Programming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 16, 2018.

Free Friday Afternoon Programming:

Programming on Friday, February 16th 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 this year that you may want to download the mobile scheduling app for Grenadine or KonOpas. Instructions are available on Boskone’s Going Mobile page.

Register Today!
Buy your Boskone 55 membership today and don’t miss a moment of fun at this year’s convention. Full weekend memberships as well as day rates are available.

If you have any questions about programming or would like to share your program ideas, please contact our Program Committee at program@boskone.org.

We look forward to seeing you at Boskone for another great convention!

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FRIDAY

2:00 PM (free to public)
Splendor
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

2:00 PM (free to public)
Moonquake Escape / Leaf Me Alone
Harbor I · 240 min · Gaming

2:00 PM (free to public)
Star Wars Mad Libs
Mihku Paul (M), Kaitlin R. Branch, Inanna Arthen, Mary Robinette Kowal
Harbor III · 60 min · Game Show
Who doesn’t love a good session of Mad Libs, Boskone style? Join us for a special edition of Star Wars Mad Libs — in which the audience provides the nouns, adverbs, and adjectives for a raucous reading performed by our panel of program participants.

2:00 PM (free to public)
Generation Ships
John R. Douglas (M), Cady Coleman, Vincent O’Neil, Stacey Berg
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Generation ships, interstellar arks that travel at sublight speed, are all the rage in science fiction, and real-life scientists are even looking at the possibility of sending ships in space to far-off planets. Even if the science were possible, should we actually use generation ships to populate new worlds? Is it fair to the children? What are we asking of them? What might we lose or gain in the process?

2:00 PM (free to public)
AIs and the Female Image
Victoria Sandbrook (M), Catherine Asaro, Christine Taylor-Butler, Laurence Raphael Brothers, John P. Murphy
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
When it comes to AIs wearing mechanical bodies, until recently, many “female” AIs were all about gorgeousness and sexuality. Now some portrayals emphasize strength and intelligence. Can you do both? How well do these creations represent women, metaphorically or realistically? How does the representation of “male” AIs differ?

2:00 PM (free to public)
Stories Before the Apocalypse
Juliana Spink Mills, James Patrick Kelly (M), Julie C. Day, Alan Gordon, John Chu
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
We’re familiar with post-apocalyptic futures, from Max’s desert hellscape to Katniss’s dystopic districts. But what about right before the cataclysm — as doom and destruction loom large? How do people live? How do relationships change as we shift into survival mode? Let’s share our few existing “must-read” favorites, and discuss stories we’d like to see.

3:00 PM (free to public)
Kaffeeklatsch: Steven Popkes
Steven Popkes
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM (free to public)
Istanbul
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

3:00 PM (free to public)
1950s — The Golden Age of SF Movies
Daniel M. Kimmel (M), Garen Daly, Nat Segaloff, Vincent Di Fate, Eric Van
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Soon after World War II, as the Cold War introduced chilling new threats to the world’s peace of mind — Hollywood (and Tokyo) launched an avalanche of SF and monster-related movies. Was this a golden age? Or were these flicks mostly cheap shockers that kept recycling variations on the theme of “Monster Attacks!”?

3:00 PM (free to public)
Welcome to Boskone!
Brenda Noiseux, Janice Gelb
Independence · 60 min · Panel
New to the con? Or returning after a long absence? Join us for a short discussion about what Boskone has to offer. Hear the highlights, learn some lingo, and meet new people who love the same strange things you do — plus some weird new stuff of their own! Then join our docents for a stroll around the con.

3:00 PM (free to public)
My Favorite Game
Auston Habershaw, Walter H. Hunt (M), Carlos Hernandez, Dan Moren, M. C. DeMarco
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
Join us as we explore the wonderful world of board games. Our panel of expert gamers will discuss their favorites from the past 10 years. We’ll compare bragging rights, and swap tales of our victories (or defeats). Let’s include our top ten lists — feel free to bring and share your own!

3:00 PM (free to public)
Armchair Detectives
Leigh Perry (M), Timothy Liebe, E.J. Stevens, Mary Kay Kare, Brendan DuBois
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Crime and fiction have long been a popular pairing. But what have science and technology done to the prospects of pulling off the perfect murder? How much tricksier must authors get to keep their readers guessing, especially in this new age of the armchair detective?

3:00 PM (free to public)
One-Book Wonders
Beth Meacham, Michael Stearns (M), Bob Devney, Greer Gilman, John R. Douglas
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Publishers (and authors) love the continuing sales and predictable incomes of a good series. But not all readers feel happy committing to a 10-volume epic fantasy saga with 500+ pages per book. The works we cherish most may be a tale well told between a single pair of covers. Let’s share and discuss our favorite stand-alone stories.

3:00 PM (free to public)
The Real Hero of Hogwarts
Priscilla Olson (M), Julia Rios, Pete Hollmer, Flourish Klink
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Everyone knows the Harry Potter series. Harry is at the center of the story with events swirling around him, but is he the real hero? In fact, is there any real hero at Hogwarts? Let’s discuss heroism. What does it take to be a hero — and what does that even mean in a place like Hogwarts?

3:00 PM (free to public)
Angels in Speculative Fiction
Bob Kuhn (M), Alexander Jablokov, Victoria Sandbrook, Walt Williams
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Angels in fantasy, science fiction, and horror aren’t always what you might expect. There are the ones that behave, well, angelically, and the fallen angels — but also bad-tempered angels, angels from advanced civilizations, and more. What attracts writers (and readers) to this motif? What common themes, like redemption or the Fall, recur? Are there novel ways to write an angel?

4:00 PM (free to public)
Curse Your Inevitable Romantic Subplot!
Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, J. Kathleen Cheney, Kevin McLaughlin, Heather Albano (M), Juliana Spink Mills
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Just when things are getting good, somebody has to go and fall in love. Are romantic subplots required? And what makes them work or fail in the larger storyline?

4:00 PM (free to public)
Dragonar Academy
Carlton · 100 min · Film/TV/Media
Ash is a student at Ansalivan Dragon Academy, attended by children who have formed contracts with dragons. He possesses the “star mark, ” the sign of a contract, but since his partner hasn’t been born yet, he seems insignificant. The awakening of the dragon he’s raising inside his body is triggered by an incident, and it emerges in the form of a young girl.

4:00 PM (free to public)
Reading by Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM (free to public)
Kaffeeklatsch: Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM (free to public)
Kaffeeklatsch: James Cambias
James Cambias
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM (free to public)
Revisiting Big Dumb Objects
Mark L. Olson (M), M. C. DeMarco, Daniel P. Dern, JeffWarner, Brendan DuBois
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Big Dumb Objects (BDO) are so called because they evoke a sense of wonder simply by existing. The objects themselves are numinous: no plot needed, no characterizations should bother to apply. The term, really, is a bit of a putdown; is it fair? The case can be made that BDOs are one of SF’s truly unique inventions, and ought to be appreciated as such. So let’s celebrate the Big Dumb Objects we know and love — and perhaps a few we’ve missed along the way.

4:00 PM (free to public)
Japanese Light Novels
Kaitlin R. Branch
Lewis · 60 min · Solo Talk
Some of the most popular Japanese anime has come out of light novels. We’ll discuss what differentiates these novels from SF/fantasy literature from the U.S., run down some of the most popular titles, and explore what makes these books so popular.

4:00 PM (free to public)
The New Doctor Is Coming!
Jim Mann (M), Don Pizarro, Carrie Cuinn, Dana Cameron, Gerald L. Coleman
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
The new Doctor Who has a female body. That’s great, but really is that all we’re looking forward to this year? What else is in store for the good Doctor? And will her new appearance change the character we have grown to love? Will she, like Missy, become softer? Will she have a female companion? And why did she choose a female body this time?

4:00 PM (free to public)
Reimagining the Book
Jen Gunnels
Marina 2 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Does print have to come first? What other forms matter? How does format affect the “book” quality and/or sales? What might be a much-needed change for the future? How about releasing books as serials, as we did in the distant past? Let’s think outside of the book box.

4:00 PM (free to public)
Big YA
Michael Stearns, Tamora Pierce, Christine Taylor-Butler, Gregory Katsoulis (M), E. Ardell
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
What is Big YA? Well, it’s a term we just made up here at Boskone to talk about the intricacies of writing, editing, and publishing big, long young adult series. What are the challenges associated with writing a series where the characters often don’t age as quickly as their readers? How do you track all the details without dropping threads? And why are these long epic YA series so popular today?

4:00 PM (free to public)
The 10 Books That Made Me a Fan
Steve Davidson (M), Tony Lewis, Kenneth Rogers Jr., Genny Dazzo
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
There are books that interest us, books that inspire us, and books that stimulate us to read more! Our panelists share the books that made them fans and kept them reading. What’s so special about these works?

4:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Walter Jon Williams
Walter Jon Williams
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Alan Gordon
Alan Gordon
Independence · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to public)
Law and Justice in Speculative Fiction
Diane Martin, Bracken MacLeod, Kenneth Schneyer (M), Alan Gordon, Auston Habershaw
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
In an SF or fantasy world, justice may be meted out by a familiar legal system, by religious hierarchies that rule through faith, by some corrupt order that props up an evil regime, etc. How do you show the complex evolution/interplay of a society and its justice system in a single tale? Why do so many stories concentrate on crime and criminals? How do you quickly sketch out a justice system for a culture that’s different from our own?

5:00 PM (free to public)
Reading by James Patrick Kelly
James Patrick Kelly
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to public)
Kaffeeklatsch: Jeff Hecht
Jeff Hecht
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM (free to public)
Kaffeeklatsch: Walter Hunt
Walter H. Hunt
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM (free to public)
St. Petersburg
Harbor I – Gaming · 120 min · Gaming

5:00 PM (free to public)
YA Fiction Guest Interview: Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce, Julie Holderman
Harbor III · 60 min · Interview
With a brand-new book out and nearly 30 other novels, dozens of short stories, and several comics to her name, Tamora Pierce is a much-loved author of children’s and young adult fantasy fiction. Join us for this lively discussion with Tamora about her life, her writing, and her love of cats, conducted by her longtime friend Julie Holderman.

5:00 PM (free to public)
Reading by Marshall Ryan Maresca
Marshall Ryan Maresca
Independence · 30 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to public)
Tarot and Divining Fantastic Fiction
Trisha Wooldridge
Lewis · 60 min · Discussion Group
Author and Tarot guru Trisha Wooldridge leads a discussion on Tarot, fortune telling, and the art of the seer in fantasy and science fiction. Trisha will provide a live demonstration.

5:00 PM (free to public)
Interstellar Travel — Separating the Reality From the Fiction
Les Johnson
Marina 1 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Traveling to the stars will be difficult, and require engineering on a scale unimaginable today — but the laws of nature say it can be done. In this talk, Les Johnson will describe the distances involved, the propulsion systems that will and won’t work for getting us (or our robotic probes) to another star, and the status of research toward making interstellar travel possible. Note: Only technologies based on real physics will be described!

5:00 PM (free to public)
Collaborating With Others
Sarah Smith, LJ Cohen (M), Adam Stemple, Craig Miller, Tom Easton, Jane Yolen
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Collaboration isn’t always easy — learning to work with others, even your friends, can be tricky. But it can create some amazing results. Our participants share their experiences, advice, and questions as they reveal the joys and pitfalls of partnered art.

5:00 PM (free to public)
Incorporating Cultures Into Fiction
Beth Meacham (M), Lauren Roy, Mihku Paul, Carlos Hernandez, Erin Roberts
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
In writing, it’s hard to navigate between inclusion and appropriation of a culture or cultural elements. But like it or hate it, people write what they know … or at least what they think they know. Complicating matters, the definitions of these two words are fuzzy for many. So, what is cultural appropriation? How do we incorporate cultures or aspects of cultures without crossing the line?

