| Date and Time | Title | Room | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 8 pm | Game Time! | Convene Ballroom | Tom Galloway |
| Fri 8 pm | Welcome to Westercon 60 | Synergy 1 | Michael Siladi (M), James Stanley Daugherty, Milt Stevens |
| We know that Westercon 60 officially starts tomorrow, but we would like to share some highlights and some hidden gems that we think make this Westercon unique. | |||
| Fri 8 pm | I Need this NOW | Synergy 5 | Kent Brewster (M), Ctein, Howard Davidson, Justin Lloyd, C. Sanford Lowe |
| Whether it is an iPhone, a new laptop, or a Sonic Screwdriver; we all have gadgets that we need RIGHT NOW. Some of these might not even be invented yet. This is what we need. | |||
| Sat 9 am | Jewish Services | Connect 6 | Marcia Minsky |
| Sat 11:00 | Westercon 60 Opening Ceremonies | Convene Ballroom | Jay Lake, Michael Siladi |
| The Chairman of this year’s Westercon, Michael Siladi welcomes you to the 60th Westercon. | |||
| Sat 11:30 am | Q & A with Lois | Convene Ballroom | Lois McMaster Bujold |
| Lois McMaster Bujold talks about her life as a writer and takes questions from members. | |||
| Sat 12:30 pm | Autographing: Lois McMaster Bujold | Convene Ballroom | Lois McMaster Bujold |
| Lois will autograph. Please limit yourself to three items and return to the back of the line if you have more. | |||
| Sat 1 pm | Modern Fantasy | Convene Ballroom | Tad Williams (M), Lois McMaster Bujold, Diana L. Paxson, Teresa Edgerton |
| If we throw away the swords, the young princesses, and ancient artifacts, can we still have fantasy? | |||
| Sat 1 pm | Historical Costuming | Synergy 1 | Christofer Bertani (M), Tory Parker |
| How much do we really know about historical dress? When do we just have to fake it? | |||
| Sat 1 pm | Open Source | Synergy 2 | Kent Brewster (M), Laura Majerus, Steve Savitzky, Philip Gust |
| From software to literature using a Creative Commons license, there are more works of intellectual property that are Open Source than ever before. Why should you care? What’s out there? Do you need licenses? If you do it, can you quit your day job? | |||
| Sat 1 pm | Where’s the Fun in Eternal Life | Synergy 4 | Randy Smith (M), Larry Niven, Jon DeCles, Valerie Estelle Frankel |
| Many authors have speculated about immortality or a supernaturally extnded life. Popular examples are found in The Highlander, vampires, and characters like Lazarus Long. What makes Eternal Life such a fascinating subject matter? | |||
| Sat 1 pm | R U Real? | Synergy 5 | Wanda Marie Kurtcu (M), Bobbie Diane DuFault, Justin Lloyd, Sharan Volin, Derek McCaw |
| What is life like in a massively multiplayer virtual reality like Second Life or even World of Warcraft? Are you yourself? Is there more than one of you? Do you do things that you might not in Real Life? When you become friends in virtual worlds, do you still like the person in Real Life? What is Real and what is Virtual? | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | How to Comment Wisely | Connect 1 | Christopher J. Garcia (M), Trystan L. Bass, Lee Whiteside, Diana Sherman |
| It’s good to think of yourself as clever. It’s not so good if you are the only one who thinks you are clever. How to comment and start a dialogue, not a rant. | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | Science Fiction and Empires | Convene Ballroom | Douglas Berry (M), Jay Lake, Tad Williams, Leslie Fish |
| Science fiction has seemingly embraced monarchy as the natural government of interstellar states. What are the advantages of various forms of government when compared to the speed of communications and travel. Can you really have a Galactic Republic? | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | The Magical Art of Theresa Mather | Synergy 1 | Theresa Mather |
| Our Artist Guest of Honor shows her amazing art on canvas, feathers, and stone. | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | R U Secure? | Synergy 2 | Steve Savitzky (M), Ben Yalow, Berry Kercheval, Mike Willmoth |
| Computers make our life easier. Computers bring spam and viruses. Who (besides your boss and your government) is watching your keystrokes? How can we make our online life safer. It’s not as hard as you think. | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | It’s ALIVE: The Ethics of Creating Intelligent Beings | Synergy 4 | Kathryn Myronuk (M), Philip Gust, Pat Murphy, Howard Hendrix |
| Your parents were legally responsible for you until your were eighteen. How much responsibility do you have for any gods, monsters, or artificial intelligences that you create? | |||
| Sat 2:30 pm | Missing the Undercurrent | Synergy 5 | Howard Davidson (M), Wanda Marie Kurtcu, Brad Templeton, Justin Lloyd |
| Science fiction has been very good at predicting science. How good has it been in predicting social trends? What trends in society are science fiction writers missing? | |||
| Sat 4 pm | Truthiness: The Liar’s Panel | Convene Ballroom | Jay Lake (M), Christopher J. Garcia, James Stanley Daugherty, Frank Wu |
| Would we lie to you? | |||
