Welcome to the official website for FantasyCon 2011, the year FantasyCon goes to the seaside in the historic Victorian city of Brighton - filled with restaurants, wine bars and clubs, as well as Antiquarian shopping precinct The Lanes, the Sea Life Centre and the world-famous Royal Pavilion, all within easy walking distance.

Attending membership for the whole weekend stands at £65 (£60 to British Fantasy Society members). A day membership (for the Saturday only) is £40. (PLEASE NOTE, DAY RATES ARE LIMITED. PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT).

FANTASYCON 2011 IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE YA FANTASY SUPERSTAR CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI AS SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR!

American author CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI will be making a rare visit to the UK this September prior to the launch of his eagerly anticipated new novel INHERITANCE, the fourth and final title in the epic fantasy sequence "The Inheritance Cycle", which is published by Random House on November 8th. Christopher’s previous novels, ERAGON (filmed in 2006), ELDEST and BRISINGR, have been international publishing sensations. The first three books in "The Inheritance Cycle" have sold more than 25 million copies world-wide, including more than 4 million copies in the UK alone. All three previous books in the series are reissued this July with cover designs that breathe new (dragon) fire into John Jude Palencar’s stunning artwork. Please note that Christopher Paolini will be attending FantasyCon 2011 ONLY on the Saturday, where he will be participating in programming and signing books. Photo © Perry Hagoplan Christopher joins an impressive line-up of already-announced Guests of Honour at the UK's premier fantasy, horror and SF literary convention, celebrating its 35th year:

Best-selling fantasy author JOE ABERCROMBIE (THE BLADE ITSELF, BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED, LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS, THE HEROES).

World Fantasy, Arthur C. Clarke and Philip K. Dick Award-winning author and critic GWYNETH JONES (DIVINE ENDURANCE, BOLD AS LOVE), who also writes as acclaimed children's author "Ann Halam" (THE HAUNTING OF JESSICA RAVEN, DR. FRANKLYN'S ISLAND).

Swedish horror writer JOHN AJVIDE LINDQVIST (HANDLING THE UNDEAD, HARBOUR), author of the best-selling LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, which has been filmed twice, in Sweden and America. John will be launching his latest novel, LITTLE STAR, at the Convention.

British-born novelist (MORNING STAR, BIG THUNDER) and Hollywood screenwriter (HELLRAISER II-IV, WISHMASTER) PETER ATKINS, who will be launching his new collection of short stories at the convention. Photo © Peter Coleborn

Special Guest of Honour BRIAN ALDISS OBE (HOTHOUSE, FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND, THE "HELLICONA" TRILOGY), the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of more than eighty novels and countless short stories, both mainstream and science fiction.

Mistress of Ceremonies SARAH PINBOROUGH, the British Fantasy Award-winning author of A MATTER OF BLOOD, THE SHADOW OF THE SOUL and the "Torchwood" novel LONG TIME DEAD, who also writes YA fantasy as "Sarah Silverwood" (THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD). Photo © Mandy Slater

For more details on all our Guests, please click here.

OTHER PROFESSIONALS ATTENDING:

Dan Abnett, Guy Adams, Scott Andrews, John Atkinson (Auteur Press), Ben Baldwin, James Barclay, Alex Bell, John Berlyne (Zeno Agency Ltd), Simon Bestwick, Anne Billson, Colin Brush (Penguin Books), Neil John Buchanan, Nicola Budd (Quercus Books), Ramsey Campbell, Mike Carey, Vincent Chong, Simon Clark, Anne Clarke (Orbit Books), Paul Cornell, Peter Crowther (PS Publishing), Joseph D'Lacey, Lynsey Dalladay (Transworld Publishers), Meg Davis (Ki Literary Agency), Stephen Deas, Olivier Dombret (Bragelonne), Ian Drury (Sheil Land Associates literary agency), David Anthony Durham, Les Edwards, Jaine Fenn, Paul Finch, Jo Fletcher (Jo Fletcher Books), Tom Fletcher, Christopher Fowler, Barry Forshaw, Will Francis (Janklow and Nesbit (UK) Ltd literary agency), Stephen Gallagher, Marc Gascoigne (Angry Robot), Jonathan Green, Simon R. Green, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Dominic Harman, Lee Harris (Angry Robot), Jennifer-Anne Hill (Abaddon Books/Solaris), Will Hill, James Hoare (SciFi Now), Kate Howard (Hodder and Stoughton), David J. Howe (Telos Publishing), Matthew Hughes, Stephen Hunt, Oliver Johnson (Hodder and Stoughton), Melissa Johnstone (SciFi Now), Stephen Jones, Graham Joyce, Paul Kane, Richard T. Kelly, Jasper Kent, MD Lachlan, Tim Lebbon, Tony Lee, Tom Lloyd, James Lovegrove, Dorothy Lumley (Dorian Literary Agency), Lisa Mahoney (Random House), Ian R. MacLeod, Stephane Marsan (Bragelonne), Terry Martin (Murky Depths), Juliet E. McKenna, Suzanne McLeod, Gary McMahon, Michael Molcher (Abaddon Books/Solaris), Russell Morgan, Mark Morris, Steve Mosby, Daisy Mount (Penguin Books), Jamie-Lee Nardone (Constable and Robinson), Alain Nevant (Bragelonne), Adam LG Nevill, Kim Newman, Marie O'Regan, Jonathan Oliver (Abaddon Books/Solaris), Reggie Oliver, Bella Pagan (Orbit), Claire Pelly (Penguin Books), Philip Palmer, Christopher Priest, Lucy Ramsey (Quercus Publishing), Tina Rath, Gillian Redfearn (Orion Books), David Rix (Eibonvale Press), Nicholas Royle, Raymond Russell (Tartarus Press), Daniele Serra, Robert Shearman, Mike Shevdon, Gavin Smith, Kari Sperring, Simon Taylor (Transworld Publishers), Adrian Tchaikovsky, Christopher Teague (Pendragon Press), Lavie Tidhar, Jasmin Topalusic (Eibonvale Press), Cath Trechman (Titan Books), Rose Tremlett (Orbit Books), Lisa Tuttle, Steve Upham (Screaming Dreams), Nicholas Vince, Stephen Volk, Jon Weir (Gollancz/Orion), Ian Whates (Newcon Press), Charlotte van Wijk (Quercus Publishing), Conrad Williams, Rio Youers, Joe Yule (Penguin Books), and many more.

FANTASYCON 2011 IS BEING HELD OVER THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 30th TO OCTOBER 2nd 2011 AT THE ROYAL ALBION HOTEL, BRIGHTON, THE VENUE FOR THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2010.

The cost of a WEEKEND MEMBERSHIP is still only £65.00 (£60.00 to British Fantasy Society members), and the DAY RATE (Saturday only) is £40.00. To join, click here.

Please note all appearances are subject to guests' availability, and last-minute changes in programming may occur.