Program
Our daily schedule will generally run from 10 a.m. until Midnight with a two-hour dinner break from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Program items and kaffeeklatsches will generally be 50 minutes long in a one hour slot.
Kaffeeklatsch signup will be at the Registration desk. Kaffeeklatsches are BYOD (Bring Your Own Drink).
Programming Preliminary List - 10/20/2014
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Pre-Conference Workshops:
Demystifying Crowd Funding
Time: Thursday - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Conference Theater
Tech: Projector, Screen, Internet
Presenter: Ron Garner
Description: Demystifying Crowd Funding - Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Your Publishing Future. Whether you're an author with a book you want to self-publish or a publisher with an entire slate of works, you've probably at least considered using a crowdfunding platform like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Join Ron Garner of Silence in the Library Publishing in a discussion about the nuances of a successful publishing crowdfunding project.
To register, send an email to crowd@worldfantasy2014.org
The Tactics of Creating Alternate Histories
Time: Thursday - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Arlington
Tech: Projector, Screen, Internet
Panelists: Jack Dann, Janeen Webb, Joe Haldeman, L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Description: Critics have articulated rules for creating counterfactual fiction. Jack Dann has formulated a set of embracing concepts he believes are central to the craft. He and his fellow panelists examine these general concepts and explain the process and pitfalls of writing alternate history.
To register, send an email to history@worldfantasy2014.org
Warfare for Writers
Time: Thursday - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Fairfax
Presenter: Timons Esaias
Description: This workshop tackles three elements of this very vast subject, in separate sections:
"A Catechism for the Semi-Clueless" addresses the fundamentals of military science.
"Fortifications 101" is a slide show, discussing defenses through history.
"Getting Combat on the Page" will be writing exercises, to put theory into practice.
Also: Decimated: That word you keep using doesn't mean what you think it means.
To register, send an email to warfare@worldfantasy2014.org.
Panels:
THURSDAY November 6
Fantasy and the Great Age of Storytelling
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Presenter: Michael Dirda
Description: Modern fantasy begins in the mid 19th century and explodes in the years between the 1880s and the outbreak of World War I. In this period many of our most beloved books were first published, books that exhibit an almost archetypal staying power. In this presentation Michael Dirda will touch on the work of this astonishing generation of storytellers.
How World War I Changed Fantasy Literature
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Thursday, Regency F
Panelists: J. T. Glover, Gary K. Wolfe, Sarah Avery
Description: A discussion of how World War I influenced writers from William Hope Hodgson – who died during the war, and seemed to preview some of its horrors in The Night Land – to Tolkien, who served in the war and whose Lord of the Rings bears resemblances to both The Night Land and his experiences during the war. Scholarly works have been published on the effect the war had on C. S. Lewis and the impact on the Narnia series. As well, the shock of the war may have been responsible for pushing both H.G. Wells and the nascent genre of science fiction out of the literary mainstream and forcing it to create its own subculture.
Reading: Julia Dvorin
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: C. S. MacCath
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Rajan Khanna
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: T. Eric Bakutis
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Susan Shell Winston
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Ghost Stories Without Ghosts
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday, Regency F
Panelists: Patty Templeton, S. T. Joshi, Jonathan Oliver (M), Darrell Schweitzer
Description: Robert Aickman wrote ghost stories, often with no ghost in them, as can be seen in his eight volumes of "strange stories." So do ghost stories need ghosts? Certainly there are hair raising tales, as Mark Danielewski's House of Leaves and Thomas Tryon's The Other, that can haunt without any apparitions. The panel will explore this looking at various authors who have created ghostless ghost stories.
Reading: Flamengo
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Louise Herring-Jones
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Ringing the Changes: Robert Aickman
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Panelists: Karin Rita Gastreich (M), Leslie Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Matt London, Peter Straub
Description: Robert Aickman has been described as "one of the authors you respond to on a primal level". The panel will discuss how the "strange stories" of Robert Aickman such as "The Wine-Dark Sea," "The Trains," and "Your Tiny Hand is Frozen" have changed their expectations for tales of the supernatural.
E. Nesbit and Her Influence
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, Regency F
Panelists: Benjamin Rosenbaum (M), Ginjer Buchanan, Jo Fletcher, Robert Knowlton
Description: E. Nesbit published over forty children's books, from the beloved The Railway Children to The Stories of the Treasure Seekers and Five Children and It. She also had a darker side, as seen in Grim Tales and Fear, collections of horror stories for adults. A writer of multiple sides, Nesbit had an influence on many writers, including C.S. Lewis, Michael Moorcock, and J.K. Rowling. The panel will discuss her work and why it continues to have an impact today.
