Hear Ye. Hear Ye. The Robots will be descending on Fantasycon 2018 this weekend for all things bookish and delightful! Yes that’s right, we’ll be firing up our hoverboards and heading for The Queen’s Hotel in Chester from the 19th – 21st October. Not only have we got authors taking part in panels, but our very own publicity manager, Penny will be playing some late night D&D with other writerly folks (keep an eye on Twitter/Instagram for photos and possible videos). Also, the con is home of the British Fantasy Awards and our very own Jeannette Ng is nominated for Best Fantasy Novel for creepy, gothic dark fantasy Under The Pendulum Sun. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for a win! As always, if you see us around the con (most likely in the bar), do come and say hi, especially if it’s your first event. We’re always happy to chat to people and give you a friendly port in the storm. You can easily spot us from the Angry Robot lanyards we’ll be wearing. For more information on the event, and to purchase con tickets, just visit the website. Please note that all panels/panellists are subject to change so do check your programme on the day.

Rod Duncan

Author of The Fall of The Gas-Lit Empire & The Queen of All Crows Saturday 1pm Panel Room Four Invisible People What does invisible disability mean, and how can it be expressed? How do people with these issues maintain creativity and are there ways that they can make it easier for themselves? Are the invisible differences of the writer reflected in their creations? If so are they better looked at as disabilities or gifts? And is there a reason why people with invisible differences are particularly attracted to fantasy and science fiction? How important is representation in fiction? Sunday 10am Panel Room Four Workshop: Creating Narrative Drive The job of the first line is to get people to read the second line. And so on through the novel to the end. But how can we keep our readers turning the pages and our viewers in their seats? In this popular workshop, Rod Duncan explores techniques of ‘shaping’ story to generate drive. The session will use sample text, worked example, discussion and diagrams. Suitable for all levels.

Please sign up for this workshop at the registration desk.

Jaine Fenn

Author of Hidden Sun

Saturday 7pm Panel Room One Writers and Computer Games The worlds of computer games are becoming more and more sophisticated. The constant need for content to generate and satisfy and audience’s appetite for adventures in this medium is another way in which writers can find opportunities to utilise their imaginations in a professional environment. Our panellists consider way in which writers can work on computer games and discuss their experiences.

Cameron Johnston

Author of The Traitor God Friday 9.30pm Panel Room Two Historical Fiction The fantastic realms we write our stories in are often based on some real historical context. Join our panel in exploring the different historical research that can be necessary to create robust fantasy fiction, whether set in the primary world or in an invented one. Sunday 11.30am Panel Room Two Mythologies Whether we are considering the fragmented stories of our past, or the ways in which writers can create new myths in their fiction, the concept of a mythology and mythologising in fiction remains a dark art. Our panel discuss classic and modern mythmaking. What is a good myth? What makes a mythology?

Pete McLean

Author of The Burned Man Series

Friday 6.30pm Panel Room Four Fantasy: In Conversation with Gillian Redfearn Gillian Redfearn gathers together a group of prominent fantasy writers to discuss the genre and their places within it. Saturday 5pm Panel Room Two What’s Changed In Worldbuilding? Traditionally part of the fantasy writer’s toolkit, but there are a variety of applications in games and transmedia storytelling. Our panel discusses their methods and how they relate to readers, gamplayers and audiences.  

Jeannette Ng

Author of Under The Pendulum Sun Friday 7.30pm Panel Room Three I’ve No Idea What I’m Doing A panel where a variety of authors talk about their different routes into being published, whether they feel they faced any particular barriers due to their identities, and how they have succeeded. Saturday 5pm Panel Room Two What’s Changed In Worldbuilding? Traditionally part of the fantasy writer’s toolkit, but there are a variety of applications in games and transmedia storytelling. Our panel discusses their methods and how they relate to readers, gamplayers and audiences.

Micah Yongo

Author of Lost Gods Friday 3.30pm Panel Room Three Blogging in Genre Fiction What use is blogging? Why do we do it? Why don’t we do it? Our panelists discuss the purpose of the blog and how they see it as part of their writing work. 6.30pm Panel Room Two Genre Interplay What are the traits of different genres and how can you steer your way between them and find an audience?