The schedule for Boskone 57 is available.

Free Friday Afternoon Programming:
Programming on Friday, February 14th is (free to the public) from 2:00-6:00 pm. Memberships are required after 6:00 pm on Friday and throughout the rest of the convention.

Personalize Your Schedule
There is so much to do this year that you may want to download the mobile scheduling app for Grenadine or KonOpas. Instructions are available on Boskone’s Going Mobile page.

Register Today!
Buy your Boskone 57 membership today and don’t miss a moment of fun at this year’s convention. Full weekend memberships as well as day rates are available.

Kaffeeklatsches
All kaffeeklatches require sign-up in, and sign up will be available onsite at Boskone’s Program Ops desk in the Harbor Foyer area,

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

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

FRIDAY

2:00 PM (free to the public) 
Coming in 2020: Books and Media You Gotta See!
Daniel M. Kimmel (M), Kwame Mbalia, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Erin Underwood
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Last year was full of fantastic new releases — but what’s in store for 2020? Our panelists get together for a lively, entertaining discussion of the books, films, TV shows, games, and more they’re looking forward to this year. The only two requirements for an item to hit this list: 1) It must come out in 2020, and 2) It’s gotta be made of awesome!

2:00 PM (free to the public)
Dragon’s Lair Closed Until 6 pm
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

2:00 PM (free to the public)
Marvelous Magical Systems
Liz Delton, Tonia Thompson (M), Gerald L. Coleman, Clea Simon, Mike Squatrito Jr
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Magical systems are like the laws of science. They have rules. Rules that must be followed or the magic won’t work or the magic will be released in unforeseen ways. Let’s look at what it takes to create a magical system that feels real and plausible. We’ll also review some of the best magical systems in literature and consider why they work so well.

2:00 PM (free to the public)
Azul
Harbor III – Gaming · 50 min · Gaming
The king wants you to decorate his royal palace … Azul is a tile-placement game in which players compete for the highest score by claiming tiles and arranging them on their board to score points. Extra points are on offer for collecting sets of the same color of tile, or for creating particular patterns, while there are penalties for taking tiles that you’re unable to use. But every tile that you claim affects what your rivals can take next. You’ll have to make choices that help you without helping them too much! (mfg description)

3:00 PM (free to the public)
Memorable Minor Characters
Walter Jon Williams, F. Brett Cox, Faye Ringel (M), Diana Rowland
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Genre literature is full of striking minor characters — from Jaqen H’ghar (A Song of Ice and Fire) to Wedge Antilles (Star Wars) to Agrajag (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) — that can have a dramatic and lasting effect on the reader. What purposes do they play? How can they shape or influence the heart of a story? Let’s discuss some of speculative fiction’s most memorable minor characters, and the true power they hold.

3:00 PM (free to the public)
Turning Tropes Upside Down
Ellen Asher, Sarah Jean Horwitz, Kaitlin R. Branch (M), David Marshall, Greer Gilman
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
So much of what we write, read, and watch is full of cliches and overfamiliar tropes. While you can’t fully escape them, you can work to reduce their coverage and impact within the story. Let’s talk about what a trope is and isn’t, then discuss how to turn those tropes upside down in order to create some truly compelling characters.

3:00 PM (free to the public)
Science in Comics
Paul Di Filippo (M), James Moore, Josh Dahl, David Ritter
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Science comics are cool. They bring together art, the joy of comics, and the coolest thing in the known universe: SCIENCE! Comic books aren’t just zombies and superheroes. There are a host of comics that include real science conveyed in fun and easy-to-grasp ways. Macmillan has their series Science Comics. What other science series are out there? And what science fiction comics actually share real science and scientific principles?

3:00 PM (free to the public)
Lost Cities (card game)
Harbor III – Gaming · 50 min · Gaming
Use your cards to venture down expedition routes that take you to far-flung, mysterious corners of the Earth. Your goal is to plan the routes in such a way that they bring you the greatest possible fame. If you are especially daring, you will also wager on the success of your expeditions. But watch out: You are not the only one traveling! Which routes will you pursue and how much gold is it worth to you? Only the player who has collected the most fame at the end of the game will be the winner.

3:30 PM (free to the public)
Welcome to Boskone (I)
Laurie Mann, Brenda Noiseux
Independence · 50 min · Docent Tour
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. Then join our docent for a stroll around the con.

4:00 PM (free to the public)
Flash Gordon (1980)
Carlton · 119 min · Film/TV/Video
A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth. Queen provides the soundtrack.

4:00 PM (free to the public)
The Role of Supernatural Animals
Tonia Thompson, Clea Simon, Julie C. Day (M), Lisa Hertel
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
What defines an animal as supernatural? Cats would agree that they are both super and natural, but cats do have their own perspective on the world. Our panel of SFnal experts will help to define the roles of supernatural animals from dragons to griffons and … cats!

4:00 PM (free to the public)
Reading: Leigh Perry
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

4:00 PM (free to the public)
Are Superheroes Dying?
Josh Dahl (M), Auston Habershaw, John Langan, Jim Infantino
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
You can’t keep a good (or bad) superhero down for long … because they always seem to come back in the next scene, chapter, or film. That’s their essential nature: They defy death! But is that really a good thing? Should we let superheroes fade gently into that good night? Are we finally tiring of these endlessly buoyant characters?

4:00 PM (free to the public)
The Legacy of Isaac Asimov
William Hayashi (M), Allen M. Steele, Ellen Asher, Lizzie Crowe, James Patrick Kelly
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Happy 100th birthday, Isaac! A long-time Boskone participant, Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was an active fan and writer, shaping the genre as well as early fandom. Join us for a celebration of Asimov’s works, a look at his legacy, and even a critical examination of some of his contributions — because he would expect no less of his Boskone friends!

4:00 PM (free to the public)
Castles of Burgundy
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Fifteenth-century princes from the Loire Valley devote their efforts to strategic trading and building in order to bring their estates prosperity and prominence throughout Burgundy. Two dice set the action options, but the players always make the final choices. Trading, livestock farming, city building or scientific research — many different paths lead to the prosperity and prominence of the players. The many ways to gain victory points in this building game require careful thought and extensive planning ahead. The different estates ensure that no two games are alike and that the game remains challenging for a long time.

4:00 PM (free to the public)
25 Years of Toy Story (1995)
Adi Rule, Daniel M. Kimmel, Victoria Sandbrook, Isadora Deese (M)
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Disney’s mega-franchise Toy Story is 25 years old. What is it about this film series that continues to capture the imaginations of young and old alike? What magic do Woody and Buzz bring to the screen? How have the filmmakers sustained the TS formula over multiple movies? And will we see more Toy Story movies in the future, or will those popular characters take a break and give other deserving toys a chance to break out of the box?

4:00 PM (free to the public)
Fandom 2.0: Being a Good Fan
Gerald L. Coleman, Charlaine Harris, Ginjer Buchanan, Erin Underwood (M)
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Modern fandom has developed a wonderfully interconnected network, with instant access to authors, fellow fans, and fan communities around the world. This instant connectivity is neither good nor bad, but it can be used in ways that harm as well as help. As fans, what responsibility do we have to each other, to our communities, and to the creators who make the work we love? Join us for a constructive conversation to help figure out how to build a stronger, more thoughtful community.

4:00 PM (free to the public)
From Anime to Live Action
Brianna Wu, John P. Murphy, Kaitlin R. Branch, R.W.W. Greene (M), Gillian Daniels
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
There’s a long history of anime titles being reimagined as live-action films. With the increased availability of CGI technology, this trend has recently picked up considerably. How well do the remakes of iconic anime features such as Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Dragonball, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, etc., represent their originals? Do they work as stand-alones? Where do they fail to meet expectations, or surpass the original? How well can live actors dramatize anime toons — especially the nonhuman characters?

4:30 PM (free to the public)
Reading: Suzanne Palmer
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

4:30 PM (free to the public)
Reading: Robert V.S. Redick
Independence · 25 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Reviving Printed Short Fiction
Jeffrey Ford, Steve Davidson, Theodora Goss, Julia Rios (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Short fiction is a major form of published speculative fiction. Writers write it. Readers read it. Publishers want to publish it. So why is printed short fiction struggling? What new ideas can publishers and authors use to attract readers? How might we rethink anthologies and magazines to help make them more affordable and accessible?

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Dragon’s Lair Closed Until 6 pm
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Plotting: The Dark Art
James Patrick Kelly
Griffin · 50 min · Solo Talk
In speculative fiction, deft plotting is a virtue. Plot and character are to story as wave and particle are to the electron: they can’t be separated. But for the dark purposes of this presentation, we will pretend this isn’t so and take a mechanistic view of plot. Writers have developed tricks of plotting (What, mistaken identities again, Mr. Shakespeare?), and we’ll examine some of the easiest, the best, and the most dangerous of dark arts.

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Young Adult Fiction Guest Interview: Holly Black
Holly Black, Kelly Link
Harbor I · 50 min · Interview
Meet Holly Black! With over 30 fantasy novels for kids and teens, Holly has earned her place as one of YA’s most beloved authors. Get the inside scoop on what makes Holly tick in this special interview with her longtime friend Kelly Link. From new shoes to new books, the conversation is sure to wander into magical, unexplored territory that can only be navigated by two master storytellers who know each other well. Warning: There may be laughter.

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Remembering the Star Trek Aliens
M. C. DeMarco (M), Kenneth Schneyer, David Marshall, Brianna Wu, Jennifer Pelland
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Vulcans, Klingons, and Romulans all have their fans. Let’s look beyond these familiarly fantastic faces to other memorable aliens (and cultures) within the Star Trek macroverse, and discuss why they’re so special. Or not so much.

5:00 PM (free to the public)
New Game Demo: Space Chase
Brenda Noiseux
Harbor III – Gaming · 50 min · Gaming
Learn to play Space Chase, the latest tabletop offering from indie game company Almost a Game. In this cooperative game for 1-6 players, you and your crew are being tracked by a dangerous Hunter. Your only hope for survival is to find the nearest Extraction Gate and jump away to safety.

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Reading: Steven Popkes
Independence · 25 min · Reading

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Worldbuilding Within Epic Fantasy at the Dawn of a Modern Age
E. C. Ambrose (M), David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson, Debra Doyle, Melissa Caruso, Christopher Paniccia
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Fantasy is real, but so is scientific discovery. When an epic fantasy is set during the transition from a rural society to an emerging, world-transforming industrial age, how does the setting help define the parameters of the story? How does it affect the creation of characters? Is a Victorian-Era feeling inevitable? What other examples can be used as models? When magic is at play, how might it alter the evolution of an industrial revolution?

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Journalism in Speculative Fiction
Darlene Marshall (M), Clea Simon, Dan Moren, Daniel P. Dern
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
From Wells and Orwell to Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, and Annalee Newitz, there’s a long tradition of reporters becoming writers of SF/F/H. Our veteran newshounds report on what a background in journalism can bring to genre work. Are you already accustomed to research, deadlines, and low wages? Does the drive to get the facts mean it’s harder to make stuff up? Can reporters be written as good genre characters? While pounding out a hot story, must you wear a fedora?

5:00 PM (free to the public)
The Varieties of Punk in Spec Fic
Bracken MacLeod (M), Grady Hendrix, Christopher Irvin, Faye Ringel, Victoria Sandbrook
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Punk fic is a thing. From steampunk and splatterpunk to cyberpunk and witchpunk, what makes a subgenre “punk”? What does that label really mean, and can it be adopted by intent or is it only a valid taxonomy in retrospect?

5:00 PM (free to the public)
Will the Walking Dead Ever Die?
Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Christine Taylor-Butler, David Anthony Durham, James Moore, Pete Hollmer (M)
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Eleven seasons and the dead keep walking. There’s even a spinoff of the show in which the dead are determined not to die. When they don’t die and humanity just keeps failing, at what point must people either overcome their world’s grim fate, or succumb, join the dead, and keep on walkin’? Our panelists will dish on the characters and the story lines — and there will be spoilers!

5:30 PM (free to the public)
Reading: R.W.W Greene
Independence · 25 min · Reading

Boskone 57 memberships are required for programming after this point in the schedule.

6:00 PM
New Faces in Speculative Art
Jonathan Hunt, Reiko Murakami, Jim Burns, Joseph Siclari (M)
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
The world of SF/F/H art is full of up-and-coming artists who are already enriching the planet’s supply of beautifully fantastic images. Who are the brightest stars to watch? Where — and in what media — are they working now, and what fresh options are opening for them?

6:00 PM
How to Draw (Fantasy) World Maps
Cat Scully
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Errick Nunnally
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Brendan DuBois
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Reading; Walter Jon Williams
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

6:00 PM
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Carlton · 104 min · Film/TV/Video
Based on a book by Holly Black, this year’s YA Fiction Guest: Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures.

6:00 PM
The Consequences of Actually Finding Life on Mars
William Hayashi, Kim Stanley Robinson, Dr Jonathan McDowell, Mark Olson (M), Alexander Jablokov
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
What if we discovered life on the Red Planet? Not just 15-million-year-old polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — but Martians: intelligent beings from Mars. How would that affect life on Earth? Would there be riots? Rejoicing? New religions? Calls for amity, or missile strikes? How would it transform our picture of the universe? And, after hundreds of years of speculation, would we feel differently meeting Martians than greeting new neighbors from Europa or Enceladus?

6:00 PM
Great Website Designs & A Special Boskone Reveal
Deena Warner, Matthew Warner, Erin Underwood (M), Melanie Meadors, David Marshall
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Websites are essential marketing tools for authors and artists to connect with fans. What does it take to create a great one? What do readers want to see? How fancy or snazzy should it be? What information must you include? Get tips from the pros about how to design a site that fits your needs. Plus come see a special reveal of the brand-new redesign for next year’s Boskone 58 website.

