…but I must admit, there was something very wistful about attending my first convention in roughly 15 years. A spur of the moment, last-minute choice to go…and there I was, wearing my name tag, and holding my official program. I felt 18 years old again!
The crowd was larger that I remember…a mark of Doctor Who’s resurging popularity (even in Canada…a camera crew from Space was there, filming the event). But the differences in the demographics were interesting…lots of younger kids with their parents, eager for the toys of the dealer’s room. Lots of teens/early 20s, at the height of their fannish glee. Lots of over-30s…the old guard of fandom, enjoying the new found fun, but remembering a few years in the wilderness. Lots of mixed emotions all around…but it WAS a good crowd…and the video room was packed with young fans, never tiring of watching David Tennant saving the world on the big-screen. :-)
The guests were really good value: great speakers, with great stories about writing and directing new Doctor Who…and each one of them classic fanboys at heart (listening to Colin Teague’s joy at watching all the classic Master stories for research was sheer delight). My favourite part of the day was the chance to actually sit at a table with author Lance Parkin (go read The Dying Days, The Infinity Doctors, or The Eyeless and discover why he IS one of the best Doctor Who novel authors) and just CHAT for an hour…about his novels, his audio scripts, his experience working on British soaps, and his ideas for the future. My fanboy gene was in happy-squee mode.
So, I’m home…with dozens of books, and pieces of my own collection safely autographed. I think I might have to do this again next year…but this time, I’m going to bring kiddies with me. Their youthful enthusiasm will be infectious, to say the least…and they’d go nuts in the dealer’s room. ;-)
