Programming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 17th. View the schedule for Boskone 54 and start making your plans for what to attend, who to see, and what to do!

Free Friday Afternoon Programming:

Programming on Friday, February 17th is (free to the public) from 2:00-6:00 pm. Memberships are required after 6:00 pm on Friday and throughout the rest of the convention.

Personalize Your Schedule

There is so much to do, you may want to download the Grenadine Event Guide for your mobile device, to personalize your Boskone schedule.

Gaming at Boskone

Boskone’s game room will be running all weekend long. View the Boskone 54 Gaming Schedule for a full listed of dates and times for individual games or stop in anytime to play a game of your choosing with a friend!

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FRIDAY, February 17, 2017

2:00 PM (free to public)
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
Carlton · 119 min · Film/TV/Media
When a young orphan boy living on the streets of Shibuya stumbles upon a fantastic world of beasts, he’s taken in by a gruff warrior beast looking for an apprentice.

2:00 PM (free to public)
Steam’s Rising: A Proliferation of Punks
James Moore, KT Bryski (M), Victoria Sandbrook, Melanie Meadors
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
We all know and may highly esteem steampunk, but it’s far from the only Victorian-inspired alternate history subgenre on our bookshelves. What about some of those other V-punks out there — dreadpunk, silkpunk, gaslight fantasy, and more … Why so many? Are they really all the same, or are there deeper differences in style, content, and approach? (And is gaslight fantasy actually punky at all?)

2:00 PM (free to public)
First Contact/Close Encounters
Christine Taylor-Butler, Ken MacLeod, Charles Stross, JeffWarner (M), Garen Daly
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
What will it be like if and when we encounter our first aliens? Let’s celebrate the 40th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s classic alien meetup movie by looking at first contact issues through its lens. Is Close Encounters of the Third Kind a realistic representation of how first contact is likely to go? Does the film stand the test of time? How about one of our newest cinematic favorites, Arrival?

3:00 PM (free to public)
My Toughest Book
Brandon Sanderson, Charles Stross, Walter Jon Williams, Darlene Marshall (M), Allen M. Steele
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
What makes a book difficult to write, or difficult to write well? Is ignorance of the subject matter a barrier? Is knowing too much? We’re always told to “write what you know, ” but can this be a trap? How about troubles with plot, character, dialog, or pacing? Our panel of authors recall which of their works had the most arduous gestation.

3:00 PM (free to public)
Wizards, Warlocks, and Witches
E.J. Stevens, Jane Yolen, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Adam Stemple, Bruce Coville (M)
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Worlds of wonder don’t require witches, warlocks, and wizards, but they are stock-in-trade for fantasists. What can make the dedicated, nonclerical practitioners of magic interesting and different — without abandoning the tropes that make them feel familiar?

3:00 PM (free to public)
The Origins and Impact of the Original Star Trek TV Series
Linda Addison, Melinda Snodgrass (M), Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Justine Graykin
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Fifty years after Kirk and Spock transported into our lives, the franchise is launching yet another TV series. What do we owe to Lucille Ball? And how have science fiction, the realm of entertainment, and our everyday world been influenced by the original Star Trek series?
50th Anniversary: Star Trek

3:00 PM (free to public)
Welcome to Boskone!
Laurie Mann, Leslie J. Turek
Independence · 60 min · Discussion Group
New to Boskone? Or returning after a long absence? Join us for a short discussion about what Boskone has to offer, learn some of the convention lingo, and meet new people.

3:00 PM (free to public)
Writing: Pros on Prose
Vincent O’Neil (M), Julia Rios, Sarah Smith, John Chu, Ellen Asher
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
As Moliere would have it, “All which is not prose is verse, and all which is not verse is prose.” But this does not preclude it’s being poetry. Prose poetry is poetry written in prose yet preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery, parataxis, and emotional effects. The panel will discuss the art and mechanics of making good writing great.

4:00 PM (free to public)
The Flash, Supergirl, and the DC Universe
Jim Mann (M), Priscilla Olson, Dan Moren, Erin Underwood, Josh Dahl
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Much of the DC universe, both in comic books and on the screen, has gotten darker. The Flash and Supergirl (and perhaps Legends of Tomorrow) have battled against the trend, and despite having dark moments, have remained fun. These two at least have retained the tone of the classic comics. But does their lightness bring enough balance to the DC universe?

4:00 PM (free to public)
The Devil Is a Part-Timer! (2013)
Carlton · 90 min · Film/TV/Media
Anime lovers, join us for the first four episodes of The Devil Is a Part-Timer! Hilarity and fun ensue when Satan ends up in modern-day Japan without any magic to aid his return to Hell, and starts working part-time in a fast food joint.

4:00 PM (free to public)
When Villains Defy Expectation in Young Adult Literature
Juliana Spink Mills, Tui Sutherland (M), Ken Altabef, Christine Taylor-Butler, Michael Stearns
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
In YA fiction, the bad guys used to be easy to spot. However, in a world with many shades of gray, villains just aren’t as easy to identify. The handlebar mustaches — gone; the dark trench coats — left on their hangers; the goon squads — seem like bunches of ordinary guys. What does the revamped “villain” archetype mean for our young heroes? How does it affect the story and the other characters? How might this more nuanced sense of good/bad play out as young adult fiction continues to evolve?

4:00 PM (free to public)
Climate Change in SF/F/H
Jeff Hecht, Vincent Docherty, Tom Easton, Allen M. Steele (M), Justine Graykin
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
The political temperature on this topic is not all that’s rising. How are our authors covering this? What’s more interesting to read and write about: possible solutions or post-apocalyptic disasters? Who’s got the best hot take?

4:00 PM (free to public)
Temperament and the Writer
Leigh Perry (M), Esther Friesner, Richard Shealy, Ian Randal Strock, Steve Davidson
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
How can a writer cope with the ups and downs of the writing biz? We thought about using the following title and description, but not all writers are miserable depressives!
Why You Should NOT Become a Writer

[NOTE: Presented as a public service by Boskone.] Listen to us, we beg you! Writing is long lonely hours of cruel labor and dismal self-doubt, plus humiliation (publishers) and indifference (the public). Our experts will share their most horrifying stories of the degradation and despair of every writer’s life. If you’re smart you won’t even show up. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

4:00 PM (free to public)
The Death Star
Mary Kay Kare, Deirdre Crimmins, Joshua Bilmes, Brendan DuBois
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
*Spoiler Alert!* Destroying the Death Star, in one of the most iconic battle scenes in film history, was the Rebel Alliance’s main goal, and gave our story its happy ending. A single point of weakness brought down this architectural and technological giant. Join us as we discuss the Battle of Yavin, and ultimately the defeat of the Death Star. We might even weave in a little Rogue One!
40th Anniversary: Star Wars: A New Hope

4:00 PM (free to public)
Using History in SF and Fantasy
Bradford Verter, Jo Walton, Mark L. Olson (M), Dana Cameron, Ada Palmer
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
From alternate history to vaguely familiar settings in a unique story world, history is a great resource for inspiration. What are some of the most creative uses of history in fiction? How much research is needed before writing and fleshing out the story? Panelists discuss examples of how history has enriched some of our favorite novels. But can sticking to history hobble your creative instincts? When should we deviate from historical truths and strike out into the creative unknown?

4:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Daniel Dern
Daniel P. Dern
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to public)
Nonlinear Narratives
KT Bryski, Max Gladstone, Charles Stross (M), Michael Swanwick, Sarah Smith
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Beginning … middle … end. That’s a narrative, right? What about those stories that loop around, flash back, and wander off into other perspectives? Our panelists explore the delights and pitfalls of the nonlinear narrative: discussing reasons for writing them, challenges along the way, and their own favorite examples.

5:00 PM (free to public)
Autographing: Brandon Sanderson, Milton Davis
Brandon Sanderson, Milton Davis
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

5:00 PM (free to public)
Reading by Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to public)
The Year in Young Adult and Children’s Fiction
Maryelizabeth Yturralde (M), Christine Taylor-Butler, Emma Caywood, Juliana Spink Mills, Bruce Coville
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Last year was another great one for young adult and children’s fiction. While the explosion of new authors in these genres may be stabilizing, the number of well-written, top-shelf stories continues to soar! Join our panelists for a lively discussion about what you absolutely must read from 2016 — and what we’re looking forward to as 2017 continues.

5:00 PM (free to public)
Katniss, Furiosa, Elsa, and Rey: The New Woman in SF/F Film
Trisha Wooldridge, Vikki Ciaffone, LJ Cohen (M), Victoria Sandbrook
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
They each made big impressions in big recent genre movies. What do these characters say about the current state of heroic female figures in our cinematic imaginings? What traditions do they uphold or subvert? What promise do they hold for our futures?

5:00 PM (free to public)
Star Trek: “The City on the Edge of Forever”
David G. Grubbs (M), Jeanne Beckwith, Alan F. Beck, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Kenneth Schneyer
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is considered by many the best episode of the first Star Trek series. Does it deserve that reputation? Harlan Ellison’s original script was altered before production because the producers found it too expensive, too difficult to fit into their shooting schedule, and, though a “lovely story, ” just not a Star Trek tale. Its airing was followed by decades of public arguments between Ellison and showrunner Gene Roddenberry. Who was right?

5:00 PM (free to public)
Geek Is Chic — Or Is It?
Frank Wu, Dan Moren, Flourish Klink (M), Leslie J. Turek, Steve Davidson
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Twenty years ago, being a geek was definitely not a social asset. But modern society, marketing, and media are now branding geek as chic. How do we geeks feel about this? Does fandom as a whole seem like part of the in-crowd? How do we fit in, embrace, or welcome society at large? What lessons have we learned, and how can they be made relevant to/for young fans?

5:00 PM (free to public)
Roger Zelazny: Lord of Light
Walter Jon Williams, Jordin T. Kare, Paul Di Filippo (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Jo Walton
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
This Hugo-winning and Nebula-nominated novel created a sensation 50 years ago. Does it still excite the modern reader? Was its mix of SF and fantasy elements influential on other writers, or did it stand alone? Are the Hindu/Buddhist elements mere decoration, or do they provide a backbone for the story and its world? The book’s episodic structure allows individual chapters to contain complete stories. How do those stories coalesce to create a complete novel?

5:00 PM (free to public)
It’s All About Soul: The Films of Alex Garland
Garen Daly, Grady Hendrix, Craig Shaw Gardner (M), William Hayashi
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
From his first script 28 Days Later to his directorial debut Ex Machina, Alex Garland has explored the implications of a soul in SF settings. The common thread amongst all the stories is the looming specter of Death. Let’s discuss Alex’s work, the futures of morality and artificial immortality, and the relevance of death.

5:30 PM (free to public)
Assassination Classroom (2015)
Carlton · 90 min · Film/TV/Media
Anime lovers, join us for the first four episodes of Assassination Classroom, based on the popular comic SF manga series. A powerful octopoid space monster announces plans to destroy Earth within a year. However, he offers mankind one last chance. Taking a job as a junior high homeroom instructor, this surprisingly skilled teacher starts giving his students lessons in how to kill him. Thus an assassination classroom begins …

5:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Leigh Perry
Leigh Perry (Toni L.P. Kelner)
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

6:00 PM
The Fantasy Writer’s Guide to Beer
KT Bryski
Burroughs · 60 min · Solo Talk
Over the centuries, beer and brewing have changed a lot. Join beer historian/blogger KT Bryski as she charts beer’s journey from ancient Sumeria to your local brewpub, and find the brew that’s best for you! (Samples not provided — I assume everyone knows where to find the bar!)

6:00 PM
Model Magic
Lisa Hertel
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Artist and Art Show Director Lisa Hertel leads kids in a hands-on clay demo that is kid-friendly and kid-safe.

