P-CON is a literary SF convention. By this I mean that it is a convention dedicated more to the written end of the SF spectrum, rather than to the TV or movie side of the genre, although this is not to say that we won’t be dealing with these also, to some extent.

"SF" is used in this instance as a sort of shorthand for Speculative Fiction, rather than simply science fiction, as the broader terms allows us to cover all aspects of those three interrelated genres, Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, and Horror.

To this end, the guest list for P-CON is largely writers within these genres, although we also have guests from all sorts of other areas that come under our broad umbrella of interests.

Introduction by Pádraig Ó Méalóid

P-CON will take place over the weekend of 27th & 28th of September 2003, although there will be various other side gatherings both before and after the event.

We are taking a number of rooms in the hotel, and will have two main programme streams, which will feature

• panel discussions
• interviews
• readings
• improvisational theatre
• quiz shows and much else.

We will also have a number of dealers, who will be presenting their wares for your delectation.

The final decision on whether or not to have a video room has not yet been taken, however.

P-CON is being held in the Ashling Hotel, which is on the banks of the river Liffey, about fifteen minutes walk away from the centre of Dublin City, and directly facing the world-famous Guinness brewery.

It will be familiar to a lot of people travelling to Dublin from the provinces, as it is just over the bridge from Heuston Station, one of the major intercity train stations.

It is within a few minutes walk of the Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed park in Europe, as well as the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, which houses the Irish modern art gallery, and the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, which specialises in the decorative arts and history. Slightly further afield are Kilmainham Jail and Dublin Zoo.

The Ashling is an old fashioned, long established hotel, and are very happy to be hosting P-CON. We are in the throes of negotiating favourable room rates with the hotel, and more information on this will be sent out in the P-CON newsletter, as well as on the con website.