Boskone 53
by wjw on February 17, 2016
I’ll be spending the weekend at Boskkone 53, Boston’s stellar science fiction convention. (Our motto: “It’s still about the books! Except when it’s about the whiskey! But it’s mostly about the books!”)
But beforehand I’ll be in Cambridge, MA, for a signing and chat at the Pandemonium bookstore, Thursday at 7pm. The signing will include Charles Stross and Max Gladstone, so even if you’re bored with me— which is hard to picture, frankly— you’ll have some great writers to listen to.
The convention will be at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. And for those of you attending, here’s my schedule:
Things I Wish A Pro Had Told Me
Friday 14:00 – 14:50, Harbor III (Westin)
There’s nothing like 20/20 vision when you’re looking in the rear view mirror. Professionals share their experiences and swap stories about their own writing and career decisions—perhaps musing how a little helpful information might have gone a long way. Find out what they wish they had known, and hear what the pros have to say about your queries during Q&A.
Foppish Fiction: The Dandy in SF/F/H
Saturday 11:00 – 11:50, Harbor II (Westin)
The Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro both hid their secret identities behind foppish appearances. We’ll explore their descendants, both male and female, in speculative fiction. Then there’s the effete ruler of a decadent empire as a trope (or is that a meme?) of our genres. And what about the sidekick with a flair for fashion? Why are our protagonists all Winters in jewel tones, and none of them Autumns in burnt umber?
Appreciating the Historical in Speculative Fiction
Saturday 14:00 – 14:50, Marina 3 (Westin)
Stories set in historical times present a special set of challenges and benefits: from the wonders of worldbuilding to the disguising of infodumps to the artful overcoming of a reader’s knowledge about the way things actually are (or were). Why do we love it? What time periods and cultures are the most fun to recreate? What sets historical fiction apart from its speculative cousin? And do the stories of Tim Powers, Eric Flint, Connie Willis, Naomi Novik, or Cherie Priest qualify as hist fic?
Reading: Walter John [sic] Williams
Saturday 15:00 – 15:25, Griffin (Westin)
Walter Jon Williams
Autographing: Lauren Roy, Darrell Schweitzer, Melinda Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams
Saturday 16:00 – 16:50, Galleria-Autographing (Westin)
Writing: The Value (and Pitfalls) of Oft-Given Advice
Sunday 12:00 – 12:50, Marina 3 (Westin)
In fantasy, should you write what you know — or something that no one has even imagined? Received wisdom isn’t always correct. But flout its conventions at your peril … or listen to our panelists to find out what today’s writers really think about yesterday’s best advice.
Sadly, Boskone wasn’t on my radar. Any chance you’re coming to Balticon for the 50th anniversary?
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