I'll be attending Boskone, a science fiction and fantasy conference in Boston, MA, again this year.
The program organizers at Boskone 60 have graciously selected me to be a program participant again this year. The conference runs from Friday, February 18th to Sunday, February 20th at the Westin Boston Seaport District, Boston, MA. Here's my program schedule. I hope to see you there!
Friday, February 18 at 2:30 PM: Magicians in Society: How do magicians and their magic fit into the political, social, and class structures within an imagined society–especially in worlds where most people don't possess such powers? What special challenges do magic-wielders face in a culture where magic isn't respected or feared? How do these challenges change when dealing with a society where magic is revered? What roles, if any, do science and scientists play in such a system?
Friday, February 18 at 5:30 PM (Moderator): Monsters, Villains, and Heroes: The best characters are complicated. Complexity is the spice of 3-dimensional life on the page. So, how does understanding the motivation of a monster or villain differ from that of a hero? How can we better approach writing and reading complex characters who might appear bossy, entitled, cruel, or indifferent to the world around them? What complexities do gender, race, and social status add? Let's get inside the minds of the characters who stay with us long after the last page is read.
Friday, February 18 at 8:30 PM: Who's Afraid of Black Mermaids and Hobbits? Adaptation offers reinterpretation of original stories to provide new perspectives for new audiences and new times. Stories have been evolving for thousands of years, but social awareness and expanding audiences are providing even more opportunities for change. Our panel discusses the importance of adaptation in creating new opportunities for diversity and inclusion while also telling new, original stories that feature diverse characters and topics.
Saturday, February 19 at 4:00 PM (Moderator): The Point of Divergence in Alternate Histories: We were one timeline. Then BOOM some little detail changes, and suddenly we are two timelines, split at the point of divergence. Alternate histories HAVE to make sense, and the changes need to be built into the structure of the new timeline. How can one detail lead to entirely new histories and how can we parse those differences to make sure they work? We explore the best alternate histories, how they diverged from our own timeline, and what makes them work so well.
Saturday, February 19 at 7:00 PM: Why Science Fiction Loves Getting Science Wrong: From world killing AI to time travel and FTL, science fiction loves breaking the rules for the sake of a good story. Our panel digs into some of the best science gone wrong in order to get the story right. We share our favorite examples, why they work, and why it's sometimes important to break the rules in the right way.
Comments