I went to several wonderful events, and a few more disappointing ones. Neil Gaiman read from two unpublished works, a short story called "A Study in Emerald" from the forthcoming collection Shadows over Baker Street , and a children's book called Crazy Hair . The Masquerade was wonderful, and so was the panel with Connie Willis, Esther Friesner, Mike Resnick, and Terry Pratchett. I went to the launch of The Everquest Companion (not that I've ever played), and made more academic contacts.