“Worldcon 75” – The Infinite Library and Other Stories

The “Surreal Worlds of Southeast Asia” panel at #WorldCon75

September 8, 2017September 11, 2017 Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Singapore-based Speculative Fiction author and Lontar Journal founding editor Jason Erik Lundberg moderated a lively panel on Southeast Asian Speculative Fiction at yesterday’s #Worldcon75, with Nebula award- winning author Aliette de Bodard and myself. Like my other panel, this one was quite well attended and we were very happy to see that so many people were interested in Southeast Asian speculative fiction.

Aliette and I did a reading from one of our works and we spent the rest of the time taking questions and recommending many fine SEA authors from the region such as Dean Alfar (Philippines), Zen Cho (Malaysia) and JY Yang (Singapore).

P.S. – I provided a quick sneak peak of my first short story collection “The Infinite Library and Other Stories” during this panel 🙂

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“Your Mythology is Much Like My Mythology” panel at #WorldCon75

September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Here are some pictures from my Mythology panel at the World Science Fiction Convention in Finland where I got to talk about ancient Filipino deities, sweet potato farming rituals and manananggals with authors and experts like Irish novelist Peadar Ó Guilín; poet, author and Classicist Jenny Blackford, Fantasy novelist Alexandra Rowland; and Elli Leppä from the University of Helsinki.

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Front row (L to R): Jenny Blackford, Peadar Ó Guilín (moderator), Alexandra Rowland. Back row me and Elli Leppä.

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The panel was more popular than I expected. They actually had to turn people away.

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All-in-all it was great fun and I was happy to raise the flag for Philippine and Southeast Asian mythologies.

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My Late Post regarding the 2017 Hugo Awards

September 8, 2017January 3, 2019 Victor Fernando R. Ocampo2 Comments

Here are the pictures from this year’s Hugo Awards ceremony during The 75th World Science Fiction Convention (commonly in Helsinki, Finland last 11 August. Despite the efforts of the self-described “Sad Puppies,” and their alt-right equivalents, the “Rabid Puppies, women almost completely swept the Hugo Awards, taking home the top prizes for literature in the science fiction community (Woohoo!). The full list of winners can be found here.

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Welcome to the Hugo Awards!

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The very, very, very, very long queue to get in.

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Look at that audience!

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Which includes me and my lovely wife, Patricia.

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The esteemed host Dr. Karen Lord and the inimitable George R. R. Martin.

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The Song of Ice and Fire Chronicler and German actress Sibel Kekilli (Shae on GoT).

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The dapper winner of one of the 2017 Seiun Awards, Ken Liu

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More Ken Liu

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Best Fan Artist: Go Likhain!

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Best Fan Writer: Go Natalie Luhrs!

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Best Novelette: Go Fran Wilde!

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With a real-life ISS astronaut – Dr. Kjell Lindgren, a member of Expedition 44/45 to the International Space Station (ISS), and a NASA Distinguished Service Medal recipient (2016).

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