Transcribed from pp.6 and 7 of the SwanCon XV Program Book. All typos faithlessly reproduced.
[page header: Where I get to Totally Abuse My Editorial Privilege]
Editorial
Jeremy G Byrne
This and the page following are a sort of catch-all for the miscellany which either couldn’t fill a page on it’s own or couldn’t come within the 48-page limit the financial wizard (Tara) set me. Incidently, see if you can spot the deliberate error of type-setting in Terry’s story – it saved us a line and allowed “Gully” to run to only eight pages (albiet using a non-standard layout).
Incidently, the sagas of “Crystal Balls” and “VideoCon” continue from the Progress Reports. Those of you who haven’t seen these are are even vaguely interested can probably pick up a copy to browse at the Registration Desk.
As mentioned elsewhere in this book, the inspiration for the Dark Future theme came from rememberances of the wonderful Edward Woodward series 1990 which screened in Perth about ten years ago. It works in well with the current interest in the Cyberpunk sub-genre which will doubtless be discussed to death at XV. We had hoped to get away from the Gibsonesque “Inspector Gadget meets Harlan Ellison” view of the dark future to some degree with a few fantasy tie-ins (Moorcock’s “RuneStaff” novels strike me as particularly dark future), but unfortunately there hasn’t been a particularly whelming response. Nevertheless, I think there’s room to move within the theme. The Masquerade should be interesting.
The Short Story Competition which I pushed so heavily in the last two PRs has had a rather disappointing response (in quantity rather than in quality). As promised, the best of the entries we received soon enough is published in this Program Book. The others will be found in the special Short Story Book which should be found in the Con grab-bag (remember, I’m writing this on Sunday, January 21).
The Rail Baron which I railed against (well, maybe not railed exactly) in PR3’s Editorial, has unfortunately faded into the woodwork completely. We didn’t get anything from the barons for this book. Nevertheless, the tournament will still be welcome in the Gaming Room and the Awards Ceremony, although the times will have to be arranged by the players themselves.
The Dead Dog Party will be held at the private residence of Tony deGroot, the location of which will be made plain by a mud-map which will be displayed prominently towards the end of the Con. It will begin late, after the 96FM SkyShow has finished, although why anyone would want to waste his time watching a radio station burn its money is beyond me. The 6UVS SkyShow held one year consisted of someone on one side of the river with a radio turned up loud while two others waved sparklers on the opposite side of the river. Now that’s style.
Before I forget: The opinions expressed by the writers, including the editor, in this and previous publications of the convention do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Committee of the Convention (but if they didn’t come close to mine, I wouldn’t have let ’em in!) If you’ve got an opinion on anything we’ve published in the PRs or in this book, or anything that happens at the convention itself, please tell us. We’d very much like to pass advice on to future committees or even discuss particularly controverial issues during the Con – the Impromptu Panels being the best forum. Anyway, “Jack In” and enjoy yourselves but don’t do anything I’m not going to find the time for!
[page header: Memorise this page, then eat it.]
Policy State
Auction:
If you want to sell anything at the Auction, get it to the Registration Desk and complete the appropriate form provided, by Saturday at 3:00PM. The auctioneers reserve the right to refuse items considered inappropriate. The Con will take 10% of the sale price, and you’re freed to distribute the rest as you see fit (‘though “3% to GUFF, 6% to DUFF, 18% to aid Lithuanian Fans in Exile and any amount over $2.67 to be included in the cost of my banquet ticket” will not be taken kindly).
Membership:
Full Membership for SwanCon XV at the door is $50.00. Day memberships will be sold at the Registration Desk for $20.00 and will apply for the 24 hours following their time of purchase. Half-day memberships (called Half-Day before 6:00PM and Night Memberships until 6:00AM) will cost $10.00 and last for 8 hours only. If in doubt, the Reg. Desk can be rung on XXX XXXX, 24 hours.
The Banquet:
The Banquet will be held at Miss Maud’s Pier Street Restaurant (beneath the Con Hotel) on the Sunday, January 28th, 1990. It will run from about 6:30pm to around 10.00pm, with the final hour devoted to the Awards Ceremony. The cost of this full Smorgasbord, including free beer, wine and softdrinks, is $24.00. Numbers are limited, so please book at the Registration Desk as soon as you are able. This would have to be one of the best value-for-money SwanCon banquets in memory. For those who’d rather attend the Alternative Banquet or whose table manners are objectionable beyond all reason, the doors will be opened at 9:00PM for any and all convention members to attend the Awards.
Gaming Registrations:
Registrations for all gaming events should be made as soon as possible at the Convention. Note: Registration is limitted for ALL advertised games.
Weapons Policy:
No weapons, real or replica, are to be displayed in the Hotel or Venue, with the exception that, during the masquerade, by arrangement with the Security Coordinator, some weapons may be permitted to be carried. Transport of any such items to and from the Hotel must be organised with Security, as the laws of the land prohibit weapons being carried openly on the streets. Anyone breaching this policy (or indeed anyone acting in a manner considered by the Security Coordinator to be likely to cause offense to other members of the convention or the public) will be refunded his or her membership on a pro rata basis and asked to leave the convention area.
Smoking:
No.
Perhaps that’s not clear. Smoking can’t be permitted within the precincts of Venue, and we’d appreciate you not smoking in the Hotel Video Lounge or the Gaming Room. Please feel free to use the conveniently located outside world.
Hucksters:
A “Huckster’s Area” within the Fan Lounge will be made available to non-professionals wishing to sell or display goods at a nominal rate of $5.00 per day (or part-day). This area will be “at your own risk”, so please make arrangements to pack up when you’re not in attendance.