6:00 PM
Ticket to Ride: USA 1910 Expansion
Harbor III – Gaming · 85 min · Gaming
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway.

6:00 PM
Reading: Sarah Jean Horwitz
Independence · 25 min · Reading

6:00 PM
Pirate Songs
Jeff Keller, Eric Coleman, April Grant
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

6:00 PM
Understanding the Future Through Hard Science Fiction
Frank Wu, Dr. Martin Elvis, Vincent Docherty (M), Jon Singer, Michael Swanwick
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
The driving force in hard science fiction is science that is not just possible, but highly probable at some point in a likely future. What actual predictive value can hard SF claim? What does it tell us about our near- and far-term futures, technologically speaking? Is it safe to assume that if we can dream it, future scientists can build it? And even if they can: should they? Finally, what line should be drawn between science and fiction, if any?

6:00 PM
Weird Westerns and Why We Love ‘Em
Nicole Givens Kurtz, Charlaine Harris, Laurence Raphael Brothers, David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson (M), Darlene Marshall
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
The Old West is full of magic and romance … and just a little weirdness. What makes frontier fiction appealing as a speculative subgenre? How do the limitations of the period offer creative opportunities for authors? And while everyone likes a little lovin’ in their westerns, how have the romantic rules changed? Remember, a cowgirl jes’ needs a hat, a horse, and a little magic on her side!

6:00 PM
Fashion in Fantasy Worlds
Janice Gelb (M), Melissa Caruso, Zig Zag Claybourne, Nightwing Whitehead, Sarah Morrison
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
From the haute couture of royalty to the hand-stitched rags of the poor, clothing within fantasy worlds comes with its own select set of dos and don’ts. Our fashionistas will step you through the trends and threads appropriate to the worlds and regions in which fantasy characters live. We’ll talk styles, cuts, fabrics, and dyes … and look good doing it!

6:00 PM
Story Worlds Just for Kids
Christine Taylor-Butler, Holly Black, Steve Berman, Michael Stearns (M)
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Children’s books open up some of the most incredible worlds in literature, from Alice’s Wonderland to the kingdom of Terabithia, or even Madeleine’s Paris. Why are these settings so enticing to curious young minds? What makes a world especially welcoming for young characters, and how do you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary? Let’s discuss examples from some of our longtime favorites, as well as the newer story worlds that captivate readers and writers alike.

6:00 PM
The Dark Manifold (Dungeons & Dragons 5E)
Matt Yancik
Harbor III – Gaming · 180 min · Gaming

For 3 to 5 players (sign-up at Program Operations near Registration). Players can choose from one of several pre-generated characters. The game will last approximately three hours. (A second running of this game occurs on Saturday night. People may not participate in both sessions.)

“Mother”, downtown to the densely packed metropolis of the City of Lost Souls, is a pit carved a half mile deep and half mile wide into the solid rock of the mountainous, snow-covered ringworld of Bjerg. Buildings, carved from solid rock, reach into the sky like cadaverous hands from the grave as, far below, denizens shoulder their way through dark, claustrophobic streets. Gravity shucks, organic trams suspended within gravity tracks that crisscross the pit, ferry citizens from one district to another. You, dear adventurer, are jostled awake from a dream to find yourself among a dozen other passengers on board a gravity shuck as it makes its way toward Central Station, nestled in the dark streets below. With no memory of who you are, or how you arrived, you struggle to piece together exactly what’s going on …

6:30 PM
Reading: Martha Wells
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

6:30 PM
Reading: Daniel Dern
Independence · 25 min · Reading

7:00 PM
A Historical View: From the Printing Press to Online Publishing
Sarah Smith, Fred Lerner, Grady Hendrix (M), Kim Stanley Robinson, Ellen Asher
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Storytelling has always been part of human history, but Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of a movable-type printing press around 1450 (independently of much earlier Chinese models) transformed literature through technology. Now, 570 years later, how has technology continued to change publishing? Let’s take a look at innovations within the publishing industry — including those still to come!

7:00 PM
Painting the Sistine Chapel (on the bottom of a table)
Persis Thorndike
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

7:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Julie C. Day & Erin Roberts
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

7:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Tui Sutherland
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

7:00 PM
Meet Up: The State of Black Science Fiction Facebook Group
Gerald L. Coleman
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 50 min · Discussion Group
Join Gerald Coleman for an informal discussion focused on the popular Facebook
group The State of Black Science Fiction, and visit the group online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackscifi/

7:00 PM
Reading: Theodora Goss
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

7:00 PM
Hal Clement Science Speaker Interview Featuring Jon Singer
Jon Singer, Geri Sullivan
Harbor I · 50 min · Interview
You might say that our Hal Clement Science Speaker this year is poly-curious … About science, people! Jon Singer is curious about all kinds of things relating to science. Long ago a tech writer for Apple and Microsoft, and more recently a researcher about, well, nearly everything, Jon will talk with his friend Boskone SMOF Geri Sullivan about a few things on his mind tonight. Possibly including but certainly not limited to lasers, ceramic glazes, food, roses, calligraphy inks, the role of science in all the above, and the polycentric ways that science intersects with art and life.

7:00 PM
Creating Great Cover Art
Deena Warner (M), Reiko Murakami, Cat Scully, Jim Burns, Alan F. Beck
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Today’s book cover illustrations are governed by content and technical requirements that don’t constrain art in general. What are those constraints? What else distinguishes cover art from other artwork? Can there be great cover art which is not great art? Covers are critical to the commercial success of a book: they must entice the reader into buying. Is it more appropriate to compare cover art to print advertisements than to other works of art?

7:00 PM
Reading: Matthew Warner
Independence · 25 min · Reading

7:00 PM
Gems of the NESFA Hymnals: Group Singing
Erwin S (Filthy Pierre) Strauss
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
The NESFA Hymnal, in two volumes, was first published by the New England Science Fiction Association in 1976. The Hymnal features over 150 FANtastic songs about various aspects of fandom, from Tolkien to Star Trek and everything in between. Join in the fun of group singing! A good way to learn some of the old classics of filk and find your inner geek. Loaner hymnals will be provided.

7:00 PM
Hugo Award Recommendations (Dramatic)
Bob Devney (M), Daniel M. Kimmel, Dan Moren, Vincent Docherty
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
What’s the greatest stuff you saw last year? Let’s (quickly) review and recommend 2019’s best movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, and more in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. If you’re eligible to vote, feel free to take notes your Hugo Award nominations ballot is due in New Zealand soon.

7:00 PM
Living With Disability in a Speculative World
Sara Codair (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Jack Haringa, Gillian Daniels
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Navigating the real world, even with all our modern amenities, is still no easy thing. But imagine yourself trying to escape a djinn in the desert, pickaxing rocks in an alien mining colony, or slaving at the hearth in an elven lord’s kitchen — all while disabled. The body is as frail as it is strong, and disabilities change the way a person is seen by and interacts with others in their environment. Our panelists talk candidly about disabilities (seen and unseen) and their effect physically, socially, and psychologically within various speculative story worlds.

7:00 PM
Realistic Artificial Intelligence
Laurence Raphael Brothers (M), Jeff Keller, Brianna Wu, Pete Hollmer, Mike Squatrito Jr
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
The world is not ending. Skynet is not coming. However, artificial intelligence is here, but not in the way mass media entertainment has led us to imagine. Let’s take a realistic look at AI, the parameters within which it operates, and the tasks that it can and can’t accomplish. We’ll also discuss what the future may hold, and if artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a realistic possibility.

7:00 PM
Voice Acting
Bob Kuhn, Kenneth Schneyer (M), C. S. E. Cooney
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
With the rise of audiobooks, voice actors have gained new prominence. However, voice acting goes beyond just reading the words on the page. Our experts come together to talk about the profession of voice acting, to share tips and tricks, and to discuss various channels for gaining training and jobs. We’ll also explore the kind of preparation needed for various genres, and how a voice performance differs from reading aloud or acting upon the stage.

7:30 PM
Reading: Cadwell Turrnbull
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

7:30 PM
Video Games 101
Bill Todd (M)
Harbor III – Gaming · 25 min · Gaming
Learn how to properly care for video games and their consoles. Let’s face it, video
games have been around so long that our grandchildren have no idea how to
properly use a cartridge-based system. In order to avoid mishaps and mistakes
that happen every year, I offer this course to parents and kids to learn how to
properly use the consoles and store the games, plus an explanation of the video
game rating system (not all games are made for children).

7:30 PM
Reading: Nicole Kurtz
Independence · 25 min · Reading

7:45 PM
Robot Carnivals
Carlton · 89 min · Film/TV/Video
An anthology of seven short animated films, plus opening and closing segments by the legendary animator Katsuhiro Otomo, all tied together by the theme of “robots.” In Japanese with English subtitles.

8:00 PM
1960s Speculative Fiction
Ginjer Buchanan, John Kessel, Darrell Schweitzer, Jeffrey A. Carver, James Patrick Kelly (M)
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Science fiction in the ’60s had a certain vibe. From The Man in the High Castle to Stranger in a Strange Land, Dune, Lord of Light, and The Planet Buyer, influences of mainstream culture were deeply present. How did contemporary events shape the fiction? What other influences filtered into the stories, characters, and outlooks of this special era of mid-century fiction? We’ll discuss our favorites, as well as some forgotten classics of the time.

8:00 PM
Origami
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

8:00 PM
Reading: Debra Doyle and James Macdonald
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

8:00 PM
Climate as Character
Robert V.S. Redick (M), Cameron Roberson, LJ Cohen, Dr. Tom Easton, Melanie Meadors
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
In some stories, the climate may be as important as any character, enveloping a world where only certain kinds of living creatures thrive, struggle to survive, or die. How can such a climate affect cultures or traditions within a story? How might the Earth’s civilizations change in different climate-driven futures? Can these stories help readers understand climatic effects and the fragility of life within a single ecosystem, or an entire planet?

8:00 PM
DC Universe (card game)
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming

8:00 PM
Reading: Daniel M. Kimmel
Independence · 25 min · Reading

8:00 PM
Adam Stemple and Brimstone Rhine Present: Distant Stars and and Irish Bars
Adam Stemple, Faye Ringel, C. S. E. Cooney, Carlos Hernandez
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Start your Boskone weekend with a musical set with some of our multi-talented program participants.

8:00 PM
Name That Tune: What’s Next?
Denise A. Gendron, Tim Szczesuil, Vincent Docherty
Marina 1 · 50 min · Filk / Music
How well do you know skiffy TV and movie music? Well enough to keep going when the music stops? Come earn points (and chocolate!) by singing, humming, or speaking what comes next after the live cello or programmed computer music goes silent. Extra credit for being able to identify the movie, characters, or scene associated with the music.

8:00 PM
Great Gamemasters as Storytellers
Trisha J. Wooldridge (M), Christopher Irvin, Melissa Caruso, Auston Habershaw, Gregory Wilson
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
A great GM (gamemaster) can make or break the experience. Learn about what makes a good GM, tips for running your own table, and lessons learned along the way. Also, discover how running a game can encourage creativity and lead to ideas that can then be infused into a (written) story!

8:00 PM
The Allure of Horror
Jack Haringa (M), Hillary Monahan, F. Brett Cox, Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
What draws readers to the horror genre? Why do fans enjoy getting scared over and over again? Does the genre offer a safe way to face one’s fears? Or does it, as Clive Barker’s Cabal theorizes in allegorical form, provide a place of escape and comfort for outsiders and the marginalized?

8:00 PM
The Death of Sherlock Holmes
Dana Cameron, Kenneth Schneyer (M), Fred Lerner, Max Gladstone, Jim Mann
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Tired of his hero, Arthur Conan Doyle threw him over. But then literary figures — who had dismissed the Holmes stories as trivial diversions — unexpectedly woke to the depth and intelligence of the writing. Also, the outcry from the public was deafening. People just would not let Holmes die. So Doyle had to bring him back. Other writers have tried this: see the Death of Superman, etc. What do we think about all this? Where do our sympathies lie? Are revived characters less interesting afterward, or more?

8:30 PM
Reading: Karl Schroeder
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

8:30 PM
Reading: Zenna Henderson by Patricia Lang
Independence · 25 min · Reading

9:00 PM
Your Generation Ship Has Landed! Now What?
Karl Schroeder, LJ Cohen, Jeffrey A. Carver (M), Brendan DuBois, Karen Heuler
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Our behemoth of a spaceship has been in transit since the days of our many-times-great grandparents. We’ve finally reached an Earth-like planet and are ready to go. What will our panel (of appointed/anointed/hereditary/elected?) leaders suggest doing first? Have they forgotten something important? Watch the panel map out our future and that of the human race on this, our new home. Then suggest your own ideas.

9:00 PM
Opening Ceremony: Meet the Guests
Holly Black, Jim Burns, Eric Coleman, Lizzie Crowe, Kim Stanley Robinson, Susan Weiner, Eric Wilkerson, Jon Singer, David G. Grubbs (M), Rick Kovalcik (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Galleria – Art Show · 15 min · Event
Welcome to Boskone, New England’s longest-running convention for fans and creators of science fiction, fantasy, and horror! Whether you are attending for the first time or the fifty-seventh, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests:

• GUEST OF HONOR: Kim Stanley Robinson
• YOUNG ADULT FICTION GUEST: Holly Black
• OFFICIAL ARTIST: Eric Wilkerson
• MUSICAL GUEST: Cheshire Moon
• HAL CLEMENT SCIENCE SPEAKER: Jon Singer
• NESFA PRESS GUEST: Jim Burns

9:00 PM
Reading: Allen M. Steele
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

9:00 PM
NESFA Writes
Louis Galvez III
Independence · 110 min · Workshop
Want to spend a quiet hour and get some writing done? We’ve got a place that’s “just write.”

