So I’m trying to get my act together for this year’s World Science Fiction Convention — AKA Denvention 3 — taking place next week in Denver. I just got word that I’ll be one of the featured writers at a “Rising Stars” reception on Thursday afternoon, and I’m hoping to get a few advanced copies of Pandemonium to sell or give away there.

The rest of the time will be serving on a couple panels, hanging out with friends, doing a couple of interviews with websites and magazines, hanging out with friends some more, and mooching a free meal off my publisher. Del Rey editor Liz Schier is hosting a dinner for several of Del Rey’s authors, including the legendary Fred Pohl. Pohl worked with Arthur C. Clarke’s notes to produce The Last Theorem, what will be Clarke’s last novel.  (There’s an interesting interview about the book with Pohl and others in this recent Chicago Tribune article.) The book was edited by my editor, Chris Schluep — so that’s one degree of separation for now, and zero degrees once I meet him.

Dinner with Fred Pohl, people! It doesn’t getter cooler than that.

Oh, if you’re going to Denvention, here’s my schedule:

Thursday, 8/7, 11:30 am

104: Panel: Science Fiction & Religion: How readers and writers mix the two
CCC – Room 504

Religion and science fiction can be an uneasy mix. Readers can sometimes read the story through their own preconceptions – how does the writer handle this? Can you successfully make religion the foundation of a story? — (m) Alexis Glynn Latner, Daryl Gregory, Janice Gelb, Samantha Henderson

Thursday, 8/7, 1:00pm

154: Signing (45 minutes) —
CCC – Hall D

Thursday, 8/7 — afternoon — Rising Stars Reception

Saturday, 8/9, 4:00 pm

547: Panel: A Passion for Electronic Publishing
CCC – Korbel Room 501

Why should we prefer electronic publishing to other formats such as audio, video, or paper copies? Will eBooks open up the publishing market to new talent? How can we convince mainstream publishers to add eBooks to their repertoire?
Daryl Gregory, (m) Jim Minz, Peter Bullock