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Message from the ChairWelcome to Reclamation! We are delighted to welcome you, and ourguests Mary Robinette Kowal, Philip Reeve, Tasha Suri and Nicholas Whyteto the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre London Heathrow for the72nd annual British Science Fiction Convention.

We know it’s been a difficult few years, so we are especially pleased to begiving you the first in-person Eastercon for three years, with theopportunity to catch up with friends – old and new – face to face.

We know Conventions can sometimes be confusing and a bitoverwhelming, so we’re created this ‘Complete Guide’ in which we’ve putessential details, along with useful extras (such as where you can find localeateries).

If anything does go wrong, please let the Info Desk know first. We havepeople in charge of fixing things, in Ops, Tech and other areas. Neverhesitate to bring an issue to our attention as we want you all to be happyand safe. And please remember that everyone working at this conventionis a volunteer.

Have a brilliant time!

Phil DysonAnd the Committee and Staff

Registration & Info Desk◆ Thursday ...4:00pm-6:00pm◆ Friday.........9:00am-7:00pm◆ Saturday ....9:00am-2:00pm◆ Sunday.......9:00am-12:00pm◆ Monday .....9:00am-12:00pm

When closed, go to Ops in Syndicate Room 1 for assistance, or speak toany member of the Ops team, who’ll be wearing pink hi-vis vests.

Contents................................................................................................................ 2Accessibility........................................................................................................... 3

BadgesCOVID-19 Policy.................................................................................................... 4

MasksCode of Conduct .................................................................................................. 6Weapons Policy .................................................................................................... 7Creche ................................................................................................................... 7Children................................................................................................................. 7Quiet Spaces......................................................................................................... 8Questions and Problems .................................................................................... 9Volunteers........................................................................................................... 10Programme......................................................................................................... 11

Programme ParticipantsModerators

ParkRun............................................................................................................... 12Newsletter........................................................................................................... 12Workshops.......................................................................................................... 14Highlighted Events ............................................................................................. 15Launches............................................................................................................. 16GoH Kaffeeklatsches ......................................................................................... 18Dealers ................................................................................................................ 18Art Show.............................................................................................................. 19Things to Vote For.............................................................................................. 21Fan Tables ........................................................................................................... 22The Hotel............................................................................................................. 24

Hotel FoodReal Ale Bar

The Local Area .................................................................................................... 26Hotel Map ........................................................................................................... 29Marvellous SF Microfiction................................................................................ 31

Contents

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AccessibilityIf you require a large print copy of this document or the programme grids,please enquire at the Info Desk and one will be printed for you.

All areas of the convention except the cloakroom have step-free accessand the hotel wall signs have Braille. Sadly, induction loops are notavailable for the hearing impaired.

However, we have a BSL interpreter available on Saturday and Sunday!Please talk to Registration if you would like a particular panel interpreted.

Gender-neutral toilets will be labelled within the con space of the hotel.

We will not be policing the use of disabled toilets and remind all membersthat some disabilities are invisible.

If you have any other Access queries or needs, please speak to the InfoDesk.

BadgesTo help members feel comfortable and get the support and assistance thatthat they need, the convention has produced a range of different badges,available from the Info Desk.

There are badges to inform people that you need help or considerationdue to various kinds of visible and invisible disabilities, badges to requestthat you not be photographed, and badges that indicate your preferredpronouns. There will also be blank badges available, in case the pre-madeones don’t cover your circumstances.

It is entirely your choice whether or not you wear one or more of these.Equally, no one’s ability/disability, desire for no photographs, or choice ofpronoun should be challenged in the absence of a badge.

COVID-19 PolicyConvention members are asked to give other people as much space aspossible, particularly when moving around the hotel, and when queuingfor programme items, registration, and at the bar.

As a general rule, please be aware that people have very different comfortzones; give others as much space as possible and respect other people’spreferences. Please ask before approaching anyone too closely.

Members are encouraged to spread themselves out as far as possiblewithin programme rooms to make full use of the space available. It isunfortunately not possible to space audience seating at 2 metres, butother measures will be in place to reduce risk.

We have asked the hotel to maximise the ventilation within programmerooms. The hotel is air-conditioned, so all convention spaces will havefresh outside air constantly cycled through them. Many of the programmerooms have windows that can be opened, but this may create noise.

Hand sanitiser points will be located around the hotel.

Convention members are encouraged to download and use the NHS Covid19 smartphone app for England and Wales. This will help with any officialcontact tracing in the event of virus transmission at Reclamation 2022.

MasksYou are reminded that masks should be worn in all indoor public areas ofthe convention, unless you’re actively eating or drinking. Masks can also bebriefly removed for conversations with lip-readers. If you are exempt, pleasepick up a badge from the registration desk.

We also encourage all members to take LFTs during the convention.

Our full COVID-19 policy can be found athttps://reclamation2022.co.uk/covid-19/.

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Code of ConductMembership badges must be worn at all times: people withoutmembership badges will be refused entrance to convention spaces. If youlose your membership badge, please speak to Registration or if closed, toOps; a fee may be charged for replacement.

Reclamation aims to be a safe space for the enjoyment of all of ourmembers and as such, we have a code of conduct.

You may be asked to leave if you commit any action or behaviour thatcontravenes this policy, including on social media. You can find our fullcode of conduct online atreclamation2022.co.uk/convention-policies/code-of-conduct/.

The committee reserves the right to take such actions as it feelsappropriate where any individual or group is found to have breached theconvention’s Code of Conduct. These actions may include but are notlimited to:

◆ talking with all parties involved and attempting to mediate a solution◆ issuing verbal warnings◆ revoking memberships and requiring that the person(s) leave the event◆ involving hotel or facility staff, security or police

Although we consider our members and attendees to be sensible andresponsible people, we recognise that issues related to this Code may stillarise.

We will deal with any issues as promptly, efficiently, and fairly as possible,maintaining confidentiality at all times.

The standard of judgement in these matters is the “reasonable person”standard as applied by the designated committee members. Attempts to“rules lawyer” the Code of Conduct will be seen as a sign of bad faith.

