Nebula Notes Issue 2

The official daily news sheet for Norwescon 47 — Friday, 18 April 2025

Collect your collectibles

Are you looking for our colorful art- and info-filled souvenir program or a handy pocket schedule? Come to the Information Table in the convention lobby and just ask. The friendly and helpful staff there can get you those publications, and more. Stop on by!

Books? We have books

The Honorable A-Through-L here, your literature loving wyvern and library hybrid. In addition to the Little Free Library I told you about yesterday, we have other lovely ways to enrich your life with the written word. Did you know there is a book vending machine here at the convention? Talk about convenience! The impressive collection of books you can purchase celebrates Black and Indigenous authors and is brought to the convention by Sistah Sci-Fi (https://sistahscifi.com). The vending machine is right across from Registration in the con lobby.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you to attend the Philip K. Dick Awards ceremony tonight. The award and citation are given annually at Norwescon to recognize distinguished science fiction published in paperback original format in the U.S. the prior year. The ceremony is at 7 p.m. in Grand 3.

Thanks to alphabetizing by last name, I know all about Philip K. Dick (or as my father, the library Compleat would say, “Dick, Philip K. – he of the electric sheep, wholesale memories and a high castle”).

Find out more: https://www.norwescon.org/con/p-k-dick-award

More content at 'Zine Overflow:

https://www.norwescon.org/con/daily-zine

Be a part of it all

This is not a con where you pay, show up at and then leave. Be part of it! Share ideas! As a certain Starfleet captain would say, “Engage!”

Art in Action

The Norwescon Art Show inspires and stirs the imagination, but have you wondered how it’s created? Today and tomorrow, several artists will demonstrate their creative skills and techniques, and answer questions. Located in Area 8 – from the Art Show entrance, Area 8 is in the far-right corner of the room.

Today:

• 10 a.m., Michael Brugger will demo working with gold and silver leaf accents on painted canvas or paper.
• Noon, Agathon McGeachy will show using simple homemade tools to produce realistic portraits in clay.
• 2 p.m., Eric L Vargas will give a presentation of his process, as well as a panel conversation and questions.
• 4 p.m., Camille Meehan will reveal the secrets of all the planning necessary to prioritize each task in creating her paintings.

Table talk

Club tables offer something for everyone’s interests. Norwescon offers table space to clubs, groups, conventions and organizations that promote science, science fiction, fantasy, costuming and other fannish pursuits.

You’re sure to find fandoms you are interested in, or maybe something new that piques your curiosity.

Check them out! They are located in the main concourse (head toward the hotel lobby from the convention lobby), and down Concourse East and Concourse West.

It’s a space rave!

Get dressed up in white and neon colors – bright enough to grab the attention of the scouts for the Metagalactic Grand Prix (just don’t claim to be better at glam than Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeros). Join us, grab a glowstick, and make with the dance moves. mc300baud will be our DJ.

Invaded by the Pug Pride Army

We’ve been invaded by the Pug Pride Army! Our favorite trinket maker, Darren McKinty, is back with hisminiature treasures and will behiding them in nooks and crannies all over the conventionareas. This year, the minis are colorful, adorable pug puppies! They will be hidden high and low, for folks with various perspectives on the world. Find one, take it home! There may also be a few “Fallout” Nuka Cola bottle caps around …

Streaming straight to you

Sometimes there can be a lot going on at great conventions such as Norwescon, and you need a little quiet time in your room, but you still want to see the con! Well, we’ve got you covered! Several panels and events are streaming on Twitch or YouTube!

Find out all about it: https://www.norwescon.org/con/schedule-of-events/#streaming

Con comedy

Hello, friends! It’s me again, JP Latches. I certainly like it better here at Norwescon than latching airlock doorson the Jovian Probe. So many fun things to do.

Speaking of fun things, some celestial comedy has come to the con, today and tomorrow. Now, I wasn’t programed with a sense of humor, but this does seem popular with humans.

On Friday afternoon, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Grand 3, the cast of B-Rated! create a fully improvised original movie acted out onstage. Presented by CSz Seattle.

Saturday night, enjoy three entire comedy shows. Starting at 6 p.m. see DNDProv - Made Up Misadventures!, where comedic adventures are spun from a mix of narrative improv and Dungeons & Dragons. Presented by Jet City Improv.

At 7:30 p.m., Unexpected Productions: Impossible Loves starts. Discover this enchanting comedy show that immerses you in a unique supernatural realm, with a thrilling, fully improvised paranormal romance. Presented by Unexpected Productions.

At 9 p.m., laugh with A Gaggle of Geeks: A Geeky Comedy Showcase, celebrating nerdy comedy and deep sci-fi and fantasy cuts. Presented by Geeky Comedy Seattle.

Overheard…

• “Okay, who has the Predator text notification sound effect? You’re freaking me out.”
• Our writer Guest of Honor Cat Valente at the AI and Personhood panel: “I’ve long thought that children are rogue AI.”
• “Make way, make way. Dalek comin' through.”
• A witness to a costuming emergency fix: “I love the ladies' room at cons. Everyone is so willing to help each other out.”

Send Overheard items to zine@norwescon.org.

Nebula Notes is the daily news sheet for Norwescon 47. It is published as a morning edition, released by 10 a.m. Articles and photos from you, the convention members, are welcome and encouraged. The deadline for each day’s edition is 11 p.m. the previous evening. Email your photos, ideas, and “Overheard,” “Close Encounters” and rover submissions to zine@norwescon.org.

Your hyperspace pilot is Caitlin Cormier. Your starfield mapper is Shelley George and interstellar navigator is Jon Lavinder. Special thanks to multitronic-systems engineer Michael Hanscom and parabolic lens tech Dave Moore. All gratitude to Launch Commander Kat Marier and Admiral Rob Stewart.

Questions, concerns or cries of outrage – contact info@norwescon.org. A-Through-L the Wyverary, Decibel Jones & the Absolute Zeros, and the Metagalactic Grand Prix copyright Catherynne M. Valente. Used with permission.