| Sat 4 pm | LotR: A Costume Adventure in New Zealand | Synergy 1 | Trystan L. Bass |
| Come see what Trystan Bass experienced on her trip to New Zealand. | |||
| Sat 4 pm | READING: Kage Baker | Synergy 2 | Kage Baker |
| Kage Baker reads from some of her latest work. | |||
| Sat 4 pm | Classic Science Fiction Literature | Synergy 4 | Randy Smith (M), Jon DeCles, Milt Stevens |
| Most people who read SF start reading science fiction by the age of twelve. But there was a lot written before you were born. What are the classics of science fiction that you should read? | |||
| Sat 4 pm | The Technopeasants Are Revolting! | Synergy 5 | Jane Mailander (M), Scott Carl Sigler, Beth Meacham, Mike Van Pelt |
| Technopeasants are putting their fiction and poetry on the Internet for all to read. Are they rebelling against Commercial Interests are they “web scabs” who are hurting fiction sellers? | |||
| Sat 5:30 pm | Is This Your First Time? | Connect 1 | Kate Morgenstern (M), Arabella Benson, Kathe Gust, Bruce Rodger MacDermott |
| Experienced costumers tell you what you need to know to look your best during a convention masquerade. | |||
| Sat 5:30 pm | Why Nanotech Makes Asteroid Mining Obsolete | Synergy 1 | Steve Gillett |
| Why go out in space breaking up huge hunks of rocks and bringing them back to earth, when nanos can find the minerals we need closer by. | |||
| Sat 5:30 pm | Shout It To The World: Why I Have a Blog. | Synergy 2 | Deirdre Saoirse Moen (M), Steve Savitzky, Chris Dolley, Douglas Berry |
| www,livejournal.com? www.blogspot.com? www.wordpress.com? | |||
| Sat 5:30 pm | Don’t Try This At Home, Kids! | Synergy 5 | Christian McGuire (M), Kevin P. Roche, Kent Bloom |
| Being the chair of a conventionn is like juggling cats. What are some of the highs and lows, the hope and fears of being in charge of it all? | |||
| Sat 7 pm | Beginning Filk | Connect 1 | Leslie Fish (M), Jeff Bohnhoff |
| Why do people gather together and sing the night away? Come and find out about the enchantment of filk. | |||
| Sat 7 pm | How Did You Get So Buff? | Synergy 5 | Scott Carl Sigler (M), Douglas Berry, Larry Niven |
| Athletes take vitamins. Athletes drink protein drinks. Athletes use high tech shoes and swimsuits. But steroids and blood doping and golf carts are forbidden in competitive play. Where do we draw the line in sports enhancements and prosthetics? What enhancements can we expect in the future? | |||
| Sat 8 pm | Meet the Guests of Westercon 60 | Convene Ballroom | Michael Siladi, Tad Williams, Theresa Mather, Christian McGuire, Jay Lake, Christopher J. Garcia, Kevin Standlee |
| Our Toastmaster, Jay Lake, introduces the Guests of Honor of Westercon 60; Tad Williams, Theresa Mather, and Christian McGuire. | |||
| Sat 21:30 | Alexander Adams Concert | Convene Ballroom | Alexander James Adams |
| Unleashed from the land of Fae comes the heir to Heather Alexander’s music and magic. AJ Adams is a fiery Celtic fiddler with a compelling voice to enchant audiences of all ages. With songs and stories of the otherworld, Alexander James inspires his audiences to make their dreams come true and look for the wonders within. From tender love songs to rowdy brawls, gentle Irish airs to rockin’ reels, AJ brings ancient legends to the mortal world in true bardic style, proving once and for all, the magic never dies! | |||
| Sat 21:30 | Alien Sex | Synergy 1 | Patricia MacEwen |
| And you thought the missionary position was unusual. | |||
| Sun 10 am | Magical Economics | Convene Ballroom | Tad Williams (M), Diana L. Paxson, Teresa Edgerton, Michael J. Swanwick |
| Magic has a cost. Magical powers are not evenly distributed in a population. As a writer, how do you decide how your characters spend their magic. Are they open to the highest bidder? Do they have an elaborate set of rules? | |||
| Sun 10 am | Lovers of the Night | Synergy 1 | Kathleen A. Hunt (M), Trystan L. Bass |
| Vampires. | |||
| Sun 10 am | Christian Services | Synergy 2 | Randy Smith |
| Please join our ecumenical service this morning. | |||
| Sun 10 am | How to Write the BEST First Line | Synergy 4 | Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff (M), Valerie Estelle Frankel, Howard Hendrix, Kage Baker |
| If you lose your readers now, you may never get them back. | |||
| Sun 10 am | Star Trek -- A Universe on the Edge of Forever? | Synergy 5 | Lee Whiteside (M), Wanda Marie Kurtcu, Tory Parker |
| It’s dead, Jim. No, no, it’s life, just not as we know it. | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | Reading: Mark Ferrari | Connect 1 | Mark Ferrari |
| Mark Ferrari reads from his new novel, The Book of Joby. | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | Reading: Jay Lake | Connect 3 | Jay Lake |
| Jay Lake reads from some of his recent work. | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | Authors and Editors | Convene Ballroom | Beth Meacham (M), Tad Williams, Michael J. Swanwick, Scott Carl Sigler |