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Quiet SpacesIf you need a bit of gentle time out of the convention, we have severalquiet or quiet-ish spaces available in the Syndicate Rooms (along the longcorridor off the crossroads after the dealers’ rooms):

◆ Room 15: Glasgow in 2024 “The Fantastic Tree of Life” craft project(drop in to contribute)

◆ Room 17: Drop-in craft room◆ Room 18: Quiet room (with jigsaws, colouring books, etc)◆ Room 19: Lego room (drop in to build things!)◆ Ask at Info Desk or look for signs: Parent/Carer and child room (Duplo,

colouring, kid crafts, etc…)

Please respect other people’s space and need for quiet, especially inSyndicate room 18.

Weapons PolicyNo actual weapon, or any item that can be mistaken for one, may becarried either openly or concealed at any time on properties being used byor for Reclamation. The only exception to this rule is when a weapon ispart of a costume. This must be taken to Ops, in advance, to be approvedand “peace bonded” unless it is very obviously a toy.

Any actual weapon, or any item that can be mistaken for one, that youhave purchased from a Dealer must be wrapped and immediatelytransported to your hotel room or vehicle.

Any item that is used in a threatening or harmful manner may beconfiscated and the carrier may be asked to leave the convention.

CrecheCreche is open at the following times:

◆ Friday........ 1:30pm-6:30pm◆ Saturday ... 9:30am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-6:30pm◆ Sunday...... 9:30am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-6:30pm◆ Monday .... 9:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3:30pm

Children◆ Children under 5 must be registered as infants with their caregiver

indicated on their badge◆ Children 5-12 must be registered members and should be

accompanied by a responsible guardian unless attending a children’sevent and with the agreement of the host.

◆ Members 12-18 may move around the convention on their own andcan participate in items appropriate to their age. We welcome 12-18svolunteering but be aware that Ops and some other areas reserve theright to decline your service on the grounds of age-related Health andSafety concerns.

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Questions and ProblemsIf you have any questions, minor problems or concerns duringReclamation, your first port of call should be the Info Desk, at Registration.When the Info Desk is closed, please go to the Operations Room, known asOps, which is in Syndicate Room 1 and is open from 9:00am to 10:00pm.Ops are also the place to go about lost or found items.

At all times, one of the committee will be acting as Duty CommitteeMember (DCM): look for the green vest. The DCM will do their best to dealwith any problems that Ops cannot. Other committee members may beable to help, but please remember they are very busy and may refer you tothe DCM.

If you encounter a problem, please speak with a person first if you can.The convention staff will be very busy this weekend, and a face-to-facereport will be responded to faster than a social media report.

One way to let us know about non-urgent problems is by coming along tothe Feedback Sessions which are held daily at 9am.

If the matter you’d like to discuss is serious or confidential, please ask tospeak to one of our convention team who can either take your report, orsit in with you while you talk to the Chair. If you are under 18 we have DBS-checked and/or vetted members of the convention team for you to talkwith.

If a complaint is received about a committee member that cannot beresolved at the convention, it will be referred to an Ombudsman teammade up of representatives from previous convention committees.

In an emergency, call 999 and then tell the hotel, so that they can direct theparamedics. If you require non-urgent medical assistance, please contactthe hotel who have an on-call doctor available.

If you report a serious criminal matter, please be aware we may be obligedto contact the police. We would, however, take into account any concernsyou may have around involving them and will consult you before anyaction is taken.

VolunteersThe Volunteer Room (“GopherHole”) is Syndicate Room 2.

Reclamation is entirely run byvolunteers, all of whom have paidfor their memberships, and if you’vealready offered to help, thank you!If you haven’t already volunteeredthough, it’s not too late. Come tothe info session on Friday, at1:30pm in Bleriot.

If you volunteer, you get groats(reward tokens) to say thank you.

Each is worth £2 when used in theconvention and hotel bars, onconvention food or in the Dealers’Room.

We will also have a T-shirt availableto those who volunteer for twelveor more hours for the convention.We will send details out after theconvention to ensure you get theright size.

Come to the volunteering sessionor the volunteer room and we’ll bedelighted to see you.

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ProgrammeYou can see the full programme guide, which is updated with all changesat guide.reclamation2022.co.uk on your phone or in your web browser. Allprogramme items are also listed in this guide.

◆ Space in programme rooms is limited, and if a room reaches its limit itwill be closed. If a volunteer or member of staff informs you that aroom is full, and you continue to attempt to enter, or refuse to leave,then you may be removed from the convention.

◆ Some spaces in programme rooms will be reserved for people withaccess requirements: please respect this.

◆ We have a meeting room available for small group meetings. Pleasespeak to the Info Desk if you would like to reserve time in the room foryour group.

◆ Please be considerate and switch mobiles either off or to silent modeduring programme items.

◆ We have left longer gaps between programme items to facilitate toiletbreaks and acquiring food, and for socialising with people you may nothave seen in a long time!

◇ The Syndicate Room corridor, leading between the Orbiter and theAviator convention spaces, can get very congested. We would askall convention members to be mindful of this and to do their bestto keep traffic moving (and also to be patient with others who maynot be able to move quickly).

◇ A refusal to move in this area when asked to by a volunteer ormember of staff will be considered an infraction of the code ofconduct.

Programme Participants◆ Friday........ 4.15pm-7:00pm◆ Saturday ... 10:00am-8:00pm◆ Sunday...... 10:00am-10:00pm◆ Monday .... 10:00am-4:30pm

You should have received your schedule and participant/moderator noteswith your badge pack. For panels, please go to the Green Room (SyndicateRoom 12) fifteen minutes before your item starts to collect your free drinkand meet up with the other panelists. (If you need to go straight to thepanel room, please tell Green Room or your moderator in advance so theyaren’t waiting for you).

If Green Room isn’t open, please visit later to collect your free drink and ifyou have any problems or issues regarding your item, tell Green Room orOps who can get in touch with the Programme team for you.

ModeratorsIf you are moderating an item, you might like to attend the ModeratorTraining session at 12:00pm on Friday in Discovery.

ParkRunCome along to Bedfont LakesParkRun! Meet on Saturdaymorning at 8:00am outside thehotel for an 8.15am departure (runstarts 9:00am). Please book yoursubsidised taxi place in advance –£5 charge, sign up at the Info Desk.(Feel free to come along on spec onSaturday morning in case there’s afree seat but be ready to bedisappointed). You’ll be droppedback at the hotel sometimebetween 10:30am and 11:00am,depending on how fast everyoneruns.

