VCON 41: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VCON 41 Online Schedule!

VCON is the oldest general-interest science fiction, fantasy, and games convention in Canada and the Pacific Northwest. This 100% volunteer fan-organized convention has promoted the interests of science fiction and fantasy culture in Vancouver BC and its environs since 1971, offering events and exhibits focused on a variety of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom interest areas such as literature, art, media, music, costumes, comics, tabletop games, electronic games, etc. For more detailed information visit our website: www.vcon.ca.

VCON 41 will be held Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2016, at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford hotel. The convention’s main theme is "Muppets, Puppets & Marionettes" with a secondary theme of "The Small Press Cabal".

Please take a moment to check out the "Sponsor" tab to see who has helped support this year’s event.
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SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2016: The schedule is now as "final" as it ever gets! Which means that, yes, there will probably still be changes here and there, but generally only to resolve when we’ve accidentally placed one panelist on two panels at the same time, or if a panelist has to cancel.)

-Jenni Merrifield, VCON 41 Programming Coordinator
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12:00

Nonverbal

Do we include the nonverbal language of aliens and humans in our writing, shows, movies, and games? "Power poses... fake it until you become it." Panelists discuss the value of nonverbal language in storytelling.

Moderators

Stephanie Johanson

co-owner, assistant editor, art director..., Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

VCON 41 Art Director Guest of HonourStephanie Johanson is the art director, assistant editor, on-staff artist, and co-owner of Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine. How the heck do you start up a science fiction magazine?The idea came to Stephanie around 4:00 AM one Sunday morning in... Read More →

Panelists

Aviva Bel'Harold

Dyslexic author Aviva Bel'Harold has written several YA books, 3 self published, 1 hybrid and the latest fully published through Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy. She does several signing a month as well as speaking in schools and other events.

Karl Johanson

Editor, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

VCON 41 Editor Guest of HonourKarl Johanson is not just an exceptional editor of a marvelous magazine, he is—behind his unassuming exterior—a mad genius whose team is, against all logic, constantly pulling off these completely astounding projects.During the 1990s, Karl co-edited... Read More →

Claire McCague

Simon Fraser University

Claire McCague is a research scientist, musician and writer. She performs regularly with the Sybaritic String Band and her other worldly plays have been featured in festivals across Canada. Her humorous first contact novel, The Rosetta Man, published by EDGE, is her first novel.

Friday September 30, 2016 12:00 - 12:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Writing & Publication

Session Type GoH Panelist, Moderated Discussion

12:00

Raising the Stakes in Kid Lit

Young people's fiction has amazing plots with young characters in situations adults would fear to tread. Does pushing these characters to the next level propel the story into unrealistic events?

Moderators

Judy McCrosky

I'm the author of several books, with two new ones due out this year. I'm an experienced speaker and teacher of writing in a variety of genres. I love to talk to people about any and all aspects of writing and the writing life.

Panelists

Linda DeMeulemeester

Linda’s speculative short fiction has been published in zines, magazines and anthologies, most recently: Edge Press’ Compostela -Tesseracts Twenty); Exile’s Dead North and Playground of Lost Toys. Her spooky children’s series, Grim Hill, has been translated into French, Spanish... Read More →

Kevin Harkness

Kevin Harkness is a writer of YA Fantasy novels and short stories in a number of genres. His City of Demons series is published by Tyche Books.

Friday September 30, 2016 12:00 - 12:50
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Writing & Publication

Session Type Moderated Discussion

13:00

Broken Rules and the Elusive Element

There are so many rules to art and writing. Rules of light and dark and colour and balance can help to make a captivating painting. Rules of description and action can help to make a great story. But good writers and good artists always seem to break all the rules and still have a great work of art or fiction. What is the missing element? Why does it work when the rules say it shouldn't?

Moderators

Brenda Carre

Brenda Carre writes in a variety of genres. Her short fiction can be found in the Magazine of F&Sf, Fiction River Anthologies and in many other venues. Brenda's WIP is a Dark Fantasy paralleling Canada's mythic West Coast during the age of sail.

