The schedule for Boskone 53 is now posted below.
The schedule is also available in two forms for mobile devices.
Free Friday Afternoon Programming: Programming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 19th and is free to the public from 2:00-6:00 pm. Memberships are required after 6:00 pm on Friday and throughout the duration of the convention.
David G. Hartwell Tie Day: On Saturday, February 20th, we invite our members to join us in remembering David Hartwell by donning your favorite signature tie in memory of Boskone’s longtime friend, member of fandom, and one of SF/F/H’s most influential editors, who passed away on January 20, 2016.
Program Changes:
Reading & Autographing: Ken Liu
Fri, 7:00 PM in Marina 3
Meet the Guests
Fri, 8:00 PM in Galleria
Boskone Reception
Fri, 8:15 PM in Galleria
Classic Cartoons
Sat, 12:00 NOON in Carlton — (video screening)
Mothra vs Godzilla
Sat, 12:30 PM in Carlton — (video screening)
Autographing: David Gerrold
Sat, 1:00 PM in Galleria
Labyrinth (1986), film
Sat, 2:00 PM in Carlton — (video screening)
Autographing: Jeffrey Carver
Sat, 2:00 PM in Galleria
The Bob Eggleton Art Retrospective — New Location
Sat, 3:00 PM in Art Show
Space Dandy
Sat, 3:45 PM in Carlton — (video screening)
Art Exhibits Tour — New Time
Sat, 5:00 PM in the Art Show
Boskone Book Party
Sat, 6:30 PM in Galleria (corrected time)
Magic Show with Daniel P. Dern — Cancelled
Sat, 7:00 PM in Dragonslair
Reading: Hillary Monahan — Cancelled
Sun, 10:00 AM in Independence
Reading: Lauren Roy
Sun, 10:00 AM in Independence
The Art of Richard Anderson — New Time
Sun, 1:00 PM in the Art Show
Please note that Room/Location changes are not included in the above list of changes. Please be sure to double check the published location in the Program Book or contact Program Ops with questions.
FRIDAY
Friday, 2:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor II
Manga: Oh, The Horror!
Whether you love Kazuo Umezu or Koji Suzuki, Matsuri Akino or Junji Ito, there’s a lot to be said for the variety and style of horror manga. What other authors and artists should we be reading? What is it about the manga medium that fits the horror genre so well? Our panelists share what’s hot and what’s not in the world of manga horror.
Ada Palmer (M), Grady Hendrix, Lauren Schiller, Brenda Noiseux
Friday, 2:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Burroughs
The Other Others in Urban Fantasy
Urban fantasy is packed with all kinds of characters, but what’s left if you remove all the vampires, zombies, and werewolves? What tropes and characters are left to explore? What new and interesting other others are on the horizon?
Melinda Snodgrass (M), Max Gladstone, Barry Goldblatt, Melanie Meadors, Mary Kay Kare
Friday, 2:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Trains
Friday, 2:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Griffin
Game of Thrones: Adaptation or Original Material
When the first season of Game of Thrones aired, the material was a clear adaptation of the novel. However, in the following seasons, characters and story lines have morphed. Now, some storylines from the TV series are outstripping the books. At what point (if any) does the HBO series set the pace? Do we now have two independent tales? Who rules? And, as we range into uncharted territory, what happens next?
Erin Underwood (M), David McDonald, Sarah Smith, Django Wexler
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor III
Acquiring Art for Independent Projects
While you may not want to judge a book or magazine by its cover, that’s what most people do when browsing the aisles. Big publishers can get whatever artist they want for a cover design, but small presses and magazines have more of a challenge. Not to mention, self-publishers and new small presses often don’t know where to look or how to acquire cover art. Covers are crucial. If you have a small press or you’re considering a self-publishing project, this panel will help answer questions about where to go and what to do when acquiring the “right” cover.
Bob Kuhn (M), Steve Davidson, Thomas Kidd, Tony Lewis, Sarah Smith
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Fan Art
Join longtime fan artist Teddy Harvia for a discussion about fan art and making art based on the stories that you love.
Teddy Harvia
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Griffin
Passing the Fannish Torch
How do we hand off fandom’s traditions to the next generation in an effective and positive manner? Which traditions are worth keeping? Which are too uncool for the new school? How can we tell them apart?
Janice Gelb (M), Vincent Docherty, Flourish Klink, Fred Lerner, Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor II
Stories Within Video Games
We’ve advanced far beyond the days of Frogger and Tetris. Today’s video games take us into highly evolved worlds with complex characters and storylines. How does the development of the story drive the game? Is “story” ever a distraction from “gameplay?” How does the story within the game shape the characters, sharpen the game’s challenges, and heighten the player’s experience?
Hillary Monahan (M), Matt London, E.C. Myers, Brianna Spacekat Wu, E. Lily Yu
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Burroughs
Things I Wish A Pro Had Told Me
There’s nothing like 20/20 vision when you’re looking in the rear view mirror. Professionals share their experiences and swap stories about their own writing and career decisions—perhaps musing how a little helpful information might have gone a long way. Find out what they wish they had known, and hear what the pros have to say about your queries during Q&A.
Walter Jon Williams (M), Brendan DuBois, Christopher Golden, Peadar Ó Guilín, Charles Stross
Friday, 3:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Independence
Welcome to Boskone — (A Discussion Group)
New to Boskone? Or returning after a long absence? Join us for a short discussion about what Boskone has to offer, learn some of the convention lingo, and meet new people.
Jackie Kamlot, Laurie Mann
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Max Gladstone, Sarah Smith
Max Gladstone, Sarah Smith
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Castle in the Sky
Introduce your entire family to Castle in the Sky, featuring a timeless story of courage and friendship with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy-Award(R)-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (2002, Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away). This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, finds a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, wearing a glowing pendant. Together, they discover both are searching for a legendary floating castle, Laputa, and vow to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal around Sheeta’s neck. Their quest won’t be easy, however. There are greedy air pirates, secret government agents and astounding obstacles to keep them from the truth — and from each other. Rated: PG. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Can’t Stop
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 2
Dated Science Fiction
When the future described in an older SF story contradicts our already-lived experience, sometimes it doesn’t matter. Scientific “predictions” didn’t turn out as imagined. So what? The story still holds up, as in classics like The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. But other tales much lauded in their time have since lost their luster. Wherein lies the difference? Does the science in science fiction truly matter over time as long as the story is well-told?
Fred Lerner (M), Ellen Asher, Jeffrey A. Carver, David Gerrold, Tony Lewis
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 3
Earth. We’re Stuck Here!
Maybe humanity’s future isn’t in space. What are the stumbling blocks to colonizing other planets, in our solar system or beyond? Is travel beyond the inner planets fantasy rather than science fiction? And, if so, what else are we going to do for fun?
James Patrick Kelly (M), Paula Crock, Jordin T. Kare, N.A. Ratnayake
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor III
Fanzines: Past and Present
Science fiction enthusiasts have been writing, illustrating, and publishing their own fan magazines since the 1930s. Panelists share insights into fanzines past and present that give voice to what fans most want to read, watch, and talk about. How have fanzines changed over time? How has technology transformed publishing fan-based content? What does it take to make a ‘zine succeed or fail, and how do you put one together on a budget?
Joe Siclari (M), James Bacon, Steve Davidson, John R. Douglas, Diana Thayer
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 1
Pacing The Novel
How do you intensify a scene, bringing the reader deep into the narrative, and still keep the novel moving? Learn how the three basic types of text (exposition, dialog, and description) affect the pace of your work so you can suspend time or send the story rocketing onward. This talk will share specific techniques and approaches to balancing intensity and movement in order to draw readers into your characters, allow them to experience key moments in your story, and get them excited about what happens next.
E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Rare Books Show & Tell
Join Ada Palmer and Lauren Schiller for a small group show-and-tell that features examples of rare books for a special look at book/printing history.
Lauren Schiller, Ada Palmer
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Griffin
Reading: James Moore
James Moore
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
S.U.E.T.–The Card Game
A Game of Minor League Masterminds and Their Dastardly Devices! So you want to become a member of the Society of Ultimate Evil and Terror, huh? Well you’ve come to the right place. SUET the Card Game is a game where you take the role of one of four evil geniuses trying to gain entry into this… illustrious(?) organization.
Veronica Hamilton (M)
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor II
The Body Fantastic
Drawing the human body in all of its shapes, textures, and colors is a complex art. What should you keep in mind when painting, drawing, and creating realistic human figures? What pitfalls should an artist avoid? What about drawing nonhumans?
Kristina Carroll (M), Tommy Arnold, Ingrid Kallick , Sheeba Maya
**Adult themes and content. This panel may discuss artistic nudity and include images and discussion that is not appropriate for children.
Friday, 4:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Burroughs
The Perfect Pitch
Pitching a story can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to the field or must change agents/editors. This is your chance to find out what agents, editors, and publishers want from their current writers, from writers fresh to the market, and from writers transitioning to someone new. Hear from the pros about what — and what not — to do when preparing the perfect pitch. (If there even is such a thing…)
Joshua Bilmes (M), Melinda Snodgrass, Michael Stearns
Friday, 4:30 PM (free to public)
Room: Griffin
Reading: Charles Gannon
Charles Gannon
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Christopher Golden, Joe Hill, Garth Nix
Christopher Golden, Garth Nix, Joe Hill
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 3
Hugo Award Recommendations: Written Works
What were your favorite SF/F/H novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, related works, and graphic stories of 2015? Speak up for your own choices, and learn about others’ consensus picks and hidden gems. If you’re eligible, don’t forget to take notes for your Hugo Awards nominations ballots too — they’re due in Kansas City soon.
Vincent Docherty (M), Bob Devney, Jim Mann, Tony Lewis
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Wesley Chu
Wesley Chu
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Ginjer Buchanan
Ginjer Buchanan
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor III
Key Moments in Space Travel: Columbia (1981), Vostok (1961)
In 2016, we celebrate 35 years since the launch of Columbia, the U.S.’s first reusable space shuttle, and 55 years since Vostok, the first human spaceflight in history. With more than half a century of space travel behind us, let’s take a look back at some of the more memorable moments in manned space flight and imagine what we can look forward to in the future.
Allen M. Steele (M), James Cambias, Andrew Owens, N.A. Ratnayake
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Burroughs
Life in the Studio
Join today’s illustrators for a peek into the daily work schedules that keep them creative, productive, and successful year after year. Where do they work? What do their studios look like? How many hours are in their workdays? When do they drink their magic potions for artistic creativity?
Teddy Harvia (M), Richard Anderson, Tommy Arnold, Lisa Hertel
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 4
Magical Tactics
Plotting and choreographing fights, whether formal battles or street brawls, is a basic item in the working writer’s toolbox. What happens when there’s magic in the mix? What changes? What doesn’t change? What’s a really bad idea? And how do you make it seem real?
Django Wexler (M), James Minz, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Peadar Ó Guilín, Fran Wilde
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Independence
Reading: John P. Murphy
John P. Murphy
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Griffin
Small Presses & Magazines: Welcoming the Unexpected
Authors in the slipstream, weird, magical realism, or speculative literature categories can have a hard time finding the right home for their work. With stories that aren’t always a good fit for the larger genre markets, it’s still important to find quality publishers. Such homes exist in both the literary and SF/F/H publishing communities. This panel will take a “deep dive” into the world of small presses and magazines, presenting fantastic venues and discussing hard-learned lessons such as publishers that promised more than they could deliver. Whether you’re looking for good work a little off the beaten path or trying to find potential new markets for your writing, this panel is for you.
