Another year, another AdAstra, different season. First of all, I’d like to thank the AdAstra organizers and volunteers for a great experience and for welcoming Vali and me back year after year. It feels good when you have such a professionally run convention in your backyard.
I’ve met with old friends (unfortunately not as many as in other years) and made new ones. I moderated a few panels which as always went in any other direction that the one I planned, but were delightfully surprising and fun because of that. And highly interactive as the audience made its contribution early on and kept going. I had a Reading and that went well too.
RecipeArium Reading
WTF (Where’s the Food) Panel
Alien Worlds Panel
A new component was a large number of game industry panels or related to it, which were really interesting and instructive not only for game designers. Also great guests of honour!
My program was something like: coffee, panel, coffee, panel, pizza & beer, panel, coffee, panel, playtest, panel, playtest, coffee, panel, party.
We watched the Masquerade and it felt quite short. And somehow, it felt unfinished as the winner was not selected on the spot and the results have not been made public through an easily accessible platform.
I remember from Eastercon in England and other English cons that they had (I don’t know if they still have them) a newsletter keeping the participants informed on each and every daily aspect of the con. Every change, every resolution, every add-on. I think they use this and a news board at Worldcon as well.
The Art Room was as good as ever and the Dealers Room had a few surprises for us in store. We made some unexpected expenses there (I highly recommend the Galaxy Teas among other things). I take this opportunity to thank Bakka Phoenix for selling my book, and for being such wonderful people. I signed a few copies of RecipeArium for them so if you want it autographed you can find it there.
Signing Copies of RecipeArium for Bakka Phoenix Books
So all in all another great convention with AdAstra!