Picocon 34: 'Origins'

Picocon 35 will be held on Saturday 17th February 2018, in Imperial College's Blackett Building.

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 Blackett Building. 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
h bar

Guests of Honour

Paul Stewart has written everything – from picture books for young readers to football stories, travel writing, fantasy and horror. A graduate of Lancaster University and of the University of East Anglia’s creative writing course, Paul, a keen traveller, lived and worked in Germany and Sri Lanka teaching English as a foreign language before returning to England and becoming a full-time writer.

Chris Riddell is an author, illustrator and the political cartoonist for the Observer. He was appointed the UK’s Waterstones Children’s Laureate in 2015. Alongside his other collaborative work with Paul, Neil Gaiman and others, Chris also writes and illustrates the Ottoline series and the Costa Award winning Goth Girl series. Chris has won many awards for his work, including the Nestlé Gold Award, the UNESCO Award for Something Else and two Kate Greenaway Medals.

Ben Aaronovitch is best-known for his best-selling Rivers of London series, as well as two Doctor Who serials and various spin-off novels. He was also a regular writer on Jupiter Moon.

Emma Newman writes dark short stories and science fiction and urban fantasy novels. ‘Between Two Thorns’, the first book in Emma’s Split Worlds urban fantasy series, was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer awards. The fifth and final novel in the series “All Good Things” will be published in 2017. The Split Worlds series is published by Diversion Books. Emma’s first science-fiction novel, Planetfall, was published by Roc in November 2015. A second standalone novel set in the same universe, called ‘After Atlas’ is available now.

and Stuart Ashen presenting the Destruction of Dodgy Merchandise

Provisional Timetable

10:00	Front Desk/registration opens
10:30	Authors' Talk - Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell
11:00	Authors' Talk - Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell
11:30	Author's Talk - Paul Stewart
12:00	Author's Talk - Chris Riddell
12:30	Lunch Destruction of Dodgy Merchandise
13:00
13:30
14:00	Author's Talk - Emma Newman
14:30	Author's Talk - Emma Newman
15:00	Authors' Panel
15:30	Authors' Panel
16:00	Turkey Readings & Viewings Silly Games (starts 16:30)
16:30
17:00
17:30	Harmless Fun (definitely not a fish duel)
18:00	Pub quiz
18:30	Pub quiz

Prices

Entry:

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

You can buy tickets here.

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.

Food will be served between 12:30-13:30 in h-bar.

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

By 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 its main entrance (if you arrive from the Hyde Park side, you will be at the rear of the RAH).

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

Picocon 35 — ‘Harmony’ 17th February 2018