6:00 PM
Reading by C.S.E. Cooney
C. S. E. Cooney
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

6:00 PM
The Harry Potter Effect
Emma Caywood, John P. Murphy, Victoria Sandbrook (M), Flourish Klink, Sarah Beth Durst
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Twenty years ago, an owl delivered a very special invitation to a boy who lived under the stairs in a small house at 4 Privet Drive. The world has never been the same. Tolkien changed the face of fantasy literature for adults; J.K. Rowling has done the same for children. How has the Harry Potter Effect influenced publishing? What have we learned about fantasy — and ourselves — through Harry’s adventures? Is 20 years of Potterdom enough? Do we need or want more?
20th Anniversary: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone

6:00 PM
A Cataclysm of Cats! Redux
Lorraine Garland, Esther Friesner, Bruce Coville, Steve Davidson (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Some suspect that cats (instead of dinosaurs, space cowboys, pirates, or even aliens) are taking over the world. To avert this pending kitty conquest, our panelists hatch some clever plots that just may save us from the ascendency of our feline overlords. While they’re at it, they’ll also discuss how our furry friends are used for the good of all in SF/F writing. Or is this really just subterfuge? Meow …

6:00 PM
The Once and Future Teen
Erin M. Hartshorn, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Tui Sutherland, Melanie Meadors (M), Hillary Monahan
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
The young adult market continues to grow, and more and more adults are dipping into YA fiction. Are adults transferring their affections to adult authors as they grow into their 20s, 30s, and beyond? Or are they sticking with the authors and category they loved most when growing up? How is YA’s increasing number of adult readers affecting the content of the books, and perhaps its marketing?

6:00 PM
The Art of Panel-Based Storytelling
Brianna Spacekat Wu (M), Jon Hunt, Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
You may know what a comic book is, but what’s a storyboard? Are they as similar as they seem? Do these two panel-based storytelling art forms overlap or clash? What kind of training can you find for either? Panelists discuss what it takes to relate a story in each medium. Here’s your chance to find out how to dip your pens into the comic book and/or storyboarding professions.

6:00 PM
Education and Science Fiction & Fantasy
Carlos Hernandez (M), F. Brett Cox, Jack M. Haringa, Rob Greene, Theodora Goss
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Stories with fantastical elements now have some history in the classroom. You increasingly find them from K through 12, and at the college level. Panelists discuss speculative fiction in education: how it’s currently being used, and what opportunities may open in the future. What works should be taught? What should we say about them?

6:30 PM
Reading by Linda Addison
Linda Addison
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

7:00 PM
Name That Magical Creature
C. S. E. Cooney, David Anthony Durham, Christine Taylor-Butler, Frank Wu, Michael Sharrow (M), Jennifer Pelland
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Creatures from all the known worlds and myriad planes of existence are gathered here to be displayed for the entertainment and edification of the public. Our expert zoologists will attempt to identify the various species of wild magical beasts, gathered from dozens of shadowy realms, competing for the ultimate prize. Audience participation is encouraged: bring your favorite creatures to be identified by our panel of virtuoso beast masters.

7:00 PM
Torpedo of Doom (1966)
Carlton · 100 min · Film/TV/Media
The Lightning, a hooded, caped villain resembling Darth Vader, plans to rule the world with his mastery of electricity — throwing deadly lightning-charged torpedoes from his flying-wing aircraft. Olympic champ turned actor-stuntman Herman Brix (later known as Bruce Bennett) is the heroic Marine officer who must stop him. With chases by car, motorcycle, and speedboat, as well as submarine, flying boat, and dirigible action, plus endless well-staged fights, you’ll fight to catch your breath!

7:00 PM
Storytelling with Cerece Rennie Murphy
Cerece Rennie Murphy
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Cerece will be reading from Ellis and the Hidden Cave.

7:00 PM
Reading by James Patrick Kelly
James Patrick Kelly
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

7:00 PM
How Buffy the Vampire Slayer Changed Television
Tui Sutherland, Ginjer Buchanan (M), Deirdre Crimmins, Daniel M. Kimmel, Gillian Daniels
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Buffy was just a teen TV drama about a bunch of vampire-hunting kids … or was it? Let’s consider the friendships, the dialogue, the rule-breaking, and the characters. How did these aspects of this 1997-2003 show, individually and combined, help to change viewer expectations — and the very ways we think about episodic storytelling today?

7:00 PM
Achilles Needs a Heel: The Problem With Power
Michael Swanwick, Greer Gilman, Paul Di Filippo, Vincent O’Neil (M), Brendan DuBois
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Would Achilles be as valiant if he were truly invulnerable? (Or, instead of dying a tragic hero, would he still be acting like a psychopathic adolescent 30 years after Troy?) Can power without vulnerability keep your interest? Do some stories turn into mere puzzle pieces about searching for the chink in the protagonist’s armor? What sorts of weakness make the most engaging heroes or heroines?

7:00 PM
Gems from The NESFA Hymnals Sing-Along
Ellen Kranzer
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
The NESFA Hymnal, first published by the New England Science Fiction Association in 1976, features over 150 FANtastic songs about various aspects of fandom, from Tolkien to Star Trek and everything in between. Join in the fun!

7:00 PM
My Favorite Monster
Vincent Di Fate, Adam Stemple, Steve Davidson (M), Julie C. Day, Bob Eggleton
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Which monstrous creations have given us the greatest emotional response? Fear (of course), but also disgust, humor, sympathy, empathy, pathos, schadenfreude … you get the idea. Do we prefer the “classical” monsters like Frankenstein’s and werewolves, or are we more moved by modern takes, with subtleties or rehabilitations like Greg Maguire’s Wicked?

7:00 PM
Great Fantasy Worlds
Melinda Snodgrass (M), Mary Kay Kare, Vikki Ciaffone, Justine Graykin, Steven Popkes
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
A satisfying fantasy world is more than the obligatory map at the front of the book. What makes such a world appealing to the reader? Does that appeal correlate with the depth and complexity of the fantasy writer’s creation?

7:00 PM
So You Wanna Be a Time Lord
Jim Mann, Don Pizarro (M), Kate Baker, John Chu, LJ Cohen
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
The time for a new Time Lord is fast approaching. Peter Capaldi is on his third season, which means his stint as The Doctor is likely nearing an end. We’ve seen speculation about casting the next Doctor, but maybe Capaldi isn’t ready to go, especially since his character is starting to gel. What are our hopes for the future? Do we want to keep Capaldi? Whom would we like next? Maybe we can even ask our panelists why they might make a good Time Lord….

7:30 PM
Reading by Ken Altabef
Ken Altabef
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

8:00 PM
How to Design a Game
Carlos Hernandez, Stephen P. Kelner Jr. (M), Brianna Spacekat Wu, Erin M. Hartshorn, James Moore
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Have you ever thought, “That would make a great game”? Our panel discusses what goes into making a game (video, mmorp, board, table, RPG, card … ) interesting, playable, fair, and fun. Possibly they’ll offer a lightning example of (the first steps in) game design.

8:00 PM
Opening Ceremony: Meet the Guests
Erin Underwood (M), Brandon Sanderson, Dave Seeley, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo, Milton Davis, Ken MacLeod
Galleria – Stage · 15 min · Event
Welcome to Boskone, New England’s longest-running convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror! Whether you are attending for the first time or the fifty-fourth, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests.

8:00 PM
Open Activities for Kids
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

8:00 PM
Reading by Kenneth Schneyer
Kenneth Schneyer
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

8:00 PM
The Horror Boom and the Second Wave
Jack M. Haringa (M), Don Pizarro, Christopher Golden, John Langan, Grady Hendrix
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Horror boomed in the 1970s and 1980s, before fading into subplots within romance, SF, and fantasy, as critics proclaimed, “Horror is dead!” Fortunately, horror is too clever — and necessary — to be beaten by Death. In fact, horror is back, bigger and badder than ever! The Second Wave of horror is hot, and it’s unabashedly horror again. What drove the first horror boom? What “killed” it? What fearsome forces are driving this Second Wave?

8:00 PM
Comics Confrontational
Brenda Noiseux (M), Robert Howard, Elwin Cotman, Josh Dahl
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Comics hold a multicolored mirror up to society. They can present social dilemmas in a very direct way. What do SF comics say about the questions that trouble us today? What comics — speculative fiction or otherwise — deal with diversity, mental illness from dementia to autism, or societal issues from the Occupy movement to homicide by cop? Which current confrontational comics are particularly worth reading?

8:00 PM
Worldbuilding in Songs
Benjamin Newman, Gary Ehrlich, Ellen Kranzer (M)
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
In a song, you only have a few minutes to draw the audience into a world and tell your story. If your song is set in an original world, rather than an off-the-shelf one, you have to pack all your worldbuilding into those few minutes. In this panel, we’ll talk about songs that do this well, and how they do it.

8:00 PM
Nontraditional Magazines
Jeremy Flagg (M), Robert B. Finegold M.D., Julie C. Day, Ken Altabef, Neil Clarke
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
If print is dead, then printed magazines are. But, at least in our genres, they’re going strong as online magazines, and perhaps we should include blogs and both audio and video podcasts. What is the future of the magazine online and in any mutation or combination? And what does this mean for the journalist/writer?

8:00 PM
Name That Skiffy Tune! SF/F Version
Vincent Docherty (M), Tim Szczesuil, Denise A. Gendron
Marina 3 · 60 min · Game Show
Name that theme! If you’d know the melodies from When Worlds Collide, The Martian, and Red Dwarf anywhere, come test your knowledge of other famous — and not-so-famous — movie and TV musical themes. Conducting this fun, fast-paced game are Vince Docherty as MC, Denise A. Gendron on cello, and Tim Szczesuil as scorekeeper and tune wrangler.

8:00 PM
Don’t Quit Your Day Job Just Yet
E. C. Ambrose (M), Jennifer Pelland, James Patrick Kelly, David Anthony Durham
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Mentors, teachers, agents, and editors continuously encounter new authors. These hopefuls possess abilities ranging from brilliant to talented but unpolished to … well, not so much. How do we balance criticism and praise, and to what degree? While it’s our aim to guide emerging writers and to help strengthen their work, is there ever a time to just say no? If so, how?

8:15 PM
Boskone 54 Reception
Erin Underwood (M), Gay Ellen Dennett (M), Milton Davis, Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo, Ken MacLeod, Brandon Sanderson, Dave Seeley, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, David G. Grubbs (M)
Galleria – Art Show · 105 min · Event
Connoisseurs and philistines alike: welcome to the Boskone Art Show! Join us in the Galleria for an upscale social mixer. Meet our program participants while enjoying refreshments, stimulating conversation, and exceptional art that’s a feast for the eyes. Experience the music and the festivities as Boskone celebrates another year of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in Boston.

9:00 PM
Alt-Horror
Christopher Golden, Grady Hendrix, James Moore (M), Deirdre Crimmins, Linda Addison
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Alternative horror may not adhere to all the old-school conventions of the traditional horror genre. But many mainstream or slipstream stories certainly possess spooky or even terrifying qualities. Panelists discuss their favorite alternative horror movies and books, and why they seemed quite sufficiently scary, relevant, and real.

9:00 PM
Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World (1938)
Carlton· 68 min · Film/TV/Media
Buster Crabbe as Flash versus Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless in a feature condensed from a great serial. Can Flash defeat the Nitron Lamp ray destroying Earth’s atmosphere? Who are the Clay Men melting into and out of the cave walls? Can we cross a chasm on a beam of light? And how can those stubby Stratosleds fly? Watch science beat magic as the Martian Witch Queen’s mystic jewels are destroyed by electricity!

