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Arisia 2004 Program Schedule (last changed 1/10/04)
This schedule is subject to changes. Please check the schedule at-con when you arrive to confirm times, rooms, participants, etc.
FRIDAY 7:00 PM
to 8 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Arlington Arisia '04 Juried Art Show A presentation by the Arisia Art Show jury about the pieces selected for this year's juried section of the show. Sue Brown, Buzz Harris*, Rachel Mello, Carsten Turner Back Bay Why Are Evil Characters So Much Fun? Anti-heroes and "dark" characters seem to have the best lines and strongest personalities in literature and movies. This panel will try to explain why. Charlene Brusso, Kristin Burger*, Paul Levinson, Will McDermott Cabot Being a Good P.C. How to get the most from a LARP. Staying in character, and handling "metagame" problems. There are a lot of good habits a player can form to ensure a fun game for themselves and others. Beth Kelly, Matthew Pearson*, Lisa Steele, Michael Ventrella Charles River Do Free Markets Work? Many libertarians believe that free markets are automatically superior to government regulation. Is this true? The last ten years has seen the triumph of the market ideology. Now there is backlash from less-developed countries, and even within the United States. Is regulation inherently inimical to free markets? Does regulation serve free markets? And what is a free market anyway? John McDaid, Eric Raymond, John Sundman, Rich Yampell Constitution League of Extraordinary Player Characters We accept gaming within our favorite fictional worlds, but how can we play our favorite characters and run them properly? Join our master gamers and GMs as they discuss how to avoid the clarion call of "I kill Gandalf" at your table. Mike Horne, Elizabeth McCoy, Jason Schneiderman, Jonathan Woodward* Franklin Forgotten Greats Chandler, Laumer, and even Wells have been relegated to the back of the bookcase in an effort to find and publish the "next cool thing." Join our panel of experts as they remind you of the greats you may have missed. Deb Geisler, Andrea Lyon, Alex Newman*, Eric Van Gloucester Life Beyond Cancellation Stargate survived cancellation, as did Babylon 5. Family Guy and Firefly may be resurrected in film form. Dozens of networks hungry for programming open up new ways to save beloved shows. Rather than petitioning ax-wielding networks, might fans do better courting new homes for their favorites? Pam Ochs, Cathy Raymond, James Zavaglia* Holmes How SF Influenced the UFO — and Vice Versa Science fiction stories have not only sparked our imaginations about aliens, they have influenced and cemented those images as well. Which came first, the saucer, or the story about the saucer? Jeff Hecht, Shane Tourtellotte, Stephen Wilk* Lexington And Now for Something Completely Familiar It's a rare fan who doesn't know several Monty Python skits by heart ... even though the vast majority of them have nothing to do with SF. What makes them so appealing? Michael Pederson, Jacob Sommer, Frank Wu* Longfellow Reading — Shariann Lewitt Shariann reads a vampire story about Frida Kahlo titled "Immortal," which is scheduled to appear in Dreams of Decadence. Shariann Lewitt St. James SteamPunk The eclectic combination of genres that make up the SteamPunk phenomenon has entered all aspects of fandom. Why does it attract us so? Why now? Ed Fuqua*, Scott Green, Tim Powers, Mercy Van Vlack Thoreau Apocalypse Tao Modern civilization is vulnerable to all kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made. A major power outage or interruption of water supply could lead to chaos if not fixed quickly. If that happens, are you prepared? What would you do? Terry Franklin*, Toni Lay, Victor Raymond, Glenn Slate Whitehill How to Survive Your First Con Learn the basics of the 5-2-1 rule and other important tricks of the trade to make your first convention the positive experience of a lifetime. Michael A. Burstein, Solomon Davidoff, Rebecca Feld, Hal Haag* Winthrop The Ten-Book Trilogy Ongoing series seem to be the only thing that publishers and fans can agree upon. We know why they love them, but why do we enjoy them so much? Can't we ever live happily ever after? Walter Hunt, Cynthia Shettle 571 (Fast Track) Free Crafts 572 (Fast Track) Movies 573 (Fast Track) Origami Create shapes and animals using Japanese folded paper techniques. Learn the basic folds and see what you can create. Laurel Cunningham-Hill, Ming Diaz FRIDAY 8:00 PM
to 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Ballroom Steampunk Dance Imagine a Victorian world with the technology that might have been — steam-powered high tech and Babbage’s difference engines a reality. Now come dance there. All dances will be taught. Appropriate costume is encouraged, but not required and anyone may attend. Cabot Promoting 3-D Art "Art" refers to so much more than paint on canvas. Join our panel as we discuss the various innovative 3-D artforms, and where you can learn more about them. Arthur Ganson, Heidi Hooper*, Scott Lefton Charles River 1984: Are We There Yet? Twenty years ago, we passed the date which George Orwell predicted would be one of the most dystopian futures ever imagined. How did he do? Was he right, was he wrong, was he just a little off on the dates? And if it's on its way, is there anything we can do to stop it? Michael Anderson, Leigh Grossman*, Gary McGath, John Sundman, Shane Tourtellotte Constitution SF Evangelism Are there any books guaranteed to interest an otherwise mundane reader? How do we turn more people into SF and fantasy readers? John Bowker, Charlene Brusso, Rachel Silverman, Eric Van* Franklin Customizing Vampire Fangs Learn the secrets of customizing your "Scarecrow" brand Vampire Fangs the safe way, for a perfect fit, by folks who have worked for "Scarecrow." The fangs will be available for purchase at the demo for $10.00, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fang purchase is not required in order to view the demo. Karen Dick, Ricky Dick Gloucester Fanfic Explosion The Internet has made it easy for anyone and everyone to write. How has it affected the actual quality and perceived quality of fan fiction? Debra Baker*, Diane Kovalcin, Barbara Walton, Meredith Schwartz Holmes What Makes a Democracy? Is a democracy just the right to vote, or is there more to it? Is the United States a democracy? What about other countries that have elections? Suford Lewis, Sheila Oranch*, Ian Randal Strock Lexington Realism in Fantasy It has been said that you can tell a fantasy novel from a medieval romance because the fantasy characters don't need baths every day. What level of "realism" is necessary for a believable fantasy? What level is too much? Mary Catelli, Will McDermott*, Tim Powers Longfellow Reading — Wen Spencer Wen Spencer St. James Buffy the Vampire Slayer In what will likely be one of the final Arisia Buffy panels, we look back on seven seasons of the Buffyverse. Was it worth it? Did they end it at the right time? Will this remain a landmark series? Michael A. Burstein, Nomi Burstein, Daniel Kimmel, Bey, Misty Pendragon* Stuart Celebration: A Rite of Passage LARP It's the night of the high-school prom, and everyone is on their best behavior around the chaperones. (Yeah, right.) But something strange is going on! Terrace Drum Circle Here's the chance for you to bring out your inner voice through percussion and dance. Bring yourself and any instruments that you have, and let's get the energy moving.