Reading: Frederic S. Durbin
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: Michael R. Underwood
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Matthew Kressel
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: Kat Richardson
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Beyond the Pun: Humor in Fantasy
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Panelists: Effie Seiberg (M), Esther Friesner, Craig Shaw Gardner, Laura E. Goodin
Description: Like the genre of fantasy, humor can be complex and full of angles. The panel will look at authors such as Terry Pratchett, L. Sprague de Camp, Diane Wynne Jones, and Tom Holt. The discussion focuses on the diverse nature of humor in fantasy and the works, from light to dark, that make use of humor to reveal often unexpected messages.
Cover Art Critique
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Regency F
Tech: Screen, Projector, InternetPanelists: Lee Moyer (M), Les Edwards, Irene Gallo, Edward Miller, Chris Roberts, Michael Whelan
Description: Like all creations, strength and weaknesses are apparent in cover art. The panel will review and discuss examples of cover art from Frazetta to Finlay, examining art work from both the past and the present, giving their thoughts on what works and what could be improved.
Reading: Susan Forest
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: Dennis Danvers
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Jennifer Marie Brissett
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: Gwenda Bond
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Opening Ceremonies
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Regency E & F
Description: Please join us in a very special remembrance of World War I and in celebration of the World Fantasy 2014 Nominees.
Ice Cream Social
Time: 8:30 p.m. - 'Til the Ice Cream is Gone
Description: The convention will have an old-fashioned ice cream social on Thursday evening, November 6, at 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., to honor the Nominees as well as Les Edwards (who loves ice cream) and our other Guests of Honor. In addition to eating ice cream, we'll present our Award Nominees with World Fantasy Nominee pins, fete the Guests of Honor, and recognize the Life Achievement Honorees. With toppings!
Fantasy and the Reality of Law Enforcement
Time: 9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Panelists: Mark L. Van Name (M), Griffin Barber, Alistair Kimble
Description: Fantasy writers who are also law-enforcement workers discuss how fantasy fiction portrays law enforcement, and compare those practices to real-world law enforcement. They will talk about where fiction differs from reality and discuss what works in stories and what really is fantasy. In discussing such works as The City and The City (China Mieville), Finch (Jeff VanderMeer), London Falling (Paul Cornell), and Servant of Empire (Raymond Feist), they will contrast the real and fantasy worlds of law enforcement.
Women's Roles in Fantasy Fiction Changed by World War I
Time: 9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Panelists: Robert Killheffer (M), Mary Robinette Kowal, Laurie Tom, David Simms
Description: World War I saw a great change in the roles of women, giving them more independence, opportunity, and responsibility. How did this affect women writers of that era and the portrayal of female characters in fantasy literature?
World Premier of "Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales"
Time: 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Conference Theater
Panelist: Leslie Gardner
Description: The Premier of a Tartarus Press documentary on Robert Aickman, including interviews with Jeremy Dyson, Reggie Oliver, and Heather & Graham Smith, plus some glimpses of rare footage of Aickman. An introduction to the film will be provided by Leslie Gardner.
Myths and Legends of World War I
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Panelists: Eugene Ossa (M), Brian Attebery, Elizabeth Crowens, Fred Lerner
Description: Legends and myths arose from World War I battles. The panel will discuss events like the Angels of Mons and the Christmas Truce and how these these influenced authors of the era, such as Kipling's A Madonna of the Trenches, or the tribute to the Christmas Truce by Arthur Conan Doyle in his A History of the Great War.
The Cicerones - The Movie
Time: 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Conference Theater
Description: This 13 minute file of the Aickman story The Cicerones will also be shown 3:30 p.m. Saturday to ensure the membership has an opportunity to view it.
Reading: Liz Argall
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Thursday, Arlington
Reading: Helen Marshall
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Reading: Evie Manieri
Time: 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Thursday, Fairfax
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Top of page
FRIDAY November 7
Language and Linguistics in Fantasy
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: Lawrence M. Schoen (M), C. D. Covington, Matthew Johnson, Sofia Samatar
Description: Foreign languages are often used in fantasy literature to add atmosphere, to show cultural backgrounds, and to bring a richness to the world, as can be seen in Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange and Richard Adams' Watership Down. Some authors rely on real languages, while others, such as Tolkien, have invented entire tongues. Which stories incorporate other languages successfully, and where have authors stumbled, making much of the work incomprehensible?