9:00 PM
Victorian Vampires
John Langan, Hillary Monahan, Theodora Goss (M), F. Brett Cox, E.J. Stevens, Lauren Roy
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Victorian vampires were more than just bloodsuckers. They had style. They had charisma. They had that special, unmistakable something. What is it that keeps us coming back for more? Why are these creatures such a perfect fit for this time period? Will their allure endure, or will they fade into the dusty annals of horror history?

9:00 PM
Hard To Be a Hero
Ada Palmer, Sarah Beth Durst, Margaret Ronald, Richard R. Horton (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Heroines and Heroes come in many flavors: Reluctant, Born, Hidden, Super, and of course, Big Damn. What do they all want? What heroically oversized challenges unite them? What difficulties must they overcome? What sacrifices must they make? How frustrating must it be to never really win, so there’s always room for a sequel?

9:00 PM
Featured Filkers Concert: The Fabulous Lorraine & Lojo Russo
Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo
Marina 1 · 60 min · Event
The Fabulous Lorraine (aka Quiche Me Deadly) and Lojo Russo, longtime friends and coconspirators, have come to Boskone to entertain us with their fanciful and farcical music — which has yet to disappoint anyone, including themselves.

9:00 PM
Trivia for Chocolate
Priscilla Olson, Mark L. Olson
Marina 3 · 60 min · Game Show
How much chocolate can you collect in an hour? The MCs ask the questions, and the audience shouts out the answers. Get the correct answer first and win big kudos … plus a small wrapped chocolate.

10:00 PM
Pictionary with the Pros
Bob Kuhn (M), E. C. Ambrose, Erin M. Hartshorn
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
They can write, but can they draw? They can paint, but how quickly can they convey an idea? Come with your examples of speculative fiction works (books, movies, TV shows, etc.) for our two teams of pros (writers, artists, secret-masters-of-fandom … ) to attempt to convey in drawings — without symbols from any lexical system (no heiroglyphs, Chinese characters, dollar signs), and faster than their opponents.
Write down your ideas and hand them to the MC, who might also insert fiendish ones of his own.

10:00 PM
Friday Night Open Singing
Lewis · 120 min · Filk
Come gather to share songs! Science-fictional or fantastic topics may predominate, but all songs are welcome. Come to sing or just to listen.

11:00 PM
Deadpool (2016)
Carlton · 100 min · Film/TV/Media
A motormouth mercenary with a morbid sense of humor is forced to undergo a rogue experiment. He emerges with awesomely accelerated healing power — and a thirst for revenge. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin.

SATURDAY, February 18, 2017

9:00 AM
Writing Stories With Victoria Sandbrook
Victoria Sandbrook
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Start a short story — or two! — in this all-ages mini-workshop. Victoria will offer an exercise to get you started, but where you go from there is up to you! Bring your preferred writing implements and paper.

9:30 AM
Reading by Gillian Daniels
Gillian Daniels
Independence · 60 min · Discussion Group

10:00 AM
Why Libraries Are (Still) Important
Mary Kay Kare (M), Emma Caywood, Lauren Schiller, Ada Palmer, Susan Jane Bigelow
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Or are they? When so much is now online or purchasable via superstores like Amazon, what role do libraries still play? How have those roles changed, and what do we foresee for the library of the future as technology advances? And if libraries disappear, what do we do with all of those books?

10:00 AM
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Carlton · 60 min · Film/TV/Media
Looney Tunes and more!

10:00 AM
Autographing: Brendan DuBois, Christopher Golden, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Adam Stemple
Christopher Golden, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Brendan DuBois, Adam Stemple
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
Robot Building
Persis Thorndike
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Let’s design and build a robot sculpture out of cardboard and found stuff and hot glue — with Skunk, a Somerville-based artist who creates museum-quality, heavy-duty TIG welded toys and sculpture made from recycled steel. http://skunkadelia.com/

10:00 AM
Overcoming Stage Fright and Reading Aloud in Public
Justine Graykin, Bruce Coville, James Patrick Kelly, C. S. E. Cooney, Bob Kuhn (M)
Griffin · 60 min · Panel
Public speaking is often a difficult thing for many people. Authors may find it especially challenging to read their work aloud. Join us for a discussion on how our panelists prepare when having to give talks or readings, and how they’ve worked to overcome stage fright. As time allows, audience members will be invited to come to the front of the room to read a paragraph of their own work, and receive constructive feedback from our panelists.

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Fran Wilde
Fran Wilde
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Leaders Through YA Fiction
Christine Taylor-Butler, Rob Greene, Brenda Noiseux (M), N.A. Ratnayake
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Science fiction has inspired countless young people to become astronauts, engineers, and scientists. We’ll discuss current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics in YA fiction — and our favorite must-reads from today’s authors.

10:00 AM
Love, Romance, and the Digital Divide
Darlene Marshall (M), Jeff Hecht, Sarah Smith
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
As technology evolves, how might human empathy and love also evolve? Whether meeting in a cyber space or finding that special someone in the form of an artificial intelligence, how might human (at least on one side) relationships change over time? How do these types of relationships play out in fiction and film? Is it realistic to see or expect similar patterns in real life? What might the future, as written by science fiction authors or experienced by us, hold for star-crossed lovers, true love, and romance?

10:00 AM
Reading by Lauren Roy
Lauren Roy
Independence · 60 min · Discussion Group

10:00 AM
The Never-Ending Brainstorm
Vincent O’Neil
Lewis · 60 min · Solo Talk
Taking your inspiration from a gentle breeze to a full-blown hurricane. This presentation takes you through the basics of brainstorming an idea to expanding that concept into a full-length story — while continuing to brainstorm the entire way.

10:00 AM
SketchUp as a Tool for 2-D Artists: Art Demo by Official Artist Dave Seeley
Dave Seeley
Marina 1 · 120 min · Demonstration
Dave Seeley incorporates a variety of tools and methods in his work. Using the free software SketchUp, Boskone’s Official Artist shares how he builds and renders artistic elements within his 2-D illustrations.

10:00 AM
Indie Pub Your Backlist
Walter Jon Williams, Joshua Bilmes (M), Richard Shealy, Juliana Spink Mills, Craig Shaw Gardner
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Do you have old stories that were published ages ago, now lingering in drawers, gathering dust — not getting read? Independent publishers can be a great resource for letting your stories see the light of day again, and drumming up interest from new readers. We’ll discuss ideas on revitalizing your backlist and finding indie publishers for your unpublished early gems.

10:00 AM
The Continuing Adventures of the QUILTBAG
Julia Rios (M), Hillary Monahan, John Chu
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Our genres may be starting to feature more characters and situations from the queer/questioning, undecided, intersex, lesbian, transgender/transsexual, bisexual, allied/asexual, gay/genderqueer (QUILTBAG) perspective, but there’s still a long way to go. How do we move from tokenism to full inclusion? We’ll discuss favorite characters, new challenges, and available resources for writers and readers.

10:30 AM
Reading by John Langan
John Langan
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Dawn of the Cyborg Age
Robert B. Finegold M.D. (M), John P. Murphy, Jeanne Cavelos, Tom Easton, Justine Graykin
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Darth Vader, RoboCop, Inspector Gadget, and more — science and SF are coming together to create part-human, part-machine cyborgs in ever-more-clever ways. What research will influence the next generation of fictional mashup men or women? (In reverse, how might our favorite cyborgs inspire real science?) With neural interfaces and bionic body parts coming online, how soon until cyborgs stalk amongst us? … Or are they already here?

11:00 AM
Zootopia (2016)
Carlton · 108 min · Film/TV/Media
In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie cop rabbit and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy. Starring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Idris Elba.

11:00 AM
Group: Knit-A-Long
Priscilla Olson, Edie Stern
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Discussion Group
The Knit-A-Long is our annual exploration of string theory … and a chance to show off your prowess with needles. Come and join the fun, and get to finger fine fibers with other obsessive knitters.

11:00 AM
Welcome to Boskone!
Brenda Noiseux, Tim Szczesuil
Galleria – Meet Up Spot · 60 min · Discussion Group
New to Boskone? Or returning after a long absence? Join us for a short discussion about what Boskone has to offer, learn some of the convention lingo, and meet new people. Then join our docents for a stroll around the con.

11:00 AM
Autographing: Sarah Beth Durst, Daniel M. Kimmel, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Paul Tremblay
Sarah Beth Durst, Daniel M. Kimmel, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Paul Tremblay
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
Kids Concert With Gary Ehrlich and Mary Ellen Wessels
Gary Ehrlich, Mary Ellen Wessels
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

11:00 AM
Reading by E.J. Stevens
E.J. Stevens
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Mistborn: House War Game Demo
Joshua Bilmes, Brandon Sanderson
Harbor I · 60 min · Gaming
Game on! A semi-cooperative resource-management game, Mistborn: House War is set during the events of Mistborn: The Final Empire, the first novel in the bestselling fantasy series by Boskone Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson. Join agent Joshua Bilmes for an early look at this exciting new board game — launching this spring!

11:00 AM
Getting Ready for a Workshop
Victoria Sandbrook
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
What you should consider, how you should prepare, and what they can and can’t do for you when you attend a writer’s workshop.

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Jo Walton
Jo Walton
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Special Guest Interview: Maryelizabeth Yturralde
Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Dana Cameron
Harbor II · 60 min · Interview
Boskone’s Special Guest, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, joins us from a Mysterious Galaxy far, far away. From running a bookstore to helping to plan programming for Comic-Con International, M’e (as her friends call her) has been a part of the various forms of fandom for … well, let’s just say for a significant amount of time. Join author Dana Cameron and M’e for a lively discussion between old friends.

11:00 AM
The Perfect Teenage Hero
Ken Altabef (M), Jeremy Flagg, Lauren Roy, Erin M. Hartshorn, Michael Stearns
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Teenage heroes are not just relatively younger adults. They are people who step up to save the world — perhaps because of their youthful enthusiasm, not-yet-dimmed idealism, and unique perspectives. What does it take for a young Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or Katniss Everdeen to emerge? What experiences change them? To what extent are they just pieces in older players’ games? Can they really do it on their own?

11:00 AM
Reading by Elwin Cotman
Elwin Cotman
Independence · 60 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Poetry and Performance
Linda Addison, C. S. E. Cooney, Ada Palmer, Bob Kuhn (M), Greer Gilman
Lewis · 60 min · Demonstration
Reading a story aloud and reading a poem aloud take different skills. Or do they? Our panel of poets proffers tips and advice on performing poetry. They will also share some of their own poetry for your listening pleasure.

11:00 AM
Seven League (Re)boots: Far From the Fairy Tale
Jane Yolen, Daniel P. Dern (M), Carlos Hernandez, Greer Gilman, Fran Wilde
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
How far are fairy-tale reimaginings — in written work, on TV, and in film — diverging from their parent tales? When is it better for a story to meet our expectations? When does a surprising deviation speak more engagingly to us today?

11:00 AM
Writers on Writing: What’s in a Name? A Stonecoast MFA Panel
Theodora Goss, James Patrick Kelly (M), Julie C. Day, David Anthony Durham, J. M. McDermott
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Charles Dickens was a master at choosing precisely the right names for his characters. Just hearing the sounds makes them come to life: Samuel Pickwick, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and more! Like Victorian England, speculative fiction seems to be a mecca for interesting characters doing strange and wonderful things. But do the people in our stories measure up to the Victorians’ most fascinating characters? From choosing names to sketching patterns of behavior, quirks, and a host of other personality traits, what does it take to create a well-rounded character in today’s genre literature? Are names and naming conventions as important as they once were?

