Discworld Events at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 - A Timeline

Below is a list of Discworld events currently planned for Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 

Here is the official, online schedule for Sasquan (which is frequently updated).

The mobile app for this Convention Guide is now in the app stores; the access code is SASQUAN (it is not case sensitive)

Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grenadine.confee

Apple:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/grenadine-event-guide/id886788146?mt=8 

Please check the official convention schedule for additions and changes.  

WE'RE GONNA MAKE A MOVIE! 

We are happy to announce that The Turtle Moves: Remembering Terry Pratchett achieved their funding goal, and we will be making this documentary "love letter to Terry Pratchett" at Sasquan, as planned.  If you are a Discworld fan and you would like to be interviewed for this film, please contact the director, John Kentner, via the Kickstarter page at the link above.  

DISCWORLD THEMED EVENTS AT SASQUAN

Wednesday - 14:00
Headology and Boffo: Character and Cunning on the Discworld 

Wednesday - 17:00
Ook - A Welcome To Discworld Fans 

Wednesday - 20:00
Discworld Pub Quiz 

Thursday - 11:00
Unseen University - A World Within A World

Thursday - 12:00 
Terry Pratchett Memorial Panel 

Thursday - 14:00
Nanny Ogg Knees Up - A Discworld Dance 

Thursday - 14:00 
Terry Pratchett for Kids 

Thursday - 20:00 
A Public Reading of Where's My Cow Wherein We Make All The Noises 

Friday - 10:00
The YA Discworld Novels and Other Books by Terry Pratchett for Young People 

Friday - 13:00 
A Night in Ankh-Morpork: City of 1,000 Surprises 

Friday - 16:00
How Discworld Changed My Life

Friday - 1800 
Fans of Terry Pratchett Discworld Rendezvous 

Saturday - 12:00 
Guided Tour of Discworld Exhibit - Please note: Other tours have now been added. Please see online schedule.

Saturday - 12:00 
The Turtle Moves - Discworld in the Roundworld 

Saturday - 13:00 
Witches, Werewolves, Seamstresses and Soldiers - The Women of Discworld 

Saturday - 16:00
Science and Technology of Discworld 

Sunday - 10:00 
Heraldry of Discworld for Kids 

Discworld Exhibit - There has been so much excitement about the Discworld Exhibit that we have added more times on for our docent tours.  Please check the online schedule for days and times.  Stop by any time the exhibit room to view the exhibit, and sign our guest book.  

Discworld Games: Stop by the Gaming Room to try the demo version of the new Discworld game CLACKS from Backspindle Games.   The BackSpindle game THE WITCHES will be on display in the Discworld Exhibit.
 
Discworld Movies: Please check the convention's Movie Schedule for a list of DW films to be shown at Sasquan.  

Discworld Party -  The Seamstress Guild has announced that, due to a series of unfortunate events beyond their control, there will be no official Seamstress Guild party at Sasquan. However, many of their members will be there with bustles on, and they have volunteered to help with the Discworld meets, games, exhibits, panels, dances and events at this convention. There are quite literally hundreds of parties at a Worldcon, both big and small, so folks won't be lacking for entertainment. 

Art: Young Nanny Ogg

The Turtle Moves: Remembering Terry Pratchett - This Documentary Needs YOU

Discworld fans have a chance to appear in and/or help fund "a love letter to Terry Pratchett".  

We've chosen to make a film featuring fan's memories of Sir Terry at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 because he was a popular attendee at Worldcons for many years and is well known there.  This particular worldcon is the site of The Great Discworld Fan Gathering and Sasquan is honoring Terry with a number of panels and events. (1) We have their permission to interview Terry's fans who are traveling from all over the world to attend, and a special memorial panel for Terry will be presented on Thursday, August 20th.   

The Turtle Moves: Remembering Terry Pratchett - Kickstarter Page

This film is going to be a positive and heartfelt commemoration, and it is being made by fans, for fans.

Questions about the film itself should be directed to John Kentner, the director, via the Kickstarter page.

Please help us get this film made: Share the link to the Kickstarter page with your friends and on your FB and Twitter pages and donate a few dollars if you can.  A list of rewards and perks for donors, including a DVD of the film,  is available at the Kickstarter page. 

