Picocon 32: 'Duality'

Picocon 32 will be held on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February 2015, in Imperial College Union.

What is Picocon?

Picocon is the annual Science Fiction & Fantasy convention run by the Imperial College Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, ICSF. It usually takes place on a Saturday in February, in Imperial College's Student Union. We try not to clash with other conventions around the same time.

It is a small (hence the name), affordable and convenient convention for students and fans in or near London. Registration opens at 10am, with the first scheduled events kicking off at around 10:30. The schedule concludes in the evening.

At a Picocon you will encounter:

Guests of Honour doing talks and panels
The Destruction of Dodgy Merchandise, typically with liquid nitrogen and an enormous hammer. (Donations welcome!)
Stalls selling books, ICSF t-shirts, and other stuff
Quiz and silly games
Student Union bar

Guests of Honour

Cory Doctorow (author, technology blogger and journalist, well known for his eerily prescient young adult novels Little Brother and Pirate Cinema)
Frances Hardinge (another young adult author, who will be promoting her new novel Cuckoo Song)
Ian McDonald (writer of political hard science fiction, and distinguished by being the only author of a novel (that your correspondent is aware of) in which Imperial College features (River of Gods))
Kari Sperring (fantasy author and long standing friend of the society)
and Stuart Ashen presenting the Destruction of Dodgy Merchandise

Timetable

Saturday

9:00	Doors open
10:00	Frances Hardinge
11:00	Cory Doctorow
12:00	The Destruction of Dodgy Merchandise, with Stuart Ashen Lunch
13:30	Ellen Pendersen "Golem" Steve Cutts "Life on Mars"
14:30	Saturday authors panel and book signing
16:00	Turkey readings
18:00	Film viewing feat. IC Cinema

Sunday

10:00	Kari Sperring
11:00	Ian McDonald
12:00	Lunch
13:30	Sunday authors panel and book signing
14:30	Silly games
16:00	Pub quiz

Prices

Entry for one day:

£8 for ICSF members;
£10 concessions (with valid ID) - students/DWP/OAP/children;
£12 full price;
FREE for past Guests of Honour.

Entry for both days:

£15 for ICSF members;
£18 concessions (with valid ID) - students/DWP/OAP/children;
£20 full price;
FREE for past Guests of Honour.

Discounts for large parties (e.g. other University SF societies) are potentially available (email the Picocon Sofa).

Please note that neither ICSF nor Union membership is required to attend Picocon; all are welcome.

Directions to Picocon

Here's a general map of the area, pointing at the entrance to Beit Quad (which houses the Union) off Prince Consort Road.

By London Underground

The tube is probably easiest way to get to Picocon; both Gloucester Road Station and South Kensington Station are within easy reach.

Both stations are served by the Circle, District, and Piccadilly lines. There are planned engineering works on some other Underground lines .

These maps show the routes we suggest from both Gloucester Road Station and from South Kensington Station.

By Public Bus

Both the Royal Albert Hall and the South Kensington bus stop groups are near by - the Royal Albert Hall itself is next door to the Union. From South Kensington stops, follow the route map from South Kensington Station.

These stop are served by buses C1, 9, 10, 49, 52, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, and 452.

By ‘Boris’/‘Barclays’ Bike

There are three hire cycle docking stations on Prince Consort Road, which also houses the Union. Search for 'SW7 2BB' on the Cycle Map.

Note: If you get lost around South Kensington trying to find Beit Quad, ask for directions to the Royal Albert Hall, and once there, Beit Quad is the building on the left of the RAH as you face it's main entrance (if you arrive form the Hyde Park side, you will be at the rear of the RAH).

For more information, please contact Steve Ingram, the Picocon Sofa (comfier than a chair), at picocon@icsf.org.uk.

Picocon 32 — ‘Duality’ 14th and 15th February 2015