If you take the time to really listen to the people around you, you can get a chance to blend your being with the entire group.
All ranges of skills and talents are welcome.Jim Dattolo Thoreau Beginning Poetry Poetry might seem like dense writing, but does that mean you have to be dense to like it? Of course not! Join us and learn how to release the poet from within! Corrine De Winter, Ed Fuqua, Herb Kauderer* Whitehill Reading — Cecilia Tan Cecilia Tan Whittier An Introduction to the Music of Science Fiction Fandom From music tracks for TV and movies that strike a chord in the hearts of fans, to popular music beloved by fandom, to music written by fans for fans — commonly known as 'filk' — music has been part of fandom for a long time. Find out more about it! Solomon Davidoff, Spencer Love, Mark Mandel*, Hillary Sherwood Winthrop The Never-ending Stories Some of the most famous SF series were derived from classic myths. Why are we still fascinated with these old stories? Ken Gale, Kiralee McCauley*, Abigail Weiner 571 (Fast Track) Free Crafts 572 (Fast Track) Movies 573 (Fast Track) Folk sing-a-long Sing some of your favorite folk songs, and learn some new ones. Gunther Anderson FRIDAY 9:00 PM
to 8 pm to 10 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Dominate the World! Make a Microcontroller Your Willing Slave Want to have an army of Cylons at your command? Want to have your own Buffy-bot (or Spike?) Or do you just want to just build something cool? Join us for this beginner's guide to microcontrollers. Kevin Fallon Arlington Meet the Pros / Art Show Reception Cabot The Curse of Spam Monty Python and Hormel may have given Spam its name, but the effects are neither funny nor nourishing. Can anything be done? Should anything be done? And how do we punish those who started the whole thing? Carl Frederick, Gary McGath, Crash (Bill Yerazunis)* Charles River Designing Great Player Characters Some characters simply stand out more than others. Learn from our experts how to create a character worth playing, rather than a character that just gets played. Peter Maranci, Kiralee McCauley, Elizabeth McCoy*, Richard Staats, Joseph Teller Constitution Dragon Lore The Elder Wurms are not just Franklin stoves with scales, but rather are fantastic creatures that have fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Join us for a discussion on the history, mythology, and majesty of the true lizard kings: The Dragons. Mary Catelli, Lynne Cullen*, Ken Gale Franklin Heinlein to Carey — Sex and Spirituality in SF Sex and spirituality can go together, and Heinlein showed the way. How can sex lead to a better understanding of the unknowable? For age 18 and over. Solomon Davidoff*, Dara Joy, Honey Nichols Gloucester Saving Television Shows Why have the fans been able to save shows like Star Trek and La Femme Nikita but not Farscape? What went right, and wrong? Jerome Conner*, Scott Green, James Zavaglia Holmes Tales from the Sausage Factory "People who respect sausages and love the law shouldn't watch either getting made." It's not pretty in D.C. (or your local state house), but it's not as ugly as you think it is. Sometimes, it's pretty funny. How public policy gets made. Harold Feld*, Muriel Kanter, Victor Raymond Lexington Supermarket Scanner Cards as the Mark of the Beast Your supermarket card and drug store card are already "spying" on you to indicate what your purchase preferences are. How much more of this sort of thing will there be in the future? Can we stop or regulate it? Should we? Nomi Burstein*, Ian Randal Strock, Stephen Wilk Longfellow Reading — Gordon Linzner Gordon will read two or three short stoires, published and unpublished, and will have some time for questions and answers. His stories are primarily in the horror genre. Gordon Linzner St. James Angel A mid-season look at Angel's fifth year. They're running a law firm, Spike and Harmony are on board, Buffy will be visiting. Is Angel better than ever or is it time to put a spike in it? Annalee Newitz, Misty Pendragon, Karen Purcell, Jason Schneiderman*, Cynthia Shettle Thoreau Poetry Open Mic Share your favorites with an appreciative audience. Michelle Wexelblat Whitehill Circlet Press Party til 11:00 pm Winthrop Oh No, Not Another "Free the Slaves" Event All gaming styles have central themes that tend to repeat. Again, and again, and again. Here, we'll discuss how to expand on those ideas, find innovative ways to use them, and possibly bring new concepts and plots to revitalize your game world. Eric Gibson, Walter Milliken, Jason Schneiderman, Michael Ventrella*, Walt Weber Presidential Suite Costumers' Meet-and-Greet A chance to meet up with old friends and make some new ones. Catch up with the costume folks you haven't seen since last year, and if you are new to costuming and want to learn more about this unique art form, feel free to come by. We love to talk about our costumes. Refreshments will be served.