| Editors and authors have the same goal -- making the work the best it can be -- but they don’t always agree on what will accomplish tat. How do authors handle disagreements with their editors? How do editors cajole authors into seeing the light? Is self-publishing the great liverator by getting rid of the editor altogether, or only the road to mediocrity? | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | The End of Hogwarts As We Know It | Synergy 1 | Trystan L. Bass (M), Valerie Estelle Frankel |
| Readers are anticipating the 7th book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What is likely? J.K. Rowling has said that two characters will die in the book - is one of them Harry? The book is scheduled to be released on July 21st. Will you be in line at your favorite bookstore? Or did you pre-order it on-line? | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | The Writer’s Bookshelf: Reference Works for Writers | Synergy 2 | Sheila Finch (M), Kathryn Myronuk, C. Sanford Lowe, Kage Baker |
| A dictionary and thesaurus is all that most fiction writers need. What specialized manuals are needed to write science fiction (and fantasy)? Can you find them in your local library? Can you find the information online? | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | Global Warming: A Hot Topic | Synergy 4 | Pat Murphy (M), Patricia MacEwen, Paula Butler, Kay Tracy |
| Is it real? Did we cause it? Can we fix it? Is it time to buy a raft? | |||
| Sun 11:30 am | Westercon 60 Business Meeting | Synergy 5 | Kent Bloom (M), Kevin Standlee, Michael Siladi |
| Here is where we get down to the real business of running a Westercon. All Westercon members are invited to join in on this exercise of recreational parlimentarianism serious discussion of fannish business. | |||
| Sun 1 pm | The Wiccan Culture: An Introduction | Connect 1 | Diana L. Paxson (M), Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, Deirdre Saoirse Moen |
| An old time religion in modern times. | |||
| Sun 1 pm | Three Score and Zero Years Ago... | Connect 3 | Milt Stevens (M), Ben Yalow |
| A History of Westercons told by people who were there. | |||
| Sun 1 pm | What’s a Newspaper, Daddy? | Connect 4 | Brad Templeton (M), Jane Mailander, Mike Van Pelt |
| The rise of RSS feeds, news aggregators and news ranking sites like Digg have made the news more personal than ever. Do print publications have a chance to survive? How can they change to online resources? Is there any way that they can pay their staffs of editors and writers enough to keep them on? Will we all have to read unedited reports from part time journalists? | |||
| Sun 1 pm | Masquerade Contestant’s Meeting | Convene Ballroom | Kevin P. Roche (M), Trystan L. Bass |
| Are you entered in the Masquerade tonight? If so, you MUST attend this meeting. Scripts and music will be checked, presentation order will be set and all your questions answered. Costumes are not required, but if you have a particular concern (ceiling clearance, for example) you may bring it along. | |||
| Sun 1 pm | Philip K. Dick: An Author Whose Time Has Arrived | Synergy 1 | Grania Davis |
| Why does PKD seem so relevant now? Did he successfully predict our current paranoid times or is his writing more universal than that? | |||
| Sun 1 pm | The Hero’s Journey | Synergy 2 | Deborah J. Ross (M), Valerie Estelle Frankel, Diana Sherman |
| The hero or heroine’s journey is the epic tale of quest and discovery that is the foundation for much of ancient mythology, old movie plots, and modern fantasy. Has this become a cliché or is it still the classic story for us all. | |||
| Sun 1 pm | Transgender Themes and Characters in Science Fiction | Synergy 4 | Ctein (M), Christian McGuire, Thomas Stephen (S.) Roche, Jon DeCles |
| If a character changes gender does this change the way we look at the character? Does this change the way the character looks at everyone else? Does it bring up questions about our society? Do we consider other genders aliens anyway? | |||
| Sun 1 pm | Heard Any Good Books Lately? | Synergy 5 | Scott Carl Sigler (M), Laura Majerus, Wanda Marie Kurtcu, Derek McCaw |
| Podcasting. It’s books and short stories and panels and discussions and news reports. It’s easy and you can do it too. Find out more about it here. | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | Boudicea: A Model Woman Warrior | Connect 1 | Diana L. Paxson (M), Kage Baker, Lori Ann White, Kay Tracy |
| Women warriors and queens have long been characters in fantasy and SF. Boudicea has been the subject of many stories. Our panelists will discuss her role as a historical character as well as a seminal model for warrior queens. | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | I’m Not An Illustrator | Connect 3 | James Stanley Daugherty (M), Theresa Mather, Ctein |
| Science fiction and fantasy art is not just about book covers, but sometimes when the Chesley and Hugo nominations are announced, only illustators are nominated. What other forms of art work fit the SF&F genres without being illustrative? | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | No Longer an After School Treat | Connect 4 | Lee Whiteside (M), Tom Galloway, Kathe Gust, Kathleen A. Hunt |