9:00 PM
Mars Song Circle
Batya “The Toon” Wittenberg, Merav Hoffman, Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

9:00 PM
Trivia for Chocolate
Priscilla Olson, Mark Olson, Jim Mann
Marina 1 · 50 min · Game Show
How much chocolate can you collect in an hour? The MCs ask the questions, and the audience members shout out the answers. Get the correct answer first and win big kudos … plus a small wrapped chocolate.

9:15 PM
Boskone 57 Reception
Holly Black, Jim Burns, Eric Coleman, Lizzie Crowe, Kim Stanley Robinson, Jon Singer, Susan Weiner, Eric Wilkerson, David G. Grubbs (M), Rick Kovalcik (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Galleria – Art Show · 105 min · Event
Connoisseurs and philistines alike: welcome to the Boskone Art Show! Join us in the Galleria for an upscale social mixer. Meet our program participants while enjoying refreshments, stimulating conversation, and exceptional art that’s a feast for the eyes. Experience the music and festivities as Boskone celebrates another year of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in Boston. This year’s reception is co-sponsored by Tor Books in celebration of their new Tor Essentials line.

9:15 PM
Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
Carlton · 29 min · Film/TV/Video
William Shatner stars as a former mental patient who sees a gremlin on the wing of his airplane.

9:30 PM
Reading: John Kessel
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

9:30 PM
The Silver Shade: Help from the Shadows [Play]
Michael McAfee, Jennifer Pelland, Rob Noyes, Sarah Parisi Boci, Paul Springer, Chris DeKalb, Catherine Bromberg, Hillel Bromberg, Tim Szczesuil
Harbor I · 50 min · Event
She seeks out justice where others cannot go; she is the Silver Shade. The Post Meridian Radio Players present an homage to the pulp adventure series of the golden age of radio. High school teacher Penelope Umberson has a superpower she keeps hidden from the world, but when a student comes to her for help because a parent is framed for murder, she must learn to use her ability to set things right.

9:45 PM
Battle Beyond the Stars
Carlton · 104 min · Film/TV/Video
A young farmer sets out to recruit mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet, which is under threat of invasion by the evil tyrant Sador and his armada of aggressors.

10:00 PM
Puerto Rico
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
The most critically acclaimed board game of the last 20 years, Puerto Rico continues to wow people with its brilliant mechanics. Each player employs 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. (mfg description)

10:00 PM
Bawdy Songs Song Circle
Mary Ellen Wessels, Lizzie Crowe, Ms. Emily Lewis, Batya “The Toon” Wittenberg, Edward Stauff
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

11:00 PM
Friday Late Night Filk & Open Singing
Merav Hoffman, Lizzie Crowe, Eric Coleman, Susan Weiner
Lewis · 240 min · Filk / Music
Share songs with old friends, or those you just met. While science-fictional or fantastic topics may predominate, all songs are welcome. Come to sing or just to listen, well into the night.

SATURDAY

8:00 AM
Morning Yoga
Liz Delton
Marina 1 · 50 min · Other

9:00 AM
Fun With Fabric, Feathers, and Fur (and Yarn)
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children
Open creativity time. Needle and thread, glue sticks, staplers, all available to make your crafty dreams come true.

10:00 AM
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Carlton · 29 min · Film/TV/Video
An assortment of cartoons.

10:00 AM
Mighty Middle Grade Fiction
Tui Sutherland, Melanie Meadors (M), Kwame Mbalia, Michael Stearns
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Novels written for children in the middle grades of school include some of the richest, funniest, and most delightful stories being published today. However, in general book discussions, MG works are often overlooked. And they’re not included on some significant reading lists. Let’s fix that. Our special selection of MG authors will share some of their own favorite MG books and writers — as well as what makes a truly great MG reading experience for kids!

10:00 AM
Autographing: James Patrick Kelly, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Leigh Perry (Toni Kelner), Max Gladstone
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
Face Painting
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Charlaine Harris
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Ruth Sanderson & Dave Seeley
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Mental Illness and the Creative Mind
Adam Stemple (M), Trisha J. Wooldridge
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Discussion Group
Authors Adam Stemple and Trisha Woolridge lead this small group discussion. Depression and other mental illnesses can fuel creativity, providing the opportunity to “think outside the box.” On the other hand, they can disrupt the process of creation. Do you have to be crazy to create? Can you create if cured or medicated? What is the connection between mental illness and the creative mind?

10:00 AM
Welcome to Boskone (II) – Meet Up
Tim Szczesuil, Jackie Kamlot
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 50 min · Docent Tour
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. Then join our docent for a stroll around the con.

10:00 AM
Authors New to Boskone! Group Reading
Melissa Caruso, Sara Codair (M), Liz Delton, Cameron Roberson, Gregory Wilson, Isabel Yap
Griffin · 50 min · Reading
Each year we invite a number of fresh faces: authors attending their first Boskone as program participants. This morning’s special event highlights several. Each writer will read for 5 minutes. It’s a great way for you to get a taste of some innovative talents — and bring your questions for the Q& A at hour’s end.

10:00 AM
Official Artist Interview: Eric Wilkerson
Eric Wilkerson, Gerald L. Coleman
Harbor I · 50 min · Interview
He’s created amazing art in film, TV, advertising, animation, publishing, and video games for everyone from Random House to Activision, Disney, Marvel, and Weta Workshop. You know you’re looking at a Wilkerson when you see dynamic diversity, light-drenched drama, and the strongest possible connection to the narrative moment. This conversation promises to be similarly stellar. Let’s find out as writer Gerald L. Coleman talks with our Official Artist, Eric Wilkerson.

10:00 AM
Great Novels That Don’t Work
Grady Hendrix (M), Allen M. Steele, Bracken MacLeod, Michael Swanwick, Brianna Wu
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Which marvelous masterpieces of science fiction, fantasy, or horror don’t really measure up? Why? Do they feature faults that genre fans forgive more readily than regular readers? Did these stories get sprinkled with plot hole dust by the That Don’t Work Fairy? Are they still great, in spite of not working? Or even—as in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, where flaws perfect the whole—because they don’t work?

10:00 AM
Demo & Play: Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies
M. C. DeMarco
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Join Mary DeMarco for a demo and play Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies — a game of intergalactic conquest for 1-5 players armed with dice and, optionally, tweezers. Known for being a big game in a small box, it now comes in an even smaller box.

10:00 AM
Video Games 101
Bill Todd (M)
Harbor III – Gaming · 25 min · Gaming
Learn how to properly care for video games and their consoles. Let’s face it, video
games have been around so long that our grandchildren have no idea how to
properly use a cartridge-based system. In order to avoid mishaps and mistakes
that happen every year, I offer this course to parents and kids to learn how to
properly use the consoles and store the games, plus an explanation of the video
game rating system (not all games are made for children).

10:00 AM
What’s Up With Self-Driving Cars?
Jeff Hecht
Independence · 50 min · Discussion Group
Let’s speculate about the future of truly autonomous ground vehicles. In the present, we’re seeing some forms of limited driver assistance. But — when do we arrive at conveyances that sense their surroundings and drive themselves? Safely? With little to no human input? How can we get there if we have to start in a world with today’s cars (and drivers)?

10:00 AM
Intro to Filk
Ellen Kranzer, Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
“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.

10:00 AM
First Fandom: Activism in Fandom
David Ritter, Daniel Ritter
Marina 1 · 50 min · Solo Talk
Science fiction fans and authors are visionaries, forever dreaming of what the world could, should, and might be. Throughout history, some have seen the special place of science fiction in literature as a call to action, using the genre to advocate for the better and brighter futures they imagine. Join us as we discuss the history of activism in science fiction fandom, from Donald A. Wollheim in the 1930s to Jeannette Ng in 2019.

10:00 AM
The Frontier of Asteroid Mining
Dr. Martin Elvis
Marina 2 · 50 min · Solo Talk
Space is the next frontier for exploration — full of resources and potential. This special presentation shares the future of asteroid mining, space resources, and human expansion into the solar system in the next decade, century, and millennium. Dr. Martin Elvis, senior astrophysicist with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, will examine how the numbers matter for law, governance, and ethics.

10:00 AM
Is Sword and Sorcery Dead?
Martha Wells, Darrell Schweitzer, Walter H. Hunt (M)
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Some see “sword and sorcery” as a pejorative term applied to an outdated fantasy subgenre. “Sword” suggests a medieval-like milieu, and “sorcery” indicates magic. Typically, S&S protagonists of whatever gender are physically gifted (muscular, exceptionally fast, etc.); S&S antagonists are magically capable and deeply dastardly. But most of today’s adventure-fantasy heroes and villains tend to be a bit more nuanced. Are true S&S novels still written and read? If so, do they deserve the bad rap the genre sometimes receives?

10:00 AM
The Future of Libraries
Fred Lerner, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (M), April Grant, Debra Doyle
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
The card catalog is already kaput. How long can stacks, carrels, and tome-laden tables last? How soon till the world’s One Big Library is seamlessly interconnected with everybody’s local, a collaborative sharing space with digital pipes to every seat and a helpful robotic assistant “manning” the “desk”? Any room left for the most systematically refined information storage technology of all: the book?

10:30 AM
Aliens Ate My Homework
Carlton · 89 min · Film/TV/Video
Tiny alien lawmen fly into Rod’s bedroom and recruit him into helping them stop an intergalactic criminal — who’s disguised as a very familiar human.

10:30 AM
Wingspan
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
You are bird enthusiasts — researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors — seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth: Gain food tokens via custom dice in a bird feeder dice tower; lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors; and draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them. (mfg description)

11:00 AM
Trolls in Art
Ingrid Kallick
Burroughs · 50 min · Solo Talk
Artist Ingrid Kallick shares her work and passion in creating her new book Two Troll Tales From Norway. Ingrid shares how the project came together, an inside look at her artistic process and research, and some of the inspirations that she drew upon such as Kittlsen, Bauer, Rackham, and more. Don’t miss this special look at the crafty creatures known as trolls.

11:00 AM
Art Show Tour with Official Artist, Eric Wilkerson
Eric Wilkerson, Joseph Siclari
Galleria – Art Show · 50 min · Docent Tour
Join Boskone 57’s Official Artist, Eric Wilkerson, in the Art Show to view and discuss the work he has on display, before taking a stroll around the rest of the show.

11:00 AM
Autographing: Theodora Goss, Kim Stanley Robinson, Esther Friesner, Zig Zag Claybourne
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
Game of Thrones: It’s Over
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
Our annual attempt to speculate on the future of everyone’s favorite spec fic TV show (not to mention the books)! Join us for another lively discussion of what appealing pageantry and perversity or delectable butchery and betrayal await us. Speaking of which, now that the series is over (and what an ending it was!) what comes next with the books? What about the new spinoff series? Warning: possible spoilers ahead!

11:00 AM
Wings of Fire Dragon Crafts
Tui Sutherland
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children
Local author Tui Sutherland returns to Boskone to visit Dragonslair! Join Tui as she reads from her latest Wings of Fire book, with dragon crafts.

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Holly Black
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: John Kessel
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Tips on Creating Costumes
Nightwing Whitehead
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Makers Space

11:00 AM
Fantastic Children’s Literature – Group Reading
Adi Rule, Steve Berman, Christine Taylor-Butler
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Friendship in Speculative Fiction
E. C. Ambrose, Grady Hendrix, LJ Cohen, Cadwell Turnbull, Suzanne Palmer (M)
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
Besties 4ever! A look at friendships in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Compassion/rivalry? How do these play out in recent works? Sister-sister or brother-sister … same/different? Science fiction and fantasy are full of powerful male friendships and relationships. What bromances or girlbonds can we look to for positive role models in genre fiction?

11:00 AM
Futuristic Pulp and P.I.s
Nicole Givens Kurtz, Vincent O’Neil, Martha Wells, Brendan DuBois (M)
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
From high-tech data thefts to interstellar murder sprees, the future of science fiction crime solvers is bright … and pulpier than ever! So, what might our future P.I.s look like? What kind of mysteries do we have to look forward to when the entire galaxy is in play? And how might that change the rules when it comes to solving a futuristic mystery?

11:00 AM
Reading: Mike Squatrito Jr
Independence · 25 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Centered Breath Voice Workshop
Anabel Graetz
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Voice workshop with Anabbel Graetz.

11:00 AM
The Durability of Space
William Hayashi (M), Jeff Hecht, Dr Jonathan McDowell, Beth Meacham, Frank Wu
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
With 50 years of space travel behind us, how far have we really come? We’ve orbited the Earth. We’ve landed on the Moon. How can we make a larger and more consistent leap beyond our own planet? What will it take to send humanity into space? And is it really a worthwhile endeavor or just a pleasure cruise for the elite?

11:00 AM
Blood-Curdling Science Fiction
Errick Nunnally (M), Juliana Spink Mills, Julie C. Day, Nicholas Kaufmann, Darrell Schweitzer
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Where does the thin (red) line between science fiction and horror lie? Why does science fiction horror fascinate us so much? What is it about horror in SF that is so absolutely terrifying? What examples do we have of science fiction that will make your blood run cold? And is it getting harder to make SF fiction that is truly scary?

11:00 AM
The Reviewer’s Fourth Wall
Victoria Sandbrook
Marina 3 · 50 min · Solo Talk
Is a review always a picture of the reviewer, too? Can readers grasp more if they know and understand a critic’s point of view? When is dropping the fourth wall between reader and reviewer an act of bravado — and when can the wall protect reader, writer, and reviewer from unnecessary harm?

