Program participants* * Wednesday * * Thursday * * Friday * * Saturday * * Sunday
4030: Opening Ceremonies (Events)
The official kick-off to the 64th World Science Fiction Convention.
Christian B. McGuire, Craig Miller
4097: Why Do SF Fans Love the Legion of Super-heroes? (Comics)
Even fans who read few or no other comics seem to find something in the Legion of Super Heroes to keep them buying and reading the comic, some of them for decades. Just what is there about the Legion?
Paul Cornell, Joe Bergeron, Priscilla Olson, Tom Galloway(M), Chris Weber
4422: Great First Lines (Lit)
There's nothing like them for hooking a reader. "Call me Ishmael." "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." "Lessa woke, cold." "His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god." "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." "Once upon a time there was a Martian named Valentine Michael Smith." What are some of your favorites? And can you do anything special to force a great first line or do they just happen?
Vanessa Van Wagner, Mike Resnick(M), Hilari Bell, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Michael F. Flynn
4151: What I Do When I Should Be Writing (writpub)
Me, I read e-mail. What do you do? How do you get yourself back to writing?
Sarah Monette, Fiona Avery(M), David D. Levine, Phyllis Eisenstein
3946: NEW MAPS OF HEAVEN (lit)
Recent times have seen an explosion of science fiction and fantasy tales centered in cosmologies and mythologies outside of the North American mainstream. Writers discuss what draws them to these other mythos and what lessons they offer.
Ellen Kushner, Robin Wayne Bailey, Fiona Patton, Vera Nazarian(M)
4242: SCIENCE FICTION & THE FERRIS WHEEL
A slide show of fantasy and science fiction influences in historic fairground and amusement park attractions.
Theresa Mather
4087: THE WORST FUTURE YOU CAN IMAGINE
We hope for the best. We work for it. But what if things don't work out right? What can go wrong? What will that future be like?
Tad Daley, John Barnes, Kurt Miller, Scott Essman, David F. McMahon, MD(M)
3925: BUFFY THE MASTERS THESIS
Lately colleges and other academic venues have been seeing a proliferation of theses and monographs that examine popular TV shows and discuss how they fit in with certain philosophies. There are several courses which use popular entertainment as examples in philosophy class, political science class, sociology class, etc. Why has television suddenly become acceptable to the academic crowd? And is this a good thing? What sorts of findings are they having?
Nancy Holder(M), Jacqueline Lichtenberg, James P. Hogan, Lorien Gray
4250: STAR TREK: YEAR 41 & COUNTING
Come hear about all the new Star Trek projects, from video games to traveling exhibits to the first ever Star Trek "manga" from the people involved with making them happen, Paula Block, John Van Citters, Terry Erdmann, and others. All questions welcome.
3859: BLOGS & E-FANZINES (fandom)
Fandom has had paper fanzines from the beginning. At one point, it seemed like almost every fan at least read these paper fanzines or wrote for them or published one (if only for APAs). But their prominence has been on the wane for many years. Now, blogs are exploding. And fanzines published on the web seem to be increasing. Are these fanzines different or just a different form? What effect will they have on Fandom as a whole?
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Christopher J. Garcia, Andrew T Trembley(M), James Bacon
3998: MARS ON EARTH -- ADVENTURES OF SPACE PIONEERS IN THE UTAH DESERT (scitech)
What do we do when we get to Mars? What will we eat? What will we do? How will we live? For five years now The Mars Society has been answering these questions with the Mars Analog Research Station projects in the Canadian Arctic, the Utah deserts, the Australian outback, and the geothermal fields of Iceland. Mars Society members give an in-depth look at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, the most advanced simulation study of how we plan to tackle the human exploration of the Red Planet.
Gerry Williams
3875: RICK STERNBACH SLIDE SHOW (art)
A slide presentation on the science fictional art of cover artist & production illustrator Rick Sternbach.
Rick Sternbach
3947: CREATIVE INSULTS (writpub)
SF and fantasy often uses insults from present culture instead of dreaming up new and inventive ways to cast scorn upon others. Our panel will discuss a variety of new insults for general use in space-faring societies and fantasy environments. Audience participation invited. Anyone who doesn't show up is a ground pounder full of space gas!
John G. Hemry, Pat Cadigan
4318: REVIEWING SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY LITERATURE (lit)
Some of science fiction's top critics talk about what it's like to be a science fiction critic. What skills does it take? Is it different from reviewing other types of fiction?
Gary K. Wolfe, Charles N. Brown(M), David Hartwell, Lawrence Person
4072: OKAY, YOU'VE GOT THE MOON. WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT? (scitech)
How do we make a lunar colony pay in the same way colonies on Earth traditionally paid for their creators? Is pure science the way to go? A launching pad for reaching the rest of the solar system? Industrial applications? A mix? If we can't make a permanent human presence on the Moon pay, will it ever be viable in the long-term?
Edwin L. Strickland III, Paul A. ABell(M), Ctein, G. David Nordley
4198: SCIENCE FICTION POETRY ASSOC. GATHERING
3861: MYTHS OF FANDOM (fandom)
What are the common truisms in fandom? Aren't they all really myths? Let's list 'em and take a good hard look.
Moshe Feder(M), Milton F. Stevens, John-Henri Holmberg, Mary Kay Kare
4197: A LOOK AT ED WOOD (media)
Brett R. Thompson, the writer and director of The Haunted World Of Edward D. Wood, Jr. shows us his award-winning documentary and tells us even more about the mad "genius" of Plan 9 From Outer Space and other classics.
5619: AUTOGRAPHING: D.C. FONTANA
D.C. Fontana, Steven Barnes, John Maddox Roberts, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Larry Niven, Michael Reaves
5513: Reading
MAYA KAATHRYN BOHNHOFF
Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
5794: KAFFEKLATSCH: SEAN WILLIAMS
Sean Williams
5632: KAFFEKLATSCH: KAREN ANDERSON
Karen Anderson
5523: Reading
SEAN MCMULLEN
Sean McMullen
5536: Reading
LEE MARTINDALE
Lee Martindale
5424: Reading
HARRY TURTLEDOVE
Harry Turtledove
3958: ALTERNATE SCIENCE FICTION
We're all familiar with alternate histories. How about science fiction alternate histories? How might the field have been different if Stanley Weinbaum had lived, or if John Campbell had decided he'd rather write than edit, or if Robert E. Howard hadn't committed suicide? What if Harry Turtledove never wrote an alternate history?
Bradford Lyau(M), Anthony R. Lewis, James Frenkel, Harry Turtledove, John DeChancie
3873: THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM (scitech)
How we get the news is changing before our eyes. Newspaper circulation is down dramatically. Online blogs and podcasts have put reportage in the hands of average citizens -- for both good and ill. Advances in camera and satellite technology make it simple for reporters to bring the public stories from the most far-flung parts of the planet. What will the future bring? And how will we know what to believe?
William Shunn(M), M. Christine Valada, Esq., Tom Galloway, Paul Fischer
4323: STAR TREK FANDOM TODAY (fandom)
The world of Star Trek Fandom is different today than it was in the '60s and '70s. What's out there? What don't I know about? How can I get more involved?
Marah Searle-Kovacevic(M), Lee Whiteside, Jacqueline Lichtenberg
4169: IF ONLY IT WERE REAL...
What science fiction concept, other than space travel, would you most like to see realized? Flying cars? Matter replicators? Time travel? Why?
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan, Fiona Patton, Bridget Landry(M), Mike Willmoth, Steven Lopata
4061: MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS -- YEAR 2 (scitech)
NASA's two Mars Exploration Rovers have been traveling the red planet for over two years now. Each Rover has inspected over four miles of red sand and rock, craters and dunes, looking for evidence of water. Mars Society members will give you a tour of Mars by way of the twin Rovers' points-of-view.
Gerry Williams
4448: SPACE PATROL, GERMAN STYLE (media)
Robert Vogel gives a presentation on Raumpatrouille Orion, a cult-favorite German science fiction show of the 1960s. Despite being only seven episodes, it holds the same cult status in Germany as Dr. Who and Star Trek do here. Come see what all the shouting's about.
Robert Vogel
4185: FANTASY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ABOUT KINGS AND WIZARDS (lit)
Well, does it? It seems like 100% of fantasy is set in medieval worlds with wizards and dragons and witches and elves and things. What other kinds of fantasy is there?
Sean Williams, Darrell Schweitzer(M), Mary Kay Kare, Alma Alexander
4278: NUCLEAR WEAPON STRATEGIES (scitech)
. Historical elements, Mutual Assured Destruction, strategic counterforce, and "bunker busters." What are the near-future scenarios for the next 5, 25, and 100 years? What are their probabilities? And what's the role of SF literature and cinema in steering popular culture toward and away from nuclear scenarios will be studied.
Mike Shepherd Moscoe, Richard Foss(M), David F. McMahon, MD
4201: LITERACY & SCIENCE FICTION
There was a lot of fuss made about the sales of the Harry Potter books and what it said for children's literacy and reading. Did it encourage kids to read? Will it have any long term positive effects? What can we do to encourage reading?
Louise Marley, Laura Frankos(M), Bjo Trimble, Larry Niven, Catherine S. McMullen
4004: MIX & MATCH WRITING CHALLENGE (writpub)
Authors are presented with a character description for a well-known character, the setting of a (different) famous work, and a brief plot description of still another work. Without knowing their sources, they create and tell a story on the fly. After the sources are revealed, the audience votes on who did best. (Think Frodo in a tale set in 1920s New York about a young wizard-in-training who must compete in a great competition of wizards, only to be captured by his arch-nemesis... )
Peter S. Beagle, David D. Levine(M), John Barnes, Craig Miller, Valerie Estelle Frankel, K. A. Bedford
4407: FUTURE TRENDS IN SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
Not long ago, we were awash in Splatterpunks, Cyberpunks, and even Steampunks. What happened to those SF literary movements? What's the next trend?
James Patrick Kelly(M), John-Henri Holmberg, Mark von Schlegell, Gary K. Wolfe, Lou Anders
4048: WHY DOESN'T SF SEEM TO LAST ON TV?
Fantasy shows like Medium and Ghost Whisperer are big hits. Why didn't Surface, Threshold, or Invasion do as well? Is there a mainstream audience for television science fiction?
Bill Warren, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Nicki Lynch(M), Len Wein media
4075: MY LIFE IN A TIME MACHINE
Forrest J Ackerman talks about his participation in the early history of science fiction Fandom, literature, and films.
Forrest J Ackerman
3992: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN CAREER (writpub)
How to manage your life as a writer.
Robert J. Sawyer(M), Nancy Holder, John Scalzi, Robin Wayne Bailey, Buzz Dixon
4107: PRESERVING YOUR COLLECTION (fandom)
How to preserve and conserve your books, magazines, fanzines, comics, posters, artwork, etc.
Robert B Hole, Jr., Sheryl Jean Davis, Fred Lerner(M), Joe Siclari, Christopher J. Garcia
5823: AUTOGRAPHING: HARRY HARRISON
Harry Harrison
5792: AUTOGRAPHING: THERESA MATHER
Theresa Mather
5684: AUTOGRAPHING: MARGARET WANDER BONANNO
Margaret Wander Bonanno
5504: AUTOGRAPHING: ROBERT SILVERBERG
Robert Silverberg
5633: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN PICACIO
John Picacio
5724: Reading
SIMON R GREEN
Simon R Green
5535: KAFFEKLATSCH: LEE MARTINDALE
Lee Martindale
5808: KAFFEKLATSCH: STEPHEN ELEY
Stephen Eley
5698: KAFFEKLATSCH: JONATHAN F KOTAS
Jonathan F Kotas
5892: 101 ESSENTIAL FILK SONGS
What filksongs should every filker know? Learn the history and tradition behind the "classics".
Erwin S. Filthy Pierre Strauss filking
3963: SHOTOKAN KARATE WORKSHOP
Fans interested in the traditional martial art of Shotokan Karate are invited to come participate in this workshop that teaches the articulation of motion and physical principles behind simple blocks, punches, and kicks. The physical demands are very low, at the level of low-impact aerobics, and the safety of the participants will be ensured by no sparring or physical contact. Participants are asked to come in loose-fitting clothes.
Keith G. Kato, Kenn S. Bates, misc/sigs
5609: Reading
WIL MCCARTHY
Wil McCarthy
5579: Reading
PAUL Cornell
Paul Cornell
5965: CASTING CALL: HMS TREK-A-STAR
filking
4361: HEALTH AND TODAY'S FANDOM (fandom)
Because fans have such active inner, mental lives we sometimes neglect the physical bodies which encapsulate them. There's a joke where someone sees a group of fans in a hotel and asks if it's a convention for fat people. That's not so funny but why are fans so out of shape? What are the psychological issues and how can we talk about things like the future or immortality, if we might not even make it to our next birthday? What can we do to take control over our health issues?
Vanessa Van Wagner, Perrianne Lurie, Andrew I. Porter(M), Grant Kruger, Chris Weber
5612: Reading
JOE W. HALDEMAN
Joe W. Haldeman
4927: SF SPELLING BEE
Sure, spelling antidisestablishmentarianism is easy. And those incredibly long latin agglutinative scientific terms are a snap. Now spell "tanstaafl". How about "kzinti"? Try your hand in our science fiction and fantasy spelling bee (or just come watch).
Chris M. Barkley, performances
5750: AUTOGRAPHING: SCOTT ESSMAN
Scott Essman
5613: AUTOGRAPHING: RICK STERNBACH
Rick Sternbach
5577: AUTOGRAPHING: PAUL Cornell
Paul Cornell
5520: AUTOGRAPHING: TODD MCCAFFREY
Todd McCaffrey
5671: AUTOGRAPHING: MICHAEL F. FLYNN
Michael F. Flynn
5650: KAFFEKLATSCH: JAMES P. HOGAN
James P. Hogan
5741: KAFFEKLATSCH: SCOTT EDELMAN
Scott Edelman
5437: KAFFEKLATSCH: PAT CADIGAN
Pat Cadigan
5678: Reading
SARAH MONETTE
Sarah Monette
5538: Reading
FIONA AVERY
Fiona Avery
5757: Reading
MIKE RESNICK
Mike Resnick
4080: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, AND PUBLIC DOMAIN (writpub)
The current legal opinions on who owns what and how, relating to books, art, films, television, and the internet.
John R. Douglas, Stephen Eley, M. Christine Valada, Esq.
4381: JAMES T. KIRK: THREAT OR MENACE
Was a larger-than-life scenery-chewing damn-the-Prime-Directive-full-speed-ahead heroic starship commander the one primary thing responsible for the enduring success of classic Star Trek? Is the absence of such a character why the following Star Trek series all lacked the same punch? Or should there have been more discretion, more consideration before acting? Is Jean Luc Picard the model to follow?
Richard Arnold(M), D.C. Fontana, Lance Sibley, Bridget Landry, Chris M. Barkley media
3985: DO WE NEED A NEW DEFINITION OF LITERACY?
In the next ten years, what will the word "literacy" mean? Can you truly be literate in tomorrow's society if you can't use a computer? Are computer icons replacing the need to read? What's the future of libraries and bookstores.
Fred Lerner(M), Richard Foss, Melissa Conway, PhD, Justin Lloyd, Michael Ward
3878: THE DAY JOB (scitech)
Many SF writers and SF fans are scientists in real life. How do they combine the two? What is doing science for a living really like? Are we all really mad scientists who want to rule the world?
Sam Scheiner, Paul A. ABell, John Scalzi, Wil McCarthy, Steven Lopata(M)
4429: IRON POET POETRY CHALLENGE (lit)
It's Iron Chef for sonneteers and other poets. Come to this Bouts-Rimés event and write a poem with the day's mystery ingredients, share your work, maybe even win prizes.
Vanessa Van Wagner, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Joe W. Haldeman
4113: CONVENTIONS: BUTCHERING THE SACRED COWS (fandom)
Are Masquerades, Art Shows, Dealers Rooms, etc. really worth their cost in money and manpower? Or are they just so habitual that cons never think about getting rid of them? What would happen if a con did get rid of them? What would we replace them with?
Pierre E. Pettinger(M), Mark L. Olson, Kevin Standlee, James Bacon, John Pomeranz
4428: MANGA MANIA
Manga is more than just Japanese comic books. How do they differ from what we have in the United States and in Europe? How is it that they cover so many more different topics and are read by so many different types of people?
Tom Schaad, Buzz Dixon, Fred Patten(M), comics
3901: THEATER, FANTASY, AND SCIENCE FICTION
A discussion of fantasy and science fiction plays, today and through history.
Laura Frankos, Keith G. Kato(M), William Shunn, Lise Eisenberg media
4277: CHARACTER VS. PLOT (writpub)
Some readers (and writers) seem to be all about the characters. Others are only interested in the details of the plot. Can you write for both audiences? Should you?
Ellen Kushner(M), Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, Margaret Wander Bonanno, Connie Willis
3863: CLASSICS REMEMBERED: TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (lit)
Jules Verne's novel begat two motion pictures, a Classics Illustrated comic book, and the world's first atomic-powered submarine: not bad for inspiration. Who's the hero? Professor Aronax? Captain Nemo? Ned? Conseil? Why?
Alex Eisenstein, Mark von Schlegell, Karen Anderson, Evelyn C. Leeper(M), G. David Nordley
5915: THE BRAIN'S PROCESS (scitech)
How does our brain work? Is it like a computer or do things get processed in entirely different ways? How do the connections work? Why does one thought lead to another, sometimes seemingly unrelated idea (unrelated in the eyes of someone not thinking our thoughts, that is)?
Eric M. Van
4191: EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT QUANTUM PHYSICS I LEARNED FROM THE THREE STOOGES
Author John G. Hemry gives an introduction to Quantum Physics, with help from The Three Stooges.
John G. Hemry
3917: THE WONDERS OF THE ACKERMANSION (fandom)
Long time fan, writer, editor, agent, and collector Forrest J Ackerman gives a slide show of his fabled collection.
Forrest J Ackerman
4146: FANTASY -- HOW CAN IT BE GOOD? (lit)
To a lot of hard SF readers, fantasy stories are those where the authors don't have to be consistent -- it works because it's magic. But good fantasy is consistent, within each world's own rules. What are the rules and the restrictions for writing a "good" fantasy.
Darrell Schweitzer(M), ElizaBeth Gilligan, Alma Alexander, Vera Nazarian
4150: ISN'T Y.A. A GOOD THING? (writpub)
Young Adult writers report that it's hard to get respect from some of their peers, even though Y.A. is the doorway for many young adults into other SF and fantasy novels. Given the authors who've produced Y.A. (like Heinlein and Andre Norton) and the quality of much Y.A. produced, why doesn't it get more respect?
Sherwood Smith(M), Hilari Bell, James Frenkel, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Catherine S. McMullen
3983: SOMEDAY MY PRINTS WILL COME (art)
Following the long, sometimes tortuous trail from artist's original to print, be that limited edition, lithograph, serigraph, photo, or offset print. How are they made? What are the differences? Should the buyer really care?
Robert B Hole, Jr.(M), Margaret Organ-Kean, Ctein
5884: THEME CIRCLE: FOUND FILK
Filksongs found in mundane places.
Steve Savitzky, Mitchell Burnside-Clapp filking
3969: HYPOGLYCEMICS UNITED
Hypoglycemics United To Foster Awareness is holding an auction of science fiction and other collectibles to help fund their efforts to educate persons about blood sugar imbalances of all types.
4380: DEGLER'S WORLDCON (fandom)
Alternate History seems pretty popular. How about some Alternate Fan History, for better or worse?
Moshe Feder, Bridget Bradshaw, Milton F. Stevens, Mike Glyer(M)
5886: IN CONCERT: KAREN ANDERSON
Karen Anderson filking
3854: BROAD UNIVERSE: RAPID FIRE READINGS (writpub)
Members of Broad Universe, the organization dedicated to supporting women genre writers, give short (five to ten minute) readings of their works in rapid fire succession.
3880: BABEL CONFERENCE AMBASSADORIAL RECEPTION
Come join us for a reception welcoming everyone to this year's Worldcon and our Star Trek 40th Anniversary Celebration. Star Trek costumes invited.
John Trimble, Bjo Trimble
5887: IN CONCERT: LESLIE FISH
Leslie Fish filking
5870: THEME CIRCLE: THE SONGS OF JULIA ECKLAR
Joey Shoji filking
4291: WSFS MARK PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING (fandom)
The WSFS Mark Protection Committee manages the registered service marks on "Worldcon," "Hugo Award," etc. This is the first of two meetings held at Worldcon. Meetings of the MPC are open to all members.
Kevin Standlee
5867: THEME CIRCLE: BAWDY SONGS
For adults only!
Blind Lemming Chiffon, Leslie Fish filking
4020: MIDNIGHT TALES OF HORROR (lit)
Come listen to this panel tell tales 'guaranteed' to curdle your blood.
Kevin Andrew Murphy, P C. Hodgell, Jay Lake(M)
Steven Barnes, misc/sigs
4300: BAD ASTRONOMY (scitech)
A talk by Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer on, well, bad astronomy and popular misconceptions.
Phil Plait
4062: WSFS PRELIMINARY BUSINESS MEETING (fandom)
Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. The agenda for the main meeting will be set at today's meeting. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting.
Kevin Standlee
4177: INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
G. David Nordley reviews a number of areas in which advanced biotechnology could aid interstellar flight, such as "cold sleep," recycling, and radiation tolerance.
G. David Nordley
4076: DOES SCIENCE HAVE A FUTURE? (scitech)
With science budgets declining, does non-applied research have a future? What does this mean for researchers? For research? What will a world without basic research be like?
Sam Scheiner, Jonathan F Kotas, Loretta McKibben, Michael S. Brotherton, Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink(M)
4222: WHAT'S NEXT FROM THE SCI FI CHANNEL
A look at what to look forward to from Sci Fi in the coming year.
Craig Engler media
4281: THE "LOOK" OF STAR TREK (art)
Rick Sternbach, long time Senior Illustrator and Technical Consultant for most all versions of Star Trek from the first film on, presents a slide show of his artwork for Star Trek.
Rick Sternbach
4176: OVERRATED FILMS & OVERLOOKED MOVIES
There are some films with a bad reputation but which are really quite good. There are some films with a good rep which are just dogmeat. A few highly opinionated film fans will discuss these overrated films and overlooked movies with the aide of the audience.
Adam-Troy Castro, MaryAnn Johanson, Frank Wu, Mark R. Leeper(M), Dr. John L. Flynn media
3893: CREATING BELIEVABLE ALIENS (writpub)
There's little that's more annoying then to be reading a good SF story and to come across an alien that's either `just a guy in a suit' or too far from what evolution and the laws of physics would allow to be believed. So what does it take to create a believable alien?
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, Robert Silverberg, Margaret Wander Bonanno, Kay Kenyon, Todd McCaffrey(M)
4183: THE SHORT FICTION OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN (lit)
We all know The Lord of the Rings but what about his short fiction?
Lisa Goldstein, Diana Glyer, David Bratman(M), Lorien Gray
4074: NO, REALLY, THAT MAKES SENSE (scitech)
Our distinguished panel of experts explains why certain widely-seen SF and fantasy elements that seem absurd actually have legitimate explanations. Come hear why it makes sense for barbarian sword babes to wear chain-mail bikinis, why computers on starships never crash or lock up with indecipherable error messages, and why male scientists in SF are always really good looking guys who are irresistible to brilliant, beautiful women.
Robert J. Sawyer, Amy Thomson, Bridget Bradshaw, Dr. Isaac Szpindel(M), Tom Galloway
4362: EXPLORING ANALOGUE MARS
A Pisces One Expedition Report on the adventures, misadventures, and scientific research under taken by the joint Brazilian, Swedish, Canadian and American "Pisces Expedition" last winter at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah.
Hugh S. Gregory
3932: GETTING THE MOST OUT OF GAMING
How to make your gaming experiences fun and enjoyable for yourself and the other players. Panelists also discuss their favorite games and any new games you should know about.
Justin Lloyd, Kurt Miller, Chris Weber(M), gaming
4060: CROSSING GENRES (lit)
Some writers work in more than one genre. SF. Horror. Mystery. Romance. Westerns. Whatever. Does working in one area influence the way you write in another? Also, some books are in more than one genre. Does that ever work?
John Maddox Roberts, Nancy Holder, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Alma Alexander(M)
3879: THE TAROT & WRITING (writpub)
Everyone knows the hero/heroines journey, the basis for nearly everything written in fantasy fiction. But what about other archetypes? The Tarot has 22 in all. How do these other archetypes reflect in fiction? Forget the hero/heroine, let's talk about death, the empress, the hanged one, the universe, the priestess, the fool...
Steve Englehart(M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, ElizaBeth Gilligan
3937: ALTERNATE HISTORIES IN REALITY
Science fiction is filled with "alternate histories". But so are history books. "History is written by the victors," wrote Machiavelli. Time does its part for re-writing history, too. Alternate histories abound. Think American Indians were noblemen of the plains who all lived in harmony with the land? Guess again. Then there's Disney's version of Pocahontas. And don't forget Shakespeare's rewriting of Richard III.
Sean McMullen, Takayuki Tatsumi, John G. Hemry(M), Karen Anderson, Harry Turtledove, Brad Linaweaver
4232: DEVELOPING YOUR PROPERTY FOR THE MEDIA
Okay, you've written a novel, created a comic book, or done a series of dynamite drawings. How can you get your "intellectual property" from where its at to the tv and movie screen?
Diane Duane, M. Christine Valada, Esq.(M), Dave Smeds, Doselle Young media
3957: 21ST CENTURY SNAKE OIL
"It must be true, I saw it on the Internet." How has pseudo-science infected popular culture lately? How does this kind of charlatanism interfere with progress and rational discourse? Are there things we can do to counter the untruths that are spread around?
James Hay, Paul A. ABell, Courtney Willis, Jordin Kare
4220: THE GOLDEN AGE OF SCIENCE FICTION IS 12 (lit)
A classic saying within the world of science fiction. Is it true? Is that the age when you'll really develop a sense of wonder? Is it a good thing or bad? And what does it say for science fiction in general?
Sherwood Smith(M), Mel Gilden, Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., James Frenkel, Gary K. Wolfe
3900: INVENTIONS SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVENT
Wouldn't it be nice if we had a...? What would happen if our technological dreams came true? If we had transporters or free, unlimited energy? And how would things change if we had them?
