A selection of comments from attendees of FantasyCon 2009…
I really enjoyed visiting Fantasycon. Good atmosphere, lots going on, a lot of interesting people there. All the best. – Storm Constantine
I have to say that was one of the best organised and most enjoyable Fantasycons ever, thanks to you and the rest of the BFS team. Your hard work is proof that the BFS can grow and improve. It's a great time for newcomers to come along and share their ideas. And the yearbook is the most stylish ever. Thanks again. – Christopher Fowler
Thanks so much to Peter, Guy and all the BFS team for a fantastic and fun-packed convention this year. You introduced some great new items on the programme and restructured a few things. I certainly appreciated these new ideas. Saturday night was infinitely better and bringing in some new type of guests was inspirational. Running the con - and the BFS - is such a lot of work and we love you for what you do for us all!!! – Graham Joyce
As another FantasyCon bites the dust, Nicky and I spent the entire drive back home reflecting on the fun we had. It was a ball. Purely and simply that. Yes, the hotel could be better and the banquet could have been improved upon but, you know, the real -- the only -- reason we come every year is to see all you folks and catch up with news and just talk and have fun. It's a true highlight of our year and long may it continue. Three cheers for the team of volunteers who selflessly put it all together. Bravo! – Peter and Nicky Crowther
In 2009 FantasyCon underwent a paradign shift. Nobody saw it happen. One day it was one thing, the next another much more marvellous event. All was gloss and substance. It was just the best one yet. So replace that -Y at the end of Fantasy with a -TIC. And long may the Convention remain that way. – Gary Fry
Good to see you. For what it's worth, I think it's one of the best F'cons I've attended. The whole readings organisation needs reassessing though, I feel. – Conrad Williams
Another thoroughly enjoyable FCon weekend. It was wonderfully organized, relaxed, friendly and efficient so extra special big thanks to all the team, you must be exhausted. Your hard work gave us three days packed with enjoyable events between the socialising. Well done everyone. – Raven Dane
Just a quick note to thank you both for arranging and organising the Art show this year. Thanks too for all your help. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, as did Craig and Steve, and I wish I could've stayed for the whole weekend. Never mind, perhaps next year. – Terry Cooper
An excellent turnout of top artistic talent. – Andy Bigwood
I always enjoy FantasyCon each year, but I thought this one was the best so far. It had such a great atmosphere this time. Even though I was kept pretty busy all weekend I had a fantastic time selling books, displaying artwork and catching up with old friends. It just doesn't get any better than that! Huge thanks to all the organizers who made the event happen and special nod goes to Peter and Jan for the great work they did with the artshow this year. – Steve Upham
Just to say that It was great meeting you at Fcon. I really appreciate your kindness and your support. You and Jan are very special and I can't forget your kindness. Thank you for all and keep in touch! – Danielle Serra
Fantasycon was nicely book-ended for me by the Poetry event and my Sunday lunchtime panel "Writing to a Theme", which attracted a large and friendly crowd. The middle contained the usual spells in the Dealers’ Room and the bar plus a chance to chat briefly with one of the best guests we’ve ever had, namely Brian "The Avengers" Clemens. Another very good Con – well done Pete and the gang. – Allen Ashley
This was one of the most well-conceived and enjoyable FantasyCons for a while. As well as the ever-present aspect of sociability and community that defines the BFS, there were brilliant and unusual guests, some great innovations - and no raffle (hooray!). Perhaps the only major surprise was that more people weren't killed in the stampede towards the stage when Sarah Pinborough yelled "Fuck me!" after winning her British Fantasy Award. A brilliant, brilliant weekend in the company of many of my favourite people on the planet. Cheers – Mark Morris
I had one of the busiest Fantasycons I can recall. Not because I was too heavily involved in the programme, but as I balanced going to interesting panels and interviews with talking to interesting folk, both fans and writerly professionals, amid the cheerful bustle going on all around. Wasn’t there a great atmosphere? Roll on next year! – Juliet E. McKenna
First con and had a great time. My only regret is that it has taken me so long to find you guys. – John Lenahan
Please convey my heartfelt thanks to all at the Fantasycon 2009 -- not only for inviting my wife Jan and myself, but also for giving us such a warm welcome. We had a fantastic time -- which was very apt!..and along the way met not only you, but a whole mob of kind and interesting people. – Brian Clemens
Thank you for extending such a warm welcome to myself and family at Fantasycon on Saturday. Mari and Tabitha send their apologies for missing the banquet, and Tabitha was very taken with Shrek - many thanks for that! The ISIHAC was a blast, and the magician even better. All the best for future FantasyCons. – Jasper Fforde
FantasyCon takes a new place among my favorite conventions. It was a great book con with all the energy of a cross-media convention. Accessible authors, lively readers and friendly people who could continue fascinating conversations well into the wee hours. As an American author, I really enjoyed the seriousness with which readers at Fantasycon take sci fi and fantasy books, which is a glimmer of hope in a TV-saturated world. (Not that we didn’t have some great conversations and movies and TV, and I also got to meet Brian Clemens, one of the great minds behind The Avengers, which was an all-time favorite of mine.) The awards banquet was lovely and well-attended, and the presentations zipped along with humor and panache. All said, one of the highlights of my year! Thank you so much! – Gail Z. Martin
Was this the most theatrical Fantasycon to date? At times I couldn't tell you who regaled us with the most extraordinary performance, Ian Watson or Reggie Oliver. I'll choose Ian as the more hilarious, but Reggie's one-man show "Puss-Cat" was splendid - a real tour de force. Can we top them next year? If not - or indeed, whether or not - let's have them back for those who missed them and those lucky folk who didn't. And well done, Pete and the committee! – Ramsey Campbell
FantasyCon is my favourite convention and once again this year it lived up to all my expectations. Despite ending up completely exhausted at the end of the weekend, it was a pleasing mixture of fun and work for me, with the added bonuses of meeting GoH Brian Clemens for the first time, having a phenomenally successful launch for my 100th book, and then winning not just one, but two British Fantasy Awards! I'd like to personally thank everybody who read and voted for the books -- your support is always much appreciated. I shall be passing the non-fiction award on to Basil Copper in a couple of weeks when I see him. If we got time to talk, I'm glad. If we didn't, then let's make sure we make time next year . . . I guess I can get by on less than four hours sleep by then! Many thanks to Peter, Jan and all their hard-working crew for making it a truly memorable weekend. – Stephen Jones
The 24 hours went extremely smoothly, with the room comfortable, the food good and the areas set out for the various aspects of the weekend, flawlessly arranged. This apart from the 'banquet' at which the service was so very efficient that one hardly even noticed the waiters in action. I must congratulate you and your team for looking after me so well and displaying a patience beyond the call of sainthood while you were setting up the equipment which might have led me to the bottle. I do hope we meet again at some point; Martin mentioned a 'Christmas Drink' in Fleet Street, conveniently 15 minutes from where I live, so perhaps then if I'm not away. – Sebastian Peake