Octothorpe

John is going to Smofcon, Alison has FOMO, and Liz is a horrible person. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Andreas Davour (email) Chris Garcia (email) Ed Morland (BlueSky on 147, 148) Cyclo-cross Mathmo.org Emily January (email) Karen Schaffer (email) Literal antivirus Paul Weimer (email) Centrale Montemartini We also heard from Alan Fleming, Ali Baker Brooks, Andrew Thompson, Brian Nisbet, Bridget Bradshaw, DC, Duncan MacGregor, Ivan Sinha, Jan Harley, Kev McVeigh, Malcolm Hutchison, Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein, Shi Lala, and Tommy Ferguson Famous Belgians: Simon Stevin Smofcon 2025: Smofcon 42 in Stockholm, Sweden Smofcon Q&As Salute of the Jugger How to stream it in the UK John would like to thank Glasgow 2024 for a travel bursary allowing him to attend! Novacon 2026: Novacon 55 in Buxton Una McCormack Picks John: The Truman Show Alison: Pluribus Liz: The Summer War by Naomi Novik Credits Cover art: ”Archaeologists“ by Alison Scott Alt text: John and Alison, dressed in clothes reminiscent of The Mummy, look down some stairs upon Liz’s tomb, in which her skeleton still holds her Hugo Award, framed by stonework. The words “Octothorpe 149” appear at the top of the image. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and stunt Liz Emily Tesh are live from Novacon 54! An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It’s a live recording! Thanks to Emily Tesh for being our stunt Liz! You can find Emily at her website, with links to socials at the bottom of the page Eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones Visit Stow Shirts for all your Octothorpe merchandise needs Picks John: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig Alison: Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler Emily: The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson Credits Cover art: “Live from Novacon” by Steven Cain and Alison Scott Alt text: Emily Tesh, John, and Alison stand in front of a suspiciously purple background which may indicate that the real background has been subtracted by nefarious photo editing. The words “Octothorpe 148 Live from Novacon” are overlaid. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is ready, Alison had forgotten, and Liz is surprised. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Animal torture (letters of comment) Letters of comment Chris Garcia (email) Ed Morland (BlueSky) Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) Pictcon 2026: PictCon 2 in Perth, 17 October Finbarr O’Reilly (email) Kev McVeigh (Facebook) Kin-Ming Looi (Facebook) Paul Weimer (BlueSky, email) Tammy Coxen (Facebook) Terry Gibbs (Facebook) Raj (Mastodon) We also heard from Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein and Tammy Coxen 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Ebon Moss-Bachrach on the red carpet Event broadcast on YouTube LAcon V opens Hugo Awards Base Contest 36th Galaxy Awards Roderick Leeuwenhart Tianwen Awards Ersatz Culture on Mastodon BKK Comics Art Festival #4 The Blaft Book of Anti-Caste SF Belgian comics Asian Board Games Festival (ABGF) “Walking The Walk With RPGs In Malaysia” (paywalled on Rascal) Picks John: The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship Shut Up & Sit Down’s review Board Game Arena The dice tower Alison: The Word for World exhibition at the Architectural Association Secret Maps at the British Library Liz: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Star Wars is being properly remastered? Credits Cover art: “Nepal Spotter’s Guide” by Paul Weimer (text by Alison Scott) Alt text: A photograph of the mountains of Nepal with text overlaid, reading “Octothorpe 147 Official Octothorpe Nepal Identification Guide* (*apparently never gets old)** (** Liz might like to go to a comics con there)”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is on holiday, Alison said she’d have T-shirts ready, and Liz is back! An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Doug Faunt (Facebook) Corflu 2026: Corflu Pickled in Santa Rosa, CA, USA Ian Hillman (DM) Jonny Baddeley (Facebook) Eastercon 2026: Iridescence in Birmingham Hotels are open: Check your emails for the link Merch should be available by the time you read this   Bursaries are open for applications, deadline of 31 October The volunteer form is open Haruhicon 2026: Birmingham Carrots, vitamin A, radar, and British propaganda BristolCon 2025 World Fantasy Con 2025: Brighton Armadacon 2025: Plymouth British Firework Championships Novacon 2025: Novacon 54 in Buxton Pictcon 2025: Pictcon1 in Perth Satellite 2026: Satellite 9 in Glasgow Worldcon finances Worldcon 2013: LoneStarCon 3 in San