Derived Myths: Making it Original
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists: Sandra Kasturi, Nick DiCharo (M), S. P. Hendrick, Melissa Marr
Description: There is no denying that the influence of various mythologies on fantasy has been inspiration for Lord Dunsay, Elizabeth Hand, Barry Hughart, and many others. With a wealth of examples, the discussion will range from when the myth inspiration is the center of the work to when it has led to a whole new mythos.
Reading: Ilana C. Myer
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Nathan Ballingrud
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Christopher Barzak
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Kenneth Mark Hoover
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Friday, Fairfax
"Everybody Was There." Diversity in Fantasy
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: Sarah Pinsker (M), Mary Anne Mohanraj, Kit Reed, S. M. Stirling, K. Ceres Wright
Description: Fantasy has had characters of many races, some human and others beyond. Whether it's the young soldier woman in Deeds of Paksenarrion being asked whether she minds sharing a dining hall with "elder races" (elves and dwarves), or the alternate orientations of characters in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series or Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, or the beauty of a foreign culture, such as that depicted in Bridge of Birds, fantasy authors have bravely gone where others feared to tread. How has diversity of race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, or belief system in fantastic literature changed over time?
Poetry in Fantasy: Yesterday and Today
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists: Mike Allen (M), Maria Alexander, Rain Graves, David Lunde, Laurel Winter
Description: Including poetry in fantasy, both by the author and quoted from other sources, used to be more common, such as Alice in Wonderland, The Lord of the Rings, and The Worm Ouroboros. Why is poetry not as prevalent now as in the past? Are certain types of poetry, such as non-formal or non-rhyming verse, under-used in fantasy?
Reading: Rio Youers
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Robin Riopelle
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Sally Wiener Grotta
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Scott Edelman
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Guns, Gears and Wheels: Medieval Technology in Fantasy
Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: Michelle Markey Butler (M), Scott H. Andrews, Elaine Isaak (E. C. Ambrose)
Description: One frequent complaint about fantasy is that it ignores technological progress in favor of magical exploration. Over any sufficiently epic period of time, technology will advance, and in exploring the medieval era we often seek to emulate featured all sorts of improvements and innovations. So where are the water wheels, windmills, and incendiary devices? Many fantasies focus on the natural or magical world and its inherent power. Tolkien envisioned industry as part of the evil. Roger Zelazny played magic against technology in Changeling and Madwand. Neil Stephenson directly examined the place of technology in a monastic society in Anathem. What are the continuing prospects for technology in fantasy?
Adoption and Fostering in Fantasy
Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists: Susan Dexter (M), Tina Connolly, Delia Sherman, Edward Willett
Description: Adoption or fostering is often used in fantasy and horror literature, from Oedipus to Jon Snow, from young Wart helping in the kitchens before that fateful day when he pulled a sword out of a stone in Londontown, to the most famous orphan of them all, Harry Potter. Dozens of fantasies feature young orphans who do not know their parentage, from Richard in Wizard's First Rule, to Will from the Ranger's Apprentice series, who is a ward of the state, to even Frodo, who was an orphan, albeit an older one, at the beginning of his adventures. There is even one beloved character, Taren from the Prydain Chronicles, who never learns his parentage, and this mystery itself proves to be his key to assuming the kingship. How do adoption, bastardy, mixed parentage, and long-lost relatives all contribute to epic quests for self-knowledge in literature?
Reading: Janeen Webb
Time: 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Peter V. Brett
Time: 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Michael J. DeLuca
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Karen Burnham
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
The Reading That Never Was: 30 Years After
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Friday, Regency EPanelists: Guy Gavriel Kay
Description: Exactly 30 years ago Guy Gavriel Kay launched his first book, The Summer Tree at WFC 1984 in Ottawa. He was given a reading slot. Unexpected things happened. Join Guy and some special guests for the story and – 30 years later – the reading he never gave!
Blurring the Genre Lines
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists: David D. Levine (M), Dana Cameron, S. L. Farrell, James A. Moore, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,
Description: Fantasy is a large umbrella covering many different and often divergent styles and themes. As more elements are added, there have been changes to the "standard" stances. There is the gritty horror fantasy of the Sandman Slim series, police procedural urban fantasy such as The Severed Streets, and the weird west of The Rise of Ransom City. Is this a good, bad, or just normal growth of a genre?