11:00 AM
Pacing the Novel
Melissa Caruso, Paul Tremblay, Tabitha Lord (M), Sarah Smith
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
It’s crucial to the feel of the novel, but one of the least discussed aspects of fiction. How do you intensify a scene, bringing the reader deep into the narrative — yet still keep the novel moving along? Panelists share techniques for balancing intensity and movement within their work.

11:30 AM
Reading: D.B. Jackson (David Coe)
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

11:30 AM
Reading: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Independence · 25 min · Reading

12:00 PM
Themes Within Latin American Speculative Fiction
Julia Rios, Carlos Hernandez (M), Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Latin American speculative fiction has some of the planet’s most haunting and elegant themes woven into the fabric of the genre. What are some of these themes? What do they represent within the genre, as well as through a larger literary view? How do cultural traditions, regional histories, and religion develop deeper meanings within the fiction? What are some of the best examples that will open new readers to Latin American SF?

12:00 PM
Tour the Art Show with NESFA Press Guest Jim Burns (1)
Jim Burns, Edie Stern
Galleria – Art Show · 50 min · Docent Tour
Take an informative stroll around the art show with artist and NESFA Press Guest Jim Burns, and get a glimpse of the show through his eyes. You’ll hit the highlights with a knowledgeable artist to guide you through the aisles, sharing points of interest.

12:00 PM
Autographing: Diana Rowland, Cat Scully, Walter Jon Williams, Gene Doucette
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

12:00 PM
Where Are the Middle-Aged Adventurers?
Karen Heuler
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
Most stories feature young heroes and heroines who set out on a grand adventure to save the world. They are young and naive and full of hope — but where are the middle-aged and older adventurers? Does adventure die at 40? Author Karen Heuler leads a discussion on what might be holding our middle-aged adventurers back.

12:00 PM
Dragon’s Lair – Closed for Lunch
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

12:00 PM
Strange Threads: Boskone’s Group Knit-Along
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Discussion Group
The Knit-Along is our annual exploration of string theory … and a
chance to show off your prowess with needles. Come and join the fun, and
get to finger fine fibers with other obsessive knitters.

12:00 PM
Reading: Max Gladstone
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

12:00 PM
Who’s Who: Mad Men (and One Woman) in a Blue Box
Jim Mann (M), Nicholas Kaufmann, David Marshall, Ginjer Buchanan, Jennifer Pelland
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
Thirteen Doctors strong, and the series is still blasting its way through time and space to save the Universe(s). But let’s face it, my Doctor is better than your Doctor. *wink* Yes, we all have our favorites. So, let’s look at the list of who’s Who over the life of the series and discuss our favorites along with what made them so great at their role as madmen (and woman) in a box. We’ll spend a little extra time talking about the classic Doctors who may now be flying beneath the radar of today’s fans.

12:00 PM
Stories in Non-Western Worlds
Adam Stemple (M), Reiko Murakami, Esther Friesner, Jack Haringa, Sarah Smith
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
In a welcome departure, more and more speculative fictions now feature non-Western settings, and cultures based on non-Western sources. What works have handled this especially well? What milieus are you dying to see more stories set in? What pitfalls must be evaded? What are some good guidelines for avoiding cultural appropriation?

12:00 PM
Reading: Mur Lafferty
Independence · 25 min · Reading

12:00 PM
Bull Stories: Tain Bo Cuailnge, or, Cattle Raid of Cooley
April Grant
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
April Grant and a co-conspirator will tell the entire story in a 50-minute performance of comedy and reduction to absurdity a la Anna Russell.

12:00 PM
Designing Realistic Clothing in Science Fiction
Nightwing Whitehead, Pete Hollmer, Lisa Hertel (M), E. C. Ambrose, Sarah Morrison
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
High heels and hand grenades sound sexy, but rarely work outside of a James Bond film. Then again, there are times when a character gets caught in a party dress when saving the world. Let’s think about situational clothing and the types of activities that are realistic when paired up with the right or wrong outfits.

12:00 PM
If You LIke This, You’ll Like That
John Chu, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Joseph Siclari (M), Tui Sutherland
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Just like it says! Our panel of experts will suggest new (and classic) reads for you, if you’re looking for a new read and don’t know what to pick next. Audience participation encouraged!

12:00 PM
100 Years From Now…
Cadwell Turnbull, Jeffrey A. Carver, Karl Schroeder, Allen M. Steele (M), Andrea Martinez Corbin
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
The world as we know it has changed dramatically in the last 100 years. How about the next 100? What might everyday life be like a century from now? What technological marvels will the near future bring? What social changes will take place? How about natural and human-made disasters? Overall — where will we be, and how will we get there? Is the Singularity coming? “Day Million”? Or will our grandchildren herd sheep and shiver in the dark?

12:00 PM
Self-Promotion: Everything You Know About It Is Probably Wrong
Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Tonia Thompson, Matthew Warner, Sarah Jean Horwitz (M), Alexander Jablokov
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Done properly, self-promotion is an essential part of building a career. Poorly done, it can do more harm than good. How is conventional wisdom wrong? What are the more advisable (but sometimes underrated or neglected) approaches? What are the strategies that might make you look ridiculous?

12:30 PM
Reading: Auston Habershaw
Independence · 25 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Home Movies from Worldcon
Carlton · 14 min · Film/TV/Video
We wandered around the last year’s Dublin Worldcon with a prewar-vintage newsreel camera and got shots of a lot of different parts of the con, then edited them down. Much of it was confiscated and destroyed by the convention management but there is still plenty worth watching! Come and see yourself and your friends and the people you meant to see at the con but missed. (16mm, 15 min)

1:00 PM
Magical Girl History and Deconstruction
Kaitlin R. Branch
Burroughs · 50 min · Solo Talk
Magical Girls have been around since long before Sailor Moon, but they always keep some of the same features of the genre: how does a girl hold power and what does she do with that? In this talk I’ll go through the definition and history of the Magical Girl genre, as well as going over some of the recent deconstructions and pushbacks of the genre, such as Madoka Magicka, Magical Girl Raising Project, and Magical Girl Spec Ops Asuka.

1:00 PM
Special Fan Exhibit Tour (1)
David Ritter, Daniel Ritter
Galleria – Art Show · 50 min · Docent Tour
Take an informative stroll around the special fan history exhibit with the curator of this extensive and unique display of fandom’s history. It’s an item not to be missed if you enjoy all things fannish.

1:00 PM
Autographing: Dana Cameron, Jeffrey A. Carver, Craig Shaw Gardner, Daniel M. Kimmel
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

1:00 PM
Fabulous Bookmarks!
Liz Delton
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children
Author Liz Delton works with Dragonslair kids to build one-of-a-kind booksmarks to take home and track their own reading adventures!

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Tonia Thompson
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Adam Stemple 
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
Art Demo with Alan F. Beck
Alan F. Beck
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Demonstration
Watch Alan F. Beck paint one of his mouse portraits showing tips, techniques, and materials in handling the watercolor medium from concept to finished art.

1:00 PM
Reading: Holly Black
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Guest of Honor Interview: Kim Stanley Robinson
Gideon Lichfield, Kim Stanley Robinson
Harbor I · 50 min · Interview
His masterful SF stories tackle big themes such as environmental sustainability and utopian plausibility. Yet they focus on the little daily dilemmas of his characters: a disabled shaman, a waterlogged New York building super, a pacifistic Muslim nuclear scientist, several Martian revolutionaries, or a strangely endearing starship AI. His work has won the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, and more. He writes the best infodumps since Moby Dick. Tom Hanks blurbed one of his books … Expect a truly fascinating conversation as Gideon Lichfield, editor in chief of MIT Technology Review, speaks with our GOH, Kim Stanley Robinson.

1:00 PM
Illustrating Children’s Books
Ruth Sanderson, Christopher Paniccia (M), Cat Scully, Ingrid Kallick
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Art for children is a special category. It takes a keen talent to evoke the mystery and wonder through which a child views the world. How do artists capture those visuals? How do they know when they are creating the right image for the work? Our artists come together to talk about the wonderfully imaginative world of illustration for children.

1:00 PM
Guru of the Game Tournament
Bill Todd (M)
Harbor III – Gaming · 355 min · Gaming
The games: Ticket to Ride (1910), DC Universe Card Game (base), Wingspan, Puerto Rico.

Four games in 5 hours. Tournament starts at 1 pm. Please be in the game room by 12:30 pm. If I call your name and you are not in the room, you will not be allowed to play. Please be prepared to play all 4 games. Quitting the tournament gives a huge advantage to the other players at your table, so please stick with it.

Each game will end in 60 minutes, regardless of whether or not the game is actually over. You earn points based on how you placed. First place gets 10 points, 2nd gets 9, and so on. The top 4 winners get to pick prizes off the table. Once you pick a prize, you own it. You may trade your game(s) for others; however, due to hotel regulations, you cannot sell your game on hotel property. You can ask for help from other players but they are not required to tell the truth. You can ask Bill, who is neutral, but he will not play your game for you.

This is open to all, but you should have a working understanding of the games. Please attend a scheduled demo or see Bill if you need a quick refresher on a particular game.

1:00 PM
Reading: Laurence Raphael Brothers
Independence · 25 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Lunar & Interplanetary Travel Song Circle
Ellen Kranzer, Mary Ellen Wessels, Denise A. Gendron, Dr. Mary Crowell, Edward Stauff
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Themed Filk/Sing Circle

1:00 PM
Alien Tales of Reproduction
Priscilla Olson (M), Frank Wu, Steven Popkes, Zig Zag Claybourne
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Life persists! But what might life look like on alien worlds? From fungi to non-carbon life forms, we look at interesting other ways of nature contributing to the next generation—wherever and whatever it may be.

1:00 PM
Shaping the Genre
Julia Rios (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Shahid Mahmud
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
With the evolution of print, ebooks, and audiobooks — not to mention other digital media — the speculative genre keeps changing. How has SF shaped and been shaped by society? Past transformational writers included Asimov, Bradbury, Butler, and Le Guin, to name a few. What authors are reshaping the genre today? How much do current technology and delivery media affect the power to mold SF? What role do publishers, large and small, play in the genre’s evolution?

1:00 PM
Developing Future Histories
Dr Jonathan McDowell, David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson, Mark Olson (M), Michael Swanwick
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Is it still possible to write a future history? Is it still worthwhile? How do you build a future history, anyway? How about alternate futures based on alternate pasts? Let’s dive into the great what-ifs and maybes of tomorrow!

1:00 PM
Brave New Wordsmiths
Errick Nunnally, John Chu, Theodora Goss (M), Suzanne Palmer, Rajnar Vajra
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Let’s talk about the best new writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror that have emerged in the past decade. What fresh perspectives do they bring to the table? What are their most provocative ideas? What makes their styles stand out? What are their best works?

1:15 PM
Bamboo Saucer
Carlton · 104 min · Film/TV/Video
This cold-war-era thriller involves a flying saucer hidden in a Red Chinese village and the American and Soviet teams that converge on it and find they have to work together to complete their missions. It’s dated today, but it’s surprisingly well produced and still holds up very well. (16mm, 1 hr, 40. min, Eastman LPP Color)

1:30 PM
Reading: Charlaine Harris
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

1:30 PM
Reading: Clea Simon
Independence · 25 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Genetic Engineering in SF
Christine Taylor-Butler (M), Steven Popkes, Nightwing Whitehead, Tabitha Lord, Dr. Tom Easton
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
We have developed the ability to modify and change the genes in plants, animals, and creatures that fall into neither category. To some degree, we have the power to play god, but what are the possible consequences? What is actually possible versus probable? Can we create new species? Can we solve health care problems before conception? Can we grow non-sentient meat like we grow corn? Can we modify humanity to withstand climate change? If the science were only possible, what changes might we make to create a better future for mankind?

2:00 PM
Autographing: Charlaine Harris, Allen M. Steele, Tonia Thompson, Julie C. Day
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

2:00 PM
Math Games
Kaitlin R. Branch
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Mur Lafferty
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Nicholas Kaufmann
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Art Demo with David Marshall
David Marshall
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Demonstration

2:00 PM
Reading: Esther Friesner
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

2:00 PM
The Image of Men in SF, Fantasy, & Horror
David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson (M), Max Gladstone, Zig Zag Claybourne, Diana Rowland, Robert V.S. Redick
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
Speculative fiction was traditionally written, read, and inhabited by (straight white) men. The speculative world is evolving, expanding the ranks of authors, readers, and characters. It’s time to examine the portrayal of men in genre fiction. Has there truly been a shift in their characterizations, motivations, and perspectives? What characters stand the test of time and which missed the mark? How do male protagonists in contemporary speculative fiction reflect the values of today’s diverse society?

2:00 PM
A Rick Riordan Presents Discussion
Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Eric Wilkerson, Michael Stearns (M)
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
“Rick Riordan Presents” is an exciting new branch of the Disney-Hyperion line that features middle-grade fiction with the goal of publishing “authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage.” Join author Kwame Mbalia and Boskone’s Official Artist Eric Wilkerson (author and artist of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky) and Carlos Hernandez, (author of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe) who discuss their books and the series as a whole. They’ll share what it’s like to be part of the Rick Riordan Presents, including the fan response and the creative processes involved along with commentary from the publishing and academic perspectives.

2:00 PM
Reading: Walter H. Hunt
Independence · 25 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Strong Sound Workshop
Anabel Graetz
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

2:00 PM
Who Did What Best?
Edie Stern (M), Bob Eggleton, Ginjer Buchanan, Jon Singer, Paul Di Filippo
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Let’s look at the elements of images that define the tropes of science fiction and fantasy, and discuss which artists did the best versions. We may argue, we may disagree, but we will love every artistic moment of it!