Antonio, TX, USA Worldcon 2015: Sasquan in Spokane, WA, USA Worldcon 2016: MidAmeriCon II in Kansas City, MO, USA Worldcon 2020: CoNZealand in Wellington, New Zealand (but mostly online) Worldcon 2023: Chengdu, China Worldcon 2024: Glasgow, UK Smofcon 2025: Smofcon 42 in Stockholm, Sweden Picks John: Tactical Breach Wizards Alison: Here East Conrad Shawcross – Umbilical (The Nervous System) V&A East Storehouse Liz: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson Credits Cover art: “Treasures of the V&A Storehouse” by Alison Scott Alt text: The Torrijos Ceiling at the Victoria & Albert East Storehouse. An elaborate, gilded and octagonal ceiling. Why yes, Alison has a new phone, how could you tell? Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John might, Alison won’t, and Tommy would (in a heartbeat). An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Animal torture (aftershow) Letters of comment Brian Nisbet (Bluesky) Chris Garcia (email) Jonathan Baddeley (Facebook) Paul Weimer (Bluesky) Scott Edelman (Bluesky) Tommy Ferguson (email) We also heard from Caroline Mullan, DC, Farah Mendlesohn, Ivan Sinha, and Neil Ottenstein Octocon 2025 in Dublin Tommy’s fanzines: TommyWorld Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung Redux Prolapse’s issue for Irish Fandom Day James Bacon’s article on the fan history starts on page 5! Corflu 2023 in Belfast: Corflu Craic Corflu Craic’s programme book Including the con report of the Leeds Corflu that Tommy mentions Marcin Kłak’s con report Eastercon 2025 in Belfast: Reconnect Eastercon 1986 in Glasgow: Albacon III Previous Belfast conventions: Nicon MeCon TitanCon Replay is not quiiiiite ready yet, sorry listeners, it’ll be there soon! Pictcon 1 in Perth (8 November 2025) Novacon 54 in Buxton (7–9 November 2025) Norncon 2026 in Belfast (8–9 May) GoHs: Anna Smith Spark and Adrian Tchaikovsky The Norn Scene from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Eastercon 2027 in Glasgow: Unconfined Tommy is working on Communications Worldcon bid for 2029 in Dublin Picks John: Spirit Island App Store Steam Alison: Strong Message Here Tommy: Sleeper Beach by Nick Harkaway The sequel to Titanium Noir Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford Credits Cover art: “Norns Weaving the Rope of Fate” by Alison Scott Alt text: John, Alison and Tommy are weaving ropes of fate as norns. The ropes lead to little spools, above their heads, reminiscent of a sculpture called Umbilical by Conrad Shawcross which Alison will explain in more detail in Octothorpe 146. The words “Octothorpe 145” appear at the top, and “Looking forward to Norncon” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz watch Dredd (2012). An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Justice. Things that happened since we recorded: Going Rogue released an episode about Dredd Taika Waititi is making a Judge Dredd movie Credits Cover art: “Judge Coxon Pain Scale” by Alison Scott Alt text: Six cartoons of John as a Judge from MegaCity One with the Clarke Award logo on his helmet, all of which are identical. Beneath them follows text. 0: NO HURT. 1: HURTS A LITTLE. 2: JUST A FLESH WOUND. 3: MINOR GUNSHOT. 4: BULLET THROUGH GUT. 5: FALL OFF SKYSCRAPER. The JUDGE COXON Pain Scale™. The words “Octothorpe 144” appear at the top of the cover. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John skips leg day, Alison skips art day, and Liz skips opinions. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Alan Fleming & David Bamford (email) Eastercon 2027: Unconfined in Glasgow Christopher J Garcia (email) Doug Faunt (Facebook) Fredrik Coulter (Facebook) Jake Casella Brookins (email) Jesi Lipp (Facebook) Meg MacDonald (Facebook) Paul Weimer (Bluesky) Raj (Bluesky) Sari Polvinen (email) Shi Lala (Facebook) Next episode, we are going to watch Dredd! 2025 Worldcon: Seattle Seattle apologised after we recorded The Hugo Awards longlist is now out! Donald E Eastlake III at the MPC 2026 Worldcon: LAcon V in Los Angeles ‪Weyodi OldBear‬: first post, second post Apology from the chair 2027 Worldcon: Montréal Old bid site Jeph Jacques’s Questionable Content Picks John: FlickFleet Eurydice Games Alison: Slay the Spire again Liz: Luminous by Sylvia Park “More Real Than Him” Credits Cover art: “Inside Coverage” by Arthur Thomson Alt text: An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom. Explanation: This is a previously unused piece of art by Atom (Arthur Thomson), originally intended for a Walt Willis column in Hyphen that never happened. Alison wants to use it as an Octothorpe cover to make Atom eligible for Best Fanzine Cover in the FAAn awards. Except, you know, not. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is going to have lunch, Lori is going to brunch, and Liz is not hungry? An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Mispronounced names (chapter 4), class structures (chapter 7) Worldcon 2025: Seattle Hugo Awards The ceremony Pronunciations Grigory Lukin Nisi Shawl on Bluesky: first, second K Tempest Bradford on X in 2020: first, second K Tempest Bradford on Bluesky The winners Billy on the Street “For a dollar, name a woman!” Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes Worldcon 2030: Edmonton bid Picks John: The Sentence by Gautam Bhatia The Wall and The Horizon Andrew Openshaw’s review Lori: The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson Liz: The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho Credits Cover art: “Ceremony Script Revealed” by Alison Scott Alt text: A picture of a book entitled “Hugo Award Pronunciation Guide” written by George R R Martin. The cover design is in the style of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, with an Iron Throne made of Hugo Awards. The words “Octothorpe 142” are at the top in a Game of Thrones-y typeface. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is worried, Alison volunteers, and Liz is warm. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Chris Hurley (email) Dave O’Neill (Bluesky, DM) Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Jesi Lipp (email, Facebook) John Hertz (typewritten letter with pasted image from File 770 scanned by Fedex and sent by email) Mike Glyer (email) Neil Ottenstein (Facebook) Nicholas Whyte (email) Nuala (Bluesky) Paul Weimer (Bluesky) Rory Hennell James (Bluesky) Tammy Coxen and Jesi Lipp (Bluesky) We also heard from Doug Faunt and Farah Mendlesohn Worldcon 2025: Seattle Business Meeting Jesi Lipp posted some excellent infographics on JOF Jesi also posted a small table on our Facebook of attendances back to 2014 and John made them into a graph NASFiC is gone The USA has a national con now and it’s Dragon Con, so why compete? We will return to this question… The end of fan-run conventions in the USA NASFiC is gone, leaving Dragon Con as the de facto national convention The Westercon by-laws have been repealed Wiscon has not got enough volunteers to run an in-person convention Gallifrey One is coming to an end, Showmasters Events are running a commercial replacement GeekGirlCon and Penguicon are struggling Arisia, Baycon, Boskone, Loscon have all shrunk (anecdotally) The end of fan-run conventions more widely? New Zealand: Fan-run conventions have been struggling since CoNZealand Finland: SMOF News recently reported that Finncon is not running due to lack of volunteers More widely to do with volunteering? Maybe more true in the UK? Picks John: The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky Alison: Control Room B at Battersea Power Station (and Battersea Power Station Station) Liz: Woodworking by Emily St. James Credits Cover art: “Mildly Wes” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of a cocktail bar at Battersea Power Station. The words “Control Room B” are above the cocktail bar, and the words “Octothorpe 141” overlaid in similar style. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is laughing, Alison is coughing, and Liz has already eaten. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Coughing (aftershow) Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook) Constanze Hofmann (Facebook) David Bamford (Bluesky) Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) Jake Casella Brookins (Bluesky) Jonathan Baddeley (Facebook) Tommy Ferguson (email) We also heard from Olav Rokne, Shi Lala, Tammy Coxen 2025 Worldcon: Seattle Business Meeting Business Meeting Agenda and Recaps File 770 reporting: 4 July, 19 July, 25 July YouTube recordings: 4 July, 19 July, 25 July 13 July was not reported/recorded because of executive session Trial Committee Doctor Science, España Sheriff, Ian Stockdale, Kat Kourbeti, Kris “nchanter” Snyder Mark Protection Committee Nicholas Whyte, Alan Bond, and Chris Rose have benefitted quite massively from shortcomings in the WSFS voting mechanism, reports Nicholas Whyte University of Cambridge’s Single Transferable Vote regulations There’s a new way to remove MPC members Ben Yalow jumped before being pushed E.2 got ratified and then un-ratified again Andrew January visualised what the changes imply Nicholas Whyte pointed out this would accidentally hugely disenfranchise Attending Memberships Meg MacDonald pointed out in the Business Meeting that Glasgow had 1390 “First Worldcon” members We should vote with “Everybody Votes” style Smofcon 42 bursaries are available 2027 Worldcon: Montreal bid The prospective co-chairs have been announced Picks John: One Soul by Ray Fawkes Alison: Bitter Liz: Superman Credits Cover art: “WSFS Everybody Votes Channel” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three Miis in the style of John, Alison and Liz on a background reminiscent of the Everybody Votes Channel from the Nintendo Wii. The words “Octothorpe 140” appear at the top and “WSFS Everybody Votes Channel” at the bottom. - Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John was at the business meeting, Alison was at the cricket, and Tammy is Liz. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Find Tammy at her podcast, my tiny bottles Letters of comment Chris Garcia (email) Colette Reap (email) Farah Mendlesohn (email) Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Mike Glyer (email) Niall Harrison (email) Here are Niall’s 10 recommendations for you, listeners! [Interestingly, Niall did not mention any of the translators except for one, and so I had to go and look them all up—John] A Thousand Blues by Cheon Seon-ran, translated by Chi-Young Kim Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva, translated by Rahul Bery Sea Now by Eva Meijer, translated by Anne Thompson Melo House of Day, House of Night by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones The Place of Shells by Mai Ishizawa, translated by Polly Barton Sympathy Tower Tokyo by Rie Qudan, translated by Jesse Kirkwood Blood for the Undying Throne by Sung-Il Kim, translated by Anton Hur Ice by Jacek Dukaj, translated by Ursula Phillips Raj (Mastodon) We also heard from Ali Baker Brooks, Brian Nisbet, Fredrik Coulter, Neil Ottenstein, and Sandra Bond 2027 Worldcon: Montreal bid The timeline so far: Terry Fong steps down, replaced by Darin Briskman CanSMOF adds Bruce Farr as bid co-chair Tammy writes “The Worldcon is in Trouble” on File 770 Site selection 2025 Worldcon: Seattle Business Meeting, part 1 Business Meeting, part 2: this was entirely in executive session and so none of it ended up on YouTube. Sorry, listeners! You had to be there… Further meetings will occur on 19 July and 25 July at 17:00 BST/09:00 PDT 2023 Worldcon: Chengdu Chris Barkley’s 100th column Picks John: DIE by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans and Clayton Cowles Read the first issue free! Future issues will eventually be available on Sweet Shop My First Dungeon Alison: After Us, the Flood and We Are Aliens Tammy: The Nine Worlds by Victoria Goddard The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Credits Cover art: “Our Tiny Bottles” by Alison Scott Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 139” appear at the top and the words “…our tiny bottles…” appear at the bottom. Three bottles are drawn in the middle. The left-hand bottle is a Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Coca-Cola bottle. The middle bottle is a bottle that looks a bit like a moose. The right-hand bottle is Bottle #18, “The Original Canton Delicate Ginger Liqueur”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John chaired, Alison is off on holiday, and Liz has the agenda. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Ang Rosin (Facebook) Andrea Bell and Derek Hockridge Bridget Bradshaw (Facebook) Chris Garcia (email) Farah Mendlesohn (email, Facebook) Jake Casella Brookins (Bluesky) Louise Hughes (Bluesky) Neil Ottenstein (Facebook) Paul Weimer (email) Roseanna Pendlebury (Bluesky) Shi Lala (Facebook) Worldcon 2027: Montreal bid Terry Fong has stepped down There has been some news since, but we’ll discuss it next episode… Worldcon 2025: Seattle The results of the consultative votes The Business Meeting agenda Instructions on how to attend the virtual Business Meeting Kate Secor’s annotated Business Meeting agenda Picks John: All the Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson Alison: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Liz: Old Soul by Susan Barker Credits Cover art: “Whizz-Fizz Agenda Time” by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 138” and “Whizz-Fizz Agenda Time!”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is well-read, Alison played a game, and Liz needs an Allen key. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None One hour of Mon Mothma dancing Letters of comment Andreas Davour (Mastodon and Mastodon) Andy Openshaw Jez Lowe Ang Rosin David Bamford (Bluesky) Ed Morland (Bluesky) Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) Jake Casella Brookins Nuala Fahey (Bluesky) Raj (Mastodon) Roseanna Pendlebury (Bluesky) and replies by Niall Harrison Shi Lala (Facebook) Tammy Coxen (Facebook) “The Evolution of the Art Hugo Categories” on File 770 British Fantasy Society One-day convention called “BFS Online: World Fantasy Convention 2025” Saturday 21 June, 10:00–18:00 BST Free for BFS members, £5 otherwise World Fantasy Convention 2025: Brighton British Science Fiction Association/Science Fiction Foundation AGM Sunday 22 June SFF’s “Latest News” page has some details It’s also in the BSFA newsletter if you are a member Jake Casella Brookins suggests a Hugo Award for Best Translated Work at Ancillary Review of Books Hugo Award statistics from LAcon IV in 2006 William Weaver Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky Picks John: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall Sylvie Cathrall’s website Alison: Sci-Fi London Blue Prince Liz: Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand Credits Cover art: “Ahmon Kwasson Incorporates” by Alison Scott Alt text: An image of the well-known fantasy hero Ahmon Kwasson, holding his trusty croissant-shaped sword and his trusty croissant-adorned shield, with his trusty croissant-coloured hair, which obscures the words “Octothorpe 137”. At the bottom is text: “Ahmon’s Quest: Your perfect cosy breakfast listen”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is ambivalent, Alison is against, and Liz is hangry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook) Chris Garcia (email) 2008 Worldcon site selection Farah Mendlesohn (email) Dream Foundry The original announcement of the Carole Goldman Fund Con or Bust “If you are Palestinian, or identify as a member of the Palestinian diaspora … you may qualify for a larger grant from the [Carole] Goldman Fund.” The deadline for the 2025 round seems to have been October 2024, so it might be worth checking before October 2025 if you’re interested in the 2026 round 2026 Eurocon: Metropol Con in Berlin Jan Harley (Facebook) Kin-Ming Looi (Facebook) Looi Raj (Mastodon) Tammy Coxen (Bluesky) We also heard from Lynelle Howell, Peter Sullivan, Sam Skipsey, Sandra Bond, and Shi Lala Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Rattlebag has won Best Bar in Northern Ireland at the CLASS Awards Worldcon 2025: Seattle Consultative votes on Retro Hugo Awards and Best Professional/Fan Artist New Business Meeting business had to have been submitted by 4 June 2025 Apparently WSFS is pronounced “whiz-fizz”?! “About Choosing Convention Program Participants” by Erin Underwood “Genre Grapevine’s Deep Dive into the Use of ChatGPT by Seattle Worldcon” by Jason Sanford Picks John: Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavares Alison: Andor J Michael Straczynski is moving to the UK to write British TV shows Liz: The Incandescent by Emily Tesh Novacon 54 Credits Cover art: “Liz Hits the Smörgåsbord” by Alison Scott Alt text: Liz, depicted as the Incredible Hulk, comes across a table on which lie many items of food (sketched in black and white) including John (a sausage roll) and Alison (an almond croissant), rendered in colour. The words “Octothorpe 136” appear at the top and “You won’t like Liz when she’s hangry” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Alison describes her perfect almond croissant. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Idea, ed. Geri Sullivan Lune Croissanterie Chocolatine Blondies Ado Campeol died in 2021 Pink Lane Bakery Credits Cover art: “Almond Croissant Engineering” by Alison Scott Alt text: A blueprint of an almond croissant with “Octothorpe 135” written at the top and “almond croissant engineering” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John has shortlisted, Alison has worked in large organisations, and Liz has done a spot-the-difference. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: LLMs Letters of comment Chris Garcia Clarrie Maguire Colette Reap Roseanna Pendlebury Her Death of Stalin review Tobes Valois We also heard from Ali Baker Brooks, Ang Rosin, Brian Nisbet, Caroline Mullan, DC, Doug Faunt, Ed Morland, Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Farah Mendlesohn, Gareth Kavanagh, Ivan Sinha, Jonathan Baddeley, Jonathan Cowie, Kin-Ming Looi, Lilian Edwards, Meg MacDonald, Neil Ottenstein, Phil Dyson, Raj, Sandra Bond, Shi Lala, Tammy Coxen, Tony Keen, TrishEM, ‪Zoë O’Connell‬ Corflu FAAn Award Winners Ada Palmer runs a class called “The Italian Renaissance: Dante, Machiavelli, and the Wars of Popes and Kings,” better known by students as “pope class” or “pope LARP” Archive.is Chris Barkley has sued Dave McCarty Shot Chaser Locus 2025 fundraiser Revenue is flat and costs are up 21% Clarke Award The shortlist has been announced Worldcon 2025: Seattle “Statement from the Worldcon Chair” “Apology and Response From Chair” “May 6th Statement From Chair and Program Division Head” Resignation statement from WSFS division Picks John: The Mark by Frìða Ìsberg Alison: Sinners Liz: Blue Prince Credits Cover art: “Sample FAAn Award” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of a yellow square on a mantlepiece. On the yellow square is black text and a red shape with yellow text. The text reads “Corflu 42. 