5:00 PM (free to public)
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Rob Greene, Jen Gunnels, Mary Kay Kare, Darlene Marshall, Bob Kuhn (M)
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Fifty years ago, Anne McCaffrey released Dragonflight, the first novel in her Dragon Riders of Pern series. This epic fantasy series captured the hearts and minds of generations of readers. What is it about this book and this series that is so compelling?

5:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

5:30 PM (free to public)
Boskone’s Regency Dance with Guest of Honor Mary Robinette Kowal
Kevin Turausky, Antonia Pugliese, Mary Robinette Kowal
Harbor II · 90 min · Event
Calling all dancers! Join our Guest of Honor, Mary Robinette Kowal, as we travel back in time to Britain’s Regency period, when dancing was all the craze. Antonia Pugliese from Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, a Boston-area nonprofit that reconstructs, performs, and teaches dances of the 19th and early 20th century, will lead us through Boskone’s special set of Regency dances. So put on your 19th century duds or keep your modern wardrobe to represent your favorite era — as we genre-happy gentlefolk join together to dance, Regency-style!

5:30 PM (free to public)
Reading by Greer Gilman
Greer Gilman
Independence · 30 min · Reading

5:45 PM (free to public)
Dirty Pair: Project Eden
Carlton · 85 min · Film/TV/Media
When the planet Agerna comes under attack, the 3WA sends its top trouble consultants — Kei and Yuri. Can they solve the mystery behind the attacks in time to save the planet’s Vizorium supplies? And can the planet survive having the Lovely Angels on the case? In Japanese with English subtitles.

6:00 PM
Asimov’s Laws
Robert J. Sawyer
Burroughs · 60 min · Solo Talk
Asimov’s Laws of Robotics just turned 75; they date from World War II. Isn’t it time we abandoned what, really, is a slaveholder’s credo in favor of a win-win scenario for interactions between humans and artificial intelligences? Join Robert J. Sawyer, who wrote a guest editorial for the journal Science on “Robot Ethics” and is the author of the Hugo Award-nominated Wake, which seeks just such a non-zero-sum solution, for a lively talk followed by audience discussion.

6:00 PM
Origami for Kids
Persis Thorndike
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

6:00 PM
Group Reading: Speculative Fiction Shorts
Jack M. Haringa (M), Christian Baines, Steve Berman, Susan Jane Bigelow, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, H Paul Shuch, Rajnar Vajra
Griffin · 60 min · Reading
You’re sure to enjoy this specially designed group reading, which brings together a select group of Boskone’s speculative fiction authors — just for you.

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Meet Up: The State of Black Science Fiction Facebook Group
Gerald Coleman
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Join Gerald Coleman for a discussion focused on the popular Facebook group The State of Black Science Fiction and visit the group online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackscifi/

6:00 PM
Exploring Gender in Speculative Fiction
Julie Holderman, Inanna Arthen, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Suzanne Palmer, Stacey Berg (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
In 1969, Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness famously featured an androgynous culture. More recently, Ann Leckie’s celebrated Ancillary series and her latest novel, Provenance, treat readers to a society in which gender doesn’t matter. What other SF/F/H writers offer us gender-expansive characters or societies? Why and when should gender matter?

6:00 PM
How to Do Magic Tricks
Daniel P. Dern
Independence · 60 min · Solo Talk
Author and magician Daniel Dern has entertained Boskone’s children for years in DragonsLair. It’s now time for their parents to get in on the act. Daniel shares tips, tricks, and possibly even a few mysteries of the magical arts!

6:00 PM
Awesome Action Sequences
Vincent O’Neil
Lewis · 60 min · Workshop
Author Vincent O’Neil leads a short workshop for writers who would like to hone the craft of writing action sequences.

6:00 PM
SF/F (NESFA) Hymnal Singing
Marina 1 · 60 min · Filk

6:00 PM
The Sword in the Stone: A New Beginning for the Arthurian Legends?
Faye Ringel, Elizabeth Bear, E. Ardell, Auston Habershaw, Heather Albano (M)
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
First published in 1938 as a stand-alone tale, T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone departs from older sources to (wonderfully) imagine King Arthur as a boy in Merrie Olde England. What did it bring to now-popular tropes such as shapeshifting, the hidden prince, or the magical education? Later incorporated into the first part of White’s 1958 novel The Once and Future King, it helped spark the musical Camelot. (And, of course, Spamalot.) Would we remember much about King Arthur, his Knights, and their Round Table without these books? How did they influence the wider fantasy genre? Have they been replaced by the stories they inspired?

6:00 PM
Folktales Within Poetry
Theodora Goss (M), Jane Yolen, C. S. E. Cooney, John Chu, Trisha Wooldridge
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
From “The Lady of Shalott” to “Goblin Market” to The Iliad, some quite engaging poems are inspired by folklore, legends, or myths. What other examples can we add — perhaps from non-European poetry? What do folk sources bring that an original story might lack? Our panelists will discuss (and perhaps read) some of their favorites — what are yours?

6:00 PM
Heinlein’s Rules for Writers
Kevin McLaughlin
Marina 4 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Heinlein’s rules offer a different model for writers from the one most commonly taught; they’re a lot of fun to follow, but challenging. Put into place, they have helped many writers achieve professional success. Come learn more about classic SF author Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) and his processes.

7:00 PM
History of Death Rays in Fact and Fiction
Jeff Hecht
Burroughs · 60 min · Solo Talk
Scientist and laser expert Jeff Hecht walks us through the fact, fiction, and fun of death rays. Some of the things we see on the silver screen may or may not be possible today, but who knows what the future may hold?

7:00 PM
Space Exploration for Kids
Les Johnson
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Kids get an up-close look at materials used for space exploration in this discussion group — led by NASA scientist Les Johnson — about spaceships and interstellar travel.

7:00 PM
Reading by Brendan DuBois
Brendan DuBois
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

7:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Auston Habershaw
Auston Habershaw
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

7:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Elaine Isaak
C. Ambrose
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

7:00 PM
Puerto Rico
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

7:00 PM
The Greatest Space Opera Ever
Allen M. Steele, Kevin McLaughlin (M), Scott Lynch, Walter H. Hunt, Suzanne Palmer
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Space opera. Wait, it’s not singers in outer space? Then: What is it? Why is it called that? Why is it so popular? And, in the opinions of the panel and our audience, what is the greatest space opera ever? Inquiring Boskonians want to know.

7:00 PM
Before the Flat Screen
Ginjer Buchanan (M), Deirdre Crimmins, Daniel M. Kimmel, Tony Lewis, Craig Miller
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
They may lack the amazing visuals and grittier content of today’s science fiction and fantasy shows, but some of the TV series we grew up on continue to delight. Let’s dish over our long-ago favorite fare. Remember Bewitched, My Favorite Martian, I Dream of Jeannie, The Jetsons, or ALF? Why do these oldies still resonate today? Can they teach us anything? Na-No, Na-No!

7:00 PM
Name That Legendary Object
Michael Sharrow (M), Jennifer Pelland, Erin Roberts
Marina 2 · 60 min · Game Show
Legendary objects of yore — from various worlds throughout the universe, and from myriad planes of existence — have been gathered together in anticipation of this special Boskone game, for the entertainment and edification of the public. Our expert “historians” compete for the ultimate prize as they seek to identify these awesome articles, which may have once been owned by gods, heroes, villains … or the occasional ancient street sweeper. Audience participation is encouraged: bring your favorite enigmatic items to be identified by our adepts of the interdimensional.

7:00 PM
All the Universe’s a Stage …
Jeanne Beckwith PhD, James Patrick Kelly, Jen Gunnels, C. S. E. Cooney, F. Brett Cox (M)
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
… And all the men and women (and robots, and wizards) merely players. William Shakespeare was a Jedi master at creating characters and building tension upon the stage. What can he teach us about how to craft a compelling SF/F/H character? And how to make completely unrealistic situations and people feel real, given the limitations of whatever medium we choose?

7:00 PM
Future of Noir
Alexander Jablokov (M), Nik Korpon, Vikki Ciaffone, Laurence Raphael Brothers, Christopher Irvin
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Noir (the French word for “black”) began as a Hollywood subgenre depicting hard-boiled, cynical characters in sleazy settings. It’s certainly found a new home in urban fantasy. But is the murky world of noir inherently incompatible with the sleek, shiny surfaces of science fiction? Or as our visions of the fruits of science and technology grow darker, does noir have a future as a main strain of SF?

7:15 PM
Hidden Figures
Carlton · 127 min · Film/TV/Media
As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in African-American female mathematicians, who served as some of the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. This film follows three of these women, known as “human computers, ” as they rose in the ranks of NASA. Alongside many of history’s greatest minds, they were tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. (2016)

7:30 PM
Reading by Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

8:00 PM
The Many Influences on Horror
Deirdre Crimmins, Bracken MacLeod (M), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Vikki Ciaffone
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
If we can discuss fantasy without constantly talking Tolkien, we ought to be able to consider the history of horror without always invoking Lovecraft. What other influences, major or minor, have impacted the growth of horror, generating the genre we know today?

8:00 PM
Creature Creations
Christopher Paniccia
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Author and artist Christopher Paniccia works with kids to help them create their own amazing creatures.

8:00 PM
Group Reading: Cambridge SF Workshop
Heather Albano, James Cambias, F. Brett Cox, Gillian Daniels, Alexander Jablokov, Steven Popkes (M), Kenneth Schneyer, Sarah Smith
Griffin · 90 min · Reading
A rapid-fire reading by the members of the long-running Cambridge SF Workshop, featuring writers Heather Albano, James L. Cambias, F. Brett Cox, Gillian Daniels, Alex Jablokov, Steve Popkes, Ken Schneyer (M), Sarah Smith, and Cadwell Turnbull.

8:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Tom Easton
Tom Easton
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

8:00 PM
Munchkin
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

8:00 PM
Fantasy in Gilbert & Sullivan
Ellen Asher, Greer Gilman, Timothy Liebe, Faye Ringel (M), Daniel P. Dern
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Fandom and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan go back a long way. Isaac Asimov was an avid Savoyard (G&S fan), as have been many other SF/F writers. The operas themselves exemplify — and parody — the tropes of fantasy (Iolanthe), medievalism (Patience), and Gothic horror (Ruddigore, The Sorcerer). Boskone also has special connections with G&S. Why are these Victorian masterpieces still so popular in (and out of) fannish culture?

8:00 PM
Fresh Fantasy Worlds
Gerald L. Coleman, Andrea Corbin, John R. Douglas (M), Marshall Ryan Maresca
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
“High” fantasies in much of western speculative literature lean heavily on the European Middle Ages for inspiration. Pastoral landscapes, Camelottian castles, noble knights, distressed damsels. All much loved — all done to death. (Or killed off by George R. R. Martin.) Why do we still cling to them so? What’s it take to create a fresh fantasy world? Besides European models, what other options are there? And how do you enliven tropes, settings, and situations that have become old hat?

8:30 PM
Jordin Kare Memorial Concert
Mary Kay Kare, Mary Ellen Wessels, Roberta Rogow, Stephen Brinich, Gary Ehrlich, H Paul Shuch, Benjamin Newman, Edie Stern, Priscilla Olson (M), Edward L. Stauff
Marina 1 · 60 min · Event
Join Boskone’s filkers for a very special concert celebrating the life and music of our longtime friend Jordin Kare.

8:45 PM
Opening Ceremony: Meet the Guests
David G. Grubbs (M), Gay Ellen Dennett (M), Catherine Asaro, Mary Robinette Kowal, Craig Miller, Tamora Pierce, Marianne Plumridge, Nat Segaloff
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-fifth, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests. Guest of Honor Mary Robinette Kowal will also say a few words acknowledging our departed friends, including SF icon Ursula K. Le Guin.