2:00 PM
Editing from Agent, to Editor, to Publisher
Joshua Bilmes, Beth Meacham, John Kessel, James D. Macdonald, Melanie Meadors (M)
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Writing is only half the work when crafting a story, novel, or article. Once the words are on the page, what happens next? Our panel discusses the review, revision, rewriting, and more needed at each stage of the process before the finished piece lands in the hands of a reader.

2:00 PM
Futuristic Societies in Science Fiction
Martha Wells, Kim Stanley Robinson, Walter Jon Williams (M), Karl Schroeder, Vincent Docherty
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Creatures that are part human and part machine. Sentient alien species. People living on ships and across time itself. The future is full of people. So what does it mean to be a person in the future? How might futuristic societies evolve based upon their surroundings and histories? How can we escape the perils and pitfalls of contemporary social norms in order to create societies that feel completely fresh and new?

2:00 PM
The Business of Being a Writer
Isabel Yap (M), Cameron Roberson, Rajnar Vajra, Sarah Smith, Matthew Warner
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Being a writer entails more than just being able to put fiction on a page and sell it to a publisher. Writing is a business, and it comes with all the trappings of a business. Hear from our panel of writers on what it takes to keep the business end of things going — including marketing, appearances, taxes, and all of the unexpected things that pop up along the way.

2:30 PM
Reading: Jeffrey Ford
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

2:30 PM
Filkers – Group Reading
April Grant, Jim Infantino, Edward Stauff
Independence · 25 min · Reading

3:00 PM
History of the Automobile
Carlton · 14 min · Film/TV/Video
This fan-produced film describes the evolution of transportation in an alternate universe with some interesting differences. It is amusing and educational . (16mm, 8 min, B&W by Cinelab)

3:00 PM
The Art of Creating Fantastical Creatures
Ruth Sanderson, Bob Eggleton (M), Sarah Morrison, Jonathan Hunt, Ingrid Kallick
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Dragons, griffons, and mermaids. What does it take to create a lifelike being that only exists in the artist’s head? What does an artist have to keep in mind when drawing imaginary beasts? How do you choose the right color palette? And how do you put personality into creatures who have no analog in real life from which to draw?

3:00 PM
Autographing: Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Paul Tremplay, Eric Wilkerson
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

3:00 PM
Long Live the Legion!
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
Our annual salute to DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes. Despite several comics reboots over the years, the heartbeat is still weak—but wait! Up in the digital sky! It’s Supergirl and Superman! Join us for a superheroic discussion. We’ve got a Legion of stuff to talk about!

3:00 PM
Starry Sunset
Lisa Hertel
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

3:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Jeffrey A. Carver
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

3:00 PM
Art Demo with Cat Scully
Cat Scully
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Demonstration

3:00 PM
Reading: James Patrick Kelly
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

3:00 PM
The Golden Compass: 25th Anniversary
C. S. E. Cooney, Christine Taylor-Butler (M), Robert V.S. Redick, Liz Delton, John Langan
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
The first volume of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials fantasy trilogy, a 1995 novel called Northern Lights in the U.K. and The Golden Compass in the U.S., ensorcelled the imaginations of tens of millions of readers worldwide. The quests of curious, clever, courageous young Lyra bring encounters with Dust and destiny, daemons and angels, armored bears and parallel worlds. Is this YA or adult fare? Did Pullman set out to slay religion, or merely C. S. Lewis? What do the later movie and TV adaptations add, or subtract?

3:00 PM
Planet Hunting & Life Beyond Earth
Jon Singer, Jeff Hecht, Mark Olson (M), Walter H. Hunt
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Pluto got downgraded from planethood, but gravitational forces around the solar system indicate there is at least one other large, unknown body spinning out in the black. How do we detect this mysterious object, out beyond what we can easily see? How do we find planets in other solar systems — or even other galaxies? Let’s talk astronomy and get down to what it takes to find other habitable planets, because Earth can’t be the only one … statistically speaking.

3:00 PM
Reading: John P. Murphy
Independence · 25 min · Reading

3:00 PM
Chantey Sing
Jeff Keller, April Grant
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

3:00 PM
Tackling Tough Topics in Fantasy
Sara Codair, Hanne Madeleine (“Iro”) Gates Paine, Hillary Monahan (M), Erin Roberts, Laurence Raphael Brothers
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Speculative fiction is often considered another way to view and discuss real-life issues in a safe and controlled environment. How does this idea translate to adult, young adult, and children’s fiction, especially considering the violence and tough topics that come up? Which of those tough topics are particularly well suited for YA versus adult spec fic? What subjects need more coverage? And what are some of the best examples of speculative fiction that addresses today’s most pressing issues?

3:00 PM
Troubleshooting Troublesome Manuscripts
Joshua Bilmes (M), Matthew Warner, Tabitha Lord
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Our intrepid authors come together to share tips and tricks for tackling the most notorious issues that arise when writing and editing their work. Find out how to fix hidden plot holes, dangling loose ends, and the endings that just won’t end!

3:00 PM
Hugo Award Recommendations (Written)
Jim Mann, Vincent Docherty (M), Bob Devney
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
What were your favorite SF/F/H novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, related works, and graphic stories of 2019? Panelists and audience members share their favorites and discover new things to read. Let’s find the hidden gems and take notes for this year’s Hugo Award nominations ballots too—they’re due in New Zealand soon!

3:00 PM
A Muster of MFAs and Workshop Writers
David Anthony Durham (M), John Kessel, Auston Habershaw, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Isabel Yap
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Thinking about attending a Master of Fine Arts program or writing workshop? Wondering how to choose between a week-long workshop and a multi-year MFA, or a low-residency versus an onsite program? How do you determine what fits your needs? And once you’re done, how do you measure personal success and deal with the writing highs and lows that are coming? Join us for an in-depth discussion on how to choose what’s “write” for you.

3:30 PM
Reading: Kim Stanley Robinson
Griffin · 25 min · Reading

3:30 PM
Reading: Darrell Schweitzer
Independence · 25 min · Reading

3:15 PM
A New View of Space
Carlton · 29 min · Film/TV/Video
This NASA documentary describes how photography has given us views into outer space and into our own world. It discusses the importance of photographic technology in space missions. (16mm, 30 min, Eastman LPP Color)

3:45 PM
Skylab III, A Special Report
Carlton · 15 min · Film/TV/Video
This NASA film describes the upcoming work to be done on the second crewed mission to the Skylab space station. Yes, America did have an operating space station years before the ISS! Come see how. (16mm, 15 min, Eastman Ektachrome Commercial Color)

4:00 PM
Orbiting Solar Observatory
Carlton · 29 min · Film/TV/Video
With a cameo from the sun god Ra, this NASA Goddard documentary describes the purpose, construction, and application of the OSO-1 orbiting solar observatory as it was launched in 1962. (16mm, 26 min, Eastman Ektachrome Commercial (badly faded) Color by Byron)

4:00 PM
Realistic Romance in the Modern Age of Spec Fic
Charlaine Harris, David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson, Darlene Marshall (M), Holly Black, R.W.W. Greene
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Whether in deep space or in ancient sand-swept kingdoms, what does a modern romantic relationship look like? How have the romantic dynamics between characters changed? And how does romance play into true love, fading relationships, and “just sex” when a heroic woman comes to the rescue?

4:00 PM
Autographing: Tui Sutherland, Cadwell Turnbull
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

4:00 PM
Becoming Aware of Your Own Biases
Bracken MacLeod, Sara Codair
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
Authors Sara Codair and Bracken MacLeod lead a small-group discussion aimed at developing ways to become aware of the biases we don’t know we carry and how to start addressing our own biases. This discussion will cover sensitive topics and thoughtful communications with each other.

4:00 PM
Magic Show
Daniel P. Dern
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Karl Schroeder
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Paul Tremblay
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

4:00 PM
Drawing the Costumed Figure
Lisa Hertel
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Workshop
Artist Lisa Hertel leads this workshop on how to add the perfect costume to your drawing.

4:00 PM
Meet Up: New England Horror Writers
Jack Haringa
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 50 min · Discussion Group
Join Jack Haringa for an informal discussion focused on the New England Horror Writers (NEHW), which provides peer support and networking, with a relaxed and social mindset, for authors of horror and dark fantasy in the New England area. Visit NEHW online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Newenglandhorrorwriters/

4:00 PM
Stonecoast MFA — Group Reading
Erin Roberts, Kaitlin R. Branch, Julie C. Day, KT Bryski
Griffin · 50 min · Reading
Come hear the literary stylings of the Stonecoast MFA alumni, students, and faculty who have come together for this special group reading at Boskone.

4:00 PM
Slightly Subversive Fantasy
Paul Di Filippo (M), Walter Jon Williams, Jeffrey Ford, Michael Swanwick, Suzanne Palmer
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
In the words of Ursula Le Guin, “Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art — the art of words.” Arguably, science fiction and fantasy are at their very hearts genres of subversion, challenging the status quo. Let’s talk about the art of subversion, and how we as artists and readers support and promote social change through the creation of ideas and the power of imagination.

4:00 PM
NESFA Press Guest Interview: James Burns
Jim Burns, Bob Eggleton
Harbor II · 50 min · Interview
He flew jets for the RAF. He contributed preproduction art for Blade Runner. And he’s won three Hugos (so far) over a long career creating sleek starships, convincing creatures, and compelling planetscapes to intrigue science fiction fans worldwide. Let’s see if Bob Eggleton can get Jim Burns to reveal how he crafts such photorealistic renderings — of things that don’t exist.

4:00 PM
Reading: Jeff Hecht
Independence · 25 min · Reading

4:00 PM
Songs of Science Song Circle
Jim Infantino, Dr. Mary Crowell, Benjamin Newman
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

4:00 PM
Fan History for Beginners
David Ritter, Joseph Siclari, Brenda Noiseux (M), Steve Davidson, Janice Gelb
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
What’s fannish canon? What’s not? Has the fragmentation of fandom into so many sub-groups interrupted the passing-on of our earlier traditions and history? Let’s look at how fandom has changed and embrace the incoming fans, sharing the history of our community and the tradition of volunteerism in the name of speculative fiction and art.

4:00 PM
Working Toward True Diversity in Speculative Fiction
William Hayashi (M), John Chu, Steve Berman, Shahid Mahmud, Victoria Sandbrook
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
In order to achieve true diversity and to avoid using token characters to serve diverse purposes, it’s important to understand what diversity actually means and how not to present diverse characters. How do we achieve a natural-feeling cast of characters? What challenges do authors face when developing characters who come from different backgrounds? And how can they become more aware of their own biases seeping into their fiction?

4:00 PM
Seeing Through the Tech Hype
Allen M. Steele, Brendan DuBois, James D. Macdonald, Dr. Stephen P. Kelner Jr. (M), Vincent O’Neil
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
With so many new innovations and discoveries, it’s easy to get carried away by the possibilities of what a shiny new technology can actually accomplish. What questions should you ask to see through the tech hype surrounding everything from driverless cars, gene editing, and artificial intelligence to VR gaming and 3-D printing? What’s really possible? How do fiction and entertainment media affect the writing, publication, and understanding of actual scientific and technological advances?

4:00 PM
Reflecting on Zenna Henderson
Priscilla Olson, Patricia Morgan Lang
Marina 4 · 50 min · Dialog
Editors of NESFA’s Zenna Henderson collections, Ingathering and the new volume Believing, examine the life and work of this beloved author. What makes her work relevant and appealing today? (Both collections are available at the NESFA Sales Table in the Dealers Room.)

4:30 PM
Reading: Pete Hollmer
Pete Hollmer
Independence · 25 min · Reading

5:00 PM
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Carlton · 119 min · Film/TV/Video
Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.

5:00 PM
Techniques of Panel-Based Storytelling
Josh Dahl, David Marshall, Jonathan Hunt, Paul Di Filippo, Christopher Paniccia (M)
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Creating comics or a graphic novel: telling your tale with words and pictures, panel after panel. How is it done? What challenges (and opportunities) emerge in this style of narrative?

5:00 PM
Autographing: Holly Black, Adam Stemple, Karl Schroeder
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

5:00 PM
What’s New in Video Games?
Brianna Wu
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
What are the latest trends in video games? Obviously, just as in films, remakes and reboots make up a large portion of new releases. Are we tired of games just getting reheated and re-served? What’s truly new on the horizon? Also, are handheld games going through a golden age? Finally, we’ll look at the games that are inspiring new fiction and film … and vice versa.

5:00 PM
Dragon’s Lair Closed for Dinner
Galleria – Dragonslair · 55 min · Children

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Diana Rowland
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Cadwell Turnbull
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

5:00 PM
Scratchboard Workshop
Ruth Sanderson
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Workshop
Artist Ruth Sanderson leads a workshop on how to create scratchboard art.

5:00 PM
Dark Fiction — Group Reading
Karen Heuler, Bracken MacLeod, James Moore, Sheree Renee Thomas, Cat Scully
Griffin · 50 min · Reading

5:00 PM
The Effects of Tolkien on Fantasy
Dr. Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Gerald L. Coleman, Theodora Goss, Mark Olson, Beth Meacham (M)
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
In 1937, war clouds gathered over Europe (and Mordor) as J.R.R. Tolkien sat down to write The Lord of the Rings — and change fantasy literature forever. His work still stands as a major influence on other writers, for the sweeping scope and grandeur of his vision; his intricate, wide-ranging worldbuilding; and the layered depths of his characters. But not all Tolkien’s influences are positive, especially for later generations. Good and bad, what are Tolkien’s effects on fantasy authors and readers today?

5:00 PM
Reading: Kenneth Schneyer
Independence · 25 min · Reading

5:00 PM
Pub Sing
Jeff Keller, Eric Coleman, Lizzie Crowe
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

5:00 PM
Art Disasters
Dave Seeley (M), Jim Burns, Eric Wilkerson, Bob Eggleton, Alan F. Beck
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
When it comes to art, we often only see the beautiful finished piece, but along with the triumphs there are disasters … and some of them are real doozies! Boskone’s artists share some of their favorite failures, warts and all.

