I am back home following Chicon 8, the 2022 Worldcon. This was my first ever Worldcon; I’ve been wanting to attend one since I was a teenager, so fifty years, maybe?

I had a blast. The con was great. The hotel, the Hyatt Regency Chicago is mammoth, but appealing. I volunteered to sit on panels, thinking that since this was a Worldcon, I should consider myself lucky to get on one. They assigned me to four! I’m going to guess that someone on the Program Committee listens to The History of the Twentieth Century.

Not only did I get four panels, but I was assigned to moderate two of them. I quickly learned this is because it is a job no one else wants. I even moderated my very first panel, so no pressure! I’ve been on many panels and moderated many times at other cons, but this felt as if I went from performing in a touring company to opening on Broadway. Everything went well, though. My co-panelists were without exception polite and kind and had interesting things to say.

I was especially excited to share a panel with Victor Manibo, whose first novel, Sleepless, has just come out. I had already heard good things about the book and its author; I’d bought it, but haven’t had a chance to finish it yet. Imagine my surprise when he turned up at my left elbow at my first panel!

SFWA did not have a suite at this con, but did have a get-together for drinks at the hotel bar (which claims to be the longest bar in North America). I got to spend time with a bunch of cool writers, including John Stith and Joe and Gay Haldeman.

So a good experience all around. The best part: I remain Covid-free. The con reports 60 known cases out of about 3,500 attending, so that’s not too bad. Everyone was good about masking and distancing.

You know, I think I’m going to do this again.