This is the official and final schedule, as of 7/22/2007
Confluence Information
Confluence 2007 Restaurant and More Guide (pdf)
Confluence Pocket Program 2007 (pdf)
Writers Workshop Information
Robotics Expert Chris Urmson to Speak Sunday Afternoon!
PARSEC Short Story Contest Winners to Read and Autograph Sunday Afternoon!
Any changes that occur after the Pocket Program goes to press will be noted here in the online schedule.
Registration opens by 3pm on Friday, July 27 in the Doubletree Foyer on the main level.
Hotel Maps * * Confluence Activities by Room * * Friday Schedule * * Saturday Schedule * * Sunday Schedule
| Activity | Doubletree Room | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Author Discussions (formerly Author Kaffee Klatsches) Requires advance sign-up at Registration |
624 | Adjacent to Con Suite |
| Art Show, Art Demos | Walnut, lower level | |
| Autographing | Doubletree Ballroom Foyer, main level | |
| Con Suite | 625 | |
| Dealers | Doubletree Ballroom, Salon B, main level | |
| Filk | Redwood Ballroom, lower level | |
| Kaffee Klatsches--see Author Discussions | ||
| Literary Beer Advance sign-up at Registration Must be 21 to sign up |
In alcove next to the Bar, main level | Saturday/Sunday Afternoons |
| PARSEC Sales Table | Doubletree Ballroom Foyer, main level | |
| Program/Play | Doubletree Ballroom, Salon A, main level | Saturday/Sunday Only |
| Program | Oak, lower level | |
| Program | Willow, lower level | |
| Readings | Sycamore, main level | Saturday/Sunday Only |
| Registration | Doubletree Ballroom Foyer, main level | |
| Video | Maple, lower level |
We are unable to run traditional Kaffee Klatsches at Confluence this year. We running Author Discussions in room 624, which provide a quiet venue for small-scale fan/author talks, but without tables or coffee. We apologize for this late change, and hope you'll enjoy the Author Discussions. Literary Beers will be run down in the bar; we encourage you to purchase a drink or snack to thank the hotel for reserving the VIP area for us for these events.
Introducing: Dark Fantasy
Lawrence C. Connolly, Susan Dexter, Margaret Fisk, Judi Miller, Wen Spencer
How do you view dark fantasy? Is it more like fantasy, more like horror, or is it something else? Do you consider what you write to be dark fantasy? Do you expect it to be a more important part of the speculative genre? Discuss some of your favorite dark fantasy pieces.
Video: Star Wars
A Brief History of Filk
W. Randy Hoffman
We've all heard the story about the typo. But even in its early years, there's so much more to filk than that: Campbell dissing Bradbury in song...pre-1960 vinyl albums...and who knows what else? You will, if you stop by to listen and discuss.
Fans Look at Pros, Pros Look at Fans
Fans and pros just want to have fun, right? But fandom is business to most pros, and many fans wind up working so hard on clubs and cons that it isn't always as much fun as it used to be. What are some of the things that bring fans and pros together...and what helps drive them apart?
Ann Cecil, Samuel Conway, Fruma Klass, William Tenn
Performance Disasters and How to Avoid Them
W. Randy Hoffman
We've all either been there or known someone who has been: You start a performance, it implodes, and you want to push the History Eraser Button. We'll talk about not getting into these fine messes. Don't be afraid to share your stories -- we'll get through them together! :-)
Short Form Fantasy
Fantasy has frequently meant the death of forests in order to publish the long books and the multi-book series. But fantasies can be short and self- contained. What are some of the challenges of writing short works of fantasy? What are some of the recent successful short fantasies?
S. C. Butler, David Barr Kirtley, Joshua B. Palmatier, Tamora Pierce, Michael Swanwick
Video: Max Headroom
Reading
Annual Pegasus Award Nominations
W. Randy Hoffman
The Pegasus Committee holds the nominations open until just after our convention because they know we discuss them and submit informed ballots. We'll listen to some of the suggested nominees (and some of the songs that didn't make the suggested list). Make up your mind, or vote your conscience, or something -- just get those ballots ready!
Birth Order of Books
Birth order can affect how children grow up, but can publication order impact how specific books are viewed? Sometimes an author's best book is the first one, the one that got them published. Other times it's the second or third. But you rarely hear of an author's tenth or eleventh book being many people's favorite. Or, do you?