Panelists

Aviva Bel'Harold

Eric Chu

VCON 41 Film Design Guest of HonorBorn in Hong Kong at a very early age, Eric quickly exhibited an interest in design and film. Even as a young child, directing seemed to be in his blood, but an uncooperative cast of plastic farm animals would prove to be an endless source of frustration... Read More →

Carlos Lozano-Gilabert

Carlos Lozano is a writer of flash-fiction and screenplays. He has a solid a solid background in science and psychology. His flash-fiction revolves around horror and love stories. His screenplays reflect his love of adventure. He writes both in English and in Spanish.

Joseph Picard

Ozero, Joseph Picard

Author of the Lifehack series, the new Rubberman series, as well as short contributions to various anthologies. Joseph leans toward science fiction, slightly 'hard', but generally fairly character driven as well.

Friday September 30, 2016 13:00 - 13:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Art Craft & Making Writing & Publication

Session Type GoH Panelist, Moderated Discussion

14:00

How to Critique Writing

Critiquing is one of the most useful activities for writers of any level. It benefits not only the writer whose work is being discussed, but also those who do the critiques.

Moderators

Isaiah Sweigard

I am a young aspiring filmmaker who went to film school, graduating with an expertise in Producing and Directing. After film school I then worked in the Vancouver film industry for 2 years, before quitting and pursuing my own creative outlets.

Panelists

Katrina Archer

Author & Editor, Ganache Media

Katrina Archer is the author of dark fantasy The Tree of Souls and YA fantasy Untalented. A professional engineer, she lives on her sailboat in Vancouver, BC, and has worked in aerospace, video games and film.

Rissa Johnson

Rissa Johnson is a left-handed, Jewish, dyslexic, insomniac who stays up all night wrestling with Dog. A creative writer and technical editor, her poetry and flash fiction have won awards, including the City of Surrey Youth Recognition Award in Creative Contributions. She has been... Read More →

Randy McCharles

Author

RANDY MCCHARLES is a full-time author of humorous speculative and mystery fiction. He is the recipient of several Aurora Awards. His recent novel, Much Ado about Macbeth from Tyche Books was shortlisted for the 2016 Aurora Awards. In addition to writing, Randy organizes various events... Read More →

Holly Schofield

Holly Schofield's short stories have been published in Analog, Lightspeed, Tesseracts, and many other publications throughout the world. Recent works appear in the Aurora-nominated Clockwork Canada, Lazarus Risen, and the Aurora-winning Second Contacts. Find her at hollyschofield.wordpress.com... Read More →

Friday September 30, 2016 14:00 - 14:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Writing & Publication

Session Type Moderated Discussion

20:00

Minions

Why follow the villain? Good wages? Benefits? Early retirement? A quick death? Panelists talk about the advantages and disadvantages of being a minion, and how important minions are to a villain and a storyline. Are minions just puppets, background, or is their role actually important to the plot?

Moderators

Rick Sutcliffe

Professor, Trinity Western University

Author of 10 Alternate History Christian Science Fiction novels, including the 2003 EPPIE winner for SF. He has been a literary contest judge, textbook author, conference speaker, VCON panelist, and is Professor of Math and Computing at TWU.

Panelists

BJ Allan

Bored with circus life BJ (adopted as a nom de lab) ran away with a group of itinerant biologists, lured by the smell of phenol and the roar of the centrifuge. Today he seeks to share the wonder and weirdness of the natural world with ladies, gentlemen, and children of all ages.

Stephanie Johanson

co-owner, assistant editor, art director..., Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

Randy McCharles

Author

Donna McMahon

Donna McMahon started publishing SF with her novel Dance of Knives (Tor 2001) set in future Vancouver. Lately she's turned from future to past history, with her murder mystery Death Fully Justified set in Vancouver in 1920. She lives in Gibsons, BC.

Friday September 30, 2016 20:00 - 20:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Session Type GoH Panelist, Moderated Discussion

22:00

Religion and Science Fiction

A moderated discussion on the role of religion in SF and the extent to which it is stereotyped.

Moderators

GregRobin Smith

Managing Director, Washington Shakespeare Festival

Poet, Playwright, Historical 1st person presenter, Musician, Shakespearean, Educator & Fundraiser, GregRobin keeps many irons glowing in the fires of creativity from his Seattle home. where he plots world dominance through the works and thought processes of William Shakespeare & Dr... Read More →

Panelists

Brenda Carre

Graham J. Darling

Author, Scientist & Medievalist, Active Materials Inc.