Reading: Carol Berg
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Barbara A. Barnett
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Gabrielle Harbowy
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Patricia McKillip
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Ecology in World Building
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: James Morrow (M), Julie Czerneda, Geoff Hart, Rachel Neumeier
Description: How are scientific discoveries, such as climate change or continental drift, affecting fantasy, even those not on Earth? These are elements that appeared in books like Austin Tappan Wright's Islandia. A look at ecology and fantasy, exploring the impact of agriculture, climate, social structure, and technology levels on literary works.
Beyond Rebellion in Young Adult Fantasy
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists:Ysabeau Wilce (M), Gail Carriger, Sarah Beth Durst, Steven Gould
Description: We all know the story of teen disaffection and rebellion, but there are plenty of Young Adult fantasies that maintain strong family ties, with rational adult role models, such as L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, Steven Gould's Impulse, and even Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games. A look at books that don't always have the hero with an unhappy home, and discussion why this can make an intriguing story
Kaffeeklatsch: Timons Esaias
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Randee Dawn
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Alaya Dawn Johnson
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: P. Andrew Miller
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Paul Park
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Guy Gavriel Kay Interview
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Regency E
Interviewer: Alaya Dawn Johnson
Historical Influences in Fantasy
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Panelists: Stina Leicht (M), Dana Cameron, Nicola Griffith, Ellen Klages, Veronica Schanoes
Description: There is more to historical fantasy than the trope of European-style medieval secondary worlds. Today fantasies are set in specific real-world historical times and places, as in Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori, C.C. Finlay's Traitor to the Crown, and Gene Wolfe's Soldier in the Mist. What accounts for this shift? What is gained by using these settings? What, if anything, is lost when we move away from secondary worlds?
Kaffeeklatsch: Michael Whelan
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Tiffany Trent
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: F. Paul Wilson
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Finlay Art Tour - with Robert Garcia and Douglas Ellis
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Friday, Art Show - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Thomas Monteleone
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
World War I Alternate Histories
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: Michael J. Martinez (M), Charles E. Gannon, Kay Kenyon, Devin Poore
Description: As a turning point in history, World War I offers many interesting possibilities for alternate histories. Some, such as in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and Kim Newman's The Bloody Red Baron, have also added fantastic elements. The panel will explore the idea of not only different outcomes to the battle or the war, but those that go down some very unusual paths.
Les Edwards Interview
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Regency F
Interviewer: Jane Frank
Discussion between Gary K. Wolfe and Ellen Datlow, Life Achievement Winner
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Friday, Conference Theater
Interviewer: Gary K. Wolfe
Kaffeeklatsch: Joe Haldeman
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Sharon Shinn
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Dale Bailey
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Brenda Cooper
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Bradley Beaulieu
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Michael Whelan Art Show tour
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Friday, Art Show - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Kaffeeklatsch: Sheila Williams
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Friday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Jeffrey Ford
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Calie Voorhis
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Mike Allen
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Richard Bowes
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
The De-Horrification of Horror Characters
Time: 10 p.m. - 11 p.m., Friday, Conference Theater
Panelists: Jeff Conner (M), Lois Gresh, Mur Lafferty, Darrell Schweitzer
Description: Vampires are cute and Zombies are cool; how did monsters become heroes? It certainly did not start with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, as Fred Saberhagen's The Dracula Tapes proves. What happens when monsters are heroes? Who are the villains? The panel will explore the transformation and reformation of former horrors.
Character Type-Casting
Time: 10 p.m. - 11 p.m., Friday, Independence B
Panelists: James Alan Gardner (M), Christopher Golden, Laura Anne Gilman
Description: Characters are the often the center of a fantasy work, so why do some seem to be typecast? Why do so many wizards seem to echo Gandalf and so few vampires step far from the mold of Dracula. Why do writers pick certain types for their heroes and villains and how does the story change when you go against type? What character tropes can fantasy writers retire and which ones must never be given up?
Reading: Carolina M. Valdez
Time: 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Richard C. White
Time: 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Reading: Brenda Carre
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Friday, Arlington
How Graphic is Your Novel?
