Octocon, Ireland
Octocon, Ireland logo
GenreScience fiction, fantasy
Location(s)Dublin
CountryIreland
Inaugurated1990
Websitehttp://www.octocon.com/

Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, first held in 1989, is held (almost) annually in October. It has mostly been staged in Dublin, but for four years was in the university town of Maynooth. It was not held in 2003, and in 2014, when Ireland hosted that year's Eurocon, Shamrokon, in Dublin.[1][2]

History

Kristian Nairn and George R. R. Martin at Octocon
Game of thrones actor Kristian Nairn (Hodor) and Writer George R. R. Martin at Octocon in Dublin, 17 October 2010.
  • 1989/1990: The convention was initiated by members of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and named by artist Peter McCanney, who created the convention's first logo.
  • 1990: Terry Pratchett was the first Guest of Honour of the convention.
  • 1995: Advertised Guest of Honour Mary Gentle had to cancel her appearance at the last minute, leading to the appointment of Kim Newman in her place.
  • 1997: This was also the year's official Eurocon, and consequently the largest Octocon to date.
  • 1998: The only one-day Octocon to date.
  • 2003: The convention took a break for a year.
  • 2004: For the first time, Octocon was held outside Ireland's capital of Dublin, in Maynooth, County Kildare, where it was held for 3 further years.
  • 2008: The convention returned to Dublin.
  • 2009: The first Golden Blaster was awarded.
  • 2014: There was no October convention this year. Instead a lot of the regular organizers helped run the official Eurocon, Shamrokon, in August.

Golden Blasters

The Golden Blasters are the National Irish Science Fiction Awards for short science fiction, fantasy or horror films. Submissions can and have come from anywhere in the world, and the winners are selected by audience vote and a panel of judges.[3]

The awards now include the Golden Blaster, The Silver Blaster and the award for the best script.

YearGolden BlasterSilver BlasterBest Script
2009Silent City (Director Rurairi Robinson)
2010Übermensch (Directed by Simon Temple and written by Daniel Poole)The Astronomer's Sun (Written and directed by Simon Cartwright & Jessica Cope)He Knows by Stuart Creque
2011Hai In Mano Il Tuo Futuro! (Directed by Enrico Maria Artale)Hai In Mano Il Tuo Futuro! (Directed by Enrico Maria Artale)Wet Rot by Stuart Creque
2012Shoreditch Slayer (Directed by Simon Levene)CRYO (Directed by Luke Doolan)This Vehicle Has Been Checked For Sleeping Children by John Burdeaux
In 2012 the judges of the scripts wanted to make an honourable mention of both Pet by Eoin O’Faolain & The Vox-Warrior Princess by Fiona Mustard.
2013Locked Up (Written and directed Jane Eakin)Sleepworking (Written and directed by Gavin Williams)An Bean Sidhe by Eoin O'Sullivan
2014ON/OFF (Directed by Thierry Lorenzi)Steadfast Stanley (Directed by John Kim)The Borders of the Imagination (Written by Benjamin A Friedman)
In 2014 the judges of the scripts wanted to make an honourable mention of both Once A Hero by Neil Chase and The Almost Dead by Stanley B Eisenhammer
2015C.T.R.L (Directed by Mariana Conde)The Detectives of Noir Town (Directed by Andrew Chambers)The Dirty Naturals Where's my Bunny? (Written by Derek Wills)
2016The Way Back (Directed by John Carlin)They Will All Die In Space (Directed by Javier Chillon)Message through the Stars (Written by Vijay Varman)
2017Einstein Rosen (Directed by Olga Osorio)Einstein Rosen (Written by Olga Osorio)

In 2018 it was decided to have a "Best of best" award given in place of the usual structure. The overall winner was the 2017 Einstein Rosen short film.

Events

YearGuests of HonourLocationDate
1990Terry PratchettRoyal Marine Hotel 13–14 October 1990
1991Geoff Ryman Royal Marine Hotel 4–6 October 1991
1992Orson Scott Card Royal Marine Hotel 16–18 October 1992
1993Storm Constantine Royal Marine Hotel 30–31 October 1993
1994Robert Holdstock Royal Marine Hotel 1–2 October 1994
1995Kim Newman Royal Marine Hotel 14–15 October 1995
1996Brian Stableford Royal Marine Hotel 11–13 October 1996
1997 – EuroconHarry HarrisonDublin Castle, Dublin25–27 October 1997
1998 - Octocon LiteJames WhiteRoyal Marine Hotel10 October 1998
1999Robert RankinRoyal Marine Hotel9–10 October 1999
2000Michael Marshall SmithRoyal Dublin Hotel21–22 October 2000
2001Anne McCaffreyRoyal Marine Hotel13–14 October 2001
2002China MiévilleRoyal Marine Hotel19–20 October 2002
2003 - no event
2004Tanith LeeGlenroyal Hotel16–17 October 2004
2005Charles StrossGlenroyal Hotel15–16 October 2005
2006J. G. JonesGlenroyal Hotel14–15 October 2006
2007Alastair ReynoldsGlenroyal Hotel13–14 October 2007
2008Ken MacLeodRoyal Dublin Hotel18–19 October 2008
2009Mike Carey
Fan Guest Dave Lally
Camden Court Hotel10–11 October 2009
2010George R. R. MartinCamden Court Hotel16–17 October 2010
2011John HigginsCamden Court Hotel15–16 October 2011
2012Liz WilliamsCamden Court Hotel13–14 October 2012
2013Richard K. Morgan and Gail SimoneCamden Court Hotel12–13 October 2013
2014 – No Octocon, per above & *
2015Maura McHugh and Emma NewmanCamden Court Hotel19–11 October 2015
2016Rhianna Pratchett, Diane Duane and Peter MorwoodCamden Court Hotel14–16 October 2016
2017Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent AbnettCamden Court HotelOctober 2017
2018Pat Cadigan and Colleen DoranCrowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown19 - 21 October 2018
2019 - 1-day due to
August Worldcon in Dublin
Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Ruth Frances Long, Peadar Ó GuilínCrowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown13 October 2019
2020Michael Carroll (and fan GoHs Helen and Philippa RyderVirtual due to pandemic9 - 11 October 2020
2021No GoHsVirtual due to pandemic1 - 3 October 2021
2022Michael Carroll (and fan GoHs Helen and Philippa RyderCroke Park Convention Centre & online15 - 16 October 2022

References

  1. "Meet Rhianna Pratchett - The woman behind the Lara Croft backstory". www.irishexaminer.com. 6 October 2016.
  2. "Convention Connection: Geek Culture Conventions for Week 42 2018". GeekDad. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. "Octocon Presents..." Dublin 2019. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. "Welcome to nginx!".
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