The Ytterbium Eastercon Convention 2019 Easter Monday 22nd April 2019 Administering Fantasy Worlds Closing Ceremony And Dead Dog Party.

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The final day of the science fiction convention was a mixture of the relaxed and the sad, as many great friends left over the course of the day. In several cases it could be next year before I see them again. The first panel I attended was called ‘Administering Fantasy Worlds’ and presented by Kate Towner, Charles Stross, Caroline Mersey and Wendy Bradley. They addressed questions such as why many movies and novels show armies of hundreds and even thousands of troops preparing for battles or a siege without explaining how they are paid, or fed or giving any insight into the complex logistics of communicating with, training, and disciplining such a force. All too often, dark lords, absolute monarchs and wizards gain absolute loyalty without the writers giving a clue why they are loyal to their leaders or gain their resources, weapons, uniforms, etc. More modern world builders are more concerned to explain economy and administration too. Charles Stross, a writer I admire, shows how in his Laundry novels about spies dealing with extra-dimensional demonic threats, end up more afraid of their Human Resources and government funding departments than the fangs of some entity from beyond. Another writer praised was Lois MacMaster Bujold, who centres on the political machinations and complex bureaucratic establishments of her world as he does on the space war conflicts. Closing Ceremony Much of the day was pent saying farewell to departing friends between this presentation and the convention’s closing ceremony. Here, the main guests were thanked for their commitment (they were awarded with trophies incorporating genuine Ytterbium material. It is perhaps for the best that the convention was not named after weapons grade plutonium. The main organizing committee took their bows too, and it was a tougher than average convention given that the original event chair, Judi Hodgkin, stepped down due to serious illness deep into the preparation stages, putting a great deal more pressure on the other team members, but they handled it well. Judi herself attended the closing ceremony to pay tribute to the team, and received a much deserved tears inducing standing ovation. The baton for the 2020 convention, to be held in Birmingham, run by Concentric, was handed over. Food followed for me, and after that, the final period of socializing. The final hours of the evening of a convention are traditionally called the Dead Dog Party. This was a relaxed opportunity for those attendees and guests not leaving until the Tuesday morning to help finish off the real ale beers brought in for the convention. There were also lots of sweets and chocolates distributed, and some pleasant if tearful farewells as people retired for the night. The party was still going strong when I left due to the last bus back to my hostel going about 12.45pm. Tuesday 23rd April 2019 – Homecoming And Thanks The Tuesday after Easter was dominated by my epic journey home. I was in no hurry as my coach was not leaving for Preston until 1.30pm. My plan had been to use the morning to explore London and take more photos but my luggage was now too cumbersome and heavy to allow for that. I got to the coach station and wasted time away in a bar, The Traveller’s Call, opposite until close to departure time, only to find my coach was 40 minutes late. It was a very crowded service. I got to Preston about 8.15pm, and got a bus home, arriving at about 9pm. The first thing I saw was a bag of sandwiches I had made for my outward journey a week before and then forgotten about. I didn’t even look in the bag as it was obviously now just a mini-compost heap. It went straight in the bin. Thank You Time A massive thank you to The Ytterbium Committee, event tech, volunteers, gophers, hotel staff at the Radisson Park Inn, Heathrow, staff at the Polar Bear Heathrow Hostel, in Hounslow, my numerous fan friends, especially those from the Manchester FONT SF group, several people who treated me to beer and chocolate, Noel Chidwick of Shoreline Of Infinity, who organized the book signing session that helped launch my book and the short story work of the awesome Marija Smits to the convention audiences, the lovely people who bought my book and often got me to sign it for them, the various panellists, presenters and entertainers, especially poetry event presenter, Richard Stephenson & Tiffany Angus & Val Nolan who let me join in their Rapid Fire Info-Shots open mic and performance events. Rose Drew & Alan Gillett of Stairwell Books also provided great support for me. Thanks to David Wake & Smuzz for providing back cover accolades for my book. Plus everyone I just forgot to include above. Arthur Chappell