5:00 PM
Works by Octavia E. Butler
Nicole Givens Kurtz (M), David Anthony Durham, Faye Ringel, R.W.W. Greene
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
In her too-short career, Octavia Estelle Butler (1947-2006) left a lasting mark on science fiction — with the Patternist, Xenogenesis, and Parable novels, plus standalones like Kindred and shorter stories such as “Speech Sounds” and “Bloodchild.” She wrote about biology and genetics; racism, feminism, and gender; aggression, forgiveness, and the anguish and beauty of families. Which work would you give a Butler newbie? What’s her best? Most terribly prophetic? Most overlooked? Why?

5:00 PM
Building Worlds Within LitRPG and Games
Auston Habershaw (M), Christopher Irvin, Mur Lafferty, M. C. DeMarco, Erin Roberts
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Literature, litRPG, and games all share a common worldbuilding process, but at what point do those processes diverge? How do the specific genres drive the narrative, which in turn drives the worldbuilding template for these different types of stories? What key elements distinguish litRPG and gaming fiction from their speculative fiction peers?

5:00 PM
Evolution of Greek Mythology in Contemporary Fantasy
Esther Friesner, Tabitha Lord (M), Mike Squatrito Jr, Jeffrey Ford, Mary Ellen Wessels
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Some of the first, and most memorable, fantasy stories were born far in the past in a picturesque land bordered by the Ionian, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean Seas. How have these Greek tales filtered down through the ages, leaving their marks upon the annals of literature, and where can we still see the traces of their influence (if not their direct effect) upon modern fantasy and science fiction?

5:30 PM
Reading: Victoria Sandbrook
Independence · 25 min · Reading

6:00 PM
Books That Get Kids Reading!
Michael Stearns, Juliana Spink Mills (M), Julia Rios, Adi Rule, Trisha J. Wooldridge
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Hundreds of new children’s books are published every year. Yet recommended reading lists still include the same old children’s classics, with only a few new titles. Our panelists share some of their favorite new children’s books and authors from recent years that should be added to the lists.

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Bracken MacLeod
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Joshua Bilmes
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

6:00 PM
Jim’s Big Ego — Concert
Jim Infantino, Jason Schneider, Josh Kantor, Jesse Flack, Dan Cantor
Harbor I · 50 min · Concert
Hailing from the quaint New England village of Boston, Massachusetts, Jim’s Big Ego has carved a unique place in the music world by rocking harder, fresher, sweeter, and better than the rest.

6:00 PM
Fan Fund Auction
Geri Sullivan
Marina 1 · 50 min · Other
Take science fictional treasures, entertaining tat, and various curiosities home from Boskone by supporting the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF), the Down-Under Fan Fund (DUFF), the Otherwise Award, and other worthy fannish activities with your bids at the fan funds live voice auction. Come and exchange your cash for quality merchandise and unique items! (Geri Sullivan, Joe Siclari, Diane Martin, Murray Moore, Mary Ellen Moore)

6:00 PM
Developing New Podcasts and Other Media Channels
KT Bryski, Bob Kuhn (M), Dan Moren, Tonia Thompson, Corwin Stauff
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
You’ve got yourself a microphone and script, and possibly a video camera, too. Plus, your RSS feed works. What now? Join our panelists and learn the ins and outs of developing scripts, vetting ideas, casting, and maintaining your show beyond the initial burst. Let’s look at how to take your storytelling to another level.

6:00 PM
A Remembrance: Goodbye to the Good Place
Darlene Marshall, Craig Shaw Gardner, Laurie Mann (M), Ginjer Buchanan, Jennifer Pelland
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
The Good Place has ended. Does this mean we’re in the Bad Place? What was it about The Good Place that caught the attention and imagination of so many people? This much-loved instant classic is worth remembering and celebrating. Our panelists share what made this show so special and highlight the lessons that other shows could learn from it.

6:00 PM
The Dark Manifold (Dungeons & Dragons 5E)
Matt Yancik
Harbor III – Gaming · 180 min · Gaming
For 3 to 5 players (sign-up at Program Operations near Registration). Players can choose from one of several pre-generated characters. The game will last approximately three hours. (This is a second running of this game, the first is on Friday night. People may not participate in both sessions.)

“Mother”, downtown to the densely packed metropolis of the City of Lost Souls, is a pit carved a half mile deep and half mile wide into the solid rock of the mountainous, snow-covered ringworld of Bjerg. Buildings, carved from solid rock, reach into the sky like cadaverous hands from the grave as, far below, denizens shoulder their way through dark, claustrophobic streets. Gravity shucks, organic trams suspended within gravity tracks that crisscross the pit, ferry citizens from one district to another. You, dear adventurer, are jostled awake from a dream to find yourself among a dozen other passengers on board a gravity shuck as it makes its way toward Central Station, nestled in the dark streets below. With no memory of who you are, or how you arrived, you struggle to piece together exactly what’s going on …

6:30 PM
Boskone 57 Book Party
Sara Codair, Dave Seeley, Mike Squatrito Jr, Jeff Hecht, Clea Simon, Nicole Givens Kurtz, R.W.W. Greene, Steven Popkes, Gregory Wilson, Errick Nunnally, James Patrick Kelly, Kim Stanley Robinson, Christopher Paniccia, E. C. Ambrose, Jeffrey A. Carver, Erin Underwood (M), Rick Berry, Patricia Morgan Lang, Jim Burns
Galleria – Stage · 60 min · Event
Come join the fun at Boskone 57’s Book Party. You’ll meet the authors and publishers who have new books coming out at the con! This is your chance to see what’s new from writers you already love, as well as those you have yet to discover.

7:00 PM
Alita: Battle Angel
Carlton · 134 min · Film/TV/Video
A deactivated cyborg is revived, but cannot remember anything of her past life and goes on a quest to find out who she is.

7:00 PM
Comedy in Speculative Fiction
Craig Shaw Gardner (M), Leigh Perry, Adi Rule, Sarah Jean Horwitz, Gene Doucette
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
An elf, a priest, and a changeling walk into a tavern … and that’s just the start of the novel. So, what does it take to write “funny” in speculative fiction when the characters could just as easily end up as the punchline of a joke? What makes comedy good versus great? What examples of “must read” humorous SF can we use as examples? And how do we know when to dial back the yuks?

7:00 PM
After Dinner in the Dragon’s Lair
Galleria – Dragonslair · 110 min ·

7:00 PM
Reading: NESFA Short Story Finalists
Steven Lee (M), Bob Kuhn, David G. Grubbs, Kit Harding, Jonathan Bronico, Mary Alexandra Agner
Griffin · 50 min · Reading
The finalists in the NESFA Short Story Contest read from their submitted works. (If a finalist can’t attend Boskone, selections from their story will be read on their behalf.)

7:00 PM
Catan: Starfarers
Harbor III – Gaming · 170 min · Gaming
It’s the year 2700 and you’ve been selected to compete for the prestigious title of Ambassador to the Galactic Council. Not just anyone can become ambassador—you must earn fame and glory by leaving the known universe behind. Delve deep into the unknown, discover new solar systems, meet new extraterrestrial lifeforms, and use your diplomacy so they will aid you with their powers. As you explore the space in between, you’ll encounter wormholes, merchants, pirates, and more. All of this is made easier with the right upgrades to your ship. (mfg description)

7:00 PM
Learn Lang Belta: The Language of The Expanse! Level I
Hanne Madeleine (“Iro”) Gates Paine
Independence · 50 min · Workshop
Far from the Earth’s gravity well, the brave and resourceful people of the Belt have developed their own expressive creole language. Lang Belta combines languages from all over Earth with the unique culture of the Belt, making it intuitive and exciting to learn. This workshop will give you hands-on practice, teaching you to understand basic spoken Lang Belta and to produce new, original Belta sentences of your own. Expect to laugh, participate in a supportive, low-pressure group, and be surprised by how much you can learn! There will be no plot spoilers. Part 1 of 2.

7:00 PM
A NEW Heinlein Novel!
Shahid Mahmud
Marina 2 · 50 min · Solo Talk
There’s a new Heinlein book coming out, and two copies of Pursuit of the Pankera will be given away! Meet the publisher, who worked with the Heinlein Prize Trust to put the project together. Listen to an excerpt. Find out why this work was never published, and what was involved in bringing it to the public. Come ask all the questions that arise when you hear the words, “A NEW Heinlein novel!”

7:00 PM
Positive Action Anime
Kaitlin R. Branch
Marina 3 · 50 min · Solo Talk
We’ve seen a lot of action anime lately that’s based not on the concept of battle, but on the themes of understanding, underdogs, and compassion. Titles like My Hero Academia, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and to a lesser extent Fairy Tale are drifting away from the “lone angry warrior” tropes, and instead are embodying the “let’s work together and create something better!” spirit — without sacrificing action sequences or excitement. Let’s discuss where this shift has come from, and why it’s happening.

8:00 PM
Game to Fiction/Fiction to Game
Joshua Bilmes, Gregory Wilson, Auston Habershaw, Mur Lafferty, Dan Moren (M)
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Game designers have to come up with an interesting world and compelling story in much the same way as authors who write fiction. So, what does it take to adapt a game to fiction or fiction to game? What new opportunities does the process create? What obstacles need to be overcome?

8:00 PM
Pictionary With the Pros
Bob Kuhn (M), Esther Friesner, Leigh Perry, Frank Wu, Deena Warner, Josh Dahl, Ingrid Kallick, Christine Taylor-Butler, Hillary Monahan
Galleria – Stage · 50 min · Event
Audience members will write down suggestions of speculative fiction movies, plays, novels, comic series, and TV series for our MC. Then, one suggestion at a time, one person from each of our two teams of speculative fiction pros will draw while the rest of their team tries to guess the answer before the other team. Which team of artists and authors will prevail? Come find out … and bring your fiendishly difficult ideas to offer.

8:00 PM
Broad Universe Group Reading
E. C. Ambrose (M), LJ Cohen, Juliana Spink Mills, Trisha J. Wooldridge
Griffin · 80 min · Reading
Join members of Broad Universe — a nonprofit association dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and promoting female authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror — as they read tidbits of works and works in progress. Readers will include LJ Cohen, Marianna Martin, Roberta Rogow, Juliana Spink Mills, and Trisha J. Wooldridge. Moderated by Elaine Isaak.

8:00 PM
Saturday Night Events, Featuring Cheshire Moon
Susan Weiner, Lizzie Crowe, Eric Coleman
Harbor I · 20 min · Event
Come meet Cheshire Moon, our Musical Guest, who are the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird LizzieCrowe, musical mistress Susan Weiner, and crazed magician Eric Coleman. Cheshire Moon will kick off Boskone’s Saturday evening events with a short set before our annual Awards Ceremony.

8:00 PM
Learn Lang Belta: The Language of The Expanse! Level II
Hanne Madeleine (“Iro”) Gates Paine
Independence · 50 min · Workshop
For the most dedicated citizens of Earth, Mars, and the Belt, we’re excited to present the first Intermediate Lang Belta class! You’ll build on your Lang Belta skills, using tenses and moods to massively “expand” your ability to communicate, and add more cultural references and vocabulary for a futuristic, spacefaring society. Snacks and prizes will reward your intrepid learning spirit! Part 2 of 2. *If you didn’t attend Part 1, but attended my Lang Belta beginner course at another con, do a quick review of what you learned at hannepaine.com/belta and you’ll be all set to jump in.

8:00 PM
Murder Ballads Song Circle
April Grant, Batya “The Toon” Wittenberg, Dr. Mary Crowell
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

8:30 PM
Boskone 57 Awards Ceremony
David G. Grubbs, Gay Ellen Dennett, Rick Kovalcik
Harbor I · 20 min · Event
Saturday night’s extravaganza begins with the New England Science Fiction Association’s Award Ceremony, in which we present our 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 up-and-coming / emerging speculative artist. We’ll also be announcing the winner of the NESFA Short Story Contest!

9:00 PM
Star Wars and the Rebel Legacy
Mur Lafferty (M), Martha Wells, Pete Hollmer, Gregory Wilson
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Skywalker has risen, and from one end of the galaxy to the other, the rebels have been fighting against the Empire for years. Rebellion is often a part of a good science fiction or fantasy story, but what makes a good rebellion? Does the Star Wars universe tackle the nuances of rebellion? Do the rebels ring true? How might the Rebellion grow and change, and even evolve, in time?

9:00 PM
Noir at the Bar Reading — Boskone Edition
Christopher Irvin (M), Errick Nunnally (M), Zig Zag Claybourne, Gerald L. Coleman, Vincent O’Neil, Cat Scully, Paul Tremblay, Diana Rowland
Galleria – Stage · 90 min · Event
Noir at the Bar comes back to Boskone for a special reading and fun with our noir, crime, mystery, and horror writers. Hosted by Chris Irvin and Errick Nunnally.

9:00 PM
Musical Guest’s Concert, Featuring Cheshire Moon
Susan Weiner, Lizzie Crowe, Eric Coleman
Harbor I · 75 min · Concert
Cheshire Moon is the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird Lizzie Crowe, musical mistress Susan Weiner, and crazed magician Eric Coleman. Infusing flavors of punk, folk, and prog rock, Cheshire Moon’s otherworldly sound is brought to life as they weave song and story into old myths, new faces onto old gods, and telling the princess’s side of the tale.

9:00 PM
NESFA Writes
Louis Galvez III
Independence · 110 min · Workshop
Want to spend a quiet hour and get some writing done? We’ve got a place that’s “just write.”

9:15 PM
Total Recall
Carlton · 119 min · Film/TV/Video
When a man goes for virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real – or does he?