| As comics get more graphic, they leave the G-rated markets behind. Are children still reading comics? Should they? | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | Try This At Home | Connect 6 | Pat Murphy |
| Pat Murphy talks about her latest book about science experiments that kids (and adults) can do at home. | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | Esoteric Comics: The Weird and the Wacky | Synergy 1 | Barry Short |
| Barry Short combs through his massive comics collection to exhibit some of the strangest comic books of all time -- from Big Things to Small Things, from one shots to limited runs. You will be amazed! | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | The Future of Research | Synergy 2 | Kathryn Myronuk (M), Christopher J. Garcia, Steve Gillett, John F. McGowan |
| If a tree falls in the forest and you can’t find it on Google, does it exist? Is Wikipedia a saintly device or a demon? How will people research in the future? | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | READING: Tad Williams | Synergy 4 | Tad Williams |
| Come hear our Guest of Honor read his own work. | |||
| Sun 2:30 pm | Will Bloggers Decide Elections in 2008? | Synergy 5 | John F. Hertz (M), Michael Siladi, Brad Templeton, Jay Lake |
| How have bloggers already affected fund raising, candidates’ positions, and the overall tenor of the campaigns? | |||
| Sun 4 pm | How to Best Educate Our Children | Connect 1 | Bobbie Diane DuFault (M), Pat Murphy, Wanda Marie Kurtcu, David-Glenn Anderson |
| Grades are inflated, but are children actally learning? Here are some strategies to help your children (and others) learn more. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | What Does An Editor Really Do? | Connect 3 | Beth Meacham (M), Ben Yalow, Grania Davis, Thomas Stephen (S.) Roche |
| No, we won’t tell you how to get published, but if you love fiction and don’t want to write, maybe editing is something for you to consider. Real editors describe their work. It’s not all drinks at the bar. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | The Charity of Billionaires | Connect 4 | Tom Galloway (M), Jon DeCles, Justin Lloyd |
| If you had hit it rich in the Dot Com boom, what should you do with your money? More science? More medical research? Support for the arts? Or some idiosyncratic project like The Clock of the Long Now? Could even a billion dollars solve many problems? | |||
| Sun 4 pm | Iron Poet, Part #1 | Connect 6 | Kevin Andrew Murphy |
| The 1st Annual Westercon Bouts-Rimes Poetry Contest "Come, muse, let us sing of rats!" -- (From a poem by James Grainger, 1721-1767) The Bouts-Rimes is Iron Chef for sonneteers. Invented by the French and popularized by the Blue-stockings of 19th century England, the contest gives the poet not one but fourteen mystery ingredients which must be used, in order, as the end words to complete a sonnet (or sonnets) of their own devising. For your delight and torment, we offer the following list with which to create a sonnet, taken from "As when a child..." by Charles Lamb: 1. night 2. knees 3. delight 4. decrees 5. spell 6. time 7. sublime 8. Hell 9. tear 10. tell 11. dear 12. fell 13. impart 14. heart Metrical choice is up to the poet. Traditional iambic pentameter is acceptable, as is anapestic tetrameter or other variants, including longer or shorter free verse lines. Spelling and punctuation of words may be varied, but basic sounds should be kept intact. The word "dear" may be changed to "deer." The word "tell" may be hidden in "foretell." The judges anticipate your cleverness, and will look with especial favor on sonnets of a science fiction, fantasy or horror nature. In keeping with the theme of this Westercon, "Gnomeward Bound," extra points for poets who slip the word "gnome" somewhere into their poems as an additional mystery ingredient, and bonus points for poems on the theme of returns or homecoming. Please bring your submissions to the convention and present them at the Bouts-Rimes Poetry Contest Panel on Sunday. There will be a second contest with a second list of words for Monday, given out at the convention. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | Where Do We Go Next? | Convene Ballroom | John F. McGowan (M), Paula Butler, Kay Tracy, Steve Gillett |
| It might not catch the attention of the public like manned exploration, but unmanned space has taught us a lot about Saturn and Jupiter. Where do we go next? How long will it take to get there? What might we learn? | |||
| Sun 4 pm | Bioterrorism 101 | Synergy 1 | Marianne Porter |
| Marianne Porter works at the Pennsylvannia Department of Health State Health Laboratory, the designated primary laboratory for the detection and identification of bioterrorism agents. It has developed high security, high containment facilities for the investigation of water, food and environmental outbreaks and bioterrorist events, interfacing with health agencies and law enforcement including the FBI. If you weren’t terrified about bioterrorism before this panel, you will be after you hear what she has to say. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | The Best SF Movies of All Time | Synergy 2 | Jane Mailander (M), Ed Green, Frank Lurz, Derek McCaw, Milt Stevens |