9:00 PM
Boskone 55 Reception
Catherine Aaro, Mary Robinette Kowal, Craig Miller, Tamora Pierce, Marianne Plumridge, Nat Segaloff, Gay Ellen Dennett (M), David G. Grubbs (M)
Galleria – Art Show · 120 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
Robo Rally
Harbor I · 180 min · Gaming

9:00 PM
The Truth About Vampiric Folklore
Inanna Arthen
Lewis · 60 min · Solo Talk
Everything you think you know about “traditional” vampires is, probably, (un)dead wrong! We’ll explore what people who really believed in vampires really believed.

9:00 PM
Evolution and Alien Psychology
Stephen P. Kelner Jr.
Marina 3 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Earth is just one tiny speck in the universe, not to mention the multiverse (if that even exists). From planet to planet, life likely starts in different ways and evolves according to its own rules, influences, and experiences. How might different origins lead to the evolution of different types of people, different societies, and different understandings of personhood and psychology?

9:30 PM
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Carlton · 137 min · Film/TV/Media
The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies, and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. (2017)

9:30 PM
Trivia for Chocolate
Mark L. Olson, Priscilla Olson
Marina 4 · 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
Boskone’s 2000s Dance Party
Madeline Lee, Tristan Marks
Harbor II · 120 min · Other
Get your boogie on! Join our Boskone DJs Madeline and Tristan for some late-night dancing.

10:00 PM
Name That Tune: What’s Next?
Vincent Docherty (M), Tim Szczesuil, Denise A. Gendron
Lewis · 60 min · Game Show
How well do you know skiffy TV and movie music? Well enough to keep going when the music stops? Come earn points (and chocolate!) by singing, humming, or speaking what comes next after the live cello or programmed computer music goes silent. Extra credit for being able to identify the movie, characters, or scene associated with the music.

10:00 PM
Open Filking
Marina 1 · 240 min · Filk

SATURDAY

10:00 AM
Feminist Fairy Tales
Jane Yolen, Victoria Sandbrook, Andrea Corbin, Julia Rios (M), E.J. Stevens
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Women frequently serve as the main characters of fairy tales. (Why, by the way?) It’s hard not to notice they’re often presented as victims, or the subjects of a lesson learned. Do any tales instead offer strong female role models? What can modern feminist perspectives contribute when considering stories from so long ago and/or far away?

10:00 AM
The Lego Batman Movie
Carlton · 100 min · Film/TV/Media
A really slick (in fact, plastic) Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to take over Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick. (2017)

10:00 AM
Autographing: J. Kathleen Cheney, Brendan DuBois, Dan Moren, Sarah Smith
Sarah Smith, Brendan DuBois, Dan Moren, J. Kathleen Cheney
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
Drawing Aliens
Gregory Katsoulis (M)
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Join author and animator Gregory Katsoulis for some alien drawing fun!

10:00 AM
Reading by Nat Segaloff
Nat Segaloff
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game
James Cambias (M)
Harbor I · 180 min · Gaming
Game on! Author James Cambias leads a classic game of Dungeons & Dragons as Boskone 55’s Dungeon Master.

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Christine Taylor-Butler
Christine Taylor-Butler
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Watching Westworld
Priscilla Olson, Marianna Martin PhD
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
What makes HBO’s ranchers-and-robots TV show Westworld so amazing — and what insights does the series give us into the development of consciousness? (Warning: There will be SPOILERS if you didn’t see all of Season 1!)

10:00 AM
Jump Drive
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

10:00 AM
Urban Fantasy in the Light
Vikki Ciaffone (M), Hillary Monahan, Leigh Perry, Errick Nunnally, James Moore
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Urban fantasy tends to lurk in the dark corners of a noirish society, down where only the shadows dwell. Must these stories be quite so grim? Why is it always night? Where’s the color and brightness? Why so much black leather? Would the occasional pair of pink pastel pedal pushers get you arrested by the genre police?

10:00 AM
The Future of Medicine
Justin Key, James D. Macdonald (M), M. C. DeMarco, Stacey Berg, Don Pizarro
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Medical advances are, well, advancing by leaps and bounds. What’s new? Will AI administer a booster shot to discovery? And what about those pesky nanites? Our panelists share their favorite new developments in medicine and medical technology. Can SF authors prescribe new ideas to rock the docs’ world?

10:00 AM
Reading by Kristin Janz
Kristin Janz
Independence · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
Filk: I Hear Fandom Singing!
Edie Stern (M), Faye Ringel, Gary Ehrlich, Roberta Rogow
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
Legend has it that “filksinging” originated in a 1950s typo for “folksinging.” Is this origin story true? And has filk, like the Velveteen Rabbit, grown into the real song of the fannish people? Our panel of filk performers and scholars will engage in another traditional practice: arguing over definitions. Cave canem! (Beware, they may sing).

10:00 AM
Writing Workshops & MFA Programs Redux
John Chu, Jeanne Cavelos, James Patrick Kelly (M), Erin Roberts
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Thinking about attending a writing workshop or an MFA program? Wondering how to pick the one that’s right for you? Once you do: then what? There’s no magic formula to elicit an acceptance letter, but a solid application is a good place to start. Join representatives from various writing programs, and learn how to present the best of what you have to offer to win your place.

10:00 AM
Jurassic Park and Dinosaurs v. 5.0
Bob Eggleton, Elise Sacchetti (M), David McDonald, William Hayashi, Michael Swanwick
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Twenty-five years ago, an islandful of dinosaurs tore up the Hollywood box office. Four flicks later (in June, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will make five), these reptile relics continue to slay us. Why is the thought of a dinosaur theme park still so cool? (And by the way, what’s funny about the concept of dinos in space?) More broadly, why would the idea of the prehistoric past colliding with our present/future hold such fascination? And would we be better off letting sleeping saurians lie?

10:00 AM
Boskone Book Club: Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal
Bob Kuhn (M), Mary Robinette Kowal
Marina 3 · 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 historical fantasy Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal (our Guest of Honor). Boskone’s own Bob Kuhn will lead the discussion; Mary Robinette Kowal will join the group halfway through for a Q&A. To participate, please read the book and come ready with your thoughts and questions.

10:00 AM
Technology and the Crisis of Conscience
Pete Hollmer, Karl Schroeder, JeffWarner (M), LJ Cohen, Cady Coleman
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. Characters like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Masamune Shirow’s Major demonstrate some consequences of the headlong pursuit of scientific breakthroughs. What are the real stakes in the playing-god game? Will we use technological advances for good or evil? What will guide us? And how does fiction help inform our ethical dilemmas?

10:30 AM
Reading by Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:30 AM
Reading by Shahid Mahmud
Shahid Mahmud
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Colonialism and the New Space Race
Vandana Singh, Pete Hollmer, Karl Schroeder, William Hayashi, Allen M. Steele (M)
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
European expansion into the American West and other “new frontiers” used to be portrayed as a great adventure — and a civilizing enterprise. For those being invaded, however, colonial expansion has been less pleasant. The Space Act of 2015 allows the commercialization of space by private entities. But if powerful technocrats like Elon Musk use tropes from Westerns to promote Mars exploration, will we venture into space with the same old colonialist attitudes? Or can we learn from history, and approach space exploration with new mindsets?

11:00 AM
Autographing: Jeffrey A. Carver, Theodora Goss, Mary Robinette Kowal, Marshall Ryan Maresca
Mary Robinette Kowal, Jeffrey A. Carver, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Theodora Goss
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter Hats
Mihku Paul
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Join artist and author Mihku Paul for a wonder-filled hat making session.

11:00 AM
Encaustics for Adults
Lisa Hertel
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 120 min · Makers Space
Join artist Lisa Hertel for a fun session of encaustics — the ancient art of painting with wax. This session will run for 2 hours, so please feel free to drop in at any point.

11:00 AM
Welcome to Boskone!
Leslie J. Turek, Laurie Mann
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 60 min · Panel
New to the con? Or returning after a long absence? Join us for a short discussion about what Boskone has to offer. Hear the highlights, learn some lingo, and meet new people who love the same strange things you do — plus some weird new stuff of their own! Then join our docents for a stroll around the con.

11:00 AM
Reading by Scott Lynch
Scott Lynch
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Max Gladstone
Max Gladstone
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Objection! The Game
John P. Murphy
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
The Phoenix Wright series of visual novel adventure videogames has used a blend of science fiction and fantasy tropes to explore ideas about law and justice. What makes a game about lawyers and lawcourts so fun and exciting, and how well does it get its ideas across?

11:00 AM
Star Wars: A New Beginning Reawakens Again
Craig Miller, Nik Korpon (M), Erin Underwood, Garen Daly
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Star Wars: The Last Jedi scored with many, but not all, fans — and broke many, but not all, box office records. Looking back over the SW saga: what’s it all about so far? And looking ahead: will we keep watching after 2019, when Episode IX caps the storyline begun by Luke, Leia, and Han? (Disney, now the franchise owner, says the Wars won’t be over for at least 15 more years.) Whose story do we want to see next? Whom do you ship? What would you skip?

11:00 AM
NESFA Press Guest Interview, Featuring Nat Segaloff
Tim Richmond, Nat Segaloff
Harbor III · 60 min · Interview
Nat Segaloff, our NESFA Press Guest and author of A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison, shares the ups and downs of writing the biography of one of science fiction’s most controversial figures. Hear the tales only Nat can tell as he shares some choice “Harlan stories, ” and touches on other notable figures and experiences in SF, media, and society. Conducting the interview is Tim Richmond, author of Fingerprints on the Sky: The Authorized Harlan Ellison Bibliography. This don’t-miss session may well be the only time these two Ellison experts share a dais.

11:00 AM
Reading by Victoria Sandbrook
Victoria Sandbrook
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Concert: Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Lewis · 60 min · Concert
Come sit and enjoy a special concert with Catherine Asaro, Boskone’s Hal Clement Science Speaker.

11:00 AM
The Art of Character Portraits
Marianne Plumridge, Jonathan Hunt, Vincent Di Fate (M), Christopher Paniccia, Reiko Murakami
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Portraits are difficult to master. The artist must capture the glint in the eye, the tilt of the neck, shadow and light, color and texture, and everything around the subject. Plus, in the speculative art world, not all portraits are of people. How do you portray a fantastic creature when there are no models?

11:00 AM
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the SF Short Story
James Patrick Kelly, Paul Di Filippo, Julie C. Day, Suzanne Palmer, Darrell Schweitzer (M)
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Back in the day, the SF/F/H short was the genre’s centerpiece, economically and artistically. Today SF is a novel business. Or is it? There may be more talented short story writers and ready markets around than ever. Let’s trace the importance and popularity of the short form, and consider how short stories might help shape the genre’s future.

11:00 AM
Black Publishers in SF/F
Christine Taylor-Butler (M), Kenesha Williams, Justin Key, Gerald L. Coleman, Clarence Young
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Science fiction and fantasy work by black writers is thriving. The environment is slowly (but finally) changing, as more publishers, editors, and artists enter the market every day. Our panelists discuss the lay of the land, the challenges of publishing black-themed content, getting shelf space at large and/or independent bookstores, and more.

11:00 AM
CRISPR, Gene Editing, and the Future of Food
David G. Shaw (M), Rajnar Vajra, Kaitlin R. Branch, Kristin Janz, Stacey Berg
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) techniques for gene editing are said to find wide application in the food industry, raising the possibility of food that won’t spoil so fast. Or pigs that carry less harmful fat. Such genetically modified organisms (GMOs) carry considerable promise — plus a fat load of questions about possible consequences. Let’s talk about the future of food.