11:00 AM
The Year of the Podcast
Flourish Klink, Kate Baker, Julia Rios (M), Dan Moren, William Hayashi
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Stats say more than 21% of Americans will listen to a podcast this month. Anecdata say many will be SF fans. The net is noisy with fantastika chat from SF Squeecast to Galactic Surburbia, or fictioncasts such as Limetown and ars Paradoxica, or fact/fiction mashups like StarShipSofa and Flash Forward. What’s a podcast got that text doesn’t? And what are you listening to?

11:30 AM
Reading by Lorraine Garland
Lorraine Garland
Griffin · 60 min · Reading

11:30 AM
Reading by Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix
Independence · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
Technology That Will Change the Future
Edie Stern (M), William Hayashi, Jordin T. Kare, Charles Stross, John P. Murphy
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
From smarter, faster computer chips to printable batteries, green chemistry, and nanocrystals that increase solar cell efficiency, how might technological advances change the future? What’s on the horizon? How might it help? Sounds perfect! What could possibly go wrong?

12:00 NOON
Autographing: Craig Shaw Gardner, Steven Popkes, Melinda Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams
Melinda Snodgrass, Craig Shaw Gardner, Walter Jon Williams, Steven Popkes
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

12:00 NOON
DragonsLair Is Closed for Lunch
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

12:00 NOON
Reading by Scott Lynch
Scott Lynch
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
The Inconveniences of Victorian Dress
KT Bryski
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
From corsets to combustible skirts, arsenic dyes to button-up flies, this panel examines the irksome realities of everyday Victorian wear — and ponders how these historical details can prove absolute delights for writers.

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Jack Haringa
Jack M. Haringa
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Max Gladstone
Max Gladstone
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
50 Minutes of Bad Advice
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Michael Swanwick, Fran Wilde (M), Ellen Asher, Ginjer Buchanan
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Everyone has advice to give … especially to aspiring creative types. However, that doesn’t make it good advice. In the realm of “She said what? LOL!” — without naming names, our panelists share some of the best bad advice they received when first venturing into writing, editing, or art. Did they listen? Did it help?

12:00 NOON
The Magic of Magical Realism in Literature
Carlos Hernandez (M), Cerece Rennie Murphy, Richard R. Horton, J. M. McDermott, Gillian Daniels
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
The genre of magical realism is often defined by contradiction: bringing an acceptance of magic into the rational world — into our world. Does this really make it different than fantasy? What is it about the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Alice Hoffman that makes their stories stand out? Our panelists share the stories they love, why they love them, and what else we should be reading.

12:00 NOON
Roberta Rogow Concert
Roberta Rogow
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

12:00 NOON
What Inspires the Artist?
Rick Berry, Tom Kidd, Vincent Di Fate, Ingrid Kallick, William H. Niemeyer (M)
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Our artists shine light on the inspiration behind the fantastic worlds they and their peers create. Learn about their artistic influences, imagery, and styles. They’ll talk about the people, art, events, etc., that inspired them as artists — and how those inspirations helped them to grow and branch out into trying new things. Do artistic trends emerge from common inspiration? How do one’s own art and style evolve?

12:00 NOON
Fear Factor: “What Are You Scared Of?” “I Don’t Know!”
Gregory Feeley (M), Trisha Wooldridge, Grady Hendrix, Don Pizarro, Jon Hunt
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
H. P. Lovecraft says, “The oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” Peter S. Beagle says, “It is the shadow that terrifies, not the monster it hides. The monster is an actor in a monster suit. The shadow is always real.” Should moviemakers reduce screentime for their favorite CGI monstrosities? Should horror writers concentrate on explaining the really scary stuff less? What storytellers excel in making us jump at shadows?

12:00 NOON
Fiction From Abroad
Robert J. Sawyer (M), Ken MacLeod, John Chu, Milton Davis
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
International fiction is a wonderful thing! Let’s celebrate some of the great genre fiction being written beyond the borders of the United States. What should we be reading? What do we want more of? And … where can we get it?

12:00 NOON
The Mystery of Miss Fisher
Brendan DuBois, Vikki Ciaffone, Janice Gelb (M), Bob Kuhn
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
In the words of Den of Geek!, “Miss Fisher has the witty intrigue of Sherlock, the opulent style of Downton Abbey, and the bombastic feminism of Agent Carter. But there’s something gloriously unique about Miss Fisher.” What is it about Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and its Australian TV sleuth? Why does she seem so fresh? Is Miss Fisher flying beneath the radar, or is the show overrated? Our panelists sift through the clues and share why they think Miss Fisher is so “gloriously unique.”

12:30 PM
Reading by Erin M. Hartshorn
Erin M. Hartshorn
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

12:30 PM
Reading by L.J. Cohen
LJ Cohen
Independence · 30 min · Reading

12:30 PM
Gary Ehrlich Concert
Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

1:00 PM
Hugo Award Recommendations: Written Works
Jim Mann, Bob Devney (M), Vincent Docherty, Richard R. Horton
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
What were your favorite SF/F/H novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, related works, and graphic stories of 2016? Speak up for your own choices and discover others, as well as consensus picks and hidden gems. If you’re eligible, don’t forget to take notes for your Hugo Awards nominations ballots too — they’re due in Finland soon.

1:00 PM
Meet Ray Bradbury
Carlton · 240 min · Film/TV/Media
We’ll see a 1963 documentary in which the writer explains himself as he goes about LA on his bicycle, mentors younger writers — and develops a story about the telephone system’s developing consciousness, predicting the Singularity we are now expecting.
Then, some half-hour dramatizations of his best-known stories:

• “The Veldt”: A 1951 story predicts virtual reality, as children get absorbed in a playworld gone wrong.
• “The Murderer”: A 1953 tale foretells information overload, as a man is driven mad by his smartphone — and is incarcerated for smashing it — in a world saturated by audiovisual input.
• “Zero Hour”: This short fiction from 1953 shows how the kids aren’t kidding when they collaborate in an alien invasion from another dimension.
• “The Electric Grandmother”: A 1969 story explores artificial intelligence, as a family learns to love a humanoid robot.
• “The Flying Machine”: In this 1953 tale set in ancient China, innovation cannot stand up to authority, to the dismay of a miraculous inventor.

1:00 PM
Encaustics for Adults
Lisa Hertel
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Demonstration
Join artist Lisa Hertel for a fun session of encaustics — the ancient art of painting with wax.

1:00 PM
Autographing: Bruce Coville, Esther Friesner, Jon Hunt, Hillary Monahan
Bruce Coville, Esther Friesner, Jon Hunt, Hillary Monahan
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

1:00 PM
Song Writing With Featured Filkers Lorraine Garland & Lojo Russo (Kids Only)
Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

1:00 PM
Reading by Allen M. Steele
Allen M. Steele
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: John Langan
John Langan
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Sarah Beth Durst
Sarah Beth Durst
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Bioethical Issues Raised by SF … and Real Life
Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Priscilla Olson (M), Ken Altabef, JeffWarner
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Ongoing advances in biotechnology and biomedical research have delivered some important benefits, and promise more. But they’ve also brought ethical concerns, calls for moratoria, fresh regulation — and new moral dilemmas. There may or may not be something wrong with playing God: but are we playing blind? What might we unleash with stem cell research, modified viruses, bioengineered cures, self-replicating nanobots, cloning, and regrowth of organs or limbs?

1:00 PM
Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson: Building a Career
Brandon Sanderson, Joshua Bilmes, Moshe Feder, Michael Whelan
Harbor III · 60 min · Dialog
Even a prodigiously talented author doesn’t become a success alone, or overnight. Boskone 54’s Guest of Honor, Brandon Sanderson; his agent, Joshua Bilmes; his editor, Moshe Feder; and artist, Michael Whelan, discuss how they have worked together to sculpt and craft the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, “Brandon Sanderson,” that we know today. All four luminaries share their stories of navigating the shoals of the publishing world as they built friendships and careers within the speculative fiction industry.

1:00 PM
Reading by Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Independence · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Games Song Circle
Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Come join us to sing songs about games of all kinds — board games, video games, role-playing games, games that appear in stories, and stories that appear in games. Bring a song to share or just come to listen.

1:00 PM
Sketching With Charcoal: Art Demo by Kristina Carroll
Kristina Carroll
Marina 1 · 60 min · Demonstration
Award-winning illustrator and artist Kristina Carroll demonstrates the use of charcoal and the mastery of black-and-white imagery.

1:00 PM
Remembering Buffy the Vampire Slayer — 20 Years Later
Christopher Golden, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Dana Cameron, Erin Underwood (M), Deirdre Crimmins
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
“Becoming” Parts 1 and 2, “The Body,” “Once More With Feeling,” “Hush,” and “Graduation Day” are among the best-loved episodes of the series. Our panelists discuss the episodes they love the most, and why the show itself continues to be so memorable and rewatchable — 25 years after the movie, and 20 years after the TV show debuted.

1:00 PM
Immersive Technology
Dan Moren, Daniel P. Dern, N.A. Ratnayake (M), Karl Schroeder, Flourish Klink
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
The first computers took up entire rooms; we had to invent whole new languages so we could “talk” to them. Now we control mobile phones through hand gestures. Will virtual or augmented reality become common in our daily lives? Will the next phase be a direct human/computer connection? Will we lose ourselves within our technology?

1:00 PM
Archiving Fannish History
Bradford Verter, Joe Siclari (M), Mark L. Olson
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Too much of the great and glorious history of fandom lies a-moldering in basements, garages, etc. Come learn about two initiatives to preserve the work of heroes and giants, and recover the lost stories of LNFs and the gafiated. The NESFA Archive Project is assembling a research collection of fanzines, newsletters, convention programs, personal correspondence, business records, and other materials — all related to the history of one of the oldest continuously running science fiction associations this side of Alpha Centauri. The FANAC Project is an online compendium of thousands of fanzines plus audiovisual recordings of fen through the ages. What tidbits do you have to contribute?

1:30 PM
Reading by Max Gladstone
Max Gladstone
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:30 PM
Reading by Julie Day
Julie C. Day
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Arrival and the Morality of Time
Kenneth Schneyer (M), Daniel M. Kimmel, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Rob Greene, Jeffrey A. Carver
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Arriving in late 2016, Arrival was instantly acclaimed as that rare Hollywood phenomenon, a thinking fan’s movie. Let’s discuss the issues that it presents — concerning language, determinism, and the moral dimension of the fourth dimension of time — as well as their (deeper?) treatment in the film’s source, Ted Chiang’s prizewinning 1998 novella “Story of Your Life.”

2:00 PM
Autographing: Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald, Ken MacLeod, Charles Stross
Charles Stross, Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald, Ken MacLeod
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

2:00 PM
Dragon Stories & Crafts With Tui Sutherland
Tui Sutherland
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

2:00 PM
Reading by Brett Cox
F. Brett Cox
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Game of Thrones: What’s Next?
Priscilla Olson
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Our yearly attempt to speculate on the future of everyone’s favorite spec fic TV show (not to mention the books)! Join us for another lively discussion of what appealing pageantry and perversity or delectable butchery and betrayal await us. Speaking of which, now that we’ve outrun the story from the books, does anyone really know what’s in store for the characters we hate to love and the ones we love to hate? Warning — possible spoilers ahead!

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Art of the Fantastic: A Journey Into Creation (Documentary)
William H. Niemeyer (M)
Harbor II · 60 min · Film/TV/Media
Join us for a special viewing of Art of the Fantastic, by writer/director William Niemeyer. This artful documentary focuses on imaginative realism: its creative process, historic importance, and widespread influence. The film also covers the influences on imaginative realism itself, from the caves of Lascaux, to the likes of Michelangelo and Da Vinci, and through the centuries to more contemporary artists of the genre including Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Michael Whelan, Bob Eggleton, Donato Giancola, and Dave Seeley, just to mention a few. (Followed by a live panel discussion.)