Cynthia Felice, Robin Wayne Bailey, Fiona Patton(M), Simon R Green
4404: THE SF GENERATION GAP (fandom)
Have we reached a point where SF fans no longer share a common literary background? Until recently, there was a certain body of work that almost every SF fan was familiar. Heinlein, Herbert, Bradbury, Bester, to name a few of the giants. But many SF fans today haven't even heard of them. Instead, they're choosing Mercedes Lackey and David Eddings or Greg Bear and David Brin. We used to share a common body of literature and that sharing drew us together. Is that no longer true? Does this lack of commonality matter?
Bradford Lyau, John Barnes, Randy Smith, Mark von Schlegell, George R.R. Martin(M)
5524: AUTOGRAPHING: CECILIA TAN
Cecilia Tan
5439: AUTOGRAPHING: DON SAKERS
Don Sakers
5534: AUTOGRAPHING: LEE MARTINDALE
Lee Martindale
5802: AUTOGRAPHING: SHEILA FINCH
Sheila Finch
5547: AUTOGRAPHING: ALASTAIR REYNOLDS
Alastair Reynolds
5438: Reading
PAT CADIGAN
Pat Cadigan
5408: KAFFEKLATSCH: P C. HODGELL
P C. Hodgell
5780: KAFFEKLATSCH: GARTH NIX
Garth Nix
5909: WORKSHOP: WRITING WITH YOUR GUITAR
Bill Roper filking
4202: CHIERI COUNCIL FINAL MEETING
5629: Reading
VALERIE ESTELLE FRANKEL
Valerie Estelle Frankel
4137: WINGS 101
The terrors and rewards of putting wings on your costume, plus handy tips on how to make wings, wear them, and survive the experience.
Rosemary Kimble(M), Bruce MacDermott, Zelda Gilbert, Joy Day costuming
4240: WHAT'S NEW IN FANZINES? (fandom)
Panelists survey and review some of the best recent efforts.
Vanessa Van Wagner, Milton F. Stevens(M), Jerry Kaufman, Christopher J. Garcia
5662: Reading
CONNIE WILLIS
Connie Willis
4124: JUST A MINUTE
A revival of the classic British radio game show. There are four contestants. The aim of the game is to talk for one minute on a subject given by the Quizmaster, without hesitation, deviation from the subject or repetition of individual words (apart from those in the title of the subject). Other contestants hit their buzzers to interrupt if they think the speaker has broken one of those rules, and if the Quizmaster agrees with them, they take on the subject for however much of the minute is left, and can get similarly interrupted themselves. It often becomes very funny, but allows a good speaker to display great skill and intelligence.
Paul Cornell, Mark Waid, Mark Waid, performances
5753: AUTOGRAPHING: DARRELL SCHWEITZER
Darrell Schweitzer
5450: AUTOGRAPHING: DIANA L. PAXSON
Diana L. Paxson
5499: AUTOGRAPHING: JON L. BREEN
Jon L. Breen
5708: AUTOGRAPHING: GLEN COOK
Glen Cook
5607: AUTOGRAPHING: GEORGE KRSTIC
5742: Reading
SCOTT EDELMAN
Scott Edelman
5488: KAFFEKLATSCH: ALLEN M. STEELE
Allen M. Steele
5777: KAFFEKLATSCH: ELLEN KLAGES
Ellen Klages
5481: Reading
NANCY KRESS
Nancy Kress
5544: Reading
LISANNE NORMAN
Lisanne Norman
5474: Reading
BARBARA HAMBLY
Barbara Hambly
3952: SCIENCE IN THE NEWS (scitech)
What can you believe?
Phil Plait, Michael S. Brotherton, John Strickland(M)
4434: THE SLYTHERIN QUESTION (lit)
J.K. Rowling paints a negative picture of Slytherin House, its principles, and its students. Why would Hogwarts even have a house for teaching evil wizards? Isn't putting them together likely to end up just reinforcing their evil ways? Or will the final book in the Harry Potter series show us, somehow, that these characters aren't, um, lost to the dark side?
Cecilia Tan, Hilari Bell, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Lorien Gray(M)
4390: FORENSIC SCIENCE FICTION
Television is filled with shows about science: the science of criminal forensics. How realistic are those shows and how much of what they portray is science fiction?
Sam Scheiner, John R. Douglas, James Hay, Keith R.A. DeCandido(M), Cordelia Willis
4324: THE COLD WORLDS: COLONIZING THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM (scitech)
Eventually, the inner solar system will be crowded. Will we explore, exploit, and settle the vicinity of the outer planets? How about comets? The fringes of interstellar space? How? Why?
Paul A. ABell, Edwin L. Strickland III, Larry Niven, Jordin Kare(M), Dr. Kevin R. Grazier
4918: MARINA SIRTIS - NEXT GEN AND BEYOND
As the ship's counselor on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Marina Sirtis had a character who changed drastically through the seven years of the series. Hear her tell about it and answer questions about what really went on and how she brought more depth to her half-betazoid mind-reading mental healer.
Marina Sirtis, trek
4295: ALIENS AMONG US (writpub)
We write about alien civilizations, but there are cultures we don't know about among us. One of the ways to write alien cultures is to talk to people in cultures outside that are alien to us.
Robin Wayne Bailey, Tobias S. Buckell, Margaret Wander Bonanno, ElizaBeth Gilligan, Don Sakers(M)
4209: WHY CYBERPUNK IS DEAD (lit)
Twenty years ago, Cyberpunk was "it" in science fiction. It was bold, exciting, full of new ideas. What happened? Or is it still with us in different clothes?
Elizabeth Bear(M), Ian McDonald, Takayuki Tatsumi, John Barnes, Mark von Schlegell
5914: THE NATURE OF MEMORY (scitech)
Just what is memory? How does it work? Why are some people forgetful and others can remember everything? Is there more to it than brain chemistry and firing neurons? Why do some people seem to lose memory ability as they age?
Eric M. Van
4410: REVIEWING FILM & TELEVISION
It's not the same as reviewing books. Or is it? What special skills do you need to review movies and TV? Here from professional critics what it takes to do the job well.
Bill Warren, MaryAnn Johanson, Dr. Bob Blackwood(M) media
4398: REAL ALIENS
Aliens in science fiction come in virtually all shapes, sizes, and colors. But, if they're out there, what will real aliens be like? Not just physically. How will they think? Will they have the same type of emotions and moral/ethical feelings we do? How will we say Hello?
Sheila Finch, Alastair Reynolds(M), Walter H. Hunt, Dr. Gregory Benford, G. David Nordley
3892: REVISE, REVISE, REVISE! (writpub)
Often the difference between an amateur writer and a professional is that the pro knows how to rewrite and the amateur thinks he got it right the first time.
Louise Marley, Peter S. Beagle, James Patrick Kelly(M), Kay Kenyon, Jacqueline Lichtenberg
4070: SEXUAL STEREOTYPING (lit)
There have been strong, female characters in science fiction at least since Jirel of Joirey. This genre hasn't avoided the pitfalls entirely but it's done better than many. Or has it?
Ellen Kushner(M), Janine Ellen Young
4024: POLITICS & SF
Which political ideologies from science fiction novels could and/or do work in real life? Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Starship Troopers? Margaret Atwood's The Handmaids Tale? The whole Star Trek universe?
Bill Thomasson(M), John Maddox Roberts, Tad Daley, John Scalzi, John DeChancie
4329: PHYSICS CIRCUS (scitech)
Practical and fun demonstrations of physics and other scientific stuff.
Courtney Willis
4253: MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
Composers of scores for science fiction films and television talk about how they create the music we're not supposed to notice that makes the films and shows we watch so much better.
Christopher Young, Helen Simmins-McMillin, Bear McCreary, Jay Chattaway filking
4425: WRITING MILITARY SF (writpub)
Drama is about conflict. With military stories, conflict and tension are pretty much automatic. But are there any rules? What do you have to get right? What liberties can you take? And if it's the future and maybe alien races, can't the military structure be different?
James W. Fiscus(M), Joe W. Haldeman, Wil McCarthy, John G. Hemry
5863: INTRODUCTION TO FILKING
What is all this filk stuff? What were those strange sounds in the Laguna Room? Learn how to be a Filker. Actual singing is NOT required.
Dave Weingart, Roberta Rogow, Bill Kushner, Kathleen Sloan filking
5864: CHEAP GUITAR TRICKS
Make people think you can play guitar better than you really can.
Blind Lemming Chiffon filking
3954: CHRISTIAN FANDOM MEETING
Randy Smith, misc/sigs
4170: CONSTRUCTING HEADPIECES
A panel on how to make handy headpieces for your costumes.
Dana MacDermott(M), Pierre E. Pettinger, Kate Morganstern costuming
4025: FAVORITE FANNISH BLOGS & WEBSITES (fandom)
What are your favorites? (Or least favorites?) Our panel will tell you theirs and ask for yours. Have reasons waiting.
Vanessa Van Wagner, Lenny Bailes(M), Mary Kay Kare
5727: AUTOGRAPHING: FIONA PATTON
Fiona Patton
5634: AUTOGRAPHING: LOU ANDERS
Lou Anders
5819: AUTOGRAPHING: FORREST J ACKERMAN
Forrest J Ackerman
5436: AUTOGRAPHING: PAT CADIGAN
Pat Cadigan
5713: Reading
JOHN KESSEL
John Kessel
5517: KAFFEKLATSCH: EVO TERRA
Evo Terra
5593: KAFFEKLATSCH: CHARLES N. BROWN & GARY K. WOLFE
Charles N. Brown, Gary K. Wolfe
5515: Reading
STEVEN BARNES
Steven Barnes
5521: Reading
TODD MCCAFFREY
Todd McCaffrey
4352: BURNING MAN (fandom)
Burning Man is a world onto itself. Is it science fiction made real or a return to ancient days? Or a little of both. Come see a slide show and hear about just what happens at this extravaganza event.
Brad Templeton(M), James Stanley Daugherty, Christian B. McGuire
4359: PODCASTING
Just what is Podcasting? How does it work and why should I care? And what roll does it have in the future of science fiction?
Stephen Eley, Evo Terra, John O'Halloran(M), Michael R. Mennenga, Paul Fischer
3922: L. A. CONFIDENTIAL (lit)
So many science fiction and fantasy stories are set in Los Angeles. What makes Los Angeles such a great place to write about?
Michael Cassutt, Diane Duane(M), Amy Sterling Casil, Mike Glyer, Richard Foss
4245: LOST: SF OR ??
So just what is Lost? Is it a science fiction series? If it's not, what is it? And why do so many people like it?
Perrianne Lurie, Nicki Lynch(M), Chris Roberson, Chris M. Barkley, Priscilla Olson media
3869: XCOR (scitech)
XCOR Aerospace, Inc. is a small NewSpace company located on the Mojave Airport/Spaceport, founded with the idea that everyone should be able to afford a ticket to ride into space. Since their inception in September, 1999, they have designed, built, tested, and perfected five generations of rocket engines, flown their test bed demonstrator -- the EZ-Rocket (a modified Long EZ aircraft with two XCOR rocket engines) -- 26 times, setting one official world record and several unofficial records. The company wants YOU to be able to go to space and are here at WorldCon to tell us how they can accomplish that.
Aleta Jackson, James M. Busby, Randall Clague
3866: FREE ENTERPRISE - THE SPECIAL EDITION REVEALED
See the new, expanded special edition of Free Enterprise, the legendary cult classic about two sci-fi fans who meet their idol William Shatner and find out he's even more screwed up than they are. Starring Eric McCormack and William Shatner as himself, you can watch it in the comfort of fellow geeks just like you. Featuring new scenes and special effects! The new 2 DVD Special Edition was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment in March 2006, but this is the first time to be able to see it projected on the big screen, and, for the very first time, with an introduction and Q&A by the creators themselves, no, not Jackson Roykirk, but writer/producer Mark A. Altman and director/writer Robert Meyer Burnett. See it again for the very first time -- unless, of course, this is your first time.
Mark Altman, Robert Meyer Burnett media
5910: WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM SCIFI.COM?
The people behind the largest genre website on the planet, scifi.com, want to know what you want them to be putting on the site. Come to the panel and tell them what you think their site needs.
Craig Engler media
4180: SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY AND EARLY CURRICULUM
It's important to stimulate a child's mind early, to give them a desire to learn. Elementary school brings us into contact with reading, arithmetic, music, art, science, and more. Science fiction and fantasy, including fairy tales and mythology, can be used to inform children about all of these subject areas and more, and can excite them about reading and learning.
Laura Frankos(M), Howard V. Hendrix, Jamie Alan Sims, Catherine S. McMullen
4031: THE WORLDS OF OZ (lit)
Over 100 years ago, L. Frank Baum started what may be the most expansive fantasy series ever, with over 40 "official" books and countless unofficial books, stories, comics, films, etc. with new works still coming out. Just what is the "magic" of Oz that keeps generation after generation coming back to it?
Sherwood Smith, Valerie Estelle Frankel, David Maxine, Connie Willis, Dave Smeds(M)
4125: WOMEN IN SCIENCE (scitech)
Barbie says "Math is hard!". Women scientists talk about how science fiction gave them confidence to pursue careers in male-dominated fields such as theoretical chemistry and nuclear physics. What sort of resistance or encouragement did they encounter? How can we get the next generation of girls excited about math and science?
Trina L. Ray, Kelly L. Perry, Elisabeth Malartre, Loretta McKibben(M), Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink
3950: WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE (art)
The Writers of the Future contest has been going on for several years and many budding SF and fantasy writers have entered, won, and gone on to make professional sales. Now there's a new contest for Illustrators. How do go about entering these contests and why should you enter?
Jerry Pournelle, Jay Lake(M), Tim Powers, John Goodwin, Anne McCaffrey
4051: KEVIN DRUM ON POLITICS & THE FUTURE
The Washington Monthly's Political Animal blogger brings his worldview on politics to the Worldcon and lets us know what he thinks is in store in the decades to come.
Kevin Drum, Warren Adler(M)
4066: VAMPIRES IN LITERATURE -- HORROR VS. HEROIC (lit)
Vampires are making a resurgence. And not just with the usual horror readers. They've gone mainstream, with some tales of vampirism reaching the bestseller lists. But what about the books that cast a different light (you should excuse the expression) on vampires, as heroes with bad press?
Lee Martindale, Sean McMullen, Paula Guran, Charlaine Harris, Vera Nazarian(M)
4049: TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET REMEMBERED
Performers from the original series talk about their adventures, on and off the air, making one of the classics of television science fiction. Fans offer their remembrances of the show as well.
Anthony R. Lewis, Charles Lee Jackson II(M), Eric L. Hoffman, Jeff Berkwits media
4189: WRITING SF FOR TELEVISION & MOVIES
Script writing is whole different medium from writing novels and short stories. How is it different from writing prose? And what's it like working in television and the movies?
D.C. Fontana, Paul Cornell, Melinda M. Snodgrass(M), J. Michael Straczynski media
4469: UPCOMING FROM WARNER BOOKS (writpub)
Hear about what science fiction and fantasy novels Warner Books has in store for the future.
Jaime Levine, Barbara Hambly, Carrie Vaughn
4273: ESCAPING THE SLUSHPILE (writpub)
What makes an unsolicited manuscript catch an editor's eye? Magazine editors discuss what they're looking for, what they see too much of, and the do's and don'ts for genre short story writers and poets.
Mike Shepherd Moscoe(M), Bridget McKenna, Toni Weisskopf, Ashley Grayson, Sheila Williams
4021: CON-GOING ON A BUDGET (fandom)
Going to a con when the rent is due Monday. Helpful hints for cutting corners without cutting the fun. Or Hey Buddy, Can you spare a ride.
John Mansfield, Carole Parker, Lynn Gold(M), Grant Kruger
4056: JOBS OF THE FUTURE
What will the blue collar jobs of future be? Mechanic for the hamburger flipping machines at McDonalds? What changes will we see for the white collar set?
Lawrence Person(M), J.G. Hertzler, Justin Lloyd, Christopher J. Garcia
4383: MERCHANDISING: THE REAL MONEY
Movie rights, tie-in books, toys! That's where you really make money. What are the ins and outs ancillary rights? What can you really make? Where can you go wrong? How much do you need to know about copyright and trademark?
M. Christine Valada, Esq., Larry Nemecek, Craig Miller(M) media
4036: WHAT IS EVIL? (writpub)
Novels seem to always pits good versus evil, the hero/heroine (who must do battle, sacrifice endlessly, travel to the ends of the earth to save the world) and the evil protagonist. Sounds simple. But how do you define what is truly evil? And are your characters black and white or many shades of gray? How bad is the bad guy? Is evil marked by character, action, the enormity of destruction, the totality of deceit, or is it possible that evil is in the perception?
Fiona Avery, P C. Hodgell, Stephen Leigh, Brandon Sanderson, Alma Alexander(M)
5950: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
John F. Hertz
5448: AUTOGRAPHING: PHYLLIS EISENSTEIN
Phyllis Eisenstein
5781: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVID A. KYLE
David A. Kyle
5820: AUTOGRAPHING: JAMES FRENKEL
James Frenkel
5703: AUTOGRAPHING: MEL GILDEN
Mel Gilden
3948: RUDYARD KIPLING: FILKWRITER
An examination of Rudyard Kipling's poetry as filk lyrics.
Fred Lerner, Leslie Fish, Karen Anderson filking
5874: THEME CIRCLE: CHILDREN'S FILK SONGS
For children of all ages and sizes.
Steve Savitzky, Dick Eney, TJ Burnside-Clapp, Moira Stern filking
5766: Reading
DELIA SHERMAN
Delia Sherman
5564: KAFFEKLATSCH: HANK REINHARDT
Hank Reinhardt
5660: KAFFEKLATSCH: DAVID HARTWELL
David Hartwell
4374: PGP KEYSIGNING
Bring yourself, pen/pencil, two IDs -- passport and drivers license are good. Also bring copies of your key info to share: KeyID, Key Owner, Key fingerprint, Key size, Key type.
5555: Reading
SCOTT E. GREEN
Scott E. Green
5787: Reading
NANCY HOLDER
Nancy Holder
4149: COSTUMING IN CLOSE-UP: SWEATING THE DETAILS
Small scale details, finishing touches, and delicate work for close-up effects.
Cat Devereaux(M), Kent Elofson, Sandy Pettinger, Qeldas Pickett, Bridget Landry costuming
5966: CASTING CALL #2: HMS TREK-A-STAR
filking
4317: FAN FUNDS (fandom)
Come meet Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF) and Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) winners and hear about the multi-decade old funds to help bring fans from one continent to another. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about fandoms in the UK and Australia.
Bridget Bradshaw(M), Jerry Kaufman, Guy H. Lillian III, Suzanne Tompkins, Len J. Moffatt
3850: BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT BANNERS MEET & GREET
George RR Martin Fandom
George R.R. Martin, misc/sigs
5432: AUTOGRAPHING: DR. JOHN L. FLYNN
Dr. John L. Flynn
5643: AUTOGRAPHING: DR. LAWRENCE M. SCHOEN
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen
5818: AUTOGRAPHING: DENNIS SKOTAK
Dennis Skotak
5492: AUTOGRAPHING: ELLEN DATLOW
Ellen Datlow
5543: AUTOGRAPHING: LISANNE NORMAN
Lisanne Norman
5676: AUTOGRAPHING: SARAH MONETTE
Sarah Monette
5797: Reading
BRAD LINAWEAVER
Brad Linaweaver
5704: Reading
MEL GILDEN
Mel Gilden
5821: KAFFEKLATSCH: JAMES FRENKEL
James Frenkel
5672: KAFFEKLATSCH: MICHAEL F. FLYNN
Michael F. Flynn
5566: KAFFEKLATSCH: STEVEN LOPATA
Steven Lopata
5773: Reading
DR. BOB BLACKWOOD
Dr. Bob Blackwood
5747: Reading
ROBIN WAYNE BAILEY
Robin Wayne Bailey
4033: DESIGNING FANTASY ROLE PLAYING GAMES
Gamers, writers, and artists who have designed popular FRP games discuss what it takes to create an interesting, playable game.
David Cake(M), Walter H. Hunt, Kurt Miller, Steve Jackson, gaming
4039: POST-APOCALYPTIC SF (lit)
John Varley said "We all love after-the-bomb stories. If we didn't, why would there be so many of them?" Why do we all love them? During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear annihilation was very real; today, the world is a different place, but the threat of annihilation is once again very real. Has the sub-genre changed? How are 21st Century post-apocalyptic stories different from those written during the Cold War era?
Elizabeth Bear(M), Ed Green, Takayuki Tatsumi, John G. Hemry, Nick Sagan
4306: 10 BOOKS I'D... (lit)
Which ten books would you want to take with you to a desert island? How about give to someone who says they don't like science fiction or fantasy? Give to a new reader?
Bradford Lyau, Michael Engelberg(M), Chris M. Barkley, John Kessel
4069: GETTING STARTED WRITING SF -- PART I (writpub)
Going from amateur to professional is a big step. How do you get started? Should you write every day, whether the muse strikes or not? What mistakes shouldn't you make? Writers who have recently broken in will give you their advice today. Editors and others will advise in Part II on Friday.
Hilari Bell, Brenda Cooper, Jean-Noel Bassior, Michael S. Brotherton(M), K. A. Bedford
3961: HUGO NOMINEES IN REVIEW (lit)
A critical discussion of the novels and short fiction up for the Hugo Award this year. What's going to win? What should win?
Perrianne Lurie, Randy Smith(M), Gardner Dozois, Charles N. Brown
3942: THE EATON COLLECTION (lit)
A look at the University of California, Riverside's renown special collection on science fiction, including books, fanzines, and more. The librarians overseeing the collection talk about what treasures their library contains, what it takes to maintain such a collection, why people donate their collections to them, and why a university library is interested in keeping such an enormous horde of science fiction.
Melissa Conway, PhD, Sheryl Jean Davis, Julia D. Ree
3882: FANDOM AFTER THE SHW
It was Fandom that kept Star Trek alive for years after its cancellation and was the tool that eventually brought it back. Which recently cancelled show has the kind of Fandom that will keep the show alive even though it's not on the air? Which will be the next Trek? Buffy? Xena? Firefly? Or ???.
Lee Martindale, Robert Vogel(M), Lorien Gray, Larry Nemecek media
3891: I'LL PULL OUT YOUR EYESTALKS AND STOMP ON THEM (lit)
Science fiction has become more permissive over the years, as has most other media and genres. But are we now too violent? Is there anything wrong with violence as a theme? Should I punch out your lights if you disagree?
John Maddox Roberts, John Barnes, Mark von Schlegell(M), Kay Kenyon
3928: BATMAN THE LIVE-ACTION SERIES
Forty years ago, in 1966, the American airwaves were hit with a "camp classic" before anyone knew what that meant. Batman was so popular, with it's "pows" and "whams" and over-the-top villains it ran two nights a week. How did that series change the television (and popular culture) landscape? What effect did the series have on the comics it came from?
Alan Dean Foster, Steve Englehart, Charles Lee Jackson II(M), Len Wein, Doselle Young, comics
4085: NOVELIZATIONS & TIE-INS
Writers of TV and Film adaptations and spin-offs discuss the process of going from screen to the printed page and the challenges of bringing their creativity to these works, the secrets for making them good, and more.
Nancy Holder(M), Rebecca Moesta, Scott Alan Woodard, Marv Wolfman, Barbara Hambly media
4165: MAGNIFYING MARS FROM ORBIT WITH HIRISE
The HiRISE camera is the most powerful camera sent to another planet and can resolve objects the size of a dishwasher from its orbit 190 miles above the surface of Mars. What do we hope to learn? How does this camera work?
Loretta McKibben(M)
4326: THE SURFACE OF AN INVASION IS AT THE THRESHOLD
Three shows about an alien invasion, all involving the oceans, and all debuting in the same season. What can it all mean? Were any of them any good?
Michael Cassutt, Scott Edelman(M), Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Ctein media
4236: WHY DO ALL THE CHARACTER NAMES HAVE (TM) AFTER THEM? (writpub)
What sort of rights are associated with a literary work? What sort of choices is your publisher making for you? Your editor? Your agent? How much control can you maintain over your work?
Buzz Dixon, M. Christine Valada, Esq.(M)
3899: COLLECTING SF ART FOR FUN & PROFIT (art)
The value of science fiction and fantasy artwork has appreciated greatly over the years. Twenty years ago, an expensive work in an Art Show was still well-under $100. Today, that's cheap. SF art can command many thousands of dollars for a single piece. Collectors and appraisers will give you the ins and outs of collecting and protecting SF art.
Doug Ellis, Edie Stern, Mark L. Olson
4312: DISTRIBUTION: HOW SF GETS TO YOU (writpub)
Once a book is published, how does it end up in your hands? And how has that pathway been changing over the last two decades?
Beth Meacham(M), Jim Minz, Jaime Levine, John R. Douglas
4349: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI ON...
The hardest-working-man in television (and comics and horror and... ) talks about what's new, answers questions about what's old, and otherwise lets us know what's going on.
J. Michael Straczynski media
5916: 2081: THE REMAKE EVERYONE WAS WAITING FOR
2001: A Space Odyssey is considered by many one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. Now, being prepared for the 40th anniversary of the original, is a remake for today's generation. Meet some of the filmmakers and hear their plans. media
4467: JIM BAEN: A LIFE IN SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
James Patrick Baen's life in science fiction and fantasy publishing started in the complaint department of Ace Books. He's been editor of magazines and novels, edited anthology series, and started his own publishing company, Baen Books, which publishes both on paper and on the internet. Hear friends and co-workers celebrate the life of this recently-lost mainstay of science fiction publishing.
Jerry Pournelle, Toni Weisskopf, Larry Niven, William B. Fawcett(M), Dr. Gregory Benford
4431: GUERILLA MARKETING FOR THE NEO-PRO (writpub)
You don't have the money to take out ads in "Publishers Weekly" or "Time Magazine". What do you do to build "brand value"? How do you promote yourself without turning off your audience? How do you get more sales? How can you connect with your fledgling fan base?
Diane Duane, Vera Nazarian, Don Sakers, Robert B Hole, Jr.(M), Tobias S. Buckell
3956: GUILTY PLEASURES
Here are activities that give us great personal pleasure but somehow, down deep inside, we're just a bit ashamed to admit that we like the Smurfs... or bowling... or mud wrestling. Hear people reveal their Guilty Pleasures and why they indulge.