11:30 AM
Reading by Elizabeth Bear
Elizabeth Bear
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:30 AM
Reading by Janet Catherine Johnston
Janet Catherine Johnston
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:45 AM
Bubblegum Crisis (ep 1): Tinsel City
Carlton · 46 min · Film/TV/Media
A female mercenary team, armed with unique power armor suits, battle the forces of the corrupt mega-corporation Genom in futuristic Tokyo. In this episode 1, The Knight Sabers fight Boomers and encounter AD Officer Leon McNichol. Aqua City is destroyed.

12:00 NOON
Class Structure in SF and Fantasy
Walter Jon Williams, Scott Lynch (M), Kenneth Rogers Jr., Susan Jane Bigelow
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Where’s all the great SF/F about working stiffs? Even if they serve as more than set dressing, working-class heroes often undergo some Cinderella transformation that moves them up in class. What stories succeed in keeping the class and culture of their protagonists intact, treating them seriously and realistically while launching them on their fantastic journeys? Does SF see the preservation of class systems as important, or is it just a tool to keep a good person down?

12:00 NOON
Tour of the Art Exhibit (I)
Joe Siclari, Edie Stern
Galleria – Art Show · 60 min · Docent Tour
Take an informative stroll around the special art exhibit with the curators. You’ll hit the highlights with knowledgeable guides who can indicate points of interest.

12:00 NOON
Autographing: Elizabeth Bear, Elaine Cunningham, Timothy Liebe, Jane Yolen
Elizabeth Bear, Timothy Liebe, Elaine Cunningham, Jane Yolen
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

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

12:00 NOON
Group Reading: Fiction for Kids and Young Adults
Kristy Acevedo, Daniel P. Dern, Erin M. Hartshorn (M), Sarah Jean Horwitz, Justin Key, Trisha Wooldridge
Griffin · 60 min · Reading
Boskone presents a special group reading for lovers of children’s and young adult fiction. Our authors provide a range of stories and topics that are sure to delight and entertain!

12:00 NOON
Game of Thrones: The End Is Nigh!
Priscilla Olson
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Our annual 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 books and we’re nearing the end, does anyone really know what’s in store for the characters we love to hate — and the ones we hate to love? Warning: possible spoilers ahead!

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Jeffrey A. Carver
Jeffrey A. Carver
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: John Langan and James Moore
John Langan, James Moore
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
Moonquake Escape/Leaf Me Alone
Harbor I · 360 min · Gaming

12:00 NOON
A Wizard of Earthsea
Catherine Asaro, Vandana Singh, Robert V.S. Redick, Max Gladstone (M)
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Ursula K. Le Guin’s masterpiece was published 50 years ago. A classic coming-of-age story, A Wizard of Earthsea continues to cast its spell over teens and adults alike. Why is Ged such a compelling character? What makes the story as fresh and appealing today as in 1968? What does it have to say about words, magic, ambition, patience, truth, death? Our panelists share their insights — and favorite parts.

12:00 NOON
It’s Not Always About Sex
Juliana Spink Mills, Darlene Marshall (M), E.J. Stevens, Tamora Pierce, Steven Popkes
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Speculative fiction is filled with friendships that turn into romantic entanglements. Is that all there is? Can’t our characters just have friends, of whatever gender, without hookups and/or heartbreaks? How about we rescue the world from the odd apocalypse or alien invasion, and forget about the sex for a change?

12:00 NOON
How To Write A 10-Minute Play
James Patrick Kelly
Independence · 60 min · Workshop
Author and playwright James Patrick Kelly shares tips and tricks on how to write a short 10-minute play, covering basic structure issues, character development, and timing. Sign-up is required.

12:00 NOON
Song Circle: Space Travel
H Paul Shuch
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Come join us and sing about those far-off spaceflights.

12:00 NOON
Detectives in Urban Fantasy
Leigh Perry, Ginjer Buchanan, Brendan DuBois, Christopher Paniccia (M), Dana Cameron
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Let’s inspect the hard-boiled detectives of Fantasy Town: sorcerous sherlocks, PI wizards for hire, half-dead/half-sidhe gumshoes, and more. How do these eldritch investigators compare to their non-magical peers? To each other? Does magic spoil a reader’s chance of solving the mystery fair and square — or is it just another clue to be sussed out?

12:00 NOON
A Case for Space
Cady Coleman, Janet Catherine Johnston, Jeanne Cavelos, Les Johnson, Vincent Docherty (M)
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Current and former members of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration come together to share their experiences — and perhaps make NASA’s case for expanding the exploration of space. What does it take to work with a team that sends a person into orbit, a man to the moon, and vessels throughout the solar system?

12:00 NOON
The Heart of Horror & Stephen King
Lauren Roy, Kenesha Williams, Paul Tremblay, Jack M. Haringa, Vincent O’Neil (M)
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
The throne of the King of Horror seems more secure than ever, with recent releases including the novel Sleeping Beauties (with his son Owen), and movies based on his work including The Dark Tower, It, Gerald’s Game, and 1922, plus TV series The Mist and Mr. Mercedes — as well as an anniversary reprint of The Stand plus a Christine video short and a collector’s DVD of The Dead Zone. Stephen King revitalized and sustained the horror genre through a rough period of redefinition and rebranding. What is it about his scary stories that’s so compelling? Why do his characters stand out? Which tales will keep our dark little hearts beating faster for years to come?

12:00 NOON
Fan Fiction Is Fun!
Flourish Klink, E. Ardell, Gillian Daniels, M. C. DeMarco, Elise Sacchetti (M)
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Let’s face it: fan fiction is fun. Despite all the good/bad arguments for writing/not writing amateur (or at least, unpaid/unauthorized) fiction about characters from your favorite book/movie/TV show, an extensive/enthusiastic community has grown up around this quirky genre. What is it about fan fiction that we love? (Besides the / (slash) stuff.) Why do we write it/read it? And where can we get some more?

1:00 PM
Fractured Fairy Tales
Theodora Goss, Jack M. Haringa, Dana Cameron (M), J. Kathleen Cheney, Carrie Cuinn
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Perhaps the most piquant part of beloved animated TV series The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (1959–1964) was the dry, sly, wry humor of its “Fractured Fairy Tales” segments. These managed to twist hoary stories into something sparkling new, adding biting satire with just a dash of horror. What’s the charm of these odd little gems? Do kids still watch them? Should they? What else (Shrek) has refreshingly revamped old fairy tales?

1:00 PM
The Original 1936 Flash Gordon: Planet of Adventure!
Movie Mike
Carlton · 200 min · Film/TV/Media
Real 16mm Films with Movie Mike. This is Movie Mike’s new expanded feature, cut from all 13 chapters of the original serial — not the short theatrical or TV versions you may have seen. It tells the whole story in a little over 3 hours, and has never been shown before at any convention. Jump on Dr. Zarkov’s rocket and we’re off to Mongo, the planet of adventure, to battle Ming The Merciless! Meet winged hawkmen and visit their floating sky city. Become a slave shoveling radium into the atom furnaces. Enjoy invisibility, swordplay, and ray guns. Rescue Dale from a dire fate! See dinosaurs and monsters, classic heroism and villainy, plus laughably crude special effects. With wonderful music, costumes, and props, lots of thrills and action, a silly script, and bad acting!

1:00 PM
Autographing: LJ Cohen, Daniel M. Kimmel, E.J. Stevens, Michael Swanwick
Daniel M. Kimmel, Michael Swanwick, LJ Cohen, E.J. Stevens
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

1:00 PM
Kids’ Art Show Tour
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

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

1:00 PM
Guru of the Game Room Tournament

Harbor I · 300 min · Gaming
Join the Boskone gaming tournament — and see if you have what it takes to be named the Guru of the Game Room!

1:00 PM
Long Live the Legion!
Priscilla Olson
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Our yearly though increasingly forlorn salute to DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes. Sigh. Despite several comics reboots over the years, looks like it’s still dea — wait! Up in the TV sky! It’s Supergirl — now with Brainiac 5 and Saturn Girl … Please join us. We’ve got a Legion of stuff to talk about again!

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Steve Berman
Steve Berman
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
The Fantasy Survival Guide
Melanie Meadors (M), Steven Popkes, Craig Shaw Gardner, Elizabeth Bear, Vikki Ciaffone
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Before you set out on that epic fantasy adventure, you should be properly prepared. Our panelists offer a list of “to dos” and “to don’ts” that might come in handy — before and during your epic quest through the wilds where mythic creatures and dangerous beings of yore are said to still dwell. And, with a little luck, you may even return alive …

1:00 PM
Guest of Honor Interview, Featuring Mary Robinette Kowal
Mary Robinette Kowal, Cady Coleman
Harbor III · 60 min · Interview
Professional puppeteer; costumer; voice actor — Mary Robinette Kowal is a multitalented marvel. But she’s here mostly as a Hugo-Award-winning SF/F author with a delightful gift for storytelling. Join us for Boskone’s Guest of Honor hour, conducted by Mary’s good friend (and former astronaut!) Cady Coleman.

1:00 PM
Concert: H Paul Shuch
H Paul Shuch
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

1:00 PM
Reading by Geary Gravel
Geary Gravel
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Remembering Alien Voices
Nat Segaloff
Marina 1 · 60 min · Solo Talk
In the mid-1990s, today’s NESFA Press Guest Nat Segaloff started an SF audio book and live-performance production company — called Alien Voices — with John de Lancie and Leonard Nimoy. Their productions starred many of the two actors’ fellow Star Trek performers. Now, Nat shares specially edited highlights that include rarely seen rehearsal videos. This exceptional presentation offers a unique look at adapting SF from the page to voice or video.

1:00 PM
Faith, Philosophy, and Religion in Speculative Fiction
Rajnar Vajra, Kristin Janz, Janice Gelb (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Inanna Arthen
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Resolved: science fiction, fantasy, and horror are perfect genres in which to explore ideas and philosophies, especially aspects of religion and faith. True? If so or not so, why? And what dangers do we face in creating new religions (*cough* Hubbard), or in these kinds of speculations generally?

1:00 PM
Writing for Children
Tui Sutherland, Bruce Coville, Sarah Jean Horwitz, Gregory Katsoulis (M), Michael Stearns
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
The process you use in writing literature for children, and the elements you need to include, are different from those for YA, teen, or adult fiction. What are those elements? How do you adjust your style? And how do you avoid the ultimate mistake of talking down to a child?

1:00 PM
Mental Illness and Art: Can You Still Create If You’re Cured?
Adam Stemple, Bob Eggleton, David McDonald, Julie Holderman, Hillary Monahan (M)
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Some maintain that mental illness can fuel artistic creativity; others say it’s a hindrance. How do artists struggling with disturbances of the mind manage their illness and sustain their creative spirits? Our panelists share their experiences, interests, and inspirations.

1:30 PM
Reading by Walter Hunt
Walter H. Hunt
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

1:30 PM
Reading by Darlene Marshall
Darlene Marshall
Independence · 30 min · Reading

1:30 PM
Concert: Roberta Rogow
Roberta Rogow
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

2:00 PM
The Golden Age Reconsidered
Fred Lerner, Allen M. Steele (M), Rob Greene, Ellen Asher, Paul Di Filippo
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
How well do Heinlein, Clarke, Asimov, and other Golden Age writers stand up today? Which of their ideas remain at the core of modern SF? What parts of their canon have faded? Why do they continue to be pillars of the genre for some readers? Are they likely to retain that status as times change further?

2:00 PM
Autographing: Kristy Acevedo, Catherine Asaro, Walter H. Hunt, Craig Shaw Gardner
Craig Shaw Gardner, Kristy Acevedo, Catherine Asaro, Walter H. Hunt
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

2:00 PM
Model Magic: Making Monsters
Lisa Hertel
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Artist Lisa Hertel leads kids in a hands-on demo that is kid-friendly and kid-safe, as they create fantastical creatures made of clay.