Tobias Buckell, S. C. Butler, James Morrow, Gary K. Wolfe
Reading
Karina Sumner-Smith
Video: U. F. O.
Concert
Bob Wagner
What's Next for the Web?
Is everything in the whole world going to be You-Tubed in the not-too-distant future? Are the text junkies going the way of absinthe addicts? What's going to be the next hot trend on the Web?
Margaret Fisk, Laurie Mann, Eric Raymond, Thomas Seay, Karina Sumner-Smith
Video: Babylon 5
An Interview with William Tenn
Filmmaker David Brody, who's been working on a documentary about Tenn, will be conducting an interview with science fiction's great satirist.
David Brody, William Tenn
The New Space Opera
Many people still tend to look at space opera as young man goes into space finds a woman in a metal brassier. But space opera has evolved dramatically over the years. What makes space opera different today? Who are some of the best practitioners?
Kathryn Cramer, Geoffrey A. Landis, Mary A. Turzillo
Dave Alway Memorial Poetry Circle
Dave Alway, a presence in Midwestern fandom for over twenty years, died in January after returning home from GAfilk. Dave was a filker, a photographer, and a friend and patron of Confluence.
Pete Alway, W. Randy Hoffman
Beer Tasting
James Walton
Day the Earth Caught Fire to Children of Men - a Look at British Movie Dystopias
British movie makers have been creating dystopic movies since at least 1961 with The Day the Earth Caught Fire. In recent years, they've produced Reigh of Fire, 28 Days Later, V is For Vendetta and Children of Men. What is particularly British about these movies? Why can't American dystopias approach the British sophistication?
David Brody, Timothy Liebe, Laurie Mann, Kathryn Morrow, Charles Oberndorf
Poexry
Ann Cecil, Herb Kauderer, Geoffrey A. Landis, Amy McNally, Mary A. Turzillo
Story Time with Uncle Kage
Samuel Conway
Video: Farscape
Cynthia McQuillin/Leigh Ann Hussey Memorial Filk Circle
Margaret Davis, W. Randy Hoffman, Kristoph Klover
Spinning Speculative Sex Tales
Listener discretion advised
How can SF/fantasy writers naturally (or unnaturally) enhance the sex lives
of their characters, both humans and aliens? Can writers collaborate, or
does it become a big group grope? Where does the editor step in
forcefully...or withdraw?
Kevin Hayes, Herb Kauderer, William H. Keith, Diane Turnshek, Karen Yun-Lutz
Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Open Filk
Video: Johnny Quest
Writing Exercises
Bring paper and a pen
Diane Turnshek, Michail Velichansky
Video: Samurai Jack
European Science Fiction
What are some of the current trends in European short fiction? How does it compare to American short speculative fiction? Who are some of the writers and editors we should be on the lookout for?
David G. Hartwell, James Morrow, Kathryn Morrow, Charles Oberndorf
Reading
Brenda W. Clough
Video: The Tick
Reading
Michael Swanwick
Vocal Workshop with the Featured Filk Guests
Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover
Search and Rescue Techniques
How many speculative stories include a desperate search to find a lost person, stranded expedition, or enemy force -- whether in the woods or in the asteroid belt? How realistically are these things handled? SF and nonfiction writer Ken Chiacchia is a search-and-rescue volunteer who has actually done research on effective search strategies and tactics. Ken will use PowerPoint to show how the information teams bring back from the field is used to guide search efforts -- and how new tools are making that information more accurate and quantifiable.
Kenneth B. Chiacchia
Art Demo
Nancy Janda
Book Discussion: The Last Witchfinder
Ann Cecil
Reading
David Barr Kirtley
Reading
Wen Spencer
The Dragon Roars Back: The Resurgence of the Dragon
After years of hibernation, dragons returned to fantasy in a major way with the release of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. Where are some of the other recent appearance of dragons? What do you think the future holds for these mythical beasts?
Susan Dexter, William H. Keith, Gail Z. Martin, Joshua B. Palmatier
GOH Autographing
Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover, Gary K. Wolfe
Literary Beer
Alan Katerinsky, Herb Kauderer
Reading
Thomas Seay
Video: "Exquisite Corpse" and "Echoes"
Two local horror writers have had their short work adapted for the screen.