Dr Graham D Darling designs new molecules with weird properties. As Graham J Darling (from another middle name), he writes as fiction what the world isn't ready for as fact. As Doctor Carus, he demonstrates medieval sci/tech to scholars of all ages.

Kevin Harkness

Kevin Harkness is a writer of YA Fantasy novels and short stories in a number of genres. His City of Demons series is published by Tyche Books.

Jo-Anne McBride

Kieth Merrill

Kieth Merrill is an author, producer, and director. His new novel, The Immortal Crown, the first in the epic fantasy series Saga of Kings, combines his love of world building with his cinematic writing style. Kieth is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as... Read More →

Friday September 30, 2016 22:00 - 22:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Religion Philosophy & History

Session Type Moderated Discussion

12:00

Importance of Philosophy in Fiction

Writers talk a lot about the importance of character development and prose, but what of your philosophical, religious, and political beliefs? In fantasy and sci-fi, they will certainly influence the world you create. Can you be a good writer without also being a good thinker?

Panelists

TAM Gordy

Old enough to remember when Michael Jackson was black. Saw the first show with the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, when it happened. Loves music, writing and when the Boss cooks for me. Takes everything seriously, except myself. Peace. Out.

Randy McCharles

Author

Kieth Merrill

Wolf Read

Dr. Wolf Read is currently working as a Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow in forest science at the University of British Columbia. He has many interests but is often found studying wind-tree interactions, storms and associated power outages. Lately he has been delving into... Read More →

Lynda Williams

Publisher, Reality Skimming Press

Lynda Williams is the author of the Okal Rel ten-novel saga and the owner of Reality Skimming Press. Lynda works within the realms of optimistic sci-fi and new era publishing for her own works and the press. The press is releasing reboots of the saga and original anthologies. Lynda... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 12:00 - 12:50
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Religion Philosophy & History Writing & Publication

Session Type Moderated Discussion

14:00

What is ASFA?

What is the Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Artists and why should artists join?

Panelists

Cary Conder

Born to British parents in Colombia, Cary immigrated to Canada as a child. Her alma mater is in Whitehorse, YT, served 27 years in the Canadian military, is a life member of the ASFA, and a self-published author. She resides in Victoria, BC.

Isaiah Sweigard

Saturday October 1, 2016 14:00 - 14:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Art Craft & Making

Session Type Moderated Discussion

14:00

Justify the Science Flaw

The panelists and audience note science or technical flaws from stories, film and games, and the panelists try to get others to accept their plausible-sounding justifications for the flaws.

Moderators

Karl Johanson

Editor, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

Panelists

BJ Allan

Joe Fulgham

Host/Producer, Mote of Dust / The Dreaming / Caustic Soda

Joe makes podcasts about things he loves. For six years he hosted, produced, and edited "Caustic Soda", the podcast of the weird, gross, and disturbing. His latest project is "The Dreaming", a Read-Along podcast for Neil Gaiman's comic book treasure "The Sandman", hosted by the Mote... Read More →

Jaymie Matthews

Jaymie Matthews is a UBC astrophysics professor who searches for planets beyond the Solar System and probes the hidden interiors of distant stars, using space telescopes as large as minivans and as small as car batteries. Jaymie is heavily involved in astronomy education and outreach... Read More →

Judy McCrosky

Robert J. Sawyer

VCON 41 Author Guest of HonorBorn in Ottawa in 1960, in his youth Robert dreamed of becoming a paleontologist specializing in dinosaurs, but upon discovering only about a dozen people worldwide made a living doing that, he decided to become one of the several hundred people making... Read More →

Lynda Williams

Publisher, Reality Skimming Press

Saturday October 1, 2016 14:00 - 14:50
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Games & Game Design GoH Session Media & Popular Culture Science & Skepticism Writing & Publication

Session Type GoH Panelist, Moderated Discussion

16:00

Toxic Hostility Versus Women in Gaming

What is the cause of the hostility of the, mainly male, vocal minority in the gaming community towards the women in their midst? Why are so many women game designers, game reviewers, and game players regularly harassed - both online and in real life - sometimes in the vilest and most disturbing ways? What can be done by everyone, especially by other male gamers, to flush this toxicity out of the system?