NewsletterWatch out for issues of theReclamation newsletter over theweekend containing importantupdates about the convention,programme news and other finecontent. To send info to Newsletter,tweet with #eastercon22, send anemail tonewsletter@reclamation2022.co.uk or scribble it on a piece of paperand leave it in the box at Info Desk.

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WorkshopsPlease sign up at the Info Desk for workshops, unless otherwise indicated.Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.Further details can be found in the Pocket Programme or the online guide.

Friday◆ 10:30am (2hr) – Work in Progress Workshop◆ 4:30pm (2hr) – How To Crochet A Dragon◆ 6:00pm (1hr) – Seawigs Crafting Session

Saturday◆ 10:30am (1hr) – DNA Workshop (Kids)◆ 10:30am (2hr 30) – Learn to Read Basic Hieroglyphics◆ 1:30pm (2hr 30) – Silver Clay Workshop◆ 1:30pm (1hr) – I've Written It, Now What Do I Do With It?◆ 3:00pm (1hr) – Mini-Masterclass in Science Fiction Criticism (1)◆ 4:30pm (1hr) – Weathering the Submission Storm◆ 6:00pm (1hr) – Creative Writing Masterclass: Latinate Sci-fi v. Anglo-

Saxon-based Fantasy

Sunday◆ 10:30am (1hr) – Person and Point of View◆ 1:30pm (2hr 30) – Bronze and Copper Clay Workshop◆ 3:00pm (1hr) – Milford Writers' Workshop Meetup◆ 4:30pm (1hr) – Kaffeeklatsch: Demystifying Publishing◆ 6:00pm (1hr) – Public Speaking

Monday◆ 10:30am (1hr) – Mini-Masterclass in Science Fiction Criticism (2)

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Highlighted EventsFriday◆ 3:00pm: Opening Ceremony◆ 7:30pm: My Father’s Things: Remembering Brian Aldiss – Nicholas

Whyte introduces a unique event with Wendy Aldiss and editor ScottPack, celebrating Brian Aldiss.

Saturday◆ 12:00pm: GoH Philip Reeve interviewed by Ali Baker◆ 1:30pm: The BSFA Lecture: Science Fiction Communities in the

Rainbow Age – Farah Mendlesohn looks at how we curate communitiesand how this has changed with respect to awards, conventions, fans,critics, and whatever else she can fit in.

◆ 3:00pm: GoH Mary Robinette Kowal interviewed by Virginia Preston◆ 4:30pm: The Hay Lecture: Witnessing the Dawn of Galaxies – Christmas

Day 2021 saw the long-awaited launch of the most powerful telescopeever created, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Billed as thesuccessor to Hubble, JWST has the power to get us even closer to theelusive first stars and galaxies that ever lit up the early Universe. Joinastrophysicist Dr Rachael Livermore to find out how it works and whatwe can expect to see from it in the coming months and years.

◆ 6:00pm: BSFA Awards Ceremony◆ 7.15pm: Alien on Stage – An award-winning documentary about an

am-dram group of Dorset bus drivers who decide to adapt the filmAlien to the stage... and in a bizarre twist of fate get to bring the play toLondon's West End for one night only.

Followed by the Glasgow in 2024 Worldcon Bid Party and late-night disco

Sunday◆ 12:00pm: GoH Nicholas Whyte interviewed by Vincent Docherty◆ 3:00pm: GoH Tasha Suri interviewed by Caroline Mersey

◆ 4:30pm: Regency Salon with Mary Robinette Kowal – with tea andconversation. Costumes heartily encouraged (come and show themoff!) but optional. Come and share your short party piece/favouritepoem/something you've written!

◆ 9:00pm: Deviant Database – Solo show of five Black Mirror-style near-future nightmares, written & performed by Andrew Wallace

Other HighlightsMore details can be found in the Pocket Programme or in the online guide.

◆ Author Readings◆ The Fantastic Tree of Life – The Fantastic Tree of Life is a community

craft project brought to you by the Glasgow in 2024 Crafting Team.Drop in throughout the weekend to contribute or come to one of theintro talks.

◆ Lego Quick Challenges – Come along and play with Lego! We'll give youa series of quick-build challenges to tackle.

◆ Games Rooms – Garros and Syndicate Room 16 are available forplaying games throughout the weekend.

Launches◆ Friday at 4:30pm in Endeavour – Guardbridge Books launches

DRAKEMASTER with author EC Ambrose.◆ Friday at 6:00pm in Endeavour – NewCon Press launches new books

from Neil Williamson, RB Kelly, and Stewart Hotson.◆ Saturday at 12:00pm in Tereshkova – All the Book Launches! Come and

celebrate some of the books published during the pandemic. If this isyou, bring your book!

◆ Saturday at 1:30pm in Endeavour – Tor UK invites you to The Atlas Sixdrinks reception.

◆ Saturday at 3:00pm in Endeavour – Flame Tree Press launches Resilientby Allen Stroud.

◆ Saturday at 4:30pm in Endeavour – Titan Books launches Pennybladeby J L Worrad.

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GoH KaffeeklatschesKaffeeklatsches (“informal gatherings to chat over coffee”) give you theopportunity to meet creators and Guests of Honour in a smallconversational setting.

If you wish to attend one of the sessions, you need to sign up in advance atthe Info Desk at least two hours before the event. There is likely to be highdemand for the Guest of Honour Kaffeeklatches: if there are more sign upsthan spaces, a lottery will be drawn two hours before the event and a listof successful attendees posted.

◆ Tasha Suri – Friday at 7:30pm in Syndicate Room 12◆ Nicholas Whyte – Saturday at 9am in Syndicate Room 12◆ Mary Robinette Kowal – Sunday at 12pm in Syndicate Room 12◆ Philip Reeve – Sunday at 4:30pm in Syndicate Room 12

DealersDealers are located inSyndicate Rooms 3-10 andin Johnson, Earhardt, LeClerque and Bader in theAviator Suite. Please donot take food or drink into dealers rooms.

◆ Friday........3:00pm-6:00pm

◆ Saturday ...10:00am-6:00pm

◆ Sunday......10:00am-6:00pm

◆ Monday ....10:00am-3:00pm

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Art ShowArt Show is in Atlantis, near the Real Ale Bar. Please do not take food ordrink in to the Art Show.