Til 11:00 pm.FRIDAY 10:00 PM
to 9 pm to 11 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Online Fan Communities Chat, blogs, and mailing lists. Usenet changed the face of fandom. What, if anything, are blogs doing to change it further? Robert Balder, Tom Restivo*, Barbara Walton Charles River DNA as Language and Music It's illegal in the USA to own another human being, but what about yourself? Can DNA be copyrighted? Should people have the rights to their personal arrangement of DNA? What happens when that DNA is the basis for a work of art? Carl Frederick*, Paul Levinson, Karen Purcell, John Sundman Franklin The Future of the World's Oldest Profession The future of any technology is assured once it is used for illicit purposes, which seems to imply that the Internet is here to stay. What will be the new forms for the house of ill-repute? We already have interactive strip shows online ... what more can there be? What more will there be? For age 18 and over. Solomon Davidoff, Tom Easton, Glenn Slate* Gloucester A Pixar Story The computer animation house releasing through Disney hasn't made a false move yet. Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo … Why are their films so consistently good, and why is more traditional animation — Treasure Planet, Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas — failing with audiences? Kit Hawkins, Daniel Kimmel, Pam Ochs, Michael Ventrella* Lexington Copyright or Copywrong? Many feel that current copyright laws are completely out of control. Do they most benefit the artist and her grateful audience — or her greedy grandkids and the megacorporation that bought her rights for pennies? And what do extreme, extended copyrights mean for the future of our genres? We'll talk about Stephen Baxter's problems using H.G. Wells' The Time Machine as source material for his The Time Ships, and other genre examples. Harold Feld, Ed Fuqua, Alan Wexelblat* Longfellow Reading — Debra Doyle Debra Doyle St. James Do We Need a System of Intellectual Property? Congress can set up a patent and copyright system if it wants to, but should it? What about trademarks? Do we need protection with laws and regulations? Isn't the free market enough? Does it infringe free speech rights? And, if we must have a system that grants people a monopoly on certain forms of expression, what should the system do, and how? Scott Lefton*, Cathy Raymond, Eric Raymond Thoreau Lord of the Cinemas It's finally finished — except for the "very special" DVD set with Return of the King. How does the LOTR series work as a whole? How does it compare to the books? Should the rest of Tolkien be dusted off for big screen treatment? Bob Devney*, Peter Maranci, Rachel Mello, Eric Van Whittier Open Filk Discover the wide variety of styles covered by the word "filk." Sing through the night, and into the dawn ... Winthrop Shoestring LARPing How to create a world of imagination from string and sealing wax. We'll discuss prop and visuals creation on a budget, and share ideas for creating seemingly detailed environments in various LARP settings. The audience will be asked to present scenarios they'd like to see created inexpensively, and the panelists will share their advice on accomplishing it. Rachel Morris*, Matthew Pearson FRIDAY 11:00 PM
to 10 pm to 11:30 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Franklin Implications of Altsex in SF SF as a genre has been more accepting of difference than most, and that includes sexual diversity... everything from the transgendered to themes of control. What does that say about the genre, and those who enjoy it?
For age 18 and over.Solomon Davidoff, Paul Levinson*, Annalee Newitz Longfellow Reading — P.D. Cacek P.D. Cacek will be reading "A Book, By Its Cover." First appearing in Shelf Life and later selected by David Hartwell for his Year's Best Fantasy, 3, the story deals with the power, both physically and emotionally, books have on the reader. P.D. Cacek Terrace Rocky Horror Picture Show Movie and stage show. Remember: It’s just a jump to the left! The Tesseract Players FRIDAY 11:30 PM
to 11 pm to midnight ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Ballroom Dresden Dolls Concert Combine the smoky cellars of a Weimar-era cabaret with the rock 'n roll fury of Joan Jett, PJ Harvey and The Violent Femmes and you have a remote idea of what to expect when experiencing The Dresden Dolls. Ever since taking up arms in mid-2000, the über-dynamic duo has been packing clubs in Boston, New York and beyond.
Opening set by Molly Zenobia (accompanied by Dave Resnick and Matt Rosen).Amanda Palmer (Piano/Vox) and Brian Viglione (Drums) FRIDAY MIDNIGHT
to 11 pm
to 11:30 pmto Saturday 9 am ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE St. James Vampire Trivia Contest Who truly knows the secrets of the Children of the Night? Let's find out! Susan de Guardiola, Marty Gear SATURDAY 9:00 AM
to Friday midnight to 10 am ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Stuart Early Morning Yoga Jude Shabry Tremont Management Coffeeklatsch Anecdotes, advice, and caffeine with our Fan GOH. Kim Van Auken SATURDAY 10:00 AM
to 9 am to 10:30 am
to 11 amROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Marketing One's Art How does one draw attention to one's work? In a day where publishing companies no longer have in-person interviews or portfolio drop-offs, how can an artist's work be seen? Websites, convention art shows, artist sourcebooks … do any of these work, or does an artist really need an agent? What can artists new to the field do? Heidi Hooper, Brian McFadden, Eric Ren, Frank Wu* Cabot Myth and the 21st Century Mythological archetypes change slowly, but they do change. How will myth be adapted by the new century evolving around us? John Deal*, Clayton Emery, Terry Franklin, Herb Kauderer Charles River Religion at Conventions It is becoming more common to see kosher consuites and a variety of on-site services. We have a reputation for militant atheism, but many fen are observant of a multitude of faiths. What opportunities are there for worship at cons? Rebecca Feld*, Martin Grover, Andrea Lyon Constitution Trade Paperbacks Redux The trade market is growing by leaps and bounds, but some argue that the growth is crippling the comic market. We'll look at the future of the comics industry. Jim Blanchette, John Bowker, Robert Greenberger*, Alexx Kay Emerson Job Hunting Workshop Sheila Oranch Franklin Beading Workshop Learn about some of the many fascinating and creative ways to use beads. Lisa Ashton, Karen Dick, Donna Dube, Diane Kovalcin, Sue Toker Gloucester Keeping Access to Libraries and Journals Free Many journals are now only available online, and for a subscription price. This keeps the latest scientific advances out of the hands of those who don't subscribe, or don't have access to a library that makes these journals available. What can be done to keep access open to everyone who is interested? Elisabeth Carey, John Sundman*, Stephen Wilk Holmes How Safe is Safe? It's commonly said that medical cases are so expensive that self-interest will lead to safe practices. True or false? Are we over- or under-regulating as a society? Should US firms operating overseas follow US standards? Should workplaces ban smoking? Can workers be selected for jobs on the basis of gender or age, or can employers require medical testing to determine whether someone can handle a job safely? Karen Purcell*, Lucy Schmeidler, Ian Randal Strock Lexington Hunting and Gathering Do women play LARPs more than tabletop RPGs? If so … are RPGs, with their quests for dragons and villains, hunting, and LARPs, with their emphasis on character portrayal, gathering? Kiralee McCauley, Rachel Morris, David Sklar* Mezzanine Heinlein Society Blood Drive (until 3:30 pm) Fun! Prizes! A chance to Pay It Forward! MGH guarantees a 30 minute time for donors that arrive on time for appointments made in advance. Pay it forward and help someone in need. Massachusetts General Hospital Bloodmobile Longfellow Reading — Resa Nelson Resa Nelson St. James How to Save Star Trek They've just renamed it Star Trek: Enterprise (adding the magic Star Trek label), but it doesn't seem to be attracting a new generation of fans. Should this last bastion of the Trek franchise be saved at all costs? Does Paramount need a show out there to keep the fandom alive? What should be done? Jerome Conner, Daniel Kimmel*, Shane Tourtellotte Whitehill Can Religion Coincide with Science? The Bible says that all that is was created in 6 days and nights... but nowhere does it say Greenwich Standard Time. Our panelists will provide viewpoints in favor of and opposing a world that accepts both faith and fact. Lynne Cullen, Lisa Greber, Walter Hunt, Muriel Kanter*, Tim Powers, Bonnie Turner Winthrop Who's Reading Your Blog? We live in an age where privacy is a major concern, but we blithely spread our secrets to the four winds online. Who are you telling tales on, and to whom? What level of secrecy can you expect to have online, and in your dealings with other people? Participants in this panel, and those in the audience, may post their reactions online … Nomi Burstein, David Kaplowitz, Peter Maranci*, Pete Thomas 571 (Fast Track) Your Favorite Books What's your favorite book this year? Come share your thoughts about your favorite books, and help create a Top 15 Kids' Favorite Books list. Will McDermott 573 (Fast Track) Bearded Dragons Meet some bearded dragons in the flesh. Parents allowed with their children; sorry, no unaccompanied adults allowed. Hand washing is a must before and after this panel. Soap will be available. Natasha Hawke SATURDAY 10:30 AM
to 9 am
to 10 amto 11 am
to noonROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Terrace Higgins Armory Sword Guild Demonstrations (til 12:30 pm) The Guild is dedicated to presenting scholarly and historically accurate interpretations of medieval and Renaissance combat. Science fiction and fantasy literature enthusiasts have the opportunity to witness actual combat techniques that have not been employed in over 400 years. Five different short demos will be given; feel free to come for any or all of them.