Thank you,

Dj

(1) Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 is honoring Sir Terry in a wide variety of ways, including Discworld themed panels, events, dances, games, fan meets, exhibits, and more. With 6,000+ attendees it's the easiest (and cheapest) way to find a lot of Discworld fans from all over the world in one place.

Sasquan / Worldcon 2015

July Update on the Discworld Themed Programing & Events at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015

Discworld Themed Programing at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 - Spokene, WA, Aug 19 - 23rd, 2015 

The Discworld themed programing will include (but is not limited to):


Discworld Games 

* The new CLACKS game from BackSpindle Games will be shown in the game room and available for play. 

* THE WITCHES game will be on exhibit



Discworld Events: 

* Discworld Discussion Group: How Discworld Changed My Life

* Discworld Pub Quiz & Pictionary Game 


* Discworld Rendezvous- A Meet and Greet for Discworld fans

* Nanny Ogg Knees Up - Spirited Country Dancing sans Hedgehogs  

* Public Reading of Where's My Cow Wherein We Make All the Noises 


Discworld Exhibit

An introduction to the Discworld novels for the uninitiated, with extra special fun planned for the fans.

The exhibit will include docent tours by Discworld characters and the change to take your photo with some very special items.  

Discworld Movies 

We also hope to show some Discworld movies in the convention's movie room (permission pending)

Discworld Themed Panels: (These include but are not limited to)


* Discworld on the Roundworld - A Q&A with Anne Hoppe (Terry's American YA Editor since 2001) and others.

* Headology & Boffo: Character and Cunning on the Discworld

* A Night in Ankh Morpork, City of 1,000 Surprises 

* Terry Pratchett's Books for Young People

* Terry Pratchett Memorial Panel- Join us to hear and share stories about STP

* Unseen University: A World Within the Discworld, 

* Women of Discworld

Add to this all the fun of a Worldcon—meet fellow Discworld and science fiction/fantasy fans from all over the globe, attend program sessions and workshops with authors, see the Hugo Awards ceremony, participate in the Masquerade, and more, all in the setting of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

See sasquan.org for Sasquan convention membership and registration details. 
 
Follow our Discworld at Sasquan updates in

* The North American Discworld Connection Facebook page. 

* Our NADWCon Twitter page 

* The North American Discworld Connection Website  

* the Discworld Monthly 

and on this blog.  

Discworld Fan Volunteers Welcome !—We need your help to make this the best event for Discworld fans that we can. Email us at volunteer@sasquan.org and let us know you’d like to help with Discworld at Sasquan!
 
5,000 people are coming to one heck of a party; we hope to see you there. 

Dj 

Art: Granny Weatherwax and the Unicorn by YonYonYon on Deviant Art.

A million to one chance

There is a million to one chance that we might, just possibly, if the stars align, be able to announce that some very special Discworld guests will be joining us at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015.

To say any more at this time would bring me to the attention of the Assassin's Guild.

Stay tuned. 

Black Hat Day

Today is Sir Terry's birthday and fans around the world are remembering him by wearing black hats and doing nice things for other people.

This lady gets my vote for Nicest Thing Done In Terry's Honor Today. 

Here is one of my favorite photos from the Black Hat Day page (which has over 1,000 members). 

Some Updates on The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015

Updates on The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan:

There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes regarding Discworld programing and events for Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 but much of it is a surprise, at least for now.  But here is what I can tell you:

Sasquan is making ribbons for DW fans to wear on their badges so they can find one another.  These will be purple and will say, "Ook".   

(Traditionally, the Seamstress Guild makes up their own ribbons which have their motto:  Nil Volupti sine lucre. The guild will give these out at the parties they're hosting at Sasquan.) 

In addition to all the great experiences offered by a Worldcon, Sasquan will be hosting Discworld programming, events, a Discworld exhibit, guild meetups, and our fabulous Seamstress Guild parties.

Here are the Sasquan Membership Maps (along with facts and figures) for those attending Sasquan / WorldCon 2015. 