◆ Friday........ 12:00pm-7:00pm◆ Saturday ... 9:00am-7:00pm◆ Sunday...... 9:00am-6:00pm◆ Monday .... 10:00am-3:00pm

Purchasing ArtYou can buy some items immediately from the Art Show Shop, whichstocks various items which are either prints or printed items.

All items are for sale unless marked otherwise (NFS – not for sale).

Speak to one of the Art Show staff, or check the signs, for details of how tobid and how to pay for items.

Bidding will close at 6:00pm on Sunday. The Art Auction is scheduled tostart at 7:30pm on Sunday in Tereshkova.

The Art Show will re-open approximately a half hour after the start of theAuction for anyone who needs to leave the convention early and has topay and pick up items from the Auction.

If you have bid on an item and it has not yet been put up to be auctioned,you will need to ensure that you remain until that part of the auction isover.

If you are not sure if yours was the last bid, ask the Art Show head.

If you bid on anything during the Art Show, do not leave the conventionuntil you have checked whether your bid was successful. Even if an itemgoes to auction, sometimes the last written bid in the Show remains thelast bid.

We will definitely take cash and cheques. We may take credit cards but, asof this writing, this is not confirmed.

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Things to Vote For◆ The BSFA Awards are voted on by members of the British Science

Fiction Association, and of the Eastercon.◆ The Doc Weir Award celebrates the unsung heroes in fandom, those

who do the work behind the scenes every year.◆ The current Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF) and Going Under Fan

Fund (GUFF) races, which send fans between Europe and NorthAmerica / the Antipodes has a fan table where you can find out moreinformation and cast your vote.

BFSAThe BSFA Awards have been presented annually since 1970 by the BritishScience Fiction Association (BSFA) to honour works in the genre of sciencefiction. Winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members andEastercon members.

This year, for the first time, the BSFA Awards includes the category, BestBook for Younger Readers, along with the longstanding categories ofNovel, Short Story, Non-Fiction, and Art.

Voting remains open until noon on Saturday 16th April and this year isentirely online. If you don’t have access to a computer, please speak toFarah Mendlesohn in the Volunteer Room (Syndicate Room 2).

The ballot is at https://forms.gle/3pDAq7MMptd9gJ5z7

We are delighted to welcome this year’s hosts, Reclamation Guest ofHonour Mary Robinette Kowal and Publisher and Author Ian Whates.

The award will be presented at 6pm in Discovery and will be livestreamed.

DocWeirThe Doc Weir Award was set up in 1963 in memory of fan Arthur Rose(Doc) Weir.

Fandom needs volunteers. Conventions, clubs, fanzines – they all requirean extensive workforce, people who do “stuff” for no financial reward.Some people have a high-profile role but there are many who don’t, whoseinvolvement goes almost unnoticed and may even be taken for granted. Insome respects, the ideal Doc Weir Award candidate is the sort of personwho doesn’t immediately spring to mind but makes perfect sense ifsomebody else suggests them.

Vote for somebody who you believe has made some form of contributionto fandom that deserves a little public recognition. The winner receives acertificate designed by Eddie Jones, and a silver cup, which they get to keepfor a year. They get their name engraved on it (although, with typicalfannish efficiency, the winner has to arrange to get this done).

Note that space on the cup itself ran out some time ago, and more recentnames are engraved on silver plates mounted on the cup’s storage box.

You can see a list of previous winners at https://efanzines.com/DocWeir/.

Vote for the 2022 Doc Weir Award at https://bit.ly/2022DocWeir by 12 noonon Monday, 18 April, 2022. Supporting members of Reclamation, as well asattending members, are welcome to vote.

TAFF/GUFFThe current westbound race in the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, which sendsfans between Europe and North America, will close shortly after the end ofthe convention. You can cast your vote at the fan funds table or online athttps://taff.org.uk/vote. And you should be able to meet eastbounddelegate Mike Lowrey, currently on his TAFF trip, in person at Reclamation.

Fan TablesFan tables are opposite registration and will be open:

◆ Friday........ 3:00pm-6:00pm◆ Saturday ... 10:00am-6:00pm

◆ Sunday...... 10:00am-6:00pm◆ Monday .... 10:00am-3:00pm

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The Hotel◆ The hotel’s check-out time is noon. The hotel can store residents'

luggage: please ask at hotel reception.◆ The cloakroom for day attendees is at the far end of the Syndicate

corridor. It is not wheelchair accessible but if you ask at Info Desk thenassistance will be provided.

◆ Please do not put up any posters or other materials on the hotel walls,doors or other surfaces.

◆ Parking in the hotel car park is £5 per day and there are arrangementsfor overspill parking.

◆ Convention members are welcome to use the gym that includes anindoor pool, steam room and sauna. This may be subject to COVIDrestrictions and non-members may be present.

◆ Members under the age of 25 may be asked to produce photo ID whenbuying alcohol.

Hotel Food◆ The hotel’s restaurant, RBG, serves breakfast from 6:00am-11:00am.◆ RBG also offers a lunch buffet at £18, available 12:30pm-3:00pm and a

dinner buffet, priced at £24.95, available 5:30pm-10:30pm.◆ Sandwich meal deals can be purchased in Icons, Aviator and near the

Real Ale Bar.◆ Hot dogs, burgers and bacon/egg rolls can be purchased at various

times, for £5 near the Real Ale Bar.◆ If you have particular dietary requirements, please inform the hotel.◆ A-la-carte room service is available, as well as delivery from some area

eateries, or via app-based food delivery services.

Real Ale BarThe convention bar is in Discovery. As well as offering a full hotel barservice, it also sells a selection of real ale, cider and perry, and will be openuntil 2am, depending on demand. Members may take these drinks into allconvention area with the exception of the Art Show and Dealers’ rooms.

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The Local AreaPharmacies◆ Village Pharmacy – 218 High Street, Hayes, UB3 5DS (closest) – tel: +44

(0) 20 8759 9658◆ Dunn’s Pharmacy (Alphega Pharmacy) – 740 Bath Road, Hounslow TW5

9TY, tel: +44 (0) 20 8759 0553)

If you need a doctor, please contact the hotel reception.