2:00 PM
Knitting Circle
Edie Stern, Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 60 min · Makers Space
Let us feel each others’ fiber….

2:00 PM
Reading by Vandana Singh
Vandana Singh
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

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

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Marianne Plumridge
Marianne Plumridge
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Learn to Play: Wicked Apples
Brenda Noiseux
Harbor I · 60 min · Gaming
Learn how to play Wicked Apples, the game of strategic chaos! This quick 15-20 minute experience is fun for veteran gamers and folks new to gaming alike. Wicked Apples was the winner of the 2016 Tabletop Audience Choice Award at the Boston Festival of Indie Games.

2:00 PM
Sex and Romance in Young Adult Fiction
Barry Goldblatt, Hillary Monahan, Tamora Pierce, Michael Stearns (M)
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Starting with that talk about when a bird and a bee love each other very much, the most embarrassing topics in teenagerdom have got to be sex and romance. Just as awkward in fiction, these issues demand special sensitivity when writing YA. Who’s ready to read stories with sexual themes? How far is too far? What details are involving but not icky? And will gender diversity that’s fine with 13-year-olds explode half the heads on the school board?

2:00 PM
Breaking the Laws of Magic
Faye Ringel (M), Walter Jon Williams, Julie Holderman, Michael Swanwick, Clarence Young
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Brandon Sanderson, in his First Law of Magics: “An author’s ability to solve conflict with magic is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to how well the reader understands said magic.” George R. R. Martin: “I want hints of the unknowable. I want awe and wonder. I want mystery. I want to discover but also be unsure of what I’m about to encounter. I guess that means I want magic!” Is it important to have a system of magic? Once you’ve defined a given magic system’s limits, is it OK to break them?

2:00 PM
Reading by Kate Baker
Kate Baker
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Writing Filk
Roberta Rogow, Benjamin Newman, Stephen Brinich, M. C. DeMarco (M)
Lewis · 60 min · Panel
What does it take to write a song? Do you start with the music or the lyrics? What do you need to know?

2:00 PM
The Orville vs. Discovery
Timothy Liebe, Christine Taylor-Butler, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (M), Robert Howard, Steve Davidson
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Each show has a vociferous fan base. Why do so few people like both? Is Star Trek: Discovery the heir to Deep Space Nine, or an abandonment of what makes Trek, Trek? Is The Orville an enjoyable homage to the Star Trek universe, or an expensive excuse for Seth MacFarlane to cosplay James T. Kirk? (Or all of the above?) And what can we expect from these shows going forward?

2:00 PM
About Airships
Jeffrey A. Carver, James Cambias
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Although fairly scarce in science fiction since Verne and Burroughs, these fancy flyers have recently gotten a real lift from steampunk. What is an airship? How does it work? Is it really a practical form of travel? Our panelists float some fun facts about the design, mechanics, and sheer romance of the airships of SF and fantasy.

2:00 PM
Beyond Afrofuturism
William Hayashi (M), Gerald L. Coleman, Kenneth Rogers Jr., E. Ardell, Jeff Carroll
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Afrofuturism started as by definition an outsider movement. But like many subgenres of speculative fiction, it has had a direct impact on the development of the larger field. Where is Afrofuturism going? Which authors should we be watching as they branch out into other subgenres? Are Afrofuturistic stories now becoming seen simply as science fiction, fantasy, or horror?

2:00 PM
Myths and Legends in Urban Fantasy
Kenesha Williams, Erin M. Hartshorn, Elaine Cunningham, James Moore (M), Beth Meacham
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Urban fantasy may focus on stories set within cities, but many of these tales come with some sort of mythology or legend at their core. What is it about the mix of ancient mythology and modern city that we find so interesting? How do we blend stories from our rural past into a contemporary cityscape without creating a hot mess?

2:30 PM
Reading by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald
James D. Macdonald, Debra Doyle
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

2:30 PM
Reading by Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Schweitzer
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Modern Marvels
Priscilla Olson (M), Karl Schroeder, Daniel P. Dern, Carrie Cuinn, Geary Gravel
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Our panelists consider their favorite gadgets, and list their Top 10 — including landmark examples from the past, as well as modern gadgets that are currently changing the future.

3:00 PM
Official Artist Art Show Tour
Marianne Plumridge
Galleria – Art Show · 60 min · Docent Tour
Join Boskone 55’s Official Artist in the Art Show to view and discuss the work she has on display.

3:00 PM
Autographing: James Cambias, Dana Cameron, Leigh Perry (Toni Kelner)
Dana Cameron, Leigh Perry, James Cambias
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

3:00 PM
Dragon Stories & Crafts With Tui Sutherland
Tui Sutherland
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Kids join Tui Sutherland to color dragon images, while she talks about the winged beasts and answers questions about writing.

3:00 PM
Reading by C. S. Cooney
S. E. Cooney
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Elizabeth Bear
Elizabeth Bear
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Vandana Singh
Vandana Singh
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
Struggling With Your Writing
Jeanne Cavelos
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
Join Jeanne Cavelos, editor and founder of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, as she sits down to discuss helpful tips and best practices for overcoming obstacles and getting back to writing.

3:00 PM
The Best Science Fictional Worlds
Christian Baines, J. Kathleen Cheney, Paul Di Filippo (M), Robert J. Sawyer, Daniel Hatch
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Star-spanning cultures laced together via nicely working warp drives, cities where teleportation handles everything from personal transport to sewage disposal, drunken arks where cerulean time runs sideways, resorts with molten tungsten rivers flowing lazily uphill past iced lemonade trees — these settings may all be, in fact, totally impossible. But they can still seem functional enough, within a well-written story. How? Why? And what are some of our favorite fantastic planets?

3:00 PM
The Magic of Historical Fantasies
Mary Robinette Kowal, Scott Lynch, Darlene Marshall (M), Beth Meacham, Walter Jon Williams
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Fantasies set in the past are growing ever more popular. Why do we love stepping back in time and sprinkling a little magic into the past? Could these same stories be told in modern times, or would some of that magic be lost? And when changing the workings of the known world by adding magic, is it still important to keep historical details correct?

3:00 PM
Reading by Daniel Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Enhancing Your Musical Performance
Gary Ehrlich, Edward L. Stauff, Mary Ellen Wessels
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
A workshop offering performance hints for aspiring musicians. Find out tips for improving your singing, arranging songs, recruiting other musicians, and more. Experienced performers with tips to share are welcome.

3:00 PM
The State of the Universes
Marianna Martin PhD, Robert Howard, Jack M. Haringa, Errick Nunnally, Brenda Noiseux (M)
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
The Big Bang that set off the media explosion of the DC and Marvel Universes has continued to produce films, television shows, games, and comics at a near exponential rate. Is DC doing better? What’s up with Marvel? From Wonder Woman to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we’ll dish on our favorites as well as the good, the bad, and the ugly released over the last year in our super universes.

3:00 PM
The Scientific Method in SF
Genny Dazzo, Kristin Janz, Justin Key, Kaitlin R. Branch (M), Vincent Docherty
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Scientists abound in science fiction. Do these characters behave like real scientists, the good and the bad? Which authors get it right as they present positive images of scientists, and depict the way they work? The “mad scientist” is a common type in our literature — but is that really the way scientists go wrong?

3:00 PM
Non-Genre Fiction That Inspires Us
Tamora Pierce, Alexander Jablokov, Theodora Goss, F. Brett Cox, Kenneth Schneyer (M)
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
We’re always talking about icons such as Mary Shelley, Stephen King, J. R. R. Tolkien, and others who breathed air into our literary lungs — but what about non-genre fiction? Our panelists discuss some of their favorite authors from outside the SF/F/H field, who have inspired them as writers and readers.

3:00 PM
Supergirl’s Sister
Rob Greene (M), Vikki Ciaffone, Timothy Liebe, Muriel Dr. Mom
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
LGBTQ characters on TV and film are often just sidekicks, and can tend to be one-dimensional. But a few feel like whole and complete people. One such TV standout: Alex Danvers, aka Supergirl’s sister. What makes her character so well-crafted? Has the revelation of her sexuality changed her portrayal, or our perception of who she is? What other examples of strong LGBTQ characters come to mind?

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

3:30 PM
Reading by Walt Williams
Walt Williams
Independence · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
Hugo Award Recommendations: Dramatic Presentations
Bob Devney, Daniel M. Kimmel, Garen Daly, Deirdre Crimmins, Jim Mann (M)
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
What’s the greatest stuff you saw last year? Join us to discuss 2017’s best movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, and more in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Panelists and audience members share their favorites and discover new things to see. Let’s find the hidden gems, and take notes for this year’s Hugo Awards nominations ballots too — they’re due in San Jose soon!

4:00 PM
Autographing: Gerald Coleman. Bruce Coville, Geary Gravel, Bracken MacLeod
Bruce Coville, Geary Gravel, Bracken MacLeod, Gerald L. Coleman
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

4:00 PM
Kids Concert with Mary Ellen Wessels and Gary Ehrlich
Mary Ellen Wessels, Gary Ehrlich
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

4:00 PM
How to Build a Bookcase
Suzanne Palmer
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 90 min · Makers Space
Got books? Need more space? Come see a live demonstration on how to build a bookcase.

4:00 PM
Reading by Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Craig Miller
Craig Miller
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Flourish Klink
Flourish Klink
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
Xenolinguistics
Harbor I · 60 min · Discussion Group
What makes a language alien? Conversely, what makes one human? Topics include speech and other communication modes, rare types of grammars, and fictional alien languages.

4:00 PM
Science Guest Interview, Featuring Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro, E. Ardell
Harbor II · 60 min · Interview
Come get your geek on with Catherine Asaro, Boskone 55’s Hal Clement Science Speaker. Catherine shares her experiences in theoretical chemical physics, as well as her work as a science teacher, coach for nationally ranked math teams, member of the governmental advisory group SIGMA, and Nebula-award-winning SF author.

4:00 PM
Religious Characters in Fiction
Stephen P. Kelner Jr. (M), Max Gladstone, Darlene Marshall, James D. Macdonald
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
What challenges are involved in authentically depicting characters — perhaps like Russell’s Emilio Sandoz, Pratchett’s Brutha, Addison’s Maia, or Wilson’s Alif — for whom religious belief is important? Are SF/F/H audiences accepting of these figures, or resistant? Is it easier to write characters who share your own beliefs, or more difficult (at least to do it well)?

4:00 PM
Reading by John Chu
John Chu
Independence · 30 min · Reading

4:00 PM
Editing Online Magazines
Kate Baker, Shahid Mahmud, Kenesha Williams, Julia Rios, Don Pizarro (M)
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Curating the content of any online periodical comes with its own special opportunities and challenges. Our experienced panelists share what it takes to pull an online magazine together — and how the process may differ from life on Planet Print. They’ll also take a look at some of the newest and best zines now online.

4:00 PM
Comics for Young Adults and Teens
Tui Sutherland, Elise Sacchetti, Barry Goldblatt, Robert Howard (M), Josh Dahl
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
From Runaways to Ms. Marvel, Paper Girls, and more, comics for young adults are booming. Let’s look at some famously must-read YA comics, as well as publications just hitting the shelves that are not to be missed. What is it about YA comics that capture the imagination — especially of teen readers?

4:00 PM
Clothing That Creates Character
Suford Lewis (M), Janet Catherine Johnston, Mary Robinette Kowal, J. Kathleen Cheney, Elizabeth Bear
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Characters don’t wear costumes; they wear clothing. What’s the right raiment for the right person? Think about the style statements made by James Bond, Brienne, Doctor Manhattan, Gandalf, Kip Russell, Josephus Miller, Offred, Diana Prince, Alexia Tarabotti, or Jane Vincent. Our fashionistas discuss some of spec fic’s fashion faux pas, as well as some truly ingenious choices of garments for our favorite fictional characters.