| Recently Serenity was voted Best Science fiction movie of all time. Better than Star Wars? Better than Back to the Future? Better than Buckeroo Banzai? Some think that Forbidden Planet beats any of these. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | Jokes to Avoid in a TSA Line | Synergy 4 | Kent Brewster (M), Brad Templeton, Mike Willmoth, Jay Lake |
| Fannish humor has its time and place. The time is now; the place is here. Not for the politically correct. | |||
| Sun 4 pm | Digital Movies, Music, and Fiction | Synergy 5 | Steve Savitzky (M), Kathryn Daugherty, Laura Majerus, Kristoph Klover, Scott Carl Sigler |
| What you need to know about DRM (Digital Rights Management). | |||
| Sun 5:30 pm | The History of Filk | Connect 1 | Leslie Fish (M), Steve Savitzky, Jeff Bohnhoff |
| Singing is a universal human experience. When did the version of songs called filk start and how has it grown? | |||
| Sun 5:30 pm | Books That Changed My Life | Connect 3 | Sheila Finch (M), Mike Van Pelt, Berry Kercheval, Mark Ferrari |
| And when I finished the chapter, I was no longer the same! | |||
| Sun 5:30 pm | The Future of Religion | Connect 4 | Randy Smith (M), Marcia Minsky, Douglas Berry, Kage Baker |
| There is a clash within virtually all modern nations between people who are prepared to live with and respect different faiths and those seek the domination of a single way of thinking including atheists. Where is our society and the world headed and what are the consequences? | |||
| Sun 5:30 pm | The Short Story as an Art Form | Connect 6 | Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff (M), Deirdre Saoirse Moen, Michael J. Swanwick, Lori Ann White, Howard Hendrix |
| When if comes to awards, novels get all the press, but as many writers can tell you, crafting a good short story can be much more difficult. What are the pleasures of writing a good short story? What short stories (yours and other writers) are you particularly fond of? | |||
| Sun 5:30 pm | Women in Horror | Synergy 5 | Diana L. Paxson, Tad Williams, Thomas Stephen (S.) Roche, Scott Carl Sigler |
| Hysterical victims, wicked witches, and deadly seductresses. Are women in horror stories and novels cast differently than men? Is there a certain kind of evil that only a woman can do? | |||
| Sun 7 pm | As You Know, Bob... | Synergy 1 | Larry Niven, C. Sanford Lowe, Lori Ann White |
| How do good writers explain complex scientific information to literate readers without putting them to sleep. | |||
| Sun 8 pm | Masquerade | Convene Ballroom | Jay Lake, Kevin P. Roche, Christofer Bertani, Theresa Mather, Trystan L. Bass, Kate Morgenstern |
| Welcome to Westercon 60’s Masquerade presentation, filled with dazzling costumes and daring performers. Hosted by our Toastmaster, Jay Lake! | |||
| Sun 10 pm | Modern Erotic Fiction | Synergy 1 | Thomas Stephen (S.) Roche, Kevin Andrew Murphy |
| Vampires aren’t the only sexy things out there. What other flavors of erotic fiction are people writing? | |||
| Sun 11:59 pm | Eye of Argon Reading | Connect 6 | Don Simpson |
| Anyone can pay tribute to good literature. Here we pay tribute to some of the worst. How long can you last? | |||
| Mon 10 am | Bring Home Some Art! | Synergy 1 | Jim Handzel (M), Sarah Clemens |
| How to buy (the best) Art (at the best price) at a convention Art Show. | |||
| Mon 10 am | Not Tonight Dear, I Have a Deadline | Synergy 4 | Marianne Porter (M), Paula Butler, Barry Short |
| How do spouses handle the care and feeding of a creative genius? Hear from their SO’s what these geniuses are really like at home. | |||
| Mon 10 am | How Do You Power Your Rocket Ship? | Synergy 5 | Philip Gust (M), Larry Niven, Steve Gillett, Berry Kercheval |
| From chemical engines to solar sails to ion thrusters to atomic bombs. There have many ways to power rockets. What are some of the current power systems and which ones will we see in the future? Zero point energy generators, anyone? | |||
| Mon 11:30 am | Reading: Chris Dolley | Connect 1 | Chris Dolley |
| Chris Dolley reads from his new novel, Shift. | |||
| Mon 11:30 am | Illegal Aliens | Synergy 1 | Bobbie Diane DuFault, Jay Reynolds Freeman, Kathleen A. Hunt |
| What is the legal status of space aliens? Should they be granted amnesty? Are they an endangered species? Is there a bag limit? | |||
| Mon 11:30 am | Wasn’t that a Wonderful Masquerade? | Synergy 2 | Kevin P. Roche (M) |
| Or maybe costumes could have used just a little help. The Masquerade Director and friends provide some helpful critique about the Westercon Masquerade. | |||
| Mon 11:30 am | SFWA Meeting | Synergy 4 | Sheila Finch |
| A closed meeting for members of the Science Ficition and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. | |||
| Mon 11:30 am | Westercon 60 Business Meeting | Synergy 5 | Kent Bloom (M), Kevin Standlee, Michael Siladi |