All skills presented by he Guild are as taught in contemporary combat manuals.Jeffrey Forgeng and the HASG 10–10:30 am: Medieval Dagger Fighting in the Middle Ages could be brutal, and never more so than when combatants faced each other armed only with daggers. See the skills needed to survive a medieval knife fight. 10:30–11 am: Renaissance Rapier and Dagger Watch the most romantic of swords in action! The rapier is the best-known of swords, making its appearance in everything from Shakespeare to swash-buckler movies. Here, the Guild revives the lost art of its use as described in one of the earliest systematic manuals of the rapier. 11–11:30 am: German Longsword Do you think a strong arm is all you need to use a sword? Well, it isn’t so. Experience the subtleties of the medieval German tradition of longsword combat, in this demonstration of techniques from Joachim Meyer’s fight manual of 1570. 11:30 am – noon: Medieval Combat Have at you! Witness the subtle skills of attack, parry, and grapple, as the knightly arts of longsword, halberd and sword and buckler are brought to life. 12–12:30: Armored Combat See the clash of fully-armored knights as they would have fought in the Middle Ages! Hollywood’s images of armored combat rely on made-up moves and special effects. Watch as the Guild presents the actual techniques that knights used in battle. SATURDAY 11:00 AM
to 10 am
to 10:30 amto noon ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Playing Well with Others Collaborating on a creative project need not bring back nauseating memories of old school projects. Join our panel of experts as they explain the best avenues to successful group work, and the pitfalls along the way. Herb Kauderer, Steve Sawicki*, Barbara Walton Cabot Attitude or Income … What Makes a Professional Artist? Does the mere payment for a piece of art transform one into a "professional" or must a living be made from the effort? Is the term "professional artist" a distinction of attitude rather than talent? In a world where singers insist on being called "artists," does the term have meaning since it applies to such a wide spectrum? When might the term "Professional Artist" be an important one? Arthur Ganson, Suford Lewis, Rachel Mello*, Eric Ren Charles River Media Ownership Who controls what? Does it make a difference in what you see? Why did Buffy move to UPN, and did that make a difference in its quality? Does who owns Star Trek: The Franchise matter? The FCC's rules on media ownership have changed, making new mega-combinations of content and conduit feasible. Will this be a good thing or a bad thing for the genre? Garen Daly*, Harold Feld, Daniel Kimmel, James Zavaglia Constitution Cool Comics You're Not Reading Yet No matter how many comics you read, there are always more. Our panelists will discuss and gesticulate about a host of interesting and intriguing comics that you may not know about yet, but should. Be prepared for a world where four colors are barely sufficient to paint your dreams. Solomon Davidoff, Alexx Kay, Mark Waks*, Abigail Weiner Emerson Introduction to the NERO (New England Role-Playing Organization) Alliance Eric Gibson, Michael Ventrella, Walt Weber Franklin Beginner and Advanced Makeup Workshops Need help learning the proper techniques for your makeup for the Masquerade? This panel will help you to learn the basics, as well as understand more advanced makeup techniques such as facial appliances. You can watch either demo since the panelists will be broken up into separate groups. Ricky Dick, Scott Owens, Carol Salemi Gloucester Murder On the Galaxy Express 999 Genre bending is nothing new in Science Fiction, but in anime it seems to have taken on a life of its own. What is the fascination with the Old West in the far future? Why is it important to replicate a 20th century steam engine as a mode of intergalactic transport? Why do all fantasy series appear to have modern-day conveniences? Mike Horne*, Crash (Bill Yerazunis) Holmes Book Production We all love books, but how are they made? Can you truly love the end result and not have an interest in the process? This panel will explore the entire cycle of book production, from idea to finished galleys to purchased book. Keith DeCandido, Leigh Grossman*, Cecilia Tan Lexington What Is Evil? We use the word "evil" all the time, but do we really understand its meaning? What is the true nature of evil? Is evil a matter of nature, or nurture? Are the bad guys really good guys in darker hats? P.D. Cacek, Charles Gannon, James Macdonald, Eric Van* Longfellow Reading — Walter Hunt Walter Hunt St. James The Plight of the Older Gamer It was so easy in college. Nothing but time to kill and lots of other gamers on campus. But now that you have a job and a family, is it still possible to be a roleplayer? Hal Haag, Peter Maranci*, Kiralee McCauley, Joseph Teller Statler Signing — Wen Spencer Wen Spencer Terrace German Longsword and Medieval Combat Longsword: 11:00–11:30 am
Medieval Combat: 11:30 am—noonThoreau Print Is Dead? We've all heard it before: Between books on disk and texts online, the printed page is a thing of the past. Yet paper is still hanging on. But for how long? Paul Levinson, Michael Pederson*, Ian Randal Strock, John Sundman, James Turner Whittier Opening Sentences for Dummies Does it matter how good your opening sentence is? If so, what works? What doesn't? Carl Frederick, Shariann Lewitt*, Will McDermott, P.J. Plauger, Tim Powers Winthrop Smallville How does the TV series fit into the many lives of Superman - comic books, movies, TV shows? Does it work best as a standalone series dealing with the same material, or is there a way to make it all work together? Michael A. Burstein*, Jerome Conner, Robert Greenberger 571 (Fast Track) Create a Beady Familiar Unicorns, Centaurs, Hippogriffs - all these are magical creatures that can serve as protectors. Come create your own familiar out of beads. Laurel Cunningham-Hill 573 (Fast Track) Belly Dancing for Kids Wear your most comfortable clothes and learn some belly dance moves from a pro. Karen Purcell SATURDAY NOON
