Nine Worlds Geekfest (second edition), Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, UK : 8th-10th August 2014

Nine Worlds GeekFest (multimedia, multi-genre convention) is the UK’s answer to established sci-fi conventions such as Dragon*Con, SDCC and GenCon in the U.S. and is described as a ‘fan-run multi-genre geek event’. It is named after the nine worlds of Norse mythology but helpfully also sounds like something from a SF film.

The festival’s website says: ‘France can drum up over 30,000 SF fans for Utopiales, even Finland can find 15,000 fans for FinnCon. ‘But when it comes to large fan-driven residential multi-genre sci-fi cons in the UK, pickings are pretty slim.’ More than 1,500 geeks attended Nine Worlds last year !

Nine Worlds is focused on creating a place where fans can have conversations with writers and directors of SF films and novels instead of focusing on selling merchandise and celebrity signings. Three day convention near Heathrow airport is a hub for ‘geeky interests’ : it’s about gaming, film, cosplay, fandom, literature, science, geek culture, Games of Thrones, Science, Video Games, Kids Stuff, Cosplay, Vendors, Space, Future Tech, Food Geekery, Whedon, Robotics, Books, Skeptics, LARP, Knitting, Writing, Discworld, Sci-Fi Film Festival, Dancing, Rock Band, Comedy, Music, Board Gaming, Doctor Who, RPG, Podcasting, Retro Fandom, Geek Feminism, Comics, Social Gaming, Fandom…meeting people and having a really big party !

300+ workshops, debates, signings, parties, concerts, readings, classes, games and so much more. Whatever wonderful and geeky thing you’re into, there’s a way to indulge yourself at Nine Worlds !

Feminist geeks ?

Guests : Aliette de Bodard, Paul McAuley, Geoff Ryman, Lauren Beukes, Anne Charnock, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Elizabeth Bear, Gail Carriger, Gareth Powell, Fabio Fernandes, Aishwarya Subramanian, Liz Gorinsky, Elizabeth Minkel, Djibril al-Ayad, David Bryher, Adam Christopher, Nick Harkaway, Roz Kaveney, Dr. Briony Frost, E. Saxey, Ed Boff, Ed Cox, Daniel Polansky, Adele Wearing, Alasdair Stuart, Abigail Nathan, Barry Nugent, Alchemist Dreams, Alex Kidd, Alice Nicholls, Anish Mohammed, Anna Caltabiano, Aral Balkan, Ashton Spacey, Benedict Jacka, Chris Farnell, Brendan Owens, Cara Ellison, Caroline Hobkinson, Catherine Sangster, Chloe Morris, Chris French, Christina Richards, Clara Jackson, Cristina Macía, Dan Foster-Smith, Dan Simpson, Danie Ware, David A. McIntee, David Varela, Debbie Challis, Deborah Hyde, Den Patrick, Edmund Weiner, Emma Byrne, Emma Vieceli, Erin Claiborne, Fran Haswell, Francis Knight, Gaie Sebold, Gavia Baker-Whitelaw H Grünefeld Howard Hardiman Ian Whates Iona Sharma Jacob Sam-La Rose James Oswald James Smythe, Jane Fae, Jennifer Williams, Jenny Alexander, Joanne Harris, John Connolly, John Hornor, Jacobs John, J. Johnston, Jon Morgan, Jon Stone, Jonathan L. Howard, Joseph Oldham, Juliet Mushens, JY Yan, Kari Sperring, Kate Griffin, Kate Russell, Kelly Kanayama, Kerstin Rogers, Kieron Gillen, Kim Curran Kirsten Irving, Kristina Lloyd, Laura Lam, Laure Eve, Lauren o’Farrell, Laurie Penny, Lesley McIntee, Liesel Schwarz, Lou Morgan, Malin Rydén, Marek Kukula, Mark Alder, Mark C. Newton, Matt Suddain, Matt Voice, Matthew Pocock, Meg John, Michael Marshall, Naomi Alderman, Natalie Wilkinson, Nathan Penlington, Niall McCrae, Paul Cornell, Peter Newman, Peter Sutton, Phil Nightingale, Philip Reeve, Rebecca Levene, Reiner Knizia, Richard Dunn, Robert Sharp, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, Rowan Williams-Fletcher, Samantha Kountz, Sara Jayne Townsend, Sarah Lotz, Sarah McIntyre, Scott Lynch, Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Si Spurrier, Simon Guerrier ,Sophia McDougal,l Sophie Calde,r Spencer Hickman, Stark Holborn, Stephanie Osborn, Stephanie Saulter, Stephen Aryan, Stephen Chan, Susan Bartholemew, Tade Thompson, Tara B., Taran Matharu, The Kitschies, The Robin Collective, The T Part,y Tiffani Angu,s Tom Hunter, Tom Kerss, Tom Pollock, Viktoriya H., Will Brooker, Will Hill, Zak Jane, Zen Cho.