4:00 PM
Ensemble Casts and Continuing Characters
C. Ambrose, Kenneth Schneyer, E.J. Stevens, Debra Doyle, Ginjer Buchanan (M)
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Some well-written spec fic features ensemble casts where the secondary characters are as interesting as the leads. What are the guidelines for creating great supporting roles? How do these people (or aliens, AIs, disembodied demons, etc.) fascinate despite less face time? Do they get more freedom to be themselves, while main characters must be all things to all audiences? Which secondaries deserve (or have received) their own spin-off stories?

4:30 PM
Reading by Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

4:30 PM
Reading by Andrea Corbin
Andrea Corbin
Independence · 30 min · Reading

4:30 PM
Concert: Benjamin Newman
Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

5:00 PM
The Year in Astronomy and Physics
Mark L. Olson (M), Jeff Hecht, Catherine Asaro, Rajnar Vajra
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!

5:00 PM
Autographing: Jon Hunt, Scott Lynch, Tamora Pierce, Walter Jon Williams
Tamora Pierce, Scott Lynch, Walter Jon Williams, Jonathan Hunt
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

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

5:00 PM
Group Reading: Broad Universe
Heather Albano, LJ Cohen, E. C. Ambrose (M), Roberta Rogow
Griffin · 60 min · Reading
Join members of Broad Universe — a nonprofit association dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and promoting female authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror — as they read tidbits of works and works in progress. Celebrate 17 years of “Broads” with Elaine Isaak, Heather Albano, Roberta Rogow, LJ Cohen, and more!

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Michael Swanwick
Michael Swanwick
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Governmental Structures in SF/F
Susan Jane Bigelow, Vandana Singh, Daniel Hatch (M), Nik Korpon, Timothy Liebe
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
How do we construct systems of governance in SF/F literature, TV, and films? Why are so many of them imperial and/or totalitarian, or (even more likely) corporatocracies? Is there an ideal government? From the Federation Council to the Republic/Imperial Senate to Honor Harrington’s Star Kingdom constitutional monarchy, are there any we’d actually want to live under? Can SF/F invent or inspire a better government?

5:00 PM
Electronic Evolution: Is Skynet Here Yet?
John P. Murphy, Jeanne Cavelos, John Chu, Jeffrey A. Carver, Allen M. Steele (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
“Finding English inadequate, the AIs began communicating to each other in their own incomprehensible language.” So that happened. At Facebook last year … However, the humans didn’t actually shut them down in a panic. Let’s explain, and discuss the actual state of artificial intelligence development. Is AI’s creating language a big step? In a right direction? (Like, self-directed evolution?) Also: What else is new? What’s cool? What could happen soon? Never?

5:00 PM
Workshop: Writing Comics
Josh Dahl
Independence · 60 min · Workshop
Comics artist and author Josh Dahl gives a short workshop on the ins and outs of writing comics. This is not an in-depth session, but it will cover the high points and basics for those interested in learning what it takes. Sign-up is required.

5:00 PM
Song Circle: Dragons and Dragoons!
Edward L. Stauff
Lewis · 60 min · Filk

5:00 PM
Border of the Unknown
Theodora Goss, Errick Nunnally (M), Trisha Wooldridge, Dana Cameron, Gerald L. Coleman
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Much fine fantastika involves crossing the boundary between the known and the unknown — especially that uneasy border between the village and the trees. Let’s look at the long history of that great unknown, the enchanted forest. Why has it pushed and pulled at people’s imaginations since ancient times? To find out, let’s stroll away from safety and into the woods, as the liminal light fades and the shadows gather all under the boughs unbowed …

5:00 PM
How to Get Rejected Redux
Kate Baker, Steve Davidson (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Ginjer Buchanan, John R. Douglas
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Last year, our panelists provided a down-and-dirty look at the best ways to get your manuscript tossed into a publisher’s round file. We traded a few stories and had a few laughs. Surely, there are even more ways to get roundly rejected by agents, editors, and publishers!

5:00 PM
Spiritual Animals
Mihku Paul, Christopher Irvin (M), Tui Sutherland, Beth Meacham, E.J. Stevens
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Animals in SF/F/H aren’t all just lazy lap dogs or cozy cats. Dæmons and familiars, patronuses and spirit animals — these creatures often play subtly influential roles in the lives of main characters. Why do some animals assume such importance? Have their roles changed over time? Is over-anthropomorphizing a concern? Our panelists discuss our furry, feathered, and scaled friends in all of their glory.

5:00 PM
Frankenstein 200 Years Later
John Langan (M), F. Brett Cox, Steve Berman, Faye Ringel, Bracken MacLeod
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
It’s still alive! In 1818, Mary Shelley stitched together a bone-chilling tale of dread and science, and created a monster — whose humanity cut as deeply as Dr. Frankenstein’s knife. This Promethean fiction has inspired authors, fans, and scientists ever since. (Though is it better remembered than read?) What challenges did Shelley face in bringing her story to print? What would she think of her effect on literature over the last two centuries? After all these years, let’s find out what makes this tale tick.

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

6:00 PM
Reading by Paul DiFilippo
Paul Di Filippo
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Julia Rios
Julia Rios
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Craig Shaw Gardner
Craig Shaw Gardner
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
NMBR 9
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

6:00 PM
Reading by Pete Hollmer
Pete Hollmer
Independence · 30 min · Reading

6:00 PM
Drones
H Paul Shuch
Marina 1 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Drones are a growing part of life in the modern world. Paul Schuh takes us through what role they play (and may play in the future) in our society, the problems and benefits they provide, and the rules and regulations surrounding the operation of these high-flying devices.

6:00 PM
Jewish Havdalah Service
Marina 2 · 60 min · Other
Service ending the Sabbath.

6:00 PM
What Good Is an Agent?
Joshua Bilmes, Barry Goldblatt, Richard Shealy, Erin M. Hartshorn (M), Hillary Monahan
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Everybody wants an agent — but why? What’s the big deal? Sure they can help you make contacts with publishers, but is that their only purpose? What else can or should an agent do for you? How do you know when your agent isn’t really working out? How do you transition between agents without burning bridges?

6:15 PM
Cowboy Bebop
Carlton · 100 min · Film/TV/Media
The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners. (2001)

6:30 PM
Tiptree Bake Sale @ Boskone
Diane Martin
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 60 min · Event
The Boskone Bake Sale benefits the James Tiptree Jr. Award, an annual literary prize for speculative fiction that expands or explores our understanding of gender. The sale is held on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (or until we sell all the food). Please consider bringing something to be sold: all non-refrigerated foods are welcome (particularly those that also suit dietary restrictions — e.g. gluten, lactose, egg-free). If you are thinking of donating, please drop off at 6:00 pm or during the sale itself! If you are planning to donate some treats, or if you would like to volunteer to help with the bake sale, please contact us at bdiane@gmail.com.

6:30 PM
Boskone Book Party
Erin Underwood (M), Nat Segaloff, Les Johnson, James Patrick Kelly, E. C. Ambrose, Jane Yolen, Robert V.S. Redick, Christopher Paniccia, Kenneth Rogers Jr., Walter H. Hunt, Adam Stemple, Kristy Acevedo, Christopher Irvin, Rob Greene
Galleria – Stage · 60 min · Event
Come join the fun at Boskone 55’s Book Party — and meet the presses and authors who have new books coming out at the con! This is your chance to see what’s new from writers you already love, as well as those you have yet to discover.

6:30 PM
Munchkin
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

7:00 PM
Kids Open Programming
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair

7:00 PM
A Musical Tour of John Williams’ Classics on Cello
Denise A. Gendron
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Cellist Denise Gendron takes us on a musical tour of some of John Williams’ most memorable movie tunes from Star Wars to Jaws, ET, and more!

8:00 PM
Invaders from Mars (1953) — and More!
Movie Mike
Carlton · 115 min · Film/TV/Media
16mm Films in the Evening with Movie Mike. Only the kid knows that they’ve landed and burrowed in behind the house. They’ve taken over his mommy and daddy and the police via brain control radio. It’s a paranoid child’s nightmare of alienation, directed by William Cameron Menzies, with Leif Erickson, Hillary Brooke, and little Jimmy Hunt. Milburn Stone (Doc from Gunsmoke) is the tough old colonel who saves the day. Note the lovely stark effectiveness of the police station scene, and the brilliant use of stock military footage for epic effect. Don’t miss the zippers on the backs of the huge Martian mutants as they shuffle through the underground tunnels of their secret base. And those “raygun-melted” tunnel walls are clusters of balloons: notice they stir in the breeze. Menzies excelled at design, and this film is beautifully composed and shot, with good props, sets, and costumes. This movie runs 78 minutes, so we’ll add a condensed version of This Island Earth that includes the flying saucer trip, space war on the planet Metaluna, and that big insect mutant — all good stuff you will like.

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

8:00 PM
Open Mic: Myths & Legends!
Elaine Cunningham (M), Kenneth Schneyer (M), Lauren Roy, C. S. E. Cooney, Carlos Hernandez, Gabriel Erkard, E. Ardell, Benjamin Newman, Roberta Rogow, Don Pizarro, Trisha Wooldridge, Mary Ellen Wessels, Edward L. Stauff
Galleria – Stage · 60 min · Event
Live from Boskone: A special selection of tall tales as told by our program participants — plus audience members. All show off their open mic skills in the third annual Boskone Open Mic extravaganza. This year features the myths and legends of yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Each participant contributes his/her most legendary performance — a 5-minute story, poem, song, skit, interpretive dance, or whatever! OPTIONAL: For extra appeal, feel free to come dressed as your favorite mythic or legendary character.

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. Please no profanity: DragonsLair is within hearing distance.

8:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Timothy Liebe
Timothy Liebe
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

8:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Brendan DuBois
Brendan DuBois
Harbor I · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

8:00 PM
Bang: The Dice Game
Harbor I · 60 min · Gaming

8:00 PM
Saturday Night Special Event: Boskone Awards and Rapid-Fire Theater
Bruce Coville, Gay Ellen Dennett, David G. Grubbs (M), Bob Kuhn, Laurie Mann, Mihku Paul, Michael Sharrow, Jane Yolen, Ginjer Buchanan, Fred Lerner, Tui Sutherland, Jen Gunnels, Erin Roberts, Christine Taylor-Butler, William Hayashi, Nat Segaloff, Daniel M. Kimmel
Harbor II+III · 120 min · Event
Saturday night’s presentation is a fast-paced theatrical extravaganza, featuring a set of mini-shows that resemble live-action podcasts (akin to a science fiction variety show with a short awards ceremony, an interview, a game show, and an original radio show with aliens). This special Saturday night program has something for every fan. Hosted by Boskone’s very own David G. Grubbs.

• 8:00 pm — The Boskone Chorale: Ed Stauff leads the chorale in Jordin Kare’s “Fire in the Sky.”
• 8:10 p.m. — NESFA Awards Presentation: The New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) presents its 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. We will also be announcing the winner of the NESFA Short Story Contest.
• 8:40 p.m. — Special Interview: The Rapid-Fire Theater continues with a short interview, featuring bestselling children’s author Tui Sutherland.
• 9:05 p.m. — What’s My Name: Panelists race against the clock in a science fictional guessing game that somewhat resembles “What’s My Line?” as a panel of experts try to identify the characters being portrayed.
• 9:45 p.m. — Boskone Radio Play: Boskone’s Rapid-Fire Theater comes to an out-of-this-world conclusion with a short adapted radio play by Nat Segaloff about humanity’s first contact with aliens.