Fiona Avery, Fiona Patton, Eric L. Hoffman, Darlene Marshall(M)
4153: MEASURE OF SUCCESS: AWARDS FROM A TO Z (fandom)
The historical perspective. Overview of some of the awards, current and defunct. What do they all mean?
Moshe Feder(M), Jerry Kaufman, David Bratman
3996: THE CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM (scitech)
In recent years, China has made a concerted push to explore space. Come hear about what they've been doing lately and whatever we know about what they've got planned for the future.
Jonathan F Kotas(M), Hugh S. Gregory, G. David Nordley
5951: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Geri Sullivan
5882: HISTORY OF FILK: THE PALEO- AND MESO-FILKISH ERAS
A discourse on the Paleofilkish Era, before 1970, and the Mesofilkish Era, 1970-1980, when Filkbook technology was introduced.
Dick Eney, TJ Burnside-Clapp, Erwin S. Filthy Pierre Strauss filking
5875: THINK UNIVERSALLY, SING LOCALLY
How do filk custons and traditions differ across the globe? How are they similar? How does Interfilk affect this?
Bill Laubenheimer, Dave Weingart, Blind Lemming Chiffon, Kathleen Sloan, Gary Ehrlich filking
5894: THEME CIRCLE: COMPUTER SONGS
Steve Savitzky, Bill Laubenheimer filking
3964: SOUTH GATE IN '58 (fandom)
Rick Sneary and other Southern California fans started a joke which became a slogan which begat a Worldcon.
Fred Patten(M), Roger Sims, Len J. Moffatt
4408: AUTISM NETWORKING GROUP
For parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders such as hyperlexia, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS, etc. to discuss living with autistism.
4017: THE GENIUS BAR, COSTUMING STYLE
Bring your problems. Let's figure out how to solve them.
Kent Elofson, Sandy Pettinger, Joy Day, Dana MacDermott, Pierre E. Pettinger, Janet Wilson Anderson, Kevin Roche(M) costuming
4042: JAPANESE SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTIONS: AN INTRODUCTION (fandom)
4142: SHOULD CALIFORNIANS BE FARMERS? (scitech)
Generations of engineers and agronomists have turned California's deserts into lush farmland. Nearly 80% of California's water is used for agriculture. What is the long-term environmental impact of this water diversion and artificial fertility? Are California's farms a triumph of human ingenuity or an unsustainable house of cards? Should industrial countries become net importers of food from more fertile places, or can we rely on an ongoing technological cornucopia to feed the rich nations?
Amy Thomson, Sam Scheiner, Paolo Bacigalupi(M), Richard Foss
3940: ASFA BUSINESS MEETING
The annual meeting of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists. Learn about the Chesley Awards and what ASFA can do for artists.
5756: AUTOGRAPHING: MIKE RESNICK
Mike Resnick
5646: AUTOGRAPHING: ELIZABETH GILLIGAN
ElizaBeth Gilligan
5552: AUTOGRAPHING: KAREN HABER
Karen Haber
5487: AUTOGRAPHING: ALLEN M. STEELE
Allen M. Steele
5443: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN SCALZI
John Scalzi
5664: Reading
STEPHEN LEIGH
Stephen Leigh
5542: KAFFEKLATSCH: PHIL FOGLIO
Phil Foglio
5635: KAFFEKLATSCH: LOU ANDERS
Lou Anders
5673: Reading
MICHAEL F. FLYNN
Michael F. Flynn
5651: Reading
JAMES P. HOGAN
James P. Hogan
4388: MARS ATTACKS! (scitech)
Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, debunks the "face on Mars" and other topics dealing with Mars pseudo-science.
Phil Plait
4152: BEST OF SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS (lit)
Finding the perfect science fiction or fantasy novel for your child, niece, or nephew.
Tom Whitmore(M), Hilari Bell, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Ellen Klages, Fiona Patton
4120: FAN-TIQUES ROADSHOW
Just like the similarly named television series, expert appraisers will give you their views on just what your junk is worth? Is that first edition a priceless treasure or a doorstop? Is that painting firewood or worth a king's ransom. Forget the jewels and Tiffany lamps. Bring in your science fiction and fannish collectibles for appraisal. (Appraisal items can include books, magazines, toys, movie memorabilia, posters, original art, and other items of fan interest.)
Rudy Franchi, Alex Eisenstein, Phyllis Eisenstein, misc/sigs
3865: SPACE DRIVES: FROM LAUNCH LASERS TO WARP DRIVES (scitech)
A discussion of old and new ideas about space propulsion. Old standards: laser sustained propulsion, tethers, nuclear rockets, wormholes. New ideas: the Alcubierre warp drive, tachyon propulsion, axion ramjets.
Ctein(M), Jordin Kare, Michael S. Brotherton, James P. Hogan, G. David Nordley
4416: BEING AN ALIEN
Some of the actors who have portrayed Klingons, Ferengi, and other aliens on Star Trek talk about getting into a character that no one's ever met and life under latex.
J.G. Hertzler, Robert O'Reilly, Suzie Plakson media
4470: THE FUTURE FROM DAW (writpub)
Science fiction and fantasy publisher DAW Books has a lot in store in the coming months. See and hear what they have in store.
Sheila Gilbert, Betsy Wollheim
4244: COMICS: WORDS & PICTURES
An in-depth look at the art of bringing together the story, the dialogue, and the images that make comic books and graphic novels a unique art form.
Steve Englehart, Karen Haber, Bernie Wrightson, Buzz Dixon, Eric Shanower, Harry Harrison, Marv Wolfman(M), comics
4389: CHANGING HUMAN NATURE
Has human nature changed through recorded history, or are we the same old apes with new technology?
Steven Barnes(M), Sean Williams, Courtney Willis, Eric M. Van, Andrew Adams
4427: THE THEORY OF DRAGONS
Dragons abound in fantasy and fairy tales but not all dragons are alike. From Real Musgrave's Pocket Dragons to Naomi Novik's giants, with Anne McCaffrey's more traditionally-sized dragons in between, not only their sizes vary but their personalities and capabilities as well. Writers of dragon tales talk about the whys and wherefores of dragons.
Michael R. Mennenga, Naomi Novik(M), Bradley H. Sinor, Dave Smeds, Todd McCaffrey
4344: THE SPACE OPERA RENAISSANCE (lit)
What was Space Opera, What is Space Opera, is there a renaissance of Space Opera, or was there, where and when?
Mike Shepherd Moscoe, Toni Weisskopf, Alastair Reynolds, Wil McCarthy, David Hartwell, Gardner Dozois(M), Charles N. Brown
4108: DIFFERENT TYPES OF WRITING? (writpub)
The Novel, Novella, Short Story, etc. Is one just longer than the other or are they really different? And what about screenplays?
James Patrick Kelly, Robert Silverberg, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff(M), Delia Sherman
3918: THE WORST IDEAS IN FANTASY OR SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
We're always hearing the science fiction is a literature of ideas. And that this or that was a great idea. What just didn't work? What seemed like a good idea at the time but...
Peter S. Beagle, Adam-Troy Castro(M), Darrell Schweitzer, Brandon Sanderson, Janine Ellen Young
4464: YOU KILLED MY WASH, PREPARE TO DIE!
Should Joss Whedon have done it? Was killing Wash the right move or the wrong one?
Lee Martindale, Ed Green, John O'Halloran(M), Mary Kay Kare media
4904: PODCASTING SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
Is there a market for science fiction and fantasy via podcast? Is there even an audience? Can you make money directly or is it just a way to get your material known? If you're a reader/consumer, is this a good way to find science fiction and just how do you find what you want?
Stephen Eley, Evo Terra, Cory Doctorow, Paul Fischer(M)
4140: TRIVIA FOR CHOCOLATE!
Come answer trivia questions and get chocolate. Most uneaten chocolate at the end wins!
Mark L. Olson, Priscilla Olson, misc/sigs
4208: BRITISH SF TELEVISION TODAY
With the new Dr. Who, there's a resurgence of science fiction on UK television. Here what it is we're missing on this side of the pond.
Paul Cornell(M), Scott Alan Woodard, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Simon R Green media
3984: WHERE'S THE SF Y.A.? (lit)
The vast majority of Young Adult novels being published today are fantasy. Why aren't there more SF themes in Y.A.? What themes aren't being addressed because of the comparative lack of SF Y.A. novels? Are older writers afraid to write about future technology for kids who are immersed in tech that would've been regarded as SF a few decades ago?
Laura Frankos, John G. Hemry, Ashley Grayson, John Barnes, Harry Turtledove(M)
3896: ESTATE PLANNING FOR COLLECTORS (fandom)
What's going to happen to your complete collection of Amazing or all those Whalen paintings after you're gone?
Andrew I. Porter(M), Nicki Lynch, Fred Lerner, Fred Patten, Don Sakers
4386: WRITING WHILE HOLDING DOWN A DAY JOB (writpub)
Even some of the most prominent writers don't make enough from their writing to give up their day jobs. What compromises do you have to make to make it work?
Sheila Finch(M), Deborah J Ross, Tobias S. Buckell, Sharon Shinn, Jay Lake
3973: BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN (art)
Artists and art directors talk about what makes for a good cover illustration, an eye-catching design, and increased sales
John Picacio(M), David A. Kyle, Frank Wu
5831: MATCH GAME
Get ready to match the stars! An SF-themed take on the classic 1970s game show. Audience members will be selected randomly as contestants, and can win prizes by matching the answers our panel give to questions like "Captain Kirk has the biggest ___ in Starfleet!" This is (theoretically) the family-friendly edition. Come see Match Game PM for a somewhat more freewheeling game.
Lynn Gold, Tom Galloway, Kevin Standlee, Len Wein, Andrew T Trembley, Kevin Roche, Christopher J. Garcia, performances
4459: TIME IN THE NOVEL: THE STAPLEDON/ WOOLF CORRESPONDENCE (lit)
Pace of narration is crucial to the feel of novels, and is one of the most interesting but least discussed aspects of fiction. Two great novelists, Olaf Stapledon and Virginia Woolf, had a brief exchange on this topic in the 1930s, coming at the topic from their two extremities of stream-of-consciousness and cosmological narrative. Listen as Kim Stanley Robinson describes that interaction and its later effect on the two artists, as a starting point to a larger discussion of how time is used and described in novels.
Kim Stanley Robinson
5714: AUTOGRAPHING: AMY STERLING CASIL
Amy Sterling Casil
5740: AUTOGRAPHING: SCOTT EDELMAN
Scott Edelman
5421: AUTOGRAPHING: STEVE JACKSON
Steve Jackson
5425: AUTOGRAPHING: HOWARD V. HENDRIX
Howard V. Hendrix
5779: AUTOGRAPHING: GARTH NIX
Garth Nix
5444: Reading
JOHN SCALZI
John Scalzi
5735: KAFFEKLATSCH: CHRIS ROBERSON
Chris Roberson
5451: KAFFEKLATSCH: DIANA L. PAXSON
Diana L. Paxson
5586: KAFFEKLATSCH: MARK VON SCHLEGELL
Mark von Schlegell
5880: SINGING THE PEGASUS NOMINEES
Be prepared to vote for the Pegasus Awards. Go down the list of Pegasus Nominees and sing/listen to all the songs we know.
Dave Weingart, Leslie Fish, Kathleen Sloan, Bill Roper, Gary Ehrlich filking
4285: GLASS HARMONICA DEMONSTRATION
Benjamin Franklin invented it and Mozart and Beethoven wrote for it. Louise Marley talks about the history, mysteries, and misconceptions that surround it and William Wilde Zeitler will perform on it.
Louise Marley, William Zeitler, misc/sigs
5815: Reading
ELLEN KUSHNER
Ellen Kushner
5489: Reading
ALLEN M. STEELE
Allen M. Steele
4454: POSING FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Experienced photographers show you how to get the best from your costume photos, and costumers are shown how to pose for the best pics.
Charles Mohapel, Zelda Gilbert, Kent Elofson(M), Danny Low, Bridget Landry, Jack Krolak costuming
4115: 20 YEARS OF WORLDCON ORGANIZING: SHIFTS, MYTHS, PLAYERS (fandom)
How has Worldcon bidding and organizing changed over the last 20 years. A few good SMOFs discuss the evolution, problems, and solutions? Any predictions about where we're headed?
Mike Glyer(M), Christian B. McGuire, Ben Yalow
5919: THE NEW WORLD OF FUNNY ANIMAL COMIC STRIPS: ON LINE!
Frustrated by the difficulties of dealing with newspaper syndicates, many funny animal artists (with many different styles!) have taken the do-it-yourself approach, putting their new strips up on the Internet.
, furry
5495: AUTOGRAPHING: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
J. Michael Straczynski
5485: AUTOGRAPHING: K. A. BEDFORD
K. A. Bedford
5661: AUTOGRAPHING: CONNIE WILLIS
Connie Willis
5774: AUTOGRAPHING: GARY K. WOLFE
Gary K. Wolfe
5809: AUTOGRAPHING: DR. ISAAC SZPINDEL
Dr. Isaac Szpindel
5512: Reading
JOHN MADDOX ROBERTS
John Maddox Roberts
5738: KAFFEKLATSCH: WALTER H. HUNT
Walter H. Hunt
5426: KAFFEKLATSCH: HOWARD V. HENDRIX
Howard V. Hendrix
5503: Reading
KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO
Keith R.A. DeCandido
5789: Reading
MARK L. Van Name
Mark L. Van Name
4438: STAR TREK: BETWEEN THE CRACKS
Forget the current hiatus! Reminisce and rifle through 40 years of Star Trek's "attic trunk". Visit the Paramount stages and catch some of the oddballs-and-ends, all from the photo and art collection of author and editor Larry Nemecek. The humor, the what-ifs, the bizarre -- even a little metaphysics. And oh yeah -- some all-new blooper stills, to boot. Come ready with the loving yet witty cat-calls.
Larry Nemecek, trek
4332: CITIES IN SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
Are cities just a background or do science fiction writers actually take advantage of the complexities inherent in cities? Do cities ever become characters?
Nicki Lynch, Cheryl Morgan(M), Richard Foss, Jay Lake, Janine Ellen Young
4207: POLITICS, THE INTERNET, AND THE FUTURE
The face of the American political system has been changed forever by the advent of electronic technology. Can our system handle it? What will our government be like in 100 years?
Alan Dean Foster, Bill Thomasson, Brad Templeton(M), Brenda Cooper, David Cake
4251: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (writpub)
How have computers and the Internet effected publishing? The editors, publishers, and writers of books and magazines available via the Internet talk about the paperless revolution.
Stephen Eley, Dave Smeds(M), Phil Foglio, Michael Ward, Ellen Datlow
3980: CASSINI: WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR (scitech)
A presentation from one of the scientists involved with the Cassini mission to Saturn.
Bridget Landry
4322: JAPANESE MYSTIC FANTASY (lit)
A discussion of the use of historic fantasy, myths, horror, folktales, and weird and supernatural stories in modern Japanese genre literature.
Takayuki Tatsumi, Tom Schaad(M), Mari Kotani
4184: ADAPTING SF AND FANTASY FOR THE STAGE .
Today's SF and fantasy films rely heavily on computer generated characters and effects. How can you bring them believably to the stage? Or should you even try?
Steve Collins(M), William Shunn, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Janet Wilson Anderson, Brian Coghill media
4038: FANDOM IN THE BOONIES (fandom)
Sure, there's the internet. But sometimes you want to talk to people who share your interests, see them face to face. it's hard to be a fan when the next nearest fan lives 100 miles away or more. Some ideas on how to do it.
John Mansfield(M), Randy Smith, Tadao Tomomatsu, Geri Sullivan
4071: PUBLISHING SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
From small press to major publishing houses, science fiction is a popular place to be. What's it take to know the field and to get your books into the stores?
Anthony R. Lewis, Alan Rodgers, Michael J. Walsh(M), Lou Anders, Jaime Levine
4219: YOUR FIRST WORLDCON? (fandom)
Ideas, suggestions, and things you shouldn't miss. For fans, writers, and everyone who doesn't quite know what they've gotten themselves into.
Perrianne Lurie, Priscilla Olson, Gay Haldeman(M)
4239: IS ART THE INSPIRATION FOR MADNESS?
Writers are like gods. Whatever they want their characters to do, they do. If they want lightning to strike, the sky is shattered by electricity. Are they responsible for the themes, the ideas, and the actions in their works? Is there a responsibility not to show how to make a bomb? Should good always triumph over evil?
Lisanne Norman(M), Joe W. Haldeman, ElizaBeth Gilligan, Tim Powers, Nick Sagan
4059: I WAS PROMISED FLYING CARS! (scitech)
The promises of the future and why they haven't been kept.
Jordin Kare, Steven Lopata(M), David F. McMahon, MD, Christopher J. Garcia
4396: HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
Sometimes a movie, TV show, or book is a really good idea but it just doesn't work. Our panelists -- with help from the audience -- talk about how they'd have done it right.
Adam-Troy Castro(M), Edwin L. Strickland III, Ric Meyers, Doselle Young media
4442: PARANORMAL ROMANCES (writpub)
It used to be easy. This book was in that genre; this book was in this other genre. Now the lines aren't so clear. There seems to be a boom in romance novels and stories involving the paranormal, fantasy, and SF. Why is this area booming? Are romance readers looking for more? Or are the SF fans looking for romance? Or are the readers coming equally from all camps? And what does it take to make one of these work? Hear all about it from some of the people writing them.
Nancy Holder, Paula Guran, Sharon Shinn, Darlene Marshall(M), Barbara Hambly
4212: COLLABORATING: THE CARE AND FEEDING OF YOUR PARTNER (writpub)
How do collaborators work together? Is collaboration for everyone? Novelists, comic book writers, and TV writers discuss their own experiences.
Rebecca Moesta, Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Todd McCaffrey
4131: BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
Some books have a profound effect on people. Come hear from our panelists which books had a major effect on them and share your own stories.
Amy Thomson, Lenny Bailes, Chris M. Barkley, Sheila Finch, Harry Turtledove(M)
3944: SCIENCE FICTION TELEVISION OF THE 1950S
In the 1950s, the world was agog with the possibilities of space travel and television was no different. Tom Corbett, Space Cadet; Space Patrol; Captain Video; Rocky Jones; and many others filled the airwaves.
Charles Lee Jackson II, Mel Gilden, Eric L. Hoffman, Jean-Noel Bassior(M), Jeff Berkwits media
4343: SF ABROAD (lit)
Is the science fiction in Budapest different from the science fiction in Dubuque? What about the science fiction in Paris? London? Tokyo? How so?
Bradford Lyau, Jetse de Vries, Grant Kruger(M), John-Henri Holmberg, Pat Cadigan
4402: GOOD ENDINGS (writpub)
Writing is hard. There's lots of work, lots of thought that goes into every sentence. But no matter how good your story is, how compelling your characters are, if your ending falls flat, so does everything else. How do you make your ending work?
Brandon Sanderson, Fiona Avery(M), Kay Kenyon, John Kessel
5952: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Connor Freff Cochran
5871: THEME CIRCLE: WELCOME TO FILK
Roberta Rogow, TJ Burnside-Clapp filking
5937: ONE SHOTS
filking
4342: COSTUMING ON A BUDGET
Where and how to find great prices and great pieces to make your costumes work but not bust your budget.
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan, Zelda Gilbert, Kent Elofson(M), Carole Parker, Qeldas Pickett costuming
5920: FELINE FANDOM MEETPOINT
We know that SF fans love cats, so let's get together and talk about them -- cats in our science fiction, cats in the wild, and cats in our living rooms.
, furry
4449: TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET
A performance of an episode of the classic science fiction series, in memory of L.A.con IV's Special Guest Frankie Thomas, the original Tom Corbett.
5825: FAN FUND RECEPTION (fandom)
A reception in honor of Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund delegate Bridget "Bug" Bradshaw. Come celebrate.
Bridget Bradshaw, Suzanne Tompkins
4129: CHESLEY AWARDS CEREMONY
The annual awards presented by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.
4468: LASFS MEETING (fandom)
A meeting of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, this world's oldest (still-existing) science fiction club, still meeting weekly since 1934.
4218: GUEST OF HONOR EVENT & SPECIAL AWARDS
A spotlight time for each of L.A.con IV's Guests of Honor. Heinlein Award. Others?
Mike Resnick, James Gurney, Connie Willis
5885: IN CONCERT: BLIND LEMMING CHIFFON
Blind Lemming Chiffon filking
5960: IN CONCERT: DAVE KUSHNER
David Kushner filking
5889: THEME CIRCLE: INTERNATIONAL FILK
Dave Weingart filking
5876: THEME CIRCLE: SONGS OF STAR TREK
Kirk, Spock, Picard, and the rest of Star Fleet in song.
Roberta Rogow, Leslie Fish, Karen Anderson, David Kushner, Gary Ehrlich filking
5967: DRUM CIRCLE
filking
4466: SHOCK TO THE HEART: AN EVENING OF GRAND GUIGNOL THEATRE
We're baaaaaaack! Ten years after its debut performance at L.A.con III, GG Theatre returns to horrify, thrill, and delight you with four one-act plays from Paris' Theatre du Grand Guignol. A deliciously shocking mixture of SF themes, risqué comedy, sadistic horror, blood, and bare skin -- all in one tight package. Who could ask for more at a Con? (Not For Children!)
4057: ARTIST RECEPTION
Astronomical artists talk about their profession. Do you have to know a lot about astronomy and get the planets and stars exactly right or does it just have to look good?
Frank Wu, Joe Bergeron(M), Joy Day, Rick Sternbach
4136: WSFS BUSINESS MEETING (fandom)
Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. Today most proposals to amend the WSFS Consitution will be debated and voted upon. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting.
Kevin Standlee
3909: ARE CLONES KOSHER?
When we' re finally able to clone a chicken breast, will it be something that vegetarians will eat? Will it be Kosher? Halaal? Will it taste the same as the "original"? Will anyone want to eat it? Many science fiction authors have speculated about "vat-grown meat", but are we actually on the verge of having it to serve on the dinner table? Will it help end famine and starvation, or just make things worse?
Sam Scheiner, Cynthia Felice(M), Deborah J Ross, Richard Foss
3864: HOW STAR TREK AFFECTED OUR LIVES
Fans of Star Trek talk about how watching the show changed them, changed the course of their lives. What did Star Trek do for you?
Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Jane Espenson, trek
4086: THE THREE AGES OF KING KONG
Fans of this great ape talk about the three versions. Is Peter Jackson's version the ultimate telling?
Karen Haber, James W. Fiscus(M), Connie Willis, Ric Meyers media
3870: INTRODUCTION TO KLINGON
80% of the grammar in 50 minutes, from one of the leading lights in Klingon linguistics
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen
4363: FICTION 2005/2006 (lit)
High Fantasy. Hard Science Fiction. Dark Fantasy. Squishy Science Fiction. Some of science fiction's most outspoken reviewers give their opinions on what was worth reading.
Paula Guran, Gary K. Wolfe, Jonathan Strahan, Charles N. Brown(M), Ellen Datlow
4081: THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE (scitech)
Medicine is evolving at an amazing pace. New discoveries, technology, etc. are announced every day. What will medicine be like in 100 years? Will we have tricorders and neuroscanners like in Star Trek? How about growing or cloning organs? Will we be using organics to solve problems instead of nanobots?
Bill Thomasson, John Scalzi, ElizaBeth Gilligan, John Strickland, David F. McMahon, MD(M)
4231: THE ANALOG STORY: WHAT IS IT? (writpub)
Over the years, "Analog" editor Stanley Schmidt has discovered that there are a lot of common misconceptions about just what makes a story an "Analog" story. Along with several of the magazine's regular contributors, Schmidt will share his views of just what it is they're trying to do, how it isn't all rivets and getting the science right
Michael F. Flynn(M), Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, Stanley Schmidt, Harry Turtledove, Allen M. Steele
3979: EUROPEAN SPACE PROGRAMS (scitech)
What's going on with the European Space Agency? What missions have they undertaken recently and what's planned for the future?
Edwin L. Strickland III, Hugh S. Gregory(M), Robert Gounley, Scott Edgington
4190: CREATING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE INTERNET
The web isn't just for research, for posting comments on the latest episode of Lost, or to find porn. It can also be used to create communities. The best example of this is "craigslist", now with over 200 sites in 35 countries. Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist, and others, talk about what they're doing and why. And where we can go from here.
Craig Newmark, Noel Wolfman, Teresa Nielsen Hayden(M)
4270: THE CONTRACT BETWEEN READER AND WRITER (lit)
An arrangement of convenience? How can we define the process, and what does each partner bring to it?
Louise Marley, Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Kress, Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Lorien Gray(M)
4350: WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS (writpub)
Does it take special training or knowledge to write books and stories for children and young adults? Are they different from adult works in any way, other than vocabulary? How do you break in? And if you write for kids, is it hard to also write for adults?
Diane Duane(M), Rebecca Moesta, Ellen Klages, William F. Wu, Garth Nix
3920: WOMEN IN SCIENCE IN SCIENCE FICTION (scitech)
Women scientists have featured prominently in many science fiction stories. Panelists talk about the image of women in science fiction stories, from the classics to today. How accurate are the depictions? And are these women scientists really scientists or just secretaries in lab coats?
Mary A. Turzillo, Loretta McKibben, Bridget Landry, Cordelia Willis(M)
4241: GETTING STARTED WRITING SF -- PART II (writpub)
Going from amateur to professional writer is a big step. How do you get started? In Part I, new writers gave you their advice. Today in Part II, editors and established writers give you theirs. Compare these expert's answers with those of Thursday's panel.
Keith R.A. DeCandido(M), Ashley Grayson, Tim Powers, Stephen Leigh, Jaime Levine
4052: SF POETRY (writpub)
What is it? Is there a market for it? How do you start?
Vanessa Van Wagner, Darrell Schweitzer(M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, Geoffrey A. Landis
4224: RELIGION IN SF BOOKS & MOVIES
Religion is frequently ignored in science fiction and fantasy. But sometimes it isn't. How is it treated? Do we see standard Earth religions or all-new ones? Or ones that just think they're all new? Some authors seem to think that, come the future, all people will just abandon their religious beliefs. Does that seem likely?
