Satellite 4: Eastercon 2014

Good things:
- I was on the 'Not the Clarkes' panel (with Phil N, Claire B, moderated by Edward J). It went well and we were unanimous that Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice was the best SF on the shortlist. Sorry, Ms Leckie: apparently the 'Not the Clarkes' panel's approval is as a KISS OF DOOM. The actual jury seldom agrees.
- Fanfic panel (talking about A03 #million, other fanfic archives, Wattpad, writers removing their work etc) was fab, and very ably moderated by ladymoonray.
- SUNSHINE. According to the Glasgow City Council representative, this kind of weather happens in Glasgow 'regularly', though the interval was not mentioned. On Saturday I sat outside by the river with some of the Nine Worlds crew, drank wine and got sunburnt.
- went to some other panels, but barely took notes.
- talked to lots of fab people.
- there was WINE.
- gazed at the ISS from the banks of the Clyde (twice)
- swam! pool was waaaay too hot on Friday / Saturday, seemed much cooler Sunday / Monday.

Less good:
- did not sleep past 6am even once, even when wine consumption the previous night would have made it thoroughly advisable.
- Glasgow is a long way away.

tl;dr: WAS GOOD. but tiring.

[film] Locke [23-Apr-14]

Locke on IMDB

Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) abandons his job to drive from Manchester (I think) to London for 'family reasons'. En route, in his shiny BMW, he makes and receives a number of phone calls. The end.

For a film with no action, that's effectively a monologue, there was a lot of tension. Tom Hardy (complete with Welsh accent) carried it off admirably.

( discussion of character(isation) )

Morals of this story:
1. Do not get in a car with Ivan Locke. You will not feel safe. A certain amount of the tension, for me, was derived from his repeated lapses of attention. I do not think he was in a fit state to drive.
2. Do not go to Croydon. Bad things happen in Croydon.
(oh, and 3. Do not go to this film expecting a thriller. You will be disappointed.)