I couldn't stay for all of it, given prior engagements, but I caught alot of Dan Simmons' last promo event for Olympos, and possibly, according him, his last. Don't worry, he's not giving up writing; rather his contract with his publisher is completed, and after many years he's back to trying to sell his next book. It's a historical mystery novel*.

Dan went into a self-described rant about the term "SciFi". He hates it. He finds it demeaning. Old arguement, of course, but he is now in the habit of assigning similar labels to other sorts of literary endevours. Mystery Novels become "MyFi"; as in: "Oh, I don't read 'MyFi'." Clancy? "SpyFi." I can't remember all of them, but y'all can come up with you own, I'm sure.

Advice to new writers? Don't have your first published novel a Science Fiction book. You'll be branded forever as a SciFi author.

He discussed the triple dramatic arcs in Ilium and Olympos as the interplay of humans as pre-literate, literate, and post-literate cultures.

He also revealed the real life person he named Hockenberry after.

I had to go before Q&A and the Signing of the Book. But I called ahead and arranged to have a book signed and kept on reserve 'till I can pick it up. I know, it's not the same, but that's the way of this time of year, too many things going on, clever compromises called for on a continual basis.

I'm looking forward to reading Olympos but I worry about remembering the previous book. I may have to read the last bit of the first, just to get started.

*"HiMyFi"?