Fr. John Blaker(M), John Maddox Roberts, Dr. Bob Blackwood, Robert Charles Wilson, Randy Smith
4435: WORLD OF WARCRACK
Massively Multiplayer Online Games have long been popular but none have ever been as popular as World of Warcraft. (At its height, "Everquest" had fewer than one million subscribers; WoW has about six million.) Why are these sorts of games popular and what is it about WoW that makes it king?
Raph Koster(M), Mike Stemmle, William B. Fawcett, Justin Lloyd, Scott Campbell, gaming
4294: THE FUTURE OF THE U.N.
Third world countries are starting to unite and stand up to the first world. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not. What does the future hold? Which countries will lead this power change (if any) and what are the implications? Is it inevitable? And desirable?
Tad Daley(M), Brenda Cooper, Grant Kruger, Jim Young, John Shirley
4384: RE-IMAGININGS
More than just a euphemism for "remake" and "cashing in", some TV series are actually well-thought out new adaptations of the same material. Battlestar Galactica and Dr. Who are two good examples of high quality shows that respect their antecedents but bring much that is new and good to the material. What changes get made and why? Are the audiences and commercial pressures different now than for the original?
Paul Cornell, MaryAnn Johanson(M), Shaun Lyon, Lee Whiteside media
4433: GIVING GOOD INTERVIEW (writpub)
Panelists discuss what it takes to give a good press interview or anything involving promotion of your own works and activities.
Robert J. Sawyer, Lee Martindale, Evo Terra(M), Jeff Berkwits, Karen Willson
4915: MASQUERADE ORIENTATION
For all people entering the Masquerade, to have the ins, outs, and details of what will be happening tonight explained and all (or most) of your questions answered.
Phil Foglio costuming
5801: AUTOGRAPHING: BOB EGGLETON
Bob Eggleton
5642: AUTOGRAPHING: LAURA FRANKOS
Laura Frankos
5639: AUTOGRAPHING: MELINDA M. SNODGRASS
Melinda M. Snodgrass
5730: AUTOGRAPHING: ALAN DEAN FOSTER
Alan Dean Foster
5585: AUTOGRAPHING: MARK VON SCHLEGELL
Mark von Schlegell
5522: AUTOGRAPHING: SEAN MCMULLEN
Sean McMullen
5939: TECHNO-FILK: MIDI FOR KIDS
MIDI programming for kids. Learn how a MIDI sequencer works with a PC to make music.
Marilyn Miller, Bill Laubenheimer filking
5416: Reading
KAY KENYON
Kay Kenyon
5837: SCIENCE FUN (scitech)
We have some fun with science things and attempt not to blow up the place.
Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl
5653: KAFFEKLATSCH: RACHEL MANIJA BROWN
Rachel Manija Brown
5814: KAFFEKLATSCH: ELLEN KUSHNER
Ellen Kushner
5525: KAFFEKLATSCH: CECILIA TAN
Cecilia Tan
4411: SIDEWISE AWARD CEREMONY
The annual awards for Alternate History works are presented.
Evelyn C. Leeper, misc/sigs
5532: Reading
WILLIAM SHUNN
William Shunn
5472: Reading
JOHN BARNES
John Barnes
5872: WORKSHOP: ORDERING CONCERT PLAYLIST & CD TRACKS
A workshop on how to assemble a successful concert playlist and arrange the track order on an album.
Gretchen Roper filking
4119: FANZINES I'D LIKE TO PUBLISH (fandom)
Panelists discuss their dream fanzines, from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Jerry Kaufman(M), Bridget Bradshaw, Christopher J. Garcia
5800: Reading
KEVIN J. ANDERSON
Kevin J. Anderson
4919: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 1: THE HERO (lit)
Panel Chair: Amelia Beamer, Michigan State 1. Chakram and Pigtails: The Heroine's Journey in Modern Media; Valerie Frankel, San Jose State 2. Gamer Culture; Sara Stepongzi, California State University, Northridge 3. Canon, Sues, and Canon Sues; Gabrielle Lissauer; California State University, Northridge
5507: AUTOGRAPHING: MARV WOLFMAN
Marv Wolfman
5859: AUTOGRAPHING: ANNE MCCAFFREY
Anne McCaffrey
5759: AUTOGRAPHING: MICHAEL R. MENNENGA
Michael R. Mennenga
5745: AUTOGRAPHING: ROBIN WAYNE BAILEY
Robin Wayne Bailey
5717: AUTOGRAPHING: BRANDON SANDERSON
Brandon Sanderson
5958: AUTOGRAPHING: Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris
5427: Reading
HOWARD V. HENDRIX
Howard V. Hendrix
5838: CAREER GUIDANCE - HOW TO GET INTO THE TRADE? (writpub)
Why Teens should start writing now, scams and rip offs to avoid, and how to get into the writing and publishing business.
Amy Sterling Casil(M), Jerry Pournelle, John G. Hemry, Steve Saffel, David Brin
5569: KAFFEKLATSCH: LAURA ANNE GILMAN
Laura Anne Gilman
5554: KAFFEKLATSCH: SCOTT E. GREEN
Scott E. Green
5509: Reading
HILARI Bell
Hilari Bell
5484: Reading
NICK DICHARIO
Nick DiChario
5605: Reading
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
George R.R. Martin
5948: DANTE'S COVE PREVIEW: LUNCH AT THE COVE
How has the landscape changed for queer content in SF/F TV? We've come a long way, from the encoded characters of Xena to the out characters of Buffy to the predominantly gay and lesbian characters of Dante's Cove," here! Network's sexy, supernatural original drama. The producers, director, and cast members of this groundbreaking original series will be sharing never-before-seen footage from the upcoming second season, and discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of making a "guilty pleasure" show with a queer twist. Stay after the Q&A for a mixer with panelists, fans, and snacks. Gillian Horvath, Meredith Kadlec, Sam Irvin, Patrick Moore and cast member Tracy Scoggins (Babylon 5). Additional cast TBD.
Gillian Horvath, Sam Irvin, Patrick Moore, Tracy Scoggins, Meredith Kadlec media
4279: HOWARD DEVORE MEMORIAL
Come share your memories -- happy and sad, funny and really funny -- about Howard DeVore. L.A.con's Fan Guest of Honor may not be with us in person, but we know he's watching. Come celebrate his life with family and friends.
Andrew I. Porter, Rusty Hevelin, Karen Anderson, Roger Sims(M), Roger Sims(M), Joe Siclari, Len J. Moffatt
4456: STARSHIP SMACKDOWN (PRESENTED BY GEEK MAGAZINE)
The legendarily geekiest convention panel of all-time makes its first Worldcon appearance after another SRO appearance at last year's San Diego Comic Con. Ever wonder if the Jupiter 2 could kick the Sulaco's ass? Can the Serenity make mincemeat out of a Klingon D-7 battle cruiser? And will the Yamato ever be able to beat Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise? There's only one way to find out. Be there or be squarer than you already are.
Mark Altman, Daren Dochterman, Robert Meyer Burnett, Steve Melching, Chris Gossett, Kay Reindl, Jeff Bond media
3867: CRAIG NEWMARK ON CRAIGSLIST
The founder and CEO of craigslist talks about how a small website to help find things to do in San Francisco has grown into the prototype for internet communities, with sites in over 200 cities and 35 countries.
Craig Newmark
3912: THE CHANNEL SURFER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
The Trans-Iowa Canal Company's sixty-sixth performance finds Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect facing the cancellation of their television program. They are able to escape into the airwaves using their wits and intestinal fortitude. Oh, and a magical remote and Ford's copy of "The Channel Surfer's Guide to the Galaxy." Unfortunately, they are pursued by the evil Network Executives who have plans of their own for Arthur and Ford. Avoiding stabbings, shootings, and explosions, our heroes face their greatest challenge of all... a music video.
4282: THE ART OF JOE BERGERON
The artist presents a slide show of his work.
Joe Bergeron(M)
3915: SIGHTSEEING IN JAPAN
Where to go and what to do before and after next year's Worldcon. And what should I know about the Japanese culture to keep me from insulting anyone by mistake?
Takayuki Tatsumi, John Maizels(M), Evelyn C. Leeper, Tadao Tomomatsu, Maho Watanabe
3871: HOW TO KILL OFF A CHARACTER (writpub)
You spend time crafting characters, thinking about who they are, what they want, what they care about. You tell stories about them, lovingly crafted. Now it's time for them to die. How do you do it? And what can happen if you do.
Mike Shepherd Moscoe, Deborah J Ross(M), Madeleine E. Robins, Alma Alexander
4387: WORLD GOVERNMENT
Is it a real possibility or mere science fiction? Many SF novels take something like a world state for granted, as part of the background of their future universe. Yet if one talks about world government as a concrete political goal -- however distant -- people often dismiss it as hopelessly naive and utopian. What is the likelihood of it ever happening?
Brenda Cooper, Tad Daley(M), John Barnes, John Shirley
3874: FILMS 2005/2006
Not for the squeamish. That describes a number of the science fiction and fantasy films that have come out this year. It also describes the reviews a number of films have received. Come hear our experts' opinions and see how they differ from yours.
Bill Warren, MaryAnn Johanson, Dr. Bob Blackwood, Dr. John L. Flynn(M) media
3881: WHERE DO MILITIAS LEAD?
SF fans like to think of themselves as rebels and they like to read stories of people who are the same. But are Gordon Dickson's Dorsai and S.M. Stirling's Draka just a natural extension of today's militias? What about Heinlein's Farnhams Freehold? Are these militiamen the reality?
J.G. Hertzler, John Maddox Roberts, Walter H. Hunt, Richard Foss(M)
3967: FUNNY STORIES FROM SCIENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (scitech)
Our panelists will entertain you (and frighten you) with personal experiences and other true stories about the R&D business.
Sam Scheiner, Loretta McKibben, Jordin Kare(M), Steven Lopata, Geoffrey A. Landis
3986: WEAPONIZING SPACE (scitech)
Good idea? Bad idea? Inevitable whether or not we think it's good or bad? How do you define a weapon when a rock dropped from space can create massive damage?
Paul A. ABell, Hugh S. Gregory(M), James Killus, David F. McMahon, MD
3926: BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE FILMED
Everyone talks about what has been filmed. Here is a discussion of works that haven't been filmed but should be. What should you look for to make a good film? What won't translate from the printed word to the visual media? Why haven't these works been made?
Michael Cassutt, Mary A. Turzillo, Fiona Patton, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Frank Wu(M) media
4290: IT CRAWLED OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE (writpub)
Editors share their "favorite" stories of manuscripts that were a triumph of hope over talent.
Stephen Eley, Alan Rodgers, Betsy Mitchell
4293: IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD THE DEATH OF GOD?
Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein have included religion in their commentary. How have scientific methods changed over the centuries and how has it affected science's relationship with religion? When all actions can be described by physics and all life can be described by biology and chemistry, is there any room for the miraculous, the ineffable?
Robert B Hole, Jr.(M), Mark von Schlegell, Randy Smith, Tim Powers
4264: WRITING CHARACTERS YOU DIDN'T CREATE (lit)
It's one thing to create characters, come up with who they are, what they're like, and how they talk. It's quite another to come into someone else's world and have to tell stories with and about those characters. How do you keep them the same and still put some of yourself into them? Or should you even try?
Margaret Wander Bonanno, Melinda M. Snodgrass(M), Jane Espenson
3914: TEACHING SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
What does it mean to "teach science fiction"? How do you do it? How do you do it well? How do you incorporate science fiction into a curriculum?
Bradford Lyau, Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Gary K. Wolfe, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Michael S. Brotherton(M)
4093: FORGOTTEN FAVORITES OF CHILDHOOD (lit)
What books and stories do you remember best from childhood? Our panelists talk about their favorites and ask about yours.
Amy Thomson(M), Garth Nix, K. A. Bedford, Janet Wilson Anderson, Rachel Manija Brown
5959: ACE/ROC: WHAT'S AHEAD (writpub)
A look at what's ahead from Ace/Roc.
Ginjer Buchanan
4307: THE PHYSICS OF SUPERHEROES
Is there anything believable about Superman's powers? Batman's abilities? How can you explain what superheroes do?
James Hay, Courtney Willis, David D. Levine, Tom Galloway, Kevin Andrew Murphy, comics
5953: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Ctein, Teresa Nielsen Hayden
4302: HAVE YOU TOLD YOUR NEXT OF KIN YOU WRITE FILKSONGS & FANFIC?
Pre-mortem planning to provide for your filksongs and fan fiction, as found on webpages, fanzine collections, etc. Emphasis on the filk collections at the Eaton Collection (UC Riverside) and Bowling Green State University's Music Library.
Lynn Maudlin, Melissa Conway, PhD filking
5905: TECHNO-FILK: BANGING OUT THE FILK BYTES ON YOUR LAPTOP
Using your PC as a filk instrument: MIDI and MP3 files.
Bill Laubenheimer, Marilyn Miller filking
4309: COSTUMING WITH LEATHER
How to make costumes with leather.
Kent Elofson, Leanne Mallory(M), Kevin Roche costuming
4315: FANNISH URBAN LEGENDS EXPOSED (fandom)
Everyone's heard that story. But that's not exactly the way it happened. Hear the real stories.
Tom Whitmore(M), Jerry Kaufman, Bjo Trimble
5921: FURRY MYTHOS
From ancient cultures, to movies and TV, to the modern world of the Internet, anthropomorphic characters abound. What's our fascination with talking animals? What does it say about us, and our culture?
, furry
5559: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVID FRIEDMAN
David Friedman
5508: AUTOGRAPHING: HILARI Bell
Hilari Bell
5428: AUTOGRAPHING: VERA NAZARIAN
Vera Nazarian
5568: AUTOGRAPHING: LAURA ANNE GILMAN
Laura Anne Gilman
5553: AUTOGRAPHING: SCOTT E. GREEN
Scott E. Green
5526: Reading
CECILIA TAN
Cecilia Tan
5839: SPACE PIRATE CRASH TEST DUMMIES - SPACE SHIP BUILD (scitech)
Like the car manufacturers of the 20th century who tested the safety of their vehicles by crashing them with human "dummies" inside them, we design and build space ships today and do the same tests tomorrow!! The ship will need to travel a specified distance under it's own power to enter. The Pirate Pilot will either be a raw egg or one filled with jello, previously decorated.
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins
5705: KAFFEKLATSCH: TONI WEISSKOPF
Toni Weisskopf
5949: KAFFEKLATSCH: NAOMI NOVIK
Naomi Novik
5645: Reading
DR. LAWRENCE M. SCHOEN
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen
5694: Reading
JODY LYNN NYE
Jody Lynn Nye
5576: Reading
GREG BEAR
Greg Bear
4906: EOS BOOKS: THE NEXT CHAPTER (writpub)
Diana Gill and Eos authors talk about upcoming Eos books for Fall '06 and Winter '07, with signed giveaways and more.
4325: SHORT FICTION (writpub)
Can you survive as a writer just writing short fiction? How do you know if an idea is right for a short story or should it be a novel? Or something in between? Are there real differences between short stories, novelettes, and novellas other than length?
James Patrick Kelly, Alastair Reynolds(M), Gardner Dozois, John Kessel, Ellen Datlow
3976: WHY IS FANDOM SO WHITE? (fandom)
An exploration of minorities in Science Fiction Fandom.
Cecilia Tan, Grant Kruger(M), June Moffatt, Chris M. Barkley
5858: WOMEN OF STAR TREK
Women on Star Trek sometimes seem to come in only two types: steely-eyed, super serious and hotties. Neither one is a very real character. What does it take to bring one of these characters to life, to add depth and real emotion? Or do you just have fun with it?
Marina Sirtis, Chase Masterson, BarBara Luna, Suzie Plakson media
4104: STAR WARS: A LOOK BACK, A LOOK FORWARD
Thirty years ago some cast and crew of a small, strange, and mostly unknown science-fiction/fantasy film that would open the following year came to the 34th World Science Fiction Convention in Kansas City. For hundreds of thousands of fans across the world, things have never been quite the same. Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet, head of fan relations, takes us back to that time with rare photos and explains how The Star Wars Corporation really started the whole idea of fan outreach for a movie. Now three decades later, George Lucas has completed his six-movie saga -- but Star Wars hasn't even entered middle age. Find out what's next for the saga: two television series, interactive gaming with compelling stories, and more -- and have a chance to ask Steve your questions.
Steve Sansweet media
3907: GOLDEN DUCK AWARDS
The annual presentation of the Golden Duck Awards for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction.
Helen Gbala, Lindalee Stuckey, misc/sigs
3856: SCIENCE FICTION OF THE '30S AND '40S (lit)
A discussion of science fiction of the period. How was it different from what's out there today? Was it better? What are some of the best examples?
Darrell Schweitzer, Gary Westfahl(M), Hank Reinhardt, Jim Young, Ben Yalow
4292: SCIENCE FICTION IN COMICS
A discussion of past and current science fiction successes and failures in comics, and why this has been a troublesome commercial marriage of form and content.
Greg Pak, Paul Cornell(M), Christopher Young, Harry Harrison, Doselle Young, comics
4331: ROBOCOP VS. REAL COP: FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT
The crime labs of today make any major police department into a Sherlock Holmes. What will the future bring? Criminologists and others discuss what changes they're already seeing in their work and what they expect for the future.
Lawrence Person(M), Ed Green, David Friedman, Cordelia Willis
4455: FRANKENSTEIN 75
Seventy-five years ago, in 1931, Universal Studios released Frankenstein and brought "the modern Prometheus" to the silver screen. Since then, Frankenstein (or, more correctly, his monster) has seen a lot of changes, from the original through sequels and remakes and versions by Andy Warhol, Roger Corman, and Mel Brooks. Come take part as experts and fans reminisce about Frankenstein "puttin' on the Ritz".
Charles Lee Jackson II, Eric L. Hoffman(M), Scott Essman media
3965: FASTER THAN LIGHT OR SLOWER THAN MOLASSES (scitech)
A discussion on the realities of space travel.
Joe Bergeron, Mark L. Olson, Todd McCaffrey, Allen M. Steele(M)
4035: BLOGGERS AS PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS
H.L. Mencken, Edmund Wilson, I.F. Stone, Germaine Greer, Gertrude Stein, Hannah Arendt all gained prominence as American public intellectuals through newspaper columns and books of collected essays. Is the Blogosphere spawning a contemporary generation of important public thinkers? Who are the ones you can't afford to miss? What are they saying?
MaryAnn Johanson, Phil Plait, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Kevin Drum, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Cory Doctorow
3971: ALIEN ARTIFACTS
Our distinguished panel of experts will identify unusual alien items and discuss their uses.
Lisanne Norman(M), Pat Cadigan, Barbara Hambly, J. Michael Straczynski
3949: OVERLOOKED BOOKS & OVERRATED NOVELS (lit)
For some reason, some terrific books just don't sell. Nobody's ever heard of them. Others are taught in college as classics of the field, but no one can understand why. Our panelists let you in on some unknown classics you shouldn't miss while they dismiss some lofty `classics'.
Sheila Finch, Alex Eisenstein, Michael Engelberg
3890: BUSINESS, COPYRIGHT, AND PUBLIC DOMAIN
Congress keeps extending the life of copyrights. Is this good for authors and other creators or just for the mega-corporations? Where is "intellectual property" going in the US? In the world?
John R. Douglas, David Cake(M), Eleanor Wood, M. Christine Valada, Esq., Lorien Gray
4227: PARODY, PASTICHE, AND HUMOR (writpub)
There's a time and place for everything. Or is there? Does humor have a place in modern fiction? Can there ever be too much?
Peter S. Beagle, Lee Martindale, John Scalzi, Stanley Schmidt, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff(M)
4406: NOT TONIGHT, DEAR, I HAVE A DEADLINE (writpub)
Life and living with a professional writer or artist.
Buzz Dixon, ElizaBeth Gilligan
4328: THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY ART (art)
Over the past 70 plus years, science fiction illustration has changed dramatically. The '30s and '40s had their flashy, lurid covers. The '50s and '60s sported high tech space-scapes and abstracts. The '70s and '80s have brought us photo-realism. What were the trends of the recent decades? What lies ahead?
John Picacio(M), Karen Haber, Jane Frank, Margaret Organ-Kean, Bob Eggleton
4248: EXPLORING SPACE (scitech)
What are our options for future space exploration? What should we be doing? Where should we be going? How can individuals get involved? Should it be government sponsored or come from the private sector?
Edwin L. Strickland III, Robert Gounley, John Strickland(M), Kurt Miller, G. David Nordley
4214: LA CAGE AUX FANS
Gays have been around forever. It goes without saying, then, that they've always been a part of Fandom. How has fannish life changed over the years for Gay Fans and what's it like now?
Mark Merlino, Rod O'Riley, Lance Sibley, Ctein(M), Mary A. Turzillo
5954: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Steve Hickman
4377: SPACE CADETS SIGNING
The authors and others involved with L.A.con IV's limited edition anthology, Space Cadets, gather to sign copies of the book.
Mike Resnick(M), Nancy Kress, David Gerrold, Tobias S. Buckell, Elisabeth Malartre, Larry Niven, Nick DiChario, Connie Willis, Bradley H. Sinor, David Brin, Craig Miller, Harry Turtledove, Stephen Leigh, James Gurney, Kay Kenyon, John DeChancie, Kevin J. Anderson, Dr. Gregory Benford
5898: HYMNAL SING: THE FILKSONG MANUAL
Join Erwin S. "Filthy Pierre" Strauss and Karen Anderson singing from Bruce Pelz's Filksong Manual
Erwin S. Filthy Pierre Strauss, Karen Anderson filking
5440: Reading
DON SAKERS
Don Sakers
5769: KAFFEKLATSCH: JOHN SKIPP
John Skipp
5746: KAFFEKLATSCH: ROBIN WAYNE BAILEY
Robin Wayne Bailey
5869: BORN A FILKER: THE 2ND GENERATION
Are you the offspring of a filker? Discuss what this has done to your life with other 2nd Gen Filkers.
TJ Burnside-Clapp, Miles Burnside-Clapp filking
4002: FIRST FANDOM (fandom)
A look at the people, if not for whom, we wouldn't be here today.
Art Widner, Frederik Pohl, David A. Kyle(M)
5462: Reading
RICHARD CHWEDYK
Richard Chwedyk
5449: Reading
PHYLLIS EISENSTEIN
Phyllis Eisenstein
4916: TECHNIQUES IN FIBERBLASS COSTUMING
A slide show on how to make fiberglass elements of your costumes.
Edward Endres costuming
5968: CASTING CALL: KAMIKAZE MORON
filking
4182: FAMOUS FANNISH PRANKS & STUNTS (fandom)
Did ya hear the one about the water bombs dropped out of the window of Room 770? Or the Columbus in '86 hoax bid? And have you seen any of those phony Daily Newszines that circulate every Worldcon? Some of fandom's favorite pranksters tell you some of their favorites.
Roger Sims(M), Mike Glyer, Christopher J. Garcia
5922: FURGONOMICS
A discussion group for writers and world-builders: Designing everyday "stuff" with non-human characters in mind. Just what would a chair look like if you had four legs? Or a tail, for that matter?
, furry
4174: STOP ME BEFORE I COLLECT AGAIN (fandom)
Most fans have a passion for collecting, whether it's books, comics, art, teddy bears, or tea pots. The question is how do we keep these collections from taking over lives and our homes?
Milton F. Stevens(M), Scott Alan Woodard, Michael J. Walsh, Chris Weber, Michael Ward
4920: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 2: SCIENCE FICTION FEMME FATALES (lit)
Panel Chair: George Cusack, Auburn University, Montgomery 1.Cosmetic Babes and Cosmic 'Bots: Techno-Gender relations in 1950s Sci-Fi Cinema; Robin Chin, UC Santa Barbara 2. The Credentia Walks Among Us: A Re-examination of Alraune in Book and Film; Sharon King, UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
5841: BIG BANGS WITH A WORLDCON CHAIR (scitech)
A selection of chemical reactions with last years Worldcon chairman. So it shouldn't be TOO dangerous.
5490: AUTOGRAPHING: ALAN RODGERS
Alan Rodgers
5943: AUTOGRAPHING: NICK SAGAN
Nick Sagan
5811: AUTOGRAPHING: MIKE SHEPHERD MOSCOE
Mike Shepherd Moscoe
5728: Reading
FIONA PATTON
Fiona Patton
5842: FANZINES AN INTRODUCTION (fandom)
An introduction to Fanzines. We have an open solicitation to provide content for some of the best fanzines currently in existence, including four Hugo Nominated fanzines. Editors in attendence.
Lloyd Penney, Joe Siclari, Geri Sullivan(M), Max
5765: KAFFEKLATSCH: DELIA SHERMAN
Delia Sherman
5589: KAFFEKLATSCH: LARRY NIVEN
Larry Niven
5468: KAFFEKLATSCH: ROBERT J. SAWYER
Robert J. Sawyer
5409: Reading
P C. HODGELL
P C. Hodgell
5447: Reading
JAMES KILLUS
James Killus
4044: PYR: A LOOK FORWARD (writpub)
One of science fiction's newest major publishers give a look at their future publications. Meet our authors.
Lou Anders, Mike Resnick
4230: ERIC S. RAYMOND ON EVERYTHING
Join OpenSource Evangelist Eric Raymond raving on his many areas of interest: opensource, the hacker culture, the second amendment, etc. Audience participation inevitable.
Eric S. Raymond
4122: BLOGS & THE MEDIA
Over the last few years, blogging has exploded. Not just for geeks anymore, even commercial sites now frequently have blogs. There are blogs on every subject and the media has started using blogs not just as marketing tools but as sources for news stories. Vox populi and all that but is this a good thing?
Craig Newmark, Craig Engler, Evo Terra, MaryAnn Johanson, Jerry Beck(M)
4266: KIDDOGRAPHY: THE ART AND LIFE OF TOM KIDD
A slide show by the artist.
Tom Kidd
4423: BEING ANNE MCCAFFREY (lit)
The author of Dragonflight, The Ship Who Sang, and so much more talks about her life and works and answers questions.
Anne McCaffrey
4229: SFWA MEETING
A meeting for members of the Science Fiction Writers of America.
Sheila Finch(M), Howard V. Hendrix, Robin Wayne Bailey, misc/sigs
3877: SPACE PATROL: MISSIONS OF DARING
In many ways, Space Patrol laid the groundwork for Star Trek. What was it like on the set of a live show where anything could go wrong before millions of viewers - and often did? Jean-Noel Bassior discusses the show's groundbreaking contributions to TV production and how and why it taught many baby boomers life lessons they still can't forget.
