From: Bob Palmer To: Robert J. Sawyer Subject: Invite Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 20:09:42 +0000 Hello, Bob Palmer here from To Be Continued in Chicago. I wanted to see if we could ivite you to be our guest for this year, May 12-14, 2006? Everyone here just loves your work and we would be honored if you would consider attending. We will be at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center in Downers Grove, IL. Which is a suburb of Chicago. We are a general interest science fiction & fantasy convention. We offer a good balance of programming. Our members and staff are all fans of your work. We know people here in Chicago would love the chance to see you in person. In return for appearing we would be happy to pay for your airfare, hotel, and offer a per diem of $40 a day to help cover food. We can also extend your stay by one day before and/or after the convention should you want to be rested or would like to sight see. Normaly, we ask that our guests do a minimum of three one hour panels over the weekend and one autograph session. We are of course open to changing that if you would like. I hope you will accept our invitation. We pride ourselves on making sure our guests have just as much fun as our members. Were easy going and do not believe in fitting in every moment of time a guest is with us. We want them to enjoy themselves. If you would like we do have a list of past guests we can provide as references including George RR Martin, Larry Niven, Phred Pohl, and Peter David. Thank you for considering our invitation. We eagerly await your reply. All my best to you. Cheers, Bob Palmer To Be Continued Chair www.2becontinued.com ==== Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 12:29:21 -0800 (PST) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: To Be Continued To: Bob Palmer Hi, Bob. This sounds fabulous! I'm delighted to accept! THANK YOU! Cheers, Rob Sawyer === From: Bob Palmer To: Robert J. Sawyer Subject: Re: To Be Continued Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 05:48:58 +0000 Hi Rob! This is great news! Were very happy to have you on board. Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you. I will let our head Guest Liaison know you have accepted and she will be in touch to help arrange your appearance and travel arrangements. Thank you so much for accepting our invitation. I look forward to meeting you. Cheers, Bob Palmer === I heard nothing for over two months after that, and so sent this letter: === Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:11:09 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Sawyer travel arrangements and programming To: Bob Palmer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Hi, Bob. To Be Continued starts three weeks from tomorrow -- and nothing's been done about my travel arrangements, and, as far as I can tell, no one has approached me about programming. We should probably get details finalized right away. I know you've only offered to pay for my travel, but I'd like to bring my wife Carolyn Clink along at my own expense. Given that, it might be simplest if I booked my flight directly, and had you reimburse me for half the total (that is, for my part of the airfare). The flights I'm thinking about get Carolyn and me to O'Hare at 2:45 p.m. your time on Friday, May 12, and leave O'Hare at 8:00 p.m. your time on Sunday, May 14. Cost for just me would be CDN$355.45, which is US$311.85, via Air Canada. May I go ahead and book those flights? And can you arrange for: 1. A complimentary con membership for my wife, Carolyn Clink? 2. Someone to pick us up at O'Hare at 3:00 p.m. on Friday? Also, I welcome receiving a list of panel choices, etc., from your programming department. I'd very much like a one-hour slot to do a reading, please. All best wishes! Rob === Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:46:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Palmer Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements and programming To: Robert J. Sawyer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Hi Rob, I am so sorry you did not get the info that was suppose to be sent to you. I am not sure where it fell thru the crack of cyber space, but I do apologize. I have CC'd Jessica who is my head guest person who has program sheets and preferences for you that you should have already gotten. You can also contact her if you need anything. Jessica will be the person picking you up from the airport and helping you in your stay with us. If you could give me just a couple days to look into flights for you on my end I would appreciate it. I would like to see if our travel rep can do better. Were also trying to group arrival times so we do not have to make odd trips out to the airport. If you could let me know what city you want to fly out from I will start right away. Do you have any program items you like to do at cons or prepared presentations or workshops? If not the sheets Jessica will send has our suggested topic lists which is also on our website on the program page. www.2becontinued.com I also had a request from our Critter Crunch department to see if you would mind being a judge for the competition? Critter Crunch is the robot competition where bots battle one another. Its fun and all you have to do is make a decision based on your own opinion you do not need any technical knowledge. Our competition is all about fun not technical abilities. I am very sorry again. Thank you for letting me know. I cannot apologize enough. Cheers, Bob === Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:16:37 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements and programming To: Bob Palmer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Hi, Bob. I have a strong preference for flying Air Canada, as I'm a high-status member of their frequent-flyer program, and can use their airport lounges. If you can do substantially better with another carrier, of course that's okay, but please don't bump me to another carrier just to save five or ten dollars. The travel times I picked were the lowest-cost ones; you can get other flights, but many of them are much more expensive. The price I quoted you is better than any price for any carrier on Expedia.com. Still, I'll wait a few days for you to verify this -- but, of course, the pricing may change in that time. I will be flying out of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport ("Pearson"), which is airport code YYZ. I'm already listed on your website as doing the critters judging -- but that's fine. :) I'm attaching the programming questionnaire I downloaded from the website. All best wishes. Rob === Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:19:15 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements and programming To: Bob Palmer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Hi, Bob. Any progress on my flights? I'd like to get this pinned down. :) Cheers, Rob === Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 06:51:07 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements To: Bob Palmer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Bob? You've now had six days to propose alternative flight arrangments, after the con let this fall through the cracks. I myself am on the road starting this Friday morning, and will be gone until Monday night (at which point the con will be 11 days away); can we please get this taken care of before I head out of town? My phone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thanks. === Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:24:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Palmer Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements To: Robert J. Sawyer CC: CON PROGRAMMING Why don't you go ahead as you suggested and purchase the tickets you found. I am sorry for the worry this has caused you. I was sick the last few days and having tests done. Have a great road trip. Talk to you soon. Bob === Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:36:50 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements To: Bob Palmer The airfare I wanted is no longer available; the Air Canada flights I wanted have increased from Cdn$355 to Cdn$494 in the interim. This is more than I care to front on behalf of the convention, so I'd be grateful if someone from the con would actually take care of making the booking. And, sadly, it's also now priced out of the range my wife and I are comfortable spending for her to come along, so I guess that means I'm coming alone. I'm not at all happy about this. Any DIRECT flight that leaves Toronto after 12:00 noon on Friday, May 12, and gets me home before midnight on Sunday evening, May 14, is fine. If you can book with Air Canada, so much the better; my Air Canada Aeroplan frequent-flyer number is XXXXXXXX. I require aisle seats. I am a U.S. citizen, and will be traveling under U.S. passport number XXXXXXXX. Please have e-tickets emailed to sawyer@sfwriter.com. Thanks. === Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 21:22:05 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements To: Bob Palmer, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER No flight has been booked to bring me to Chicago. The con needs to do that if they want me to be there in two weeks as Guest of Honor. I've now sent a total of five messages trying to get this resolved. Is anybody looking after this? I will be home until 11:00 Eastern time Friday morning, April 28 (today), then I'm off to Calgary for the weekend, but will be back on Monday, May 1, in the late afternoon. I can be reached while I'm traveling on my cell phone, which is XXX-XXX-XXXX, and will also pick up email at least once a day. Rob === Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:54:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Palmer Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Sawyer travel arrangements To: sawyer@sfwriter.com, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER Rob, I am sorry again that my hospital visit caused such a problem for you. Truly I am. We will purchase your flight as we are for all our guests. We have purchased no ones yet with almost every other guest waiting on their professional schedules and shooting shedules to firm up. I know that does not make up for leaving your wife behind. If we had the money I would be happy to bring her with, but as you know conventions are poor. I offer my sincere apology. Bob === Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 12:44:05 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Sawyer GoH travel for ToBeContinued; no arrangements made To: Bob Palmer, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER Just so there's no ambiguity about what was said, and so that everyone is on the same page, and operating with the same information, here is a complete set of the correspondence between Robert J. Sawyer and Bob Palmer, re Sawyer's travel to Chicago as Author Guest of Honor of ToBeContinued. Another five days have gone by, the con is now nine days