Time: 11 p.m. - 12 a.m., Friday, Conference Theater
Panelists: Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell (M), James Chambers, Daryl Gregory, Jeff Mariotte, Angela Slatter
Description: Popular literature tends to be much more graphic than it was a few decades ago, and yet many of the older books are still worth reading. What does graphic sex or violence add to a story? Would the George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones be the same without the blood wedding scene? Is there a danger of the sensational value of the graphic events replacing good plotting and storytelling? Are there matters so horrible they should not be written about, or are there no limits? Which books handle their graphic scenes well, and which ones cross the line and fail to be entertaining will be the focus of the discussion.
Place Matters: Geography & Fantasy
Time: 11 p.m. - 12 a.m., Friday, Independence B
Panelists: Siobhan Carroll (M), Max Gladstone, Joshua Palmatier, Marie Brennan, Robert V.S. Redick, Gregory Wilson
Description: Location is as important to a story as characters, and time and can be a defining theme, as in urban fantasy: Benjamin Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series could not take place in any other city, the Golgotham series could not be set anywhere but New York, and the Sandman Slim series could only happen in Los Angeles. Whether set on our earth or a mythical world, the landscape has impact on the work. The panel will discuss the effect of geography within fantasy fiction.
Reading: Alyc Helms
Time: 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Friday, Arlington
Reading: Matthew Graybosch
Time: 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Friday, Fairfax
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Top of page
SATURDAY November 8
Animals in Fantasy
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Goldeen Ogawa (M), Judi Fleming, Dorothy Hearst, Garth Nix, Jeff VanderMeer
Description: Animals play various roles in fantasy literature. Some behave naturally. Others have magical powers. Some serve men, such as the horses in Valdemar or the dragons in Talking with Dragons or the Temeraire series. In other works, such as The Last Unicorn, the enchanted beasts are a force unto themselves. The animals in such books as Watership Down and Redwall even have their own civilizations. Sometimes animal characters lend a great deal to a work. Others make the reader squirm. What are the advantages and pitfalls of animals as characters? Which books really get it right?
International Fantasy and Translation
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Thomas Olde Heuvelt (M), Anatoly Belilovsky, Rena Rossner, Ann VanderMeer
Description: Fantasy authors transcend culture and national boundaries, and there are treasures written in languages other than English. Without translation, how would we ever know the beauty of The Iliad, Andreas Eschbach's The Carpet Makers, or The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The art of translation makes these works accessible to a wider audience. The panel will discuss the current state of translation, its impact on international fantasy, and those works that have retained the spirit of their original language.
Kaffeeklatsch: Mary Robinette Kowal
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Randy Henderson
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Elwin Cotman
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Kathryn Sullivan
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: S. L. Gray
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Gender Issues and Sexuality in Robert Aickman's Fiction
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Chris Maloney (M), Rebekah Memel Brown, Lawrence Connolly, Simon Strantzas
Description: While known for atmospheric pieces, Aickman's work does not shy away from issues of sexuality, as in his self-proclaimed "strange stories" such as "The Swords," "Marriage," "The School Friend," "The Inner Room," or "Revissante." How are gender, sexuality, and the relationship with the natural and spirit worlds handled by the master? What influence does it have on the work of contemporary writers?
Fantasy Artists That Take Up the Pen
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Charles Vess (M), Kathleen Jennings, Greg Manchess, Ruth Sanderson
Description: There are writers who are known for doing artwork, such as Beatrix Potter, Rudyard Kipling and Neil Gaiman, so it isn't surprising that artists can likewise be drawn to writing. The panel will discuss the impact of being both artist and writer and how these two creative forms interact.
Kaffeeklatsch: Guy Gavriel Kay
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Joe Haldeman
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Andy Duncan
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Kat Otis
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Kelly Link
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Where Have All the Editors Gone?
Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Betsy Dornbusch (M), Liz Gorinsky, Stephen Jones, Betsy Mitchell, Richard Shealy
Description: Writers complain their books are no longer edited. Is this myth or fact? Does it bear out in the finished products? The panel will explore the changing roles of editors, and if they are becoming a vanishing breed.
More than Swords: The Military and Fantasy
Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater2
Panelists: Myke Cole (M), Chris Kennedy, Bud Sparhawk, Howard Tayler, Django Wexler, Joe Zieja
Description: While there are plenty of fantasy soldiers who wield a sword, ax, or bow, you can also find those who have magic and more modern weapons, such as Tom Doyle's American Craftsmen and K.J. Parker's The Company, the well-armed mercenaries of the Monster Hunter International series, or even Charles Stross's Laundy series where magic and technology are inexplicably linked.