Jean-Noel Bassior
4065: 21ST CENTURY PHYSICS (scitech)
What are we on the verge of discovering? Gravity waves? Quark substructure? Tachyon neutrinos? Natural wormholes? Lab-made black holes?
Wil McCarthy, Eric M. Van, James P. Hogan, Geoffrey A. Landis(M)
4409: THE BIDDERS SPEAK (fandom)
Representatives from the announced bids for the 2008 Worldcon will each give brief presentations and take questions in order to convince you to vote for them. Groups bidding for other years (and other conventions) will also have opportunities to speak about their bids.
4928: LOCUS IN ITS 40TH YEAR (writpub)
It's 40th anniversary won't be until next year but in this, it's 40th year, the entire staff of Locus, perhaps the most influential publication in science fiction, gathers together to tell stories, answer questions, and hear what you think.
Tim Pratt, Jonathan Strahan, Liza Groen Trombi, Gary K. Wolfe, Charles N. Brown(M)
4421: OCTAVIA BUTLER: HER WORKS & LIFE (lit)
A discussion of the works and life of the late and much lamented Octavia Butler.
Mary A. Turzillo, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Mark von Schlegell(M), Rachel Manija Brown, Leslie Howle
4237: CULTURE BUILDING 101 (writpub)
An interactive workshop on creating cultures for your work and worlds.
Hilari Bell
4193: LITERARY VS. MEDIA SF (lit)
Why the feud? Can't we all just get along?
Scott Edelman(M), James Frenkel, Dr. Isaac Szpindel, Jim Minz
4443: MAKING DVDS SPECIAL
Let's face it, what we really love about DVDs is all the cool special features. The people who toil in the field of creating them talk about what it takes to make a DVD really special and things coming up in the future.
Greg Pak, Robert Meyer Burnett media
4288: HOW WE'LL GET THERE -- HUMANS TO MARS (scitech)
It has been 34 years since we last stepped foot on the Moon, and Mars is beckoning to us. Plans are bring laid right now to return to the moon and from there go on to set foot on the Red Planet. Mars Society members take a look at all the current plans for exploring and eventually colonizing Mars.
Gerry Williams
4440: FAN FILMS
Making "amateur" movies goes back in Fandom to at least the 1950s with such films as The Mesquite Kid and The Genie
Rob Caves, Kevin Rubio media
4012: DISABILITY AND SCIENCE FICTION (scitech)
A paper on Disability: Where Science Fiction meets Science Fact focusing on assistive technology, attitudes towards disabled people, medical advances, and medical rationing. We'll discuss various visions of "Disability Future" (both utopian and distopian) and which has the most likelihood of happening.
Martina Robinson
4215: SF IN AUSTRALIA (lit)
Australian authors and fans talk about the works being generated down under and how they differ -- if at all -- from what's created in the US and elsewhere.
Sean McMullen(M), David Cake, K. A. Bedford
4077: WRITING CLASSIC TREK
Some of the writers of the original Star Trek series talk about the days that were. Did they know they were changing the future?
David Gerrold, D.C. Fontana, Bob Sabaroff media
5955: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Ulrika O'Brien
5888: INSTA-FILK CIRCLE
How fast can you write and sing a new song? Develop your ability in this arcane skill.
Lynn Maudlin, Blind Lemming Chiffon filking
3887: BellY DANCING WORKSHOP
3845: FANDOM IN JAPAN (fandom)
Fandom in Japan is different from Fandom in the US. Or is it? Hear about the fans and Fandom of the country that will be hosting next year's Worldcon.
5923: PERFORMING IN FULL-BODY FURRY COSTUMES
Discussion group for performers in animal suits that cover from head to toe. Aspects both artistic (how to knock 'em dead on stage!) and practical (how NOT to knock 'em over!)
, furry
4022: SF POETRY JAM (writpub)
Some of science fiction's best poets read selections of their works.
4921: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 3: 21ST CENTURY VISIONS (lit)
Panel Chair: Heather Urbanski, Lehigh University 1. Defending the West: Tolkien After 9/11; Faye Ringel, US Coast Guard Academy 2. Whose America Is He Captain of?: Marvel Comics in the Post-9/11 World; George Cusack, Auburn University, Montgomery 3. The Future, After The Year 2000; Eric Sonstroem, University of the Pacific
5729: AUTOGRAPHING: JANE ESPENSON
Jane Espenson
5580: AUTOGRAPHING: JAY LAKE
Jay Lake
5768: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN SKIPP
John Skipp
5562: AUTOGRAPHING: CORY DOCTOROW
Cory Doctorow
5453: AUTOGRAPHING: LOUISE MARLEY
Louise Marley
5836: AUTOGRAPHING: BRIAN P. HERBERT & KEVIN J. ANDERSON
Brian P. Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
5733: AUTOGRAPHING: REBECCA MOESTA
Rebecca Moesta
5658: Reading
SUSAN CASPER
Susan Casper
5843: ROBOT-MANGA-WARRIOR-PIRATE-FIGHTING
The difficulty of operating a Space Mech can never be underestimated; here we offer the cheapest adventure imaginable pitting Mech-Warrior against Mech-Warrior where YOU are inside and in-control of the Mech using your available weapons to destroy your opponent. Only the most violent will win !!!
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins, gaming
5466: KAFFEKLATSCH: SHEILA WILLIAMS
Sheila Williams
5596: KAFFEKLATSCH: ALMA Alexander
Alma Alexander
5675: Reading
SHARON SHINN
Sharon Shinn
5707: Reading
DAVE SMEDS
Dave Smeds
4211: PRANCING PONY PLAYERS
Do you have a sense of humor? Are you a fan of The Lord of the Rings trilogy? Do you sing along to Broadway show tunes? Then you'll love the Prancing Pony Players! Join P3 for a half-hour show celebrating Tolkien's trilogy with poetry and parody songs.
3883: PALEO-FANDOM FOR THE YOUNGER FAN
A slide show cum game show of photos from Fandom's past. Just who is that young man?
Art Widner(M)
4373: KEEPING STAR TREK ALIVE
It was easy in the '60s. There it was, on the air. And after 1987, there was Star Trek: The Next Generation. But what about in the '70s and '80s, before TNG. What kept Star Trek Fandom alive?
Linda Deneroff, Marah Searle-Kovacevic(M), Devra Langsam, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, trek
3953: DR. WHO, THEN & NOW
There's a huge Fandom for Dr. Who but for a lot of other people, the show didn't do much. But the new Dr. Who series (last year in the UK and this year in the US) has won a legion of converts. Is the new show that different from the old one?
MaryAnn Johanson, Shaun Lyon, Scott Alan Woodard, Eric L. Hoffman, Ric Meyers(M) media
4334: DUNE AGAIN (lit)
Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert talk about continuing the Dune series of novels, working from Frank Herbert's notes and manuscripts, and how the project came about.
Kevin J. Anderson, Brian P. Herbert
4186: CONCEPTUAL ART IN FILMS
Particularly for science fiction and fantasy films, artwork is created to give everyone working on a film project a sense of place, time, and reality (or lack thereof). Most famous, perhaps, are Ralph McQuarries paintings for Star Wars. Artists talk about their work in this specialized area, what's required and how it feels to create works that will be brought to life
Bernie Wrightson, Bob Eggleton, Rick Sternbach, Daren Dochterman media
3910: WALTER KOENIG: CHEKOV'S LONG ARC
Starting in the 1960s, Walter Koenig's Paval Chekov has been a part of Star Trek's long history, on television and in motion pictures. And Chekov's had a career in Star Trek novels as well. This year, Chekov completes his story in New Voyages, being done for the Internet. Walter Koenig will tell us about his adventures as Chekov and with Star Trek and beyond.
Walter Koenig media
3941: AMAZING STORIES: 80TH ANNIVERSARY (lit)
The first all-science-fiction magazine made its debut in 1926 and from it sprang other magazines, readers galore, local clubs, letter columns, and all that surrounds us today. Some of the early writers and readers of the magazine give their memories of how it effected them.
David A. Kyle(M), Jim Young, Jeff Berkwits
4395: BUYING ART AT ART SHOWS (art)
Bidding for art at a science fiction convention art show can be simple. It just seems complicated. Established collectors, auctioneers, and artists will tell you about the mysteries of bid sheets and voice auctions. And about strategies for winning the auctions. They'll also talk about buying art elsewhere than convention art shows.
Jane Frank, Margaret Organ-Kean, Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink(M), Barry Short
4187: WRITING WORKSHOPS: THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES (writpub)
Are they even worthwhile? People who have taught at Writing Workshops and others who have taken them discuss the benefits and pitfalls of these writing roundtables.
Lawrence Person, James Patrick Kelly, Mel Gilden(M), Nick DiChario, Tim Powers
4046: ZEN SCAVENGER HUNT
Panelists each bring ten items. Audience members ask for a type of item, a la a standard scavenger hunt. The panelists will then have to show one of the items they've brought and try to convince the audience that their item is the best match for what was requested.
Mary A. Turzillo, Geri Sullivan, David D. Levine, Pat Cadigan, John Pomeranz(M), misc/sigs
3972: MAGAZINES: FLOURISHING OR WITHERING AWAY? (writpub)
There used to be pulp magazines by the score publishing science fiction and fantasy, later to be supplanted by "prozines" and slick magazines. But there are fewer and fewer now. Or are there? Are the magazines surviving? Are the moving over to the internet? Or are the publications there a whole 'nother thing?
Gordon Van Gelder, Ellen Datlow(M), Scott Edelman, Sheila Williams, Bridget McKenna
4200: COMMERCE & ART: CENSORSHIP OR COMMERCIAL REALITY
Some editors/publishers just don't like what you have to say. Is that censorship? Some don't want to publish anything controversial, to face the potential wrath of the Fundamentalists or the Parent Groups. It's their money; isn't it their choice?
John Skipp, Jean-Noel Bassior, James Stanley Daugherty, George R.R. Martin(M), Laura Anne Gilman
4027: NANOTECHNOLOGY: THE FUTURE OR A DYING FAD? (scitech)
Is super-miniaturized science the wave of the future or just another passing fancy?
Brad Templeton, Mark L. Olson, Bill Nicholls(M)
3982: HAS SF KILLED THE SPACE PROGRAM? (scitech)
There are some people who think the slick and easy answers of science fiction have turned people off to the hard and slow progress real space exploration takes. Why did we go to the moon and then turn back?
Michael Cassutt, Paul A. ABell(M), Jerry Pournelle, Tobias S. Buckell, Allen M. Steele
3931: CLASSICS REMEMBERED: BRAVE NEW WORLD (lit)
Written by Aldous Huxley from outside our field, perhaps with many things to teach us. Protest and poetry hold it together. There's warning here; is there hope? Why? What makes the satire sting?
Vanessa Van Wagner, John F. Hertz, Michael Engelberg, Brenda Cooper(M), John Kessel
4144: SWIMMING IN THE GENE POOL
What are the ethical problems of the Human Genome Project? Are we playing God when we fool around with genes and chromosomes? Can a world of all blonde and blue-eyed children be far behind? When we can work miracles on the molecular level, will the people in areas we can "correct" be discriminated against?
Nancy Kress, Bill Thomasson, Jody Lynn Nye, John Scalzi, David Friedman(M)
4110: STRANGER THAN SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to be believable. Panelists discuss things which really happened but which they could not use in their writing because no one would believe they'd actually occur.
Margaret Wander Bonanno, Joe W. Haldeman, John G. Hemry(M), Janine Ellen Young
3966: ASSISTANT EDITORS: GLORIFIED GOPHERS OR FINDERS OF HIDDEN GEMS? (writpub)
Most of us have little idea of exactly what an editor at a publishing company does. And we have no idea what an assistant editor does. Some editors and assistant editors fill us in on their place in the process.
Beth Meacham, Ginjer Buchanan(M), Keith R.A. DeCandido, James Frenkel
3844: MYSTERIES & SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
Lots of science fiction writers also write mysteries: Vance, Brackett, Kuttner, Boucher. Some, like Niven, have written science fiction mysteries. Is there something inherently linking the two genres or is it just wide-ranging tastes and interests?
John Maddox Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Jon L. Breen(M), K. A. Bedford, Barbara Hambly
3995: THE KILLER B'S & A V
Bear, Benford, Brin, and Vernor Vinge talk about The Bullets You Don't Hear. Which ones will get us, and why worry?
Vernor Vinge, Greg Bear, Dr. Gregory Benford(M), David Brin
3894: ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE FUTURE
With all the changes in our world -- political, social, economic, and scientific -- what will it be like for us, as people, to live in the future. What will the human condition be like?
Steven Barnes(M), Rudy Rucker, Lisa Snellings-Clark, G. David Nordley
4095: ANIME 101
Ten years ago, it was being called "Japanimation" and its viewership was limited. Now, it's the hottest thing in animation with some of the best-rated shows on television anime imports. Hundreds of different titles are being sold on DVD. What made the audiences take notice? How is anime different from American and European animation?
Tom Schaad(M), Fred Patten, Rachel Manija Brown media
4400: ALIEN HUMANS
There are straight men who write about Gay characters. Women who write about men. Men who write about women. Gays who write about Straights. Is that very different from writing about Martians?
Cecilia Tan(M), Robert Silverberg, Robert Charles Wilson
5606: AUTOGRAPHING: DOSELLE YOUNG
Doselle Young
5496: AUTOGRAPHING: ELIZABETH BEAR
Elizabeth Bear
5679: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVID BRIN
5649: AUTOGRAPHING: JAMES P. HOGAN
James P. Hogan
5663: AUTOGRAPHING: STEPHEN LEIGH / S.L. FARRELL
Stephen Leigh
5891: CYNTHIA MCQUILLIN MEMORIAL CIRCLE
Joey Shojii leads a commemoration of Cynthia McQuillin's life and music.
Steve Savitzky, David Kushner, Joey Shoji filking
5647: Reading
ELIZABETH GILLIGAN
ElizaBeth Gilligan
5844: COMICS RECOMMENDATIONS
We ask an eminent bunch to recommend comics for our teenage audience, perhaps comics they wished they read when they were teens, or comics they did read when they were teens.
Eric Shanower, Len Wein, Steve Saffel, comics
5415: KAFFEKLATSCH: KAY KENYON
Kay Kenyon
5531: KAFFEKLATSCH: WILLIAM SHUNN
William Shunn
5557: KAFFEKLATSCH: PETER S. BEAGLE
Peter S. Beagle
5641: Reading
MELINDA M. SNODGRASS
Melinda M. Snodgrass
4100: WHAT MAKES A GOOD FANZINE? (fandom)
Is it the community, the gestalt, or the craft?
Jerry Kaufman(M), John-Henri Holmberg, Suzanne Tompkins, Spike, Lenny Bailes
5924: WHERE IS THE DOG SCIENCE FICTION?
With fandom's well-versed love affair with cats, our canine companions often get left out of things -- like what we read! Can dogs and their kin be as appealing an inspiration for stories?
, furry
4922: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 4: SF MEDIA AND FANDOM (lit)
Panel Chair: Kim Knight, UC Santa Barbara 1. The Urge for Immersion: the Social Distinction Between Forms of Textual Interface in Fantasy and Science Fiction; Richard Becker, Independent Scholar 2. Is Cyberspace Racialized? (Science Fiction Websites); Robin Y. Mabry Hubbard, Univ of Missouri, Columbia 3. Hypercapitalism in Hyperspace: The Exploitation of Fan Style; Brian J. Burns, George Washington University
5446: AUTOGRAPHING: JAMES KILLUS
James Killus
5573: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVID GERROLD
David Gerrold
5793: AUTOGRAPHING: SEAN WILLIAMS
Sean Williams
5628: AUTOGRAPHING: VALERIE ESTELLE FRANKEL
Valerie Estelle Frankel
5430: Reading
VERA NAZARIAN
Vera Nazarian
5845: ZOMBIE PIRATES
Time to get messy and corpse-like when the team transform you from a mild-mannered human into a flesh-craving, ship-stealing avatar of death--Zombie Pirates!!! With undead pirates and school kids being the theme, we get pointers on how to act like a zombie from the team. Fake, but REAL looking blood and wounds will be common here - the squeamish need not apply! (Warning--some fake blood may stain. Bring costume that you don't mind being ripped/torn/distressed and BLOODIED!!!!! We should have some spare tho)
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins costuming
5640: KAFFEKLATSCH: MELINDA M. SNODGRASS
Melinda M. Snodgrass
5709: KAFFEKLATSCH: GLEN COOK
Glen Cook
5961: IN CONCERT: LYNN MAUDLIN
Lynn Maudlin filking
5716: Reading
AMY STERLING CASIL
Amy Sterling Casil
5731: Reading
ALAN DEAN FOSTER
Alan Dean Foster
4426: MILITARY STORIES (lit)
From the science fiction pulps to today, stories with military settings have been a staple of science fiction. Why is it so popular? Does it work as well in fantasy stories? What are some of the best examples of military stories in either genre? And why don't some stories work?
John Maddox Roberts, Jim Minz(M), William B. Fawcett
4106: SHERLOCK HOLMES & SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
We all know the great detective. He's somehow come to fascinate science fiction authors. There are probably hundreds of Holmesian references throughout science fiction, and some authors have come up with their own version, including Derleth's Solar Pons. What captivates us so about Holmes?
John R. Douglas, Jody Lynn Nye, Fiona Avery, Jon L. Breen(M), Barbara Hambly
4280: WHEN THINGS GO WRONG IN SPACE (scitech)
A discussion of how scientists discover, analyze, and work around spacecraft problems. Do they still do it like they did in "Apollo 13"? See how the scientific method really works.
Steve Collins, Michael Cassutt, Jordin Kare, Wil McCarthy(M), Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink
4355: CAN SCIENCE FICTION CHANGE THE WORLD?
Science fiction is more than just stories; it's ideas and inspiration. But can it change the world? Some people who are trying to do just that, by inspiring people through their works or who have been inspired by science fiction and are trying to take action, talk about what they're doing and what you can do.
Cecilia Tan, Craig Newmark, Sean McMullen, David Brin(M), Cory Doctorow
4109: CREATING LANGUAGE
Language and culture are linked. What concepts need words? How does the environment affect the language? What does it take to create a realistic, usable language?
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, Vernor Vinge, Rudy Rucker, Harry Harrison, Lorien Gray(M)
4912: GUESS THE ARTIST (art)
It's a game. No, it's a lesson in science fiction art history. Wait! You're both right! Come see a show of cover art by a variety of top artists from today and the past. Try to identify the artist. Hear why our panel of "experts" is sure it's by Michael Whalen or Richard Powers or Virgil Finlay.
John F. Hertz, Bob Eggleton, Tom Kidd, Greg Bear, Jane Frank(M), Alex Eisenstein
3862: THE FUTURE OF NATIONS AND POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Is there one? Where is it going? Is there any hope for stabilization, let alone peace, in their (and our) future?
Lawrence Person, J.G. Hertzler, Tad Daley, James W. Fiscus, Jim Young(M)
4341: INTERMEDIATE WRITING (writpub)
So you've sold a couple things. Now what? How do you keep up your motivation, overcome writer's block, and reach your next goal? And what should that goal be? How do you maintain your momentum?
Mike Shepherd Moscoe, Deborah J Ross(M), Jay Lake, David D. Levine
4314: STYLE VS. SUBSTANCE (lit)
Is science fiction becoming too concerned about literary style at the expense of storytelling?
James Patrick Kelly(M), Ellen Datlow, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Eric M. Van
3843: EXTRATERRESTRIALS (scitech)
Where are the Extraterrestrials? Why haven't we been contacted? A gold mine for SF ideas, the academic study of this problem has come a long way in the last 10 years. Are we victims of a galactic conspiracy, or is the forest full of wolves?
Thomas R. McDonough(M), Roger MacBride Allen, Geoffrey A. Landis, John Scalzi, G. David Nordley
4225: THE ETHICS OF CLONING (scitech)
At some point, it seems pretty likely there will be clones. Body parts at first but, eventually, cloned beings. What rights would they have? What rights won't they have? What about for robots or androids?
Bill Thomasson, Brad Templeton, David Friedman(M), Elisabeth Malartre
4379: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THEN & NOW
The two versions of this series couldn't be more different. The original series, while fun, was far from great. Rolling Stone named the new version the best drama on television. Why do people still love the original series? What's the difference between them?
Greg Pak, Chris Roberson, Kevin Rubio, Dr. Kevin R. Grazier, Adam Leibowitz, Brad Linaweaver media
4118: THE BUSINESS OF WRITING (writpub)
Inside you there's a hundred stories, crying to get out. Characters who need to be brought to life. But you still need to eat and pay the rent. What do you have to know and do (besides how to write).
Gay Haldeman(M), Rebecca Moesta, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Eleanor Wood, Kevin J. Anderson
4040: THE INCREDIBLES
Was The Incredibles simply the best super-hero movie ever made? So what if it was a comedy? The animation was amazing, and the writing was even better. Why are so many other super-hero movies so much worse?
John G. Hemry, Chris M. Barkley(M), Ric Meyers, Janine Ellen Young, comics
3997: MARS IN THE MOVIES
Since 1910, when Thomas Alva Edison lensed A Trip to Mars, the red planet Mars has been a favorite topic of over 100 feature films. Gerry Williams, creator of the MarsMovieGuide.com, takes us on a multimedia tour of some of the best (as well as the worst) movies about Mars ever made.
Gerry Williams media
4330: WRITING: THE LONG & THE SHORT OF IT (writpub)
Why are some people good at writing novels but not short stories? What does it take for an idea to be `novel length'? Are short stories just like novels only you finish sooner?
Nancy Kress, Kate Elliott(M), Ellen Kushner, William F. Wu, Nick DiChario
4179: A PROUD AND LONELY THING
Some fans from Star Trek's early days talk about what it was like being a Trekkie (or Trekker) way back when.
Linda Deneroff(M), Devra Langsam, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, trek
3989: WHY IS SCIENCE FICTION SO WHITE? (writpub)
An exploration of minorities in Science Fiction, both the writers and their characters.
Elizabeth Bear(M), Ian McDonald, Fiona Patton, Alan Rodgers, James Frenkel
4272: UNEXPECTED HEROES OF THE FUTURE
Who will the future consider to be heroes? John Brown's stock went up considerably with time. If some scientists are correct about global warming and the threat to the environment, will future historians consider Eco-Terrorists heroes? Who will the future revere?
Howard V. Hendrix(M), Brenda Cooper, Robert Gounley, Barry Short
4139: CHILDREN'S FANTASY (lit)
What is children's fantasy? How does it compare with "adult" works? Does a work ever crossover between the two areas and what does it take to do it?
Hilari Bell(M), Garth Nix, Sharon Shinn, Delia Sherman, Catherine S. McMullen
5846: LIVE ACTION ZOMBIE QUIDDITCH - HOGWARTS VS. PIRATES
You'll lose your head if the Quaffle hits it! A Live Game of Qudditch, dressed as Zombies (come to the panel before this one to become undead and bloody!)
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins, gaming
4098: A BEER CAN TOWER TO THE MOON AND OTHER FABULOUS FAN PROJECTS (fandom)
There have been all sorts of projects over the years, and some of them even worked. There have been bibliographic projects, fan funds, building funds, and conventions that even attracted hundreds of people. Also our never ending effort to get organized. Here about the ones that worked and the ones that plunged all of Fandom into war.
John Trimble, Len J. Moffatt, David Bratman(M)
3951: FANDOM IN THE '60S (fandom)
Richard Lynch is hard at work on his history of SF Fandom in the 1960s. He's got an outline worked out. Come hear about his progress, offer support, information, corrections, etc.
Milton F. Stevens, Anthony R. Lewis, David A. Kyle, Rich Lynch, Lenny Bailes(M)
5925: VENUS IN FURS
The adult and erotic aspects of furry art and story. What's the appeal of characters that aren't even human?
, furry
3921: PROMETHEUS AWARDS CEREMONY
The Libertarian Futurist Society awards ceremony to present the Prometheus Best Novel Award and other Awards. The LFS gives awards to creative works of SF which deal with Libertarian themes.
F. C. Moulton, misc/sigs
4255: DIPS (THE DELPHINUS INTERGALACTIC PARCEL SERVICE)
DIPS is a new internet episodic comedy show. The lead characters, Commander Firestone Q. Josh, Roscoe Gryzwinski, and Digit are delivery people for a futuristic UPS-like company, DIPS (Delphinius Intergalactic Parcel Service). Like a dysfunctional family on a long distance car trip, the three must work together in a horribly tiny Chevette Class vessel known as the Upton. While they try to get their package to it's destination across the galaxies, they are confronted with accidents, asteroids, aliens... and a real ass of a boss. In full costume with some of their tiny ship set, they'll improvise an "episode" of DIPS with complete audience participation. By getting suggestions from the audience, the rag tag crew will set out on their journey, stopping for new suggestions to launch the story in unexpected directions. It promises to be funny, silly and definitely unique.
5962: IN CONCERT: DICK ENEY
Dick Eney filking
5883: IN CONCERT: MOIRA STERN (TO THE MEMORY OF CYNTHIA MCQUILLIN)
Moira Stern filking
3908: JEWISH SERVICES
4228: MASQUERADE
Traditionally one the highlights of the convention. Costuming experts from around the world sometimes spend the entire year preparing for this event. Come see what they've created.
Phil Foglio
5963: IN CONCERT: STEVE SAVITZKY
Steve Savitzky filking
5964: IN CONCERT: ROBERTA ROGOW
Roberta Rogow filking
5868: THEME CIRCLE: EXPLORING THE DEPTHS OF OSE
It's Ose, Ose and More-ose with this crew.
Mary Creasey, Bill Roper filking
5904: THEME CIRCLE: SPACE FLIGHT
Fly with us in song to the Moon, the Stars, and Beyond.
Steve Savitzky, Lynn Maudlin, Gary Ehrlich filking
4417: THE MORALS OF FUTURE SEX (scitech)
Sex between two people - the morals of that are pretty well worked out and everyone knows where they, um, stand on the subject. But we've already got sex toys, and in recent years, with the advances of technology, "teledildonics" has brought computers into the bedroom. What's going to happen with sex in the future? Sex with not just dolls but androids? With specially created clones? Are there any rules? Should there be? What about moral issues? (This will be a late evening panel.)