Julia Rios (M), Kate Baker, Neil Clarke, Shahid Mahmud
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
The Science of Cancer
The bad news: it’s not one disease, it’s hundreds. The good news: we’re starting to get nontoxic designer drugs that kill specific kinds of cancer cells at the molecular level. What are the implications? What else is happening in research and treatment? Which will occur first: colonizing Mars or “curing” cancer? Join us for this informal discussion group.
Priscilla Olson
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 1
The Science of Consciousness
The science of consciousness is highly interdisciplinary — combining neurosciences, AI, evolution, quantum physics, and philosophy. Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer uses the debates in this field as fodder for much of his science fiction, as do Greg Egan and Peter Watts. Join Rob for a thought-provoking discussion of the science of mind.
Robert J. Sawyer
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Marina 2
What’s New In Comics?
Accessing information about DC and Marvel releases is pretty straightforward. But what are the other must-read comics that might be flying under your radar? Whom should you keep your eye on? The comics universe is always expanding; which are the new voices you mustn’t miss?
James Moore (M), A.C.E. Bauer, Robert Howard, Don Pizarro
Friday, 5:00 PM (free to public)
Room: Harbor II
Writing The Great Escape
How do you get characters out of tough situations without resorting to Felix’s bag of tricks, or other cheats? There’s an art to surprising the reader with smart or daring escapes while still playing fair — so the reader thinks both “Wow!” and “I should have thought of that!”
Jo Walton (M), Julie C. Day, Grady Hendrix, Ken Liu, Ada Palmer
Friday, 5:30 PM (free to public)
Room: Independence
Reading: Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Boskone Book Club: Clariel by Guest of Honor Garth Nix
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 Clariel by Garth Nix (Boskone’s Guest of Honor). Boskone’s own Bob Kuhn will lead the discussion; Garth Nix will join the group halfway through for a Q&A. To participate, please read the book and come ready with your observations on style, plot, character, setting, vision…
Bob Kuhn (M), Garth Nix
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Collaboration: Writers, Artists, and More!
Creative collaboration is an endurance event. Each experience is different, whether working in a shared universe, co-writing a story, or working word by word with another author. Whatever the scenario, it can be an immensely rewarding experience. However, personalities can clash and the final decision isn’t always mutual. If you’re curious about creative collaborations and want to find out where to start or how to avoid the most common missteps, this panel is for you.
Steve Miller (M), Julie C. Day, Teddy Harvia, Sharon Lee
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Independence
Freemasonry — (A Discussion Group)
Join us for an informal discussion about freemasons, freemasonry, and the masons of Boston.
Walter H. Hunt
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Neil Clarke
Neil Clarke
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Loose Ends and Contradictions in Doctor Who
*Spoilers, sweetie!* Doctor Who has become infamous for its loose ends and contradictions — most of which get explained away with a little timey-wimey flash and sparkle. Yet, we still love The Doctor. In fact, many of those seeming problems tend to open future storylines and plot points. Which do we most want to see resolved? Which seem too far gone to pull back? And will we see River again … or has that loose end been tied?
Susan Jane Bigelow (M), David McDonald, Jennifer Pelland, Lauren Roy
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Puzzles with E. C. Myers
E.C. Myers
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Song Circle: Star Wars
Now that a new chapter of the Star Wars saga is up on the big screen, join us in this song circle to share songs of the Star Wars universe.
Roberta Rogow (M), Benjamin Newman
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Tales from the Silk Road: Nonwestern Speculative Fiction Literature
From the Silk Road to silkpunk and everything in between, Asian speculative fiction has become an important segment of the market. However, many readers in the U.S. are still fairly unfamiliar with its depth and breadth of literary offerings. What is available? Whom should you be reading? What can we look forward to in the next year?
Ken Liu (M), Wesley Chu, John Chu, Alexander Jablokov, Michael Swanwick
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
What Kids Are REALLY Reading
This savvy panel of teenage fans shares what they’ve been reading lately. Also, find out what’s on their “To Be Read” lists, what they’re actively avoiding, and what they’re tired of trudging through. Plus … what kinds of stories do they look for when they’re browsing the booksellers?
Emma Caywood (M), Alexis Baker, Ophelia Goss, Arek Schneyer, Iris Wilde
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Where Horror and Urban Fantasy Collide
While not all horror is urban fantasy and not all urban fantasy is horror, there is quite a lot of overlap. What is it about these two genres that makes them work so well together? Have the mashups been overdone? Are distinctions between the two getting muddled?
Jordan Hamessley (M), Barry Goldblatt, Jack M. Haringa, Grady Hendrix, Hillary Monahan
Friday, 6:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Outlander: Something for Everyone
If your heart’s in the Scottish Highlands, come discuss Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander in this, its 25th year. This series of novels and shorter works features elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure, and science fiction/fantasy. It has spawned a Starz TV series, a graphic novel, and a 14-part song cycle. If you loved the books, how do you think the series is faring? Maybe your introduction to Outlander was through the TV series. How do these two perspectives differ?
Heather Albano (M), C.S.E. Cooney, Flourish Klink, Darlene Marshall, Gillian Daniels
Friday, 6:15 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Is it Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon
Commonly known as the “Dungeon,” the city of Orario possesses a huge labyrinth in the underground. Its strange name attracts excitement, illusions of honor, and hopes of romance with a pretty girl. In this city of dreams and desires, new adventurer Bell Cranel has his fateful encounter with the tiny Goddess Hestia. Thus begins the story of a boy striving to become the best adventurer and a lonely goddess searching for followers hoping to reach their goals and perhaps have some romance on the side. Rated: Unrated. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Reading & Autographing: Ken Liu
Ken Liu
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Chapter and Verse: Songs About Books
This round-robin-style concert will present short passages from books and stories that inspired songs, then feature the songs themselves.
Gary Ehrlich (M), Benjamin Newman, Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Diversity in Illustration For Fantastic Fiction/Comics/Graphic Novels
Illustration powerfully shapes your sense of a story. A character’s skin tone, build, beauty, age, socioeconomic status — writers may leave them up to the reader, but illustrators must make conscious decisions about all these matters, and more. How sensitive are you to whether (or how) an artist portrays diversity? In genre art, which titles and creators do diversity well? In general, do you think illustration makes a genre story more vivid, or limits its imagination?
Robert Howard (M), Thomas Kidd, Sheeba Maya, Errick Nunnally, Brianna Spacekat Wu
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Origami for Kids
Mary Ellen Wessels
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Don Pizarro
Don Pizarro
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Ken Schneyer
Kenneth Schneyer
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Star Trek New Voyages: Torment of Destiny Trailer & Viewers’ Choice
Torment of Destiny (trailer): Take a sneak peak at an upcoming episode that revisits the world of Yonada: just as Doctor McCoy is reunited with his wife, Natira, they are captured by a terrorist faction. The crew of the Enterprise, involved in peace talks, must investigate an Embassy bombing and locate McCoy and Natira before it’s too late. Special guest star: Richard Hatch.
Mind-Sifter (wide screen edition): We present a wide screen edition of this fan favorite story, which was originally written by Grandma Trek herself, Shirley Maiewski. When the crew of the Enterprise is forced to accept Captain Kirk’s death, Spock and McCoy must come to terms with their own grief. When Spock discovers a plot by the Klingons to send Kirk back in time to destroy the Federation, it will take all the courage and abilities of the crew of the Enterprise to rescue their beloved Captain before he succumbs to the horrific torture of the Mind-Sifter. Episode screenings will be followed by a Q&A panel with the cast and crew.
Featuring: Dennis Hotston (M), Sue Herzberg, John Mulhern, Marybeth Ritkouski, Jaime Sanchez, Willie Yee, Gwen Wilkins, Joshua McClusker, Mike Rizzo.
Dennis Hotston (M), Susan Herzberg, John M. Mulhern, Marybeth Ritkouski, Gwen Wilkins
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
The Wonderful World of Horror Lit
Sure, zombies are cool! But horror assumes many other shapes and forms, from psychological thrillers by Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock to more gory (or ghostly) tales by Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Shirley Jackson. Once pronounced DOA on bookstore shelves, horror still thrillingly refuses to die. Panelists discuss favorite horror fiction, from the icons that raised the genre and the up-and-coming writers we should read today … plus what might terrify us tomorrow.
F. Brett Cox (M), Jordan Hamessley, Jack M. Haringa, John Langan, James Moore
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Writing: Dialog
“No one talks that way!”
“I do.”
“Well, okay, but your characters aren’t all you. How about writing the way other people talk?”
“Okay, let’s have the panelists talk about that …”
Vincent O’Neil (M), A.C.E. Bauer, John Chu, Christie Meierz, Bruce Coville
Friday, 7:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Xenoarchaeology
Welcome to the odd, bizarre, and unique world of xenoarchaeology! Wonder at buried treasures excavated from dozens of planets across the galaxy. Join our (ahem) “expert” xenoarchaelogists as they determine the nature, origin, and use of these ancient relics, objects, and devices removed (lawfully?) from all across the cosmos. A good time is guaranteed to all, or twice your spacebucks back …
Michael Sharrow (M), E. C. Ambrose, Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Daniel M. Kimmel, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Jennifer Pelland
Friday, 7:30 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Brendan DuBois
Brendan DuBois
Friday, 7:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Julia Rios
Julia Rios
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Opening Ceremony: Meet the Guests
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-third, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests.
Tim Szczesuil (M), Richard Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner, Garth Nix, Vixy & Tony
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Open Activities for Kids
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Dan Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Intro to Filk Singing
“Filk” is both the folk music of fandom and a community that gathers to share that music. Come learn about filk and sing along to some of the best filk songs. Lyrics will be provided.
Ellen Kranzer, Beth Runnerworlf
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans. Rated PG-13.
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Steam Works
Inventors and tinkerers abound in the Victorian era, harnessing the power of clockwork, steam and electricks to build machines capable of anything! In Steam Works, you’ll put your mechanics to work collecting components and power sources, and then you’ll literally build devices by assembling those sources and components. Build attractive devices, score points when your opponents use them and make sure the effects you want are in play.
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
The Ripper
Fiction’s bad guys may be a dime a dozen, next to the real thing. One of history’s most mysterious and infamous serial killers, Jack the Ripper continues to be a cut above. How has his dark shadow inspired villains in fantastical fiction since he faded into darkness more than 125 years ago?
Dana Cameron (M), Christopher Golden, Leigh Perry, Christie Meierz, E.J. Stevens
Friday, 8:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Writing: From Idea to Outline
“I’ve got this great idea for a novel.” We hear it all the time. But going from that incandescent idea to an actual story is a long, and often twisty path. Some authors just start writing, others write the scenes that are clear in their minds and connect them up. But for those of us who are less experienced, the next step after the idea is an outline. How do you go from idea to plot outline, considering all the various possibilities for the story arc?
D L Carter
Friday, 8:15 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Boskone 53 Reception
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 is a feast for the eyes. Experience the music and the festivities as Boskone celebrates another year of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in Boston.
Richard Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner, Garth Nix, Vixy & Tony
Friday, 9:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Coffee House Concert with Featured Filkers Tony & Vixy
Vixy & Tony (disguised by day as Michelle Dockrey, mild-mannered officemouse, and Tony Fabris, mild-mannered codemonkey) are award-winning musicians with an easygoing style, catchy songs, accessible lyrics, and energetic performances — enjoyed by both SF fans and mainstream music enthusiasts alike.
Vixy & Tony
Friday, 9:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Great Comics, Contentious Creators
A new series is out and you’re ecstatic: You can’t wait to read it! But oh no, it’s from that creator. Can you justify giving good money to someone with whom you disagree so hard? More broadly, can we separate the great work from the not-so-nice creator? Do an author’s personal views, good or bad, always color the stories they write — and the way we read them?