Kaffeeklatsch: Les Edwards
Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Brandy Schillace
Time: 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Mary Robinette Kowal
Time: 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Jason Jack Miller
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Ruth Stuart
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Finlay Art Tour - Edie Stern and Joe Siclari
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Art Show
Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Life Achievement Winner
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Interviewer: John R. Douglas
Historical People in Fantasy
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Eileen Gunn (M), David B. Coe, Jack Dann, Jean Marie Ward, Rick Wilber
Description: When using Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, or perhaps one of the most used names, Nikola Tesla and other real people as characters in fiction, what liberties can authors take and what holes do they have to fill? How close to the real Jack Kerouac does Nick Mamatas get in Move Under Ground? What do creators owe to history, especially if the players are in a new world as in Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series. The panel will discuss where historical truth meets literary license.
Kaffeeklatsch: Ellen Asher
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Loteria
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Conference Theater
Panelists: John Picacio
Description: Loteria is a game of chance similar to Bingo and traces it origins to 15th century Italy. Combining pictures and word puzzles, it creates an entertaining event for both visual artists and wordsmiths and fans of both art and the literary word.
Reading: Matthew Kadish
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Jason A. Wyckoff
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Larry Hodges
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Greg Bechtel
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Dynastic China and Guy Gavriel Kay's Kitai
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Anna Shields, with Guy Gavriel Kay
Description: Professor Anna M. Shields, Associate Professor of Chinese and Interim Director of Asian Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will be introduced by Guy Gavriel Kay for a discussion of the Asian influences and historical inspirations in his works Under Heaven and River of Stars.
Lafferty as an American Fantasist
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Andy Duncan (M), Carrie Cuinn, Andrew Ferguson, Gordon Van Gelder, Don Pizarro, Cat Rambo
Description: R. A. Lafferty was known for his original use of language and metaphor. He draws on storytelling traditions of the Irish and Native Americans, but with his own twists, as in The Devil is Dead and The Flame is Green. The panel will explore how Lafferty used American history, American landscapes, and American folklore/mythology in his work.
Kaffeeklatsch: Ellen Datlow
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Les Edwards Art Show tour
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Art Show - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Ellen Kushner
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Stephen R. Donaldson
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Nicole Kornher-Stace
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
The Future of Book Illustration
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Tech: Screen, Projector, Internet
Panelists: Jennie Faries (M), Irene Gallo, Lee Moyer, Charles Vess, Jeremy Zerfoss
Description: Book illustration in the digital age: why does Amazon not let you start with the cover? Authors like Neil Gaiman and William Kotzwinkle have produced several illustrated collaborations for all ages. G.D Falksen's recent Ouroboros Cycle novels feature evocative illustrations, as does Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Jeff VanderMeer's Wonderbook relies on illustration as a guide to fantasy writing. But is interior art on the rise or fall?
The Great Game in History and Fiction
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Ian Drury (M), David Drake,Victoria Janssen, Jennifer R. Povey
Description: Before World War I, there was the Great Game, as from 1813 to 1907, the British and Russian empires vied for supremacy. The geopolitical machinations of this period influenced the politics of many fantastic novels, coloring the colonialism of The Blue Sword to post-colonial River of Gods, or Ghosts of the White Nights for their alternate depictions of the later Cold War. The panel will explore the literary impact of the Great Game on fantasy writers of the period as well as today.
Kaffeeklatsch: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Steve Rasnic Tem
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Anna Yeatts
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Lynne Cantwell
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
The Cicerones - The Movie
3:30 p.m. Saturday, Conference Theater
Description: This 13 minute film of the Aickman story The Cicerones will be shown twice to ensure the membership has an opportunity to view it.
Artistic Influences and Finlay
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Tech: Screen and Projector
Panelists: Jane Frank (M), Douglas Ellis, Lail Finlay, Joe Siclari
Description: Virgil Finlay created over 2600 works of beauty and imagination that illustrated science fiction and horror works, most notably gracing the covers and pages of Weird Tales, Galaxy, Argosy, and The American Weekly. The panel will hold a discussion of the impact of his work on past and current art.
