International Discworld Convention

The International Discworld Convention, also known as DWCon, is a biennial science fiction convention held in the United Kingdom on even-numbered years. DWCon was first held in 1996 by members of the Usenet newsgroup alt.fan.pratchett.[1][2]

Discworld Convention
StatusActive
GenreFantasy
Location(s)United Kingdom
Inaugurated1996
Websitehttp://www.dwcon.org/

The DWCon is a fan-run convention focussing on the Discworld novels and other works by Sir Terry Pratchett. The programme has several events that appear each time such as the Gala Dinner, Maskerade (spelled in this manner due to Pratchett's novel of the same name), Charity Auction, Guest of Honour Interview, and "Terry's Bedtime Stories". The conventions regularly feature large attendee-run groups that have been known variously as Guilds and Sects. There are also smaller events such as interviews, games and competitions, guest klatches, and other activities.[3]

History

The convention has been held in the UK since 1996.[2] The conventions have been held at various different hotels. A planned convention in 2000 (Titled 'MilleniCon Hand and Shrimp') had to be cancelled for financial reasons, but the conventions have been run every two years since.

While Sir Terry once made a point of attending every UK-based Discworld Convention (and many of the non-UK conventions) as guest of honour, the Convention announced on 1 July 2014 that he would be unable to attend in person due to health reasons, but that he would appear in an on-camera Q&A session from his home instead.[4]

#YearDatesCityTitleGuest of HonourOther GuestsSize
1st199628–30 JuneManchester, UKThe Discworld ConventionSir Terry PratchettJosh Kirby, Stephen Briggs
2nd199818-21 SeptLiverpool, UKThe Second Discworld ConventionSir Terry Pratchett
3rd200216–19 AugustHinckley, UKDiscworld ConventionSir Terry Pratchett
4th200420–23 AugustHinckley, UKDiscworld ConventionSir Terry PratchettBernard Pearson
5th200618–21 AugustHinckley, UKSir Terry PratchettBernard Pearson
6th2008AugustBirmingham, UKSir Terry Pratchett
7th2010AugustBirmingham, UKSir Terry Pratchett
8th201224–27 AugustBirmingham, UKThe Eighnnnnnnn Discworld ConventionSir Terry PratchettColin Smythe, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Rob Wilkins, Lionel Fanthorpe, Stephen Baxter, Bernard Pearson, Jaqueline Simpson, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell950
9th20148–11 AugustManchester, UKThe Ankh-Morpork Grand ExhibitionThe Black Hat "to represent Terry in absentia" (Sir Terry Pratchett attending by video link)[4]Rob Wilkins ("representing The Hat for the whole Convention"), Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell, Reb Voyce, Jacqueline Simpson, Jack Cohen, Ian Stewart, Daniel Knight, Ben Aaronovitch[4]
10th201626–29 AugustWarwick, UKThe Band with Rocks InRob Wilkins, Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Daniel Knight, Ian Mitchell, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Jacqueline Simpson, Ray Friesen, Reb Voyce, Stephen Briggs, David Brashaw, Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Mark Oshiro[5]
11th201803–06 AugustKenilworth, Warwick, UKGuards! Guards!Rob Wilkins, Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Ian Mitchell, Reb Voyce, Stephen Briggs

References
  1. "The Discworld Convention". The L-Space Web. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  2. Leo Breebaart (28 January 1996). "TRIVIA: The alt.fan.pratchett Timeline - Year 4". Newsgroup: alt.fan.pratchett. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. "What Can I Expect At The Discworld Convention". International Discworld Convention. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. Fraser, Simon (1 July 2014). "Guest of Honour News". The International Discworld Convention. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. 2016 Discworld Convention Guest List
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