2025 FAAn Awards. Best Immutable Object: Octothorpe”. Text overlaid on the photograph reads ‘Octothorpe 134. “Don’t believe everything you read on ChatGPT.”’ Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Liz are live from the Belfast Eastercon! An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It’s a live recording! Eastercon 2026: Iridescence in Birmingham Guests of Honour R J Barker Karen Lord Emma Newman John Wilson and Serena Culfeather Prices Adult: £80 Low income: £50 Child/teen: £20 Supporting: £40 Eastercon 2027: Unconfined in Glasgow Guests of Honour P Djeli Clark L R Lam Mark Meenan Tamsyn Muir Prices Adult £85 Discounted adult: £60 Young person: £20 Child: £5 No supporting rate has yet been announced Eastercon 2028: BSFA v Marcus Streets Eastercon 2029 and 2030: Rumours abound Picks John: Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster Alison: Er. Steak? Spending too much? Unclear Liz: Karaoke and ThinkBox Belfast Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe at Reconnect” by Andrew Hogg Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are sat behind a table at Reconnect doing a live podcast. The words “Octothorpe 133” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz discuss this year’s Hugo Awards finalists. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None A note from John: I’ve done my level best to find useful URLs and link them below. Please let me know if there are better links or things I’ve missed! Best Novel Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Best Novella The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher Best Novelette “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha “By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed “The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie “Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou “Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker Best Short Story “Five Views of the Planet Tartarus” by Rachael K Jones “Marginalia” by Mary Robinette Kowal “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo “Three Faces of a Beheading” by Arkady Martine “We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M Yoachim “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J Kim Best Series Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri InCryptid by Seanan McGuire Southern Reach by Jeff VanderMeer The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky Best Graphic Story The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag The Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1 by G Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose Monstress, Vol. 9 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda My Favorite Thing is Monsters, Vol. 2 by Emil Ferris Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans Best Related Work “Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics” by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones r/Fantasy’s 2024 Bingo Reading Challenge “The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” by Jenny Nicholson Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S Carroll Track Changes by Abigail Nussbaum “The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion” by Chris M Barkley and Jason Sanford Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Dune: Part Two Flow Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga I Saw the TV Glow Wicked The Wild Robot Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) “The Beginning” (Fallout) “Death’s Hand in Mine” (Agatha All Along) “Dot and Bubble” (Doctor Who) “Fissure Quest” (Star Trek: Lower Decks) “The New Next Generation” (Star Trek: Lower Decks) “73 Yards” (Doctor Who) Best Game or Interactive Work Caves of Qud Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Tactical Breach Wizards 1000xRESIST Best Editor (Short Form) Scott H. Andrews Jennifer Brozek Neil Clarke Jonathan Strahan Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas Sheila Williams Best Editor (Long Form) Carl Engle-Laird Ali Fisher Lee Harris David Thomas Moore Diana M. Pho Stephanie Stein Best Professional Artist Micaela Alcaino Audrey Benjaminsen Rovina Cai Maurizio Manzieri Tran Nguyen Alyssa Winans Best Semiprozine The Deadlands Escape Pod FIYAH khōréō Strange Horizons Uncanny Magazine Best Fanzine The Ancillary Review of Books