2:00 PM
From Maladies to Medicine
LJ Cohen (M), Robert B. Finegold M.D., E. C. Ambrose, David G. Shaw
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Panelists share tips and tricks on how to realistically injure and heal your characters. Learn what questions to ask when it comes to the effects of specific injuries. Hear how certain modern and ancient medical practices and medicines can help with healing. Find out how authors make their characters’ pain and recovery feel real and relatable.

2:00 PM
Reading by Theodora Goss
Theodora Goss
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Epics Song Circle
Mary Ellen Wessels, Bethany Allen
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
From the traditional great narrative poems that have defined whole cultures, to modern stories that merit the term due to their depth and scope, people have been telling — and singing — epics since the dawn of history. Join us to sing about your favorite epics. Bring a song to share, or just come to listen.

2:00 PM
How Audiobooks Differ From Books and Why That Matters
James Patrick Kelly, Bruce Coville, Bob Kuhn (M), Ginjer Buchanan, C. S. E. Cooney
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Audiobooks are often considered simply ways you can experience books with less effort, or while doing something else (like driving). But must audiobooks be merely epiphenomena of their written forms? How could the genre of audiobooks evolve if the connection with books in print were broken? With text-to-speech software, would they be much different from radio plays?

2:00 PM
Afrofuturism in Speculative Fiction
Errick Nunnally, Christine Taylor-Butler, William Hayashi (M), Milton Davis
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
The New York Times defines it as a “social, political, and cultural genre that projects black space voyagers, warriors, and their heroic like into a fantasy landscape.” Rihanna and Beyonce are onboard; so, it seems, are the Black Panther and the newest wearer of Iron Man’s mantle. However, Nnedi Okorafor says, ““I understand the uses of it, but I do not consider myself an Afrofuturist.” Let’s briefly discuss the labels, then move on to the literature. What are its origins? What recent work shouldn’t be missed? How is Afrofuturism influencing science fiction, fantasy, and horror today?

2:00 PM
Skullduggery and Dastardly Deeds in Pulp Fiction
Brendan DuBois, Leigh Perry, Scott Lynch (M), Hillary Monahan, Melinda Snodgrass
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Let’s talk about the unsavory side of fiction, and how writers deal with characters and conflicts that focus on underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behavior or activities — while 1) making the story feel realistic, 2) keeping the characters likable (when desired), and 3) walking the lines between genres without leaving a chosen genre behind. Why write the rogue?

2:00 PM
Digital Rights and Other Small Press Traps and Issues
Darlene Marshall (M), Walter Jon Williams, Neil Clarke
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
How has the revolution in (and evolution of) digital technology affected the SF publishing field? What has the popularity/promise of e-books and of e-publishing in general done to demand, and to the whole publishing process? What are the complications of these media, barely out of their infancy? What do writers, readers, and publishers need to know to avoid running into trouble in these exciting (but dangerous) digital waters?

2:30 PM
Reading by Margaret Ronald
Margaret Ronald
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

2:30 PM
Reading by Katie Bryski
KT Bryski
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Earth 2.0: Manned Space Flight in the 21st Century
Ian Randal Strock, Jordin T. Kare, Janet Catherine Johnston, N.A. Ratnayake, Allen M. Steele (M)
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
From SpaceX orbital jaunts to interstellar travel, the practical boundaries of 21st-century manned space exploration are expanding with each new technical advance. What space flight possibilities have we got in the works today? What more might we achieve in the not-so-distant future? How about a little later out? What are our chances of reaching any of the potential New Earths?

3:00 PM
Black and White — Art Exhibit Tour
Joe Siclari, Edie Stern
Galleria – Art Show · 60 min · Docent Tour
Take an informative stroll around the Black and White Art Exhibit. You’ll hit the highlights with knowledgeable guides who can indicate points of interest.

3:00 PM
Autographing: C.S.E. Cooney, Jeremy Flagg, James Patrick Kelly, Jo Walton
Jeremy Flagg, James Patrick Kelly, Jo Walton, C. S. E. Cooney
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

3:00 PM
Comics for Kids
Robert Howard, Josh Dahl
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

3:00 PM
LARPing with Ada Palmer and Max Gladstone
Ada Palmer, Max Gladstone
Harbor I · 60 min · GaminA simple improvisational LARP, focused on role-playing, character creation, worldbuilding, and improvisation, with minimal mechanics. All characters play souls who are stuck in a limbo between lives, and have something which is keeping them from crossing over. Each character sheet gives a simple skeleton of backstory, describing why the character is in the in-between, and what the character must do to cross over. Players themselves invent the details of their past lives, including the world and setting (you could be the soul of a Roman prince, a dryad, a robot, a whale … ) Players then interact and negotiate, develop their characters, and help each other cross over.

3:00 PM
Writing, Tarot, and Divining the Writer’s Block
Trisha Wooldridge
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Author and Tarot guru Trisha Woolridge leads a discussion on how Tarot can help writers with plotting, character development, and storytelling — and can even help break through writer’s block. Trisha will provide a live demonstration.

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Melinda Snodgrass
Melinda Snodgrass
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Robert Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
After Art of the Fantastic: A Journey Into Creation (Discussion)
William H. Niemeyer (M), Alan F. Beck, Bob Eggleton, Dave Seeley
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Following the viewing of William Niemeyer’s documentary, several of Boskone’s artists join us for an in-depth discussion of fantastic art — touching on the themes, artists, and art history covered in the film.

3:00 PM
Design Your Own Mythology
Esther Friesner, Greer Gilman, Elizabeth Bear, Debra Doyle (M), Sarah Beth Durst
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
What goes into mythmaking? Panelists share their experiences in creating mythologies and pantheons — offering up dos and don’ts, tips on resources, and things to think about as you try creating a coherent mythology of your own.

3:00 PM
Reading by Susan Jane Bigelow
Susan Jane Bigelow
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Song Sequitur
Benjamin Newman, Roberta Rogow, Gary Ehrlich, Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Join our panel of performers for this impromptu round robin, where every song must “follow” the previous song … somehow.

3:00 PM
Discussing Painting Techniques
Tom Kidd, Ingrid Kallick, Vincent Di Fate (M), Kristina Carroll, Michael Whelan
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
How are different media and styles of painting utilized? Which are most appropriate for what uses? How does working with oils differ (in terms of product, how it is approached, and how the artist actually feels about the work) from acrylics, watercolors, and so on? The panel may discuss painting on paper or canvas … or even on panel.

3:00 PM
Hugo Award Recommendations: Dramatic Presentations
Bob Devney (M), Daniel M. Kimmel, Jim Mann, Garen Daly, Deirdre Crimmins
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
What’s the greatest stuff you saw last year? Join us to discuss 2016’s best movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, and more in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. If you’re eligible to vote, by all means take notes — your Hugo Awards nominations ballot is due in Finland soon.

3:00 PM
Great Cities of SF/F/H
Margaret Ronald, Moshe Feder, Karl Schroeder, Paul Di Filippo (M), Jeffrey A. Carver
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
On Mercury, Kim Stanley Robinson’s Terminator moves on giant tracks to stay ahead of dawn. Fran Wilde’s unnamed urb spears its towers of living bone far above the clouds. China Mieville’s Armada is basically a big bunch of pirate houseboats. What’s your favorite skiffy metropolis? By 2045, 6 billion people may live in cities here on Earth. What will that be like?

3:00 PM
100 Years of Shirley Jackson
Maryelizabeth Yturralde (M), John Langan, Jack M. Haringa, F. Brett Cox, Grady Hendrix
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Happy birthday, Shirley! Born 100 years ago and dying aged only 48, the author of “The Lottery” and other modern Gothic tales remains one of the most important — and possibly most underrated — American authors of the last century. What writers have felt her unsettling influence? Why can she still send a chill down the spines of today’s readers? Let’s celebrate Shirley Jackson’s first century, and the lasting and dramatic effect her work has had on our fictions.

3:30 PM
Reading by Ken MacLeod
Ken MacLeod
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

3:30 PM
Reading by Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez
Independence · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
The Year in Astronomy and Physics
Mark L. Olson (M), Jeff Hecht, N.A. Ratnayake, Janet Catherine Johnston
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
An annual roundup of the latest research and discoveries in two sciences that matter. Our experts will share what’s new and interesting, cutting-edge and speculative. From planets to particles, and beyond!

4:00 PM
Making Things Out of Trash
Steven Popkes
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Discussion Group
Have you ever found an odd item in the trash that you were sure could become something cool, but you couldn’t figure out what to actually do with it? Join Steven Popkes for a fun discussion of “deep recycling” and learn how you too can have some fun with …. stuff.

4:00 PM
Autographing: Linda Addison, Ken Altabef, Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder, Linda Addison, Ken Altabef
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

4:00 PM
Painting With Wax (Encaustics)
Lisa Hertel
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Join artist Lisa Hertel for a fun session of encaustics — the ancient art of painting with wax. Since we will be working with melted wax that is warm, a signed permission slip is required from the parents of children who want to participate.

4:00 PM
Reading by Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
The Odyssey Writing Workshop Discussion
Jeanne Cavelos
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Director Jeanne Cavelos describes the Odyssey Writing Workshop, an intensive 6-week program for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, held each summer in Manchester, NH. Jeanne explains the structure of the program, the work required, and the pros and cons of workshops. She also describes Odyssey’s online classes, its critiques, and the many free resources it offers — including podcasts, interviews, essays, writing tips, and exercises.

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
“Chemistry Is Everything” — Science Speaker Presentation by Milton Davis
Milton Davis
Harbor II · 60 min · Solo Talk
Milton Davis, Boskone 54’s Science Guest, talks chemistry. What is it? Why is it important? Why is chemistry, well, everything? From polymers to global warming, the magic of chemistry binds matter together — or breaks it apart. Milton dives into fundamentals as well as specifics, with a special focus on acrylic polymer chemistry … A research and development chemist who’s specialized in acrylic polymer coatings for 30 years, Milton Davis is an industry expert in floor finish technologies, and holds a patent in electronic circuit board cleaning technology.

4:00 PM
My Gateway Book
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Daniel Hatch, Elizabeth Bear, Michael Swanwick (M), Ellen Asher
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
We each discuss the work — often but not always a children’s or young adult book — that first fired us up about science fiction, fantasy, or horror. For our Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson, it’s Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. How about you, audience member? What do you remember about that first genre work? What if anything made it special? What did you do next? Have you ever reread it? Did it keep the magic?

4:00 PM
Reading by Craig Shaw Gardner
Craig Shaw Gardner
Independence · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
Impromptu Harmony Workshop
Denise A. Gendron, Mary Ellen Wessels, Lauren Schiller
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Want to learn how to sing harmony on the fly? Join our panelists for some fun vocal and listening exercises that will help build this skill.

4:00 PM
From Rapiers to Ray Guns
James D. Macdonald, Scott Lynch (M), Jo Walton, Richard R. Horton
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
From epic fantasy to space war, speculative fiction is rife with useful tools and weapons that can be used in battle. How much does a writer or reader really need to know about these weapons for fictional frays to feel real? What weapons work best for close-quarters or downrange combat in specific settings?

4:00 PM
The Copy Editor Is Your Friend
Janice Gelb, Brendan DuBois (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Richard Shealy, Neil Clarke
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
No book goes directly from the author’s keyboard to the printing press. Instead, the manuscript follows a convoluted path that involves many people, and finally lands on the desk of your friendly neighborhood copy editor. So, what does a copy editor do? Can (or should) you copyedit your own work? Our panel of red pencil warriors explains how and why copy editors make stories better and authors look good. Learn some tips, tricks, and tales of copyediting woe!

