Panels

I've always dreamed of going to Scotland. I am half Scottish yet have never visited the country, even though I've longed to see Edinburgh and Glasgow for myself. Both cities are rich in the celebration of the arts. Not to mention, many world-renowned poets and writers are from the area.

This summer, I finally realized my dream at the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow—and found a source of literary inspiration all its own.

“Worldcon for Our Futures,” the eighty-second Worldcon, took place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, August 8-12. The Scottish Event Campus is in the city's heart, boasting an IMAX theater complex, an “Armadillo” structure for performances, a science center, and a planetarium, all of which were offering Science Fiction-related events during the convention.

Worldcon is an annual convention for members of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). The society is not only for writers but also for cosplay artists, painters, filmmakers, and more; the common theme is that your work is speculative. The convention is both an in-person event, with around four thousand-plus attendees, and online programming for people who would rather not travel. It is possible to attend Worldcon virtually and gain much insight as a writer if all you wish to see are panels, but if you want to network, attending in person is preferable.

While Worldcon is not exclusively literature focused, its programming still heavily caters to authors, who make up at least half of the attendees. This broad focus means that in addition to literary panels, authors can explore other aspects of Speculative Fiction, allowing for a more well-rounded engagement with the genre. A distinct number of panels at this year’s event focused on Scottish writers and their impact on the Science Fiction genre. Writing track panels were by writers speaking to writers, drilling in depth on ways to improve the craft.

Panels were not only about writing. Worldcon is more a convention for fans than strictly for writers. Television, film, podcasting, and many fandoms were also supported. I attended a geeky panel about the Disney character Ashoka, where five writers from both books and television featuring the character spoke in depth about her arc and where they hoped her story would go. It was great fun to listen to world-class screenwriters get their geek on and express their love for a character just as regular fans would.

I found that the panels were elevated in quality as compared with smaller conventions I’ve attended because of the experience of the panelists. Panelists were highly accomplished on the world level. Every panel I appeared on as a panelist was well attended, and the questions asked by the audience were thoughtful. My favorite panel was the Speculative Poetry Jam. Eight accomplished Speculative poets gave a reading to a full audience. The level of work by my fellow readers was amazing. I was honored to be included with them.

Most of the panels were recorded, both for virtual attendees and for in-person attendees to access later. Some panels were done virtually only via Zoom, which allowed additional panelists to participate who had not traveled to Scotland. I moderated one such panel for the writing track, for authors specializing in time travel novels, from my hotel room. There was plenty of interaction on the Zoom panel, with questions being fed from the Discord channel where the audience posted their comments as they watched the live stream.

Guests of Honor

Worldcon featured several guests of honor, who appeared throughout the convention in panels, interviews, and signings. Most were UK based. This is uncommon for Worldcon but not unexpected. The Guests of Honor included: artist Chris Baker—who works under the pseudonym “Fangorn”—fans Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer, author Ken MacLeod, author Nnedi Okorafor, and author Terri Windling.

There was also a list of special guests, who mainly appeared online for their panels and presentations: actor Samantha Béart, reserve astronaut Dr. Meganne Christian, editor Tanya DePass, Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans, author Tendai Huchu, and the hosts of CRIT Award–winning podcast Three Black Halflings.

Dealer Room and Art Show

The highlight of any Science Fiction convention is the dealer room and art show. In Worldcon’s case, both were side by side in one of the main halls. Because of the high ceilings and vast area, the tables of the dealers seemed a bit lost to me. Most of the tables offered books from publishers and small presses, but there were also scattered offerings of chain mail jewelry, stickers, and other craft-fair-level offerings. There was no true artist alley with tables of artists sketching and offering prints. Instead, most of the print art was in the Worldcon Art Show, a separate gallery at the convention.

The Worldcon Art Show was just as large as the dealer room, with both taking up significant space in a massive convention hall. The dealer room wrapped around the art show in a C shape, creating a seamless flow between the two areas. The art show contained an extensive selection of panels for the artists. Some artists did demos of their work, others gave tours of the art show, and a few spoke on designated panels devoted to Speculative-themed art. Most of the art on display was a step above what I’ve seen at typical convention art shows. The majority of the art was for purchase, but artists could set their pieces NFS (not for sale) if they were showing their work to attract the attention of authors or a small press needing book covers or other illustrations.

Meetups

Worldcon featured forty-five meetups for conference attendees to connect with one another outside of the scheduled panels. These were held in the back of one of the grand halls. The meetups included one for Star Trek fans, Doctor Who fans, and several for popular Science Fiction authors’ fan groups, such as Octavia Butler, George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb, and Terry Pratchett.

One meetup I attended was for fountain pen and stationery enthusiasts, the first of its kind at Worldcon. I brought a “penvelope” (a leather clutch purse designed to protect fountain pens) of some of my favorite pens and allowed others to try the specialty nibs my pens feature. Others brought ink samples to share or unusual papers. This meetup had so many people we overflowed the area. I also attended a smaller meetup for podcasters. There, we exchanged information about our shows and talked about production tips.

Science Exhibits

As a Sci-Fi convention, Worldcon didn’t skip on the “science” portion of the genre. The event’s science tract had plenty to interest attendees. Scotland has their own spaceport in the Shetland Islands, and alongside the other offerings in the main hall, members of their space program hosted tables to explain what they could offer Scotland and the UK. Many of their scientists gave presentations during the convention. There was even a fan meetup for female astronauts. Another fun exhibit was by a Glasgow museum, which showcased a virtual world accessed via immersive goggles. You could try on the goggles for free and enter their museum simulation. I asked to sit in a chair when I tried it out since other people seemed to lose their balance while wearing the goggles. It was all in good fun.

Evening Entertainment

Each year a Worldcon has been held in the UK, be it Dublin, London, or Glasgow, in-person attendees have had the chance to experience a unique performance or event as part of the evening entertainment. The first night of this year’s convention featured a Science Fiction opera, Morrow’s Isle. The libretto was written by guest of honor Ken MacLeod and inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau. The second night was a philharmonic concert featuring music from Star Trek, Star Wars, and Scottish symphony music about ghosts, goblins, and myths.

The following evenings were more traditional to the convention and had events that are a staple at Worldcons. Our third evening was the masquerade costume contest. Attendees signed up to show off their handmade costumes to an audience of thousands. Awards were offered for the most unique and best-presented costumes. On Sunday, the Hugo Awards were presented for the best in genre writing and in media. The Hugo is a much coveted award in the Speculative genre, and the competition is fierce. The fifth day of the convention ended early, so instead of formal entertainment, there were two parties hosted by the event organizers. One was a Scottish “Ceilidh” in the afternoon and the other a “Dead Dog Party,” where people could relax and meet one last time with friends going all the way to 2 a.m.

Conclusion

I was astonished by how much Scottish culture was merged into Worldcon this year. I felt I was being given an education on the social aspects of the Scottish people and their achievements as much as I was learning about what was new in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror as a writer and poet.

Beyond these cultural benefits, which were unique to Glasgow, Worldcon offers something less tangible but equally valuable: a sense of community. For authors, especially those who often work in isolation, connecting with fellow writers, readers, and industry professionals in such a vibrant environment can be deeply motivating. The discussions go beyond surface-level chatter to delve into the craft and heart of Science Fiction. Whether you’re attending panels, workshops, or casual meetups, Worldcon is a space where creative energy thrives and new ideas can take root. Attending isn’t just about professional growth; it’s about joining a conversation that shapes the future of the genre.

Next year’s Worldcon will take place in Seattle, Washington, August 13-17. For those interested in attending, visit https://worldcon.org for more information on becoming a member of the WSFS.

Wendy Van Camp