10:00 PM
Lords of Waterdeep
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Waterdeep, the City of Splendors — the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. You take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city. Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder — or help — the other lords by playing Intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans. (mfg description)

10:30 PM
Saturday Late Night Filk & Open Singing
Benjamin Newman, Gary Ehrlich, Ms. Emily Lewis, Ellen Kranzer
Lewis · 240 min · Filk / Music
Share songs with old friends, or those you just met, well into the night. While science-fictional or fantastic topics may predominate, all songs are welcome. Come to sing or just to listen.

11:15 PM
Twilight Zone: To Serve Man
Carlton · 29 min · Film/TV/Video
It’s the most famous Twilight Zone by far. You all know what this one is about.

12:00 MIDNIGHT
Clue
Carlton · 94 min · Film/TV/Video
The official B57 Midnight Movie. Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.

SUNDAY

9:00 AM
Marbleworks, Zombies, and Legos
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

9:30 AM
Comics Writing Workshop
Josh Dahl
Independence · 80 min · Workshop
Comics artist and author Josh Dahl gives a short workshop on the ins and outs of writing comics. This is not an in-depth session, but it will cover the high points and basics for those interested in learning what it takes. (Hurry: space is limited.)

10:00 AM
Toy Story 4
Carlton · 104 min · Film/TV/Video
When a new toy called “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.

10:00 AM
The X Universe
Dr Jonathan McDowell
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
The Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton are 20 years old and still in service. The former resolves X-ray sources 100 times fainter than previous telescopes; the latter performs spectrum analysis in the visual and X-ray spectra. Is NASA’s Chandra in competition with the European Space Agency’s Newton? What have we learnt from these missions? How do they continue to function 15 and 18 years respectively beyond their original mission plans? Dr. Jonathan McDowell, professor at the Astrophysicist Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian, gives a special Boskone talk.

10:00 AM
Special Fan Exhibit Tour (2)
David Ritter, Daniel Ritter
Galleria – Art Show · 50 min · Docent Tour
Take an informative stroll around the special fan history exhibit with the curator of this extensive and unique display of fandom’s history. It’s an item not to be missed if you enjoy all things fannish.

10:00 AM
Autographing: Christine Taylor-Butler, Mur Lafferty, Christopher Paniccia, Darrell Schweitzer
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

10:00 AM
The Westworld Chat!
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
What makes HBO’s ranchers-and-robots TV show Westworld so amazing, and what insights does the series deliver about the development of consciousness? (Warning: SPOILERS!)

10:00 AM
How to Draw a Unicorn
Ruth Sanderson
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children
Illustrator Ruth Sanderson will read Where Have the Unicorns Gone, the picture book she illustrated for Jane Yolen, talk about her process of creating the illustrations for the book, and demonstrate how to draw a unicorn.

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Esther Friesner
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Max Gladstone
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

10:00 AM
Legends of Tomorrow Fan Chat
Jim Mann
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Discussion Group
What could be more fun than a CW TV show featuring a bunch of second-banana superheroes from DC Comics’ Arrowverse careening back and forth and back and forth and back and etc. through time battling an increasingly zany set of villains, including killer unicorns, Helen of Troy, a guy named Reverse Flash, another guy with batwings and curly horns, a shapeshifting grandmother, a man named Leonard Snart (no wonder he turned bad), and a demonic nipple? According to this show’s fans, nothing. Join this small group discussion led by Boskone’s Jim Mann as we explore why (and how in the heck) it all works.

10:00 AM
Special Reading from the University of Nevada, Reno’s MFA Program
David Anthony Durham
Griffin · 50 min · Reading
Longtime Boskone participant, author, and faculty member David Anthony Durham introduces students from his genre-friendly MFA program at the University of Nevada, Reno for a special group reading. In true fannish style, please help us welcome these students from the Silver State to Boskone. Readers will include December Cuccaro, Leanne Howard, Naseem Jamnia, D. James Kennedy, Danielle Mayabb, David Anthony Durham (faculty), and Christopher Coake (MFA Director).

10:00 AM
Law & Justice in Speculative Fiction
Leigh Perry, Kenneth Schneyer, Bracken MacLeod, Diana Rowland
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
The concepts of law and justice often go together, but not always as one would imagine in a speculative world. How do these concepts connect or conflict depending upon the setting of the story? Let’s look at the influences that affect how these ideas are upheld or subverted when technology, mass communication, or alien civilizations are either added or removed. And what role do ideals such as truth, or even revenge, play when characters come into conflict? What dangers does an author have to navigate when writing about sensitive topics?

10:00 AM
Official Artist Presentation by Eric Wilkerson
Eric Wilkerson
Harbor II · 50 min · Solo Talk
Shining blades, blazing blasters; bold warriors, courageous kids; evocative emotions, diverse identities; intense eyes, luminous skies — the work is full of rousing detail and chromatic color. Join Eric Wilkerson as he shows off the imaginative images that made him this year’s Boskone Official Artist.

10:00 AM
Clank: In Space
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Burgle your way to adventure! Evil Lord Eradikus has all but conquered the galaxy. You and your fellow thieves have challenged each other to sneak around his ship and steal his most precious artifacts. Along the way you’ll recruit allies and snatch up extra loot. One false step and Clank! Careless noise draws the attention of Lord Eradikus. Hopefully your friends are louder than you are so you can make it to an escape pod and get out alive! (mfg description)

10:00 AM
Early Morning Filk Singing
Ms. Emily Lewis, Gary Ehrlich
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Up early? Have the urge to sing? Come share some songs to start the day. All songs are welcome — opera, space, science fiction, and fantasy; whatever brings you joy. Come to sing or just to listen.

10:00 AM
Fairy Tales From the Dark Side
Holly Black (M), Jeffrey Ford, Theodora Goss, Isabel Yap, Craig Shaw Gardner
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Stories about fairies date back thousands of years, and these charmed, clever creatures still wend their ways through our imaginations. But they’re not all sweet Tinker Bells and magical godmothers. Savvy fairy dealmakers and tricksters serve as some compelling characters in genre fiction. Let’s step into Faerie and look at what makes the dodgier denizens of this magic milieu tick. What do we love about them anyway? How have their stories lasted through the centuries? And what more can we expect in the way of darkly delicious tales of the Fae?

10:00 AM
Horror as Social Commentary
F. Brett Cox (M), Tonia Thompson, Karen Heuler, John Langan, Faye Ringel
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Horror can serve to gauge the social standards of a given time — by anatomizing what we fear. Our panelists will share examples of fiction that uses horror exceptionally well to examine a culture’s psychology and social norms.

10:00 AM
Making Indie Games
Brenda Noiseux (M), Carlos Hernandez, M. C. DeMarco, Merav Hoffman, Cat Scully
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Come hear what it’s like to make indie games from different corners of independent gaming (digital, tabletop, RPG, etc).

10:00 AM
Killing Characters
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Cadwell Turnbull, Joshua Bilmes, John Chu (M), KT Bryski
Marina 4 · 50 min · Solo Talk
Why would you create wonderful characters and then ruthlessly kill them? Perhaps it inspires a hero to action, or it makes the narrative more poignant. It might be that you’re tired of these characters or their story arcs have reached their ends. At any rate, what are some of the more creative ways (Reichenbach Falls?) of killing characters? What are the problems relating to creating an interesting death? Major and/or minor characters? Are there rules? Is it moral? Fair? Does the writer have a responsibility to the readership? (And what are the repercussions of this?) Should you plan for a possible (or surprise) comeback?

11:00 AM
The Literary Legacy of C.S. Lewis
John Langan, Ginjer Buchanan, Clea Simon, Christopher Paniccia, Diana Rowland (M)
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were friends. Both created rich imaginary worlds: Lewis’ Narnia portal fantasies and Tolkien’s epic fantasies. Yet much more has been written and discussed about Tolkien’s influence. It’s time to redress the imbalance. Don’t Lewis’ queens Lucy and Susan, and even the White Witch, compare favorably to the lack of female agency in Tolkien’s work, and foretell many later heroines and villainesses? How many of our genre’s school-age protagonists owe their existence to Lewis’ examples? Oh, and don’t forget The Screwtape Letters’ contribution to the satirical fantastic. Is Lewis still influencing fantasy today?

11:00 AM
Autographing: John Kessel, Martha Wells, James Moore, Bracken MacLeod
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

11:00 AM
What’s So Interesting About “The 100”?
Priscilla Olson
Galleria – Discussion Group · 50 min · Discussion Group
The 100 is one of the most intriguing SFnal shows on TV, but it’s seen some ups and downs over the years. Join other fans to discuss what you love about the series — and what niggling bits could be tweaked to make it even better! Join this small group discussion led by Boskone’s Priscilla Olson.

11:00 AM
More Magic!
James D. Macdonald
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Tabitha Lord
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Kaffeeklatsch: Theodora Goss
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

11:00 AM
Learn Magic
Daniel P. Dern
Galleria – Makers’ Space · 50 min · Workshop
Everyone has a bit of magic in them. Learn how to bring that magic out and delight your friends and family. (Open to fans of all ages!)

11:00 AM
Meet Up: Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA)
Mike Squatrito Jr
Galleria – Meetup Spot · 50 min · Discussion Group
Join Mike Squatrito Jr. for an informal discussion focused on authors of both fiction and nonfiction committed to raising awareness of the outstanding works crafted by writers in Rhode Island and other nearby communities. Visit ARIA online at https://www.facebook.com/riauthors/

11:00 AM
Reading: Adam Stemple
Adam Stemple
Griffin · 50 min · Reading

11:00 AM
From Book to the Silver Screen
Charlaine Harris, Michael Swanwick, Holly Black, Rajnar Vajra (M)
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
What actually happens when a novel is picked up and made into a film? It doesn’t always turn out the way readers, viewers, or the original writer imagines. From characters to plot changes, the act of adaptation has the potential to transform key elements of the story. So how can authors stay involved in the process, when should they step away, and what should fans expect?

11:00 AM
Science Demo by Jon Singer
Jon Singer
Harbor II · 50 min · Solo Talk
What is Jon Singer doing? Come find out at this special science demo, where our Hal Clement Science Speaker expects to assemble (from preconfigured parts, as otherwise the demo would take about 6 hours and would be very boring) and operate an air laser. Jon may also attempt to use the output of the air laser to drive a very small organic dye laser.

11:00 AM
Play Mistborn!
Joshua Bilmes
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Game on! A semi-cooperative resource-management game, Mistborn: House War is set during the events of Mistborn: The Final Empire, the first novel in the bestselling fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson. Join Brandon’s agent Joshua Bilmes for a special demo of this fun new board game!

11:00 AM
New Game Demo: Negocios Infernales
C. S. E. Cooney, Carlos Hernandez
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Negocios Infernales is a GM-less storytelling RPG of magic, courtly intrigue, and Faustian bargains. In an Inquisition-Spain-like setting, each player will take on the role of a wizard who has made a deal with the Devil (actually aliens; long story) in order to gain frightening magical powers to try to save their kingdom. Powered by an innovative character- and narrative-creation system that uses a unique deck of 54 cards, the game is designed to be extremely rules-light, making it friendly to RPG newcomers and a breath of fresh air for experienced gamers.

11:00 AM
Reading: Brendan DuBois
Independence · 25 min · Reading

11:00 AM
Atheist & Agnostic Hymn & Hymn-Adjacent Sing
April Grant, Edward Stauff, Mary Ellen Wessels, Denise A. Gendron
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Begin your Sunday morning with a rousing song session of old and new songs to welcome the day.

11:00 AM
Lost in Translation?
Julia Rios, John Chu, Max Gladstone (M), Julie C. Day, Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
It’s a familiar phrase — but what actually is lost in translation? What does a good translator privilege: literal meaning, connotation, cultural significance, wordplay, poetry or musicality? What can she discard first? What must she insist on keeping? What are some of the best translations of the literature of the fantastic? What makes them so fantastische, harika, and downright kediegwu?

11:00 AM
Writing Aliens and Their Worlds
James Patrick Kelly (M), Nicole Givens Kurtz, Walter H. Hunt, Jeffrey A. Carver, Erin Roberts
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Writing other cultures is hard enough when you can do the necessary research — what do you do when that culture doesn’t exist (yet)? Alien life could take many forms. And how about artificial life? Or alien artificial life? Our panelists discuss this topic from as many perspectives as possible.

11:00 AM
Great LGBTQ+ Characters in Speculative Fiction
Hanne Madeleine (“Iro”) Gates Paine, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Sara Codair (M), Steve Berman, Gillian Daniels
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Let’s consider some vivid examples — from Le Guin’s Estraven and Kushner’s Richard St Vier to TV’s Captain Jack, Carey’s Phedra, and Muir’s Gideon. Looking at these and other portraits: Who feels the most real? Who are our favorites? Is progress measured by how much their sexuality/gender is a character detail, not a big deal? What are we (still) waiting for?

11:00 AM
Adventures in Eco-Fiction
Isadora Deese, Robert V.S. Redick, Kim Stanley Robinson, Steven Popkes (M), Andrea Martinez Corbin
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Since the ancient tales of Great Floods, storytellers (like our panelists, for instance) have set their adventurers moving through half-drowned cities, poisoned hills, deserts that eat men, and worlds overgrown by plants. When does a story’s ecology stop being a setting and become a character? How much real science should be behind a good eco-adventure? Can a story be eco-centric without being eco-catastrophic?

11:30 AM
Reading: Nicholas Kaufman
Independence · 25 min · Reading

11:45 AM
Spiderman: Far From Home
Carlton · 134 min · Film/TV/Video
Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever, following the events of Avengers: Endgame.