4:00 PM
Comic Books Are Frozen Movies
Brenda Noiseux (M), Chris Irvin, Robert Howard, Kirbi Fagan, Josh Dahl
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Why comic books — more than novels or short stories or video games or real-life events — are the ideal form of source material for cinematic storytelling.

4:00 PM
Boskone Book Club: The Rithmatist
Bob Kuhn (M), Brandon Sanderson
Marina 4 · 60 min · Discussion Group
The Boskone Book Club continues! Join us for a conversation that brings con-goers together to consider one noteworthy work at length. This year we are reading The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson (our Guest of Honor). Boskone’s own Bob Kuhn will lead the discussion; Brandon Sanderson will join the group halfway through for a Q&A. To participate, please read the book and come ready with your observations on style, plot, character, setting, vision, geometry? …

4:30 PM
Reading by Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:30 PM
Reading by Kate Baker
Kate Baker
Independence · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM
Media Room Closed — 60 minutes
Carlton · 60 min · Film/TV/Media

5:00 PM
Autographing: Neil Clarke, Max Gladstone, Fran Wilde
Neil Clarke, Fran Wilde, Max Gladstone
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

5:00 PM
DragonsLair Is Closed for Dinner
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

5:00 PM
Creativity and Cognition: Let Art Think
Rick Berry
Burroughs · 60 min · Solo Talk
Award winning artist, Rick Berry is internationally recognized for his powerful “expressionist figurative” works. Blending mythic and visionary themes, his art provokes narrative. Berry has produced countless covers for books, comics, games and is credited with the first digital painting for a novel worldwide, Neuromancer by W. Gibson. Berry’s oil paintings are in collections of Neil Gaiman, Stephen King and George R.R. Martin. Executed without preliminary drawings or references, his unique process is based on cognitive science. Berry “uses art to think”; and shares how one can foment creativity for any endeavor.

5:00 PM
Noir (Not) at the Bar — Special Boskone Edition
Chris Irvin (M), Errick Nunnally (M), Dana Cameron, Vincent O’Neil, James Moore, Melinda Snodgrass, Jack M. Haringa
Griffin · 90 min · Event
Noir at the Bar comes to Boskone for a special afternoon of reading and fun with our noir, crime, mystery, and horror writers. Hosted by Chris Irvin and Errick Nunnally.

5:00 PM
Long Live the Legion!
Priscilla Olson
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Our yearly salute to the Legion of Super-Heroes. But….it seems like it’s still dead…..Anyone have any ideas if/how/when our favorite group of superheroes might don their rings and fly again?

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Ken MacLeod
Ken MacLeod
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Milton Davis
Milton Davis
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Just a Minute
Frank Wu, Vincent Docherty (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, David Anthony Durham, Linda Addison
Harbor II · 60 min · Game Show
This mecca for motormouths is based upon an English game show that gives each contestant 60 seconds to speak on any subject the moderator springs on them — discoursing without repetition, hesitation, or deviation. An opposing contestant can challenge if they catch you pulling any of the above. The fast-talking fun swings from silly to cutthroat as contestants try to win their points in a hilariously high-pressure competition.

5:00 PM
Great Ghost Stories
Lojo Russo, E.J. Stevens, Gillian Daniels (M), Rob Greene, Paul Tremblay
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
We’ll look for and at the best stories that take place on the fringe: stories in which the living and the dead intersect, bringing out the drama, tension, and atmosphere that are the hallmarks of a well-told ghost story. (One darkly shining exemplar: Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.) Join us for an unsettling discussion of what makes a good ghost story great, and why some tales become enduring classics while others … don’t.

5:00 PM
Reading by Jeffrey A. Carver
Jeffrey A. Carver
Independence · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM
Using Watercolors: Art Demo by Alan F. Beck
Alan F. Beck
Marina 1 · 60 min · Demonstration
Artist Alan F. Beck shares tips and techniques associated with handling watercolors while doing a live demo — featuring a new fantasy mouse portrait!

5:00 PM
Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy
Juliana Spink Mills, Leigh Perry (M), Margaret Ronald, Adam Stemple, Robert B. Finegold M.D.
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
An inconsistent or poorly described worldscape can furnish a confusing story, or challenge a reader’s ability to suspend disbelief, even when you’re dealing with a world that is “just like ours.” Is creating an urban fantasy world as simple as adding magic to a place like Chicago or New York City? Or is there more to it? Hear from writers who have created fully realized urban fantasy worlds that their readers can almost see, touch, and smell.

5:00 PM
New England: The Legend, The Lore, The Mystery
Peter Muise (M), Theodora Goss, John Langan, Jeremy Flagg, F. Brett Cox
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
New England is often a setting in speculative fiction. What is it about this place that makes it so full of wonder … and dread? It’s a magical location beyond the page or screen. Let’s talk about the real mysteries, legends, lore, and supernatural goings-on here in New England.

5:00 PM
Let’s Talk About Fanfiction
Flourish Klink, Roberta Rogow, Kenneth Schneyer, Julia Rios
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Fanfiction is fun to read, but writing it often comes with downsides. Are the perceived deterrents real? What are they? The stigma of not being a real writer? Gender bias? Getting sued for writing within someone else’s world? But hey, besides the fun there are benefits … aren’t there?

6:00 PM
Star Trek: “The City on The Edge of Forever” (1967)
Carlton· 50 min · Film/TV/Media
When a temporarily insane Dr. McCoy accidentally changes history and destroys his timeline, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent the disaster, but the price to do so is high. Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Joan Collins, and the rest of the crew.

6:00 PM
DragonsLair Is Closed for Dinner
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

6:00 PM
Sassafrass: Trickster & King Concert
Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

6:00 PM
“In the Absence of Instructions to the Contrary, ” by Frank Wu
Frank Wu
Marina 1 · 60 min · Event
Frank Wu presents “In the Absence of Instructions to the Contrary, ” a shiny new(ish) story published in the November 2016 Analog. Dive into the world of a plucky underwater robot, the (human) marine biologist he loves, and … octopuses.

6:00 PM
Reading by Elizabeth Bear
Elizabeth Bear
Marina 2 · 30 min · Reading

6:00 PM
Science and the Media
Daniel Hatch (M), Tom Easton, Jordin T. Kare, Allen M. Steele
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Newsworthy stuff about science and technology occurs hourly. Does the public have a clue about much (any) of it? What are the effects on progress and, well, civilization when people believe in ghosts but not evolution? What’s the media’s role — and responsibility? (How about the schools?) Is too much tech news just biz news? Should we dumb coverage down, or smarten it up? Any media bright spots?

6:00 PM
Jewish Havdalah Service
Marina 4 · 60 min · Other
Service ending the Sabbath.

6:30 PM
Boskone Book Party
Galleria – Stage · 60 min · Event
Join us for Boskone’s Book Party! See what’s just out from authors you love, and discover new favorites. The book party will include E. C. Ambrose ( Elaine Isaak ), Neil Clarke, LJ Cohen, Milton Davis, Grady Hendrix, Carlos Hernandez, Jeremy Flagg, Hillary Monahan, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Ian Randal Strock, Christine Taylor-Butler, and more!

6:30 PM
Ben Newman Concert
Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

7:00 PM
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)
Carlton· 100 min · Film/TV/Media
Great design and special effects by George Pal in his last film. Ron Ely is heroic Doc, who battles villainous Captain Seas and “The Green Death” for control of a fabulous resource. Will Doc solve the mystery of his father’s death? Will his assistant ever drop the baby pig under his arm? A sweet and silly salute to the epic hero of yesteryear.

7:00 PM
Origami for Kids
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

7:30 PM
Boskone Memorial Toast
David G. Grubbs
Galleria – Stage · 15 min · Event
Join Toastmaster David G. Grubbs in the Galleria, immediately following the Boskone Book Party, for the Boskone Memorial Toast at 7:30 pm sharp as we raise a glass in memory of Boskone’s and Boston fandom’s recently departed friends. The Boskone 54 Souvenir Book’s “In Memoriam” section includes a partial list. (Non-alcoholic drinks are available in the Con Suite and alcoholic drinks will be available at the cash bar in the Galleria.)

8:00 PM
A Muddle of Mad Scientists
Jordin T. Kare, Debra Doyle, John P. Murphy (M), John Langan
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
From Dr. Frankenstein to Dr. Faustus, Mrs. Coulter to Dr. Horrible, genre fiction is filled with a long list of the crazily creative geniuses known as mad scientists. Why do we love them? What makes the mad scientist character so appealing in horror, comedy, and everything in between? Join us for a mad, mad discussion featuring some of our favorite screwy scientists/inventors from the past, present, and future.

8:00 PM
Costuming and Mad Hatter Hats
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

8:00 PM
Open Mic: Villains!
Kenneth Schneyer (M), Linda Addison (M), C. S. E. Cooney, Kate Baker, Milton Davis, Ada Palmer, Vincent O’Neil, Don Pizarro, Tom Kidd, Julie C. Day, Emma Caywood
Galleria · 90 min · Event
Live from Boskone … enjoy the unsavory stylings of our program participants and audience members. They share their open mic skills in the second annual Boskone Open Mic, which this year features our favorite fictitious villains! Each person gives his/her best 5-minute villainous performance — story, poem, song, skit, interpretive dance, or whatever!

OPTIONAL: For extra-appalling appeal, feel free to come dressed as your favorite fictitious villain!

The Rules: Boskone members are invited to join our participants in the open mic by signing up for one of the six open slots at the door to the event, which opens for sign-ups at 7:30 p.m. Each performer is given a firm 5-minute time limit (max), including setup time. So a quick transition between acts is key.

8:00 PM
Lojo & Lorraine: Making Music
Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland
Harbor II+III · 30 min · Event
Join Boskone’s Featured Filkers Lorraine Garland and Lojo Russo for a short concert that kicks off our Saturday night programming with a bang!

8:30 PM
Boskone 54 Awards Ceremony
David G. Grubbs, Gay Ellen Dennett, Michael Sharrow, Jane Yolen, Bruce Coville, Greg Manchess
Harbor II+III · 20 min · Event
Saturday night’s theatrical extravaganza continues with the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) event in which we present our annual Skylark and Gaughan awards. The Skylark Award honors the work and personal qualities of an exceptional contributor to science fiction. The Gaughan Award is presented to a talented emerging artist. Tonight, we will also be announcing the winner of the annual NESFA Short Story Contest.

9:00 PM
Cooking with Chemistry!
B. Diane Martin, David G. Shaw
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Foodies love to experiment with new equipment and techniques that reformulate their favorite ingredients into exciting new dishes. On the menu: unexpected contrasts of taste and texture, changes in serving temperature, and how to exploit naturally occurring components in new ways. Our panelists discuss chemistry, cooking, and cool culinary science.

9:00 PM
Master of the World (1961)
Carlton · 102 min · Film/TV/Media
Vincent Price excels as Jules Verne’s Robur the Conqueror, the Captain Nemo of the air, waging war against war from his steampunk airship in 1868. An American scientist and his team become hostages of this fanatical pacifist onboard The Albatross, a visual confection designed by Jim Danforth. With Charles Bronson, Mary Webster, Henry Hull.

9:00 PM
The Play’s The Thing!
Laurie Mann (M), Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland, David G. Grubbs, Erin Underwood (M), Jane Yolen, Bruce Coville, David Anthony Durham, Darlene Marshall, John Chu, Kate Baker, Sage Durham
Harbor II+III · 90 min · Event
Boskone’s theatrical extravaganza features a live reading of an abridged adaptation of a faux-Shakespearean play that is based upon an Empire far, far away that has striketh back against an intrepid group of friends who are “forced” to confront the dark side. There will be capes and a lighted saber (or two) and shenanigans to entertain audiences of all ages!

