Our program questionnaire is now live. If you want to do a reading, be on a panel, participate in the mass signing or anything similar, please complete it as soon as possible.
Update: Program participant registration is now closed.
We are delighted to announce additions to our line-up of guests. You already know about our first Guest of Honor, Garth Nix. In addition we welcome the the following Guests of Honor:
We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our Toastmaster for the convention, Jay Lake.
WFC2009 is now accepting applications for Dealers’ Tables. See the Dealers’ Room page for details and a copy of the application form.
The World Fantasy Convention uses a juried system for filling the Dealers’ Room. Applications are due by April 30, 2009.
The 2009 World Fantasy Awards ballot has been released and mailed to members of the current and previous two World Fantasy Conventions. You can also download the ballot from our web site. Members of the current and previous two WFCs are eligible to nominate. In addition to the nominations from the members, the Award Judges can add three or more nominees. See further details about the voting process on the ballot.
Hotel reservations for the 2009 World Fantasy Convention are now open! You can start your reservation from our Hotel Information page.
Update, March 4: A bug in the online room-booking system that initially was not allowing any reservations that included the night of October 28 has been resolved.
Edgar Allan Poe was born on the 19th of January, 1809. Our convention honors the 200th anniversary of his birth. There are many tributes to Poe being posted around the blogosphere today. Here is Ellen Datlow, who recently published an anthology of new stories also honoring Poe’s anniversary.
Update: And here is Neil Gaiman.
We have had a few emails asking how to submit works for the 2009 World Fantasy Awards. You can find full details of how to do this on the official World Fantasy web site. The judges for 2009 are Jenny Blackford, Peter Heck, Ellen Klages, Chris Roberson & Delia Sherman, and we look forward to welcoming them to San José.
We are pleased to announce our first guest of honor – Australian writer Garth Nix. You can learn more about Garth here. Further guest announcements will follow soon.
We have extended our $100 attending membership rate through the end of November 2008. On December 1, 2008, the rate increases to $125, but through November 30, you can still register at the $100 rate.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the hotel, the 2009 World Fantasy Convention in San José, California will be held one week earlier than previously announced. The new dates are Thursday, October 29 through Sunday, November 1, 2009. The venue remains unchanged: the Fairmont San José. Any person who purchased a membership for the originally announced dates of November 5-8, 2009 will have the opportunity for a full refund of his/her membership if they are unable to attend on the new dates.
Convention Chairman David Gallaher explained, “The Fairmont came to us and explained that, due to internal miscommunication on their part, they had accidentally booked two events, one of which was ours, in the same space and time. After discussing it with the Fairmont, we agreed to move to the previous weekend. Agreeing to move allows us to hold the event on the traditional Halloween weekend, and has provided us with significant goodwill with the hotel.”
Gallaher continued, “We understand that the change may be inconvenient for some members, though we hope that a year’s notice is sufficient for most people to change their plans. Anyone who is unable to make the new dates will receive a full refund. Our staff will be on hand at this year’s World Fantasy Convention in Calgary to handle any questions. We very much hope that you will come and talk to us as we are keen to hear your ideas for the convention.”
For instructions on applying for a refund, please click here.
Memberships in the 2009 WFC are currently $100 and will remain at that rate until November 10, 2008 at which time they will increase to $125.