8:00 PM
Reading by Carter Roy (Michael Stearns)
Michael Stearns
Independence · 30 min · Reading

8:00 PM
Beyond Pokemon Go: Writing For Augmented Reality Games
Heather Albano
Marina 1 · 60 min · Solo Talk
Location-based augmented reality games are becoming increasingly popular in the mobile marketplace, and their unique structure offers new and exciting storytelling opportunities to writers and game designers alike. But AR games are not the first to incorporate the real world as a design element; live action roleplaying games have been doing this for decades. Veteran LARP designer Heather Albano will discuss how the best practices of live action design are being applied to early augmented reality games right now, and how game writers can leverage these design principles to create memorable (and successful!) AR games in the near future.

8:00 PM
Farm to Table in Space
Diane Martin (M), David G. Shaw, Carrie Cuinn, Muriel Dr. Mom
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
“Farm to table” is a modern social movement that promotes serving local food acquired directly from the farmer, but also encourages coming together and bonding over a meal. Fantasy often depicts these kinds of scenes, in taverns or mead halls: but what about science fiction? How does the mess hall on a spaceship compare to the warm, welcoming mead hall — or is something lost in translation?

8:30 PM
Reading by Kevin McLaughlin
Kevin McLaughlin
Independence · 30 min · Reading

9:00 PM
Power Grid
Harbor I · 180 min · Gaming

9:00 PM
Open Filking
Lewis · 240 min · Filk

9:00 PM
Soup to Nuts: The Life Cycle of a Book
Joshua Bilmes, Richard Shealy (M), Pete Hollmer, Susan Jane Bigelow, J. Kathleen Cheney
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
What is the life cycle of a book, from completion to publication? Our panel of agents, editors, and authors share advice on everything from querying an agent or an editor to dealing with revision requests, reviewing the contract, maintaining the relationship between editor and agent, and more.

9:15 PM
Group Reading: Noir at the Boskone Bar — Special Edition
Christopher Irvin (M), Errick Nunnally (M), Paul Tremblay, John Langan, Dana Cameron, Nik Korpon, Gillian Daniels, Bracken MacLeod, Leigh Perry
Galleria – Stage · 90 min · Reading
Noir at the Boskone Bar is a special night of reading and fun with our noir, crime, mystery, and horror writers. Hosted by Chris Irvin and Errick Nunnally.

10:00 PM
Minneapolis Music Meet-up
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Adam Stemple
Burroughs · 60 min · Filk
In 2029, somewhere on the Mexican border, a worn-down, weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X. However, Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives — pursued by dark forces. (2017)

10:00 PM
Dublin Late Night Meet Up
Galleria Meet Up Spot · 90 min · Discussion Group
Join the Dublin 2019 Worldcon team for a meet up in the Galleria for some Irish snacks and music.

10:00 PM
Logan
Carlton · 137 min · Film/TV/Media
In 2029, somewhere on the Mexican border, a worn-down, weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X. However, Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives — pursued by dark forces. (2017)

SUNDAY

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

9:30 AM
Reading by Suzanne Palmer
Suzanne Palmer
Independence · 30 min · Reading

9:30 AM
Flash Fiction Slam
Rob Greene (M), James Patrick Kelly, Shahid Mahmud, Vikki Ciaffone, Jen Gunnels
Marina 4 · 90 min · Reading
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 by sending an email to program@boskone.org for one of eight (8) reading slots on a first-come, first-served basis. Or sign up onsite at Program Ops in the Harbor Foyer for one of three (3) at-con openings. A waiting list will also be available.

10:00 AM
Hugo Award Recommendations: Written Works
Bob Devney (M), Jim Mann, Vincent Docherty
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
What were your favorite SF/F/H novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, related works, and graphic stories of 2017? Panelists and members share their favorites and discover new things to read. Let’s find the hidden gems and take notes for this year’s Hugo Awards nominations ballots too — they’re due in San Jose soon!

10:00 AM
Godzilla: Final Wars
Carlton · 125 min · Film/TV/Media
The 50th-anniversary Godzilla film. Godzilla travels around the world to fight his old foes — plus a mysterious new menace designated Monster X. (2004)

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

10:00 AM
Autographing: Kevin McLaughlin, James Moore, Robert V.S. Redick, Nat Segaloff
Nat Segaloff, James Moore, Robert V.S. Redick, Kevin McLaughlin
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Joshua Bilmes
Joshua Bilmes
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Les Johnson
Les Johnson
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Creating a Franken-Story
Kenesha Williams
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Kids work with author Kenesha Williams as they create and stitch together a scary original story.

10:00 AM
Reading by Ken Schneyer
Kenneth Schneyer
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
Lords of Waterdeep
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

10:00 AM
Life in Space
Stacey Berg, Cady Coleman, Mary Robinette Kowal
Harbor II · 60 min · Dialog
What does it take to become an astronaut? What’s it like to live in space? These questions and many more will get answered by astronaut Cady Coleman. Cady sits with science fiction writers Mary Robinette Kowal and Stacey Berg, who ask her everything you ever wanted to know about life in space.

10:00 AM
Official Artist Interview with Marianne Plumridge
Marianne Plumridge, Tim Szczesuil
Harbor III · 60 min · Interview
Join Marianne Plumridge for a special discussion in which our Official Artist talks about the creative process, life, and art — including her own work, from Rocket Doodles, cosmic whales, and Dreamboats to Birds ‘n’ Bots and beyond.

10:00 AM
Reading by Lauren Roy
Lauren Roy
Independence · 30 min · Reading

10:00 AM
The History of Filk
Mary Kay Kare, Stephen Brinich, Edward L. Stauff (M), Denise A. Gendron
Lewis · 60 min · Filk
Filk: What is it? Where did it come from? Panelists share the history of science fiction’s musical art form.

10:00 AM
The Forgotten Topics in YA Fiction
Melanie Meadors (M), Gregory Katsoulis, Kenneth Rogers Jr.,  Carlos Hernandez
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
Young adult fiction panels often focus on what makes a believable teenage character, young love, or great teen hero. But there’s so much more to explore! What about stereotypical teen behavior? Villains? Reality versus fiction? Let’s spread the net wide. This is our chance to dish on the topics that get the least airtime.

10:00 AM
Sound and Fury: Storytelling in Audio Drama
Bruce Coville, Kate Baker, C. S. E. Cooney, Bob Kuhn (M), Timothy Liebe
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
How do you tell a story when all you have is the sound of your voice? Learn tips and tricks for setting the scene, showing action, and building character — aided by music and sound effects!

10:00 AM
NESFA Reading Group: The Dark Apostle: Elisha Barber 1 by E. C. Ambrose
Michael Sharrow (M), E. C. Ambrose
Marina 3 · 60 min · Discussion Group
The NESFA Reading Group meets to discuss their next book of choice — The Dark Apostle: Elisha Barber 1 by E. C. Ambrose. Join us for a conversation led by NESFA’s Mike Sharrow; Boskone’s own E.C. Ambrose will join the group halfway through for a Q&A. To participate, please read the book and come ready with your observations and questions.

10:30 AM
Reading by Theodora Goss
Theodora Goss
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

10:30 AM
Reading by Max Gladstone
Max Gladstone
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Fantasy and Folklore in Shakespeare
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Greer Gilman, Jeanne Beckwith PhD, Debra Doyle (M), Gillian Daniels
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Shakespeare didn’t just write histories, romances, and comedies. He was also a master at drawing on folk sources, and creating compelling fantasy fictions. Let’s consider the fantastic side of Shakespeare: his characters, his stories, and the magic within his writing.

11:00 AM
Autographing: Robert J. Sawyer, Carter Roy (Michael Stearns), Allen M. Steele
Allen M. Steele, Robert J. Sawyer, Michael Stearns
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Nat Segaloff
Nat Segaloff
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Beth Meacham
Beth Meacham
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Deconstruct an Accordion!
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Help take apart an old accordion to see how it’s constructed!

11:00 AM
Reading by Mary Robinette Kowal
Mary Robinette Kowal
Griffin · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Marketing Uphill
Melanie Meadors, Alexander Jablokov (M), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Joshua Bilmes, Craig Miller
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Sometimes marketing for writers feels like walking uphill to school barefoot in the snow. Does it ever get easier? At what point is enough enough for you and your social network? What about live events? How much should you invest, and how do you measure the return? Our panelists share their experiences and tips for managing your marketing.

11:00 AM
Living With Climate Change
Vandana Singh, Vincent Docherty (M), Robert V.S. Redick, Les Johnson, Laurie Mann
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
The last year has seen an onslaught of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, and more. Birds and mammals are altering their migration patterns. Insects, fish, and plants are showing up where they’ve not been seen before. It feels like an apocalyptic novel. But it’s just what we get to live with, in an age of shifting global climate. Let’s put efforts to reverse things aside. Without becoming too doomy or gloomy — with our natural world in flux, what can we expect next? How do we prepare for changes to come? What steps can we as individuals take to adjust to our changing world?

11:00 AM
Reading by John P Murphy
John P. Murphy
Independence · 30 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Song Circle: Moldy Oldies
Stephen Brinich
Lewis · 60 min · Filk

11:00 AM
The Visual Language of Art
Bob Eggleton, Marianne Plumridge, Vincent Di Fate, Joe Siclari (M), Reiko Murakami
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
A picture is worth a thousand words. Whether you’re looking at a painting by Rembrandt van Rijn or by Boris Vallejo, it captures a moment of time and tells a story about it. Let’s consider some of our favorite paintings — past and present, mainstream and speculative — to discuss what they say, how they say it, and why we love them.

11:00 AM
The Future of Work
Karl Schroeder, James Cambias, Mark L. Olson (M), Jeff Hecht, B. Diane Martin
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
How has innovation — changing technologies, new digital platforms, advanced AIs — altered the fundamental nature of work? While humans may always have a place in the labor hierarchy, just where will we find ourselves on the food chain? Is there room for everyone? Specifically, how will technology eliminate current jobs and enable new ones?

11:00 AM
Horror and Humor
James Moore, Lauren Roy, Craig Shaw Gardner, Don Pizarro (M), Marianna Martin PhD
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
That’s awfully funny! Horror and humor may be strange bedfellows, but the two genres can combine in surprisingly complementary ways. How can you best weave them together into a terribly amusing tale? And why do they work so well together?

11:00 AM
LGBTQ Elements in Speculative Fiction
Steve Berman (M), John Chu, Susan Jane Bigelow, Christian Baines, Julia Rios
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Where are all the LGBTQ characters in SF/F/H? They may exist — but are often relegated to secondary or background status. What can we do to elevate them to main characters? Our panelists cite some of the best LGBTQ speculative fictions being published, and what makes these pieces stand out. Generally, what authors and publishers should we be following?

11:30 AM
Reading by Julie Holderman
Julie Holderman
Independence · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Jennifer Pelland (M), Vandana Singh, Kenesha Williams, Scott Lynch, Marshall Ryan Maresca
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Octavia Butler’s prescient dystopian novel Parable of the Sower was written 25 years ago. Set in the 2020s, it presents a society beset by climate change, social and economic collapse, corporate greed, wealth inequality … need we go on? What did Butler’s masterpiece get right — and wrong? How do her beleaguered characters cope? And what can the novel teach us today?

12:00 NOON
Autographing: E. Ardell, John Langan, Christine Taylor-Butler
Ardell, John Langan, Christine Taylor-Butler
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Walter Jon Williams
Walter Jon Williams
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
Kaffeeklatsch: Hilary Monahan
Hillary Monahan
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 NOON
The Accordion Autopsy
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Discussion Group
Come join us for a discussion and dissection of an old accordion that has seen better days.

12:00 NOON
Magic Show for Kids
Daniel P. Dern
Galleria · 60 min · Children – DragonsLair
Daniel Dern brings back his DragonsLair magic show for Boskone’s children!

12:00 NOON
Comics and Cookies
Josh Dahl, Brenda Noiseux
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 60 min · Discussion Group
Bring your cookies and your favorite DC Rebirth comics, and chat with fellow fans about the new stories being told.

