International Discworld Convention

Discworld Convention
Status Active
Genre Fantasy
Location(s) United Kingdom
Inaugurated 1996
Website
http://www.dwcon.org/

The International Discworld Convention, also known as DWCon, is a biennial science fiction convention held in the United Kingdom on even-numbered years. DWCon was first held in 1996 by members of the Usenet newsgroup alt.fan.pratchett.[1][2]

The DWCon is a fan-run convention focussing on the Discworld novels and other works by Sir Terry Pratchett. The programme has several events that appear each time such as the Gala Dinner, Maskerade (spelled in this manner due to Pratchett's novel of the same name), Charity Auction, Guest of Honour Interview, and "Terry's Bedtime Stories". The conventions regularly feature large attendee-run groups that have been known variously as Guilds and Sects. There are also smaller events such as interviews, games and competitions, guest klatches, and other activities.[3]

History

The convention has been held in the UK since 1996.[2] The conventions have been held at various different hotels. A planned convention in 2000 (Titled 'MilleniCon Hand and Shrimp') had to be cancelled for financial reasons, but the conventions have been run every two years since.

While Sir Terry once made a point of attending every UK-based Discworld Convention (and many of the non-UK conventions) as guest of honour, the Convention announced on 1 July 2014 that he would be unable to attend in person due to health reasons, but that he would appear in an on-camera Q&A session from his home instead.[4]

# Year Dates City Title Guest of Honour Other Guests Size
1st 1996 28–30 June Manchester, UK The Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Josh Kirby, Stephen Briggs
2nd 1998 18-21 Sept Liverpool, UK The Second Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett
3rd 2002 16–19 August Hinckley, UK Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett
4th 2004 20–23 August Hinckley, UK Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Bernard Pearson
5th 2006 18–21 August Hinckley, UK Sir Terry Pratchett Bernard Pearson
6th 2008 August Birmingham, UK Sir Terry Pratchett
7th 2010 August Birmingham, UK Sir Terry Pratchett
8th 2012 24–27 August Birmingham, UK The Eighnnnnnnn Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Colin Smythe, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Rob Wilkins, Lionel Fanthorpe, Stephen Baxter, Bernard Pearson, Jaqueline Simpson, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell 950
9th 2014 8–11 August Manchester, UK The Ankh-Morpork Grand Exhibition The Black Hat "to represent Terry in absentia" (Sir Terry Pratchett attending by video link)[4] Rob Wilkins ("representing The Hat for the whole Convention"), Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell, Reb Voyce, Jacqueline Simpson, Jack Cohen, Ian Stewart, Daniel Knight, Ben Aaronovitch[4]
10th 2016 26–29 August Warwick, UK The Band with Rocks In Rob Wilkins, Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Daniel Knight, Ian Mitchell, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Jacqueline Simpson, Ray Friesen, Reb Voyce, Stephen Briggs, David Brashaw, Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Mark Oshiro[5]

References

  1. ↑ "The Discworld Convention". The L-Space Web. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 Leo Breebaart (28 January 1996). "TRIVIA: The alt.fan.pratchett Timeline - Year 4". Newsgroup: alt.fan.pratchett. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "What Can I Expect At The Discworld Convention". International Discworld Convention. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Fraser, Simon (1 July 2014). "Guest of Honour News". The International Discworld Convention. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. ↑ 2016 Discworld Convention Guest List
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