"Exquisite Corpse" consists of eleven short-short horror films based on
flash fiction and poetry of Michael A. Arnzen and shot by directors from
around the world. DVD: 17 minutes
We're showing both versions of Lawrence C. Connolly's "Echoes."
"Echoes" (1991) was directed by Steve Muscarella and produced by the
Victoria Theatre, Encino, CA. In this psychological drama, a boy tries
convincing his mother that the ghost of a dead sibling is real. DVD: 13
minutes.
"Echoes" (2004) was directed by Rodney Altman and produced by 037Films, New
York, NY. This remake presents a darker study on the nature of grief and
loss. DVD: 8 minutes.
The authors will attend the screening and will have a brief Q&A, as time
permits. Immediately following at 1pm in the adjacent Oak room, there will
be a more directed discussion of the adaptation and production of these
films.
Michael Arnzen, Lawrence C. Connolly
Reading
Mary A. Turzillo
Concert
Keith Kelly
Human Space Exploration: from Apollo to Infinity
Geoffrey A. Landis
Author Discussion
Tobias Buckell, S. C. Butler
Reading
Joseph Benedetto
Irish Folktales
Alan Irvine
Concert
Pete Alway
Remember Your Audience: Writing Reviews for Academics versus Readers
Many reviewers write reviews for different audiences. How are reviews and articles for academic audiences different from those for general science fiction readers? Is it merely vocabulary? Is a "good book" for readers, a bad book for academics?
Eric Leif Davin, Charles Oberndorf, Mary A. Turzillo, Gary K. Wolfe
Triangulation Autographing
Triangulation is a locally-published literary magazine. Come and meet the editor and a few of the writers; Triangulation is available for sale at the PARSEC sales table.
Pete Butler
Literary Beer
Fruma Klass, William Tenn
Reading
Gail Z. Martin
Video: Quark
"Exquisite Corpse" and "Echoes" Discussion
A discussion of how these video adaptations were done and what the writers thought about them.
Michael Arnzen, Lawrence C. Connolly, Henry Tjernlund
Concert
Amy McNally
ALPHA Writers Workshop Debriefing
The ALPHA SF/F/H Workshop for Young Writers has just ended for another year. Workshop organizer Diane Turnshek and some of the staff members discuss how it went this year, and what the plans are for the future of ALPHA.
Ann Cecil, John Schmid, Thomas Seay, Wen Spencer, Diane Turnshek, Michail Velichansky
Art Demo
Susan Dexter
Author Discussion
Reading
Joshua B. Palmatier
Minor Blemishes to Gaping Wounds: Glitches in Book & Movies That Get Under Your Skin
Do some kinds of mistakes in books or movies spoil your enjoyment? Can you ignore other kinds of mistakes? If the author messes up the way a spaceship works, does that effect your experience? How about a cavalry charge down a 45-degree slope into massed infantry?
William H. Keith, Jim Mann, Tamora Pierce, Mary A. Turzillo
Autographing
Tobias Buckell, Susan Dexter, David Barr Kirtley, Eric Raymond
Literary Beer
James Morrow, Kathryn Morrow
Reading
Charles Oberndorf
Video: The Incredible Hulk
Art Auction Secrets
The real story of how convention art auctions work. Tips for bidders and artists.
John Hall
Concert
Pete Grubbs
Remember the Ladies...
Over 230 years ago, Abigail Adams reminded her husband John:
"Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your
ancestors....That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so
thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute..."
Over the years, SF has continued to be dominated by men, despite the fact
that more and more SF readers and some more SF writers are women. Why is
that still? This year, only one piece of fiction written by a woman was
nominated for a Hugo...and 19 pieces of fiction by men were nominated for a
Hugo. Why are the Hugos so "penis-heavy?"
Eric Leif Davin, Fruma Klass, Laurie Mann, Wen Spencer, Diane Turnshek
Author Discussion
Gail Z. Martin
Reading
John A. Taylor
Guest of Honor (in Absentia) Discussion
While Gardner Dozois is unable to attend Confluence, he's still our Guest of Honor. His old friend Michael Swanwick will lead a discussion on Gardner's impact on the field, as a fan, a writer and an editor.
