Octocon
| Octocon | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy |
| Venue | Camden Court Hotel |
| Location(s) | Dublin, Co Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Website | |
| http://www.octocon.com/ | |
Octocon is the name given to the National Irish Science Fiction and fantasy Convention, held (almost) annually in October. It will not be held in 2014 when Ireland hosts Eurocon. The next Irish Eurocon is Shamrokon, to be held in August in Dublin.[1] The next Octocon is scheduled to be held at the Camden Court Hotel in Dublin City Centre on the 10–11 October 2015.
History
1989/1990: The convention was initiated by members of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and named by artist Peter McCanney, who created the convention's first logo.
1995: Advertised Guest of Honour Mary Gentle had to cancel her appearance at the last minute, leading to the appointment of Kim Newman in her place.
1997: This was also the year's official Eurocon, and consequently the largest Octocon to date.
1998: The only one-day Octocon to date.
2003: The convention took a break for a year.
2004: For the first time, Octocon was held outside Ireland's capital of Dublin, in Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
2008: The convention returned to Dublin.
2009: The first Golden Blaster was awarded.
2014: This is to be the official Eurocon, Shamrokon.
Golden Blasters
The Golden Blasters are the National Irish Science Fiction Awards for short science fiction, fantasy or horror films. Submissions can and have come from anywhere in the world, and the winners are selected by audience vote and a panel of judges. [2]
The awards now include the Golden Blaster, The Silver Blaster and the award for the best script.
- 2009
- Golden Blaster:
- Silent City (Director: Rurairi Robinson)
- 2010
- Golden Blaster:
- Ubermensch (Directed by Simon Temple and written by Daniel Poole)
- Silver Blaster:
- The Astronomer's Sun (Written and directed by Simon Cartwright & Jessica Cope)
- Best Script:
- He Knows by Stuart Creque
- 2011
- Golden Blaster:
- Hai In Mano Il Tuo Futuro! (Directed by Enrico Maria Artale)
- Silver Blaster:
- Hai In Mano Il Tuo Futuro! (Directed by Enrico Maria Artale)
- Best Script:
- Wet Rot by Stuart Creque
- 2012
- Golden Blaster:
- Shoreditch Slayer (Directed by Simon Levene)
- Silver Blaster:
- CRYO (Directed by Luke Doolan)
- Best Script:
- This Vehicle Has Been Checked For Sleeping Children by John Burdeaux
In 2012 the judges of the scripts wanted to make an honourable mention of both Pet by Eoin O’Faolain & The Vox-Warrior Princess by Fiona Mustard.
- 2013
- Golden Blaster:
- Locked Up (Written and directed Jane Eakin)
- Silver Blaster:
- Sleepworking (Written and directed by Gavin Williams)
- Best Script:
- An Bean Sidhe by Eoin O'Sullivan
Dates
1990
- Guest of Honour: Terry Pratchett
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 13–14 October 1990
1991
- Guest of Honour: Geoff Ryman
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 4–6 October 1991
1992
- Guest of Honour: Orson Scott Card
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 16–18 October 1992
1993
- Guest of Honour: Storm Constantine
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 30–31 October 1993
1994
- Guest of Honour: Robert Holdstock
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 1–2 October 1994
1995
- Guest of Honour: Kim Newman
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 14–15 October 1995
1996
- Guest of Honour: Brian Stableford
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 11–13 October 1996
1997 - Eurocon
- Guest of Honour: Harry Harrison
- Location: Dublin Castle, Dublin.
- Date: 25–27 October 1997
1998
- Guest of Honour: James White
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 10 October 1998
1999
- Guest of Honour: Robert Rankin
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 9–10 October 1999
2000
- Guest of Honour: Michael Marshall Smith
- Location: Royal Dublin Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 21–22 October 2000
2001
- Guest of Honour: Anne McCaffrey
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 13–14 October 2001
2002
- Guest of Honour: China Miéville
- Location: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
- Date: 19–20 October 2002
2003 - No convention
2004
- Guest of Honour: Tanith Lee
- Location: Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Date: 16–17 October 2004
2005
- Guest of Honour: Charles Stross
- Location: Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Date: 15–16 October 2005
2006
- Guest of Honour: J. G. Jones
- Location: Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Date: 14–15 October 2006
2007
- Guest of Honour: Alastair Reynolds
- Location: Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Date: 13–14 October 2007
2008
- Guest of Honour: Ken MacLeod
- Location: Royal Dublin Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 18–19 October 2008
2009
- Guest of Honour: Mike Carey
- Fan Guest of Honour: Dave Lally
- Location: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 10–11 October 2009
2010
- Guest of Honour: George R. R. Martin
- Location: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 16–17 October 2010
2011
- Guest of Honour: John Higgins
- Location: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 15–16 October 2011
2012
- Guest of Honour: Liz Williams
- Location: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 13–14 October 2012
2013
- Guests of Honour: Richard K. Morgan and Gail Simone
- Location: Camden Court Hotel, Dublin.
- Date: 12–13 October 2013
2014 - Shamrokon / Eurocon
- Guest of Honour: Andrzej Sapkowski, Jim Fitzpatrick, Seanan McGuire, Michael Carroll and Ylva Spångberg.
- Location: The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Dublin (formerly known as The Burlington Hotel).
- Date: 22 - 24 August 2014
See also
References
- ↑ "Eurocon 2014 / Shamrokon". Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ↑ "The Golden Blasters". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
External links
- www.octocon.com – Official website