Brenda Noiseux (M), Richard Anderson, Steven Sawicki, Michael Sharrow
Friday, 9:30 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Noir at the Bar Special Edition Boskone
Noir at the Bar comes to Boskone for a special night of reading and fun with our noir, crime, mystery, and horror writers. Hosted by Chris Irvin and Errick Nunnally.
Chris Irvin (M), Errick Nunnally (M), Dana Cameron, Christopher Golden, John Langan, Sarah Langan, James Moore, Melinda Snodgrass, Paul G. Tremblay
Friday, 9:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Trivia for Chocolate
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.
Priscilla Olson, Mark L. Olson
Friday, 9:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Welcome to the Dark Side!
Where there are heros, there be villains. And Star Wars is packed with wonderfully wretched scum (versus lovable rogues who prefer to go solo). It’s so good to be bad in that far-, far-away galaxy. From palpably evil Emperor Palpatine to emo king Kylo Ren, jellybellied Jabba the Hut to big bad Lord Vader, aren’t the villains the ones who make Star Wars sing? Why do these wicked characters work? Why do we love them, or love to hate them? And are they all really the bad guys they seem to be?
Jim Mann (M), Susan Jane Bigelow, Emma Caywood, Bob Eggleton, Jennifer Pelland
Friday, 10:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Open Singing
Join us to share songs about science fiction, fantasy, or any other topic you can think of! Come to sing, or just come to listen; everyone is welcome.
Ellen Kranzer (M)
Friday, 10:00 PM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Stone Age
The Dawn of Mankind. Our ancestors were hard workers, resting only very little. Luckily for us, their ingenuity allowed them to make their work easier, day after day. In Stone Age, players are sent back to that arduous period of history. With tools, quite archaic at first, you will be able to collect wood, stone and gold. These resources will allow you to attain higher levels of knowledge and build sturdier roofs over your head. Though luck plays an important part in the game, only those who master their fate will be able to grasp victory. Finally, one mustn’t forget to feed their tribe as that would represent a major setback for them. Relive history. CARVE YOUR VICTORY — IN STONE.
Friday, 10:30 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
A newly engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Rated: R.
SATURDAY
David G. Hartwell Tie Day: On Saturday, February 20th, we invite our members to join us in remembering David Hartwell by donning your favorite signature tie in memory of Boskone’s longtime friend, member of fandom, and one of SF/F/H’s most influential editors, who passed away on January 20, 2016.
Saturday, 8:30 AM
Room: Burroughs
Yoga on Saturday
Relax and stretch out so you can better enjoy the con.
Mary Crowell
Saturday, 9:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Storytelling with Persis Thorndike
Persis Thorndike
Saturday, 9:30 AM
Room: Marina 1
Art Demo with Bob Eggleton
Come see the artist in action! Join NESFA Press Guest Bob Eggleton for a live demonstration.
Bob Eggleton
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Thomas Kidd, E.J. Stevens, John Langan
Thomas Kidd, E.J. Stevens, John Langan
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
A Lull in the Sea
Long ago, humans lived in the sea. However, some humans defied the Sea God and moved to the land, creating the division that now exists between Shioshishio, the Sea Village, and Oshiooshi, the village of the land. Now, four middle school students from the Sea Village, Manaka Mukaido, Hikari Sakishima, Chisaki Hiradaira, and Kaname Isaki must attend Mihama Middle School on the land. While getting used to their new lives, these four and their new friend from the land, Tsumugu Kihara, learn how true bonds of love and friendship can overcome any separation. Rated: Unrated. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Avalanche
Tony Tran (M)
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Boskone Mad Libs with Ingrid Kallick
Ingrid Kallick
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Burroughs
Fantastic Australia!
A guide to the wide, wonderful, and quite active world of Australian science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
Bob Kuhn (M), David McDonald, Garth Nix, James Minz
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor III
Hidden Heroes
Sometimes the hero of a story isn’t its true protagonist. A commonly accepted example is Sam Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, who more and more centers the action as the story concludes. What other examples occur to us? Why might an author choose to focus on someone other than the hero? Can the hero ever be the antagonist?
Michael Swanwick (M), Chris Irvin, Mary Kay Kare, Don Pizarro, Beth Meacham
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Patrick Nielsen Hayden & Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Griffin
Mars Needs Moms
Family can be the backbone of a young character — or his total destruction. The influences, the baggage, the support network within a family all come with benefits and costs. At a time when nontraditional families are on the rise and parents in fiction are growing scarce, what role do families play in our tales? How is the changing configuration of the nuclear family influencing the characters within our favorite stories? And where have all of the mothers gone? Mars?
Fran Wilde (M), A.C.E. Bauer, Emma Caywood, Peadar Ó Guilín, Django Wexler
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Mistborn: Final Empire Discussion Group
Mistborn: House War is a semi-cooperative, resource-management game set during the events of the first Mistborn novel by Brandon Sanderson. Join agent Joshua Bilmes for an early look at the game and a lively discussion about this exciting new board game that is coming out in 2016!
Joshua Bilmes
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 2
Playing Fair in Speculative Mystery Fiction
How can you make a mystery fair for the reader when magic or futuristic technology come into play? Is fairness even possible? If so, how?
Dana Cameron (M), Charles Gannon, Sarah Langan, Roberta Rogow
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Susan Jane Bigelow
Susan Jane Bigelow
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
S.U.E.T. — The Card Game
A Game of Minor League Masterminds and Their Dastardly Devices! So you want to become a member of the Society of Ultimate Evil and Terror, huh? Well you’ve come to the right place. SUET the Card Game is a game where you take the role of one of four evil geniuses trying to gain entry into this … illustrious(?) organization.
Veronica Hamilton (M)
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Takenoko
The players take the role of courtesans of the Nippon emperor. They take care of his giant panda by growing a bamboo plantation. Their mission: to farm parcels of land, irrigate them, and have green, yellow or pink bamboo grow. In turn, they see what the weather brings and perform two actions from among those offered to them: get a new plot of land or irrigation channel, grow bamboo, feed the panda or draw an objective card. The game ends when a player has completed 7 to 9 objectives (depending on the number of players). The player who gets the best score by adding the total value of their completed objective wins the game.
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 4
Theories of Time Travel
As improbable as it seems, is time travel possible? What scientific theories are out there that hint at what it might take to turn time travel into a reality? What practical issues need to be considered? What are some of the best time travel stories and how does their science hold up? Who’s doing it right? And is time travel really just science fiction?
James Cambias (M), Heather Albano, John R. Douglas, Kenneth Schneyer, Jo Walton
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor II
Why Are Fairy Tales Still Hot Topics?
Aesop, Charles Perrault, and the Brothers Grimm have much to answer for. Their fairy tales are integral to the European cultural heritage, and they’ve spawned novels, films, and TV shows in vast numbers. Why are their stories so compelling? Why do we keep going back to these old collections?
Theodora Goss (M), C.S.E. Cooney, Mary Crowell, Gillian Daniels, Lauren Schiller
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 3
Writing: Nifty Narrative Tricks
It’s not all “write what you know” and “speak from the heart.” Much of the writing biz is hard work and meticulous observation and research, even for speculative fiction. And then there are those techniques that good, experienced writers use, consciously or unconsciously. The panelists will dish on some of the tricks they or their colleagues have used to enthrall their readers, slip in explanations without turgid lumps of exposition, and generally write better.
James Patrick Kelly (M), Carlos Hernandez, Matt London, E. Lily Yu
Saturday, 10:30 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Jack Haringa
Jack M. Haringa
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor III
Aliens: The Sequel
The 30th anniversary of Aliens, the second film in the blockbuster series, begs the age-old question: Why would you go back?!?! Yet Ellen Ripley returns to the place where all the bloody business began. Why? What does her choice really mean? Is the Alien series the gold standard for science fiction horror? And what did this film and this series mean for women?
Vincent O’Neil (M), Ginjer Buchanan, Jeanne Cavelos, Sarah Langan, James Moore
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Esther Friesner, James Patrick Kelly, Vixy & Tony
Esther Friesner, Vixy & Tony, James Patrick Kelly
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 4
Boston in Fiction, Video, and Games
According to U.S. News & World Report, Boston is the best place to survive the zombie apocalypse. The Hub has been featured in a growing number of books, films/TV shows, and video games: Fringe, Assassin’s Creed III, Cell by Stephen King, Zodiac by Neal Stephenson, and more! What is it about Boston that makes it such an attractive destination for stories? What’s next for good ol’ Bean Town, USA?
Heather Albano (M), Leigh Perry, Daniel M. Kimmel, Sarah Smith, Brianna Spacekat Wu
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 3
Dating 101 in Urban Fantasy
Magic is in the air! Dating comes with its own unique sets of rules when finding love within urban fantasy novels. You never know what secrets your special someone is hiding — or what’s really so “special” about her. Our panelists share their best advice for how characters can find true love while fighting against the imminent destruction of everyone and everything they hold dear.
Darlene Marshall (M), Max Gladstone, E.J. Stevens, Charles Stross, Lauren Roy
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Burroughs
Drone Technology: Watch the Skies
Drones keep buzzing further into public consciousness; the FAA has begun to regulate them. But what do we really know about these small aerial vehicles? What are their limits? Can they be useful (deliveries of books, DVDs, and pizza anyone)? Are killer drones hovering in our future? Are drones destined to become simply another artifact of living in the 21st century?
Mark L. Olson (M), Jeff Hecht, Janet Catherine Johnston, Jordin T. Kare, John P. Murphy
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor II
Foppish Fiction: The Dandy in SF/F/H
The Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro both hid their secret identities behind foppish appearances. We’ll explore their descendants, both male and female, in speculative fiction. Then there’s the effete ruler of a decadent empire as a trope (or is that a meme?) of our genres. And what about the sidekick with a flair for fashion? Why are our protagonists all Winters in jewel tones, and none of them Autumns in burnt umber?
Sharon Lee (M), Ellen Asher, Debra Doyle, Grady Hendrix, Walter Jon Williams
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 2
How Story Works
Pixar filmmaker Andrew Stanton claims in his TedX talk that “the fundamental promise of a story is that this tale will lead somewhere that is worth your time.” Is there more to story than a well-told promise? What is story? How is it constructed? What compels us to consume story in all its forms?
Darrell Schweitzer (M), Neil Clarke, Chris Irvin, Paul G. Tremblay, Gary K. Wolf
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Jo Walton
Jo Walton
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 1
Official Artist Interview: Concept Art and Bringing the Vision to Life
Richard Anderson is interviewed by Tor Art Director Irene Gallo on his past, present, and future as a concept artist. (He illustrates initial ideas that inspire team members, who refine them into final art.) His impressive credits? Video games from Guildwars to Batman: Arkham Knight. Movies such as Prometheus; Thor: The Dark World; Guardians of the Galaxy; and Edge of Tomorrow/Live Die Repeat. Plus book covers like Victor Milan’s series The Dinosaur Lords. In Richard’s work, edgy warriors stalk soaring cities and brooding landscapes, looking for trouble. Perfect preparation for getting interviewed at Boskone!
Richard Anderson, Irene Gallo
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Eugene Myers
E.C. Myers
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Art Show
Special Art Show Tour: The Spectrum Exhibit
Join our Special Guests, Cathy and Arnie Fenner, as they lead you through an exhibit taken from their award-winning series of books: Spectrum. “Unique in its concept, significant in its content, beautifully direct in its execution, Spectrum is designed for readers who want to satisfy their sense of wonder while simultaneously serving as an invaluable resource for art directors, art buyers, and artists from all walks and sensibilities.” This exhibit is not to be missed!
Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Special Kids-Only Discussion with Garth Nix
Garth Nix
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Tyrion Lannister Fan Club
The man. The myth. The misanthrope. An hour of love (or hate) for Westeros’ most beloved underdog is just not enough. Join us for this informal discussion group.
Erin Underwood
Saturday, 11:00 AM
Room: Lewis
Workshop: Beginning Harmony
Want to learn how to sing in harmony? This participatory workshop will teach simple harmony techniques to get you started.
Benjamin Newman (M), Denise A. Gendron, Lauren Schiller, Edward L. Stauff, Mary Ellen Wessels
Saturday, 11:30 AM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Joe Hill
Joe Hill
Saturday, 11:30 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Steven Sawicki
Steven Sawicki
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Ken Altabef, Brendan DuBois, Fran Wilde
Ken Altabef, Brendan DuBois, Fran Wilde
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Galleria-Meetup Spot
Comics and Cookies Book Club – Ms. Marvel
This year, Boskone is introducing the new Comics and Cookies Book Club! Join other fans in discussing popular and amazing comics. Hugo-nominated author G. Willow Wilson has created Ms. Marvel and a hugely popular character in Kamala Khan. Read the comics and come ready to discuss these thought-provoking stories. And, yes, there will be cookies!
Jackie Kamlot, James Bacon
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Lewis
Concert: Sassafrass: Trickster & King
Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Costume Creators Chit Chat
Get your needles and pins ready! We’re talking costumes. Come chat with like-minded costumers in this informal attendee-led discussion about what’s hot and what’s not, plus tips for that next project. Discussion led by master costume designer Janet Catherine Johnston.
Janet Catherine Johnston
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Dragonslair Is Closed for Lunch
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
E. C. Ambrose
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Gardner Dozois
Gardner Dozois
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Burroughs
New Media in Fiction
More and more often we see elements of new media being incorporated into fiction. Sometimes using new media in fiction is #awesome! and other times it’s just #FAIL. Is new media in fiction just a fad? There’s an art to doing it well. What stories are good examples? When does it go wrong? Where might new media take us in the future of fiction?
Flourish Klink (M), C.S.E. Cooney, Theodora Goss, Carlos Hernandez, Shahid Mahmud
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 1
Pixel Perfect: The Art of Digital Painting
Artists no longer have to be limited to paper, pencils, ink, and paint. As technology advances, it opens up new options for artists to explore. Does working in a digital medium change the process of creating art? What are the challenges faced, on and off the page, when using nontraditional mediums? Do audiences and art directors have a preference? Which programs should you favor — and what are those apps’ best tips and tricks?
Tommy Arnold (M), Richard Anderson, Ingrid Kallick, Sheeba Maya
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Classic Cartoons
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Independence
Reading: Kathryn Baker
Kate Baker
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Griffin
Reading: Steve Miller & Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 3
Space Navies or Space Marines?
Military science fiction draws its inspiration from two sources: terrestrial naval fiction and “grunt” (often U.S. Marine Corps) fiction. David Weber’s Honor Harrington is consciously inspired by C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower naval adventures. John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War and Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, to which it has been likened, fall into the grunt category. What is the best of each type? What is common to naval fiction that differs from grunt fiction, and vice versa? Does this dichotomy encompass all military science fiction? What exceptions (or middle grounds) exist?
Bob Kuhn (M), Daniel Hatch, Vincent O’Neil
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 4
The Care and Handling of Horses in Fantasy
As the protagonists go about their business of saving the world and conquering evil, spare a thought for the horses they ride. Writing horses isn’t as easy as it may seem, and treating them as four-legged hay-burning automobiles won’t take you (or your heroes/heroines) very far. Hear from experts on the care and handling of these elegant creatures — about the abilities and benefits, limits and liabilities of the ridden or written horse.
Priscilla Olson (M), Ellen Asher, Melinda Snodgrass, Beth Meacham
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 2
The J.J. Abrams Effect
J.J. Abrams is taking the Hollywood box office by storm with his innovative new films, television series, and reboots. From Lost to Star Trek to Star Wars and beyond, Abrams-developed projects delight in redefining visual storytelling, but is there a point where his creative “genius” goes too far or not far enough? What makes his work feel so innovative despite his tendency to reboot without reinvention?
James Minz (M), Susan Jane Bigelow, Garen Daly, Jordan Hamessley, Jennifer Pelland
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor II
The Legacy and The Legend of Star Wars
It was a long time ago (actually, 1971) in a theater far, far away that George Lucas released THX 1138, his first feature film, which would heavily influence the creation of one of the surely iconic, most loved films in history. Sure enough, 6 years later came Star Wars, revolutionizing the film industry and igniting our imaginations. When you first saw it, what did Star Wars mean to you? What does it mean to our planet’s culture now? Mistakes may have materialized along the way: Why make Greedo shoot first, or deflate the Expanded Universe? But let’s also consider why the legacy of Star Wars surrounds us and penetrates us and binds us together.
Craig Shaw Gardner (M), Bob Eggleton, Grady Hendrix, Erin Underwood, Frank Wu
Saturday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor III
Young Love and First Kiss Fiction
Much of young adult fiction deals with those early romantic impulses: First kisses. Jealousy. Romantic triangles. These are things we all ultimately have to navigate on our own, but reading about them gives us a safe place to imagine how things might happen, as well as how situations might unfold. Panelists discuss the pitfalls of young love, and why it is so compelling for boys and girls as well as for men and women readers. What does YA romance have to offer that we aren’t getting on the adult shelves?
Django Wexler (M), Esther Friesner, James Patrick Kelly, Darlene Marshall, Michael Stearns
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Room: Lewis
Concert: Roberta Rogow
Roberta Rogow
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Cerece Rennie Murphy
Cerece Rennie Murphy
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Wesley Chu
Wesley Chu
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)
A greedy developer unwittingly hatches a gigantic baby moth upon Tokyo, while Godzilla strikes once again.
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
100 Years of Relativity
Next month marks a century since Albert Einstein published his seminal work The Theory of General Relativity. It was our first clue that space bends, time warps, and black holes’ gravity sucks at both light and time. What did Einstein get right — and wrong? Do his ideas still ripple through our own time? For extra credit, panelists will reconcile general relativity with quantum theory.
Mark L. Olson (M), Janet Catherine Johnston, N.A. Ratnayake, Kenneth Schneyer
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Archetypes in Speculative Art
Over and over, we see the same archetypes in speculative art. In a medium that is already fluid (not quite fantasy, not quite science fiction), why are people represented with the same features, traits, roles, etc.? Are these archetypes still needed in visual art, or aren’t they? If not, what needs to change, and how do we adapt the model to fit 21st century art?
Arnie Fenner (M), Cathy Fenner, Jon Hunt, Thomas Kidd
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Charles Gannon, David Gerrold, Dave Seeley
Charles Gannon, David Gerrold, Dave Seeley
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Branding and Social Media
Authors are not cattle! Yet marketing gurus say creators need to be branded for the marketplace. But why? Do you really need 10,000 Twitter followers and a zillion Facebook friends? Do you have to have an active blog with daily posts? Our panelists share how they developed and maintain their unique and interesting “brands” — whether in fiction or art, online or in person. They will discuss both the “why” and the “how-to” of developing a unique and consistent brand.
Laurie Mann (M), Jeanne Cavelos, Wesley Chu, Jordan Hamessley, Melanie Meadors
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Conspiracy! — The Anthology Group Reading
NESFA Press presents a special reading for Conspiracy!, edited by Judith K. Dial and Thomas Easton. This exciting new anthology of original short fiction unveils some mind-bending conspiracies that will get you thinking. Conspiracy! also features cover art by NESFA Press Guest Bob Eggleton and original stories by Boskone 53 program participants James Cambias, Debra Doyle, Jeff Hecht, Steven Popkes, Sarah Smith, and Allen Steele.
Tom Easton (M)
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Fandom for the Family
Fandom took root in the disaffected youth of the 30’s through 60’s. Some of those fans are now parents and grandparents, with second- and third-generation fan descendants. How is fandom good for the family? What do you need to avoid?
Stephen P. Kelner, Jr. (M), LJ Cohen, Lisa Hertel, Mary Ellen Wessels
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Independence
Mark Z. Danielewski’s The Familiar — (A Discussion Group)
Join us for an informal discussion of Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, a postmodern horror novel published in 2000 whose typographical audacity and nonlinear structure quickly made it an underground classic (now in its thirtieth printing). Last year, Danielewski published the first volumes of The Familiar: two extremely long installments, typographically challenging and filled with multiple story lines, that partake of both science fiction and (apparently) fantasy. Although “One Rainy Day in May” and “Into the Forest” are each more than 800 pages long, the story seems hardly begun.
Gregory Feeley
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Group Knit-A-Long
The Knit-A-Long is our annual exploration of yarn-based string theory … and a chance to show off your prowess with the needles. Come and join the fun, and get to finger fine fibers with other obsessive knitters.
Priscilla Olson, Edie Stern
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Guru of the Game Room Tournament
The tournament will include Suburbia, Steam Works, Vegas Showdown, and Lords of Waterdeep.
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Interview with Guest of Honor Garth Nix
Boskone GOH Garth Nix is a man of many hats, who has worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, and bookseller, as well as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. He’s also a young adult and children’s literature author whose books have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian, and The Australian. His work has been translated into 41 languages. Join us for this fun and engaging interview with Garth and his longtime friend Barry Goldblatt, mastermind behind the Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency. Garth lives in Sydney, Australia, where it is nice and warm right now.
Garth Nix, Barry Goldblatt
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Kids Crafts
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Marvel Films vs. Marvel Comics
Marvel’s film and comics divisions are now under separate management. But differences have been apparent from the first as they expanded the mix of characters and story arcs. From Blade to Iron Man and X-Men to The Avengers — from Pepper Potts to Peter Parker, and Ben Grimm to the galaxy’s most motley “Guardians” — how have your favorites made the transition from panel to pixel, or back again? What elements of the comics should be retained, mixed in, or discarded? How true are they staying to the original source material? And most importantly, for you, which genre is the most pure fun?
Gillian Daniels (M), James Bacon, Robert Howard, Errick Nunnally, Lauren Roy
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Song Sequitur
Watch our panel of performers string songs together in this unplanned round-robin concert where each song must follow the previous song … somehow.
Benjamin Newman (M), Gary Ehrlich, Roberta Rogow, Vixy & Tony
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Writing: Tell Your Story on the Big Screen
Writing a screenplay is not the same as writing a novel or short story. Nor is it the same as writing a stage play. So, how transferable are those writing skills for someone who wants to see their characters on the big screen? From plot to dialog and the text descriptions in between, we will discuss the art and science of writing for the screen.
Melinda Snodgrass (M), Garen Daly, Christopher Golden, Daniel M. Kimmel, Steven Sawick
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
A Community of Artists
The number of artists within the speculative art field continues to expand, from styles to genres and mediums. While there are a number of support structures for writers, editors, and publishers within the speculative fiction field, what about our artists? Where do they go for support and community? Where do they fit within the professional art field, where do they get their training, and what resources are available to them? Our panelists share their insights and experiences.
Kristina Carroll (M), Tommy Arnold, Sheeba Maya, Dave Seeley, Ingrid Kallick
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Appreciating the Historical in Speculative Fiction
Stories set in historical times present a special set of challenges and benefits: from the wonders of worldbuilding to the disguising of infodumps to the artful overcoming of a reader’s knowledge about the way things actually are (or were). Why do we love it? What time periods and cultures are the most fun to recreate? What sets historical fiction apart from its speculative cousin? And do the stories of Tim Powers, Eric Flint, Connie Willis, Naomi Novik, or Cherie Priest qualify as hist fic?
