The 2012 James White Award annual short story competition is now open. The James White Award was instituted to honour the memory of one of Ireland’s most successful science fiction authors, James White. The short story competition is open to non-professional writers, with the winner chosen by a panel of judges made up of professional authors and editors. The judges for this year’s competition are novellists Aliette de Bodard and Ian McDonald and the Interzone editors.

Stories entered into the competition must be original and previously unpublished. Entry is free. The prize for winning this year’s James White Award is £300 plus publication in Interzone, the leading UK science fiction magazine from TTA Press. There will also be a runners-up prize of £100. The closing date for receipt of entries is 16 December 2012. The winner / runner-up will be presented with their awards at the BSFA Awards ceremony at Eastercon 2013.

For further information see the website HERE

Rob Hansen is compiling an internet resource – THEN: The Archive – which is a repository for some of the material referenced when researching and writing THEN, his history-in-progress of British science fiction fandom from the 1930s to the 1980s.

He is seeking a photograph of the frontage of the Imperial Hotel in Birmingham. The hotel hosted several SF and fantasy events before it was demolished, including some early FantasyCons. Here, from the archive, is a page detailing the 1959 Eastercon held at that venue. Rob would love to be able to add a photo of the hotel frontage to this page.

If you can assist by providing a photograph of the frontage of the Imperial Hotel, please contact Peter Coleborn at pkcoleborn [at] gmail [dot] com. Please do not send the photograph in the first instance but simply contact Peter explaining what photo(s) you have.

It has been confirmed that the 64th Eastercon – appropriately named Eight Squared Con – will be held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, West Yorkshire, from 29 March to 1 April 2013. The Guests of Honour have been announced as Walter Jon Williams, Freda Warrington, Anne Sudworth and Edward James.

To keep up to date with announcements and information please see the website HERE