Geoffrey A. Landis, Marianne Porter, Michael Swanwick, Diane Turnshek
Art Demo
Kris Hutson
Video: Aeon Flux
Swords
Susan Dexter
Autographing
Lawrence C. Connolly, James Morrow, Kathryn Morrow, Mary A. Turzillo
Literary Beer
Gary K. Wolfe
Reading
Geoffrey A. Landis
Video: The Prisoner
Which Writer's Workshop Is Best for Me?
There are now over a dozen SF/fantasy/horror workshops run in America every year (mostly in the summer). If you're a writer-in-training, at what point should you consider going to one? Our panelists are a mix of workshop attendees and runners. They will share insights about getting into a workshop and getting the most out of a workshop.
Michael Arnzen, Tobias Buckell, Diane Turnshek, Michail Velichansky
Concert
Tom Smith (ASL by Judi Miller)
Are We Ever Getting Past the Moon?
While some people wonder where our personal jetpacks are, others of us wonder why we haven't gotten past the moon (or, for that matter, why we haven't been back to the moon with astronauts in 35 years). Is it just the money? Political will? What will it take to get people back into space?
Kenneth B. Chiacchia, Kathryn Cramer, William H. Keith, Michael Swanwick
Author Discussion
Tamora Pierce
Reading
S. C. Butler
Autographing
Michael Arnzen, Gail Z. Martin, Tamora Pierce
Literary Beer
David Barr Kirtley
Reading
Fruma Klass
Video: Battlestar Galactica
Extending the Canon: The Children of Hurin and Other Tolkien Works
After years of making notes on imaginary languages and cultures, Tolkien wrote The Hobbit and followed it up with the mother of all trilogies, The Lord of the Rings. After his death, his son has polished up and connected many of Tolkien's more fragmentary writings. Does this enhance Tolkien's world, or create a divergent path? Do you anticipate more works based on Tolkien's research?
Brenda Clough, Susan Dexter, Alan Irvine, Kathryn Morrow
Concert
Lawrence C. Connolly
Speculative Fiction Markets
What are some of the best current markets? Writers from different career stages discuss speculative fiction markets and submission strategies.
Pete Butler, Wendy Delmater, James Morrow, Thomas Seay
Reading - Tenn Reads from His Memoir
William Tenn
Concert
Carrie Dahlby
Concert
Luke Ski
Video: X-Files
Grease Wars: A Musical Travesty
Inspired and introduced by Luke Ski.
The Parallax Second Players present our latest musical extravaganza travesty! It's the story of a guy and girl who are trying to get together in spite of their friends . . . no, wait, it's the story of a young man's quest to get off his out-of-the-way planet and learn the ways of the Force . . . no, wait, it's both at the same time! Come see how we did it and laugh your favorite body parts off.
Video: Stargate
Trivia for Chocolate
Enjoy trivia games? Participate in a free-for-all science fictional trivia game where the entire audience can participate. Due to the introduction of the iPod, some of the questions will be musical in nature. When you answer a questions correctly, you get a small piece of chocolate. The person with the most chocolate is declared the winner.
Jim Mann, Laurie Mann
Concert: Featured Filk Guests
Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover
Reading by the authors of Hidden Design
Kevin Hayes, Diane Turnshek, Karen Yun-Lutz
Wine Tasting
Jo & Zane Melder
Video: Firefly: Serenity
Original "Grease Wars" Medley
Carrie Dahlby, Luke Ski
You might have heard what the PARSEC Players did with this piece de resistance earlier in the evening. Come hear the original medley masterpiece performed by the original artists!
Open Filk
Video: Thunderbirds Are Go!
Writing Exercises
Bring paper and a pen.
Diane Turnshek, Michail Velichansky
Discussion Group: Christian Fandom
Literary Writers Writing Speculative Fiction
From Margaret Atwood (at least twice) to Cormac McCarthy to Kazuo Ishiguro to P. D. James - does it seem like mainstream writers get more attention and acclaim for writing speculative fiction? Is it helpful for the genre - or further ghettoize writers who will call themselves SF writers?