 Sasquan - 2015 Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention in Spokane, Washington | Member Numbers

				Sasquan - 2015 Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Conve... 7016 All Members Countries 42 Global Regions 6185 Americas 629 Europe 201 Asia/Pacific Space 1 Earth Orbit Countries 5813 United States of America 1 Argentina ...
				View on sasquan.org	Preview by Yahoo

Sasquan has recently welcomed new members from Chile, Estonia, Hungary, India, and Romania, North Dakota, Newfoundland, Saxony-Anhalt, and Yukon.  Join us at Sasquan and make friends all over the world.

One of the Guests of Honor for Sasquan is David Gerrold, who is also a Terry Pratchett fan. Mr Gerrold has recently started an informal group called Just Us.  These are Discworld fans who perform random acts of kindness at conventions and other events.  We'll have more on this movement and what it might mean at Sasquan next month. 

 

We hope to see you there. 

 

Dj 

Art: Marc Simonetti. This is a piece he painted after Terry passed.  His work for the Discworld is here. 

North American Discworld Fans Remember Sir Terry Pratchett

Sad Oook.  Sad, sad, Oook.

I got the call early this morning.  I'm still in shock.

We knew this day was coming, and that our friends / his fans would need someplace they could go to grieve with those who understand the depth of their loss.  So some of us have spent the morning posting to the various Discworld pages on Facebook.  (1) Each time we post the same sad announcement but we put up a different photo of Himself for each guild.  It's important to us that "Terry's people" know they have a welcoming place to go to in order to share their memories.  He wasn't just Sir Terry -ing Pratchett to us.  He was pterry.  Many of us have known him years, some for decades, and we loved the man as much as we loved the work.

North American Fans are remembering Terry Pratchett today on Twitter and at the North American Discworld Connection Facebook page. You can read their comments here. 

North American Discworld Connection

Our thoughts are with Terry's family and friends today.  One of his long time friends, Bernard Pearson AKA The Cunning Artificer, has posted a lovely note on his FB page today. 

We will host a remembrance for Terry at The Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 which takes place in Spokane, WA, August 19th - 23rd.

Update: There will be a memorial panel to Terry at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 and we will host many a glass in his name at the Seamstress Guild parties planned for that convention.

For those who are interested, I am posting some of the best tributes to Terry that I've found on Twitter on @ItBodes

Today, and May 25th we'll wear the lilac, and I'll be urging Discworld fans to contribute to two of his favorite charities in his honor.  These are

Orangutan Foundation

Alzheimer's Research

This loss is huge for all of us, and it will take a long time to process.  Right now, I just can't imagine a world without him in it. 

In the days and weeks that follow the rest of the world will comment on his books, his profound influence on literature and culture, his courageous activism on a wide variety of fronts, and his many kind and charitable acts.  But today we remember the man, and we're all glad that he died in peace, surrounded by friends and family, and with one of his beloved cats by his side.

Goodbye pterry.  We love you.  

*********
 
RIP SIR TERRY PRATCHETT

It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce that author Sir Terry Pratchett has died at the age of 66. Fans are welcome and to share their memories of Terry here today. 

Terry faced his Alzheimer's disease (an 'embuggerance', as he called it) publicly and bravely. Over the last few years, it was his writing that sustained him. His legacy will endure. 

Our sympathies go out to Terry's family and friends and all those whose lives were touched by this fine man and his wonderful work. 

Terry passed away in his home, with his cat sleeping on his bed surrounded by his family on 12th March 2015. Diagnosed with PCA1 in 2007, he battled the progressive disease with his trademark determination and creativity, and continued to write. He completed his last book, a new Discworld novel, in the summer of 2014, before succumbing to the final stages of the disease.

We ask that the family are left undisturbed at this distressing time.