away, and I still don't have plane tickets. All best wishes. Rob [all previous email appended] === Finally, nine days after Bob Palmer last communicated with me, I received this email; by this point, the con is now five days away: === Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 14:14:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Palmer Subject: Re: Sawyer GoH travel for ToBeContinued; no arrangements made To: Robert J. Sawyer, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER Here are several flight options for your consideration on Air Canada. Sorry for the problems. Bob Fri, May 12 Air Canada 5143 operated by United Airlines -- UA 1105 Depart: 10:00am Arrive: 10:38am Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Chicago, IL (ORD) Non-stop Economy 1hr 38min Boeing 737 View seats Choose this return Return Sun, May 14 Air Canada 510 Depart: 6:00pm Arrive: 8:30pm Chicago, IL (ORD) Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Non-stop Economy 1hr 30min Airbus A319 View seats ------ Select $742 + $162 taxes & fees = $904 per person Part of OrbitzTLC Choose this departure Leave Fri, May 12 Air Canada 5143 operated by United Airlines -- UA 1105 Depart: 10:00am Arrive: 10:38am Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Chicago, IL (ORD) Non-stop Economy 1hr 38min Boeing 737 View seats Choose this return Return Sun, May 14 Air Canada 512 Depart: 8:00pm Arrive: 10:32pm Chicago, IL (ORD) Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Non-stop Economy 1hr 32min Airbus A319 View seats ------ Select $742 + $162 taxes & fees = $904 per person Part of OrbitzTLC Choose this departure Leave Fri, May 12 Air Canada 5143 operated by United Airlines -- UA 1105 Depart: 10:00am Arrive: 10:38am Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Chicago, IL (ORD) Non-stop Economy 1hr 38min Boeing 737 View seats Choose this return Return Sun, May 14 Air Canada 5148 operated by United Airlines -- UA 1112 Depart: 9:00pm Arrive: 11:30pm Chicago, IL (ORD) Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Non-stop Economy 1hr 30min Boeing 737 View seats ------ Select $742 + $162 taxes & fees = $904 per person Part of OrbitzTLC Choose this departure Leave Fri, May 12 Air Canada 5145 operated by United Airlines -- UA 1107 Depart: 1:00pm Arrive: 1:38pm Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Chicago, IL (ORD) Non-stop Economy 1hr 38min Airbus A319 View seats Choose this return Return Sun, May 14 Air Canada 510 Depart: 6:00pm Arrive: 8:30pm Chicago, IL (ORD) Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Non-stop Economy 1hr 30min === Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 14:48:58 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Sawyer GoH travel for ToBeContinued; no arrangements made To: Bob Palmer, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER Hi, Bob. I feel a moral obligation to offer to not come to your convention. Had tickets been booked in a timely fashion, they would have cost the con about one third of the current amount. I have no desire to bankrupt ToBeContinued. I was flattered to be asked to be GoH, and would happily consider coming in that role next year (with tickets purchased well in advance), instead, if that makes better sense for the convention -- or simply never attending at all. I'm not looking to blame anyone for the delays or lapses in communication, and have no anger or animosity -- and I don't want you to feel pressured to spend money the con can't afford. If it's better for the con for me not to come, given the airfares available at this late date, simply say so, and that will be the end of the matter. If you do choose to not bring me this year, I do ask that you make that decision right away; I also have a moral obligation to anyone who might be traveling or booking hotel space specifically to see me to let them know that I won't be attending. That said, if you do want me to come, since all Air Canada flights to/from Chicago on the dates in question are the same price -- see http://www.aircanada.com/en/home.html -- and are as cheap or cheaper than those you are offering me, there's no need to use the sorts of odd pairings offered up by Expedia or other intermediary services. Unless the con actually starts before late afternoon on Friday, I see no reason to arrive Friday morning, and so would suggest these flights, which can be booked through the Air Canada site, or by any travel agent: AC507 From Toronto (YYZ) to Chicago (ORD) Departing Fri May-12 at 14:00 arriving at 14:45 AC510 From Chicago (ORD) to Toronto (YYZ) Departing Sun May-14 at 18:00 arriving at 20:30 These are showing as US$855.33, including all taxes (click "Convert currency" next to the total to get US$ displayed instead of Cdn$). Please let me know what you'd like to do. I'll be out this evening, but home before midnight and will check email again then. All best wishes. Rob === Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 09:14:11 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Subject: Re: Sawyer GoH travel for ToBeContinued; no arrangements made To: Bob Palmer, CON PROGRAMMING, ONE OTHER CONCOM MEMBER I expected some sort of response to the message below, and am frankly baffled by the ensuing silence. It's now 72 hours to when I'd have to be on a plane if I were coming to your convention. The courtesy of a reply would be appreciated. [text of previous message appended] === As of 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 -- the con now three days away -- I've heard nothing back.