| There will be an announcement of the venue for the 2009 Westercon as voted on by the members of Westercon 60. Additional business (if any) carried over from Sunday’s Business Meeting. | |||
| Mon 1 pm | Costuming for Men | Connect 1 | Christofer Bertani (M), Bruce MacDermott, Kate Morgenstern, Tory Parker |
| There’s a lot of talk about bustles in costuming panels and not nearly enough discussion of breeches. | |||
| Mon 1 pm | Our Future Military | Connect 3 | Chris Dolley (M), Frank Lurz, Kay Tracy, Douglas Berry |
| We can’t dig a trench and let the enemy come to us anymore. We can’t bombard their fixed positions. What are some of the strategies and tactics of modern armies? Will it all be unmanned fighter planes and bomb sniffing robots? | |||
| Mon 1 pm | The DC Comics Universe | Convene Ballroom | Lee Whiteside (M), Tad Williams, Derek McCaw |
| How are the newer characters and newer story lines blending with the older material? How much revisionist history is needed? What lies in the future of DC Comics? | |||
| Mon 1 pm | Rock Hit Science | Synergy 1 | Michael Siladi (M), Ctein, Jay Reynolds Freeman, Steve Gillett |
| Rocks and space and other things that go bump out of the deep night. What are they? Where are they? Are they coming? Can we avoid them? | |||
| Mon 1 pm | Geek Grrrls Love Gadgets | Synergy 2 | Kathryn Daugherty (M), Laura Majerus, Kathe Gust, Heather Stern, Sharan Volin |
| Do you want FRY’S with that? | |||
| Mon 1 pm | Do You Own Your DNA? | Synergy 4 | Kathryn Myronuk (M), Judy Lazar, Patricia MacEwen, Marianne Porter, Frank Wu |
| How about an interesting tumor you developed? Doctors may cure you, but hospitals may make more money from your body parts than they do from the surgery. Should you share the wealth? Can you take them to court if they don’t? | |||
| Mon 1 pm | The Fannish Inquisition | Synergy 5 | James Stanley Daugherty (M) |
| Everyone expects the Fannish Inquisition, where you can hear about future Westercon and Worldcons. Bring some tough questions. | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Filk, Hope, and Parody | Connect 1 | Bob Kanefsky (M), Jeff Bohnhoff, Jane Mailander |
| What makes a good song parody? The music? The meter? Puns? | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Cryogenic Dessert Formation | Connect 4 | Albert Baker |
| What happens when liquid nitrogen interacts with a slurry of semi-solid proteins? All we know is that it is DELICIOUS! | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Show Me the Way Gnome | Connect 3 | Kent Bloom (M), Christian McGuire, Beth Meacham, Diana Sherman |
| What is it with all these gnomes anyway? Gnomes and other little people in fantasy and science fiction. | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Improv Story Telling | Convene Ballroom | Tad Williams (M), Jay Lake, Kevin Andrew Murphy |
| Once upon a time ... in a galaxy far, far away ... as the howling in the distance drew closer ... there lived four storytellers ... | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Experimental Metaphysics | Synergy 1 | Ctein (M), Howard Hendrix, Chris Dolley |
| State of the art quantum mechanical experiments can answer questions about the fundamental nature of reality itself. Philosophy is becoming testable. What’s up with that? What’s next? | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Incarcerating the Sick | Synergy 2 | Patricia MacEwen (M), Marianne Porter, Judy Lazar, Deborah J. Ross, Frank Wu |
| Is being sick against the law? Does the government have the right to incarcerate suspected disease carriers? Under what circumstances? Where? And for how long? | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | R U Responsible? | Synergy 4 | Sheila Finch (M), John F. Hertz, Michael J. Swanwick |
| Art and responsibility. Danish cartoonists versus Allah. Artists are sometimes astounded when their art is taken seriously. When does art make a difference? Can artists be held accountable when it does? | |||
| Mon 2:30 pm | Goodbye Hubble, Hello James Webb Space Telescope | Synergy 5 | Lori Ann White (M), Jay Reynolds Freeman, Michael Siladi |
| The Hubble Telescope was conceived in 1946, launched in 1990, and has had several instrument failures. It is due to be replaced by the James Webb Space Telescope in 2013. What observations will we gain and what will we lose when Hubble is finally replaced? | |||
| Mon 4 pm | The Scientific Revolution | Connect 1 | Philip Gust (M), Teresa Edgerton, Mike Van Pelt |
| The event which most historians of science call the scientific revolution can be dated roughly as having begun in 1543, the year in which Nicolaus Copernicus published his De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) and Andreas Vesalius published his De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human body). How did alchemy lead to modern science and how did our entire world view change? | |||
| Mon 4 pm | Westercon 61 Meeting | Connect 3 | James Stanley Daugherty (M) |
| Next year’s Westercon will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Come and hear about all the wonderful things they have planned. And volunteer to help out. | |||