Best of the Year 2014
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Liza Trombi (M), Ellen Datlow, Paula Guran, Lee Harris
Description: Every year a rich variety of fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror is published inside and outside of genre borders. On this panel, the publisher of Locus Magazine, the editor of a new line of novellas, and two editors of best-of-the-year anthologies discuss what they think are the best novels, stories, anthologies, and single-author collections that have been published so far during 2014.
Kaffeeklatsch: Gardner Dozois
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Lee Martindale
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Grady Hendrix
Time: 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: F. Brett Cox
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Leah Petersen
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
The History of Whispers
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Bob Brown (M), David Drake, Victor Dricks, Stuart David Schiff, F. Paul Wilson
Description: Stuart David Schiff created and edited 'Whispers' magazine, which not only featured writers such as Fritz Leiber, Ramsey Campbell, F Paul Wilson, Stephen King, and Karl Edward Wagner, but also won the first World Fantasy Award for non-professional publishing in 1975. Meet the man behind 'Whispers' and discover more of its important contributions to fantasy.
The Great Author You Are Not Reading: Robert Aickman
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Simon Strantzas (M), Michael Dirda, Peter Straub, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Description: Have you read Cold Hand in Mine, Painted Devils, or Powers of Darkness? Then you are missing out on some wonderfully strange and compelling stories. Robert Aickman not only wrote strange stories, he also won the short fiction award at the first World Fantasy Convention in 1975. Learn why Aickman is being honored at this World Fantasy as the panel reviews his outstanding body of work.
Kaffeeklatsch: Dana Cameron
Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Boardroom - Limit to 15 people: Sign up at Registration
Reading: Shaun Duke
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Suzanne Church
Time: 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Adria Laycraft
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Christopher Cevasco
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
The Myriad Faces of Dragons
Time: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Marie Brennan, Nicholas Kaufmann, James Maxey (M), Naomi Novik
Description: Dragons are a staple in European and Asian mythology, and fantasy literature presents them across the spectrum from wise beings to destructive forces, from symbols to complex characters. Whether it is the great warbeasts of Temeraire, the mysterious councilors of A Wizard of Earthsea, the humorous scoundrels of How To Train Your Dragon, or the deep and august beast that is Smaug, dragons continue to fascinate and delight. Then there is the treatment of dragons by science fiction authors, such as Anne McCaffrey's Pern and Jack Vance's The Dragon Masters. Does including a dragon make these works secretly fantasies? A discussion at the various forms of dragons and why they are still are compelling today.
Fantasy Food: The Food in Fantasy
Time: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Fran Wilde (M), Brenda Clough, Diana Peterfreund, A. C. Wise
Description: Elaborate feasts versus alien worms: is Fantasy Food really better than science fiction food? Adults report a life-long love of mushrooms dating back to an early reading of the Fellowship of the Ring. Meanwhile, the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook, featuring butterbeer and pumpkin pasties, has sold more than 150,000 copies. There are also cookbooks available or in the works for The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Tolkien's works, and Narnia. Why does fantasy literature often have a gourmet palate?
Reading: Valya Dudycz Lupescu
Time: 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Tommi Pystynen
Time: 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Kathleen Ann Goonan
Time: 8:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Caitlin R. Kiernan
Time: 8:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Portraying War in Fantasy
Time: 9 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Cynthia Miller (M), Moshe Feder, Summer Handford, Gail Z. Martin
Description: The panel explores the treatment of war in fantasy: how has its presentation changed over the years? Depictions range from the epic war saga in The Lord of the Rings to a modern-day supernatural war in the Dresden Files series, or the alternate steampunk civil war in The Clockwork Century series. Considering the alternate history of the war on terror in The Mirage, are readers ready to read stories about recent wars such as the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq? Are there fantasies that have played a role in changing cultural opinion about war?
Collecting Fantasy
Time: 9 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Bob Brown (M), David Hartwell, Stuart David Schiff, Leslie Thomas, Michael Walsh
Description: There are plenty of great fantasy works that are not only food for the soul, but also a feast for the eyes with great cover art, excellent binding, and other elements of fine publishing. What greater thrill than a holding a copy of The Dying Earth, Jack Vance's magic in the far future, or reading Fritz Leiber's Conjure Wife, where women are really witches? It is a collector's dream to find a perfect copy of the little know fantasy The Sound of His Horn by Sarban. The panel will explore titles to seek out and make your own
Reading: Book View Cafe
Time: 9 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Anya Martin
Time: 9 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Diane Whiteside
Time: 9:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Capitol Fantasy
Time: 10 p.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday, Washington
Panelists: Tom Doyle (M), Roger MacBride Allen, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Jean Marie Ward
Description: Washington, D.C. and the fantastic are not strangers, and that is not just Congress. A look at works that have used the greater D.C. metropolitan area as an incredible location for fantasy. The heroes of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid fight supernatural beings at the Washington Monument, the magic in Mindy Klasky's Jane Madison books, and the celebrity werewolf in Carrie Vaughn's Kitty goes to Washington use this location. The panel will discuss the books depicting that our Capitol has a magical side.