Cecilia Tan(M), Paul Cornell, Pat Cadigan
4420: TAI CHI (SAT)
Steven Barnes, misc/sigs
4206: WHAT'S COMING FROM TOR (writpub)
the editors at Tor Books give a preview to what's coming in the months ahead.
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden(M), James Frenkel, David Hartwell
3905: WSFS BUSINESS MEETING (fandom)
Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting. The results of Worldcon Site Selection will be officially announced at this meeting.
Kevin Standlee
3847: SMALL PRESS PUBLISHING (writpub)
What do you need to know? Where do you find authors and artists? What niche do your books fill? Do you need a million bucks or will a couple hundred do? How do you get what you publish into stores?
Cecilia Tan, Nat Gertler, Alan Rodgers, Michael J. Walsh(M), Vera Nazarian
4366: 99 YEARS OF HEINLEIN (lit)
2007 will mark the centennial of Robert Heinlein's birth. Take a tour of the life and work of one of the field's true masters.
Michael Cassutt, Connie Willis, Pat Cadigan, Bill Patterson, Brad Linaweaver
3968: FROM SMALLVILLE TO SECRET IDENTITY
Kurt Busiek, Jeph Loeb/Alfred Miller, Grant Morrison, and others have found radically different ways to retell and re-invent Superman's story. Panelists discuss approaches that add to and detract from the collective myth.
Lee Whiteside, Marv Wolfman, Lenny Bailes, Tom Galloway(M), Doselle Young, comics
4054: GALAXY QUEST REVEALED
Robert Gordon, the writer of Galaxy Quest, talks about writing and making this Hugo-winning paean to science fiction television and Fandom.
Robert Gordon media
4178: MIXED "MARRIAGES"
How do you explain your, um, hobby to your spouse, in-laws, friends, co-workers, etc.? Do they ever get it?
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan, Nick DiChario, Randy Smith(M), Steve Saffel
3924: SURVIVAL TIPS FOR THE MERCENARY ARTIST (art)
How to make a living as an artist and not end up with the short end of the paint brush. An artist may create for the joy of creating, but you still have to eat. People who make their (and their family's) livelihood from their artwork tell why it isn't a sin to sell.
Margaret Organ-Kean(M), Barry Short, Lisa Snellings-Clark, Tim Kirk, Frank Wu, Bob Eggleton, Tim Kirk, Tim Kirk
4397: OZ OVER THE CENTURY (lit)
It's been over 100 years since L. Frank Baum wrote the first "Oz" book. How has the world of Oz changed? Which books count? Which don't? What about the films? Oz historians and fans talk about that world over the rainbow.
Sherwood Smith, Eric Shanower, Chris Weber(M), Dave Smeds, John Kessel
4008: IS "REALISTIC FANTASY" AN OXYMORON? (lit)
What does it take to create "real" fantasy? Are there rules in a universe run by magic? How do you build a fantasy world?
David Keck, Ellen Klages, Robin Wayne Bailey, James Gurney, Tim Powers(M)
4436: WHY AM I SO WILD ABOUT SF & FANTASY
None of us would be here if we simply kind of liked science fiction or fantasy. We're here because we need to be here, to interact with other people as impassioned as we are. What makes these stories resonate within us? What draws us here?
James Patrick Kelly(M), Eric M. Van, John Barnes, John F. Hertz, Stephen Leigh
3934: DESIGNING INTERACTIVE GAMES
What makes for an addictive computer game? What is there about Doom or Halo that made you waste countless hours playing? Game designers discuss what they do.
Mike Stemmle, Justin Lloyd, Scott Rogers, Scott Campbell, Nick Sagan, gaming
4268: MISTAKES WRITERS MAKE (writpub)
Paying so-called agents a fee to represent them? Calling agents and editors every day to see how they like their novel? That ain't the half of it. Come hear established writers and editors give you a heads up on things you should know better than.
Beth Meacham(M), Mary A. Turzillo, Jean-Noel Bassior, Jaime Levine
4161: THE FUTURE IS NOW! (scitech)
Flip-open communicators and the global central computer were science fiction twenty-five years ago. Today cell phones and the internet are ubiquitous. Technological advance keeps turning science fiction's starry eyed dreams into reality -- almost. This panel discusses SF dreams come true, and how the reality has turned out to differ from the vision.
Stephen Eley, Jerry Pournelle, Mark von Schlegell
4399: ANIME GIRLS
How did Japan's male dominant culture produce so many kick-butt female characters? Did Japanese anime creators develop the concept themselves, or did they all watch lots of Avengers episodes when they were young?
Paul Cornell, Tom Schaad, Fred Patten, Rachel Manija Brown media
5479: AUTOGRAPHING: NANCY KRESS
Nancy Kress
5631: AUTOGRAPHING: KAREN ANDERSON
Karen Anderson
5604: AUTOGRAPHING: GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
George R.R. Martin
5693: AUTOGRAPHING: JODY LYNN NYE
Jody Lynn Nye
5516: AUTOGRAPHING: EVO TERRA
Evo Terra
5682: AUTOGRAPHING: MIKE DEMERITT
Mike DeMeritt(M)
4286: MOONBASE SCIENCE (scitech)
Suppose we had a Moonbase? What kind of physics, astronomy, astrophysics, biology, etc. could be done there? Would this be strictly a science station, like our bases in Antarctica, or would colonization soon follow?
Hugh S. Gregory(M), Loretta McKibben, Edwin L. Strickland III, John Strickland, Kurt Miller, Rick Searfoss
5899: KIDS PROGRAMMING: GUITAR WORKSHOP
How a guitar works to make music.
Steve Weingart, Blind Lemming Chiffon filking
5722: Reading
JOHN G. HEMRY
John G. Hemry
5847: HOW TO DEFEAT A DALEK
Ever had nightmares of running down long corridors away from Dr.Who's nemesis, praying to find some stairs? This panel will hopefully cure them, as there's interactive construction - while the panel discuss ways to stop the Daleks we build their preventative measures, and then see if they are up to the task
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins media
5625: KAFFEKLATSCH: GEOFFREY A. LANDIS
Geoffrey A. Landis
5584: KAFFEKLATSCH: DAVID F. MCMAHON, MD
David F. McMahon, MD
3981: FILKING FOR FUN AND PROFIT
These days, when you go into a convention's Dealers Room, it isn't uncommon to see one or more tables of people selling recordings of filk songs. Is there really money to be made? For the singers and songwriters or just for the dealers? How do you get involved? Who do you have to ask? What are the legalities?
Roberta Rogow, Mary Creasey, Eric Gerds, Bill Roper filking
4265: CLASSICS REMEMBERED: SPACE CADET (lit)
Heinlein's "juveniles" might be his best. This one matches the convention's theme, and it's full of wonders. Matt Dodson taking a telephone from his luggage must have been astounding in 1948. That guess held up; others didn't; but how the author treats them!
Toni Weisskopf(M), Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Jim Young, Victor Koman, Harry Turtledove
5685: Reading
MARGARET WANDER BONANNO
Margaret Wander Bonanno
5784: Reading
AMY THOMSON
Amy Thomson
4210: WINGS, A DEMONSTRATION
Watch and learn how to do simple but elegant wings.
Rosemary Kimble costuming
4001: ON-LINE: FANDOM, APAS, AND CONVENTIONS OF THE FUTURE (fandom)
Dave Weingart, Milton F. Stevens, Mary Kay Kare(M), Spike
5681: Reading
DAVID BRIN
David Brin
4259: USING SCIENCE FICTION IN THE CLASSROOM
Teachers of all grade levels are using science fiction to encourage kids to read. And through SF's use of extrapolated scientific, political, and sociological ideas, it's also helping to get them to think. Educators talk about their experiences using the "literature of ideas" within their curriculum to stimulate and excite students.
Howard V. Hendrix, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Michael S. Brotherton, Dr. Isaac Szpindel(M), Dr. Kevin R. Grazier
4923: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 5: SCHOLARSHIP & PEDAGOGY (lit)
Panel Chair: Faye Ringel, US Coast Guard Academy 1. New Maps of Hell, and 399 Other Exotic Territories: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy; Gary Westfahl, UC Riverside 2. What we Talk About When We Talk About Fantasy Literature: A History of Critical Movements from the 18th-century to Today.; David Sandner, Cal State Fullerton 3. Twilight Zone for the Academic: Using Speculative Fiction in Cultural Studies; Heather Urbanski, Lehigh University
5691: AUTOGRAPHING: LARRY NEMECEK
Larry Nemecek
5407: AUTOGRAPHING: P C. HODGELL
P C. Hodgell
5417: AUTOGRAPHING: MARC SCOTT ZICREE
Marc Scott Zicree
5413: AUTOGRAPHING: PHIL PLAIT
Phil Plait
5767: AUTOGRAPHING: LISA GOLDSTEIN
Lisa Goldstein
5414: AUTOGRAPHING: KAY KENYON
Kay Kenyon
5548: Reading
ALASTAIR REYNOLDS
Alastair Reynolds
5848: SCIENCE FICTION IS A GIRLS THING TOO! (lit)
Is Science Fiction only aimed at Boys? We ask a selection of prominent authors to offer us their opinions and suggestions, for Girls and Boys too.
Amy Sterling Casil(M), Rebecca Moesta, Sheila Williams, Julia D. Ree, David Brin
5464: KAFFEKLATSCH: BRENDA Cooper
Brenda Cooper
5502: KAFFEKLATSCH: KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO
Keith R.A. DeCandido
5803: KAFFEKLATSCH: SHEILA FINCH
Sheila Finch
5752: Reading
KATE ELLIOTT
Kate Elliott
4067: THE IMPLICATIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING (scitech)
Just what are the implications of global warming? What's the real science behind the opinions? What is being done to minimize the impact of continued fossil fuel use and all the other factors contributing to this potential environmental disaster?
Kim Stanley Robinson, Rich Lynch, Dr. Gregory Benford(M)
4914: BEHIND FORBIDDEN PLANET
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, come see and hear the story behind the story of this science fiction classic.
Gene Kozicki media
3855: THE RISE OF THEOCRACY
Was Heinlein right? Is this our future? Who will be Nehemiah Scudder?
Howard V. Hendrix(M), Mike Shepherd Moscoe, Robert Charles Wilson, Randy Smith
3888: STAR TREK: BEHIND THE CAMERA FROM BEHIND A CAMERA
Star Trek's longtime assistant director Mike DeMeritt presents a slide show of crew-taken photos of behind-the-scenes moments on Star Trek Enterprise.
Mike DeMeritt(M) media
4103: ANIMATION & SCIENCE FICTION
Animated science fiction on U.S. television goes back to Colonel Bleep and Tom Terrific (both 1957) and The Jetsons (1962). What are the unique aspects of creating and writing science fiction for animation? What's around today and what's coming in the future?
Jerry Beck(M), Kevin Rubio, Frank Wu, Chris Weber, Doselle Young, George Krstic media
4274: IS THERE TOO MUCH VIOLENCE IN COMICS, ANIMATION, AND GAMES?
Where should we draw the line? Who should draw it?
Christopher Young, Jamie Alan Sims, Simon R Green, Kurt Miller(M), Scott Rogers, gaming
4117: TURNING MENTAL BLOCKS INTO BUILDING BLOCKS (writpub)
How to break out of that most dreaded prison of creativity: writer's block. Having trouble finishing things? Ego not getting enough strokes? Our panelists will tell you what's worked for them.
Deborah J Ross(M), Jean-Noel Bassior, Karen Willson, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
3903: SCIENTIFIC FRAUD (scitech)
Perpetual motion machines, converting water into gasoline, and the Dean drive. Famous scientific frauds all. But what are some others? And how do you distinguish a real scientific breakthrough from flummery?
Jonathan F Kotas(M), Robert Gounley, Jordin Kare, Michael Ward, Kenn S. Bates
4234: EDITING: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (writpub)
Come and hear stories about edits which went above and beyond clarity and reason. Writers discuss different editing styles they've encountered and talk about some of the good and bad experiences they've had with editors (names will be changed to protect the innocent).
Peter S. Beagle, Tim Powers(M), Laura Anne Gilman, Betsy Mitchell
3975: FRANKENFOOD TO FRANKENPEOPLE
Genetic modification from food to people; how far is too far?
Sam Scheiner, Nancy Kress, Cynthia Felice(M), Elisabeth Malartre, Nick Sagan
4320: ARE THERE TOO MANY CATS IN SCIENCE FICTION? (lit)
Cats seem to be everywhere. Science Fiction. Fantasy. There are entire anthologies of cat stories. And not just in our genre. Romances and Mysteries have more than their share of cat tales as well. Are dogs anywhere to be seen? Why is literature so catty?
Jody Lynn Nye(M), Nicki Lynch, Lisanne Norman, Fred Patten, Connie Willis
3919: LOST & HOW TO GET THERE
A look at the hit television series with some of the show's writers and producers. media
4299: CONVERGENCE IN POST-MODERN FICTION (lit)
Are current "mainstream" writers like Neal Stephenson reinventing science fiction? What would you call the fiction appearing in "Wired" and "Mondo 2000"? Is it cross-pollination or merely self-abuse?
John Barnes(M), Takayuki Tatsumi, Gary K. Wolfe, John Kessel
5956: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.
Tom Kidd
4437: ORIGAMI WORKSHOP
Come try your hand at fantasy and science fictional origami creations.
Mark R. Leeper, misc/sigs
5940: FILK CLASSICS
What defines a "classic"? What are some classic filksongs? How many do you know?
Erwin S. Filthy Pierre Strauss, Dick Eney, Karen Anderson, David Kushner filking
5903: PAIRING VERSE AND MELODY
What does it take to match poetry to a melody? With examples from Rudyard Kipling and Yeates.
Steve Savitzky, Leslie Fish filking
4029: JACK THE RIPPER -- FACT AND FICTION
Over one hundred years ago, Jack the Ripper cut a bloody swath through London. But compared to modern serial killers, Jack was a flyweight. So why has he held such a fascination for so many writers through the years? And just who was Jack the Ripper?
John R. Douglas(M), Bill Warren, Jon L. Breen, Bradley H. Sinor, Peter Morwood
4247: MASQUERADE POST-MORTEM
A discussion of last night's Masquerade. What entries really stood out? Which things surprised even the staff? Was the judging in tune with the audience opinions? Staff will answer questions and invite feedback.
Martin Jaquish, John Maizels, Sue Dawe costuming
4167: JAPANESE FOR THE TRAVELLING FAN (lit)
A quick course in speaking Japanese for fans planning to go to next year's Worldcon.
5926: MAKING FULL-BODY FURRY COSTUMES
From sports mascots to children's party entertainment to, well, science fiction conventions! Animal costumes that cover from head to toe -- how to design them, find materials, and make them look good.
, furry
4287: FORTY YEARS OF TIME TUNNEL
In addition to Star Trek, another science fiction TV series debuted 40 years ago. Time Tunnel, the story of two scientists who find themselves trapped as they adventure through time, only ran one season, but it was a memorable one. Fans of the show reminisce. (Time Tunnel previewed at the 1966 Worldcon, shortly before it's debut on television.)
Karen Haber, Bradford Lyau(M), Robert Vogel, Len Wein media
5732: AUTOGRAPHING: GARY WESTFAHL
Gary Westfahl
5772: AUTOGRAPHING: DR. BOB BLACKWOOD
Dr. Bob Blackwood
5473: AUTOGRAPHING: BARBARA HAMBLY
Barbara Hambly
5790: AUTOGRAPHING: RUDY RUCKER
Rudy Rucker
5861: AUTOGRAPHING: FREDERIK POHL
Frederik Pohl
5796: AUTOGRAPHING: BRAD LINAWEAVER
Brad Linaweaver
5618: Reading
DIANE DUANE
Diane Duane
5849: LIGHT SABRES VS. CUTLASSES
So! Darth Vader vs Jack Sparrow -- you think Darth will win??? We show you how to make light sabres and cutlasses, and then see who has the best swordsmanship skills as we fight on planks.
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, James Bacon, Lara Collins, gaming
5715: KAFFEKLATSCH: AMY STERLING CASIL
Amy Sterling Casil
5582: KAFFEKLATSCH: MARYANN JOHANSON
MaryAnn Johanson
5567: Reading
STEVEN LOPATA
Steven Lopata
5412: Reading
G. DAVID NORDLEY
G. David Nordley
4249: SPECIAL EFFECTS BEFORE COMPUTERS
Not that it's easy to do special effects with computers but, before CGI, things were different. Some of the practitioners of those early effects and others with expert knowledge talk about those halcyon days of miniatures, stop motion, and Jacobs Ladders.
Dennis Skotak, Ronald B. Moore(M), Robert Short media
3902: OMNIBUS PUBLISHING PANEL
Publishers from different areas of publishing -- a major imprint, a small press, an on-line magazine, a prozine -- compare the similarities and differences in their tasks.
Gordon Van Gelder, Evo Terra(M), Robert Meyer Burnett, Lydia C. Marano, Lou Anders, comics
4424: MILITARY TACTICS IN SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
Many science fiction stories have a military background. Heinlein, Dickson, Pournelle, and many others have used space-faring soldiers as the centers of their stories. But how would those tactics work in "real life"? Who gets it right? What should be done better?
John Maddox Roberts, Ed Green, Jerry Pournelle, Wil McCarthy(M), Glen Cook
4205: TV & THE FAN COMMUNITY
Some showrunners are now reading fan boards & fanfic sites to gauge reaction to what they're doing on their shows. Others avoid sites in order to keep "untainted". Writers and producers talk about the effect the fan community has on how a show develops. Do they ever have to deal with actors and their responses to the fans? What happens when you're torn between two disparate but equally vocal groups of fans?
Paul Cornell, Craig Engler, Gillian Horvath(M), Shaun Lyon, Jane Espenson media
3898: OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (scitech)
Why should you care? What's out there? Do you need licenses? If you do it, can you quit your day job?
Loretta McKibben(M), Eric S. Raymond, Andrew Adams, Cory Doctorow
4032: HARLAN ELLISON TELLS US
Possibly the genre's best writer/raconteur/critic tells us what he thinks.
Harlan Ellison
4003: DESIGN YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER FOR A JOB IN SPACE
What courses should you take? What should you major in? Where should you go?
Trina L. Ray, Sara Hyman(M), Robert J. Cesarone, Mike Willmoth, Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink
4203: THE FIRST STAR TREK CONVENTIONS
What were they like? Who could have guessed so many thousands would show up? What's different between the Star Trek conventions of today and the ones of the earliest days? And how do the "Creation Cons" fit into the mix?
Linda Deneroff, Diane Duane, Bjo Trimble, Devra Langsam, Ben Yalow(M), trek
4102: LEGAL SYSTEMS OF THE FUTURE
Experts discuss what changes the future will bring to our system of law and justice. The topics they'll cover will include Constitutional issues, intellectual property, cloning, eugenics, etc.
Brad Templeton, Tad Daley, David Friedman(M), M. Christine Valada, Esq., John Pomeranz
4068: MOVIES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
Some movies have a profound effect on people. Come here from our panelists which movies had a major effect on them and share your own stories.
Alan Dean Foster, MaryAnn Johanson, Fiona Patton, Chris M. Barkley(M), K. A. Bedford media
4192: SCIENCE FICTION OF THE '50S & '60S (lit)
A discussion of science fiction of the period. How was it different from what's out there today? From what came before it? Was it better? What are some of the best examples?
Darrell Schweitzer, Hank Reinhardt(M), Robert Silverberg, Jim Young, James Killus
3991: DINOSAURS (scitech)
Dinosaurs have always been near and dear to the SF fan's heart. Come hear about new discoveries that reveal dinosaur lifestyles, exiting new finds from China and other places, the latest on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, and more.
Robert B Hole, Jr., Robert J. Sawyer(M), James Gurney, James P. Hogan, John Strickland
4112: WHAT IS A "YOUNG ADULT" NOVEL? (lit)
"Young Adult" is a popular category. But why are some stories about sex, drugs, blood, death, and sex considered Y.A.? Who's reading Y.A. novels, and why?
Sherwood Smith, Hilari Bell(M), Mary A. Turzillo, Mel Gilden, James Frenkel, Buzz Dixon
5945: DUELING EASELS (art)
Bob Eggleton and Frank Wu, two easels. Have at you. Come see what they do.
Bob Eggleton, Frank Wu
4064: HARRY POTTER GOES FORTH (lit)
Just one book to go in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series? What do you think will happen in Book 7? Our panelists tell you their ideas and ask for yours.
Todd McCaffrey(M), Alan Rodgers, Cecilia Tan, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Eric M. Van
4034: WRITING NON-HUMAN CHARACTERS (writpub)
We're all people so we really can't think like an alien or a demon or an anthropomorphic dog. So what do we do to make non-human characters real without making them just seem weird? How do we bring them to life?
Greg Pak, Amy Thomson, Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, Brandon Sanderson(M), Walter H. Hunt
5957: DOCENT TOUR: THE ART SHOW (art)
Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray.
Margaret Organ-Kean
5482: AUTOGRAPHING: NICK DICHARIO
Nick DiChario
5610: AUTOGRAPHING: JOE W. HALDEMAN
Joe W. Haldeman
5686: AUTOGRAPHING: ROCKNE S. O'BANNON
Rockne S. O'Bannon
5537: AUTOGRAPHING: FIONA AVERY
Fiona Avery
5721: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN G. HEMRY
John G. Hemry
5813: AUTOGRAPHING: ELLEN KUSHNER
Ellen Kushner
5865: THEME CIRCLE: SONGS OF FANDOM
Come sing of Neofen, SMOFs, and Crottled Greeps.
Blind Lemming Chiffon, Kathleen Sloan, Bill Laubenheimer filking
5778: Reading
ELLEN KLAGES
Ellen Klages
5850: NASTY EVIL STORIES, READINGS BY JOHN SHIRLEY
The master of horror gives us tales to terrify.
John Shirley
5615: KAFFEKLATSCH: KEVIN ANDREW MURPHY
Kevin Andrew Murphy
5497: KAFFEKLATSCH: ELIZABETH BEAR
Elizabeth Bear
4213: WHY DO PEOPLE WRITE FOR FANZINES? (fandom)
Old and young fans discuss what motivates them and present views of fanwriting.
Guy H. Lillian III(M), Chaz Boston Baden, Lenny Bailes, Andrew T Trembley, Christopher J. Garcia
5519: Reading
ERIC SHANOWER
Eric Shanower
5795: Reading
SEAN WILLIAMS
Sean Williams
3858: BEGINNING COSTUMING
Now that you've seen the masquerade, here's how to get started in science fiction costuming: methods, resources, ideas for beginners, including extra tips for hall costumes and masquerade presentations.
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan, Cat Devereaux(M), Bruce MacDermott, Jess Miller, Bridget Landry, Kevin Roche costuming
4369: REGENCY DANCING
John F. Hertz, misc/sigs
4092: FAN JIANTS OR FUGGHEADS? (fandom)
Is a difficult personality required for brilliance in fan art, writing, editing, and convention running? Who are these misunderstood bastards and how can we still love them?
Rod O'Riley, June Moffatt
5928: WRITING FOR TV ANIMATION
A panel discussion on writing for the cartoons you see on TV -- creating the story and characters, writing and editing scripts, and making it all fit inside half an hour!
, furry
3851: METROPOLIS: THE FUTURE OF BIG CITIES
What changes will the future bring to the concept of the big city? Will the megalopolises continue to grow, until we have literal city-states, or will we see a move back to the 'burbs?
Louise Marley, Brenda Cooper(M), Scott Edelman, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Kay Kenyon
4009: ASK MS MANNERS, SF FAN (fandom)
Questions of Fannish etiquette will be addressed by our self-appointed arbiter of good taste. Some questions will be prepared, others will be taken from the audience.
Marah Searle-Kovacevic, Roger Sims, John O'Halloran, Suzanne Tompkins, Spike(M)
4924: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 6: SPECULATION MEETS RL: TECHNOLOGY (lit)
Panel Chair: Eric Sonstroem, University of the Pacific 1. The Portrayal of Hacking in Film and Television; Eric Swedin, Weber State Univ 2. "The iPod Revolution and Fan Culture"; Amelia Beamer, Michigan State 3. Revisiting Remake: Digital Acting in Hollywood; Moira O'Keeffe, Univ of Pennsylvania
5851: FANZINES REVISITED (fandom)
We bring together the work that has been compiled and written by YOU, and prepare to dispatch it to various fanzines across the world.
Lloyd Penney, Joe Siclari, Geri Sullivan(M), Max
5621: AUTOGRAPHING: VICTOR KOMAN
Victor Koman
5556: AUTOGRAPHING: PETER S. BEAGLE
Peter S. Beagle
5652: AUTOGRAPHING: RACHEL MANIJA BROWN
Rachel Manija Brown
5712: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN KESSEL
John Kessel
5706: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVE SMEDS
Dave Smeds
5565: AUTOGRAPHING: JONATHAN STRAHAN
Jonathan Strahan
5626: Reading
GEOFFREY A. LANDIS
Geoffrey A. Landis
5760: KAFFEKLATSCH: MICHAEL R. MENNENGA
Michael R. Mennenga
5947: KAFFEKLATSCH: MIKE RESNICK
Mike Resnick
5493: KAFFEKLATSCH: ELLEN DATLOW
Ellen Datlow
5452: Reading
DIANA L. PAXSON
Diana L. Paxson
5791: Reading
RUDY RUCKER
Rudy Rucker
4316: NANOTECHNOLOGY (scitech)
What would the world be like if molecular technology proved feasible? Would it become a dystopia far worse than anything imagined by Huxley or Orwell, or a socialist idyll, of people living free from the fear of poverty, death or pollution, in a land with more than enough material goods for everyone?
Mark L. Van Name(M), David Friedman, Wil McCarthy, Jim Young
4162: CARE AND FEEDING OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS (writpub)
What sort of actions and environments are most conducive to getting and staying productive? How do you tell being blocked from being too tired?
James Stanley Daugherty, Laura Anne Gilman(M), Stephen Leigh
4444: GODZILLA AT 50
Fifty years ago, Godzilla was released in the US. (It was released two years earlier in Japan.) Over the years, Godzilla has gone from giant monster and anti-nuclear message to a heroic warrior, keeping nasty monsters at bay, and back again. In that time, fans have come to love the giant lizard. How has he changed? Which changes were for the better? And where is he headed now?