Herb Kauderer, Jamie Lackey, Kathryn Morrow, Michael Swanwick, Gary K. Wolfe
Autographing
Workshop: Scansion in Your Songwriting
W. Randy Hoffman
Setting words to melodies isn't just about making sure the last word of each line rhymes. "Scansion" is the melody's natural meter and stress pattern that anyone except Luke Ski ignores to their peril. ;-D Find out how to take advantage of this property to improve your songwriting.
Video: Lost in Space
Reading
Tamora Pierce
Low Tech Ain't No Tech
Think all pre-industrial societies were low tech? This panel will discuss how technologies of previous eras worked. How did the Romans develop their aquifers? How did the Egyptians and Babylonians develop algebra? How could these technologies be applied to speculative fiction? Could a non-spacefaring culture wipe out space invaders using ingenuity and duct tape?
Kenneth B. Chiacchia, Alan Katerinsky, Gail Z. Martin, Eric Raymond, Mary A. Turzillo
Book Discussion: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Ann Cecil
Reading
James Morrow
The End of Harry Potter (Yes, there will be *Spoilers*)
The last Harry Potter book is now history. Have you read it? What did you think about it? Did Rowling pull it off? Did she kill off the wrong people...or the right ones? What will you remember most about the books? About the movies?
Susan Dexter, Kathryn Morrow, Charles Oberndorf, Tamora Pierce
Autographing
S. C. Butler, Joshua B. Palmatier
Literary Beer
Wen Spencer, Diane Turnshek
Reading
Michael Arnzen
Video: Futurama
Developing Your Muse
What is your muse? A walk in the woods? Watching the sky? Playing a futuristic video game? Can a muse be developed? How?
Alan Irvine, Alan Katerinsky, Herb Kauderer, Amy McNally
Concert
Blind Lemming Chiffon
Running Away from Science
Are Americans drifting too far into pseudoscience? What about fans, who ought to know better? Can one reconcile believing science and astrology? Does this impact the field, as fantasy often outsells science fiction?
Kevin Hayes, William Tenn, James Morrow, Marianne Porter, Eric Raymond
Author Discussion
William H. Keith, Timothy Liebe
Reading
Lawrence C. Connolly
Heroes -Today's Superheroes or Whiny Adolescents?
While most of us love the new Heroes show, a few critics have complained it's more than a little angsty. Do you agree or disagree? What directions do you see the show taking off in in the future? And what about Peter and Nate? Spoilers galore, so if you haven't seen the last few episodes yet, don't say we didn't warn you.
Brenda W. Clough, Timothy Liebe, Laurie Mann, Tamora Pierce
Autographing, featuring Wen Spencer and the PARSEC Short Story Contest Winners
Margaret Fisk, Jamie Lackey, Wen Spencer
Literary Beer
Michael Swanwick, John A. Taylor
Reading
Tobias Buckell
Video: Star Trek "The Cage"
The Best of the Year: Looking at this Year's Hugo Nominees
Hugo ballots are due on July 31. Even if you can't vote, come and talk about what you think was the best of the year.
David G. Hartwell, Jim Mann
Concert
Batya "The Toon" Wittenberg
Author Discussion
Geoffrey A. Landis, Mary A. Turzillo
Art Show Auction
Reading
Kenneth B. Chiacchia
Literary Beer Hotel Bar
Alan Irvine, Joshua B. Palmatier
Writing Horror
Can you write horror without giving yourself nightmares?
Michael Arnzen, Lawrence C. Connolly, David Barr Kirtley, John A. Taylor
Autographing
Reading
Susan Dexter
Video: Wild, Wild West
Star Wars Trivia
Use the force…
Simon L. Clough
Dead Dog Filk
Robotics Presentation
The Grand and Urban Challenges are races of vehicle-sized robots across desert and urban terrain. Director of Technology for the race Chris Urmson discusses the challenges in the development of robotics and some of the technology that makes them work. Where will robotics go from here?
Chris Urmson
Author Discussion
PARSEC Short Story Contest Winners Read From Their Works
Margaret Fisk, Jamie Lackey
Video: The Night Stalker
Confluence Program thanks:
Performance ASL signing provided at some concerts courtesy of Judi Miller.
See you next year!
Memberships will be available for the 2008 Confluence (with GoH Joe Haldeman), to be held at the Doubletee in Moon Township. Stop by the Registration table on Saturday afternoon or Sunday to purchase your 2008 membership. Confluence information.