12:00 PM
The Secret to Sequels
Zig Zag Claybourne, E. C. Ambrose (M), Leigh Perry, Clea Simon, Sarah Smith
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
So the first book was great! Now it’s time to write the second one, under deadline. No matter how many series an author has written, they always have to tackle second book syndrome. So what does it take to get the book out on time, while promoting the first book, planning the third book, and trying not to get caught up in the swell of reader responses?

12:00 PM
Autographing: Melissa Caruso, David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson, Brendan DuBois, Steven Popkes
Galleria – Autographing · 50 min · Autographing

12:00 PM
Dragon’s Lair Kids Concert
Mary Ellen Wessels, Gary Ehrlich, Edward Stauff
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Concert

12:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Jim Burns
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Beth Meacham
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

12:00 PM
Red Moon and the Anniversary of the Moon Landing
Kim Stanley Robinson, Dr Jonathan McDowell, John Kessel, Vincent Docherty (M), Dr. Martin Elvis
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
A discussion about the moon landing (now more than 50 years ago!), life in space, the realities of living on Luna — and the fiction that considers these things, such as Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson. What will it take to create a livable Lunar settlement? In terms of territory, how can we choose who gets what slice of moon pie? How do we avoid inter-solar political crises stemming from “land” rights and commercial rights to objects in space?

12:00 PM
Fantastic Female Villains
Sara Codair, Gerald L. Coleman, Greer Gilman (M), Walter Jon Williams
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Where are the female villains in today’s stories? Although we often speak of female characters, how about strong female villains? Let’s look beyond the popular revenge-seeking rape victim … sometimes women are just plain mean!

12:00 PM
NMBR 9
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Challenge your mental acuity and test your dexterity with this puzzling game of strategically placing tiles for one to four players. In every game of NMBR 9, players build their own displays by stacking number tiles that match cards drawn from a deck. Tiles higher up your stack score more points, but be careful how quickly you build upwards. Tiles of each number have a unique shape, and no part of a tile can overhang without a tile directly beneath it, so cleverly lay a solid foundation and plan ahead before you begin stacking. Whoever builds the best display before the deck runs out wins! (mfg description)

12:00 PM
Reading: Errick Nunnaly
Errick Nunnally
Independence · 25 min · Reading

12:00 PM
Songs Based on the Boskone 57 Art Show
Merav Hoffman
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Here’s the lowdown! Go to the Art Show Opening Reception Friday night at 9:15, take a look at the art of Official Artist Eric Wilkerson and others — and come sing the songs those pictures made you think of.

12:00 PM
Follow Me: Teen Leaders in Fantasy & SF
Cat Scully, Tui Sutherland, Melanie Meadors (M), Cameron Roberson
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
From Percy Jackson to Katniss Everdeen, YA characters are constantly placed in adult positions and given impossible tasks to accomplish. What does it take to save your family, your community, or the world when you’re 15 — not even old enough to drive? Which teen leaders do we admire most? How do their roles differ depending on their settings and circumstances? Are some characters just too young to lead? And how does leadership change with age?

12:00 PM
What Makes a Convention?
Jon Singer, Edie Stern (M), Brenda Noiseux, Laurie Mann, Mark Olson
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
An overview of convention norms and fannish transitions over time. What kinds of conventions are people attending? How did they evolve? Moreover, how do we sustain the ones we have? Our panelists are pros at putting together conventions. Let’s hear what it will take to keep these types of gatherings alive and well.

12:00 PM
Round Robin Live Storytelling
Esther Friesner, Christine Taylor-Butler, John Langan, Erin Underwood (M)
Marina 3 · 50 min · Other
Come be entranced as our expert panel of storytellers creates a wholly original, spontaneous tale. Each author will help build the story, one sentence at a time. There’s sure to be drama, intrigue, and no small amount of laughter as they weave their fantastic tale!

12:00 PM
Successors to Sherlock
Jim Mann (M), Fred Lerner, John P. Murphy, Dana Cameron, Tonia Thompson
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
Since Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, fiction has seen an array of other private detectives whose powers of observation and deduction leave the police awestruck — and irritated. Take Poirot, Wolfe, and Monk. What do these sleuths have in common, and what makes each unique? Is it their flaws and character quirks that render them most interesting? Why do they all prefer to leave humility to those who have something to be humble about?

12:30 PM
Reading: Andrea Corbin
Independence · 25 min · Reading

1:00 PM
The Future of Aging
Dr. Stephen P. Kelner Jr., Dr. Tom Easton, Steve Davidson (M), Laurie Mann
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Could modern medicine and technology keep us going indefinitely? And would immortals still have to work for a living? Let’s discuss how the topic of longevity has been explored in fiction and in real life. We may fear death, but do we really want to live forever? What would a society of ageless people mean in relation to population, creativity, and comfort?

1:00 PM
Stand Back! I’m Going to Do Science!
Christine Taylor-Butler
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children
Who knew you could blow up a balloon with a powder? How about other science experiments?

1:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Cheshire Moon
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

1:00 PM
The Unlikely Imaginarium: A Group Reading
Zig Zag Claybourne, Carlos Hernandez, C. S. E. Cooney, Julia Rios, E. C. Ambrose
Griffin · 50 min · Reading
Authors C. S. E. Cooney, Zig Zag Claybourne, Carlos Hernandez, Julia Rios, and Elaine Isaak gather around the dark bonfire of their collective imagination to tell stories of women, wolves, woods, bones, enraged ninjas, AI toilets, the end of the world, and basically, the whole entire multiverse. Or maybe something completely different. Attend our wild and rambunctious reading to find out for yourselves!

1:00 PM
Scaring the Children
Dana Cameron, Adi Rule, Trisha J. Wooldridge (M), Steve Berman, Cat Scully
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
Horror is a popular genre for children. Many stories go bump in the night, but how far can/should you go in children’s fantasy and horror? We’ll discuss the essential elements of horror in children’s fiction, as well as how children’s horror has evolved over time.

1:00 PM
Extreme Biology
Paul Di Filippo (M), Isadora Deese, Frank Wu, Kwame Mbalia, Priscilla Olson
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
A discussion of some of the more difficult Earth environments and how living things adapt to them. How can we apply our knowledge to possible alien life forms — and have fun doing it?

1:00 PM
Bang the Dice Game
Harbor III – Gaming · 50 min · Gaming

1:00 PM
Reading: Alexander Jablokov
Independence · 25 min · Reading

1:00 PM
Scaréd Harp Sing
Edward Stauff
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music

1:00 PM
Playing in the Post-Apocalypse World
Julie C. Day, Gene Doucette, Errick Nunnally, Clea Simon (M), Jim Infantino
Marina 1 · 50 min · Panel
Why do so many SF writers enjoy playing in this subgenre? Are they simply reporting reasonable extrapolations, because we’re clearly doomed real soon due to climate, corporations, overcrowding, video games, superbugs, big meteorites, and/or reality TV? Is it just because story thrives on conflict, and post-apocalyptic landscapes offer so much scope for disagreements—with chainsaws? Our panelists take a look at some of the more interesting post-apocalyptic worlds as they discuss why they are so compelling and what makes them work.

1:00 PM
Boskone Book Club: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Bob Kuhn (M), Holly Black
Marina 2 · 50 min · Discussion Group
Join us for a conversation that brings con-goers together to consider one noteworthy work at length. This year we are reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, our Young Adult Fiction Guest. Boskone’s own Bob Kuhn will lead the discussion; Holly Black will join the group halfway through for a Q&A. To participate, please read the book and come ready with your thoughts and questions.

1:00 PM
Hashing Over TV Series Finales
Tui Sutherland, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Jennifer Pelland
Marina 3 · 50 min · Panel
Genre (and genre-adjacent) TV shows from The Big Bang Theory to Person of Interest, Luke Cage, Battlestar Galactica, and more. Let’s review some notable finales: Good? Bad? Biggest reveals? Endings with a bang? With a whimper? What will we miss most? And what shows may have a chance to come back? Any series is open for discussion.

1:00 PM
100 Years of Robots
Martha Wells, R.W.W. Greene (M), John P. Murphy, Jeff Hecht, Cameron Roberson
Marina 4 · 50 min · Panel
In 1920, Karel Čapek wrote his groundbreaking play “R.U.R.” (for Rossum’s Universal Robots), which introduced the term “robot.” (From Czech “robota”: work, forced labor.) Čapek’s play was prescient and far ahead of its time. Let’s dive into the legacy of his creations, which have inspired both fictional and real robots alike — from HAL 9000 and C-3PO to Roomba and modern AI.

1:30 PM
Reading: John Chu
Independence · 25 min · Reading

2:00 PM
When Is Death?
James D. Macdonald, Rajnar Vajra, Diana Rowland (M), Adi Rule
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
Death is as intrinsic to the human experience as life, but what does death really mean in fiction … or in reality? Do we pass on to another existence? Will we be written back into the sequel? Will we be uploaded into a quantum network to exist as long as the hardware doesn’t fail? How has our imagination affected our understanding of death over time?

2:00 PM
Dragon’s Lair Closed Until Next Year
Galleria – Dragonslair · 50 min · Children

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: David B. Coe/ D.B. Jackson
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 1 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Brianna Wu & Frank Wu
Galleria – Kaffeeklatsch 2 · 50 min · Kaffeeklatsch

2:00 PM
Audiobooks for Kids and Teens
Carlos Hernandez, Melanie Meadors, Sarah Jean Horwitz (M), Gillian Daniels
Griffin · 50 min · Panel
Audiobooks are a great way to experience fiction. Let’s talk about how they change the dynamic between younger readers and books. How can they be used to inspire reluctant readers? Are there any downsides? What are some “must-hear” audiobooks for kids and teens? And which narrators are especially good at creating engaging narrative voices and compelling atmospheres beyond the page?

2:00 PM
When the Magic Goes Away
Gene Doucette, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Bob Devney (M), Greer Gilman, Trisha J. Wooldridge
Harbor I · 50 min · Panel
Once the land was rich with magic: mystery, glamour, and glory. Elves filled the forest, dragons flew the skies, heroes went adventuring, sorcerers were spellbinding. And then, the Old Magic slipped away, fading like a dream. The gates to Faerie closed, and the last ships sailed into the West … The bittersweet memory remains, but what does this fateful Fall mean for the people left behind? How do you find beauty and meaning in a world without enchantment? Let’s look at stories that have treated this topic, and the possibilities created once the magic is gone.

2:00 PM
50 Ways to End Civilization
Darlene Marshall (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Cadwell Turnbull, Isabel Yap, John P. Murphy
Harbor II · 50 min · Panel
Who you gonna call when you need some clever ways to end the world? Authors and editors at Boskone, of course! Our panel of demolition experts breaks down just what it takes to destroy a world properly … all in good fun. And are some endings just opportunities for new beginnings?

2:00 PM
Century: Spice Road
Harbor III – Gaming · 110 min · Gaming
Introducing Century, three exciting and wonderfully addictive stand-alone, mixable games. Each title is set in a different centuries, from the 15th to the 17th, and depicts the major trading systems and routes of these eras. While quick and easy to learn, the Century trilogy will fully engage even the most strategic players. Discover the beauties of the spice trading road and its colorful markets via the amazing artwork of internationally renowned artist Fernanda Suárez. Wrap your mind around simple and pure game mechanics combined with a touch of deck-building that lead to endless strategies and decisions. Century Spice Road is truly an outstanding game. One you will play over and over again! (mfg description)

2:00 PM
Reading: Sarah Smith
Independence · 25 min · Reading

2:00 PM
Musician’s Jam Session
Eric Coleman, Lizzie Crowe, Edward Stauff, Dr. Mary Crowell, Susan Weiner, Jim Infantino, Adam Stemple, Denise A. Gendron, C. S. E. Cooney
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
A favorite of our Featured Filkers! Bring your instruments, or just yourself to hang out, listen, and play if the mood takes you.

2:00 PM
The Science of Creativity
Dr. Stephen P. Kelner Jr.
Marina 1 · 50 min · Solo Talk
Some people think you can’t apply science to art. However, psychologists have been studying the nature of human creativity for over a century, and we have learned enough to help people apply this learning to their own creative process. Motivational psychologist and assessment expert Dr. Steve Kelner (author of Motivate Your Writing!) has been studying writers and other innovators for the last 20 years, and wants to share some of what we know: explaining how creativity works, sharing what we know about motivating creativity, and exploding many of the common myths that get in the way of the work.

2:00 PM
Truths I’ve Learned From Fandom
Steve Davidson, Edie Stern (M), R.W.W. Greene, Lisa Hertel, Mary Ellen Wessels, William Hayashi
Marina 2 · 50 min · Panel
Fandom has a lot to teach us about ourselves. It may not be a perfect community, but it’s our community for good or ill. What does it mean to be one of us? Our panelists share their experiences of fandom, and offer ideas for welcoming others into the family and helping our community grow.

3:00 PM
Feedback Session
Erin Underwood, Rick Kovalcik (M), Tim Szczesuil, Priscilla Olson
Burroughs · 50 min · Panel
This con is over, people. (Except for Dead Dog Filking—and of course teardown, where we’d love to have your help!) But we’re already working on Boskone 58. Help us get a good head start with reports on what went right (or wrong) this time, and how to achieve perfection next year.

3:00 PM
MASSFILC Meeting
Ellen Kranzer
Lewis · 50 min · Filk / Music
Business meeting for MASSFILC, the Boston-area filk association. Dead Dog Filking starts right after the meeting finishes, and will run until we stop singing (or midnight, whichever comes first).

4:00 PM
Dead Dog Open Singing
Lewis · 120 min · Filk / Music
Dead Dog Filking starts right after the MASSFILC meeting finishes, and will run until we stop singing (or midnight, whichever comes first). Share your favorite songs to close out the convention! All songs are welcome. Come to listen and to sing if you want.