Libraries and Librarians in Fantasy
Time: 10 p.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Mary G. Thompson (M), Donald Crankshaw, Annette Curtis Klause, John Klima
Description: Libraries appear in fantasy works in many forms: Merlin's crazy collection of books in The Sword and the Stone, the fanciful libraries in George MacDonald's works, Terry Pratchett's Unseen University, and the children's favorite, The Magic Tree House, in which books transport the children to their many adventures. Mysterious librarians are also a favorite, from Mr. Coreander in The Neverending Story and the Cheshire Cat in the Thursday Next series. Which enchanted libraries or librarians most capture the imagination and encourage a love of libraries and books in the reader?
Reading: Patrick Swenson
Time: 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Desirina Boskovich
Time: 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Russ Linton
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Gerald Warfield
Time: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Reading: Anna Kashina
Time: 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Saturday, Arlington
Reading: Stefon Mears
Time: 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Saturday, Fairfax
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Top of page
SUNDAY November 9
Alternate WWI Technology in Fiction
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Sunday, Washington
Panelists: Anatoly Belilovsky (M), David Drake, David Nickle, J. Tullos Hennig
Description: World War I was a period of tremendous holistic transition. The quaintness of the Victorian period was left behind as technology advanced to fill the need for effective war machines, shown in works like Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. This era has become a popular setting for alternate histories and technologies. The panel will discuss fantasy works worth exploring and those that are considered the best of the genre.
Magic as Mystery
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Sunday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Carolyn Ives Gilman (M), Phyllis Eisenstein, L. Jagi Lamplighter, L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Description: When delving into fantasy literature, do readers enjoy the story more if is its based on rules with limits, costs, and natural laws? Early masters of fantasy, such as Tolkien and Dunsany, tended to keep their magic out of view. The reader does not know where it comes from or how it arises, much less where one could go to school to learn it. Is something lost when we attempt to strip the mystery from our magic? Or is something gained by sharing more information with the reader, either overtly or in tantalizing clues? Does the answer change when one moves from high fantasy to urban fantasy? Would Tolkien's magic work in The Dresden Files?
Reading: Jamie Todd Rubin
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Arlington
Reading: Courtney Schafer
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Fairfax
Reading: L. F. Patten
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Sunday, Arlington
Reading: Heidi Ruby Miller
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Sunday, Fairfax
Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Writers
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sunday, Washington
Panelists: Catherine Montrose (M), Nancy Kress, Kevin Maroney, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Description: Some writers' best work is the first thing they ever published. Others, like George R.R. Martin, get better with age. Others, such as Terry Pratchett, have maintained their quality over a span of decades. How does the age and/or generation of the writer affect the story? Also, does the age at which authors begin to write matter? The bestselling Eragon was published by a young man of not yet twenty, while Tolkien did not get his first work published until he was forty-five. How does getting older affect an author's work? How do they feel about their earlier works when they look back? Have our opinions, as readers, changed on this subject over time?
Reading Reviews
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sunday, Tidewater 2
Panelists: Wayne Edwards (M), Michael Dirda, D. Douglas Fratz, Tod McCoy, Bernadette Bosky
Description: Today it seems as though anyone can be a book reviewer, with opportunities via online bookstores and blogs. But what establishes the credibility of a book review? The panel will discuss the elements of meaningful reviews and why it is important for readers and authors to seek these out.
Reading: Daniel Grotta
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Arlington
Reading: Eden Robins
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Fairfax
Reading: Travis Heermann
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sunday, Fairfax
Reading: Ann Chatham
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sunday, Arlington
Judges Panel
Time: When Award banquet ends: approximately 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Conference Theater
Panelists: Andy Duncan, Oliver Johnson, John Klima
Description: A WFC tradition: Three of this year's World Fantasy Awards judges
talk about the reading they did and the decisions they reached.