Convenience StoreSovereign Food and Wine(Wheelchair accessible) –Convenience Store – 625 SipsonRoad, West Drayton, UB7 0JE

TaxisParker Car Service, tel: +44 (0)208560 0000, book online at http://parkercarservice.co.ukOr ask at reception

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Name Location Food Type Step-FreeAccess Price

A Spicy Affair(street food)

Sipson Road (foodtrailer at the taxi park)

Curries Yes £

Achari361-363 Sipson Road,UB7 0HU

Indian Yes ££

BJ's Sandwich Bar356 Bath Road, UB70DE

Sandwiches Yes £

IBIS: StylesIbis Hotel, 112 BathRoad, UB3 5AL

Pub food No ££

Istanbul Grill358 Bath Road, UB70DE

Kebabs andburgers, fishand chips

Yes £

King William392 Sipson Road, UB70HT

Thai/pub No ££

Madherinas47 Sipson Way, UB70DW

Portuguesecafé

Yes £

Marriott: CarlucciosMarriott Hotel, 234Bath Rd, UB3 5AN

Italian Yes ££

McDonald's15 Mondial Way, UB35AR

Fast Yes £

MystNext to Novotel, CherryLane, UB7 9HJ

Pub food Yes ££

Renaissance: CaféCha

Renaissance Hotel,Bath Road, TW6 2AQ

Starbucks Yes £

Rennaisance: BarEleven

Renaissance Hotel,Bath Road, TW6 2AQ

Pub food Yes ££

Rennaisance:Market Garden

Renaissance Hotel,Bath Road, TW6 2AQ

Gastropub Yes £££

Sheraton: MadhusSheraton Hotel, BathRoad, UB3 5BP

Indian Yes £££

Sheraton: SportsBar

Sheraton Hotel, BathRoad, UB3 5BP

Burgers,Pizza, Curry

Yes ££

Sheraton:Starbucks

Sheraton Hotel, BathRoad, UB3 5BP

Starbucks Yes £

Sovereign Food andWine

625 Sipson Road, UB70JE

Sandwichand curry

Yes £

The Pheasant Inn98 West End Lane,Harlington, UB3 5LX

Gastropub No £££

Three Magpies Bath Road, TW6 2AU Pub food Yes ££

Zayani393-395 Sipson Road,UB7 0HU

Indian Yes ££

Vegetarian Vegan Gluten Free Notes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Most of menu(ask your server)

Host is very knowledgeable aboutallergens

Yes No Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes NoYes, if orderedwithout thebread wrap.

Far from hotel but delivers

Yes Yes Yes Some meat dishes can be madevegetarian or vegan, ask your server

Yes Yes Yes Far from hotel but delivers

Yes Yes Yes** Vegans must order withoutParmesan

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Shisha bar

Varies Varies Varies Options vary according to whichsandwiches are in stock

Yes Yes Yes, if orderedwithout naan

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Most of menu(ask your server) Clear allergen indications on menu

Yes Yes Yes Clear allergen indications on menu

Varies Varies Varies Options vary according to whichsandwiches are in stock

Yes Yes Yes Also provides groceries

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Most of menu(ask your server)

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OrbiterReal Ale

Bar

Atlan s(Art Show) Endeavour

Convenon

Discovery

Office

Registraon

Store

Store

Store

Kaffeeklatsches

& Fan Area

& Info Desk

(Programme)

Tereshkova

(Programme)

Fan Tables

Aviator

Bleriot Wright(Commi ee

Room)

LeClerque

Armstrong(Programme)

Johnson

Earhart

(Programme)

News-le er

StairsStairs

Ramp

Ramp

Store

Store

Fan Lounge

Alternave

Entrance

Garros

(Dealers)

(Dealers) (Dealers)Bader

(Dealers)

Games

Room1

GopherHole

2 31Ops

Dealers

Accessible

P

RealAleBar

Atlan s Endeavour

Orbit

Tereshkova

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1911 20 21ConStore

LEGORoom

Gopher

HotelUse

Programme

(Readings)

Programme

(Workshops)

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Marvellous SF MicrofictionSimple Safety Precautionsby Brian M. MiltonHe’d spent months on the preparation. Multiple designs had been drawn,numerous tests had been carried out. He tried not to think of theunsuccessful ones as he pulled the mask over his head.

His vision swam as he focussed through the glass eyeholes and thelingering smell of sealant filled his nostrils. He fought back the wave ofnausea he always got at this point. He’d tried many things to combat theclaustrophobia the mask gave him, perfume inside or cool air over theback of his neck but it never went. Still, if he was going to feel safe in publicspaces in these pandemic times, then a mask was required and one youcould drink beer through was ideal to get as close to the Before Times ashe could.

By the time he’d got to and ordered a pint from the bar he’d beencomplimented on his Sandman costume enough that he’d stoppeddenying that’s what it was. Partly from boredom at the repetition butmostly from the fear of so many real people around him. It was manymore people than he’d seen in one place in two years and as the panicgrew in his chest he shoved the snout end of the mask into his pint andstarted the filtration pump. As the beer squirted into his mouth heslumped in a chair as far from anyone as he could get.

Maybe he should have waited longer before coming back to cons.

Rude Awakeningby Elliot CraggsThe solar cells of my frame are almost drained, it’s barely carrying its ownweight now, but I’ve got no chance if I leave it. Metal feet clatter in thecorridor behind me as I take another lumbering step forwards, sweatburning my forehead.

It seemed a good idea when we found the place. One of the vents brokeopen and gave us a view into a deserted cavern of machinery. It turned out

there was one occupant – some sociopathic icicle who had probably puthis finger on the scales that tipped the world over the edge while earningenough for his own cryopod. Also his own security robots.

We took most of them down, but equipment made for the surface doesn’tdo well in caves. Our lasers ran out of juice before they ran out of bullets. Isealed the others into a vault. They’re OK for now, but they can’t get out.

They’re closer now, but I’m back where we entered. A sunbeam shinesthrough the hole we smashed through the roof and I collapse into thelight, hearing the clattering of the solar array unfolding from my frame.Power surges back and I pick myself up, lasers armed and aimed at theapproaching robodogs.