9:00 PM
Saturday Night Open Singing
Lewis · 120 min · Filk
Come gather to share songs! Many songs will be on science-fictional or fantastic topics, but all songs are welcome, and you can come to sing or just to listen.

11:00 PM
The Raven (1963) — Saturday Night Horror
Carlton · 85 min · Film/TV/Media
Vincent Price dazzles in this wonderfully creepy, classic horror film. A magician who has been turned into a raven is forced to seek out a former sorcerer for help.

SUNDAY, February 19, 2017

9:00 AM
Marble Ways and Legos
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

9:30 AM
Reading by Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

9:30 AM
Reading by Victoria Sandbrook Flynn
Victoria Sandbrook
Independence · 30 min · Reading

9:30 AM
Oils and Brushes: Art Demo by Bob Eggleton
Bob Eggleton
Marina 1 · 90 min · Demonstration
Here be dragons! Hugo Award-winning artist Bob Eggleton gives a live painting demonstration.

9:30 AM
Flash Fiction Slam
Rob Greene (M), James Patrick Kelly, Bruce Coville, Leigh Perry, Dana Cameron
Marina 4 · 90 min · Event
Boskone’s Flash Fiction Slam returns! Be one of eleven (11) writers to compete for the title of The Flash, reading your own original fiction — which must tell a complete tale within a 3-minute period. Our expert panel of judges will score your work, and you automatically lose 10 percent for going over your 3-minute time. You may only read your own work. The reader with the top score wins! Sign up before the con for one of eight (8) reading slots on a first-come, first-served basis by signing up online before the convention. Or sign up onsite at Program Ops in the Galleria for one of three (3) at-con openings. A waiting list will also be available.

10:00 AM
Contracts and Talking Terms
Joshua Bilmes, Victoria Sandbrook, Kenneth Schneyer, E. C. Ambrose (M), Michael Stearns
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Literary contracts can be tricky to navigate. We’ll reveal what’s behind those mysterious clauses and terms hidden in plain sight. When is a deal too good to pass up — or too good to be true? Discover what’s okay to publish, learn to avoid legal landmines, and ask questions about what you most want to know.

10:00 AM
April and the Extraordinary World (2015)
Carlton · 105 min · Film/TV/Media
It’s 1941, but in the alternate world of this French-Belgian-Canadian anime, Paris seems asleep in a nineteenth-century civilization, governed by steam and Napoleon V. Resourceful teenager Avril (Marion Cotillard) — and her scene-stealing talking cat, Darwin — must go in search of her scientist parents, who have mysteriously vanished.

10:00 AM
Black and White — Art Exhibit Tour
Joe Siclari, Edie Stern
Galleria – Art Show · 60 min · Docent Tour
If you missed the first — this is your chance to stroll around the Black and White Art Exhibit. You’ll hit the highlights with knowledgeable guides who can indicate points of interest.

10:00 AM
All About Coffee
John P. Murphy
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Discussion Group
History, mythology, chemistry, storage in bulbs for spaceflight … tasting?

10:00 AM
Autographing: Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo, Trisha Wooldridge, Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen, Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland, Trisha Wooldridge
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
Kids’ Tour of the Art Show
Dave Seeley, Persis Thorndike
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

10:00 AM
Reading by Fran Wilde
Fran Wilde
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Maryelizabeth Yturralde
Maryelizabeth Yturralde
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Neil Clarke
Neil Clarke
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
(Return of) The Ten Worst Ideas in SF and Fantasy
Vincent Docherty (M), Daniel P. Dern, Paul Di Filippo, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Julie C. Day
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
This panel turned out to be so /s/i/l/l/y/ interesting last time, we just had to do it again! A look at the historically bad ideas used in the field (and often amazingly overused) [and even more-amazingly, frequently still being used!]), and a horrified glimpse of the awful new ideas that are sometimes (astonishingly) taking the place of the horrible old ones. Have fun!

10:00 AM
Fantastic Beasts and the World of Harry Potter
Julia Rios, Sarah Smith, John Langan, Tim Szczesuil (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Join our discussion about the latest movie set in J.K. Rowling’s magical world: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. What can we extrapolate from the previous films to hint at the planned new five-movie series? Although the protagonist is an adult, how much of the story will revolve around Ilvermory, the American wizarding school? How wide are the horizons of the Potterverse likely to expand?

10:00 AM
Reading by Jeremy Flagg
Jeremy Flagg
Independence · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
Chemistry: Spec Fic’s Critical Compound
Milton Davis, Mark L. Olson (M), Justine Graykin, Steven Popkes
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
It’s got a long history within speculative fiction, but it’s often overshadowed by biology, physics, and astronomy. From transmutating metals to creating fuels, gunpowder, poisons, and (in The Martian) oxygen, chemistry is often the unsung science of our genres. We’ll discuss chemistry’s practical aspects, and how they are successfully applied within a story. We’ll also look at a few bang-up examples where the science went wrong …

10:00 AM
When Is It a Gimmick?
KT Bryski (M), LJ Cohen, John Chu, J. M. McDermott, Brendan DuBois
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Story gimmicks often seem like good ideas at the time — but instead of applause, they get eye-rolls. What is a gimmick, exactly? Are they all created equal? We’ll discuss common gimmicks, identifying traits, and ways to transform them into truly fresh ideas.

10:30 AM
Reading by Jo Walton
Jo Walton
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:30 AM
Reading by Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Taming the Wolf
David Anthony Durham
Burroughs · 60 min · Solo Talk
“My publisher said, ‘David, since that Acacia fantasy stuff is done, how about another historical novel?’ I said, ‘Spartacus?’ They said, ‘Deal.’ Then I tried to write the book. And flailed. A lot. Fantasy had altered my creative DNA. My contract said ‘historical novel.’ I found myself writing vampires, werewolves, and goddesses. But that could not be. Let’s talk about how I almost killed my career. How I tamed the wolf and survived. Chastened, humbled, but wiser for it.” — David Anthony Durham

11:00 AM
Autographing: L.J. Cohen, Tui Sutherland, Christine Taylor-Butler, Jeffrey Carver
Tui Sutherland, LJ Cohen, Christine Taylor-Butler, Jeffrey Carver
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
Creating Magical Animals With Pipe Cleaners
Benjamin Newman
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

11:00 AM
Reading by Robert Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Self-Editing Your Fiction — Discussion and Activity
Trisha Wooldridge
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Editing your own work can be a tough lesson to learn. Young adult author Trisha Woolridge guides a discussion and a practical activity on how to edit your own prose. You’re welcome to take part in just the discussion. However, Trisha also invites you to bring a few pages of your own prose in order to go through and polish your work together.

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Walter Jon Williams
Walter Jon Williams
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
NESFA Press Guest Interview: Ken MacLeod
Ken MacLeod, Charles Stross
Harbor III · 60 min · Interview
Charles Stross interviews our NESFA Press Guest, Ken MacLeod. Will we hear about Scotland, zoology, and biomechanics, or the intersection between socialist ideologies and computer programming? Come and find out!

11:00 AM
Official Artist Presentation: The Long Journey to The Art of Dave Seeley
Dave Seeley
Harbor III · 60 min · Solo Talk
Dave promises to tell us, “a story of how disparate contacts and planting seeds along the way, not a popularity contest, eventually led to the publication of my art monograph.” Although the resulting big, beautiful 2014 book is pretty popular around these parts …

11:00 AM
Reading by Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Denise Gendron Concert
Denise A. Gendron
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

11:00 AM
Entering the Speculative Fiction Art World
Ingrid Kallick, Kirbi Fagan, Tom Kidd, Brianna Spacekat Wu (M), Michael Whelan
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
New to the SF/F/H art world? Looking to work as an illustrator for books, magazines, comics, or the web? Our artistic panelists share their experiences as well as their advice on breaking into the genre — from building a portfolio to making sales, and everything in between.

11:00 AM
Cutting-Edge Medical Advances — Science or Science Fiction?
Robert B. Finegold M.D., Erin M. Hartshorn, David G. Shaw (M)
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
“Is that really possible now? Wow!” Medical technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, but what inspires it? And is it, well, safe? Come hear about some cool new developments that will surprise you today … and may save your life tomorrow.

11:00 AM
Words Have More Than Meaning
Jo Walton, Jane Yolen, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Priscilla Olson (M), Ada Palmer
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Words carry flavor, color, temperature, and sound. They have emotional impact and established associations. They sound harsh, funny, smooth, or soothing. We’ll discuss word choice and how to achieve these visceral reactions with your writing. We’ll even look at how words might lead to new perspectives in setting and plot, through some short demonstrations. Learn about the subtle power of carefully chosen language.

11:00 AM
Horror and the Happy Ending
Jack M. Haringa (M), Linda Addison, Paul Tremblay, Hillary Monahan, James Moore, Grady Hendrix
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Horror hurts. It bleeds. It keeps us coming back, desperate to know more — in the vain hope that the characters might be able to turn things around and survive. Even with the dark and dangerous stories we tell, read, and watch, part of us yearns for a peaceful resolution. While not all endings are horrific, is it horror if it has a happy ending? And what qualifies as “happy” when dealing with horror?

11:30 AM
Reading by Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:30 AM
Reading by Sarah Beth Durst
Sarah Beth Durst
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:30 AM
Brimstone Rhine Concert
C. S. E. Cooney
Lewis · 30 min · Filk
Poet and author C. S. E. Cooney performs under her songwriting name, Brimstone Rhine.

11:45 AM
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Carlton · 137 min · Film/TV/Media
In Steven Spielberg’s UFO masterpiece, teams of international scientists investigate the unexplained appearance of strange objects in remote locations. Meanwhile, after an encounter with flying saucers, an ordinary guy becomes increasingly obsessed, and feels inexorably drawn to an enigmatic rock formation in the high desert — where something spectacular is about to happen.

12:00 NOON
Mythologies of the World
Ken Altabef, Ada Palmer (M), Max Gladstone, Milton Davis, Peter Muise
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
From the Norse to the Inuit, cultures around the world have developed complex and intricate mythologies. How have those mythologies found new life in modern fiction? How do authors like Neil Gaiman, Rick Riordan and others incorporate myths and mythological creatures into their work while honoring the originals?

12:00 NOON
Beads and Buttons
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Demonstration
Come and see what you can make with beads and buttons (and maybe a bit of wire). Will it be a bracelet? A bouquet of flowers? Or maybe something we haven’t even thought of yet. Take a creative break and enjoy yourself!

12:00 NOON
Autographing: Dana Cameron, Leigh Perry, Allen M. Steele, E.J. Stevens,
Leigh Perry, E.J. Stevens, Allen M. Steele, Dana Cameron
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

12:00 NOON
Boskone Mad Libs With Ingrid Kallick
Ingrid Kallick
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

12:00 NOON
Reading by Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
The Sexual Politics of Ghostbusters
Laurie Mann
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
In the recent reboot of Ghostbusters, how much of a difference did gender-switching the leads make?

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Kenneth Schneyer
Kenneth Schneyer
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Paul Tremblay
Paul Tremblay
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
The Princess Bride Then, Now, & Tomorrow
Dan Moren (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Lojo Russo, Ginjer Buchanan
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Compared to today’s film standards, The Princess Bride’s lack of diversity is apparent and the female roles aren’t nearly as strong as their male counterparts. But it’s a classic and continues to be loved by people of all ages, sexes, and races. There is something about this film that we key into as story-lovers that continues to keep The Princess Bride on our “favorites” list. Why do we love it? Why have these characters stayed with us for so long? What parts of the movie may have failed us over time? Do we think this will remain a classic 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?
30th Anniversary: The Pricess Bride (film)

12:00 NOON
Reading and Q&A with Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson
Harbor III · 60 min · Reading
Boskone Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson reads a short selection of his work and answers questions from the audience.