to 11 am to 1 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay You Are in a Maze of Twisty Little Passages If you recognize that phrase, you were probably a fan of Zork, one of the earliest text-interface computer games. What made those games so enjoyable? How do today's games compare? Have the advances in graphics caused us to lose the use of our imagination? Walter Milliken*, Cathy Raymond, Rich Yampell Ballroom Keynote Speech: The Future of Freedom Special Freedom Guest Eric Raymond will talk about open source software, how science fiction helped (re)discover it, and sinister master plans for world domination. Eric Raymond Cabot The Media Deluge No one will ever be able to claim that they have read all there is to read, or watched all there is to watch, or listened to all there is to listen to... but with hundreds of networks to tune into, is there anything of value to see? Is it possible to watch all that is worthwhile? And do we want to spend all of our time merely being entertained, rather than working and creating? Clayton Emery*, Catherine Pederson, James Zavaglia Charles River Surveillance in the New Millennium The widespread use of computers, small cameras, RFIDs, and personal tracking devices such as cell phones provides the technical basis for a totalitarianism more effective than anything Stalin could have achieved. What are the threats, and what can we do about the danger? Tom Easton, David Kaplowitz, Joe Lazzaro, Sheila Oranch* Constitution Poetry, Small Press, and Semi-Pro Magazines There are so many markets out there; which one should you choose? Allow our panel to guide you through the market maze toward the titles that are read and enjoyed... and pay sometimes too! Learn which magazines hold your story for ages, and which ones publish quickly. Robert Balder, Scott Green*, Michael Pederson Emerson Anarchist Pep Rally Michael Anderson Franklin Stage Movement An interactive demo in which you participate (if desired) to learn the movements needed to help develop your costume on stage, and enhance your presentation. Be sure to attend this panel if you need assistance polishing your Masquerade entry. Have a costume and don't know what to do with it? Bring your ideas and we'll help you out. Stephanie Carrigg, Donna Dube, Shanti Fader, Heidi Hooper, Scott Owens Gloucester Physics vs. Hollywood Why spaceships don't really zoom or rumble when they pass by, and don't fall down when exploded (unless it's near a planet). Michael A. Burstein*, Ian Randal Strock, Stephen Wilk Holmes Philosophy 101 Plato sought to reveal the nature of reality through words, while the brothers Wachowski used a kung-fu flick. A look at the philosophical underpinnings of The Matrix, Dark City, Brazil, and other films that question the nature of reality. John Deal*, Paul Levinson, John McDaid Lexington LARPs: A Hobby, Not a Lifestyle "You spend your weekends in the woods hitting people with sticks?" How to describe your hobby to non-gamers you meet. Eric Gibson, Matthew Pearson*, Rebecca Schoenberg, Walt Weber Longfellow Reading — Charlene Brusso Charlene will read a short story, "End of the Event Horizon" which will appear in Oceans of the Mind's "Colonies" theme issue in March, 2004. Charlene Brusso St. James SF for Kids: More than Harry Potter Plenty of us got hooked by Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea, Andre Norton, Robert A. Heinlein, and others … but that was a generation ago. What are some good "entry level" novels to get kids into SF and fantasy? Susan de Guardiola, Bobby Gear*, Lauren Grover, Rachel Silverman, James Turner Statler Signing — Robert Newton Robert Newton Stuart Nap Time LARP Reclaim your childhood! You are kindergarten students on the first day of school …
Characters will be provided. If you're interested in playing, please send email to naptime-delta@etherlines.com. Walk-ins are welcome, but those who register beforehand will be cast first, and will have more flexibility in the characters that can be assigned to them. Email just needs to express interest; the GM's will respond to them with more in-depth questions.Terrace Armored Combat Til 12:30 pm. Thoreau Alternate Americas A lot of SF is based on "What If" questions, and sometimes on alternate histories that create a very different present. What if the South won the Civil War? If Germany won the Second World War? If Manhattan was sold back to the Natives? If Puritans wrote our Constitution? This panel will discuss some of these questions and how they have been explored or might be explored in literature. Byron Connell, Terry Franklin, Leigh Grossman*, Victor Raymond, Shane Tourtellotte Whitehill NERO (New England Role-Playing Organization) International Demonstration Rachel Morris Whittier Found Filk Who are some of the musicians whose songs people love to sing? What about parody? What music has gone "straight to filk" from the mainstream? What makes you laugh or cry or think as your mind drifts to other worlds? JoEllyn Davidoff*, Robin Holly, Mark Mandel, Ny Martin Winthrop Reading Aloud Not every story works when read aloud, but some sing clear and true. Learn how to read your stories and leave your audience wanting more. TeddiDiCanio, Shariann Lewitt, Gordon Linzner, David Sklar* 571 (Fast Track) Build a Geodesic Structure Come create your very own geodesic ball using interlocking geometric shapes, and learn some basics about geometry in the process. Vonnie Carts-Powell, Jude Shabry, Pete Thomas 573 (Fast Track) Magic Wands Which wand would you choose? Or would it choose you? Create your own wand to take home and use. Sherry Briggs, Natasha Hawke, James Macdonald SATURDAY 1:00 PM
to noon to 2 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Modern Fairy-Tale Retellings Fairy tales have long stood the test of time, and many authors are turning to the classics once more. Which of these revisions are worth reading, and which are worth avoiding? Corrine De Winter*, Teddi DiCanio, Lauren Grover Ballroom Writer GOH Speech Tim Powers talks about what it is that makes us read stories that we know are flat-out impossible, and why the people who are not able to read them are not actually saner than we are. Tim Powers Cabot Set Phasers to Stun Picking and describing personal weapons for heroes and villains. Why is a stun weapon a good thing for fiction? Fictional stun settings vs. real non-lethal weapons. Jeanne Cavelos*, Jeffrey Forgeng, Eric Ren, Lisa Steele Charles River Cryptography and Digital Security in SF Books like Cryptonomicon have shown that it can be more than just a magic widget. Can greater realism be added without dragging down the plot? Donald Eastlake, Wil Howitt, Crash (Bill Yerazunis)* Constitution Guilty Pleasures in Film and TV Sure they're awful, but we watch anyway. Is it the curiosity of seeing a car wreck, or are there real pleasures to be had in even the worst media SF? And if it's a pleasure, should you be feeling guilty? Jim Blanchette, Robert Greenberger, Jason Schneiderman, Frank Wu* Emerson Noreascon 4: Worldcon in Boston In 2004, fen from all over the world will come to Boston for the Worldcon. Share your ideas on how we can make it a con to remember. Deb Geisler Franklin Anime Costuming How do those recreation Anime costumes get made? Learn what's