12:00 NOON
Stories for Themed Anthologies
Tom Easton, Julia Rios (M), Erin Underwood, Elaine Cunningham, Clarence Young
Griffin · 60 min · Panel
The growing popularity of themed anthologies is creating new life for short fiction. Editing and writing for these collections, however, can be tricky. How do you find the right stories? To what extent do you edit? And what kind of anthology would we all like to see?

12:00 NOON
Lego Robotics Demo & Programming
Michael Sharrow (M), Chris Ernenwein, Siavesh Safarizadeh, Matt Brown, Dan Gessel, Chenyu Lin, Karl Twelker
Harbor I · 180 min · Event
Have you ever wanted to build a robotic arm? A remote controlled racer? A mechanical monster of doom? Here’s your chance! Using Lego NXT kits, we will build the project of your dreams. Guaranteed to destroy Jupiter! (Scale model of Jupiter not included.) Designed for members from age 10 to adult.

12:00 NOON
Ticket to Ride: Rails and Sails
Harbor I · 180 min · Gaming

12:00 NOON
Munchkin
Harbor I · 120 min · Gaming

12:00 NOON
Everybody’s a Critic. No, Really.
Fred Lerner (M), Deirdre Crimmins, David McDonald, Darrell Schweitzer, Gillian Daniels
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
From Goodreads to Rotten Tomatoes to social media, a vast chatterverse of opinions instantly rates any story, book, movie, game, song, or con panel you might wish to experience. Where can you find the best reviews? How can you tell quickly if a given review is worthwhile? If you opine yourself, how can you make sure your own hot take stays cool?

12:00 PM
Reading by Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce
Harbor III · 60 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
Reading by Les Johnson
Les Johnson
Independence · 30 min · Reading

12:00 NOON
Song Circle: Myths and Legends
Mary Ellen Wessels, Edward L. Stauff
Lewis · 60 min · Filk

12:00 NOON
Dark Fantasy for Children/YA
Adam Stemple (M), Sarah Jean Horwitz, Tui Sutherland, Jane Yolen, Gabriel Erkard
Marina 1 · 60 min · Panel
How dark is too dark when it comes to dark fantasy and horror for younger readers? Is there an invisible line in the sand? Should we provide kids with more happy endings? And what draws them to these stories in the first place … even when none of the characters are children?

12:00 NOON
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
William Hayashi, Robert J. Sawyer, Steven Popkes (M), Laurie Mann, Eric Van
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Fifty years ago, 2001: A Space Odyssey stormed the screens and bookstores of the science fiction and science worlds. (Clarke’s book and Stanley Kubrick’s film were developed concurrently, based on Clarke’s 1951 short story “The Sentinel”; both men worked at writing both; the movie was actually released first.) As icons of the genre, these works transformed the way people think about science fiction, space, AIs, and more. Where are we 50 years later? Is 2001 still the classic it was? Do the science and story still hold up? What did it tell us about our future, and are we there yet?

12:00 NOON
Women Who Write Science Fiction
LJ Cohen, Victoria Sandbrook (M), Catherine Asaro, Erin Roberts, Marianna Martin PhD
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
Mary Shelley, Leigh Brackett, Ursula K. Le Guin, Connie Willis, N. K. Jemisin — women have been in the thick of writing science fiction for a very long time. Let’s discuss some of their landmark publications that captured our imagination. Why do we love these stories? What works should we look for the next time we’re browsing the shelves?

12:00 NOON
“Realistic” Hackers
John P. Murphy (M), Walt Williams, Dan Moren, Laurence Raphael Brothers
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
Computer hackers are often depicted as genius young criminals who work in their parents’ basements, as guys who are nonconforming loners, as sexy quirky girls who rock killer glasses. The truth is far more complex. Let’s hack the hacker mythology, and debunk the creepy caricatures we see on TV and read about in books. Are there any good examples out there of hacker characters who are realistically portrayed?

12:15 PM
Bubblegum Crisis (ep 2-4)
Carlton · 92 min · Film/TV/Media
A female mercenary team, armed with unique power armor suits, battles the forces of the corrupt mega-corporation Genom in futuristic Tokyo. The episodes are entitled “Born to Kill,” “Blow Up,” and “Revenge Road.”

12:30 PM
Reading by James Moore
James Moore
Independence · 30 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Something Old/New/Borrowed/Blue
Fred Lerner, Paul Di Filippo, Geary Gravel, Edie Stern (M), Michael Swanwick
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
Expand your to-be-read list, as well as your horizons. Our intrepid panelists will recommend a classic SF book, a current SF book, something brought in from outside SF that is a must-read — and, if they wish, something sexy as well!

1:00 PM
Autographing: Auston Habershaw, Christopher Paniccia, Max Gladstone
Christopher Paniccia, Auston Habershaw, Max Gladstone
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Paul Tremblay
Paul Tremblay
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Jack Haringa
Jack M. Haringa
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Afrofuturism Group Reading
William Hayashi (M), Kenesha Williams, Errick Nunnally, Christine Taylor-Butler, Clarence Young
Griffin · 60 min · Reading
Boskone’s Afrofuturism Reading features a wide selection of authors who come together for this special group reading.

1:00 PM
Neil Gaiman Anniversary Reads
Jane Yolen, Justin Key, John Langan, Trisha Wooldridge, Bracken MacLeod (M)
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
It’s a notable year for Neil Gaiman, with publication anniversaries for his engaging, ironic dark fantasies The Graveyard Book (10th) and The Ocean at the End of the Lane (5th) — plus from his lighter side, Don’t Panic: The Official Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion (30th). Let’s gab about his novels and stories, comics and characters, movies and TV adaptations and rock-star aura.

1:00 PM
Boskone Special Guest Talk by Craig Miller
Craig Miller
Harbor III · 60 min · Solo Talk
Join us for a fascinating talk by Craig Miller, a well-known and respected writer/producer with over 300 credits to his name. Craig will discuss his experiences in the film industry, and treat us to a Lucasfilm look at the production of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

1:00 PM
Turning a Short Story Into a Play
Jeanne Beckwith PhD
Independence · 60 min · Discussion Group
Got a story that would be great on the stage? Don’t know where to start? Step through the process with playwright Jeanne Beckwith in this Boskone workshop on how to turn a short story into a stage play. Participants are welcome to bring a short story of their choice to the workshop.

1:00 PM
Concert: Gary Ehrlich
Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

1:00 PM
Building BIG Structures in Space
Les Johnson
Marina 1 · 60 min · Solo Talk
When we think of our future in space, we need to think big. After all, space elevators, space solar power stations, and kilometer-scale solar sails aren’t exactly small. How will we build these big space structures? And do the materials we will need exist today? (Have you heard of graphene? If not, then you will!)

1:00 PM
Weird Science and Odd Inventions
James Cambias, John P. Murphy (M), Julie C. Day, David G. Shaw, Jeff Carroll
Marina 2 · 60 min · Panel
Sometimes ideas sound better in your head! Scientific discovery and invention can take strange and unexpected turns when creativity is let loose. Fortunately, some of the end products turn out to be truly remarkable. Our panelists discuss their favorite unusual inventions and surprising scientific discoveries.

1:00 PM
Igniting the STEM Literary Movement
Kathleen Cheney, Catherine Asaro, Kaitlin R. Branch, Brenda Noiseux (M), Cady Coleman
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
There’s a growing focus in education on bringing more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into the classroom. Stories with strong STEM components are being written for children and young adults. But how do we attract younger readers’ attention, and build greater interest in this literature? Participants share their ideas and invite suggestions from the audience.

1:00 PM
Resurrecting Superman
Dan Moren (M), Marianna Martin PhD, David McDonald, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Robert Howard
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
How do you kill a Kryptonian so he stays dead? Odds are, we’re not about to find out … While dead may be dead in at least a few cases, most comic book / movie superheroes have an uncanny knack for survival — thanks to their power of super takesies-backsies. What do life and death really mean in a genre where The End is probably just A New Beginning?

1:30 PM
Concert: Mary Ellen Wessels & Ed Stauff
Mary Ellen Wessels, Edward L. Stauff
Lewis · 30 min · Filk

2:00 PM
Ending a Series
C. Ambrose (M), Marshall Ryan Maresca, Debra Doyle, Walter H. Hunt, Sarah Smith
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
After writing three novels (or more!), how do you pull all your loose ends together to provide a satisfying conclusion? What are readers looking for in the final book of a series? And if you leave openings for another triptych or two, can it really feel like The End?

2:00 PM
Autographing: Sarah Jean Horwitz, Christopher Irvin, Vandana Singh
Christopher Irvin, Vandana Singh, Sarah Jean Horwitz
Galleria · 60 min · Autographing

2:00 PM
Tea With Mary (Kaffeeklatsch: Mary Robinette Kowal)
Mary Robinette Kowal, Erin Underwood (M)
Galleria – Con Suite · 60 min · Kaffeeklatsch
Join Boskone’s Guest of Honor for tea in the Con Suite. (Requires Kaffeeklatsch sign-up at Program Ops in the Harbor Foyer.)

2:00 PM
Group Reading: Stonecoast MFA
James Patrick Kelly (M), Theodora Goss (M), Julie C. Day, Kaitlin R. Branch, Mihku Paul, E. Ardell
Griffin · 60 min · Reading
Come hear the literary stylings of the Stonecoast MFA alumni, students, and faculty who have come together for this special group reading at Boskone.

2:00 PM
Field Medicine in a Fantasy World
James D. Macdonald, LJ Cohen (M), Kristin Janz, Kevin McLaughlin, Christopher Paniccia
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
After fighting orcs or falling into a ravine, you can come out with more than cuts and bruises. Yet without modern medicine, our fantasy heroes are often left to their own devices to stitch themselves back together. What tips and tricks should they know? What nearby items — plants, herbs, spyderwebs — might be helpful? But also: why isn’t there tons more toothache, child mortality, and gangrene in Fantasielande?

2:00 PM
Reading by Robert V.S. Redick
Robert V.S. Redick
Independence · 30 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Song Circle: Parody
Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 60 min · Filk

2:00 PM
Comics, the Hugo Awards, and the Future
Brenda Noisseux (M), Josh Dahl, Jackie Kamlot, James Bacon
Marina 2 · 60 min · Game Show
Consider comics and their place in the Hugo Awards. How’s the Hugo for Best Graphic Story working out? As tales from comics take over TV and movies, is one award enough? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of it all. And if this were a comic, what happens in the next exciting issue?

2:00 PM
Fan Power and TV
Janice Gelb (M), Genny Dazzo, Suford Lewis, Steve Davidson, Flourish Klink
Marina 3 · 60 min · Panel
When fans band together, it can be a powerful thing. After Sense8 was canceled, the internet exploded with plaudits, protests, and petitions. Result: the network added a special 2-hour series finale. Let’s discuss the keys to successful fan-led revivals of television shows. What makes them successful? How do we let the networks know what we want, and that we mean business?

2:00 PM
Great Villains in Kids’ SF/F
Tui Sutherland, Bruce Coville, Carlos Hernandez, Melanie Meadors (M), Tamora Pierce
Marina 4 · 60 min · Panel
From Sauron to Voldemort, the Grinch to the White Witch to the Dane Twins, Mrs. Coulter to President Snow to Mayor Prentiss — what kind of characters do children and young adults truly love to hate? Are there limits to showing real evil, or can kids take more than we think? How obvious do we get: if there’s a mustache, must it be twirled?

2:30 PM
Reading by Gabriel Erkard
Gabriel Erkard
Independence · 30 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Feedback Session
Jim Mann, Erin Underwood, Gay Ellen Dennett, Richard Duffy
Burroughs · 60 min · Panel
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 56. Help us get a good head start with reports on what went right (or wrong) this time, and how to achieve perfection next year.

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

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.