12:00 NOON
Reading by Cerece Rennie Murphy
Cerece Rennie Murphy
Independence · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
Short Attention Span Song Circle
Ellen Kranzer, Bethany Allen
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Join us to sing your favorite really short songs — all songs must be under two minutes! Bring a song to share or just come to listen.

12:00 NOON
Abracadabra! Making Magic Real
Theodora Goss (M), Craig Shaw Gardner, James D. Macdonald, Jo Walton
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
In writing fantasies — from epic to urban — how do you keep your story’s magic feeling fresh and new? It’s a challenge. Rules and boundaries can help, but how do you make the “science” of the supernatural seem, well, natural? Panelists discuss the perils and potentials of using magic in fiction.

12:00 NOON
Faith in Space
Janice Gelb (M), Vikki Ciaffone, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., JeffWarner
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Humanity used to look to the skies and see God (or the gods, depending). Now, we look to the skies and see the future. As we find more Earth-like planets in habitable zones and space travel becomes not only possible but probable, what role will religion play? How might our Earth-based religions change as we launch ourselves into the heavens? What might it mean to colonize other planets? Can SF literature point us toward what the future might hold for spirituality and faith?

12:00 NOON
Science Fiction on the Stage
Jeanne Beckwith, James Patrick Kelly, F. Brett Cox, Gillian Daniels (M), KT Bryski
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
You can’t do that on the stage! … Can you? How do you create a space ship going Warp 5 on the stage? Can you really produce a true SF feel without the flashy special effects that people have come to expect? What kind of opportunities are possible when it comes to writing and producing speculative fiction on the stage rather then in film or in print? Moreover, how do you get started writing for the stage?

12:00 NOON
Brick and Mortar: Bookstores Then, Now, and Tomorrow
Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Robert Howard, Joe Siclari (M), Ian Randal Strock, Lauren Roy
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Despite surges in online and ebook sales: at least for now, bookstores are here to stay. Our panelists share their favorite stories about the printed matter palaces they love, how to support them, and what continued life they’re finding in today’s publishing world. How can we make better use of our bookstores? What purpose do they serve for authors, publishers, and readers? If they ever disappear, whatever will we do?

12:30 PM
Reading by John Murphy
John P. Murphy
Independence · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Great Beach Reads in Winter
Tui Sutherland, William Hayashi, Erin M. Hartshorn (M), Susan Jane Bigelow
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
We hear too much talk about summer beach reads. What books are delightful when the weather turns frightful? Let’s pass around recommendations for genre reading that’s perfect on a cold winter’s day with a hot cup of cocoa and a warm fire.

1:00 PM
Wire Work
Lisa Hertel
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Demonstration
Make your own wire trees! They can be free-standing, or made to hang on walls. You can even add fruits and other ornamentation, if you wish.

1:00 PM
Autographing: John Langan, Brandon Sanderson, Robert J. Sawyer, Dave Seeley
Robert J. Sawyer, Brandon Sanderson, John Langan, Dave Seeley
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

1:00 PM
Kids Magic Show With Daniel Dern
Daniel P. Dern
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

1:00 PM
Reading by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald
Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Lojo Russo and Lorraine Garland
Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Best Book EVER!
Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Walter Jon Williams (M), Emma Caywood, Richard R. Horton
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Some books are good. Some books are great. And some are the BEST BOOK EVER! Let’s dish over the works that stand out — that changed the way we think about reading — as well as those that fed our appetite for fine fiction and made us hungry for more. What does it take to top your list of all-time great reads?

1:00 PM
iMorality and Machines
Ken Altabef, John P. Murphy (M), Christine Taylor-Butler, Gregory Feeley
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Whose ethics will define the limits of AI/robot behavior? The ethics of business? Of government? Of the cybermilitary/roboindustrial complex? Will we engage in inorganic Other-blaming when unintended consequences occur, per Asimov’s Robot series and sociologist Robert K. Merton? Do the ends justify the AI means, even if we can’t be sure where it will end? (And does a robot taking a selfie pass the Turing test … or fail?)

1:00 PM
Reading by Greer Gilman
Greer Gilman
Independence · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
The Chosen One(s) Song Circle
Bethany Allen
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, and the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, join us to sing songs about your favorite Chosen Ones — those young heroes and heroines who seem called by destiny to stand against evil. Bring your own songs to share, or just come to listen.

1:00 PM
Wonder Woman and The Justice League
Dan Moren, Robert Howard (M), Jennifer Pelland, Erin Underwood
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
The Justice League is coming in a sequence of dark and edgy movies. Characters such as The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, Batman, and Superman fill the slate of characters who will be appearing. Wonder Woman stands alone as the sole female superhero in these films. Is it enough that these big multi-superhero films include a single female superhero, or are they continuing to miss the point?

1:00 PM
Time Travel Is the New Black
Mary Kay Kare, Kenneth Schneyer, J. M. McDermott, Jeff Hecht (M)
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
From page to screen, stories that play around with time suddenly seem more popular than ever. Examples: Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library, the movie Arrival, and TV’s Timeless. Why the rising interest in chronofictional shenanigans? Do we yearn for the past, or fear the future? What other works handle this theme especially well? Any new, er, wrinkles in time?

1:00 PM
Shelley and Austen
Theodora Goss, KT Bryski (M), E.J. Stevens, F. Brett Cox
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
To examine the roots of science fiction and fantasy may well be to examine the works of Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and some of their peers. While Shelley’s Frankenstein is an increasingly accepted ur-document for science fiction and horror, Austen’s comedies of manners have seen a surprising recent revival in hommages by several genre authors. Let’s discuss what makes these works important to early speculative fiction, and how they continue to influence us today.

1:00 PM
The Sense8 Sensation
Darlene Marshall (M), Lauren Roy, Gillian Daniels, Rob Greene, Jeremy Flagg
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
It’s shot on locations worldwide and produced by the creators of The Matrix and Babylon 5, yet this Netflix TV original has largely flown under the radar. (Still, season 2 starts in March.) Panelists examine the intricate storytelling and dizzyingly diverse connections of this sens8tionally groundbreaking SF show. From gender, race, and religion to the struggle of coming to terms with one’s identity, Sense8 treats its subjects in ways network television would never touch. SPOILERS ABOUND for nonviewers, but why not sneak a peek anyway?

1:30 PM
Reading by Paul Tremblay
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:30 PM
Reading by N.A. Ratnayake
N.A. Ratnayake
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Marketing Matters
Moshe Feder, Melanie Meadors (M), Neil Clarke
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Authors are bombarded with “wisdom” about marketing and social media. Let’s cut to the chase and get back to basics. When it comes to marketing, what works, what doesn’t work, and what are the still-open questions?

2:00 PM
Reading by Milton Davis
Milton Davis
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Dave Seeley
Dave Seeley
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Leigh Perry
Leigh Perry
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Fun With Silly Poses
Vincent Docherty (M), Bruce Coville, Frank Wu, David G. Grubbs (M), Jennifer Pelland
Harbor II · 75 min · Panel
Expect to emit great giggles at our group reenactments of scenes from SF/fantasy/horror cover art. Warning: high probability of awkward audience participation and pretty pathetic props.

2:00 PM
Cartoons Aren’t Just for Kids
Max Gladstone, Susan Jane Bigelow
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Many of us grew up watching Looney Tunes and Schoolhouse Rock on Saturday mornings. How has the art form evolved since “Conjunction Junction” rocked our TV screen? What’s up with Steven Universe, Archer, and The Simpsons? How do so many cartoons manage to stay so smart, savvy, and relevant to our adult lives? Let’s chat about some of our favorites, both old and new, and create a must-watch list for true-blue toon aficionados.

2:00 PM
Reading by John Chu
John Chu
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Cat Songs Sing-Along
Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo, Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Come sing along to some of our favorite filk and folk songs about cats! Lyrics will be projected.

2:00 PM
Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Princess of Mars
Priscilla Olson (M), Melinda Snodgrass, Ken MacLeod, John Langan, Paul Di Filippo
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
You stare at the Red Planet as it drifts through the sky … and if you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself on Mars. Revisit Barsoom, and meet up with Thuvia, the Master Mind, savage Green Martians — and (of course) the incomparable Dejah Thoris.

2:00 PM
How Stories End
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Michael Swanwick (M), Greer Gilman, J. M. McDermott
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Heinlein often rushed his finales. Planet of the Apes ends with a truly monumental twist. Rowling took seven books to set up the boss fight with Mr. Slitsnout. What’s your favorite finish? How do writers finesse the final strokes of their stories? How do readers respond? (Warning: by definition, this panel is Spoiler Central.)

2:00 PM
Internal Character Conflict: Motives Versus Values
Stephen P. Kelner Jr.
Marina 3 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Well-written characters often struggle with internal conflicts that can drive the story as much as — or more than — external ones. Motivational psychologist, researcher, and writer Dr. Steve Kelner will lay out the different levels and types of motivation identified by research, provide examples from fiction and real life of how they can collide, and show how to use them to create powerful conflicts within a character.

2:00 PM
The Defenders Series and the Netflix Craze
Erin Underwood (M), Errick Nunnally, Michael Sharrow, Darlene Marshall
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Netflix is delivering a powerhouse selection of superhero shows under the umbrella of The Defenders. From Daredevil to Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, Netflix has put the “human” back into superhuman … or has it? Are these superheroes any different from their Marvelous brethren, who have been tearing up our cities in order to defend the Earth? The Defenders seems to be challenging the status quo on what it means to be a hero, and what the consequences and costs are of fighting crime. Panelists discuss their favorite shows and characters within the series, and what they think Netflix is getting right — and wrong — along the way.

2:15 PM
The Rolling Girls (2014)
Carlton · 60 min · Film/TV/Media
Anime! Ten years after the Great Tokyo War, the prefectures of Japan have split into independent nations. Each nation is ruled by a prophet called “Mosa” and an army called “Mob, ” as they start to compete to take over other countries. Four Mob girls from the Saitama clan — Nozomi, Yukina, Ai, and Chiaya — are ordered by their Mosa to roll around Japan on their motorcycles, mediating mediate multiple battles between nations and clans as they emerge.

2:30 PM
Reading by E.C. Ambrose
E. C. Ambrose
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

2:30 PM
Reading by Trisha Wooldridge
Trisha Wooldridge
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Ginjer Buchanan
Ginjer Buchanan
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
MASSFILC Business Meeting
Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 20 min · Filk
The (usually brief) monthly business meeting of MASSFILC, the greater Boston area’s local filk club.

3:00 PM
Why I Write Horror
Errick Nunnally (M), Jack M. Haringa, Craig Shaw Gardner, Deirdre Crimmins, James Moore
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
We’ve asked before why people read horror: for the great writing, the thrill, schadenfreude … but why on earth do we write it? From the author’s point of view, why does writing in the horror genre give so much satisfaction? Why does it ignite the creative spark? And what, if anything, does it say about the author who chooses this genre? We’ll delve into the psyche of the unsmiling pessimists in the field, and wonder about those in whom horror engenders ghoulish glee.

3:00 PM
Feedback Session
Erin Underwood, Tim Szczesuil, Gay Ellen Dennett, Jim Mann
Marina 2 · 60 min · Discussion Group
This con is over, people. (Except for Dead Dog Filking — and of course teardown, where we’d love to have your help!) But we’re already working on Boskone 55. Help us get a good head start with reports on what went right (or wrong) this time, and how to achieve perfection next year.

3:30 PM
Dead Dog Open Singing
Lewis · 100 min · Filk
Come share songs to close out the convention! Science-fictional or fantastic topics may predominate, but all songs are welcome. Come to sing or just to listen.

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We hope you enjoy Boskone 54 and look forward to seeing you this February!

If you have any questions, please contact program@boskone.org.

 

last updated 1/17/17