Comments on: Orbiting ‘Orbital’ http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/ from Southport Pier to Brighton Pier, drifting towards my 50th year on this planet (Earth) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:46:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Holiday reading « Walking Home to 50 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/#comment-272 Holiday reading « Walking Home to 50 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:09:05 +0000 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/?p=41#comment-272 [...] to fill a slot in the ‘Humour’ section. However, from the point of view of someone who has attended such events, I found it warm and entertaining – the humour tending to the self-deprecating as [...] [...] to fill a slot in the ‘Humour’ section. However, from the point of view of someone who has attended such events, I found it warm and entertaining – the humour tending to the self-deprecating as [...]

]]> By: Mildly giddy on the cusp of new things « Walking Home to 50 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/#comment-75 Mildly giddy on the cusp of new things « Walking Home to 50 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:30:48 +0000 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/?p=41#comment-75 [...] Buzzard. The aptly-named Odyssey sf convention at Easter 2010, back in the Heathrow Edwardian (site of a previous post), will make a nice milestone. From there I can either walk around London, or through it (though [...] [...] Buzzard. The aptly-named Odyssey sf convention at Easter 2010, back in the Heathrow Edwardian (site of a previous post), will make a nice milestone. From there I can either walk around London, or through it (though [...]

]]> By: Peter Wright http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/#comment-47 Peter Wright Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:40:01 +0000 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/?p=41#comment-47 Beautifully written indeed and poignant in its impressions of the urban littoral that surrounds the concealed magnificence of the Edwardian. For me, the Edwardian seems an ironic setting for an SF Con. When we arrived, its opulence suggested an era of bygone grandeur, no doubt fostered by the natural construction materials so clearly in evidence. Polite, well dressed staff who knew how to welcome and provide for their guests, efficient management, and impressive organisation seemed as anomalous to me as the marble, dark wood and crystal chandeliers. I found myself, amidst all the discussions of future landscape and technical innovation, enjoying a profound sense of nostalgia. For the Easter weekend, the Edwardian was an enclosed space socially and intellectually vibrant. In this way at least, it marked an escape from the psychic regions of the Ballardian landscape. For a short while, we were removed from the grey traffic islands and concrete aprons and blind alleys of the contemporary mindset. Beautifully written indeed and poignant in its impressions of the urban littoral that surrounds the concealed magnificence of the Edwardian. For me, the Edwardian seems an ironic setting for an SF Con. When we arrived, its opulence suggested an era of bygone grandeur, no doubt fostered by the natural construction materials so clearly in evidence. Polite, well dressed staff who knew how to welcome and provide for their guests, efficient management, and impressive organisation seemed as anomalous to me as the marble, dark wood and crystal chandeliers. I found myself, amidst all the discussions of future landscape and technical innovation, enjoying a profound sense of nostalgia. For the Easter weekend, the Edwardian was an enclosed space socially and intellectually vibrant. In this way at least, it marked an escape from the psychic regions of the Ballardian landscape. For a short while, we were removed from the grey traffic islands and concrete aprons and blind alleys of the contemporary mindset.

]]> By: Jenni http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/#comment-46 Jenni Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:58:21 +0000 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/?p=41#comment-46 Somehow, the strange juxtaposition between con warmth, marble, glass, wood and booksellers and semi-detatched houses, concrete and urban decay renders the world of 'normality' strangely alien. We have felt this too, and now, having returned 'home' we find that we too long for the Radisson as our ‘last homely house’ also. Somehow, the strange juxtaposition between con warmth, marble, glass, wood and booksellers and semi-detatched houses, concrete and urban decay renders the world of ‘normality’ strangely alien.
We have felt this too, and now, having returned ‘home’ we find that we too long for the Radisson as our ‘last homely house’ also.

]]> By: Denni http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/orbiting-orbital/#comment-40 Denni Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:40:29 +0000 http://walkinghometo50.wordpress.com/?p=41#comment-40 Quite right :) Wonderfully written. I particularly like 'cooperate hyperreality'! Quite right :)

Wonderfully written. I particularly like ‘cooperate hyperreality’!

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