hot in Anime costuming, and how to do it. Anime Boston is in April. Get your costume ready now. … Shanti Fader, Laura Kovalcin, Garrett McCarthy, Loopgarou Whitesides Gloucester From Screenplay to Screen What happens on the way from word processor to camera to cineplex? Is it possible to have a literate SF movie that compares favorably with books, and why is it so difficult to achieve? Kit Hawkins, Resa Nelson, Steve Sawicki, Glenn Slate* Holmes When Are You Going to Write Something Real? The differences between fan writing and original writing, and the similarities. What is the allure of other people's imaginations? When should you think about going original? Debra Baker, Terri Osborne, Wen Spencer, Barbara Walton* Lexington Are We Alone? If rationality is common in the universe, then some other race should already have stumbled across us. If this is true, there are only a few options: we have been noted and ignored; we have been seen and tabled for future study; we are an ongoing experiment; there are other species but they have yet to notice us; or we are alone. Are any of these more likely than the others? And which option did we leave out? Tom Easton, Jeff Hecht*, Walter Hunt, Toni Lay, Shane Tourtellotte Longfellow Reading — Will McDermott Will McDermott will read passages from his latest novel, The Moons of Mirrodin and, if time permits, read from "Child of the Street," a short story to be published in an upcoming anthology. Will McDermott St. James The Balkanization of Fandom Interdisciplinarity may be the buzzword of academia, but it has yet to be used in relation to fandom. We gather together to celebrate what we have in common, and then separate through different doors relating to our interests. What will finally bring us together? Can anything? Martin Gear, Hal Haag, Kiralee McCauley*, Tom Restivo Statler Signing — John Sundman John Sundman Terrace Tom Smith Concert (Special Filk Guest) Silly, angry, crazy, and, most of all, funny! Don't miss this chance to hear the World's Fastest Filker live and in person. Tom Smith Thoreau The Business of Writing Remember, the bottom line is that the agent is responsible for their own pocket as well as yours ... and theirs comes first. Join our panel of experts as they discuss how to understand the business aspects of a writing career. P.D. Cacek, Keith DeCandido, Alex Newman*, Robert Newton Winthrop Separation of Church and State If same-sex marriage is such an issue, what will we do about cross-species partnerships with aliens? Should the social/economic contract of "marriage" be divorced from religious unions? Kristin Burger, Cynthia Shettle, Bonnie Turner*, Michael Ventrella 571 (Fast Track) Care and Feeding of Mythical Creatures Talk with a fannish vet about the various creatures in your care, or those you would like to have. Karen Purcell 573 (Fast Track) Pipe Cleaner Dragons Design and make a dragon from pipe cleaners. Take home your own mythical beast. Laurel Cunningham-Hill, Kara Haff, Elizabeth McCoy, Lucy Schmeidler SATURDAY 1:30 PM
to 1 pm to 2 pm
to 3 pmROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE 572 (Fast Track) Higgins Armory Sword Guild Demo for Kids Medieval weapons. Jeffrey Forgeng SATURDAY 2:00 PM
to 1 pm to 3 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay How to Keep Your LARP as a Role-Playing Game How to write plots, encourage character interaction, and keep ideas and intrigue flowing after the game starts. Combat is fun, but it shouldn't be the entirety of a game. Eric Gibson, Beth Kelly, Michael Ventrella*, Walt Weber Cabot The Golden Days of Classic Arcade Games Why were the old arcade and console games so much more fun than modern games? Have games become too sophisticated? Paul Birnbaum, Jerome Conner, Kara Haff, Alexx Kay, Peter Maranci* Charles River The Movie Year in Review Our annual look back at the year in SF, horror, and fantasy film. Our panel of experts will cover every theatrical release of 2003. Find out what you missed — and which ones are worth catching up with.
Note: audience participation is reserved for the end of the discussion, as the goal is to get through every film.John Bowker, Garen Daly, Bob Devney, Daniel Kimmel*, Robert Newton Constitution Doctor Who The BBC has just given the go-ahead for a new Dr. Who. Given all his incarnations, what are the rules for getting it right — and what should they avoid doing? Kristin Burger*, Solomon Davidoff, Gordon Linzner, Cathy Raymond Emerson Viable Paradise Writing Workshop Presentation Debra Doyle, James Macdonald Franklin Costuming from Films Whether you're from Middle Earth or Outer Space, learn how to go about researching and creating costumes from movies you love. Shanti Fader, Diane Kovalcin, Garrett McCarthy, Scott Owens, Sue Toker Gloucester How to Deal with Editors No rune or laser sword could cut as deep as an editor with their Pen of Deletion. How do you treat and deal with someone who holds the soul of your work in their hand? Practical suggestions and specific sympathy will be available to those in need. Michael A. Burstein*, Shariann Lewitt, Resa Nelson, Ian Randal Strock Holmes The Mechanics of Anthology Editing The biggest myth in all of publishing is that editing an anthology is an easy job. Join our panel of experts as they explain how to do it properly. P.D. Cacek, Jeanne Cavelos*, Keith DeCandido Lexington Pitfalls for New GMs, and How to Avoid Them What are some of the most common mistakes that GMs make, and how can they affect running a game? Even the most experienced game masters will run into problems, but with help and planning you can avoid basic mistakes, and fix them when they happen in spite of your best planning. We will also discuss choosing a venue to match your game. Martin Grover, Joseph Teller, Mark Waks, Jonathan Woodward* Longfellow Reading — Paul Levinson Paul will read the first chapter of The Pixel Eye, his latest Phil D'Amato, featuring squirrels as suspects in a near-future NYC … And, as a special addition, Paul will read an excerpt from The Plot to Save Socrates, his next novel, which he just finished writing. Paul Levinson St. James Has Buffy Changed the Face of Vampires Forever? With the popularity of the "Buffy Phenomenon," will horror writers be forced by fannish opinion to write sweet, wise-cracking vampires, or is it possible to re-establish the true nature of this most popular beast? Susan de Guardiola, Martin Gear, Misty Pendragon*, John Sundman Statler Signing — Clayton Emery Terrace Polyamory Social Hour Honey Nichols, Alan Wexelblat Thoreau Alien Courts and Trials What happens when you're accused of a crime on another planet? How have writers handled this in the past? Why did