Black Nerd Problems The Full Lid Galactic Journey Journey Planet Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog Best Fancast The Coode Street Podcast Eight of Diana Wynne Jones Hugo, Girl! Hugos There A Meal of Thorns Worldbuilding for Mascochists Best Fan Writer Camestros Felapton Abigail Nussbaum Roseanna Pendlebury Jason Sanford Alasdair Stuart Örjan Westin Best Fan Artist Iain Clark Sara Felix Meg Frank Michelle Morrell España Sheriff Alison Scott Best Poem Calypso by Oliver K Langmead “Ever Noir” by Mari Ness “there are no taxis for the dead” by Angela Liu “A War of Words” by Marie Brennan “We Drink Lava” by Ai Jiang “Your Visiting Dragon” by Devan Barlow Lodestar Award The Feast Makers by H.A. Clarke Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole Astounding Award Moniquill Blackgoose Bethany Jacobs Hannah Kaner Angela Liu Jared Pechaček Tia Tashiro Credits Cover art: “Scorching Hot Takes” by Alison Scott Alt text: A black background. Text in purple reads “Octothorpe 132” while text MADE OF FIRE says “Scorching hot takes on the Hugo finalists”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is moderating, Alison is auctioning, and Liz is lecturing. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: The situation in the USA Letters of comment Handwriting guesses! John, Alison, Liz: Ed Morland Alison, John, Liz: Chris Garcia Alison, Liz, John: Tammy Coxen Liz, John, Alison: Tammy has another go Liz, Alison, John: Ang Rosin, Niall Harrison John is the top one: Doug Faunt John is in the middle: Roseanna Pendlebury Alison is in the middle: Mike Scott (who is cheating) Liz is the top one: Bridget Bradshaw All handwriting fonts: Bridget Bradshaw You all have nice handwriting: Shi Lala [But mine’s nicest—John] Roseanna Pendlebury (email) Farah Mendlesohn (email) Chris Garcia (email) Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Renay (email) The 2026 Hugo spreadsheet is open Fredrik Coulter (Facebook) We also heard from Lilian Edwards Worldcon 2025: Seattle “Statement from Worldcon Chair” The SMOFcon bid in the USA has stopped bidding, and Seattle has filled its room blocks, reports File 770 Eastercon 2025: Belfast We have provisional programme schedules! John, Alison, and Liz: Monday 12:30: Octothorpe Live John and Liz: Sunday 17:00: Fandom, Politics, and Boycotts: What is the line and where do we draw it? John: Sunday 12:30: Is The Force With You? Sunday 15:30: “What does this card really mean?”: History in Board Games Alison: Sunday 20:00: Fan Fund Auction Liz: Saturday 15:30: Hay Lecture [SO EXCITED—John] Colourfields by Paul Kincaid This will be launched at the convention Adam Roberts reviews the collection Peter Mabey has passed away BSFA Awards File 770 reports the finalists Fan funds European Fan Fund Picks John: The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard, Clayton Cowles, and Rian Hughes Roseanna Pendlebury’s review at NoaF Alison: The Death of Stalin [I’m off to represent the entire Red Army at the buffet—Liz] Tobes de Valois as played by Jason Isaacs Liz: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison [I also like Roseanna’s review at NoaF—Liz] Credits Cover art: “Happy Birthday to Us” by Alison Scott Alt text: A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is working, Alison is plugging and Liz is ghosting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Capitalism, death (Chapter 8: Picks) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook) Ang Rosin (Facebook) Christopher J Garcia Dave Langford Please do report issues in transcripts and we will fix them! DC (skeet, requires sign-in) Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) “Know your rail rights” from the Office of Rail and Road Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Pat McMurray (Facebook) Shi Lala (Facebook) Simon Bubb BSFA If you attended please let us know what happened! Awards Hugo Award nominations close the day after this podcast drops (14 March 2025) Locus Award nominations are open until 15 April 2025 Oxford–Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School Free to apply with limited in-person spaces Or, wait for the streaming link! (FAQ) GUFF: The Incomplete Chronicles Liz previously described a Pepper’s Ghost at Tokyo Disneyland “Disney’s Best Illusion Explained” by Zach Wally Picks John: Shroud by Gravity Well Brewing Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky “Sins of the Children” by Adrian Tchaikovsky in Asterisk Alison: Mickey 17 Liz: Hacks (Amazon Prime) Credits Cover art: “Handwriting Analysis Special” Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts’ handwriting. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)