Donald and I will be at Boskone over the upcoming February long weekend, so if you’re going, be sure to find us and say hello!
Donald will, admittedly, be a little harder to find, as he isn’t on any panels. But I’m on 3, and also have a reading.
We’re not planning a Mysterion party this year, but will still be happy to talk your ear off about our online magazine if you give us half a chance.
Boskone is a great convention if you’re in the New England area, especially for writers and artists. Compared to Arisia, it’s smaller (maybe a third the size), generally an older crowd, and more focused on the literary and scientific aspects of science fiction and fantasy (less cosplay, more astronomy). It’s at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston’s Seaport District, which is a short walk from the World Trade Center Station on the Silver Line, or a long walk from South Station on the Red Line.
Here’s my schedule:
Your Own Doomsday: Speculating on Future Catastrophes
Friday, 3:00 pm, Harbor III
There are lots of ways to end the world, end humanity, or end civilization. Perhaps you agree with T.S. Eliot: “This is the way the world ends … Not with a bang but a whimper.” A multidisciplinary team will tackle this grim (but enjoyable?) subject and speculate about the worlds to come … after ours ends.
Robert V.S. Redick, Rebecca Roanhorse, Kristin Janz, MR Richardson (Room 10 Publishing), Tonia Thompson (NIGHTLIGHT Podcast)
Surviving the Review
Saturday, 10 am, Marina 4
Reviews are apparently inescapable parts of the writing process, and may often (sometimes?) be critical to the life of a speculative fiction work. What must authors know about reviews? For the average writer, does the fear of public disrespect and rejection balance against the possible joy of a positive review? Should you ever try to respond to a review, good or bad? What role do fans play in reviews? And what are some of the best places to post, read, and find useful reviews?
David McDonald, Alan Brown, Kristin Janz, Victoria Sandbrook, Elizabeth Hand
Guilty Pleasures
Saturday, 12 pm, Marina 4
The Smurfs! B movies! All that goofy jazz. Certain entertainments or activities give us great personal gratification. But somehow, we’re just a bit ashamed to admit that we like My Little Pony… or bowling … or mud wrestling. Hear participants reveal their guilty pleasures, and why they indulge.
Sarah Jean Horwitz, Batya “The Toon” Wittenberg, Steven Popkes, Suzanne Palmer, Kristin Janz
Reading
Sunday, 1:30 pm, Independence