Firstly, we are very sad to announce that Lyn McConchie and Mary Victoria are no longer able to attend due to unforseen events. We were so pleased when they said yes to being invited guests of the convention and they will be missed.

However (look away, Lyn and Mary!), we have so much for you to do and see that you should really start sleeping all day and night to prepare. If you haven’t already, take a look at our mintox program, and see more details of the Academic Stream and the WriterStream.

Thursday night is free, and you’ll be able to bring your friends to sample the Swancon experience. The hilariously geeky BRENT! will launch the convention with some end-of-week LOLs, followed by a debate over the assertion that “We are Living in a Computer Simulation”. Then join Eric Ripper, SF fan and Leader of the Opposition, who will be launching the Future Imperfect Art Show. There will also be gaming and various panels, plus the Hyatt bar will be open for business if you just want to catch up with everyone.

Before the convention opens, you are invited to Meet Our Guests over lunch at Mai’s Vietnamese Restaurant East Perth. Places are limited, but there’s still some seats available if you get in quick!

If there’s one thing that fans love most of all, it’s Having Opinions. If that describes you, make sure you get your votes in for the Tin Duck and Ditmar Awards. There will be printed ballots available at the door so you can vote once you arrive. Check the links for eligibility criteria. Then join us for cocktails at the Orbit | Gollancz Natcon Fifty Awards Ceremony, for the presentation of these awards and more!

Saturday night is Masquerade night! Airbrush Tattoos WA are trading in the Dealer Room all weekend. They specialise in full colour and glow in the dark, waterproof airbrush tattoos small and large! They are also available for full costume tattooing – if you want something a little special for the Masquerade or any other program item, you are welcome to book ahead by email to make your appointment.

Lastly: Swancon only survives on the kindness of volunteers. If you have a strong attention to detail and a few hours to spare over the convention weekend we would love to hear from you.

Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty: it’s quite a mouthful and a lot of history. We’re so glad that we have the opportunity to host the fiftieth Australian Natcon at this year’s Swancon. Perth has hosted nine of them already, and we’re ready to make this one the best so far.

Take a look at our program, and I think you’ll agree it’s pretty awesome! There will be lots to do, see, hear and say. Whether you’re in the mood to listen to presentations from writers, editors, artists and academics; debate ideas with other fans of speculative fiction; network and socialise with guests and members in one of the Hyatt’s many bars and cafes; or just spend time in our fabulous dealers room and fan lounge; there will always be something for you to do.

Remember that Thursday night is free! So bring a friend or two and see what Swancon has to offer.

Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty is all about fandom, and the fans. We’re holding a party in your honour – all you have to do is show up and have fun. We’ve compiled a short summary of what’s on offer. There will be more announcements as we go, so be sure to keep an eye on our rss feed, or our Twitter feed (@natcon50) for more exciting updates and news throughout the year.

But first, the basics:

21-25 April 2011
Hyatt Hotel, Adelaide Tce, Perth

From the moment you receive your membership card, the kind folks at Planet Books and Fantastic Planet have offered to give you 10% off all the books you buy – valid until 25 April 2011. You really can’t afford not to sign up!

Until 20 April 2011, membership of Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty will be $210, or $155 for students and concession card holders. On Thursday 21 April prices will be $250 / $185. You can buy day memberships for $70 per day, or $50 student/concession. Supporting memberships are $20.

You can purchase memberships online, at Planet Books, Fantastic Planet, White Dwarf, Empire Toys, Quality Comics, Tactics and Tokyo Underground, or in person from Swancon Thirty Six committee members.

Become a member of Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty today!

See our program here.

The draft Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty program is now online. While we are making every effort to make sure all details are correct, we cannot guarantee that items won’t change. We also have plenty of space for last minute program ideas, so if the mood strikes and you want to organise something, we’ll help provide you with space to do it.

Contact us any time in the lead-up to the convention, or speak to a committee member once you arrive.

View the full program, or see each day individually: Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday

Image from here

We have heaps of books to give away on the night thanks to Harper Collins, as well as passes to Paul [Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for this comedy adventure. As two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America’s UFO heartland, they encounter a wisecracking alien and help him on a daredevil quest that will alter our universe forever. In cinemas April 14.]

Swancon Comedy Fundraiser

The Velvet Lounge, 639 Beaufort St Mt Lawley
7:30pm Thursday 31 March
$20 per head

RSVP to: ThirtySix@swancon.com.au or at Facebook, and download a pdf flyer and bring your friends.

Pay now via Paypal:

7:30pm on Sunday 24 April 2011 in the Hyatt Regency Perth.

Thanks to our very kind sponsors, Orbit Australia and Gollancz Australia, members of Swancon Thirty Six | Natcon Fifty are invited to attend a cocktail party before the presentation of awards for the best works of science fiction and fantasy for 2010, including:

The Swancon Thirty Six Tin Ducks
The Natcon Fifty Ditmar Awards
The 2011 Norma K Hemming Award
Peter McNamara Achievement Award
and more…

GOLLANCZ AUSTRALIA on Facebook

ORION AUSTRALIA on Facebook