John is moderating, Alison is auctioning, and Liz is lecturing.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: The situation in the USA

Letters of comment

Handwriting guesses!

John, Alison, Liz: Ed Morland
Alison, John, Liz: Chris Garcia
Alison, Liz, John: Tammy Coxen
Liz, John, Alison: Tammy has another go
Liz, Alison, John: Ang Rosin, Niall Harrison
John is the top one: Doug Faunt
John is in the middle: Roseanna Pendlebury
Alison is in the middle: Mike Scott (who is cheating)
Liz is the top one: Bridget Bradshaw
All handwriting fonts: Bridget Bradshaw
You all have nice handwriting: Shi Lala

[But mine’s nicest—John]




Roseanna Pendlebury (email)
Farah Mendlesohn (email)
Chris Garcia (email)
Ivan Sinha (Facebook)
Renay (email)

The 2026 Hugo spreadsheet is open


Fredrik Coulter (Facebook)
We also heard from Lilian Edwards


Worldcon 2025: Seattle

“Statement from Worldcon Chair”
The SMOFcon bid in the USA has stopped bidding, and Seattle has filled its room blocks, reports File 770


Eastercon 2025: Belfast

We have provisional programme schedules!

John, Alison, and Liz:

Monday 12:30: Octothorpe Live


John and Liz:

Sunday 17:00: Fandom, Politics, and Boycotts: What is the line and where do we draw it?


John:

Sunday 12:30: Is The Force With You?
Sunday 15:30: “What does this card really mean?”: History in Board Games


Alison:

Sunday 20:00: Fan Fund Auction


Liz:

Saturday 15:30: Hay Lecture [SO EXCITED—John]




Colourfields by Paul Kincaid

This will be launched at the convention
Adam Roberts reviews the collection




Peter Mabey has passed away
BSFA Awards

File 770 reports the finalists


Fan funds

European Fan Fund


Picks

John: The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard, Clayton Cowles, and Rian Hughes

Roseanna Pendlebury’s review at NoaF


Alison: The Death of Stalin

[I’m off to represent the entire Red Army at the buffet—Liz]
Tobes de Valois as played by Jason Isaacs


Liz: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison

[I also like Roseanna’s review at NoaF—Liz]




Credits

Cover art: “Happy Birthday to Us” by Alison Scott

Alt text: A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top.


Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

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