His daughter Rhianna posted these notes on his twitter page: https://twitter.com/terryandrob

(1) Some of the Discworld Guilds and pages on Facebook 

North American Discworld Connection

Discworld Guild of Bakers 

Discworld Dark Clerks 

Discworld Guild of Engravers and Printers

Discworld Guild of Singers and Musicians

Discworld Seamstress Guild 

Guild of Cunning Artificers 

and our Discworld friends in the UK and all over the world are at a discussion (?) group known as  The Discworld Monthly 

Update: On a personal note: I would just like to say a heartfelt "Thank you" to Jason Anthony and the moderators at the Discworld Monthly and other FB pages. Thank you, all, for making these pages a safe place to share our feelings and memories.  And thank you, Discworld fans, for sharing. <<hugs from afar> D. 

Art - found at The Discworld Monthly

Update - The Great Discworld Gathering at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015

This announcement about The Great Discworld Gaterhing at Sasquan / Worldcon 2015 just went out to the 19,500 Discworld fans who read the Discworld Monthly Newsletter.  

Our sincere thanks to Jason and the great gang at DWM for

helping us get the word out about this event.  

Come One, Come All to the Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan!

The World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention takes place in Spokane, Washington on August 19-23, 2015. Known as Sasquan, it will attract over 5,000 Science Fiction and Fantasy fans from all over the world. Among their ranks will be hundreds, if not thousands, of Discworld enthusiasts. The organizers of this convention would like to invite all of you to be a part of the Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan.

Sasquan takes place in Spokane, Washington, a gorgeous area in the Pacific Northwest. It is on the west coast of the United States, about 4 hours' drive from Seattle, WA. For more information about this convention, please visit sasquan.org/

Spokane is a great city with an international airport. There is lots to see and do for individuals and families. For more information about Spokane, WA, please visit www.visitspokane.com/

Various North American Discworld Guilds have been invited to organize and host DW fan meets at Sasquan and these include:

* The Seamstress Guild (famous for its parties, it has many decorators, costumers and performers among its members), 
* the Alchemists (our science minds), 
* the Cunning Artificers (arts & crafts), 
* Discworld Musicians and Singers (for filking and other fun), 
* Engravers & Printers (our writers and editors), 
* the Dark Clerks (folks who like to organize both paper and people behind the scenes),
* our fabulous Bakers (lovers of food and drink who may be leading some of our pub crawls), 
* the Witches & Wizards (cunning women and men who love history, myth, and folklore), 
* various DW Family Groups, 
* Ze Black Ribboners (DW folks in recovery), and more.

The North American Seamstress Guild will be hosting its famous parties at this convention, and a Discworld exhibit will be mounted in the convention's Exhibition Room. 

Discworld fans are invited to submit their art to the Sasquan Art Show, and costumers should consider entering the famous Worldcon Costume Masquerade.

The Programming and Events departments are working with notable fans and attendees from around the world to create a fascinating Discworld-themed track for fans.

Many events will take place at the Spokane Convention Center. Many of the parties and meets will take place at the historic Davenport Hotel (see The Davenport Hotel and Tower, Spokane, Wash. - In Photos: America's Top Historic Hotels at discworldmonthly.co.uk/url/SPO213A ).

And reservations have just opened for the new Grand Hotel, one of several hotels (with varying and reasonable rates) all serving this Worldcon. Sasquan writes that, "The Grand is still under construction, but will be open in June. It is part of the Davenport Collection, which is now branded as Marriott. It will be attached to the Spokane Convention Center (SCC) across the street via a skybridge on the southwest side. The INB Theater is the closest space in the SCC, where the Masquerade and Hugos will be held."

If you make reservations, please use the housing bureau software system: www.visitspokane.com/sasquan

To follow Sasquan on Facebook, please like their FB page: www.facebook.com/sasquan

To purchase your membership to this event, please visit Sasquan's registration page: sasquan.swoc.us/sasquan/reg.php
 
Please note: This is a family-friendly event and there will be a track for young people. Why not bring the kids?

It's going to be a well-organized convention and one heck of a party. We hope to see you there.

D. J. Connell 
writing for the Great Discworld Fan Gathering at Sasquan 
 Oook!

P.S. We're hearing that there might also be a Steampunk / Discworld themed dance on the first night of the convention. 

*************

Art: Tiffany Aching by Paul Kidby www.paulkidby.net.  Art poster by Kim White. 

Here is a direct link to the Discworld Monthly Newsletter for January of 2015