Nebula Notes Issue 3

The official daily news sheet for Norwescon 47 — Saturday, 19 April 2025

The Philip K. Dick Award winners

Last night, Norwescon held the Philip K. Dick Award Ceremony, which recognizes the best science fiction books published for the first time in the United States as a paperback original during the prior year.

The winner of the award was Time’s Agent by Brenda Peynado (Tordotcom)

The special citation was given to Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Orbit)

Nominees for this award were City of Dancing Gargoyles by Tara Campbell, Your Utopia: Stories by Bora Chung, Time’s Agent by Brenda Paynado, The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar, Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky and Triangulum by Subodhana Wijeyeratne.

This year we welcomed Tara Campbell, Bora Chung and Subodhana Wijeyeratne in person!

The awards were announced by P.K. Dick Award Administrator Gordon Van Gelder.

Authors in attendance (and representatives for those who were not) read passages from the nominated books to the audience members, who were in the Grand Ballroom and watching online.

Don’t miss out on the raffle

Stop by the Beyond Reality Costumers' Guild club table (next to the Little Free Library) and buy your raffle tickets. They’ve got some great prizes!

Art in Action

Continuing today in Area 8 of the Art Show, several artists will demonstrate their creative skills and answer questions. From the Art Show entrance, Area 8 is in the far-right corner.

Today:

• 10 a.m., Sorrel Fields, of Wrought & Bound, will demonstrate some of the final steps of binding a book: covering, finishing and gilding.
• Noon, Lizzy D. will show how to paint magical, glowing mushrooms using gouache on black paper.
• 2 p.m., Ellis Bray will demonstrate the art of pyrography, using a soldering pen on a wood canvas. Come for the art, stay for the pleasant smell of wood smoke..
• 4 p.m., Jeff Sturgeon will demonstrate his acrylic-on-canvas techniques and talk about his creative process.

Cosmic dancing

It’s the final night of dancing at Norwescon, and it’s going to be a cosmic celebration. Get down with DJ #CSharp at 9:30 p.m. in Grand 2 & 3 for The Pan-Galactic Dance Party – where the only thing more unpredictable than the beats is your chosen fandom. Whether you’re channeling Zaphod Beeblebrox, Buck Rogers, Mork or The Doctor, this is your chance to party like you’re from another dimension!

Costumes galore! Come watch the Masquerade!

Join the excitement at Norwescon 47’s Masquerade tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Grand 2 & 3! This annual event invites cosplayers and costume artists to unveil their incredible designs and creativity. It’s a celebration of the imagination and skill found within the science fiction and fantasy community. Some lucky participants will win Norwescon 48 passes!

Whether you’re stepping on stage to showcase your work or cheering from the audience, the Masquerade promises a night of breathtaking costumes and unforgettable experiences. Don’t miss this exciting display of imagination and talent!

The Norwescon Masquerade follows the International Costumers' Guild guidelines.

Cosplay Photography Workshop

Yesterday, cosplayers and photographers got together at Maxi’s to learn some tips and tricks for getting great cosplay photos. They then got a chance to put those skills into practice.

Participants will be contacted via email to distribute photos. Send questions or suggestions for next year to andrew@journeysincolor.net.

Photos with Santa and Krampus!

Today is your chance for a one-of-a-kind photo experience! Come to the Photo Area in the con lobby from 1 to 3 p.m. to have your picture taken with Santa and Krampus!

Perfect as a festive keepsake or a whimsical holiday-greeting photo – show the world your jolly and mischievous side. Not only will it be fun, but you’ll also be doing good.

All proceeds go to Page Ahead, a children’s literacy program. Don’t miss out on this enchanting and entertaining event.

Not too late for Speed Friending

Speed Friending is back this year. If you missed it Thursday and Friday, you can still catch the fun on Saturday, 11 a.m. in Maxi’s. It’s an easy way to meet new people, but without the awkwardness. Maybe you just have a nice chat with someone for a few minutes, or maybe you each find a new person who gets you.

Overheard…

• “I just bumped into that guy and hit my hand on a sword. Good thing it was sheathed..”
• “Do either of you have naughty minds?” the Ribbon Lady asked, as she rummaged around in her bag of tricks and pulled out two tiny, multicolored male appendages as con gifts.

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.