Moderators

Claire McCague

Simon Fraser University

Panelists

James Berg

Games User Researcher, Electronic Arts

I'm a Games User Researcher at Electronic Arts Vancouver, providing player research to our game development teams. My role is to help developers ensure their design implementation meets their design goals, and to identify things like usability issues, difficulty/progression blockers... Read More →

Rob Boffard

Rob Boffard is a South African author, journalist and rapper. His Outer Earth scifi trilogy is published worldwide by Orbit Books, and he writes about music and tech for The Guardian, Wired Magazine and more.

Joe Fulgham

Host/Producer, Mote of Dust / The Dreaming / Caustic Soda

Judy McCrosky

Jenni Merrifield

UX/UI Design Specialist, Jenni Merrifield

Jenni is a UX designer by trade and an SF&F geek by choice. Her favourite fandoms include Star Wars (Han shot first!), Harry Potter (she's a Ravenclaw), Firefly/Serenity (Browncoats unite!) & the Honorverse (Let's be about it!)

Marcie Tentchoff

Marcie Lynn Tentchoff is an Aurora award winning writer/poet/editor from Gibsons, BC. Her work has appeared in such publications as Weird Tales, Strange Horizons, and On Spec.

Saturday October 1, 2016 16:00 - 16:50
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Games & Game Design Media & Popular Culture

Session Type Moderated Discussion

16:00

New Era Publishing

How does a new era publisher make money, engage readers, and reward creatives? How is 'new era publishing' defined? This session will invite attendees to gather into groups to share and imagine new era publishing ideas.

Moderators

Lynda Williams

Publisher, Reality Skimming Press

Panelists

Brian Hades

Brian Hades is the founder of EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing - Canada's largest publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy books. Now celebrating 16 year of publishing SF/F/H books.

Karl Johanson

Editor, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine

Ellen Michelle

Ellen is the Managing Editor for Reality Skimming Press, a small optimistic sci-fi publisher, and a technical writer. She has a degree in English & Publishing from SFU, and loves fawning over the lesser-loved characters of various popular franchises.

Saturday October 1, 2016 16:00 - 16:50
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Small Press Cabal Writing & Publication

Session Type GoH Panelist, Interactive, Moderated Discussion

22:30

What is it about Dragons (and Other Fabulous Beasts)?

What is about Dragons? Is there something in our collective unconscious that makes us respond to the joy and the terror of them? Join our panelists to explore this fabulous beast - and other fabulous beasts too!

Moderators

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys

Arthur Ellis winning Author of 'Plague', Chris is an actor, novelist and swordsman. He has written the fantasy 'The Hunt of the Unicorn' and its sequel, out this Fall, 'The Hunt of the Dragon.'

Panelists

Chilam

Creative Producer, Cerebrospace

Artist, Author, Astro-guy (B.Sc. Astrophysics, UBC '09) & creator of the fantastic world of Varzuun. His new novel PALADIN is now available. Member / Principal Cast: Times Paste Entertainment, BC Renaissance Festival & Jade Dragon Pirates.

Graham J. Darling

Author, Scientist & Medievalist, Active Materials Inc.

Catherine Girczyc

writer

Catherine is a television writer with 15 credited scripts, plus published short stories + poems. Upcoming: two poems in Tesseracts 20 plus a story in Polar Borealis. Awards: 3 WOTF Honorable Mentions, 2 Auroras (fan) for Ether Patrol + Neology.

Donna McMahon

Vik K. Walker

KatvikBooks

Award winning author of paranormal romance, and fantasy fiction.

Saturday October 1, 2016 22:30 - 23:20
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Media & Popular Culture

Session Type Moderated Discussion

13:00

How To Choose Your Instrument (Or How It Chooses You)

Looking to choose a musical instrument? Our opinionated panel will tell you why they chose theirs, or why their instrument chose them. A musical petting zoo included at no extra charge (try before you go out and buy).

Moderators

Creede Lambard

Creede Lambard first encountered filk in 1981. He learned to play the banjo in 2003. He started combining the two in 2005 and things haven't been the same since.

Panelists

TAM Gordy

Dara Korra'ti

Crime and the Forces of Evil

Being a supervillain means being able to do a bit of everything, because, gods know, you can't trust anyone _else_ to do it. So after learning propaganda in professional radio and publishing, creating new techniques in genetics manipulation, getting _pretty good_ at DIY electronics... Read More →

Robert Luis Rabello

Robert Luis Rabello is the author of the Deveran Conflict Series, a unique human wave science fiction series.

