So here’s where I’ll be at Orycon and who I’ll be with. I admit to a snicker at the location of “The Suburban Survivalist” in the Alaska room. And if you want to listen to me rant about education, Friday night’s your time. Oh heck, this panel lineup argues for a lot of rantage. Grin.
Meanwhile, what to read, what to read? I’m reading Sunday morning, so turnout may be…abysmal. I’m hoping not, but we will see.
Moderator indicated by (*)
The Space Race: have we disqualified ourselves? Idaho Fri Nov 8 3:00pm-4:00pm. Can we still maintain an edge in space technology without heavy lift capability of our own? Will private industry pick up the baton? (*)Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Melinda Hutson, Arthur Bozlee
Education Today. Madison Fri Nov 8 5:00pm-6:00pm. Common Core Standards, Proficiency, High Stakes Testing…what’s going on in education today? Is our education system really that bad? Are today’s students dumber? Discussion by people who know what they’re talking about. Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Rory Miller, Sheila Simonson, Patrick Swenson, Roy Torley, (*)Joan Gaustad
The Death of the Stand-Alone Book. Madison Fri Nov 8 6:00pm-7:00pm. Trilogies, tetralogies–we’re not even sure of the right names for five, six, seven-book series! Where does the madness end? Is there no market any more for non-series books? Dave Smeds, Alma Alexander, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Jean Lamb
The Suburban Survivalist. Alaska Sat Nov 9 2:00pm-3:00pm. With solar cells, satellite comm, compost piles, high tech vegetable gardens, 3D printers, and so on, how long before an ordinary tract home can go “off grid” in ways that would make the 70’s era survivalist recluse envious. How far will some people go to pull the plug? How many will do so? What difference will it make to society? (*)G. David Nordley, Dan Dubrick, Mary Rosenblum/Mary Freeman, Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Female Villains. Morrison Sat Nov 9 3:00pm-4:00pm. We often speak of writing strong female characters, but what about strong female villains that aren’t just caricatures? An examination of characterization that moves beyond the ever popular rape scenario that is often given as a primary motivation for women seeking revenge. Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Liz Gorinsky, S. A. Bolich, (*)Rhiannon Louve
Science Fiction as a Tool for Social Change. Hamilton Sat Nov 9 4:00pm-5:00pm. Many writers have put their ideals into their writing. Some have even tried to get people to follow those ideas. Elton Elliott, (*)Steven Barnes, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Donna McMahon, Rhiannon Louve
Joyce Reynolds-Ward Reading. Grant Sun Nov 10 10:30am-11:00am. Joyce Reynolds-Ward reads from own works
If it Matters to Oregonians, it’s in a Tweet. Lincoln Sun Nov 10 12:00pm-1:00pm. Is traditional media dead and do we want it to be? Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Ann Gimpel, Donna McMahon, (*)Jack Skillingstead
Religion in Genre Fiction. Morrison Sun Nov 10 3:00pm-4:00pm. Depictions of actual, ‘modernized’ or adapted religions in genre fiction–the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. What’s been done and what could be done better with religion in fiction. Is the future atheistic? (*)Dave Bara, Guy Letourneau, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Kier Salmon
