conventions
Jul 28, 2009
ChiZine booklaunch at worldcon
...But this one's not for me
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.
Jul 19, 2009
My Worldcon 2009 schedule
Here's the semi-final version. One thing's for sure: you'd be crazy not to visit Montreal in the summer
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
Duration: 0:30 hrs:minLanguage: 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?
Apr 14, 2009
Thanks, Minicon!
We had a great time and hope you guys did too
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.
Apr 03, 2009
Reminder: me as Minicon GOH next weekend
...And here's my schedule
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!
Mar 26, 2009
Ad Astra this weekend
I'll be there, talking about ebooks and the future of government
Here's my schedule:
Sat 10:00 AM |
Salon 343 |
The Future of Government |
Hayden Trenholm (MOD), Karl Schroeder, R. Scott Bakker |
Sat 4:00 PM |
Antons' |
Autographs: Marcy Italiano, Claude Lalumière, Karl Schroeder, Erik Buchanan, Michelle Rowen, Violette Malan, Hayden Trenholm |
Sun 12:00 PM |
Ballr. Centre |
Fields of Plenty for Writers |
Jana Paniccia (MOD), Karina Sumner-Smith,Karl Schroeder, Michelle Rowen, Eve Silver |
Sun 2:00 PM |
Salon 243 |
Reading on Screens |
Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Robert J. Sawyer, Karl Schroeder (MOD), Michael R. Colangelo, Sephera Giron |
Feb 18, 2009
Boskone: metering out my energy, hanging with the artists
Another great convention and a chance to meet old friends
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.