David Nickle notes on his blog The Devil's Exercise Yard that his book Monstrous Affections, among others, will be launched at Worldcon in a couple of weeks.  What's of note is that due to an organizational snafu, the bought-and-paid-for ad for the event won't be appearing in the Worldcon programme book.

So here's the particulars from David's blog:

The launch is taking place Saturday August 8, at Maisonette Suite 2802, Delta Hotel Centre-Ville, 777 University Street, Montreal, QC. The titles being launched are all represented in the collage to the right. Starts at 7:30 p.m. Ends when the Red Death shows up. The party will be the best one at Worldcon.

Well, I'm going to be very busy at Worldcon, but feel free to approach me at any time.  Here's my schedule, so you'll know at least some of the places and times you can find me:

Friday

When: Fri 12:00

Location:  Other

Title:  Karl Schroeder Signing

Language:  English

When: Fri 15:30

Location:  P-511A

Title:  Oh Canada!

All Participants:  Karl Schroeder, Bob Boyczuk, Nalo Hopkinson, Ursula Pflug

 “America's aggressive attitude toward nature and the unknown…, translates readily into the mythology of conquering and domesticating the unknown that finds expression in much SF. The Canadian attitude seems to be that nature is simply too vast, too threatening, too powerful: man is nature's victim rather than the reverse. Survival, not conquest, is the issue.” (David Ketterer) Is this true, or is this consolatory rhetoric?

When: Fri 21:00

Location:  P-511A

Title:  Cecil Street Irregulars; A Canadian Writers' Group

All Participants:  Cory Doctorow, Douglas Smith, Karl Schroeder, Madeline Ashby, Michael Skeet, David Nickle, Jill Snider Lum, Sara Simmons

Moderator:  Madeline Ashby

Description:  The Cecil Street Irregulars writers’ workshop is not its official name; it does not meet irregularly, nor does it meet on or anywhere near Cecil Street. It is, however, one of the longest-lived of current writers groups. Collectively the current and former members have published numerous novels, short stories, plays and poems; all continue to insist (at least publicly) that they look forward to the regular experience of having their work sand-blasted by their fellows.

Saturday

 When: Sat 12:30

Location:  P-522B

Title:  Building Realistic Worlds

All Participants:  Amy Thomson, Karin Lowachee, Karl Johanson, Karl Schroeder, Robert J. Sawyer

When: Sat 18:30

Location:  P-511BE

Title:  David Hartwell and Karl Schroeder: The Editor and the Writer, Long Form

All Participants:  David Hartwell, Karl Schroeder

Description:  Hartwell and Schroeder have worked together on several novels. They talk about the process, how an editor edits, how the writer works with the editor’s feedback.

Sunday

When: Sun 9:00

Location:  P-518BC

Title:  The Uncanny Valley - AIs! They're Just Like Us!

All Participants:  Karl Schroeder, Tom Galloway, Kim Binsted, Rhodri James

Moderator:  Rhodri James

Description:  Are AI labs across the planet just making elaborate cartoons of ourselves rather than making something truly new? And what about AIs in science fiction?

When: Sun 11:00

Location:  P-521A

Title:  Karl Schroeder Kaffeeklatsch

All Participants:  Karl Schroeder

Description:  A chance to ask those burning questions.

Duration:  1:00 hrs:min

When: Sun 15:30

Location:  P-513B

Title:  SF and Economics

All Participants:  Dani Kollin, Eytan Kollin, Hayden Trenholm, Karl Schroeder, S.C. Butler, Charles Stross

Description:  How does a writer incorporate events like the past 12 months into their future society? How does a writer extrapolate economic theory into far future societies?

Monday

When: Mon 10:00

Location:  P-513A

Title:  A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing

All Participants:  Amy Thomson, Carl Fink, Christopher Davis, Karl Schroeder

Description:  What happens when physicists try to write biological SF; or when a writer’s research goes badly wrong?

Paige, Janice, and myself had a fantastic time at Minicon last weekend.  I have to say the friendliness of the people and casual atmosphere of the event made GOH-ing an absolutely delightful experience.  Keith and Andra, Matt, Joel and Beth, Sharon, David and 7--you all made us feel well taken care of and, personally, made me feel like I was the one being entertained rather than me being the main entertainer. 

Minneapolis itself is a great city.  Janice and Paige emerged blinking from the depths of the Mall of America carrying various treasures, and I was reminded of my last visit which was also very pleasant. 

Minicon is a great convention, and if you're at all in the neighbourhood next year you should definitely drop in.  We will whenever we can.

We'll be at Minicon April 10-12, and I hope you can join us!  Here's what I'll be up to--although, as always, feel free to approach me in the halls, dealer's room, or where-ever if you want to chat or want me to sign something.  We're really looking forward to the weekend, and your participation will make it that much better!

Note:  it's a light schedule, since I'm still recovering from my surgery--but I'm doing pretty well these days, and hope to be around and available most of the time.

Schedule

Steampunk: the Romance of Science

Saturday 2:30

Krushenko’s

Sharon Kahn(m), Karl Schroeder, Richard Mueller, Dorf, Ceridwen Christensen

 What is Steampunk: a literary movement, an attitude, or merely fashion statement? Perhaps there is something about the buoyant spirit of the late 19th century that speaks to our feelings about technology today.

Interview and Signing: Author GoH

Saturday 7:00

Veranda 5/6

Rick Brignall(interviewer), Karl Schroeder

 Our author Guest of Honor talks about his life and his work. After the interview there will be a book signing  in the same space and a chance to chat with Karl one on one.

Breaking into publishing in the 21st Century

Sunday 10:00

Veranda 3/4

Michael Merriam(m), Karl Schroeder, Scott McCoy, Rob Callahan, Rick Brignall

An update of the perennially popular "Publishing 101" topic. What do you as a new writer need to know to get your big break? How is the process changing with the advent of printing on demand, audio books, and the paperback publishing industry in a state of freefall? Last year's advice on how to break into the business may already be obsolete

Second Foundation Discussion: The Works of Karl Schroeder

Sunday  11:30

Krushenko’s

Eric M. Heideman(m), Karl Schroeder, John Till, Greg L. Johnson

 Come and talk with the Author GOH about his work! Sponsored by Second Foundation, a speculative and science fiction-book discussion group that has met regularly since 1983 (see also Sunday evening, Krushenko's Annex)

 Hope to see you there!

Here's my schedule:

I've been a little out of shape lately, since the weather's made it difficult for me to get out and do my therapeutic rehab walking.  So I was a little nervous about how I'd hold up during Boskone this year; the Westin Waterfront is a huge place, and I had a busy schedule.  I shouldn't have worried, though--I did okay, though I did have to blow off one of my panels due to exhaustion. 

Most importantly, though, I was able to connect with a lot of people I don't normally get to see--including Oz, Lawrence Schoen, Gregory Feeley, Stacy Hague-Hill, Charlie Stross, Greg Bear, and many more.  As has become my habit at this convention, I particularly sought out the artists and art directors--Irene Gallo, Tor's art director, and painters Dave Seeley, Rick Berry and Stephan Martiniere. 

Janice and Paige came along but blew off the convention entirely to go swimming, visit the children's museum and aquarium, and shop. 

On Sunday night a bunch of us retired to Rick Berry's studio for a laid-back evening.  By that time I was at my absolute physical limit but tried not to show it.  I managed to make it until midnight and was actually fine for the flight home the next day.  Whew!  Hopefully I'll be in better shape when Minicon rolls around.