the Klingon court in The Undiscovered Country demonstrate more due process than the Kryptonian court in Superman II? Is it possible to write a plausible method of dispensing justice without relying on Terran history? Is the idea of justice in itself an Earthly concept? Elisabeth Carey, Leigh Grossman, Glenn Slate* Whittier Musical Rad Libs Ever played a game of Mad Libs? We have several songs with words removed, and you need to supply the replacements! When the replacements are all filled in you'll be treated to a performance of the song you just helped write. How warped can it get? Come and find out! Rebecca Feld*, Robin Holly, Rachel Silverman, Tom Smith, Jacob Sommer Winthrop Nerd Power The combined brainpower of an average group of fen is considerable. Do those of us who are gifted have a responsibility to help those less fortunate? It could be as simple as helping someone learn to read, or as complex as running for public office. Should we do what we can to improve the world? Herb Kauderer, Michael McAfee, Pete Thomas* 571 (Fast Track) A Backstage Look at the Masquerade See the stage up close, ask the Masquerade Director how it all works, and imagine yourself in your favorite costume. We'll go to the Main Ballroom for a quiet look, then come back to the 5th floor for a discussion. Carl Mami, Joyce Grace 573 (Fast Track) Why We Love Harry Potter and Hate Draco Malfoy Do you really like Harry Potter and hate Draco Malfoy? Or is it the other way around? Come share your views on the heroes and villains of this fascinating series. Sherry Briggs, Bobby Gear, Sheila Oranch SATURDAY 3:00 PM
to 2 pm to 4 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Uncommon Knowledge Every author is advised to "write what you know," but while C'thulhu might take great joy in the concept of raising a demon for research, it's not advisable for those who wish to maintain a good mental balance. How can you learn about the unlife of the undead and departed? P.D. Cacek*, Steve Sawicki, Lucy Schmeidler Ballroom Masquerade Rehearsal Cabot Cerebus at 300 Dave Sim began his epic work 25 years ago. He claimed his chronicle of the life of Cerebus — an acerbic, bipedal, barbarian aardvark — would be a limited series of 300 issues. That work is almost complete. We will discuss both the odyssey of the title character and his creator. Jim Blanchette, Ken Gale, Wil Howitt, Alexx Kay* Charles River Teaching SF/F Any topic can be taught through science fiction and fantasy literature. Our panel will discuss not only the various ways that SF/F can be taught in school settings, but the importance of teaching through these genres as well. Susan Hanniford Crowley, Solomon Davidoff, John Deal, Bobby Gear, Leigh Grossman* Constitution Internet Governance: Who Rules the Net? FCC, ICANN, ITU, IETF … quite an alphabet soup around an unregulated medium. Can anyone really regulate the Internet? Do they regulate it already? Did the collaborative model that brought us peering and end-to-end die in the Internet bubble? Donald Eastlake, Eric Raymond*, Pete Thomas Emerson Odyssey Writing Workshop Presentation Jeanne Cavelos Franklin The Graying of Fandom With fandom getting older, what is being done to bring in younger fans? A hard look at what we can do to prevent fandom from dying out. Jerome Conner, Deb Geisler, Hal Haag*, Victor Raymond Gloucester Does Information Really Want to Be Free? Flush with the potential of the Internet, activists in the 1990s declared censorship dead. "Information wants to be free!" Is it really true? Are there bottlenecks? Do we care about government or corporate censorship attempts? Charlie Anders, Robert Balder, Tom Easton, Ian Randal Strock* Holmes What's Up With Copyright These Days? Private corporations are entitled to read your hard drive when governments would need a warrant. What? I can sue you for publishing an academic paper on technology. What? We can arrest you for doing something legal in your country if it equals copyright violation here. What? What's up with copyright these days? Harold Feld*, Dara Joy, Alan Wexelblat Lexington Hard SF: The Probable, Improbable, and Impossible For every successful waldo there are 500 failed predictions. What do we now know was only a pipe dream, and what does that imply about today's predictions? Carl Frederick*, Jeff Hecht, David Alexander Smith, Stephen Wilk Longfellow Reading — Shane Tourtellotte Audience Choice — Vote for the story you want to hear. Shane Tourtellotte St. James The Democratization of Slayerdom In the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy and Willow changed the rules to make full slayer power available to everyone who had the potential to be a slayer. Where once there was only one in each generation, now there were many throughout the world. What are the broader ramifications of this, in terms of women's empowerment, the contracts that bind mystical power, and the reasons why there was initially only one slayer? And what will having more do? Nomi Burstein*, Misty Pendragon, Meredith Schwartz, Cynthia Shettle Statler Signing — Will McDermott Will McDermott Terrace Arthur Ganson Slideshow (Sculptor GOH) Thoreau Wormhole Extreme: Stargate SG-1 What makes this series so good? What would we like to see in the eighth season? And how should we introduce newbies to the show? Keith DeCandido*, Buzz Harris, Terri Osborne, James Zavaglia Whittier Songwriting Advice Do you have an ear for music and a desire to write it? Join the club! Music is for everyone, but not every song is good. Even the professionals have music they hide in filing cabinets, hoping it will be quietly burned upon their demise. What can you do to keep more of your music in your songbook and out of File 13? Paula Lieberman, Gary McGath*, Robert Newton, Bob Rosenfeld, Joe Ross Winthrop Fantasy Forensics Are there ballistics on crossbow bolts? Does a dead vampire get rigor mortis? Speculation, and maybe a bit of science too. Gordon Linzner*, Tim Powers, Rebecca Schoenberg, Lisa Steele 571 (Fast Track) Mask Making Make a mask that matches a character. Then act out that character without using sound and see if your friends can guess who or what you are. Laurel Cunningham-Hill, Catherine Pederson, Cathy Raymond 573 (Fast Track) Tom Smith Kids' Concert Come listen to one of the best filkers out there. He's a natural with kids of all ages. SATURDAY 4:00 PM
