Our theme for the convention is El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). We'd like to trace the origins of this ancient form of ancestor worship from its Mayan beginnings to its current day celebrations in Mexico and its influences on modern-day horror and fantasy.

We're planning two tracks of programming plus readings, including the Friday mass autographing and the traditional Sunday awards banquet. The 26th World Fantasy Convention is sponsored by FACT, a 501(c)3 non-profit literary organization.

Contact information

If you would like more information regarding the convention, please visit our Web site at: http://2000.worldfantasy.org/. You may also contact us by email at: mailto:fduartejr@aol.com?subject=wfc:information, phone (512) 835-9304 or send us a fax at (512) 835-7637.

Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 27277 • Austin, Texas 78755

If you have questions or requests specific to the Dealer's Room please contact either Greg Ketter at: mailto:dreamhvn@visi.com?subject=wfc:dealers info or Willie Siros at: mailto:acs@crimeandspace.com?subject=wfc:dealers info.

Inquiries for the Art Show should be directed to Lillian Butler at:mailto:chelsea@io.com?subject=wfc:artist info

A Little about our guests

k.w. Jeter

After establishing his reputation in science fiction with the publication of Dr. Adder, proceeded to delve into horror with such novels as Mantis, The Night Man, In The Land of the Dead and Wolf Flow, and turned his hand to fantasy with Infernal Devices. His latest novel, Noir, reflects shades of Dick, Chandler and Lethem.

John Crowley

His unique style and complex prose have won him a loyal following among fantasy fans. His 1981 novel Little, Big won the World Fantasy Award. Though some of his earlier works are out of print, they are cherished by those lucky enough to have discovered them. His latest works are Aegypt (with sequels planned to follow soon) and Love and Sleep.

Charles Vess

Charles is an award winning fantasy artist. Some of the awards he has won include two World Fantasy Awards, one in 1991 for his collaboration with Neil Gaiman for "A Midsummer Nights Tale", and in Providence last year for Best Artist. Some of his best known work is his art in the Sandman comic book and Gaiman's novel Stardust [DC Vertigo; the Avon edition didn't include the art]. Not only has he worked with Gaiman but has also collaborated with other major authors such as Charles De Lint and Jane Yolen. He is the head of Green Man Press, an independent publishing company, and lives in Virginia.

Joe Lansdale

Joe is one of the all-time best storytellers in the nation. His current series of books (Savage Season, Mucho Mojo, Bad Chili, The Two-Bear Mombo) featuring Hap and Leonard are both humorous and thought-provoking. For the ultimate fantasy, try The Drive In, its never-ending story goes a long way to explain what should happen when the world goes awry. Joe has also written westerns, comics and screenplays.

Programming Update

A Deadly Program

This year we'll follow the World Fantasy tradition of a couple of tracks of programming. We'll be sending out a survey in a month or two to see who's interested in doing what on programming.

The convention's official theme is Day of the Dead. If anyone has suggestions for programming items along this theme or specific program items to pay homage to our guests of honor, we'd love to see them.

Please e-mail us at "llw@io.com" or send us postal mail at the convention's post office box. As usual for World Fantasy, there will be more people willing to be on programming than available slots. We'll try to be accommodating, but obviously we can't use everyone.

Art Shows at the WFC

The Forgotten Rooms

Be honest with me now. If you are not an artist or artist's rep, how many of you have ever been to the art show at WFC (or any other convention)? Hmmm, just as I suspected — not many of you. I know there are may other things that demand your attention at WFC — your editor, your publisher, your agent, that cute person in the hotel bar . . .

But think about it. How many times have you gotten the package from the publisher, torn it open, and let out a howl of disappointment at the cover? The best defense on that one is a good offense: know your artists. Know your art directors. Go to the show, see what they can do, look at their styles. Meet them at the Artist's Reception. If you know the artists and the art directors, maybe they won't put a cute dragon on your Hard Fantasy novel.

Maybe they will, anyway. We are discussing publishing here. Besides, it's fun meeting the person responsible for your great cover, or who did that interesting painting or sculpture you've had an eye on for years.

