-Honour speeches for Greg Benford and Bruce Gillespie, the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the Hugo Ceremony and Masquerade. We will fulfill our WSFS committments with a series of Business Sessions; we will run collector and fan auctions; and there will be a number of fixed exhibits and functions such as an Art Show, an Internet Lounge, and a dealers room. We aim to put a programme in place that deals with all aspects of the sf genre: literary, media, fannish, gaming, costuming, readings, film, book signings, etc. Whatever you can think of we'll probably cover it, or at least attempt to. At present we have people working on specific items relating to the history of Australian sf fandom and science fiction, and doubtless we will have many other such panels offered to us leading up to the convention.
At this time, it is our intention to get the Programming Division structure in place, to timetable the required items and to begin developing others as they are suggested or recommended. This process will require a lot of work and a lot of suggestions. As we proceed further down the development track we will begin soliciting programme suggestions from members and interested parties alike. Keep an eye on this section and expect a number of changes over the coming months.
If you have any questions or suggestions at this point please contact
us at the Programming email address, programming@aussiecon3.worldcon.org.
Although there will be no separate Australian National Science Fiction Convention in 1999, the business usually dealt with by the National Convention - the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Awards (Ditmars), the 1999 Business Session and the site selection for the 2001 Australian National Science Fiction Convention - will be carried out at Aussiecon Three, under the name of Spawncon Two.
All Australian fans are entitled to nominate works for the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Awards. All Australian members of Aussiecon Three will be entitled to vote in the Awards. A separate voting membership, for those Australians who wish to vote, but who do not intend joining Aussiecon Three, is available.
The Awards will be presented at the Other Awards Ceremony at Aussiecon Three. The business session (dealing with the constitution and 2001 site selection), and a session looking at the future of Australian National Science Fiction Conventions are planned.
For further details, contact Marc Ortlieb at mortlieb@vicnet.net.au,
or check the Spawncon Two site at http://www.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/spawncon.htm
Aussiecon Three will have a workshop for new writers, following in the
tradition of Aussiecon I's writers' workshop with Ursula Le Guin. Funding
permitting, the workshop will be held in the Melbourne Convention Centre
but separate from the Convention proceedings. Workshopping will involve
sessions of short story or novel extract critiquing, moderated by professional
writers. Further information will be circulated closer to the event,
including dates and addresses for manuscript submission. Texts for workshopping
are required to be submitted prior to the convention and must be in the
sf, fantasy, horror or magic realism genres. Workshop administrators
are Rosaleen Love and Lucy
Sussex.
World Science Fiction Society, WSFS, Worldcon, Science Fiction Achievement Award, Hugo Award and NASFiC are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.
Aussiecon 3 Webmaster: Tim Richards. Website queries: webmaster@aussiecon3.worldcon.org. General queries: info@aussiecon3.worldcon.org