by Ian Whates

There are fears that this year’s Novacon (14th to 16th November, GofH Ian R. MacLeod) may be forced to find a new venue.

Of course, this may yet prove unnecessary should the convention’s regular setting, the Quality Hotel, Bentley, Walsall, manage to survive a certain weekend in September (5th to 7th), when it is due to be invaded by the Undead.

ZombieCon, the first UK convention celebrating the Zombie genre, boasts an impressive line-up of guests, including author Robert Rankin (Necrophenia, The Brightonomicon, The Witches of Chiswick, The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse etc), comic artists Charlie Adlard (Walking Dead) and John McCrea (Zombie Night at Gotham Aquarium), special effects makeup artist Stuart Conran (Shaun of the Dead, Grindhouse, Braindead) and author, exorcist and former mortician David Devereux.

Matrix’s own James Bacon is among the event’s orgasnisers, all of whom are Zombie fans – people who have been involved with Zombie live-role-playing and love all things Zombie, from games, to films, books and comics. ZombieCon promises to provide attendees with a weekend of blood-filled madness, including as much shambling horror as anyone could wish for. Doubtless this will be fully evident during the convention’s two promised discos – ‘Prom Night’ and ‘Dead Can’t Dance’.

Certainly the claims of impending horror seem genuine. I mean, being cornered in the bar by a large, loud and inebriated Irishman who also happens to be a Zombie… now that is scary!

http://www.zombiecon.co.uk