Octothorpe

a group of soldiers are standing in a row wearing helmets and armor . Alt: A soldier from the Starship Troopers movie turns to the camera and says "I'm doing my part!"

Games nominations currently stand at 2 boardgames, 2 TTRPGs and 1 video game. Will review the balance before they close.

Three homunculi in jars with cork toppers who look reminiscent of John, Alison and Liz. Alison’s has a little stick with a moose head on it and a cup of coffee. The jars are on a shelf. The words “Octothorpe 155” appear at the top and “Small Podcasters” at the bottom.

Well done! You’ve found the contents of Octothorpe 155, perfectly preserved in a jar. The jar was in your basement. The jar was always there. You always had a basement. Don’t run—come back! We talk about Eastercon!

octothorpe.podbean.com/e/155-ed-ed-...

P.S. Vote in GUFF, today is the last day.

Critical Friends Episode 21: On Style Paul Kincaid and Dawn Macdonald join Dan Hartland to discuss style.

Thanks to @johncoxon.bsky.social of @octothorpecast.bsky.social for his contribution at the close of the latest podcast.

In our last episode, @tristanbeiter.bsky.social and co discussed the space for criticism in fandom. I was curious for a second opinion. Critical Friends: it's for conversation.

Text reading “OCTOTHORPE 154* *See, it’s like this. This is the first day of 2026 that hasn’t been cold, or wet, or both, so instead of doing the Octothorpe cover I went for a nice walk. And bought no board games, but a jigsaw. And did the jigsaw. Sorry.” The text is on top of a photograph of a bridge and some trees underneath a blue sky.

John, Alison and Liz start getting excited to nominate things for the Hugo Awards, and they consequently talk about books and games! They also chat about LAcon V and the upcoming fan funds. Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/154-at-lea...

@laworldcon.bsky.social @thehugoawards.bsky.social

The Hugo Awards (2026)

If you need a refresher on art/writing that dropped in 2025 that may be eligible for a Hugo Award, we built a whole spreadsheet! It's pretty rad (fans are awesome).

A picture of Alison with white hair, wearing a white dressing gown, and wielding a staff with a moose head. John and Liz flank her. She says “Behold! I am reborn as Alison the White!” John says “That’s a bit dramatic… it’s only a haircut” and Liz says “Pretty sure that’s a dressing gown… and are you standing on a box?” The words Octothorpe 153 are at the top.

Octothorpe 153 arrives! We discuss the best board games to play at school, and then we cover important topics such as whether yellow is “Pokémon-coloured” before discussing @smofcon43.bsky.social, Nuremberg 2028, and @dublin2029.bsky.social. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/153-bowlin...

The wonderful thing about podcasts like this and @coodestreet.bsky.social and @octothorpecast.bsky.social and @hugogirlpodcast.bsky.social and @skiffyandfanty.com and others — and even my own — is if you listen to enough of them, it's possible to feel as if your con never ends! That's where I live!

John’s head and shoulders appear behind a pinkish desk as if he is the puppeteer of Sooty and Sweep (Americans, ask your British friends). Sooty is pulling on Sweep’s ear. Text at the top reads “Octothorpe 152: John is preparing for the big dust-up”.

Octothorpe 152 is here! We read your letters before discussing @brisbanein28.bsky.social’s neat new logo and the latest Eastercon’s financial report. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/152-slap-t...

heck yeeeeeeah read our guides and come join our nerdy book club

also Liz's audio is terrible this week APOLOGIES normal service will be resumed shortly

Three lions photographed on a safari in Kenya, with glasses photoshopped onto two of them to make them look very slightly more like John and Alison. The top has words reading “Octothorpe 151” and the bottom has words reading “Definitely not about the cricket”. It is unclear why, because John edited all the cricket out.

We emerge blinking into the sunlight of 2026 and we have a full mail bag! We discuss the @montreal2027.bsky.social org chart and René Walling’s role at Montreal, as well as recent Hugo how-to guides from @renay.bsky.social and @mollytempleton.com.

Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/151-only-d...

Hardback copies of Your Wish is my Command by Deena Mohamed and Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman.

Starting 2026 by reading each other's picks! Hope you are all starting 2026 in similar fashion.

Thanks Tammy, this is really sad.

Really enjoyed this episode and wish I knew what could be done about the structural racism affecting international fandom (visa denials and banking seriously hurting the Rwanda Worldcon's chances); it's good to at least have it laid out so clearly.

A Mahalo Flying V, an Uma Blue Pineapple, and a Brunswick soprano are hanging on a Christmas tree beneath the words “Octothorpe 150”.