And how many times can you just give copies of your latest book to relatives for Christmas? (I know, the obvious answer is "all of them, every time", but bear with me here.) Try giving them a print of the cover to your book instead — nicely framed, maybe with an inscription from the artist. You will score major points with the relatives.

Don't confuse the Art Show with an Art Gallery. Boring, it isn't. We encourage comments, laughter, and long conversations in the aisles. The ever-helpful staff can answer almost any question about a piece or an artist.

And we'll bribe you. Not only are we holding an Artist's Reception (where you can bring food and drinks into the Art Show for the only time that weekend), but we'll let you vote on what you think are the best pieces in the show. Heck, we'll even let you buy stuff right off the walls and take it home with you! Whatta deal!

Besides, you never know who'll you run into at the art show. Maybe your agent, or your editor, or that cute person from the hotel bar . . .

Lillian Butler is the Art Show director. She can be reached at chelsea@io.com. The initial mailing for the art show should go out sometime in February.

Nominating Ballot

Instructions

Please read the following instructions carefully. Only members of the 1999 and 2000 WFC are eligible to submit nominations. All ballots cast will be verified against membership lists from Corpus Christi, Providence and Monterey. Ballots should be sent to the address listed below and must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2000.

Rodger Turner ~ 70 Fourth Avenue • Ottawa, Ontario • CANADA • K1S 2L2

Please note that your ballot is being sent to Canada. First Class postage rates from various countries are as follows:

Postage from the US .55¢
Postage in Canada .46¢
Postage from the UK .41p
Postage from Australia $1.05

This year we are accepting ballots via email, you may send it to: mailto:rturner@cyberus.ca?subject=WFC Ballot

Eligibility

All nominated material must have been published in 1999 or have a 1999 cover date. Only living persons may be nominated. When listing stories or other material that may not be familiar to all the judges, please include pertinent information such as author, editor, publisher, magazine name and date, etc.

Nominations

You may nominate up to five items in each category, in no particular order. The items are not point-rated. The two items receiving the most nominations (except for those ineligible) will be placed on the final ballot. The remainder are added by the judges. The winners are announced at the World Fantasy Convention Banquet.

Judges

The 26th World Fantasy Convention judges are:

Suzi Baker ~ 372 Junipero Avenue • Monterey, CA 93950

W. Paul Ganley ~ 447 Roycroft Boulevard • Buffalo, NY 14226-4824

Tim Holman ~ Orbit Books, Little, Brown (UK) • Brettenham House Lancaster Place • London WC2 E7EN • United Kingdom

Marvin Kaye ~ c/o The Open Book • 525 West End Avenue • Apartment 12E New York, NY 10024-3207

Melissa Scott ~ 36 Richards Avenue • PO Box 6554 • Portsmouth, NH 03801-5326

Life Achievement

The following individuals have received the Life Achievement award at previous conventions and are ineligible to receive it again.

Everett F. Bleiler, Robert Bloch, Jorge Luis Borges, Ray Bradbury, Italo Calvino, Edd Cartier, Hugh B. Cave, Roald Dahl, Avram Davidson, L. Sprague de Camp, Harlan Ellison, Edward L. Ferman, Jack Finney, R.A. Lafferty, Madeleine L'Engle, Ursula K. Le Guin, Fritz Leiber, Frank Belknap Long, Richard Matheson, C.L. Moore, Andre Norton, E. Hoffmann Price, Ray Russell, Theodore Sturgeon, Jack Vance, Evangeline Walton, Donald Wandrei, Manly Wade Wellman, Jack Williamson, Gene Wolfe

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Best Novel

Author/Title Publisher/Source

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Best Novella

10,000 to 40,000 words

Author/Title Publisher/Source

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Best Short Fiction

under 10,000 words

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Best Anthology

multiple authors, original or reprint — single or multiple editors

Title Publisher/Source

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Best Collection

single author, original or reprint — single or multiple editors

Title Publisher/Source

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Best Artist

not eligible: Charles Vess

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Special Award Professional

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Special Award Non-Professional

not eligible: Richard Chizmar

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