to 3 pm to 5 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay The Written vs. the Spoken Word — to the Death! Does the spoken word have more power than the written? Is someone else's interpretation of a piece more moving than our own reading? Poets and writers share their work in both forms. Charlie Anders, Teddi DiCanio*, Ed Fuqua, Bey, Andrea Lyon Cabot Godzilla 1954–2004 The king of the monsters turns fifty this year, and he's barely showing his age. A new generation is discovering the good and the bad of the series, and new films are in production. How can Americans see the latest Godzilla entries? How should newbies be introduced to Godzilla's world? From rampaging beast to devoted dad, we'll look at the life and times of this beloved cinematic icon. John Bowker, Stephen Wilk*, Jonathan Woodward Charles River Poetic Freedom Freedom is what founded this country, or at least the search for it. This panel is about the search for poetry within the free verse. We will play with structure and opening it up, as well as with the anything-goes style of poetry. Corrine De Winter, Herb Kauderer*, Michael McAfee Constitution Like Cats and Dogs It's not unusual to see cats appear as sidekicks or protagonists in SF stories; several anthologies have been compiled that illustrate that point. But only rarely does one see a dog in that role. Are cats truly more suited to the genre? Why Solomon Davidoff*, Debra Doyle, James Turner Emerson The Further Adventures of the Denarius Sherry Briggs Franklin Color Blind Average SF fans consider themselves to be liberal and more open to diversity, and yet there are still few people of color writing and reading speculative fiction and participating in fandom. Are creators of color judged by a different standard? Buzz Harris, Toni Lay*, Victor Raymond, Cecilia Tan Gloucester Outlaw Heroes Why do good guys have to break the law? When good people do bad things for good reasons … is two out of three acceptable? How bad do you have to be to be a bad guy, instead of an anti-hero? Can you be an anti-villain? Shariann Lewitt, Kiralee McCauley*, Will McDermott, Wen Spencer Holmes Perceptions of the Future Arthur Clarke saw space stations in 2001. Do we still believe in an SF near-future, one in which space colonies, manned missions beyond our solar system, etc. might happen in our lifetimes? Or has SF truly become fantasy literature? Bruce Mackenzie, Ian Randal Strock, Shane Tourtellotte* Lexington Commissioned Art What is the correct balance between a patron dictating what goes into a piece of commissioned art, and the artist having enough liberty to produce an original piece? Can a contract be drawn up to govern this balance, or is it a process that is organic and flows back and forth during the production of the piece? Are there rules that can be laid down at the beginning of the process that can save an artist from the pitfalls of this procedure? Arthur Ganson, Scott Lefton, Suford Lewis, Rachel Mello*, Mercy Van Vlack Longfellow Reading — Alex Newman Alex Newman reads a few chapters from his novel, Gothique, a mix of mystery, dark fantasy, and Vegas, baby! Alex Newman St. James Taken with Tolkien The Lord of the Rings is considered one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time … but why? All too often the answer is, "Because it's wonderful." What makes it so captivating? Elisabeth Carey, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Kara Haff*, Resa Nelson Statler Signing — Dara Joy Terrace Hal Clement Memorial Panel: The Future of Education We'll focus our discussion on Harry's life as a teacher. In addition, we'll pass a hat in Harry's honor for contributions to the Joslin Diabetes Center. Carl Frederick, Muriel Kanter, Rick Katze, Terry Franklin (?) Thoreau The Digital Millennium Copyright Act at 5 In 1998, Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The initial round of court cases has shaken out, and we are seeing many companies using the law for a variety of purposes. Where are we? Is it a good place to be? Harold Feld, Cathy Raymond, Alan Wexelblat* Whitehill Bellybration: Belly Dancing Workshop Celebrate yourself! This ages-old dance form is suitable for any age, size, shape, and personal style. Join us in "safe space" as you learn the basics of belly dance, and liberate yourself from today's cultural programming as you discover that everyone is beautiful! Nancy Rogers Whittier Choral Sing The choral director needs volunteers to perform a song or two. Come by, make new friends, and learn some fun music! Ny Martin, Bob Rosenfeld, Hillary Sherwood, Rachel Silverman* Winthrop The Future of Language Heinlein argued that language will be more imitative, and McLuhan the opposite. Do we believe the engineer or the semantician? Nomi Burstein*, Mark Mandel, John McDaid, Catherine Pederson 571 (Fast Track) SF/Fantasy Pictionary Get out your pencils and crayons, we'll have the easel and the clues. David Sklar 573 (Fast Track) Build an Alien Participate in a discussion of alien bodies and environments. Then make your own and describe it for the group. Lynne Cullen, Walter Hunt SATURDAY 5:00 PM
to 4 pm to 6 pm ROOM TITLE DESCRIPTION PEOPLE Back Bay Biotechnology From titanium hips and plastic hearts to positronic brains and synthetic blood... what is in store for our bio-medical future? Are we merely fixing mistakes, or are we taking nature into our own hands? At what point is medical and bio-tech research elective surgery? Wil Howitt, Joe Lazzaro, Paul Levinson, Frank Wu* Cabot I Gave You Stormbringer? Not everyone can have a Hackmaster +12, and sometimes players have to find this out the hard way. Learn how to improve your game by creating a well-balanced campaign, and how some negative examples can go a long way. Peter Maranci, Walter Milliken*, Jonathan Woodward Charles River DS9: 10 Years Later For seven years, the crew of Deep Space Nine kept us on the edge of our seats. Hailed by many as one of the best Trek shows, it has all but disappeared from the airwaves. Why is this the black sheep of the Trek family? Keith DeCandido*, Daniel Kimmel, Terri Osborne, Tom Restivo, Susan Wright Constitution Totalled Freedom When people want to be free from crime, doesn't that mean that the government has to step in and take away other freedoms? Can there really be such a thing as total freedom, or would that lead to anarchy? Clayton Emery*, Kiralee McCauley, Glenn Slate, John Sundman, Walt Weber Emerson Slide Show — Casting in Bronze Butch Honeck Franklin Fictitious Religions What are they likely to worship on other worlds? What makes an imaginary religion plausible? What makes it interesting? How might religious practice and beliefs differ among other sentient species? How might the course of events in a fantasy world influence religion, and how might religion influence events? Mary Catelli, John Deal*, David Sklar, Mark Waks, Barbara Walton Gloucester Are Radio Plays Dead? Radio was once called the "Theater of the Mind," but while our collective imagination