Darwin's Paradox

montreal at night

Several weeks ago, Toulouse and I got onto a jet plane and travelled to Montreal, Quebec (my old digs when I went to university). We went there to participate in the World Science Fiction Convention.

These guys put me in  a pile of cool panels on top of doing my regular readings and signings. I participated in science/ecology, writing and SF panels with rock stars like Tom Doherty, Julie Czerneda, and new faces like Bruce Rockwood, David B. Coe, Peter Cohen, John Kessel, Jason Tuell, Kristin Norwood, Bob Sojka, Mike Gallaher, Michael Sestak and many others.

The panels were lively, contentious in some cases, erudite and fun. But I measure the success of a con through its surprises as well as by how many old friends I visit with and new friends I make. This one was a resounding success because I met so many wonderful people and encountered many thrilling surprises.  The list is too long to give here but I’ll include some unexpected highlights.

• The rockin’ Tor party (held at a penthouse suite in the Delta Hotel): where the bathroom had been converted into a wine and beer celar…
• meeting L.E. Modesitt and his wife at the rockin’ Tor Party
• sharing an awesome world-building panel with Julie Czerneda
• the rockin’ Tor party (where rumor has it that the bathroom was raided by strange ladies intent on having a shower)
• seeing Cory Doctorow in a tux (for the Hugo Awards)
• the rockin’ Tor party (where someone who shall remain nameless jumped on the bed and didn’t spill a drop of his drink!)
• being “abducted” by a group of Romanian writers who took me to an ”Old Montreal” cafe to interrogate me using devious means like roasted wild duck and local cider (they were successful, btw)
• the rockin’ Tor party (well, I won’t go there–you’ll have to attend the next con to find out for yourself!) 

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