A Dance With Dragon Con
What the Hell I'm Doing in Atlanta | 27 August 2025
So, as previously mentioned, my beloved spouse and I are off to Atlanta tomorrow for our first-ever Dragon Con. Bear has been nominated in the Best Science Fiction Novel category of the Dragon Awards for her novel The Folded Sky, and she’s in some amazing company, including C.J. Cherryh and Matt Dinniman. In our house we don’t log-roll for award votes, but I will point out that voting is open to anyone who’s interested- but not for much longer! You can register here.
If there’s anything on that list of nominees that you’ve enjoyed and think should be championed, then I strongly encourage you to register and vote in the little time remaining. I will also point out that if you’ve loved the work of the late and much-missed Howard Andrew Jones, Shadow of the Smoking Mountain will be likely his last work appearing on such a ballot.
I have never been to Atlanta before, so if you’re in the vicinity and you’d like to get something signed or just confirm that I’m alive, don’t be shy! My current public schedule looks like this:
Signing
OVERLOOK WESTIN - 4:00 PM FRIDAY
You bring me things. I sign them! Sometimes I even spell words properly.
Power without Kings: Exploring Non-Monarchical Rule in High Fantasy
L401-L403 MARRIOTT - 4:00 PM SATURDAY
This panel dives into the diverse systems of power beyond kings and queens in High Fantasy. From councils and mage orders to republics and tribal leadership, explore how non-monarchical governments shape stories, conflicts, and world-building in epic Fantasy realms.
Revisiting David Gemmell's Fantasy Classics
L401-L403 MARRIOTT - 10:00 AM SUNDAY
Explore the legacy of David Gemmell, whose morally complex heroes and relentless pacing helped redefine modern heroic fantasy. From Druss to Waylander, we'll trace his impact on the genre.
I am especially excited by this last panel, for the opportunity to talk about the influences that fed into Gemmell’s own work and the important place I think he occupies in the threads of literature that led to several modern flavors of fantasy, including grimdark.
Last week we returned from Worldcon, in lovely sunny-cloudy-warm-clammy Seattle, as discussed in my last note. In the main I had a fabulous time. Even our “light” schedule filled up rapidly with appointments and it was perhaps a blessing that we hadn’t undertaken many formal responsibilities.
I hadn’t expected many people in line for my Saturday morning signing, and yet there a bunch of folks were— perhaps some of you are reading this now. Possibly I need to recalibrate my expectations again. In my head, sometimes, I find myself regressing to my early-career outlook, and the assumption that nobody will care, nobody will show up. I don’t know why that continues to be a thing… my depression is generally well under control these days and I try to live an evidence-based life. This has been a wild summer for the Bastards in several ways… the Barnes & Noble special selection, the return to the USA Today best-seller chart, a days-long ascent to Amazon bestsellerdom for several editions of Lies… when I am away from the public for a bit, I suppose, I forget what I’ve done and how far my books have reached. This is an unhealthy habit, and I am now consciously working to beat it back down into the shadows where it belongs.
The second outing for The Tower of the Wizard seemed to go well. The space was nearly full, I greatly enjoyed performing, and I think I nailed down a better lighting scheme to allow the expressions on my face to register with more of the audience. I also discovered or rediscovered several complications of this whole project: the Armory building tried to eat a number of my attendees, my ticket ordering system tried to give me a heart attack, my hotel business center’s printer turned out to be a lie, and I learned why this sort of affair usually has an usher to guide people in and help them find their seats.
All of this will be processed, the plan will be updated, the show will go on. At my current rate of improvement, I can confidently invite you all to my first error-free performance in June of 2057.
Speaking of errors… you know, I don’t want to talk about the Hugo Awards ceremony right now. It’s getting late, I’m on a plane bright and early tomorrow, and I’d like to spend my last few working hours tonight packing my things and getting a little writing done. But things did go wrong at that ceremony, and after due consideration I will talk about it.
Just not tonight. Tomorrow is Atlanta. Tomorrow is Dragon Con. See some of you there, hopefully!