Glad news for readers in the science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction communities is that TeleRead will be reporting from the 77th World Science Fiction Convention – Worldcon – hosted this year in Dublin on August 15-19, 2019, in the Convention Centre Dublin. The combination of the first-ever Irish Worldcon and the capital city of the Celtic Twilight promises an extra-special edition of the world’s most important speculative fiction convention, with a strong lineup of guests and events already prepared.

Guests of Honour already confirmed for Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon include Diane Duane, Ian McDonald, astrophysicist Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and gamesmeister Steve Jackson. Also appearing at the con as a Special Guest will be Irish scientist and astronaut candidate Dr Norah Patten, graduate of the International Space University Space Studies Program and award-winning STEM advocate. There has already been so much advance buzz for Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon that the con has expanded from the original venue of the Convention Centre Dublin on the River Liffey to embrace the nearby Point Square for the parallel Dublin 2019 Creative Hub, hosting the Art Show, film screenings, theatrical performances, and other events. And, of course, the 2019 Hugo Awards and 1944 Retro Hugos will be announced during Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon (finalists here).

Needless to say, Dublin itself, as the fourth UNESCO City of Literature, is one of the world’s great literary meccas, with more than enough cultural and literary landmarks and legacies to fill a lifetime’s worth of posts. I’ll be trying to cover as many of those as possible as well, on the sidelines of the con.

The last European Worldcon, Worldcon 75 in Helsinki, has already been hailed as a specially memorable Worldcon, with record attendance and an amazing, frenetic atmosphere. Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon already looks on track to match or excel it.

You can follow Dublin 2019 on Facebook for regular updates on the developing program, or on Twitter @Dublin2019. I’ll be covering any especially significant developments in the run-up to the con itself. Watch this space for TeleRead at Dublin 2019!