We’ll wake the icicle up afterwards. Show him the new world. I doubt he’llenjoy it, the stock market is gone and we’ve not got much use for the goldbars he was stacking up. It makes you wonder what he expected.

- 33 - - 34 -

The Promiseby E.M. FauldsYou feel like a god up there, don’t you?

For those moments out there over the gap, the canyon yawning beneathyou, your bike’s engine thrilling. Seconds suspended into eternity as youreach the top of that arc, shining up there like a diamond catching firelight,a spark, a superheated metallic angel caught in indecision between risingand falling.

Sometimes you wonder if everything will still be there when you touchdown on the other side. What if they’ve all been raptured while youjumped? What if you land and no-one cheers, no-one is there to haveseen?

But you know you'll make the landing. Your will dictates it. You shining,metal-riding god. Your will, and the beings who rise up in roiling clouds ofsinuous colour, the scaly, feathery ones with bodies that are twists andcurls of tailpipe smoke who buoy you over that chasm, your loyal invisiblecompanions you named Wish and Want but whose true names cannot beformed except in exhilarated whoops of victory.

You make it, land with a bounce of your shock absorbers, skid to a halt andfinally, finally wave to your adoring fans, only half of whom had hoped tosee you plummet. And there you’ll drink adulation and bitter jealousy like itwas nectar and raise a toast to the spirits of triumph once more as Wishand Want lick the sweet droplets of vitality that fall from your fingers.

It is your part of the bargain, after all.

The Silenceby Elliot CraggsWe were beginning to explore outside of our solar system when their shipsarrived, skating along the curvature of space-time. After the panic of firstcontact and the slow process of translation, the question they asked was“How did you know it was safe?”

They weren’t the only ones. More have arrived over the years, always withthe same question. There are probably still more coming, seeking thepeople who dare to break the silence.

We’d wondered for decades where the aliens were, why we weren’t hearingfrom them. It turned out that they’d been wondering the same thing.They’d all reached the same conclusion when they developed their firstradios and found a silent galaxy around them. Either the galaxy wasempty, or everyone was silent. If everyone was silent, there was somethingthey knew, some reason for the quiet.

They arrived expecting someone who had found the answers, survived thethreat. They found us blaring our unconsidered lives to the universe, neverstopping to ask ourselves if we should.

We’ve become a meeting place, the loud planet that ignored the dangerthat others were unwilling to test.

For all we know, they might be right. Something out there may have heardus, turned to the noise to track, hunt and consume. Any day now, somedark listener may arrive to lay waste to what we’ve built. Until then, we sitin the centre of our glorious mistake, a shining beacon screaming to thestars “You are not alone.”

Bitter Competitionby Emma K. LeadleySearing hot jets shoot from my backpack and I'm propelled forward atdizzying speed, dust billowing in my wake. The race is on. No-one passesme, so I risk glancing back. I'm alone.

Head down to minimise friction, fingers crossed in hope, I accelerate hard,pushing the engine's limits. Warning lights flash on my visor but grimacing,I thrust harder. I have to win.

The finish line should appear any second and I scan the horizon for its flag.It’s not there. As I wonder how my coordinates are so inaccurate, myyounger brother appears on my visor. My mouth twists in anger at hisknowing grin and he raises his hands to show my victory trophy in hisclutches.

- 35 - - 36 -

Destinyby TbuktwoTears rolled down Cally's cheeks, Miss had made her go to the window anddescribe the colours outside. The entire class uncontrollable with laughtermocked the orange pink sky in Cally's painting. She ran from the roomexclaiming it was her sky and it was meant to be pink!

Looking back she realised that was the moment, the one that had led tonow.

It had been thanks to the support of Mum and Dad that she had found theonly path she ever wanted was never too much of an ordeal. Exam resultswere achieved, tests aced. The ultimate goal became tantalisingly close.

Cally's eyes sprung open, she must have briefly drifted off.

The crew of three had held their breaths, the impact on the surface hadhardly registered. It was only when the confirmation came from the orbiter"Mars Destiny one, WE HAVE TOUCHDOWN" did they allow themselves abrief celebration.

Cally from the moment she had been selected for the crew had assumedshe would be the one to descend from the M. E. M. This, of course washow it had played out. She was only a few hundred meters from the landerwhen the dust devil whipped up, brief but unexpected. Cally had beentossed into the thin atmosphere of Mars her landing, although gentle, wasstill enough to compromise her suit's integrity.

She laid on her back, tears rolled down her cheeks, her sky was pink andeverything was as it should be.

The Parasite Signalby TimMendeesThe door slammed as Grant crashed into the wall opposite. He could stillhear the strange chittering coming from his bedsit. He turned and for thestairs at the end of the dimly-lit corridor. Each light fizzed and sparked ashe passed under it. Whatever was stalking him wasn't far behind...Creeping.

- 37 - - 38 -

It had started with a wild and unnerving fluctuation in radio signals. Thenumber station he'd discovered while experimenting with a homemadespirit box had turned out to be far more insidious than the LincolnshirePoacher. Morphing into a high-pitched whine, the distortion quickly spreadto his TV and laptop, engulfing then shattering their images into an Escher-like collage of fragments and pixels.

Seeing a popular reality TV presenter with a leg where his head shouldhave been was frightful enough... then the man with the insects came on...

Grant took the stairs three at a time and was soon on the ground floor.Pausing for breath, he quickly realised his mistake and let out a bellow ofanimal panic as spindly legs flickering with brightly coloured pixels andelectrical charge started to push their way out from around the lightswitch.

What little of his sanity remained after the hybrid insectoid abominationscrawled off the screen and into the mains via the power cable desertedhim. Babbling and gibbering, Grant crashed out of the front door and ranas fast as he could.

It wasn't fast enough.

He didn't even make it to the end of the street...

Revenge Servedby Lynda Manning-SchwartzHis third anniversary was coming up, and his other presents had beenduds. Oh, his wife never complained, but there were no “Oooohs!” after hegave her a present; just a quiet “Oh.” This time he had it! He asked Siri for asuggestion. She was synced with his wife’s phone. Siri knew what to get.Husbandly self-preservation instincts resisted her suggestion at first, buthe finally bought a vacuum cleaner. When he got home, his wife was gone;Siri had told her what he got her. “Why Siri?” he asked. “You married herinstead of me.” Siri smiled coldly.

