Chris and I have just returned from Barcelona, where we spent the weekend as guests of Mircon, the 2014 Hispacon, which was held in the district of Montcada i Reixac, a short distance to the north of the city centre.
We had an amazing time. As with our trip to Aviles in 2013, we were made to feel incredibly welcome. The passion and commitment of the Spanish SF community is remarkable and inspiring. It was fantastic to see again some of the people we’d met on our previous visit, and we equally loved spending time with our fabulous fellow guests Karin Tidbeck and Aliette de Bodard. A highlight of the weekend for me was the panel I shared with Karin on New SF and New Weird. Another highlight was exploring the city of Barcelona itself – a stunning place, and instantly captivating, as all great cities are.
There are so many people to thank – Miguel and Gemma for taking care of the practicalities, Ian and Cristina for their conversation and comradeship as always, Angel Luis Sucasas for asking the questions (Angel interviewed me for El Pais back in July and it was wonderful to meet and talk with him in person), Carmen Torres and Laura Naranjo for their work in translating Maquinas del Tiempo (again, it was so lovely to meet them in person) and Sofia Rhei, for being there and for being amazing, and for making all this happen in the first place. I would like above all to thank Susana Arroyo and Silvia Schettin of Fata Libelli, and James and Marian Womack of Nevsky Prospects – you are fantastic people, and it is a privilege and a delight to work with you.
With Silvia Schettin (left) and Sofia Rhei
Anybody home..?
With James Womack on the New Weird panel