| Mon 4 pm | Science Fiction Military Costumes | Connect 6 | Christofer Bertani (M), Kay Tracy, Frank Lurz, Tory Parker |
| Where do the designs of military uniforms in science fiction come from? What makes a uniform believable and what makes one silly? | |||
| Mon 4 pm | The Rapture of the Nerds: Surviving the Technological Singularity | Synergy 1 | Kent Brewster (M), Kathryn Myronuk, Howard Hendrix |
| If there is a singularity coming, why does the early 21st century look so mundane? Gray goo on the lawn? A plague of suddenly driverless laptops? How to recognize the signs that the Singularity is imminent and what to do if you’d rather not be assimilated. | |||
| Mon 4 pm | If You Ran a Television Network | Synergy 2 | Lee Whiteside (M), Ben Yalow, Derek McCaw |
| 700 channels and nothing to watch! What shows would you like to see on television? Why do you think they are not being broadcast now? | |||
| Mon 4 pm | I Say “Hello”, You Say “ðɮʁθʬʧ” | Synergy 4 | Sheila Finch (M), Larry Niven, Deborah J. Ross, Leslie Fish |
| What would REAL communications with aliens be like if you could not use a universal translator or telepathy? | |||
| Mon 4 pm | Getting Your Writing to Grow Up | Synergy 5 | Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff (M), Howard Hendrix, Beth Meacham, Michael J. Swanwick |
| How to avoid writing like an amateur or would you rather just write your own rejection slips and save the publishers time and trouble? | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | Cindy McQuillan Song Circle | Connect 1 | Margaret Emily Davis |
| Remembering (in song) a treasured Bay Area’s songwriter. | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | How To Write A Song | Connect 3 | Leslie Fish (M), Alexander James Adams, Kristoph Klover, Jeff Bohnhoff |
| Fiction writers are always asked ehere they get their ideas, what are the things I need to know to write a story, and how to get published. Now we ask the same of song writers. Where DO you get your ideas? | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | The Twilight of the Dice? | Connect 6 | Douglas Berry (M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, Sharan Volin |
| Are traditional tabletop RPGs a dying breed? A look at the changing demographics and business models as the hobby nears its fortieth birthday. | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | Frank Wu’s “Guidolon the Giant Space Chicken" | Synergy 1 | Frank Wu |
| Frank Wu is also an animator, having just finished up a new version of my "Guidolon the Giant Space Chicken" short (11 min), He will show his newest version here at Westercon. | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | Will Humans Ever Settle Mars? | Synergy 2 | John F. McGowan (M), Philip Gust, Bob Kanefsky, Steve Gillett |
| Early twentieth century literature showed Martians and their canals. We know that Mars is not inhabited by large creatures, but will we ever get there? Mars missions are announced and forgotten. Will we ever find a way both politically and economically to settle there permanently? | |||
| Mon 5:30 pm | The Philosophy of Fantasy | Synergy 5 | Tad Williams (M), Tom Galloway, Kathe Gust, Berry Kercheval |
| Sure, there is an escapist element in a lot of fantasy, but much of it also has serious philosophical underpinnings. What is it that today’s fantasy writers are trying to say, and why do they choose this particular mode of storytelling to do it? | |||
| Mon 6 pm | Regency Dance | Convene Ballroom | John F. Hertz |
| Come party like it’s 1818! | |||
| Mon 7 pm | No Money, No Time, No Problem! | Connect 4 | Arabella Benson (M), Kate Morgenstern, Tory Parker, Dana MacDermott |
| But I need a costume this weekend! Shortcuts, unusual materials, found items, how to make a costume from practically nothing. | |||
| Mon 7 pm | Iron Poet, Part #2 | Synergy 2 | Kevin Andrew Murphy |
| At the Bouts-Rimes Poetry Contest Panel on Sunday we gave out a second list of words. See what our Iron Poets made of them today. | |||
| Mon 7 pm | BASFA Meeting | Synergy 5 | Kevin Standlee |
| The San Francisco Bay Area Science Fiction Association holds its regular Monday meeting right here. | |||
| Tue 10 am | Reading: Valerie Frankel | Connect 1 | Valerie Estelle Frankel |
| Valerie Frankel reads from her new book, Henry Potty and the Pet Rock. | |||
| Tue 10 am | Origami Workshop | Connect 3 | Jane Mailander |
| Did you know that you could fold paper into the shape of the Starship Enterprise? Join Jane Mailander as she teaches you how to create all sorts of cool science fiction shapes. | |||
| Tue 10 am | Writer’s Workshops: Vitamins or Placebos? | Synergy 5 | Sheila Finch (M), Deirdre Saoirse Moen |
| If you can tell a good story, why not just sit down and write it out? Does participating in a group workshop help you tell a better story? Does it help you sell a good story? | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Anime Today | Connect 1 | Bobbie Diane DuFault (M), Christian McGuire, Justin Lloyd |
