Guests of Honour

 

 Kim Stanley Robinson
 Kim Stanley Robinson Kim Stanley Robinson is the author of twenty books, and has won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for his internationally bestselling novels.  He is a foremost writer of science fiction and is beloved by fans.

Themes of ecology, environmentalism and social justice prevail in his novels.  These themes thread through his Martian trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars), in which the terraforming and colonization of Mars provide an exploration of  sustainability, ethics, corporate greed, and the value of scientific pursuit.

His most recent novel, Galileo's Dream (Spectra 2009), is both an historical story of Galileo Galilei and Renaissance Italy, and a science fiction tale that transports Galileo to the 31st century moons of Jupiter.

An environmentalist, social critic, and novelist, Robinson balances a sense of optimism against the dilemmas he sees facing mankind.  In 2008 he was named a "Hero of the Environment" by Time magazine, and he is a member of the Sequoia Parks Foundation's Artists in the Back Country.

Kim Stanley Robinson's web site
   

 Shaun Tan
 Shaun Tan Shaun Tan is an award winning illustrator and the author of five books, The Red Tree, The Haunted Playground, The Lost Thing, the critically acclaimed The Arrival, and his most recent graphic novel, Tales From Outer Suburbia, which collects fifteen surprising and profound stories that transform the urban familiar into magical cityscapes.  It was named one of the New York Times top ten Best Illustrated Children's Books.

His illustrations have been included in a number of exhibitions around the world, and have garnered numerous awards, including the World Fantasy Award for Best Artist, and Hugo nominations for Best Professional Artist and for Best Related Work.  In addition to his work as a writer and illustrator, he was a concept artist for the hit movies Horton Hears A Who and Pixar's Hugo-winning WALL-E.

He actively collaborates on theatrical, musical, and film adaptations of his books, demonstrating his eagerness to work with other creative people.  This spirit of artistic inspiration and collaboration is embodied in the Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists, sponsored by the city of Subiaco (Perth, Australia), and which is awarded each year to students between four and eighteen years of age.

Shaun Tan's web site
Interview with Shaun Tan
   

Robin Johnson
Robin Johnson
A respected veteran of the Worldcon and Australian NatCon conventions, Robin Johnson has worked tirelessly for many years to promote and organize science fiction conventions in Australia. He was the chairperson for Aussiecon, the 33rd Worldcon, which was held in Melbourne in 1975, and was co-chair for the Australian National Science Fiction Convention three times.

As an active member of the science fiction community in Australia, he is well-known from his many years of work on committees and long-time involvement with various conventions. In recognition of his service, he has twice been the recipient of the Special Ditmar Award for contributions to fandom, and in 2007 was the winner of the Big Heart Award, the highest honour the science fiction community gives to one of its own.

 


Disclaimer: Aussiecon® 4 is convened under the auspices of the Victorian Science Fiction Conventions Inc (ABN 90 257 542 181) and as such, is governed by its rules and regulations. Victorian Science Fiction Conventions Inc. is a not for profit association incorporated under the Victorian Associations Act, 1981. Aussiecon 4 is supported by the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Melbourne [ www.melbourne.vic.gov.au] . "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC", "Hugo Award", and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.