[Board] SF Author GOH?

[Matt Arnold]

Last year we had seven GoHs, the year before that, six. Can we afford
six GoHs again this year? Sorry, I've really got my heart set on
having a science fiction author GoH. We've had Fantasy GoHs three out
of four years and are sending out another invite to one this year, and
fantasy fans still feel overlooked. But we only ever had one SF author
GoH. I understand if we can't, but I would dearly love to have a Hugo
finalist. They are Scazi, Charlie Stross, Ken MacLeod, and Robert
Charles Wilson.

There is also George R.R. Martin but he's a fantasy author and we're
already inviting Tamora Pierce.

Scalzi, Charlie Stross, and Robert Charles Wilson decided to create an
ebook package of their novels which are competing for the Hugo award
this year, and made it available for free to Hugo voters. I think
that's a very Penguicon-like thing to do. Scalzi's already coming to
Penguicon, of course. I understand why you had to decline the idea of
Charlie Stross (the ultimate Penguicon GoH) because of his
business-class trans-atlantic airfare. Of course I guess the same
would apply to the other Hugo finalist, Ken MacLeod.

Robert Charles Wilson lives just north of Toronto (affordable for
travel!), and his novels are mind-boggling hard SF. Scalzi says he's
an excellent choice, great at conventions, a multiple Hugo nominee and
all-around nice guy. Two finalists for the 2006 attending Penguicon
would be fantastic. I suggest RCW!

-Matt