The Con

by JD DeLuzio

Overview

"My god! It's full of starfruit!"

A hotel hosts a science fiction convention, a meeting of the Jane Austen Society, and, just possibly, an extraterrestrial presence. Enter a middle-aged SF fan with a troubled past, a lonely Janeite, a pair of genius fangirls, a nerd power couple, a duo of geeky brothers, Miss Austen's most disreputable character, and an elite athlete epically out of her element.

And, of course, Azogo of Uirtkauwea'ki.

Through syllabus and syllabub, cosplay and quests, a robot battle in a parking garage, an intoxicated visit to the Augur of Quaoar, an intimate three-body problem, and an Anglican LARP, our heroes must answer the cosmic question: does anything we do matter? Or is it all just a con?

Includes related stories "Troll Bridge" and "Do You See What I See?"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781928011415
Publisher:	Brain Lag
Publication date:	11/13/2020
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

JD DeLuzio grew up in northern Ontario and now lives midway between Detroit and Toronto with his wife, Nancy. He has written several short stories, numerous reviews (many at Bureau42.com), several articles, and one collection of short fiction, Snow-Man's Land. As an educator, he has workshopped a number of original theatrical productions with youth. He also frequently runs panels at SF, pop culture, and literary events.

Editorial Reviews

09/28/2020

DeLuzio’s fun but convoluted debut thrusts readers into the colorful world of science fiction fan conventions through the intertwined experiences of a tangled web of characters. Telfryn Tyde attends the con alongside married couple Brian and Augusta Slesak while secretly pining for Augusta. There they meet up with regular con-goers Chelsea Ashe and Patti Washington, who have picked up a pair of aspiring suitors in brothers Mark and Thomas. The group crosses paths with the attendees of a smaller Jane Austen convention happening at the same hotel, and Telfryn befriends Janeites Mistie Matthews and Denise Moon. Finally, Kate, Chelsea’s maybe-girlfriend, arrives on the scene to surprise her. Threaded throughout the confusion of each character’s experiences at the convention are sightings of a small, alien creature and questions of Telfryn’s mental stability. DeLuzio offers a comedic whirlwind of panels, a robot fight, and encounters with pop culture figures, though the alternating perspectives and unreliability of Telfryn as narrator create a story that is occasionally difficult to follow. This absurdist effort will most appeal to readers immersed in fandom culture. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

11/13/2020

DEBUT A hotel in Toronto is hosting both an sf convention and a meeting of the Jane Austen Society. Enter the cast of characters: a middle-aged, possibly schizophrenic sf fan; two genius fangirls; a nerd power couple; Austen's most disreputable character; a pair of geeky brothers; a star athlete outside her comfort zone; a lonely Janeite; and the extraterrestrial presence of Azogo of Uirtkauwea'ki. Through cosplay and gaming, polyamorous relationships and fumbling teenage encounters, robot battles and Anglican LARPing, and a drunken visit to the astrological Augur of Quaoar, our intrepid band of heroes must reevaluate what's important in life as well as what is real and what is simply a con. VERDICT DeLuzio gives an up close and personal look at the sometimes feared, often mocked sf convention, only this one just might have real aliens in attendance. The double entendre title highlights the book's deeper theme: How do we define what is real and what is fantasy? Some readers may be confused by the sf references and gaming jargon, but the quirky cast of characters and their relatable geekiness more than make up for it. Includes short stories "Troll Bridge" and "Do You See What I See?"—Elisabeth Clark, West Florida P.L., Pensacola

Library Journal