| How can you be so violent, when you are so cute? The joys of current anime. What you should be watching now. | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Reading: Howard Hendrix | Connect 3 | Howard Hendrix |
| Howard Hendrix reads from some of his latest work. | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Accessorizing Your SF Costumes | Connect 4 | Kay Tracy (M), Bruce Rodger MacDermott, Dana MacDermott, Tory Parker |
| Will we still be wearing shoes in the future? Hats? Helmets? Bustles? Here are some additions to your futuristic costumes that makes them all come together. | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Heroes: NBC Finally Has A Hit | Synergy 1 | Lee Whiteside (M), Kathryn Daugherty, Milt Stevens, Wanda Marie Kurtcu |
| The fourth place network takes a chance on a series by Tim Kring. And it’s science fiction! Why has this series become so popular? What were some of the best episodes in the first season? What can we look forward to next season? | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | How to Keep an SF Club Alive | Synergy 2 | Kent Bloom (M), Ed Green |
| In this internet age, how can you get people to leave their houses and join a social gathering. What can you offer that television, movies, and the net can’t offer? | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Mixed Media | Synergy 4 | Frank Wu (M), Mark Ferrari, Sarah Clemens, Tad Williams |
| Writing and illustrating, do they have the same muse? How are they different? How are they the same? | |||
| Tue 11:30 am | Who Are You Calling A Planet? | Synergy 5 | Steve Gillett (M), Paula Butler, Jay Reynolds Freeman, Lori Ann White, Berry Kercheval |
| Planets? Moons? Asteroids? Space Junk? How many planets does the Solar System have? How Many planets should we have? Do you miss Pluto? | |||
| Tue 1 pm | Art Auction | Convene Ballroom | Michael Siladi, Kathryn Daugherty |
| Art Auction - Pieces that have 4 bids go directly to auction. Make sure you’re early to get that piece you really wanted. Come for the Art! Stay for the drama! Bring your credit card. | |||
| Tue 1 pm | The Shrinking of Big Brains: Computers from Rooms to Your Pocket | Synergy 4 | Steve Savitzky (M), Christopher J. Garcia, Howard Davidson, Tom Galloway, Chris Dolley |
| What changes have computers made during their shrinkage from room sized behemoths to RFID tags? Who are some of the eccentrics who made those changes? Who named the first bug and why? What machines from the past should be remembered? | |||
| Tue 1 pm | Creatures of the Deep | Synergy 5 | Patricia MacEwen (M), Deirdre Saoirse Moen, Jay Reynolds Freeman, Judy Lazar |
| Who knows what creatures lurk in the deeps? Are they Lovecraftian or just alien? | |||
| Tue 2:30 pm | Calligraphy Demo | Synergy 2 | Margaret Emily Davis |
| If you ever wondered how wonderful penmanship is accomplished, Margaret Davis shows you how. | |||
| Tue 2:30 pm | Comic Book Movies: Boom or Bust? | Synergy 4 | Derek McCaw (M), Kevin Andrew Murphy, Christopher J. Garcia |
| There are more movies based on comic books than ever before, but are they any good? Where have the movies failed the comic books? Which comic books could be made into a good movie, but have been overlooked? | |||
| Tue 2:30 pm | What to Read Now | Synergy 5 | Kent Brewster, Teresa Edgerton, Diana Sherman, Sharan Volin, Berry Kercheval |
| There is so much new science fiction, fantasy and other unclassifiable works being published now. How can you tell the gold from the dross? Who are authors to watch out for? | |||
| Tue 4 pm | Closing Ceremonies | Convene Ballroom | Michael Siladi (M), Tad Williams, Theresa Mather, Christian McGuire, Jay Lake, James Stanley Daugherty |
| So Long and Thanks for all the Gnomes! The convention is not quite over yet, but it is time to bid a fond farewell to our Guests of Honor and hope for a pleasant journey home to all our members. | |||
| Tue 5:30 pm | A Journey to Lake Wu | Synergy 2 | Jay Lake, Frank Wu |
| A tale of Publication. How two friends created a book together, still remained friends, and what they are doing now. | |||
| Tue 5:30 pm | Will Game Developers Be the First To Develop AI? | Synergy 5 | Justin Lloyd (M), Sharan Volin, Chris Dolley |
| Game engines are getting larger and larger. They have to push billions of pixels and think faster than the people playing them. Are they liable to be the first computer programs to develop artificial intelligence? | |||
| Tue 9 pm | Tiki Party Las Vegas Style | Engage Ballroom | James Stanley Daugherty |
| It’s the end of the con as we know it and we feel fine. | |||
Westercon is a registered service mark of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, Inc.
Gnomeward Bound is a trademark of the Society for the Promotion of Fannish Interests, Inc., a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation.
Westercon 60: Gnomeward Bound is brought to you by the Society for the Promotion of Fannish Interests, Inc. (SPFII), a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation.
Contents copyright 2005-2007 Society for the Promotion of Fannish Interests, Inc.
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