Bob Eggleton, Eric L. Hoffman(M), Takayuki Tatsumi, Gary Westfahl, Keith Aiken media
3959: OUR FASCINATION WITH EVIL
Before there was writing, people were telling horror stories. Today, tales of horror, of vampires, of slasher killers, of nameless things that go bump are amongst the biggest selling books. What is it about us that makes us want to be scared to death?
Charlaine Harris, Robert Short, David Brin(M)
3885: THE WORKS OF CONNIE WILLIS (lit)
The winner of more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other author, not to mention being L.A.Con IV's Guest of Honor, Connie Willis has a large and varied body of work. Critics and fans (and some you-call-these-friends?) talk about what makes her work so great.
Nancy Kress, Robert Silverberg, Kim Stanley Robinson, Gardner Dozois(M), Pat Cadigan
4175: THE DANGEROUS DIMENSION
A "readers theatre" performance of a classic story of science fiction. Readers include Anne McCaffrey, Karen Black, Bob Caso, and R.S. Daley.
Anne McCaffrey, Karen Black, Bob Caso, R.S. Daley, performances
3853: WHAT IF SUPERHEROES WERE REAL?
Superpowers we'll accept as a given. But what effects would there be on society if there really were superheroes? Would government's just let them act? Would near absolute power corrupt? Would the existence of superheroes ultimately bring forth supervillains? What toll (or benefit) would the world see from years or decades of superpowered daring-do?
Bradford Lyau(M), Ed Green, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Randy Smith, Chris M. Barkley, comics
4053: FIGHTING FOR SHELF SPACE (writpub)
Why is the SF backlist disappearing? What does this mean to authors? To booksellers?
John Barnes(M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden, James Frenkel, Betsy Mitchell
4058: PROMOTING YOUR BOOK & YOURSELF (writpub)
What can you do to help push your new book? Get your friends to turn the book "cover out" in bookstores? Get your face in Locus? Do booksignings at Bookstar help? Will any of it do any good?
Mike Shepherd Moscoe(M), James Patrick Kelly, Lee Martindale, Eleanor Wood, Jaime Levine
4130: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (scitech)
Indoor plumbing led to polio epidemics. Lead in paint and gas poisoned people. To what extent is modern science and technology responsible for figuring out whether or not something that seems good is also going to cause serious problems?
Mary A. Turzillo, John G. Hemry, Paolo Bacigalupi(M), G. David Nordley
4155: THE HISTORY OF STAR TREK (fandom)
John & Bjo Trimble present a slide show on the history of Star Trek , from the 1960s to now.
John Trimble, Bjo Trimble
4348: MISTAKES FUTURE HISTORIANS WILL MAKE ABOUT OUR TIME
If we were to read a story written in the 23rd Century but set in our time, what might we find wrong with it?
Michael F. Flynn(M), Robert Charles Wilson, Robert Gounley, Glen Cook, Harry Turtledove
4164: IS SF LIKE A SHARK? (lit)
Can the science fiction field stay the same? Or is it like a shark: move or die? If it is a shark, where is it going?
Vernor Vinge, John-Henri Holmberg, Don Sakers(M), David D. Levine
4445: RUNNING TV SHOWS
Overseeing a TV series? How hard can it be? You just write the scripts and hand them to the director, right? People who have had the job tell us about the ins-and-outs of being in charge on genre TV series.
Marti Noxon, Rockne S. O'Bannon, Gillian Horvath(M), J. Michael Straczynski media
4311: COMICS TODAY & TOMORROW
How are the comic books of today different from what they used to be? What can we look forward to in the future? Is there a future for comics? Is it in print or on line?
Steve Englehart(M), Paul Cornell, Christopher Young, Josef Rubenstein, Doselle Young, comics
3913: INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS (fandom)
What's it like running an SF bookstore? Is there much hope for their survival? True stories from the front.
Fred Patten, Lawrence Person(M), Tom Whitmore
5936: THEME CIRCLE: FURRY FILKSONGSS
Rod O'Riley, Kay Shapero, Leslie Fish filking
5944: TIM POWERS DISCUSSION (lit)
Tim Powers discusses books he would reccomend and then asks how one should write fantasy and what particular challenges it presents & how to deal with them and why fantasy still strongly affects people even in our skeptical high-tech age
Tim Powers
4465: STUDENT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY AWARDS CEREMONY SET UP
Set up for ceremony
5941: ONE SHOTS (SAT)
Sign up in the Filk Lounge for your opportunity to present your best song on stage.
filking
4356: THE FUTURE OF CITIES
Growing seemingly beyond their ability to sustain, is there a future for mega-cities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, Mexico City? What about smaller cities? Their budgets are stretched to the point of snapping, too. What can be done to save cities
Moshe Feder(M), Howard V. Hendrix, Brenda Cooper, Elizabeth Anne Hull, Richard Foss
4345: BEGINNING GLITZ AND GLITTER
Glitzy, glittery and gaudy techniques to make your costume stand out. Learn materials and basic techniques for adding sparkle, shine and focus to your hall or masquerade costume.
Zelda Gilbert(M), Bruce MacDermott, Carole Parker, Jess Miller, Dana MacDermott, Janet Wilson Anderson costuming
3978: FAN FUNDS AUCTION
Fan Funds are groups that, by election, bring fans from one continent to another, to help spread the word between our international brethren. Funding for these trips is by donation or fund raising like auctions of cool and fannish stuff. Come bid. Come help.
Bridget Bradshaw(M), Suzanne Tompkins, misc/sigs
5929: MYTHICAL BEASTIE FANDOM MEETPOINT
Discussion group for fans of dragons, unicorns, gryphons, and everything else that doesn't exist so far as we know -- but we love them anyway!
, furry
4235: HOW TO START YOUR OWN CONVENTION (fandom)
Let's go over the basics, from philosophy to raising capital to gaining recognition from fellow fans, businesses, and governments alike.
Linda Deneroff(M), Chaz Boston Baden, Kevin Standlee, Mike Willmoth
4047: SF IN JAPAN (lit)
Authors and fans from Japan talk about the works being created there and how they differ -- if at all -- from what's written in the US and elsewhere.
Takayuki Tatsumi
4925: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 7: SPECULATIVE COMMENTARY ON MEDIA (lit)
Panel Chair: Brian J Burns, George Washington University 1. Real Freedom according to The Prisoner; Kim Paffenroth, Iona College 2. I want my RAH TV...; William H. Patterson, Jr., The Heinlein Scholar, U.C. Santa Cruz 2003-2006 3. The Mockery of Moronic Media, or, Why Does the Monster Always Eat the Reporters First?; Tiffney Quin Mortensen, California State University, Northridge
5834: AUTOGRAPHING: HARLAN ELLISON
Harlan Ellison
5595: AUTOGRAPHING: ALMA Alexander
Alma Alexander
5592: AUTOGRAPHING: STANLEY SCHMIDT
Stanley Schmidt
5692: AUTOGRAPHING: MICHAEL CASSUTT
Michael Cassutt
5788: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN DECHANCIE
John DeChancie
5530: AUTOGRAPHING: RAPH KOSTER
Raph Koster
5736: Reading
CHRIS ROBERSON
Chris Roberson
5853: WHY DO FUTURE FASHIONS ALWAYS LOOK SO BAD? (art)
We look at designing futuristic bad clothing with artists. We will have T-shirts on hand to practice on.
Linda Miller, Frank Wu(M), Teddy Harvia
5483: KAFFEKLATSCH: NICK DICHARIO
Nick DiChario
5677: KAFFEKLATSCH: SARAH MONETTE
Sarah Monette
5627: KAFFEKLATSCH: JIM MINZ
Jim Minz
5558: Reading
PETER S. BEAGLE
Peter S. Beagle
5770: Reading
JOHN SKIPP
John Skipp
4367: THE RENAISSANCE IN HARD SF (lit)
With the emergence of authors like Stross, MacLeod, Vinge, Egan, etc., Hard SF is making a comeback. What's brought it back to the fore? Or did it ever really go away?
Robert J. Sawyer, John Barnes, Alastair Reynolds, Dr. Gregory Benford, Allen M. Steele(M)
4392: FEMINIST HOPE & ANGER IN DYSTOPIAN FICTION (lit)
Examples are many: Suzy McKee Charnas's "Motherlines" and Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower". But was it just a child of the '70s or does this sub-genre of fantasy and science fiction continue to thrive. Why or why not?
Lisa Goldstein, Mark von Schlegell, Spike
4028: THE SINGULARITY -- WHAT IS IT AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? (scitech)
The Singularity has become the hot topic in science, at least at science fiction conventions. What is it? And what does it mean for the future?
Toni Weisskopf, Mark L. Olson(M), Todd McCaffrey, David F. McMahon, MD, Cory Doctorow
4310: COPING WITH CELEBRITY
You don't have to be a rock star or Tom Cruise to have a fuss made over you. Celebrities in a variety of fields talk about what's different for them from "before" and what it's like to deal with their popularity. Is it all it's cracked up to be?
Craig Newmark, Eric S. Raymond(M), Kevin Drum, J. Michael Straczynski
4138: FUTURE SPACE: NEW NASA INITIATIVES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (scitech)
Current planned, and proposed space science, applications, and transportation missions being undertaken by NASA. And just how likely are they to happen?
Jonathan F Kotas, Robert J. Cesarone(M), Patrick Molloy, John Strickland, Bill Nicholls
4099: TRAILER PARK
Come see trailers, film clips, and other previews from upcoming major films. Surprises, prizes, and maybe even mystery guests.
Jeff Walker media
4269: THE ROLES OF THE GAME MASTER
Is it just coming up with sneaky traps for players? That seems like a good way to get people not to want to play in your games. What should a good Game Master do to make the game fun for everyone? (And have them not hate him for devising a trap that killed their character.) How much work does it take to be really good at it?
Jamie Alan Sims, John Mansfield(M), Randy Smith, Walter H. Hunt, Kurt Miller, gaming
4297: THE BUSINESS SIDE OF COMICS
There's a lot of "art" to creating comics but there's a business side to. What does it take to publish comics today, for big companies and self-publishers? What's distribution like? How do you stay in business? Is there really a market for comics or are comics now just a testing ground for future movie properties?
Nat Gertler, Robert Meyer Burnett, Buzz Dixon, Marv Wolfman(M), Doselle Young, Phil Foglio, comics
3938: HARD FANTASY (writpub)
Is there such a thing as "hard" fantasy, like "hard" science fiction? Is it just a matter of research or better world building? What does it take to make a fantasy "hardcore"? Who's writing hard fantasy, what is it, and how does it work?
Fiona Patton(M), Brandon Sanderson, Tim Powers, Karen Anderson, Phyllis Eisenstein
4308: DID THE REVOLUTION OF THE '60S SUCCEED?
Whatever it was, it was one of the most undigested movements in America. Has there been a lasting effect? What have we learned?
Louise Marley, John Skipp(M), Dana MacDermott, Harry Turtledove
4275: STAR WARS: THE SAGA COMPLETED
It's been almost thirty years but now the story is complete. How has the tale changed over the decades? The original films seemed to be about Luke. But the newer films are all about Darth Vader. Just whose story is it? Did advances in special effects hurt or help?
Ric Meyers(M), Kevin Rubio, MaryAnn Johanson, Robert Vogel media
4154: STAR TREK'S NEW VOYAGES
James Cawley and others from the cast and crew of this much-hailed internet version of Star Trek talk about what they've done, and where they're boldly going.
Michael Reaves, D.C. Fontana, Marc Scott Zicree(M), trek
4460: H.G. WELLS AND THE BIRTH OF SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
Sure, Verne was before him and there were others around the same time, but the popularity and acceptance of his "scientific romances" makes a strong case for his being the father of the form. Come hear about The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and First Men in the Moon, and about his lesser-known works like The War in the Air and Tono Bungay.
Michael Engelberg(M), James Killus, Greg Bear, G. David Nordley
4090: THE FUTURE WE DIDN'T EXPECT
Who would have thought that we would live to see an international plague, the fall of the Iron Curtain, or the virtual end of the Space Program? What's next that we aren't expecting?
Mark L. Van Name(M), Vernor Vinge, Larry Niven, Courtney Willis, Connie Willis
3962: WRITING NON-FICTION SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
Many science fiction magazines include non-fiction pieces about science fiction. There are books galore that talk about the field or about individual authors. How do you write non-fiction about science fiction? How do you get into the market? Just what is the market and how do you pitch pieces?
Lawrence Person(M), Paula Guran, David Cake, Gary Westfahl, Jean-Noel Bassior
5862: AUTOGRAPHING: JERRY POURNELLE
Jerry Pournelle
5501: AUTOGRAPHING: KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO
Keith R.A. DeCandido
5835: AUTOGRAPHING: JAMES GURNEY
James Gurney
5720: AUTOGRAPHING: WILLIAM F. WU
William F. Wu
5561: AUTOGRAPHING: TAKAYUKI TATSUMI
Takayuki Tatsumi
5659: AUTOGRAPHING: DAVID HARTWELL
David Hartwell
4158: PACIFICON MEMORIES (fandom)
60 years ago, Los Angeles held its first World Science Fiction Convention. Come here some of the people who were there talk about what it was like and how things have changed, for Fandom, for Worldcons, for Los Angeles, and for them, in the sixty years since Pacificon I.
Jack Speer, Art Widner(M), Bjo Trimble, Forrest J Ackerman, Len J. Moffatt
5654: Reading
RACHEL MANIJA BROWN
Rachel Manija Brown
5840: GARTH NIX READING
Garth gives a reading of some of his favourite works.
Garth Nix
4134: STUDENT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY AWARDS CEREMONY
The Awards Ceremony honors the semi-finalists, finalists, and winners who entered the ninth annual contest, which is co-sponsored by Baltimore Worldcon '98 and L.A.con IV. 750 elementary, middle, and high school students participated by submitting science fiction and fantasy stories, art work with a science fiction or fantasy theme, or a science essay. The honorees were selected after their work survived a jury process and then was reviewed by five additional judges.
Peggy Rae Sapienza, Judith Kindell, John Pomeranz(M), misc/sigs
5688: KAFFEKLATSCH: LORETTA MCKIBBEN
Loretta McKibben
5611: KAFFEKLATSCH: JOE W. HALDEMAN
Joe W. Haldeman
5666: KAFFEKLATSCH: JEAN LORRAH, PH.D.
Jean Lorrah, Ph.D.
5893: HMS TREK-A-STAR
A revival of the (in)famous operetta first performed at Westercon XX in 1967.
filking
5597: Reading
ALMA Alexander
Alma Alexander
5804: Reading
SHEILA FINCH
Sheila Finch
4246: COSTUMING: THE HARD PARTS, A DEMONSTRATION
A demonstration using resin casting to make hard shell costume parts.
Brian Coghill costuming
5927: LEARN ABOUT THE URSA MAJOR AWARDS
The Ursa Majors are furry fandom's equivalent of science fiction's Hugo (tm) Awards, or mystery's Anthony Award. Now entering its sixth year. Come find out how the awards are chosen -- and what sort of things have been nominated or won in the past.
Fred Patten, furry
3939: HORROR AND THE CATHODE RAY
Horror on television, from 1949 to today, including The Twilight Zone, Thriller, One Step Beyond, The Outer Limits, etc.
Paul Cornell(M), Bill Warren, Charles Lee Jackson II, Eric L. Hoffman, Simon R Green media
4304: ART SHOW AUCTION (art)
Come bid on some great art from the convention's art show. Auction rules available in the Art Show.
3916: RAISING CHILDREN IN FANDOM (fandom)
Using Mr. Spock instead of Dr. Spock. Morals, manners, and family. Do we really raise our children differently or are they just born that way? Hear comments from fannish parents and the adult children of fans.
Edie Stern(M), Amy Thomson, Dave Weingart, June Moffatt, Lisa Deutsch Harrigan
4926: PERSPECTIVES ON SF & MEDIA 8: CRITICAL FUSIONS (lit)
Panel Chair: Kim Knight, UC Santa Barbara 1. LETO II, THX-1138, LOGAN 5, AND 3JANE: Numbers in Names in Science Fiction; Elizabeth Swanstrom, UC Santa Barbara 2. Deconstructing Fantasy and Science Fiction as Mysteries; Michael Carniello, Independent Scholar 3. Forced Isolation: Communism vs. Individualism in Ender's Game; Antares Alleman, University of Texas at Arlington
5855: SPACE PIRATE CRASH TEST DUMMIES - SPACE SHIP DESTRUCTION!!!
Yesterday you designed and started making your own spaceship, today we finish building them and then CRASH them!!! Yes, it's all about destruction now -- who's space ship will perform the test crash into the obstruction WITHOUT splattering it's "pilot" all over the cockpit, and who's space ship will make the BIGGEST mess of it's "pilot"???
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, James Bacon, Lara Collins, gaming
5505: AUTOGRAPHING: SCOTT ROGERS
Scott Rogers
5518: AUTOGRAPHING: ERIC SHANOWER
Eric Shanower
5725: AUTOGRAPHING: JOHN SHIRLEY
John Shirley
5764: AUTOGRAPHING: DELIA SHERMAN
Delia Sherman
5771: AUTOGRAPHING: BRADLEY H. SINOR
Bradley H. Sinor
5734: Reading
REBECCA MOESTA
Rebecca Moesta
5856: LEGO PIRATE AND SPACE MECH GAME
We create a game using Lego Pirate ships and Mechs who battle one another.
Stef Lancaster, Elvis Elder, Simone van Zyl, Max, Steve Jackson(M), James Bacon, Lara Collins, gaming
5680: KAFFEKLATSCH: DAVID BRIN
David Brin
5429: KAFFEKLATSCH: VERA NAZARIAN
Vera Nazarian
5895: IN CONCERT: GARY ERLICH, AND BILL AND GRETCHEN ROPER
Gretchen Roper, Bill Roper, Gary Ehrlich filking
5498: Reading
ELIZABETH BEAR
Elizabeth Bear
5570: Reading
LAURA ANNE GILMAN
Laura Anne Gilman
3974: ADVANCES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE (scitech)
How are computers changing? What do the advances in micro-technology, superconductivity, graphics, etc. mean to the future of micros, minis, and main frames?
Jerry Pournelle, James P. Hogan(M), Don Sakers, Andrew Adams
4354: LOOK AT PAST FUTURES
Science fiction has always been a medium for prediction: what will the future be like. Well, gang, the future's here. What did the science fiction of the '30s - '60s say about the turn of the century? Were they accurate at all? Which predictions do we wish would come true? Which are we glad haven't come to pass?
Howard V. Hendrix, Victor Koman(M), James Killus, Janine Ellen Young
4303: HOW I'D FIX STAR TREK
The Star Trek franchise has flamed out with decreasing ratings and series that don't inspire. Is it possible to recreate the wonder? What should a new Star Trek series include and what should it avoid?
John G. Hemry, Robert Meyer Burnett, Daren Dochterman, Mel Gilden(M), Kevin Rubio media
3868: SPACE PROGRAM BLOOPERS (scitech)
Anecdotes from the world of space exploration.
Steve Collins(M), Robert Gounley, Brian Coghill
3993: AN HOUR WITH FREDERIK POHL (writpub)
An intimate chat with one of the field's top authors.
Frederik Pohl
5829: CRAFTING THE WHEDON-VERSE
Joss Whedon has created three television series that struck a cord with people. The characters, the situations, the dialog, the relationships, etc. Hear from people who were intimately involved with shaping and guiding those series through the seasons.
Marti Noxon, Jane Espenson, Loni Peristere media
3886: NEW SF & FANTASY FOR KIDS AND TEENS (lit)
We all know about Narnia and Heinlein juveniles. But what else is out there? What's new that we might not know about?
Sherwood Smith, Tom Whitmore, Hilari Bell, Devra Langsam(M), Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier
4394: OUT OF THIS WORLD MYSTERIES (lit)
Science Fiction and Fantasy writers like Poul Anderson and Stephen Donaldson have written mainstream mystery novels. Larry Niven, Hal Clement and George Alec Effinger have combined the genres. What works? What doesn't?
John Maddox Roberts, Jon L. Breen(M), Barbara Hambly
3842: DEATH OF THE BOOK
It's been predicted several times but it still hasn't arrived. What's keeping books around? What are the alternatives? Why aren't they making a louder noise?
Louise Marley, Roger MacBride Allen, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Mike Shepherd Moscoe(M), Steve Saffel
3977: ALIENS BEYOND PROBABILITY (lit)
Some fictional creatures are just too fictional to exist. What are some of the more outlandish and improbable aliens and mythical creatures you've read about or seen in the media?
Alan Dean Foster, Bill Thomasson(M), Jody Lynn Nye, Walter H. Hunt
3860: CREATING THE UNKNOWN FOR FILMS
Hollywood has brought science fiction and fantasy to life, but how are some of those things created? How do you design something that doesn't exist? And then how do you make it work? Some top motion picture craftsmen tell all, or at least most.
Dennis Skotak, Ronald B. Moore(M), Bob Eggleton, Rick Sternbach media
4181: JPL EMPLOYEES GATHERING
4430: FANNISH IDENTITY ISSUES (fandom)
FANNISH IDENTITY ISSUES What is fannish identity? How does fandom deal with identity issues (e.g. gender sub-cultures, filkers, Trekies, etc.) Is fandom more mature in some regard to other parts of society but less mature in others? How can we hold ourselves above mundanes in our outlook towards people different from us when we act just like them (e.g. pointing & laughing)?
Milton F. Stevens, Bjo Trimble, Grant Kruger, Bridget Landry(M), Justin Lloyd
5930: 20 YEARS OF FURRY FANDOM
Furry fans began to meet at SF convention parties regularly in 1986. Now the fandom has its own conventions that rival some of the larger SF cons! Find out how things got started and where they've been since.
, furry
5830: MASQUERADE REPLAY
Were you in the Masquerade and couldn't see it? Did you miss some or all of it? Come see it on (unedited) tape.
costuming
3927: DUNGEONMASTER!
Enter a world where nothing is as it seems. A world where you must fight for your life, fight for respect and fight for justice. Enter a world where you must outwit clever sorcerers, outrun hungry imps and out-muscle a deadly dragon. It is a world of love and peace, of hatred and chaos. Dungeon Master is a role playing game staged in a theatre using actors as the monsters and non-player characters. The adventuring party is chosen from audience members who submit their names before the play starts. The party is supplied with costumes, weapons (foam of course), the use of ten spells (which must rhyme) and given a task which must be completed in the allotted time. Meanwhile, the rest of the audience can cheer for the heroes...or the monsters.
5857: COLLECTION OF ITEMS
An opportunity to collect various items made or left over the past two days.
James Bacon, misc/sigs
4127: HUGO AWARDS CEREMONY
The Oscars of the science fiction world.
David A. Kyle, Harlan Ellison, Connie Willis, Craig Miller
5878: IN CONCERT: DAVE WEINGART AND MARILYN MILLER
Dave Weingart, Marilyn Miller filking
5873: THEME CIRCLE: THOSE FILKS WE LOVE TO HATE
Young Man Mulligan, Horsetamer's Daughter, Banned from Argo, and more!
TJ Burnside-Clapp, Leslie Fish, Karen Anderson, Mary Creasey filking
5907: THEME CIRCLE: THE PARODY
Blind Lemming Chiffon, Gary Ehrlich filking
5931: FURRY FANDOM RECEPTION AND ARTIST GATHERING
Come join us in celebrating all the aspects of anthropomorphic fandom, art, stories, movies and more!
, furry
5832: MATCH GAME PM
Get ready to match the stars! An SF-themed take on the classic 1970s game show. Audience members will be selected randomly as contestants and can win prizes by matching the answers our panel give to questions like "Captain Kirk has the biggest ___ in Starfleet!" This is the late night version of the game show classic. No holding back with your answers.
Kevin Standlee, Andrew T Trembley, Kevin Roche, Christopher J. Garcia, Tom Galloway, performances
Fr. John Blaker, Randy Smith, misc/sigs
3935: DEL REY: WHAT'S COMING UP (writpub)
What's ahead from this top publisher of science fiction and fantasy.
Jim Minz, Betsy Mitchell
5860: WSFS BUSINESS MEETING (fandom)
Sunday's installment of the WSFS Business Meeting will only occur if all business isn't completed by the end of Saturday morning's meeting.
Kevin Standlee
4026: SCIENCE FICTION OF THE '70S & '80S (lit)
A discussion of science fiction of the period. How was it different from what's out there today? From what came before it? Was it better? What are some of the best examples?
Robin Wayne Bailey, James Frenkel, Jim Young(M), George R.R. Martin
4156: THE X-HUNTERS AEROSPACE ARCHEOLOGY TEAM
Peter Merlin and Tony Moore talk about their adventures searching for historic aerospace relics in the deserts of the western United States, where they have located over 100 crash sites, mainly of experimental aircraft from Edwards Air Force Base and Area 51. They have recovered parts of supersonic rocket planes, stealthy spy craft and vehicles that have reached the edge of space. Each hunt combines C.S.I. skills with X-Files persistence, and a dash of Indiana Jones adventure.
Tony Moore, Peter W. Merlin
3876: DINOTOPIA: BEHIND THE SCENES
James Gurney gives a presentation on his best-selling Hugo nominated works and talks about what goes into making realistic fantasy pictures, National Geographic illustrations, and fantasy art.
James Gurney media
3943: COMPUTER ART (art)
A discussion of computer art and graphics. How it's done, where it's used, and who's doing it.
Lydia C. Marano(M), Joe Bergeron, Rick Sternbach, Bill Nicholls
4313: FRANKIE THOMAS MEMORIAL
Come share your memories -- happy and sad, funny and heartwarming -- about Frankie Thomas. L.A.con's Special Guest, the one and only Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, was an actor of note, an author of Sherlockian mysteries, a bridge teacher, and more. Come hear about his life and career and share your own memories of him as a friend or just what watching him perform meant to you.
Charles Lee Jackson II, Mel Gilden, Len J. Moffatt, Jeff Berkwits
4194: LOW BUDGET FILMMAKING
The average major studio film these days costs $40 million. But there are still plenty of films being made between $100,000 and $5 million. Independent filmmakers discuss their trials and triumphs.
Greg Pak, Robert Vogel(M), Rob Caves, Bob Eggleton media
4055: RACE & RACISM IN SCIENCE FICTION (lit)
Why is science fiction so white? The characters seem almost all to be Caucasian or Alien. Is this simply because so many of the writers are white? (And why is that?) Or are there marketing concerns at work? Should we care whether Kimball Kinnison or Teela Brown is Black, White or Hispanic?