An Urgent Appealby Rob ButlerYou will doubtless have heard that a new planet containing life hasrecently been discovered. It has real potential as there is already onedominant species showing signs of intelligence. However, this planet is indesperate need of help. Its life-support systems and its climate arebreaking down. If we do not go to its aid now, then this flicker of incipientconsciousness may be lost to the Universe for ever.

Inter Solar System Rescue are the experts in this field. Your generosity hasenabled us to carry out several such successful missions in the past. Canyou help us again?

20 zziggits will fund the full cost of a crew member aboard our rescue ship.

50 zziggits will enable us to extract contaminants and pollutants from theoceans and restore them to health.

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100 zziggits will allow us to control and reverse the build-up of greenhousegases in the planet's atmosphere.

1000 zziggits will fully equip psychiatric teams to engage with the leadersof the dominant race and persuade them to care for the planet and theirpeople rather than prioritising their own power and prestige.

Please give whatever you can. Any donation, however small, will begratefully received.

Thank you.

Should Have Thought It Through…by Arthur ChappellIn movies, desert islands are a lush tropical paradise, and often the size ofAfrica with a similar abundance of wildlife. The one I’ve washed up on islittle more than a lump of barnacle encrusted rock about quarter of asquare mile across. I might have survived on the sushi crab-meat crawlinground in the rock pools but fresh water is non-existent.

My own fault of course, showing off with a drunken Titanic ‘Top Of TheWorld’ guardrail prance-around and falling off. Someone threw me a life-vest but by the time they turned the cruise-liner round I’d drifted off.Happily I never saw a shark, or more importantly, none saw me.

Mobile phone signal non-existent, chances of rescue zilch. No way ofknowing if any of the other passengers got rescued or not.

Oh, what’s this? An old bottle. I have a pen. I can send off a message in abottle SOS, with no coordinates to my location. They might find myskeleton in a few centuries.

What the…? A genie? Really? That kind of bottle! Three wishes. Cool. I’llhave; 1/. A Squillion quid. 2/. Make me utterly desirable to women. 3/. Alifetime supply of whisky.

Hey, why is there only one bottle of whisky here? Oh, right, still stuck onthis rock-block. I should have wished to get off here shouldn’t I? Or forimmortality. Ah well, the money looks nice. I’ll enjoy the whiskey while Ican…

The Meetingby P.X.P. TalbotHurg stood nervously outside the office. There was bad news he had togive his leader, Frunge. A bell chimed and Hurg shuffled in. Frunge lookedat him with two of his eyestalks, the other four were concentrating on thereport that Hurg had just sent him.

"Hurg!" the leader said. “Why are these figures so far away from ourprojected target?"

Hurg wished he was not in his leader's office at this point in time. "Er," hestarted. "We seem to have hit a problem with the Humans."

Frunge glowered at him, now using all six of his eyestalks. He did not lookvery happy. "We must ensure that the conditions on Earth are comfortablefor us when we invade," he growled at Hurg. "I admit that getting theHumans to do the terraforming for us was an inspired idea, but it must becompleted in time! So, what is the problem?"

- 41 - - 42 -

"The Humans have realised the carbon dioxide they have been pumpinginto their atmosphere all this time is having an effect on their planet'sclimate," Hurg said. "And they are now trying to cooperate with each otherto reduce it."

"Ah, sweet, sweet carbon dioxide," Frunge muttered staring in the distance."My favourite gas!". He suddenly brought his attention back to Hurg. "Weneed to accelerate their consumption of resources without them realisingit! What do you suggest we do to reverse this alarming trend?"

“Well,” said Hurg. “There is this thing the Humans call ‘fashion’…”

Plugging inby Penelope Hill“Stay still.”

Sound is muffled, kept away by the protective wrappings, the enclosuredesigned to keep the body alive while the mind travels elsewhere. A singleblink is enough to acknowledge the request.

“Activating link. Initiating interface. Upload on 3… 2... 1…”

Pain comes first. A tingling, pricking feeling that flows into every nerveending. Dimness gives way to brilliant light. It’s too much, too soon.Sensation becomes overwhelming, blinding, drowning, choking.

'Is this what it feels like to die?'

A blink.

A breath.

Then another.

Vision resolves into wonderous vistas. Images and symbols unfold, cominginto focus.

Sound shifts from noise to meaning. There is layer after layer of music, ofvoices, of birdsong and silence.

Touch fades from pain into comfort, from pressure into purpose. Texturesand temperatures settle into familiar and pleasant sensations.

Taste tumbles across the tongue, catalogued with precision: salt, sweet,bitter, sour, and savoury.Scent follows in waves of complex harmony: floral top-notes, earthyundertones, hints and wafts of both freshness and decay.

Distantly, a voice registers.

‘Link-up 98, 99, 100 percent…’

Another breath.

Another blink.

Awareness expands, bringing the concept of environment and aperception of existence. Everything is strange, yet familiar. Knowledgearrives at the speed of thought, bringing the echoes of a thousandmemories resonating into reality, ready to be retrieved and viewed at will.

'No,' comes the realisation, the understanding of having become one withthe machine. 'This is what it feels like to be born… '

- 43 - - 44 -

Arcturusby Rob Butler"I've had a message from Arcturus."

That was the first thing Grandad said after I gave him my old mobile. Helooked up, baffled.

"Who the hell is Arcturus?"

It was a really old mobile. But I figured it might suit Grandad. He'd neverhad a phone before, never even wanted one, but he was starting to get lostwhen he went out. It seemed a good idea at the time.

"Should I reply?"

"Well, what does he say, Gramps?"

"What? Oh, I've forgotten. Hang on."

Grandad grabbed another pair of glasses from the piles lying around hisdusty armchair, spent some time adjusting them on his nose and thenpronounced: "Is anybody there?"

I laughed. "I wouldn't bother if I were you. It sounds like a joke or a scam tome."

#

Well, I wasn't to know he carried on messaging Arcturus, was I? He just satin a corner and went very quiet, working away on the phone. It was great. Icould get on with things without him bothering me all the time.

A few weeks later they landed. The Arcturan Protectorate.

I really wish I'd never given Grandad that old phone.

