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 comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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)