Brendan DuBois (M), Walter H. Hunt, E. C. Ambrose, David McDonald, Walter Jon Williams
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Jeffrey Carver, Bruce Coville, Gardner Dozois, Jon Hunt
Jeffrey Carver, Bruce Coville, Gardner Dozois, Jon Hunt
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Labyrinth (1986)
A selfish 16-year-old girl is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King. Rated: PG.
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Concert: Ed & MEW
Edward L. Stauff, Mary Ellen Wessels
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
How You Get the Word Out: Starting and Running a Successful Podcast
Podcasting gives us an outlet to share our thoughts and ideas with the world, and everyone seems to have something (perhaps a lot) to say. But is podcasting right for everyone? How do you go about “bootstrapping” a podcast? What do you need and what do you need to know? How do you attract and keep an audience? Where do you find a place to host your site? Successful ‘casters pass on their secrets.
Steve Miller (M), Kate Baker, C.S.E. Cooney, Don Pizarro, Brianna Spacekat Wu
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Beth Meacham
Beth Meacham
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Let’s Get Cookin’
There’s some fabulous food in fiction. Come talk shop with the fantastical foodie Fran Wilde.
Fran Wilde
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
News From Our Neighbors
In recent years, science has learned more about our nearby astronomical neighborhood than ever before. Our moon boasts the coldest spot in the solar system; there’s water on Mars and even blue skies on Pluto. What were some other big surprises? What do we still want to know? What else is out there? And where should we go next?
Vincent Docherty (M), Paula Crock, Jordin T. Kare, Andrew Owens, Allen M. Steele
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Lisa J. Cohen
LJ Cohen
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Theodora Goss
Theodora Goss
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Roger Rabbit: An Interview with Gary K. Wolf
Gary K. Wolf’s 1981 novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? became a visual sensation in Disney/Spielberg’s $950 million blockbuster Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The 1988 movie won four Academy Awards and the Hugo Award. It was hailed as “innovative and entertaining … a groundbreaking mix of live action and animation, with a touching and original story.” Join fellow screenwriter and author Steven Sawicki for a fun and engaging interview with Gary K. Wolf. Discover what it took to make Roger a reality, and what else Gary and friends might pull out of their hats.
Gary K. Wolf, Steven Sawicki
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Who Painted That?
One of the joys of SF art is seeing the wide range of styles and techniques. When an expert looks at a piece, he or she can usually tell who painted it without checking the signature. Today we repeat a popular game from last year’s Boskone: shown pictures of genre art from decades past and present, the panelists will identify them — and explain how they did that. Then we’ll find out if they’re correct.
Mark L. Olson (M), Bob Eggleton, Irene Gallo, Joe Siclari
Saturday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Writing YA Fiction: Discussion & Workshop for Young Adult & Children’s Literature
What skills do you need to write young adult or children’s fiction? What should you know? What should you avoid? Join our panelists for an interactive discussion/writing session — and be sure to bring your pen and paper!
E.C. Myers (M), Ken Altabef, Cerece Rennie Murphy
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Room: Lewis
Concert: Mary Crowell
Mary Crowell
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Ada Palmer
Ada Palmer
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Jo Walton
Jo Walton
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Neil Clarke, E.C. Myers, Charles Stross, E. Lily Yu
Neil Clarke, Charles Stross, E. Lily Yu, E.C. Myers
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Meetup Spot
Comics and Cookies Book Club — Saga (Adult Themes)
This year, Boskone is introducing the new Comics and Cookies Book Club! Join other fans in discussing well-liked and wonderful comics. The Hugo-winning Saga, by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan, is hugely popular and full of humor, while providing a beautiful mix of science fiction and fantasy. Read the comics and come ready to discuss their thought-provoking stories. And, yes, there will be cookies! Please note that these comics — and the discussion — will feature adult themes.
James Bacon, Jackie Kamlot
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Hugo Award Recommendations: Dramatic Presentations
What’s the greatest stuff you saw last year? Join us to discuss 2015’s best movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, and more in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. If you’re eligible to vote, by all means take notes — your Hugo Awards nominations ballot is due in Kansas City soon.
Bob Devney (M), Garen Daly, Daniel M. Kimmel, Jim Mann, Erin Underwood
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Charles Gannon
Charles Gannon
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Thomas Kidd
Thomas Kidd
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Kids’ Tour of the Art Show
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Walter Hunt
Walter H. Hunt
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Walter John Williams
Walter Jon Williams
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Romance Across Space and Time
Romance shows up in the unlikeliest places: from prehistory to the far-flung future; from pole to pole; from fantasy and science fiction to horror. Must it be a guilty pleasure? Or should we proudly proclaim the heart of the matter: wherever they may find it, all the world loves a love story!
Darlene Marshall (M), D L Carter, Mary Kay Kare, Steve Miller, E.J. Stevens
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Seven Easy Steps to Taking Over the Universe
The universe would be perfect, if only you were in charge. Today’s the day to stop dreaming and start doing! What are the “must dos” and the “no-nos” that every evil emperor must keep in mind when conquering? Should you be the face of the takeover, or is it better to have a sidekick to throw into the spotlight? How do you handle pesky rebels? And is a catchy dictator name an essential accessory for success?
Leigh Perry (M), Jeffrey A. Carver, Esther Friesner, Frank Wu, Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Song Circle: Libraries and Other Treasure Troves
From the long-lost libraries of forgotten civilizations to the mystical libraries of wizards’ schools to the public library down the street, libraries and the books in them have always been a repository of treasure. Join us in this participatory song circle to sing and share songs about libraries and books, and other places where treasures are kept.
Gary Ehrlich (M)
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Art Show
The Bob Eggleton Art Retrospective
Join award-winning artist Bob Eggleton in the Art Show to view and discuss this retrospective of his work that is on special display at Boskone.
Bob Eggleton
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
The Year in Physics and Astronomy
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. Topics could include new pics of Pluto but no pics of potential new Planet X; experimenting with quantum gravity; using optical light for deep medical imaging; and the birth of bouncing baby universes inside black holes.
Mark L. Olson (M), Paula Crock, Jeff Hecht, N.A. Ratnayake
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Writing Realistic Teenagers
What does “young adult” mean in today’s publishing world? Where do voice and narrator style fit? Are there any taboo teen topics? Where’s that line between teen and adult? How do you write a “real”-feeling teenager with all the pimples and giggles while still giving him/her the power to save the universe … or at least to get through gym class without being tortured by the class ogre?
Bruce Coville (M), Jordan Hamessley, Matt London, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Garth Nix
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Game of Thrones: What Happens Next?
Game on! Join us for a lively, informal discussion of the fabulous epic fantasy series. We only have an hour, so let’s just speculate about who won’t get killed … at least this season.
Priscilla Olson
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
The Sandman Legacy
At a time when the comics industry was trying to survive, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman was published. Back then, many thought comics were dying. The Sandman opened their eyes. A gateway comic series for new readers, including women, how has its reputation fared in succeeding years? Looking back at its success, what impact has it had on comics? Could you describe the series’ influence on today’s comics, fiction, and film as, well, Endless?
Steven Popkes (M), Susan Jane Bigelow, Grady Hendrix, Lauren Roy
Saturday, 3:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Janet Catherine Johnston
Janet Catherine Johnston
Saturday, 3:30 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Saturday, 3:45 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Space Dandy
The cosmic and comic adventures of Space Dandy, a handsome space explorer tasked to tour the universe and discover new alien beings. Rated: TV-14. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
30 Magical Years of Labyrinth
Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of this magical film! Labyrinth is a movie dense with innovation: puppets, the celebrated artistry of David Bowie, and collaboration across media. It’s truly an icon of its era. How has Labyrinth inspired the speculative fiction movies of today? How has it inspired us?
E. C. Ambrose (M), Emma Caywood, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Fran Wilde
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Lauren Roy, Darrell Schweitzer, Melinda Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams
Darrell Schweitzer, Melinda Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams, Lauren Roy
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Concert: Gary Ehrlich
Gary Ehrlich
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
How Binge-Watching Could Change TV
The binge-watching phenomena has clearly changed the way we watch television, in-genre or out. Is it also altering the way they create it? Marathon viewers are a mindful audience, who retain more information and understand longer story arcs. Is this leading to more complex characters, more complicated plots — more compelling shows?
Ginjer Buchanan (M), Garen Daly, Daniel M. Kimmel, Don Pizarro, Steven Sawicki
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me!
Hoist up the Jolly Roger, mates, and bend your ear to a lively discussion of the men and women who rule the sea. From Captain Hook to Blackbeard, Jack Sparrow, and the Dread Pirate Roberts, pirates have a long history in speculative fiction. Join our participants for lighthearted discussion about these literally scurvy scourges. Panelists and audience members are encouraged to bring their eye patches, hats, and garb, and of course to talk pirate to us.
Edie Stern (M), Leigh Perry, Darlene Marshall
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Paul G. Tremblay
Paul G. Tremblay
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Errick Nunnally
Errick Nunnally
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Painting with Wax (Encaustics)
Join artist Lisa Hertel for a fun session of encaustics — the ancient art of painting with wax. Since we will be working with melted wax that is warm, a signed permission slip is required from the parents of children who want to participate.
Lisa Hertel
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Spaceflight in Science Fiction and in Reality
Join our discussion group for an informal chat about spaceflight.
Andrew Owens
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Special Guest Dialog with Arnie & Cathy Fenner
Join us for a fun dialog between Boskone’s Special Guests Cathy and Arnie Fenner, the creative geniuses behind the formation of Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. They have also written, designed, and edited a series of titles devoted to masters within the speculative art world and have co-curated several special Spectrum exhibits, including the one at Boskone this year. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the Fenners talk, share their thoughts on art, their experiences within the industry, and everything in between.
Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Griffin
The Grimm Future — The Anthology Group Reading
NESFA Press presents a special reading for this year’s Boskone Book: The Grimm Future, edited by Erin Underwood. This exciting new anthology of reimagined Grimm’s fairy tales brings you 14 original short stories with a science fictional twist. The Grimm Future features cover art by Boskone 53’s Official Artist, Richard Anderson, and original stories by Guest of Honor Garth Nix as well as program participants Dana Cameron, Max Gladstone, Carlos Hernandez, John Langan, and Peadar Ó Guilín.
Erin Underwood (M), Carlos Hernandez, Max Gladstone, Peadar Ó Guilín, John Langan, Dana Cameron, Garth Nix
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
The Wonderful Women of YA
Young adult fiction is filled with exceptional young women who break the old mold. From protagonists to leaders, brainiacs, and baddies, these females are taking on traditionally male roles within fiction. What is it about these characters that captures our imagination? Which YA characters and writers do you love to follow? And when can we expect their action figures?
A.C.E. Bauer (M), LJ Cohen, Jordan Hamessley, Hillary Monahan, Julia Rios
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Writing: Generating Suspense and Fear with Odyssey Writing Workshop Faculty
The Director and guest lecturers of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, held each summer in New Hampshire, discuss the most effective techniques for keeping readers on the edge of their seats and awake long into the night.
Jeanne Cavelos (M), Jeffrey A. Carver, Alexander Jablokov, Allen M. Steele
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Writing: Pinning Down Your Plot
Complicated plots need proper handling to keep from growing legs and walking away. Writers who lose control of a twisty tale can confuse and/or alienate their readers. But just how do authors manage a complex story line? Come hear their tips for keeping track of the trickiest of plots.
Steven Popkes (M), Ken Altabef, Sharon Lee, Christie Meierz, Vincent O’Neil
Saturday, 4:30 PM
Room: Lewis
Concert: Denise Gendron
Denise A. Gendron
Saturday, 4:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: N.A. Ratnayake
N.A. Ratnayake
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Art Show
Art Exhibits Tour
Take an informative stroll around the Art Show. You’ll hit the highlights with knowledgeable guides who can indicate points of interest.
