Continuum 9: Opening and Chronos Awards Ceremony (report with photos)

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Continuum

June 11, 2013

by Nalini Haynes

While waiting for Continuum, Victoria’s science fiction convention for 2013, I tagged along with Edward while he moved the car. Moving the car into the city late on a Friday afternoon was a grave error: it took well over an hour to crawl from Caulfield, through the highways and byways to the city, before locating a parking space. By this time I was convinced we were late for Continuum’s opening ceremony, but at least we’d put in an appearance and I’d be ready to photograph the Chronos Awards ceremony.

Climbing out of the car, collecting all our gear – including the kitchen sink – we walked swiftly to Ether. Descending to the basement, we were greeted by the friendly volunteers staffing Continuum’s reception. After being allocated our traditional nametags and extracting a piece of string to act as lanyard, we stood chatting in the foyer until people started filing in to the opening ceremony that actually started at 8pm not 7pm as I had thought.

I sat in the second row: I should probably sit in the front row due to my poor eyesight and obsession with taking photos, but there’s something – some stigma – about sitting in the front row that intimidates me.

Paul Collins sat in the front row, joined shortly thereafter by his partner, Meredith. Meredith was very self-conscious about sitting in the front row too, and eventually – in a mutual conversation worthy of a comedy routine – asked to switch rows. Strangely I felt no stigma attached to obliging someone else so, relieved, Edward and I switched rows with Paul and Meredith.

Continuum’s title this year was ‘Contraindicators,’ opening with the traditional video. This year’s video was very well done: a compilation of snippets of SF TV and movies set to the original version of the ’86 Tram’ by the Bedroom Philosopher.

After Stephanie Le declared the convention open, she explained her passionate involvement with this year’s social justice theme stemming from a very well-received rant a couple of years ago.

Next on the agenda was the awards ceremony. The Writer and the Critic (Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond) as masters of ceremony – appointed after last year’s astounding success – managed the combined state and national awards ceremony. Once again they were both amusing and gracious in their management of the awards ceremony.

First up was the Achievement award, accepted by Julia Svaganovic on behalf of her team, for Continuum 8 programming. Julia’s speech was most gracious, talking about how she didn’t think she’d win because Snapshot was such a large endeavour.

Next was the Best Fan Publication award, given to George Ivanoff for Viewing Clutter. George thanked Madman and Roadshow for giving him DVDs to give away on his website.

Third cab off the rank was the Best Fan Writer. I figured that either Alexandra Pierce or Jason Nahrung would win that award. Wanting to be a bit of a smart-arse, I thought I’d say the winner’s name in sync with the presenter. Here was me, sitting IN THE FRONT ROW going ‘and this award goes to AAAAAAAAAAA.’

I figured Alexandra was most likely given her three or four awards in 2011, and if I was wrong I could always change it to ‘jAAAAAAAson’ because SMART ARSE.

So I’m sitting there with my mouth WIDE OPEN BEFORE the award winner was announced. Then the name was ‘Nalini Haynes.’ I think I blinked TWICE before it sank in, by which time EVERYONE up the front was looking straight at me, sitting there with my mouth wide open. ‘AAAa- ah- oh, ok.’ I am SO GLAD none of them had a camera pointed in MY direction.

I stood up to see a microphone thrust toward me. I had NOTHING, not an inkling of a prepared speech. I took the mike, turned and faced the GORGEOUS PEOPLE who nominated and voted. Public speaking and I go way back so it was inevitable that I would think of SOMETHING to say. Honesty being the best policy I think I said something like, ‘Thank you. If I put money on this award, I would have put money on Alexandra Pierce and Jason Nahrung. Thank you.’

I was thanked for my brevity – apparently brief speeches are applauded – and took my seat, clutching my clock.

I was so stunned, I almost forgot to photograph the next award announcement but managed to pull myself together in time. I think I was in shock. Is there such a thing as good shock? If so, I was in it.

I don’t remember much of the rest of the ceremony except for Edgar breaking my clock. But that’s another story.

By the time the best short fiction and best long fiction were announced, I was coming back around enough to enjoy Kirstyn’s excitement as she peered over the shoulder of the announcers and saw her beloved’s name, and Jason repeatedly kissing Kirstyn. It was very sweet.

The list of nominees and winners is below; congratulations to all nominees and all creators. Thousands of hours of creativity went into creating the works listed as eligible.

Best Long Fiction

Bread and Circuses by Felicity Dowker (Ticonderoga Publications)
Salvage by Jason Nahrung (Twelfth Planet Press)
Walking Shadows by Narrelle M. Harris (Clan Destine Press)
Year’s Best Australian Fantasy & Horror 2011, edited by Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene (Ticonderoga Publications)
Dyson’s Drop by Paul Collins (Ford Street Publishing)

Best Short Fiction

“Five Ways to Start a War” by Sue Bursztynski in Light Touch Paper Stand Clear, edited by Edwina Harvey and Simon Petrie (Peggy Bright Books)
“The Mornington Ride” by Jason Nahrung in Epilogue, edited by Tehani Wessely (FableCroft Publishing)
“Nematalien” by LynC in The Narratorium (website), edited by David Grigg
“Fireflies” by Steve Cameron in Epilogue (FableCroft Publishing)
“The Dd” by Adam Browne in Light Touch Paper Stand Clear, edited by Edwina Harvey and Simon Petrie (Peggy Bright Books)

Best Fan Writer

Alexandra Pierce
Jason Nahrung
Nalini Haynes
Bruce Gillespie
Grant Watson
Steve Cameron

Best Fan Written Work

“Reviewing New Who” series by David McDonald, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Tehani Wessely

Best Fan Artist

Dick Jenssen

Best Fan Artwork

“The Entellechy” by Dick Jenssen, cover art for Interstellar Ramjet Scoop for ANZAPA 267 edited by Bill Wright

Best Fan Publication

Dark Matter Fanzine (https://www.darkmatterzine.com), by Nalini Hayes
SF Commentary (http://efanzines.com/SFC/), edited by Bruce Gillespie
Viewing Clutter, DVD and Blu-ray reviews blog (http://georgeivanoff.com.au/other-writing/reviews/viewing-clutter/), by George Ivanoff

Best Achievement

Continuum 8: Craftonomicon (51st Australian National SF Convention) Program by Julia Svaganovic, Emma Hespa Mann, and Caitlin Noble
“Snapshot 2012” by Alisa Krasnostein, Kathryn Linge, David McDonald, Helen Merrick, Ian Mond, Jason Nahrung, Alex Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Tehani Wessely and Sean Wright