Sunday October 2, 2016 13:00 - 13:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Music Dance & Performance

Session Type Moderated Discussion

15:00

Running Fan Cons - Why We Do It (and How You Can Too)

Come and listen to conrunners who have worked on several different fan con events throughout the Pacific Northwest (and potentially beyond) as they give you the low down on what it takes to plan and put on a fan convention, what keeps us doing it year after year, and how you can get directly involved too.

Moderators

Jenni Merrifield

UX/UI Design Specialist, Jenni Merrifield

Panelists

R. Graeme Cameron

Publisher / Editor, Polar Borealis Magazine

Fanzine Editor 30+ years, publishes semi-pro SF fiction zine Polar Borealis, won two Aurora Awards, and writes fanzine review column for Amazing Stories (currently on hiatus).

Chilam

Creative Producer, Cerebrospace

Greg Neher

Conrunner, Nerd Game Host

Danielle Stephens

Manager, Colourist, Goblins

Danielle is the flats colourist and manager for the Goblins webcomic. She also writes the Hyper Halfling line of roleplaying game supplements. This means she plays colouring books and make-believe as a living, and giggles about it daily. She is often mistaken for Pauline Walsh.

Chris Sturges

President, Fired Up Events

Chris Sturges is Special Effects technician, Business owner, event manager, social engineer, long time VCON supporter and volunteer and a bunch of other things as well...

Sunday October 2, 2016 15:00 - 15:50
05 - Medium Programming 1 (with AV) Green Timber 2 (2nd Floor)

Fandom & Conrunning

Session Type Moderated Discussion

15:00

Page 189

Listen to a short excerpt from page 189 of works unknown to you, then vote on whether you would read the book before learning what it is and who wrote it. You may be in for some surprises...

Moderators

Judy McCrosky

Panelists

Steve Forty

I chaired VCON 20, Edited Bcsfazine for 35 issues, various VCON positions over the years, pre-registraar at Banff 89 international, Fan Guest 7 times (Noncon 8 and 16, Moscon 4, Vikingcon, Radcon, Orycon, and VCON 40), held many BCSFA meetings at my house over the years (as well as... Read More →

Kalelin Kirk

Kalelin Kirk has a diverse background in many fields, including filmmaking, acting, writing, sword-fighting, live theatre, archery, and a hodgepodge of assorted creative endeavours. She worked for many years in the comic book industry, though she is currently an educator (both at... Read More →

Jaymie Matthews

Trevor Melanson

Trevor Melanson is the author of Terminal City, a new dark fantasy novel published by EDGE. He's also the senior editor of Vancouver Magazine and has edited and written for many major national magazines and newspapers (occasionally, on geeky topics).

Pauline Walsh

A second-generation nerd, Pauline grew up at conventions and SCA events. She's been part of geek culture all her life, and one day hopes to pay the bills with her writing, her art, or both. She has been a member of several VCON convention committees over the years. She is often mistaken... Read More →

Sunday October 2, 2016 15:00 - 15:50
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Writing & Publication

Session Type Moderated Discussion

16:00

Beyond Lovecraft

Lovecraft is synonymous with Weird Horror fiction, sometimes even with the whole field of horror fiction. But who are the contemporary writers making a splash in this field? And what of the other, older writers of the Weird that time has forgotten?

Moderators

Julie McGalliard

Julie McGalliard is a writer and occasional cartoonist. Her first novel, Waking Up Naked in Strange Places, was released in 2015.

Panelists

Rob Boffard

Peter Darbyshire

Peter Darbyshire is the author of five novels, including the Cross series of supernatural thrillers written under the pen name Peter Roman. He also writes for the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers.

Graham J. Darling

Author, Scientist & Medievalist, Active Materials Inc.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's debut novel, Signal to Noise, was a British Fantasy, Locus, Sunburst and Aurora Award finalist. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award for her work as an editor. Her novel about Mexican vampires, Certain Dark Things, is out this October. http... Read More →

Sunday October 2, 2016 16:00 - 16:50
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Media & Popular Culture

Session Type Moderated Discussion