Edie Stern, Joe Siclari
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Bob Eggleton, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Jo Walton, Gary K. Wolf
Bob Eggleton, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Gary K. Wolf, Jo Walton
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Dark Fairy Tales
Most of the beloved fairy tales we tell our children are sanitized versions of stories intended for mature audiences only. We can write the graphic violence and debauchery out of these tales — but should we? What gets lost when we blunt the sharp edges of Cinderella’s story? There’s much to learn about the human condition from these rich sources of psychological drama. And some fine authors have subverted and reimagined the old tales to make them new again. Let’s discuss tales we know and those we may have overlooked.
John Langan (M), Jack M. Haringa, Hillary Monahan, James Moore, E.J. Stevens
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Dragonslair Is Closed for Dinner
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Django Wexler
Django Wexler
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Rebooting Comics
DC has released two revamps of their comic book line in the past 5 years, with “The New 52” and now “DC YOU.” What about Marvel’s single “All New, All Different” changeover? Which reboot really clicks? Let’s have an informal discussion group chat about the reboot.
Joshua Bilmes
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Remembering David G. Hartwell
David G. Hartwell (1941-2016) was arguably one of SF/F/H’s most influential editors for decades until he passed away this January. He helped inspire generations of readers and fans — and played a critical role in the careers of many of our genres’ greatest authors. He won the World Fantasy Award in 1988, was nominated for the Hugo Award an astounding 41 times, and won it in 2006, 2008, and 2009. David attended Boskone regularly over the last 50 years, was a Boskone Special Guest, and won our Skylark Award. Please join us for a discussion about his sensitive, intelligent work; his fannish heart; and his signature neckties.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden (M), John R. Douglas, Gardner Dozois, Rick Katze, Beth Meacham, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Melinda Snodgrass, Michael Swanwick
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Fight vs. Flight: Great Action Scenes
Climbing the Cliffs of Insanity, sword fighting with Inigo Montoya, and wrestling Fezzik: all action scenes are not the same. Describing them so that the reader sees them in her mind’s eye and holds her breath for the outcome — that’s the art of writing action scenes. But what does it take to pull it off?
Craig Shaw Gardner (M), Wesley Chu, Tom Easton, Flourish Klink, Errick Nunnally
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Meetup Spot
Meet Up: Viable Paradise
Have some fun and join the Viable Paradise students, alumni, and faculty for an informal gathering at Boskone.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Debra Doyle
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Nonfiction on Speculative Fiction
We often forget about the nonfiction that is being published: literary criticism, reviews, analyses. Nonfiction helps to inform, sustain, and push the genre forward. The proliferation of nonfiction is often a sign of a very healthy literary field. So, how are we doing? What qualifies as nonfiction? Where do you go to find it or publish it?
David McDonald (M), Kate Baker, Daniel Hatch
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: Alice Bauer
A.C.E. Bauer
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Art Demo with Official Artist Richard Anderson
Join Official Artist Richard Anderson for a live demonstration and watch how his digital art work is created. Q&A will be hosted by Irene Gallo, his Creative Director from Tor Books.
Richard Anderson, Irene Gallo
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Holmes, Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian sleuth has been interpreted and re-interpreted in countless ways (Mr. Holmes, Sherlock, Elementary, etc.). As a result, this iconic “difficult genius” investigator is the inspiration for many of today’s fictional and filmic PIs. Why is it that Holmes can be interpreted in so many ways and still be identifiable as Sherlock? How does this character continue to speak to us on such a deep level?
Stephen P. Kelner Jr. (M), Dana Cameron, Jim Mann, John P. Murphy, Sarah Smith
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Reverse-Engineering The Martian
Its creators certainly had a sense of humor. (Did you know this movie has an official potato? The Albert Bartlett Russet.) But in fealty to the novel, they also baked in a love of problem-solving we haven’t seen since Apollo 13. What else makes The Martian a hard-SF fan’s dream?
Robert J. Sawyer (M), Paula Crock, Janet Catherine Johnston, Andrew Owens
Saturday, 5:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Women Illustrators of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Let’s consider successful SF/F/H artists from Rowena Morrill, Diane Dillon, Lisa Snellings, Ruth Sanderson, and Galen Dara to Wendy Snow-Lang, Julie Dillon, Elizabeth Leggett, Fiona Staples, and more! Did they and do they face different challenges than their male counterparts? Is self-promotion harder for them? Is it easier for them to make their work accessible and relatable to female audiences? What ground has been gained? What work still remains?
Arnie Fenner (M), Cathy Fenner, Jon Hunt, Ingrid Kallick, Sheeba Maya
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: James Patrick Kelly
James Patrick Kelly
Saturday, 5:45 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Space Brothers
When they were young, the brothers Mutta and Hibito promised each other they would become astronauts. Now, in 2025, Hibito has followed his dream to become the first Japanese on the moon, but Mutta has just been fired from his job. His brother reminds him of their childhood promise, and Mutta decides once again to aim for space. Rated: Unrated. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Saturday, 6:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Dragonslair Is Closed for Dinner
Saturday, 6:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Star Trek New Voyages: The Holiest Thing (recut and remastered final edition)
Torment of Destiny trailer: Take a sneak peak at an upcoming episode that revisits the world of Yonada: just as Doctor McCoy is reunited with his wife, Natira, they are captured by a terrorist faction. The crew of the Enterprise, involved in peace talks, must investigate an Embassy bombing and locate McCoy and Natira before it’s too late. Special guest star: Richard Hatch.
The Holiest Thing: This recut and remastered final edition of The Holiest Thing features a brand new beginning and ending, along with corrected color and effects! A deadly disaster at a Federation terraforming project draws the Enterprise into a mystery involving an unknown alien race and Captain Kirk into a life-changing encounter with the project team’s only survivor: Doctor Carol Marcus. Star Trek New Voyages Q&A panel with the cast & crew, with Brian Gross (Captain Kirk) and Jacy King (Carol Marcus) Skyping in, as professional commitments allow.
Special Bonus Feature: Virtual Tour of the Star Trek New Voyages sets. Featuring: Dennis Hotston (M), Sue Herzberg, John Mulhern, Marybeth Ritkouski, Jaime Sanchez, Willie Yee, Gwen Wilkins, Joshua McClusker, Mike Rizzo.
Saturday, 6:30 PM
Room: Galleria-Stage
Boskone Book Party
Join us for Boskone’s Multi-Author Book Party, see what’s new from authors you love, and discover new favorites. Boskone is also launching two NESFA Press books tonight: Conspiracy! and The Grimm Future. Cash Bar Available.
(Authors and publishers with a new book and a current Boskone membership are welcome to take part; contact program@boskone.org for details.)
Saturday, 6:30 PM
Room: Marina 3
Jewish Havdalah Service
Service ending the Sabbath.
Saturday, 7:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Open Activities for Kids
Saturday, 7:30 PM
Room: Harbor II+III
Boskone Rapid-Fire Theater and Awards Ceremony
Tonight’s presentation: a fast-paced theatrical extravaganza, featuring a set of mini-shows that resemble live-action “podcast experiments.” This special Saturday night program has something for everyfan. We hope you’re entertained, amused, soothed, gratified, provoked, intrigued, informed, or if possible all of the above in swift succession. Hosted by Boskone’s very own David G. Grubbs.
7:30 pm – Music with Vixy & Tony: We kick off Boskone’s Rapid Fire Theater with a taste of the musical feast served by our Featured Filkers, Vixy & Tony. Come hear why they’ve won multiple Pegasus Awards — plus the hearts of a lot of fans here at Boskone already.
8:00 pm – 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.
8:20 pm – The Wesley Chu Interview: Boskone’s Rapid-Fire Theater continues with an all-too-short interview featuring fun, fascinating Wesley Chu —bestselling author of the action-packed Tao series plus recently released novel Time Salvager. A Boskone newbie, Wesley’s also the 2015 Campbell Award winner for Best New Writer.
8:45 pm – At the Movies with Boskone: Join Boskone’s movie mavens Dan Kimmel and Garen Daly for a lively film discussion. Hosted by David Grubbs.
9:10 – Mystery Radio Play: Boskone’s Rapid Fire Theater comes to a clueful conclusion with a short radio play featuring crime-solving private detective Kurt Krieger. Featuring Bruce Coville, David Grubbs, Bob Kuhn, Laurie Mann, Melinda Snodgrass.
Saturday, 7:30 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Aliens (1986)
The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, the rescue team has impressive firepower, but will it be enough? Rated: R.
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Open Activities for Kids
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Harbor I
Concordia
Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire ruled the lands around the Mediterranean Sea. With peace at the borders, harmony inside the provinces, uniform law and a common currency, the economy thrived and gave rise to mighty Roman dynasties as they expanded throughout the numerous cities. Guide one of these dynasties and send colonists to the remote realms of the Empire; develop your trade network; and appease the ancient gods to win their favor — all to gain the chance to emerge victorious! CONCORDIA is a peaceful strategy game of economic development in Roman times for 2 to 5 players age 13 and up. Instead of luck of dice or cards, players must rely on their strategic abilities. Be sure to watch your rivals to determine which goals they are pursuing and where you can outpace them!
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Creature Creators
Calling all makers and creature creators! This discussion, led by author and fellow maker E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak), is your chance to sit down and talk with others who share your creative passion.
E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Digging in with Military Science Fiction
Is military SF the most enduring category within science fiction? If so, why? If not, it certainly has endured. What is it about this subgenre that gives it such staying power?
Vincent O’Neil (M), Joshua Bilmes, Charles Gannon, Walter H. Hunt
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem
Dark fiction and suspense are natural bedfellows. What is it about their synergy that works so well? How do you walk the line between mystery and suspense when there are monsters tearing their way through the plot? And how do dark fiction and horror help to generate or amplify those nail-biting moments that make readers blaze through a story to see how it ends?
Paul G. Tremblay (M), Dana Cameron, Craig Shaw Gardner, Leigh Perry, John Langan
Saturday, 8:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Steven Universe and the Cartoon Renaissance
“Believe in Steven!” Cartoons are back with a bang, and the incredible Steven (a half-human, half-Gem hero) is helping save the world. Steven Universe is just one of several speculative cartoons that have been praised for their complex characters and rich worldbuilding. From Space Ghost to Futurama to Robot Chicken, these shows have captured our imaginations. Why do we love them so much, and what else should we be watching?
Teddy Harvia (M), Susan Jane Bigelow, Gillian Daniels, Max Gladstone, Julia Rios
Saturday, 9:30 PM
Room: Lewis
Song Circle: Heroines
Join us in this participatory song circle to share songs featuring your favorite female protagonists and their stories.
Vixy & Tony (M)
Saturday, 9:00 PM
Room: Galleria
Superhero Open Mic
Kapow! Live from Boskone … enjoy the knock-out stylings of our program participants and audience members who share their open mic skills in the first-ever Superhero Open Mic. Each person gives his/her best 5-minute superhero performance – story, poem, song, skit, interpretive dance, or whatever! OPTIONAL: For extra appeal, feel free to come dressed as a superhero! Cash Bar Available.
The Rules: Boskone members are invited to join our participants in the open mic by signing up for one of the eight open slots at the door to the event, which opens for sign-ups at 8:30 pm. Each performer is given a firm 5-minute time limit (max), including set-up time. So a quick transition between acts is key.
