February 21–23, 2014 — Sainte Claire Hotel — San Jose, California

Book of Honor: The City & The City by China Miéville

Potlatch is a small, literary speculative fiction convention. It was started in Seattle and alternates between Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, and sometimes Portland.

Potlatch contributes to the future of speculative fiction with an auction benefiting the Clarion West Scholarship Fund. Clarion West is an intense six-week workshop for speculative fiction writers at the start of their careers. When you buy books, art, and unique hand-made items in the auction, you are helping students who otherwise could not attend Clarion West. Students who may become your favorite new writers.

Potlatch is a place where readers and writers meet on common ground. Everyone at Potlatch, whether reader or writer or artist or editor, is a fan. Potlatch’s format, with a single track of programming, brings everyone together in a lively discussion that continues from one program to the next and goes on into the evening. Potlatch has some of the most interesting conversations – and people – in the science fiction community.

The first Potlatch committee in Seattle decided that Potlatch would not have a Guest of Honor. For Potlatch 2 the Bay Area committee added the idea of a Book of Honor. It has worked very well. The book is not put on a pedestal as may happen with an honored guest. The discussion includes the flaws of the book as well as its virtues, and it is always thoughtful and insightful. For Potlatch 23 we tried something new: The members, instead of the committee, chose the Book of Honor. The City & The City by China Miéville is an excellent book, fascinating to read, and worth talking about.

Also new for Potlatch 23, the program has been created by the members. You can see the process at the program ideas page.

Potlatch 23 will be at the elegant Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, California. The Sainte Claire is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is by far the most beautiful hotel in the area. It is in the heart of downtown San Jose, on the light rail line. There are excellent restaurants and cafes nearby, including the Il Fornaio restaurant in the hotel.

Become a Potlatch member now and join the discussion.