Tobias S. Buckell, William F. Wu, James Killus(M), Chris M. Barkley, Pat Cadigan
4101: THE SOUND OF THOMAS JEFFERSON SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE
Why do the descendants of rebels love reading about kings and wizards?
Darrell Schweitzer, Walter H. Hunt, Richard Foss(M), G. David Nordley, David Brin
4327: THE INFLUENCE OF EDITORS ON THE SF FIELD (writpub)
Do editors publish what the readers want to buy or does the field reflect the editors' tastes?
David Hartwell, Lou Anders, Stanley Schmidt, Ellen Datlow(M), Sheila Williams
4415: WHAT IS IT ABOUT BUFFY?
There's something about Buffy and the Buffyverse that drew people in. What was so special about this show? The Big Bad? The characters? The dialogue? What made it so special to so many people, where other shows haven't connected?
Eric M. Van, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Lee Martindale(M), Jane Espenson media
4243: MIGHT MAKES RIGHT
An awful lot of 'hard SF' is set in a military milieu. Is that to be our destiny in space? Or are Gordon Dickson, Robert Heinlein, and Jerry Pournelle just giving us some rip-roaring adventures? Besides, what's wrong with militarism?
J.G. Hertzler, John Scalzi, Hank Reinhardt(M), Joe W. Haldeman, Steven Lopata
5463: AUTOGRAPHING: BRENDA Cooper
Brenda Cooper
5494: AUTOGRAPHING: MARGARET ORGAN-KEAN
Margaret Organ-Kean
5551: AUTOGRAPHING: CYNTHIA FELICE
Cynthia Felice
5454: AUTOGRAPHING: JEAN-NOEL BASSIOR
Jean-Noel Bassior
5776: AUTOGRAPHING: ELLEN KLAGES
Ellen Klages
3846: THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
It's a system we all know is broken but what really needs to be done? What can be done? Our panelists share their thoughts with audience participation encouraged.
Jean Lorrah, Ph.D., Courtney Willis, John Maizels(M), Sherwood Smith, Howard V. Hendrix
5938: KIDS PROGRAMMING: HARP WORKSHOP
How a harp works to make music.
Moira Stern filking
5616: Reading
KEVIN ANDREW MURPHY
Kevin Andrew Murphy
5578: KAFFEKLATSCH: PAUL Cornell
Paul Cornell
5608: KAFFEKLATSCH: WIL MCCARTHY
Wil McCarthy
5511: KAFFEKLATSCH: JOHN MADDOX ROBERTS
John Maddox Roberts
4233: SHAKESPEARE & SCIENCE FICTION (writpub)
No, he didn't write any but he influenced a lot. Writers talk about how Shakespeare's work influence them and their writing.
Sarah Monette, Sheila Finch, Mary A. Turzillo, Amy Sterling Casil(M)
5655: Reading
MADELEINE E. ROBINS
Madeleine E. Robins
4335: MASQUERADE MISTAKES
How'd That Happen? Costuming mistakes, both large and small. The panel will discuss their flubs. Please feel free to bring yours.
Zelda Gilbert(M), Sandy Pettinger, Pierre E. Pettinger, Kate Morganstern costuming
5900: CRAFTING YOUR LYRICS
filking
4321: HOW TO START (AND END) A CLUB (fandom)
What is the lifespan of the average fan club? How do you define a successful club and what are the pitfalls associated with orchestrated group activities?
Lee Whiteside, John Mansfield(M), Lenny Bailes, Mike Willmoth, James Bacon
3889: MARS IN FICTION (lit)
A discussion of the tradition of Mars exploration stories in SF, exploring the evolution of the sub-genre from its planetary romance roots to the current hard SF mission-to-Mars stories.
Beth Meacham, Edwin L. Strickland III, Gary Westfahl(M), Geoffrey A. Landis
4013: WRITE THIS WAY! (fandom)
A panel of fanzine reviewers discuss fanzine writing that works and why. Brief examples of brilliant technique will be shared.
Guy H. Lillian III(M), Milton F. Stevens, Jerry Kaufman
5807: AUTOGRAPHING: NAT GERTLER
Nat Gertler
5748: AUTOGRAPHING: KIM STANLEY ROBINSON
Kim Stanley Robinson
5805: AUTOGRAPHING: HUGH S. GREGORY
Hugh S. Gregory
5467: AUTOGRAPHING: ROBERT J. SAWYER
Robert J. Sawyer
5420: Reading
NAOMI NOVIK
Naomi Novik
5617: KAFFEKLATSCH: DIANE DUANE
Diane Duane
5527: KAFFEKLATSCH: TERESA & PATRICK NIELSEN HAYDEN
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Patrick Nielsen Hayden
5806: KAFFEKLATSCH: TOM WHITMORE
Tom Whitmore
5812: Reading
MIKE SHEPHERD MOSCOE
Mike Shepherd Moscoe
5687: Reading
DAVID D. Levine
David D. Levine
4114: PAGE 119 (lit)
Can you really tell if a book is good by randomly opening it and reading a page or two? Our panelists will read selected works aloud and let the audience decide if it was any good. Then they'll reveal what it was they were reading from. Oops.
Amy Thomson(M), Ellen Kushner, Nicki Lynch, Genevieve Dazzo, Todd McCaffrey
4132: FILMMAKING: THE PROCESS
A lot has to happen before a film is ready for showing. What is the actual filmmaking process that transforms a vague idea into a finished 70mm dolby stereo blockbuster?
Mark Altman, Ronald B. Moore, Robert Gordon, Mike DeMeritt(M) media
4173: COOL NEW TECHNOLOGY
What new technology is out there, knocking on our doors, just waiting for us to make use of? Some of it's useful, some of it's good (some not), and some of it's just silly.
John Maizels, Mark L. Olson(M), Christopher J. Garcia, David Brin
4908: CONNIE WILLIS - THE SERIOUS SIDE (lit)
Charles N. Brown, editor in chief of Locus, conducts an indepth interview with Guest of Honor Connie Willis about her work, but more about her life, the reasons she writes, and where her humor comes from.
Connie Willis, Charles N. Brown
5826: INSIDE CASSINI (scitech)
What it's like to work on a space mission. Horror stories, favorite moments, how life imitates science fiction, SF influences, and more.
Bridget Landry, John C. Smith Jr., Scott Edgington, Trina L. Ray, Kelly L. Perry, Dr. Kevin R. Grazier
3929: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
A look at the series with Executive Producer Ron D. Moore and others.
Anne Cofell Saunders, Bradley Thompson, Ronald D. Moore, Craig Engler, Mark Verheiden, Michael Taylor, David Weddle media
4261: SFWA EMERGENCY MEDICAL FUND AUCTION
4432: ANCIENT DISCOVERIES (scitech)
How did ancient peoples living on the banks of the Nile know that crocodile dung had medicinal properties? A discussion of the innovations of the ancient world before the scientific empirical method and double blind studies were de rigeur.
Howard V. Hendrix, Sean McMullen(M), Bob Sabaroff, Justin Lloyd
4453: HIDDEN FRONTIER
Rob Caves and members of the cast and crew of these new, internet tales of the Federation talk about these adventures of Star Fleet's other ships.
Rob Caves, trek
4006: THE AUTHOR/EDITOR RELATIONSHIP (writpub)
What makes a book great? Where does the editor's input begin? Where does it end? When does the author have to assert his/her creative authority? Are the relationships between editor and author today like they were years ago?
Louise Marley, K. A. Bedford, Betsy Mitchell
4126: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES AND CONSERVATION
Thirty years since the first energy crisis and what have we accomplished? The cost of gasoline has gone through the roof and is going higher while the supply dwindles away. Hydrogen power is in the distance but does it even make sense (other than to the oil companies)? What about windmills and solar panels? Ethanol and bio-diesel? Nuclear fission (or even fusion) are another kettle of fish, plagued with problems and bad PR. What's to be done?
J.G. Hertzler, Courtney Willis, Christian B. McGuire(M), Rich Lynch, Geoffrey A. Landis
4011: HOW TO DO RESEARCH (writpub)
The trick to "getting it right" is doing research. Experienced researchers and writers will tell you the secrets to good research.
Robert B Hole, Jr., David Keck, Barbara Hambly, Karen Willson(M), Harry Turtledove
4441: FIREFLY: GREAT SHOW, LOW RATINGS
Firefly was a show that connected with some people yet left others cold. Why didn't it find an audience. Could audiences just not see past the dirt roads and western trappings?
Fr. John Blaker(M), Keith R.A. DeCandido, John O'Halloran, Lorien Gray media
4372: BOOK EXHIBIT RAFFLE (fandom)
"All of the books on display in the Book Exhibit will be raffled off (in lots worth app. $100+ each) with proceeds going to pro-literacy charities. Come see if you've won.
3897: IN DEFENSE OF ESCAPIST LITERATURE (lit)
Science fiction has had a moniker of being junk food for the mind; escapist fare only. Is that true? Not all of it is literature but surely some of it must be? Mustn't it? What literary trends can be found? What will withstand the test of time? And does it matter?
Stephen Eley, Brandon Sanderson(M), Pat Cadigan, Lou Anders
5908: HISTORY OF FILK: THE CENO- AND MODERN FILKISH ERAS
A discourse on the Cenofilkish Era, 1980-1990 dominated by Cassette Tape technology; and the Modern Filkish Era, which began with the introduction of the Filk CD.
Roberta Rogow, TJ Burnside-Clapp, Joey Shoji filking
5897: HYMNAL SING: RISE UP SINGING
Sing along with the from the Rise Up Singing folk collection.
Blind Lemming Chiffon, Erwin S. Filthy Pierre Strauss, David Kushner filking
4007: LOVING THE ALIEN (OR I MARRIED A FAN FROM OUTER SPACE?) (fandom)
Looking at any SF convention these days, it's easy to see that many people in attendance are weird even by Fandom's standards -- S&M practitioners, vampires, modern primitives, gender benders. Is this part of the continuum of oddness that fandom has always embraced? What is the cross-over between fandom and society's covert culture?
Vanessa Van Wagner, David Cake(M), Devra Langsam
4284: WHAT CAN GO WRONG? -- CONVENTION HORROR STORIES (fandom)
Veterans of the convention wars tell their favorite stories.
Perrianne Lurie, Patrick Molloy(M), Michael J. Walsh, Priscilla Olson
5932: LIVE THE DREAM MEETPOINT
Live the Dream is an education and support group for those who, originally inspired by the writings of Robert Heinlein, Robert Rimmer, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, are now ready to LIVE such alternative lifestyles as Cooperative living, open relationships and group marriage. Come find out more.
, furry
4088: 501(C)3-PO: TAX EXEMPTION FOR SF GROUPS
A presentation on obtaining and maintaining tax exempt status for your club or convention.
John Pomeranz
5648: AUTOGRAPHING: ROBERT CHARLES Wilson
Robert Charles Wilson
5528: AUTOGRAPHING: ADAM-TROY CASTRO
Adam-Troy Castro
5418: AUTOGRAPHING: NAOMI NOVIK
Naomi Novik
5670: AUTOGRAPHING: TIM POWERS
Tim Powers
5674: AUTOGRAPHING: SHARON SHINN
Sharon Shinn
5469: Reading
ROBERT J. SAWYER
Robert J. Sawyer
5471: KAFFEKLATSCH: JOHN BARNES
John Barnes
5491: KAFFEKLATSCH: ALAN RODGERS
Alan Rodgers
5700: KAFFEKLATSCH: PAUL FISCHER
Paul Fischer
5667: Reading
JEAN LORRAH, PH.D.
Jean Lorrah, Ph.D.
5749: Reading
KIM STANLEY ROBINSON
Kim Stanley Robinson
4913: SPINTRONICS: UNDERSTANDING THIS NEW SPIN ON ELECTRONICS WITHOUT GETTING DIZZY (scitech)
Spintronics -- technology that harnesses electron spin as well as its charge -- has already dramatically changed the world we live and work in today. IBM Almaden Research Center scientist Kevin Roche will introduce you to this emerging technology: what spin is, what it does and how we are beginning to harness it, as well as a virtual tour of his laboratory and the giant robots they use to study these nano-engineered materials. He also promises to do it in terms that won't make your head spin.
Kevin Roche
4226: THE NEW DR. WHO
Three of the writers for the new Dr. Who TV series (each nominated for a Hugo award this year) talk about the new series.
Paul Cornell, Shaun Lyon media
4199: THE FUTURE OF RELIGION
What should we expect from our many religions as we enter the new century? If we ever leave Earth will we take our religions with us? Should we?
John Skipp(M), John-Henri Holmberg, Chris Weber, Scott E. Green
4276: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE "SCIENCE" IN SCIENCE FICTION?
SF once was primarily a written medium which inspired countless young people to seek careers as engineers, scientists, and astronauts at NASA and in the aerospace industry. Today, SF covers a broad range of media, and many of its most well-known incarnations -- e.g. Star Wars -- present the visual window-dressing of science fiction without attempting to ground it in anything resembling science fact. Does contemporary science fiction still inspire young people to have science and engineering careers?
Larry Niven, Robert Gounley, Greg Bear, James Killus(M), Dr. Gregory Benford
3936: JERRY POURNELLE: INVENTING THE FUTURE
How to change the world.
Jerry Pournelle
5911: RAY BRADBURY, HIMSELF (lit)
Ray Bradbury, one of the mainstays of science fiction and fantasy literature, talks about himself, the field, and the world.
Ray Bradbury
3990: THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS
Were Pohl & Kornbluth right in The Space Merchants? Will the future see mega-corporations instead of countries? Where is business going? What will it be like 50 or 100 years from now
Jody Lynn Nye(M), Mark von Schlegell, John DeChancie, Michael Ward
4000: CLASSICS REMEMBERED: "NO WOMAN BORN" (lit)
C.L. Moore wrote well with her husband Henry Kuttner; she wrote well alone. This masterly novelette explores beauty and attraction with almost inhuman resonance. It probably could not have been written by a man or in any other genre.
John F. Hertz, Joe W. Haldeman, Toni Weisskopf(M), Jim Young
4301: WHY ISN'T IT MILITARY FANTASY? (writpub)
Military SF is a common term for novels featuring lots of combat, but you rarely hear the term military fantasy even though works like the Lord Of The Rings feature a huge amount of fighting between individuals and armies. Why does SF dealing with war get consigned to a sub-genre while fantasies that include war are regarded as just part of mainstream fantasy writing?
David Friedman, John G. Hemry, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Peter Morwood
4073: BUILDING MAGICAL SYSTEMS (writpub)
You can't just wave your wand and do whatever you want. Fiction that features magic as an intrinsic part of the world requires rule-setting and interweaving culture, religion, "science," and law. What are the challenges and opportunities in building a functional magical world?
Hilari Bell(M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, ElizaBeth Gilligan, Kurt Miller
4376: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EDITOR (writpub)
Just what is it an editor does all day? Read manuscripts? Take Stephen King out to lunch? Plot nefarious plots?
Beth Meacham, Ginjer Buchanan(M), Sheila Williams
4360: COMIC BOOKS TO MOVIES
There seems to be no end of movies based on comics, ranging from Superheroes to the more esoteric V for Vendetta. Some of them work creatively, some financially, some do both. But some don't. What works? What doesn't? And where do filmmakers go wrong?
Robert Meyer Burnett, Len Wein, comics
4195: YOU CAN'T MAKE A CUTTING EDGE BY GRINDING YOUR AXE (lit)
It's an accepted truism in critical circles that If your motivation in writing is to promote a political, social, or cultural agenda, you're not going to produce great art. Is that really true? What about the works of Joanna Russ, Octavia Butler, Allen Ginsberg, Phil Ochs, or Neil Young? Is the truism actually false or is there something more to it?
Lee Martindale, John Barnes, Scott Edelman(M), Tim Powers, Vera Nazarian
4223: CLASSIC TREK, NEW TREK, OR DIET CHERRY TREK: WHICH IS BEST?
A discussion of Star Trek's various incarnations, what worked, what didn't work in each.
Margaret Wander Bonanno, Chris M. Barkley(M), Marah Searle-Kovacevic, trek
5827: JAMES GURNEY PAINTING DEMO (art)
James Gurney, L.A.con's Artist Guest of Honor, gives a demonstration of figure painting.
James Gurney
4141: IT CAME FROM THE 1950S
There was a deluge of science fiction movies made in the 1950s. Many people who grew up in that decade have made those movies part of their lives but even people born much later have embraced them, and not just on a "so bad they're good" basis. Why does this continue to happen? What is the appeal of these movies? Are they unique?
Eric L. Hoffman, Gary Westfahl(M), Frank Wu, Bob Eggleton, Bill Warren media
5410: AUTOGRAPHING: G. DAVID NORDLEY
G. David Nordley
5434: AUTOGRAPHING: RIC MEYERS
Ric Meyers
5623: AUTOGRAPHING: VERNOR VINGE
Vernor Vinge
5737: AUTOGRAPHING: WALTER H. HUNT
Walter H. Hunt
5751: AUTOGRAPHING: KATE ELLIOTT
Kate Elliott
5581: Reading
JAY LAKE
Jay Lake
5824: KAFFEKLATSCH: HARRY HARRISON
Harry Harrison
5906: THE KAMIKAZE MORON
A Star Trek Parody in 1 Act.
filking
4283: BWB HUMAN CHESS MATCH: DORNE VS. HIGHGARDEN
George R.R. Martin, misc/sigs
5458: Reading
CATHERINE S. MCMULLEN
Catherine S. McMullen
5690: Reading
DEBORAH J ROSS
Deborah J Ross
4014: ANYTHING TWO FANS DO TOGETHER (OR WHAT IS FANAC THESE DAYS)? (fandom)
We think everyone would pretty much agree that fanac has changed over the decades, but we might not be so sure as to what it now consists of. Just what is "fanac" and what's just doin' stuff?
John R. Douglas(M), Dave Weingart, Milton F. Stevens, Geri Sullivan, Len J. Moffatt
5933: FUN WITH THE FURRIES!
An Activity Group in collaboration with Children's Programming. Young fans! Come meet the furry characters, and learn how they're drawn too -- you can even take home your own hand-drawn cartoon!
, furry
5442: Reading
GARDNER DOZOIS
Gardner Dozois
4018: COMING ACROSS: CURRENT UK FANZINES (fandom)
Highlights of the British fannish press. Examples will be shown, addresses shared.
Jerry Kaufman, Bridget Bradshaw, Spike(M), James Bacon
5441: AUTOGRAPHING: GARDNER DOZOIS
Gardner Dozois
5723: AUTOGRAPHING: SIMON R GREEN
Simon R Green
5689: AUTOGRAPHING: DEBORAH J ROSS
Deborah J Ross
5912: AUTOGRAPHING: RAY BRADBURY
Ray Bradbury
5665: AUTOGRAPHING: JEAN LORRAH, PH.D.
Jean Lorrah, Ph.D.
5411: KAFFEKLATSCH: G. DAVID NORDLEY
G. David Nordley
5461: KAFFEKLATSCH: RICHARD CHWEDYK
Richard Chwedyk
5783: KAFFEKLATSCH: AMY THOMSON
Amy Thomson
5574: Reading
DAVID GERROLD
David Gerrold
5486: Reading
K. A. BEDFORD
K. A. Bedford
5563: Reading
CORY DOCTOROW
Cory Doctorow
4364: BAEN BOOKS TRAVELLING SLIDE SHOW -- WITH PRIZES! (writpub)
See what's coming up from Baen Books.
Toni Weisskopf
4091: FANTASY ON TELEVISION
Spooks and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Has there ever been so much fantasy on television? And such successful shows, too. Buffy and Angel were fantasy shows and while they had definite followings, they weren't the hits that Medium and Ghost Whisperer are. Why are they so successful?
MaryAnn Johanson(M), ElizaBeth Gilligan, Len Wein, Jane Espenson media
4171: BEYOND HARRY POTTER (lit)
What books would interest kids (or adults) who enjoyed Harry Potter? For many, Harry was the first fantasy they read. Why has it drawn so many and where can they go now?
Dave Weingart, Laura Frankos, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Catherine S. McMullen, Delia Sherman(M)
4391: DOES HARD SF HAVE TO BE DRY? (lit)
Some people feel that "seeing all the rivets" is what makes science fiction good. But does it make Hard SF too stiff? Are there interesting characters in Hard SF books? Can they have the action of an old-fashioned sword-and-starship swashbuckler and still be good?
Beth Meacham(M), Bridget Landry, Greg Bear, Stanley Schmidt, Ben Yalow
4457: IS STAR TREK DEAD? NOT AS LONG AS WE REMEMBER IT (PRESENTED BY GEEK & CFQ MAGAZINES)
A fond look back at 40 years of Star Trek along with a hopeful look forward at what J.J. Abrams may or may not do with the franchise in the coming years.
Mark Altman, Robert Meyer Burnett, Bill Hunt, Jeff Bond, Steve Melching, Daren Dochterman media
4135: SUGGESTION BOX
Was it good for you? If you have ideas for running a better Worldcon or just have questions about how it happened this year, you're invited!
Christian B. McGuire, Craig Miller, misc/sigs
5833: THE WORLD'S MOST USELESS SUPERPOWERS
Sure, super strength, invulnerability, being able to fly, being invisible are all really cool powers. But not everyone can be blessed with good, useful powers. Someone's got to be Allergy Boy or Mr. Droopy Socks. What are your ideas for the world's most useless super powers?
James Hay(M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, Kathryn Daugherty, Vernor Vinge, comics
4382: HOLDING BACK THE TIDE (scitech)
The Arctic Ocean could be an open sea within our children's lifetime. Melting ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica are raising sea levels. Can we build dikes around Florida and the Gulf states? How will America handle the rising tide? How will the rest of the world cope, and how will the West deal with populations displaced by shoreline change?
Todd McCaffrey, Don Sakers(M), Jerry Pournelle, Edwin L. Strickland III
4351: OBSCURE DICK (lit)
Discussion and appreciation of the lesser-known works of Philip K. Dick. What did you think of "Now Wait for Last Year"?
John R. Douglas(M), David Hartwell, Mark von Schlegell, Eric M. Van, Lenny Bailes
4143: A QUIET PLACE TO WRITE (writpub)
Does where you write matter? How about whether or not you face a window? Authors will talk about how they set up their writing spaces -- a separate office, the living room couch, the dining room table? -- what's in the room, what they listen to, and what they wear (if they wear anything at all).
Fiona Avery(M), Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, Madeleine E. Robins, Connie Willis, Harry Turtledove
4037: WHY IS EVERYTHING SO DARK?
Batman has become the "Dark Knight". The X-Files is filled with conspiracies and people wearing dark clothes walking around in dark rooms. Before that, the great New Wave of SF, which called itself literary, was deeply pessimistic. Is this mature, childish, or the swing of a pendulum?
Adam-Troy Castro(M), Robert Vogel, Alan Rodgers, Bradley H. Sinor, Nick Sagan
4418: I, ROBOT TO MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER
Right now robots are pretty much remotely-controlled devices to conduct certain tasks like bomb disposal or mindless repetitive-motion machines for chores like vacuuming rugs. But what will "real" robots be like? Will be Asimov's dutiful three-laws obeying pals or our sneaky lords and masters a la the Magnus comics? The singularity suggests, perhaps, the latter. Or will it be somewhere in between?
Greg Pak, Elisabeth Malartre, Roger MacBride Allen, James P. Hogan(M), Tom Galloway
4254: THE QUERY LETTER (writpub)
You've come up with the idea, worked out the story. Maybe you've written the entire novel. Just one thing left to do. Sell it. There's little harder than writing that synopsis. How long should it be? How hard should you sell? Just what will it take to get that agent, that editor, to want to read your work or to offer you a contract to write it?
Hilari Bell, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Jean-Noel Bassior(M)
4305: ART DIRECTION FOR MOTION PICTURES
Art Directors have to take today and make it look like tomorrow. How do they do it? What's their track record been like?
Mike DeMeritt(M), Bob Eggleton, Scott Essman media
4365: RUNNING CONVENTIONS -- WHY DO YOU DO IT? (fandom)
It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. And if they didn't, we wouldn't be here. But why do they do it? It can't be the money. There isn't any. Come see con runners from around the country fumble for an answer.
Marah Searle-Kovacevic, Lance Sibley, Suzanne Tompkins, Chaz Boston Baden, Priscilla Olson(M)
5942: DEAD DOG JAM
filking
3848: IT'S WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT COUNTS
Add variety and distinctiveness with supports, structures, and frameworks. Alter and manipulate your silhouette with corsets, bustles, bustiers, and more.
Sandy Pettinger, Janet Wilson Anderson(M) costuming
4005: TIMEBINDING FANNISH HISTORY (fandom)
Joe Siclari has Project FANAC. There's the Timebinders, Trufen, and other fannish e-mail lists. And LASFS and NESFA and other groups have their libraries and archives. Come discuss the hows, whys, and wherefores of keeping our fannish history from ending up in the dust bin.
Vanessa Van Wagner, Andrew I. Porter(M), Jerry Kaufman, Joe Siclari, Len J. Moffatt
5934: OUR FAVORITE FURRY VILLAINS AND WHY WE LOVE TO HATE THEM!
Discussion group on a popular topic: Furry characters who are mean, selfish, cruel, and oh-so-watchable! From General Woundwort to Dr. Zaius to Scar and beyond.
, furry
3988: HORROR'S CHANGING FACE (lit)
It's not just Cthulu anymore.
Scott Alan Woodard, Kurt Miller(M), Ginjer Buchanan, Lee Martindale, Stephen Eley
3923: THE TRANSLATORS
A story theater performance by the Patchwork Players Story Theatre.
4393: SECRETS OF AREA 51
Area 51, The Ranch, Dreamland. The names conjure images of mysterious black airplanes and UFOS. For half a century this remote desert outpost has served as a breeding ground for cutting edge technology. It is a place with a history of dark rumors and speculation and a name that has become an object of folklore. Based on declassified government documents, personal interviews and extensive fieldwork, aerospace historian Peter W. Merlin reveals the secrets of Area 51.
Peter W. Merlin
4375: CLOSING CEREMONIES
The official conclusion of this year's Worldcon. Come bid farewell and see what last surprises are in store.
Christian B. McGuire, Craig Miller
Worldcon programs * * Wednesday * * Thursday * * Friday * * Saturday * * Sunday