Walter H. Hunt (M), Kenneth Schneyer (M), C.S.E. Cooney, E.C. Myers, Garth Nix, Don Pizarro, Lauren Roy, Mary Ellen Wessels
Saturday, 10:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Name That Skiffy Tune! SF/F Version
Name that theme! If you’d know the melodies from When Worlds Collide, The Martian, and Red Dwarf anywhere, come test your knowledge of other famous — and not-so-famous — movie and TV musical themes. Conducting this fun, fast-paced game are Vince Docherty as MC, Denise A. Gendron on cello, and Tim Szczesuil as scorekeeper and tune wrangler.
Tim Szczesuil (M), Denise A. Gendron, Vincent Docherty
Saturday, 10:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Open Singing
Saturday, 10:00 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post-apocalyptic Australia, searching for her homeland with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic machine-worshiper, and a drifter named Max. Rated: R
Saturday, 10:00 PM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo is a game from Richard Garfield for 2 to 6 players. You play mutant monsters, gigantic robots, and other aliens — all of whom are always happily, in fact joyously, whacking each other — to become the one and only King of Tokyo. When it is your turn, you throw six dice. Each die bears the following six symbols: 1, 2, or 3 Points of Destruction, Energy, Healing, or Whack. In three successive throws, you choose whether to keep or discard each die, striving to come up with combinations that will enable you to win destruction points, hoard energy, restore your health — or whack other players into understanding that Tokyo is your territory! The fiercest player will be crowned King of Tokyo … and will end up facing all the other monsters alone. Top this off with special cards that you can purchase with energy points (each has a permanent or temporary effect such as the growing of a second head, which grants you an additional die, body armor, nova death ray, etc.) and you hold one of the most explosive games of the year! To win, either destroy Tokyo by accumulating 20 destruction points … or be the only surviving monster once all the fighting has died down.
SUNDAY
Sunday, 8:30 AM
Room: Burroughs
Yoga on Sunday
Relax and stretch out so you can better enjoy the con.
Mary Crowell
Sunday, 9:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
MarbleWays and Legos
Sunday, 9:30 AM
Room: Marina 1
Using Charcoal: Art Demo & Workshop
Artist Kristina Carroll demonstrates how to use charcoal. Come learn about this medium — and bring your own sketchpad so you can draw along!
Kristina Carroll
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Art Show
Art Exhibits Tour
Take an informative stroll around the Art Show. You’ll hit the highlights with knowledgeable guides who can indicate points of interest.
Edie Stern, Joe Siclari
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Dana Cameron, James Moore, Steven Sawicki, Allen M. Steele
Dana Cameron, Steven Sawicki, Allen M. Steele, James Moore
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her — but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime. Rated: PG. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Avalanche
Tony Tran (M)
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 3
Blending Media: Blurring the Lines
Art! Poetry! Fiction! Oh my! Some of the most evocative pieces of art and fiction are created in those lovely spaces between the lines. Our panelists share what compels them to create work that lives “off the grid” in many ways. And how do new media fit into or help us burst beyond traditional artforms?
Gillian Daniels (M), Carlos Hernandez, Flourish Klink, Gary K. Wolf, Heather Albano
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Meetup Spot
Comics and Cookies Book Club – Starlight (Adult Themes)
This year, Boskone is introducing the new Comics and Cookies Book Club! Join other fans in discussing popular and amazing comics. Starlight by Mark Millar and Goran Parlov calls on some of the elements of classic pulp science fiction, but adds a modern-day twist by metaphorically looking at how society treats the aging and those whom we believe to be mentally unsound. The comic has its own problems for some. Read the comics and come ready to discuss these thought-provoking stories. And, yes, there will be cookies! Please note that these comics and the discussion will feature adult themes.
James Bacon, Jackie Kamlot
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
DC Card Game
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 4
Dealing With Rejection
Getting rejected is difficult. It can be hard to find the motivation to go on when you feel like you’re not gaining any headway. Our panelists share their own experiences with rejection, what kept them going, what hard truths they faced, and what changes they made to keep working.
James Patrick Kelly (M), Barry Goldblatt, Bob Kuhn, Kenneth Schneyer, Darlene Marshall
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Bob Eggleton
Bob Eggleton
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Fran Wilde
Fran Wilde
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
Long Live the Legion
It’s still dead. Anyone have any ideas if/how/when our favorite group of superheroes might don their rings and fly again?
Priscilla Olson
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Marbling Paper
Ever wonder how the beautiful ink marbling on paper happens? Join us for a fun exercise in marbling our favorite pages from books that have been discarded.
Persis Thorndike
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor III
Poetry Within Fantasy & Science Fiction
Fantasy and science fiction literature often samples snatches of song or poetry within its pages. But where does one look for original poetry that’s wholly focused on dragons and aliens, magic and deep space? Which writers are also fine versifiers? What inspires them? How do they decide whether an idea is better delivered in prose or poetry?
Jo Walton (M), C.S.E. Cooney, Mary Crowell, Theodora Goss
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor II
Reading and Q&A with Guest of Honor Garth Nix
Guest of Honor Garth Nix reads a short selection of his work and answers questions from the audience.
Garth Nix
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Lauren Roy
Lauren Roy
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Marina 2
Right and Wrong: AIs and Us
Artificial intelligence raises many questions of morality for us … and for them. Can/should self-aware AIs be controlled? Is it slavery to own an AI? Can we terminate lower-functioning units, even if self-aware? Do AIs warrant a vote? And how and why could we/should we instill morality into AIs? Are Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics appropriate, or enough?
Janice Gelb (M), Tom Easton, John P. Murphy, Charles Stross, Django Wexler
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
S.U.E.T. — The Card Game
A Game of Minor League Masterminds and Their Dastardly Devices! So you want to become a member of the Society of Ultimate Evil and Terror, huh? Well you’ve come to the right place. SUET the Card Game is a game where you take the role of one of four evil geniuses trying to gain entry into this … illustrious(?) organization.
Veronica Hamilton (M)
Sunday, 10:00 AM
Room: Burroughs
WHO’s Peter Jackson
Doctor Who + Peter Jackson = An Epic Mad Man in a Box, in three parts, set to music, with lots of running. Join us for a rollicking adventure (panel) speculating on the ins and outs of a Doctor Who episode as directed by Peter Jackson. Would it be like mixing peanut butter and chocolate? Can the Doctor resist the pull of the One Ring? Will Bilbo end up piloting the TARDIS? And who will win the face-off between the Doctor and Gandalf? There might even be a serious question or two – but, really, where’s the fun in that?
Jim Mann (M), John Chu, LJ Cohen, Laurie Mann
Sunday, 10:30 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Christie Meierz
Christie Meierz
Sunday, 10:30 AM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Richard Anderson, Wesley Chu, Arnie Fenner & Cathy Fenner
Richard Anderson, Arnie Fenner, Cathy Fenner, Wesley Chu
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 2
Cambridge Science Fiction Workshop Reading
This year is the 35th anniversary of the Cambridge Science Fiction Workshop. Come join local members for their annual reading at Boskone!
Steven Popkes (M), Sarah Smith, Heather Albano, James Cambias, Kenneth Schneyer, Alexander Jablokov
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 4
Formidable Females
Females were once seen as the weaker sex and assigned weaker social roles. Now, they are taking full and equal parts, at least within fiction. From Cersei Lannister to Rey, Jessica Jones to Breq, and more, women are taking leadership roles as both protagonists and antagonists within the story. And those are just the characters! What about the writers of these fantastic women? Whom should we be reading? What’s next?
Theodora Goss (M), Max Gladstone, Peadar Ó Guilín, E.J. Stevens
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 1
Interview with NESFA Press Guest Bob Eggleton
He paints an alluring spaceship, a spooky skull, and a mean Godzilla. He’s got nine Hugo Awards and a Chesley. He’s published eight books and helped concept films including Jimmy Neutron and The Ant Bully. But Bob Eggleton is also great at talking about landscape art, dinosaurs, all kinds of films, all species of monsters (especially dragons), the futures of physical art and convention art shows, and what it’s like to be a Japanese movie star (OK, movie extra). Join us for this special interview with Bob Eggleton, conducted by Boskone’s very own Joe Siclari.
Bob Eggleton, Joe Siclari
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Flourish Klink
Flourish Klink
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: E.C. Myers
E.C. Myers
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Making Lightsabers with James Bacon
James Bacon
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Griffin
NESFA Book Club: Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
This February, the NESFA Book Club hosts its monthly meeting at Boskone. Join us as we discuss Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, who will join the group halfway through the discussion in order to lead a Q&A. All members are welcome and newcomers are encouraged to attend.
Michael Sharrow (M), Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Marina 3
Places as Characters
Of course a setting can inspire or affect the action of a story. But sometimes, a “place” is so well described that it almost becomes a character on its own. Does this happen more with SF/F/H than mundane fiction? Let’s pour through our mental postcards from Gormenghast and the Shire, Ringworld and Ceres station, Hogwarts and Gotham City. What’s your favorite unforgettable “character” that’s literally all there?
Ada Palmer (M), Julie C. Day, Fred Lerner, Melanie Meadors, Diana Thayer
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: E. Lily Yu
E. Lily Yu
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor II
The Year in SF/F–Children and Young Adult Fiction Edition
The Middle Grade and YA markets continue to grow at an astonishing pace. Established and new authors within the genre are being joined by adult-fiction writers — all hoping to capture this coveted market. With so much fiction to sort through, it’s difficult to know what’s worth reading and where to start. Let’s discuss the best books out there.
Sarah Langan (M), Emma Caywood, Barry Goldblatt, Michael Stearns
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor I-Discussion Group
We Are Osgood
The fabulous recurring character Osgood on Doctor Who is in herself (or themselves?) a superfan of the series. Let’s chat about this character that we all enjoy!
Priscilla Olson
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Lewis
What Gets You Hooked on a Song?
As a songwriter, what is it about an idea that makes you want to write a particular song? As a listener, what is it about a song that gets and holds your attention?
Beth Runnerwolf (M), Gary Ehrlich, Benjamin Newman, Vixy & Tony
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Burroughs
What’s New in the World of Dinosaurs?
Cool new dinosaur species are being discovered all the time. Picture rococo fantasias of horns, spikes, and fangs! Scientists are constantly coming up with new theories on how these fantastic creatures lived and what they ate (each other). Come revel in the newest dinosaur discoveries!
Frank Wu
Sunday, 11:00 AM
Room: Harbor III
Why Anthologies?
Or, in other words, why short stories? And what does an anthology editor actually do? Is it like hosting a literary party in print? Where does the strongest story go? Moreover, which Best of the Year anthology is the best of the year’s anthologies? Our anthology editors share what it takes to build a great anthology.
Bob Devney (M), Tom Easton, Esther Friesner, Leigh Perry, Erin Underwood
Sunday, 11:30 AM
Room: Independence
Reading: Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Schweitzer
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: James Cambias, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
James Cambias, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Building Pipe Cleaner Dragons with Ben Newman
Benjamin Newman, Persis Thorndike
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor III
Creative Fandom
Fandom and fannish culture are flourishing. Whether we are talking about fan-created fiction or videos, fans are finding creative ways to embrace the characters and stories they love. What new and fun fannish things are people developing? Where do you go to share your creations? Fans and original creators come together to discuss everything from the moments of genius to the pitfalls and perils of building upon the tales they have come to treasure.
Brenda Noiseux (M), Ginjer Buchanan, Mary Crowell, Flourish Klink, Jennifer Pelland
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor II
Is It Steampunk If It’s Real?
Feorag Forsyth offers an intriguing glimpse of a steampunk world that came true, once upon a time. See actual (if bizarre) 19th-century transportation fantasia even more fantastic than those found in Foglio, Hodder, or Westerfeld. Bonus local color: turns out the Boston area had its own quaint and curious bits of steampunkerie as well! Warning: will contain monorails.