Octothorpe 150 is up, the last episode of 2025! We discuss Smofcon 42 and the conventions that John found out about, plus John doesn’t pass out. RESULT. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/150-i-woul...

John and Alison, dressed in clothes reminiscent of The Mummy, look down some stairs upon Liz’s tomb, in which her skeleton still holds her Hugo Award, framed by stonework. The words “Octothorpe 149” appear at the top of the image.

With fantastic artwork, by @bohemiancoast.bsky.social!

Episode 149 is here! Which we forgot to put on socials because John is at to SMOFcon and I didn't notice. We discuss some upcoming worldcon bids and get slightly derailed by Rutger Hauer. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tjhfq-...

Hey we chose Thursday for a reason!

Pssst, that was @bohemiancoast.bsky.social’s pick!

"I do feel J.R.R. Tolkien experienced horror in the 1st World War and spent 50 years trying to process it through the medium of Elves" - the brilliant @emilytesh.net on the newest @octothorpecast.bsky.social podccast

octothorpe.podbean.com/e/148-i-m-wi...

Emily Tesh, John, and Alison stand in front of a suspiciously purple background which may indicate that the real background has been subtracted by nefarious photo editing. The words “Octothorpe 148 Live from Novacon” are overlaid.

John, Alison, and stunt Liz @emilytesh.net are live from Novacon 54! We discuss the convention, what it’s like to be a Guest of Honour, parenting at cons and also whether or not John should read the Silmarillion. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/148-i-m-wi...

Three people at a table podcasting live

Had a great time at Novacon, including seeing @emilytesh.net on the @octothorpecast.bsky.social liveshow! Renewed (and correct) push to get everyone to read Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson.

Octothorpe live, with @johncoxon.bsky.social @alisonscott.bsky.social and guest @emilytesh.net

A photograph of the mountains of Nepal with text overlaid, reading “Octothorpe 147 Official Octothorpe Nepal Identification Guide* (*apparently never gets old)** (** Liz might like to go to a comics con there)”.

Good morning! Octothorpe 147 is here with an episode that was described by my two cohosts during the editing process as “discursive” and “rambly”. STRAP IN, LISTENERS. octothorpe.podbean.com/e/147-what-w...

The Torrijos Ceiling at the Victoria & Albert East Storehouse. An elaborate, gilded and octagonal ceiling. Why yes, Alison has a new phone, how could you tell?

Liz is back! We discuss a variety of topics including Worldcon finances and the fact that Alison is definitely doing the T-shirts for @easterconuk.bsky.social like, any day now. Really. No, YOU’RE overcommitted. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/146-it-win...

John, Alison and Tommy are weaving ropes of fate as norns. The ropes lead to little spools, above their heads, reminiscent of a sculpture called Umbilical by Conrad Shawcross which Alison will explain in more detail in Octothorpe 146. The words “Octothorpe 145” appear at the top, and “Looking forward to Norncon” at the bottom.

Octothorpe 145 is here! This episode we talk to Tommy Ferguson, chair of Reconnect, about conrunning with a Northern Irish slant. We record 146 in 4.5 hours at the time this post goes up, so listen quickly so you can loc 😉 octothorpe.podbean.com/e/145-james-...

As a bonus, in our Discord you may encounter friends from fabulous podcasts such as @hugospodcast.com, @octothorpecast.bsky.social, and @worldbuildcast.bsky.social, all in furtherance of my ultimate goal to create the megafancast, Hugoctothorpe Building There for Girl Masochists!

Six cartoons of John as a Judge from MegaCity One with the Clarke Award logo on his helmet, all of which are identical. Beneath them follows text. 0: NO HURT. 1: HURTS A LITTLE. 2: JUST A FLESH WOUND. 3: MINOR GUNSHOT. 4: BULLET THROUGH GUT. 5: FALL OFF SKYSCRAPER. The JUDGE COXON Pain Scale™. The words “Octothorpe 144” appear at the top of the cover.

OCTOTHORPE 144 IS THE LAW. As well as a pleasing rhyme, listeners will know this heralds the episode on 2012’s DREDD! We hope you enjoy the episode, and remember: until your assessment is formally over, you’re still entitled to dispense justice. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/144-i-have...

An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom.

Octothorpe 143 is slightly late! We welcome Alison back to the podcast and read a bumper mailbag before getting into discussion of @seattlein2025.org, @laworldcon.bsky.social, and @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social. Our artwork is by Atom! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/143-a-majo...

An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom.

Octothorpe 143 is slightly late! We welcome Alison back to the podcast and read a bumper mailbag before getting into discussion of @seattlein2025.org, @laworldcon.bsky.social, and @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social. Our artwork is by Atom! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/143-a-majo...