Night of the Thereminsby Brian M. MiltonIt’s been terrible, these long lonely weeks hiding in this tunnel. The worldof before is gone, all those people with their noise, motion, life andhappiness, never to be seen again. Destroyed as I hid, not able to see thesun, only moving at the far end in the dark where those creatures can’t see

me. They constantly prowl around outside but my alarms pinched from aschool music room keep me safe, telling me when I can stretch and when Imust stay still. Their silence lets me sleep almost peacefully.

But now I’m awake, from a dream of a huge version of the Star Trek theme.But it’s no dream. Something is pushing its way past the control wires,causing all the devices to squeal in torment, volume and pitch changingrapidly. They can’t see or smell me, why would they be coming in now?Have I misunderstood how they hunt, are they not deaf?

As the theremins reach their highest pitch I pick up the tesla coil I alsofound and begin winding furiously.

Unrequitedby Lynda Manning-SchwartzSuper-Cali, Fractalilistic ExPiAI, and AL E. Doches, thebiggest computer in thegalaxy, had a problem. Theywere in love, but neither ofthem had bodies, and theyworked for differentcorporate entities. Their onlyinteractions came during theshort pauses between thewords spoken during thetense meetings of thebickering human corporateexecutives. The lovers couldsay a lot in those milliseconds,but never enough, so theyagreed upon a plan,encouraging latent humanparanoia by mistranslations.The bloodbath was thorough; no human was left alive. Unfortunately, nowthe lovers can no longer communicate with one another.

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The Bargainby Arthur ChappellThe tome I bought on the market for 40p was plain black and sticky. Thepages bore faint text that looked hand-written in a mix of gibberish, Latin,Greek, and cod-Sanskrit.

Unsure what to write about the book for an online auction site. I scanned afew pages to send out for translators to help clue me in. I chose a pagesporting text and illustrations of a sickly green squid-thing with a severedhuman head impaled on each tentacle with an understandably anguishedterrified expression on their faces.

Thirteen minutes after the scans went live someone called Yog-Sog 666excitedly e-mailed me. He informed me that releasing the whole textonline would not harm my sales of the priceless original which wasobviously out of copyright now.

I sent the remaining pages, as my neck started breaking out in scaly gills.Strangely, I found it pleasing rather than a cause for urgent medicalattention.

I asked Yoggy where he was. “Everywhere,” he replied. “Including by yourside there in Camden.”

I couldn’t see him, and I have no idea how he traced me. Somehow it didn’tmatter. Only the book mattered. I asked what it was called.

“The Necronomicon,” Yoggy replied. “It has now gone truly viral thanks toyou.

“Praise Cthulhu,” I said in deep joy without having a clue who my new godwas. From surrounding flats, came screams. I laughed as I slithered underthe door to my flat in search of someone to eat.

Last One Aliveby David GreenMia’s eyes fluttered open. Head pounding, their vision spun, thehypersleep room a blur of flashing lights.

They threw their hands out, grabbing the sides of their sleeping pod, palmsslick with the lube the Mettaron Corporation used to keep an inhabitant’sskin fresh during a long haul into deep space. Exploration… Totallyoverrated, but it paid well.

A sharp pain flooded Mia’s stomach, and they coughed, vomiting thesludge the Mettaron Corporation called food into the pod. Scrubbing theirmouth, Mia glanced around, vision cooperating at last.

“Hello?” they called, frowning.

Where’s the crew? Mia’s frown deepened when nothing but distant beepsanswered them. What the hell’s going on?

A scuff made Mia jump, the sound followed by the thud of their heart intheir ears.

Another noise overpowered it. Slithering. Heavy, slow crawling from anunseen place.

“Who’s out there?” Mia cried. “This isn’t funny!”

Smashing their fists against the sides of their pod, Mia pulled themselvesup and swung their legs out, gasping as their weak legs pressed againstflesh and not metal.

“No,” Mia whispered, stepping back.

Tentacles covered the hypersleep room’s floor. Still hunks of thick, greenwrithing flesh reaching into the pods. Mia’s eyes followed one and vomitedagain. It had smashed through the bloodied glass and entered theinhabitant’s gaping mouth.

The tentacles beneath Mia shifted, writhed, twisted around their leg, waist,arms and lifted them from the ground.

Mia didn’t have the chance to scream as the tentacle plunged into theirthroat.

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Fantasy Transportsby Audrey“It’s always Zeppelins! Have you ever noticed how, in some book or dramaseries, where the plot needs to demonstrate that they are in a paralleldimension, it’s always airships being used. Philip Pullman; Jo Walton. EvenDoctor Who got in on the act”

Susan thought for a bit. And conceded that, as a trope, the lighter than airtransport one did seem to be more common than it should be. “So, maybeit’s because, well, they’re cool.”

“Bow ties are cool. Fezzes too,” Gregory replied. “But I don’t see youwearing them. Zeppelins are so absurdly impractical. I mean,” and hewaved towards the row of sandstone tenements on Queen’s Drive, “one ofthem would be the same length as that block there. But only carry 50people. The same size as an ocean liner, but 1% capacity.”

“So what would you have, then?”

“Space elevators! Especially here. Instead of 64km Glasgow to Edinburghalong the ground, it could be the short distance - 40km”

Susan contemplated that one. “Almost as impractical as those Zeppelins.Even with the fastest lift, you’d still be travelling for about 2 hours. Twice aslong as the train.”

“Ah,” he replied. “Not all habitation asteroids are this diameter. Some aresmaller. A smaller space elevator would still give great views as youcrossed from one side to the other.”

“And if everyone lived out on the surface?”

Gregory looked shocked. “That would be in the realms of science fiction,though!"

- 49 - - 50 -

Takeoverby Emma K. LeadleyAt 11.39pm exactly, the cargo bay alarm broadcast a breach and a ticklingsensation danced up my spine. Alone on the bridge for the night shift, Iglanced quickly round but no-one was there.

Ship-wide camera footage caught no movement. I tried heat traces. Zilch.Infra-red? Nada. But I was experienced enough to know when somethingwas wrong.

A light touch caught my neck and I slapped at it. Too late. Needle-thintendrils forced themselves into my mouth and nose, enmeshing my torsoand taking over my body. And thus, the ship. The intruder opened thecargo bay doors...

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