Feorag Forsyth (M)
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Melinda Snodgrass
Melinda Snodgrass
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: Lauren Roy
Lauren Roy
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Harbor I — Gaming
Puerto Rico
The most critically acclaimed board game of the last twenty years, Puerto Rico continues to wow people with its brilliant mechanics. Each player utilizes different roles — mayor, captain, settler, trader, prospector, craftsman, or builder — to score the most victory points with their colony. Players can act on every turn of the game, allowing them to choose between shipping goods for points or building an impressive city. Players must manage their colonists, erect a variety of buildings, build up their plantation, and sell or ship goods. With dozens of options, Puerto Rico is a streamlined game that can be played in about an hour and handles up to five players.
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Griffin
Reading: E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Independence
Reading: Julie C. Day
Julie C. Day
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 2
The Romantics and the Development of Speculative Fiction
Shelly, Keats, Coleridge, Byron, Polidori, Blake, Hugo, Grimm, Wilde, Dickinson, and Poe are just a few of the iconic authors from the Romantic period (approx. 1780-1850) who had a significant impact upon the development of the speculative fiction genre. Panelists discuss the art and literature of the Romantics that has had the most influence upon their own work. What should you read? What should you avoid? And what is a Romantic anyway?
Michael Swanwick (M), Gregory Feeley, Theodora Goss, Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 4
The Economics of Magazine Publishing
Many publish for love, others for prestige. Some even manage to turn a profit. From circulation to ad revenue, staff turnover, and content acquisition, what factors are critical to the sustainability of magazines and e-zines? What’s the cold hard truth on the bottom line of your balance sheet?
Julia Rios (M), Neil Clarke, Shahid Mahmud, Steve Davidson
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Burroughs
The Literature of Ideas
Science fiction has been dubbed the literature of ideas. However, is SF still the genre that explores those big ideas? Can one story have memorable and real characters, an intriguing plot, rich language — and still address the fundamental questions of the universe, or at least of humanity? What should we read for deep thought on the nature of reality?
Carlos Hernandez (M), Ken Altabef, Darrell Schweitzer
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Lewis
Wired for Sound: Home Audio Recording
What does it take to have a recording studio in your home? The days when only pampered platinum recording artists could have a studio in their own home are long gone. The equipment is no longer out of reach for the aspiring artist — musician, voiceover artist, or podcaster. However, the difficulties multiply the more people you want to record at once. Our panelists share their other tips and tricks.
Bob Kuhn (M), Kate Baker, Lauren Schiller, Vixy & Tony
Sunday, 12:00 NOON
Room: Marina 3
Writing: The Value (and Pitfalls) of Oft-Given Advice
In fantasy, should you write what you know — or something that no one has even imagined? Received wisdom isn’t always correct. But flout its conventions at your peril … or listen to our panelists to find out what today’s writers really think about yesterday’s best advice.
F. Brett Cox (M), David Gerrold, Errick Nunnally, Walter Jon Williams, E. Lily Yu
Sunday, 12:30 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Craig Shaw Gardner
Craig Shaw Gardner
Sunday, 12:30 PM
Room: Independence
Reading: C.S.E. Cooney
C.S.E. Cooney
Sunday, 12:30 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
A Certain Scientific Railgun
A spinoff series from A Certain Magical Index, this follows Academy City’s third-ranked psychic power user or “esper,” named Misaka. The series follows her and her friends, in events ranging from everyday life to those concerning the inner workings of Academy City — and the sometimes-questionable morals of those in power. Rated: TV-14. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Art Show
The Art of Richard Anderson
Join Boskone 53’s Official Artist in the Art Show to view and discuss the work he has on display.
Richard Anderson
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
Alien Invasions — Why Do They Bother?
Terribly-tentacled conquerors and their ilk trying to take over the Earth are a science fiction staple. But really, what’s in it for them? Why us? In a universe of precious resources, why would they destroy the Earth? We’ll discuss various examples, including why the Martians would even want New Jersey.
Allen M. Steele (M), Julia Rios, Robert J. Sawyer, Frank Wu, Craig Shaw Gardner
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: Leigh Perry (Toni L. P. Kelner), Garth Nix, Django Wexler
Leigh Perry (Toni L. P. Kelner), Garth Nix, Django Wexler
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Broad Universe Group 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 16 years of “Broads” with Randee Dawn, Elaine Isaak, Anna Erishkigal, Lisa Hawkridge, Christie Meierz, and Roberta Rogow. Hosted by LJ Cohen.
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Don’t Suck Your Brushes: Hazardous Materials in Artistic Fields
No artist wants to be limited, but even art has unforeseen dangers lurking in the corners. Artists share their experience and tales of things gone wrong in the studio to help you to avoid the same mistakes.
Lisa Hertel (M), Kristina Carroll, Ingrid Kallick, David R. Seeley
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Exoplanets Are Out There
Did you ever expect to view exoplanets from Earth? SF writers since Doc Smith seemed to assume we’d discover planets only when we approached the stars they orbited. Now astronomers have confirmed 2,000 exoplanets and counting; they’re designing new devices to resolve their spectra and hint at their habitability. Was this a failure of imagination, a choice to build drama, or an unexpected success of astronomical instrumentation? Didn’t any writers get it right?
Charles Gannon (M), Jeff Hecht, Beth Meacham, Steve Miller, Mark L. Olson
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
Inside the Editing Process
How does the editorial process work? Editors must deal with a variety of writers, each with his or her own style, preferences, and agenda — while keeping an eye on management, markets, and much more. How does the revision process proceed? What do editors really do?
John R. Douglas (M), Neil Clarke, Steve Davidson, Jordan Hamessley, Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: John Langan
John Langan
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Galleria-DragonsLair
Kids Concert with Gary Ehrlich & Mary Ellen Wessels
Gary Ehrlich, Mary Ellen Wessels
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
Must See TV! The New Shows You Have to Watch
What new series are worth your time? What programs need to be retired? What’s still going strong? And what shows were handed a pink slip before their time? (Let’s talk about Supergirl, Arrow, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, The Expanse, Dark Matter, Into the Badlands, Jessica Jones, The Magicians, and more!)
Erin Underwood (M), Ginjer Buchanan, Garen Daly, Melinda Snodgrass
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Lewis
Song Circle: Death
What happens when we die? Is death a person we meet? A place we go? Or are we just gone? Join us in this participatory song circle to explore the reality, and fantasy, of the concept of death.
Denise A. Gendron (M), Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Take Me To Your Leader
Does SF/F get leaders all wrong? How do leaders in large organizations actually act? Are leaders creative? What motivates them? Let’s compare character archetypes from page and screen to real-world leaders.
Stephen P. Kelner Jr. (M), A.C.E. Bauer, Vincent Docherty, Sharon Lee, Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Writing: What’s in a Workshop?
The shining stars in today’s fantasy firmament weren’t all born with nuclear fusion. Many attended excellent writer’s workshops across the country, and those workshops now come in all shapes and sizes with varying price points. Staff and former students of these inspiring programs discuss what’s common and what’s unique about various workshops.
James Patrick Kelly (M), John Chu, F. Brett Cox, Theodora Goss, E. C. Ambrose (Elaine Isaak)
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Room: Independence
“Adventure!”
Does XYZZY mean something to you? Come together for a fond look back at Colossal Cave — one of the first computer adventure games, and one that caught the fancy of so many. Plugh.
Priscilla Olson
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 4
American Gods: The 15th Anniversary
Fifteen years after publication (and winning both Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel), Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is still worshipped by readers new and old. It’s a dark, twisty tale of traditional religious deities battling our new gods. Why does it cast such a long Shadow? Is it more like Good Omens or The Sandman? Will the upcoming TV series be faithful to the Book?
Max Gladstone (M), Beth Meacham, Diana Thayer, Django Wexler
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Galleria-Autographing
Autographing: A.C.E. Bauer, LJ Cohen, Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald
A.C.E. Bauer, LJ Cohen, Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor III
How to Kill … a Character
Death shouldn’t be easy. Killing characters within a story shouldn’t just glorify death, or play to prurient interest. How, when, and why should you end a character so that it serves the greater purpose of the story? Is anyone really safe within a story?
Sarah Smith (M), Charles Gannon, David Gerrold, Christie Meierz, E.J. Stevens
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 1
Kaffeeklatsch 1: Jeff Hecht
Jeff Hecht
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor I-Kaffeeklatsch 2
Kaffeeklatsch 2: James Moore
James Moore
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 2
Mythology Mixology
Zeus and Huitzilopochtli; Reynard and Kitsune; kelpies and undines. Today’s fantasy draws inspiration (and species) from many mythological sources. What happens when creatures from different cultural milieux occur in the same story? Why do writers mix their mythologies? Who has done it well?
Michael Swanwick (M), Ken Altabef, Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller, Jo Walton
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 1
Phun with Physics
Arguably one of the oldest forms of science, physics is not (always) a dry and dusty matter. Join our playful panel of madcap science mavens for a fun discussion on the history of physics. They’ll note some high and low points on the physics timeline, and consider how these inspired (or demoralized) later research.
Beforehand, check out this great physics timeline for key events: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=kqq
Jordin T. Kare (M), John Chu, Paula Crock, Mark L. Olson, N.A. Ratnayake
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Griffin
Reading: Darlene Marshall
Darlene Marshall
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Harbor II
Requiem: They Played the Game of Thrones and Lost
Some were good and some were bad, but all of them are dead. They have ceased to be. Rung down the curtain. Joined the choir invisible. Stiffs. Ex-Westerosi. Let’s pause to pay homage to characters who met their untimely ends at the bloody hands of George R. R. Martin, and recall their glorious or dubious or just plain icky ends. And while we’re at it, let’s speculate about who’s the next to go. Because there’s no use hoping that anyone will make it out alive.
David McDonald (M), Laurie Mann, Lauren Roy, Michael Sharrow
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Room: Marina 3
The Changing Landscape of Comics
Comic books have seen many changes since the first big boom of the 1930s. From the superheroes of the Golden Age to the romance comics of the 1950s and 1960s to today’s darker, more complex characters and stories, the landscape always alters and shifts. We’ve moved away from the Comics Code; indie and web comic publishers flourish. What roles have TV and film played in putting comics on the map worldwide? What’s coming next? Can comics maintain the momentum?
Brenda Noiseux (M), Gillian Daniels, Grady Hendrix, Robert Howard, Errick Nunnally
Sunday, 2:15 PM
Room: Carlton — (video screening)
Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl
Makoto Niwa just moved to the city to live with his aunt Meme after his parents were reassigned to work overseas. He is perfectly fine with that, saying it will give him the chance to live the dream life of an adolescent boy. He keeps track of the things he does by assigning “points” to them—positive or negative—and adds them up on a regular basis to grade his adolescent life. And then he discovers Meme has a secret daughter (and self-proclaimed alien) named Erio. He finds her rolling around by the front door of Meme’s house wrapped up in a futon. It is then he realizes that his dream adolescent life will not come true, and begins a life of experiences that are out of this world. Rated: TV-14. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Sunday, 3:00 PM
Room: Burroughs
Feedback Session
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 54. Help us get a good head start with reports on what went right (or wrong) this time, and how to achieve perfection next year.
Tim Szczesuil, Erin Underwood, Bob Kuhn
Sunday, 3:00 PM
Room: Lewis
MASSFILC Business Meeting
Benjamin Newman (M)
Sunday, 3:20 PM
Room: Lewis
Dead Dog Open Singing
Ring out the convention with one last round of open singing.
Benjamin Newman (M)
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We hope you enjoy Boskone 53 and look forward to seeing you this February!