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VCON 41

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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14:00 PDT

Reading: Aviva Bel'Harold

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.

Friday September 30, 2016 14:00 - 14:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

14:30 PDT

Reading: Brenda Carre

Panelists

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.

Friday September 30, 2016 14:30 - 14:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

15:00 PDT

Reading: Joseph Picard

Panelists

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 15:00 - 15:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

15:30 PDT

Reading: Donna McMahon

Panelists

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 15:30 - 15:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

19:00 PDT

Book Launch - A Feast of Authors

Come out to our book launch reception, where authors with new releases in 2016 will be showcasing their works with brief readings and drinks, nibbles and some time for mingling will also be available. Come to visit your favourites and meet some new gems!

Books will be available for purchase onsite. Bring a pen for autographs!

This event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! That's right! If you have someone who loves a good sf&f book but isn't so sure about the whole "going to a fan convention" thing you can use this as an excuse to drag them out on Friday night. :-D

Moderators

Alyx J. Shaw

Alyx J Shaw is an irritable rantaholic who enjoys writing, making medieval honey wine, smoking, tarantulas, and raising strange and toxic plants. She shares her seedy apartment with a cat, tarantula, dog, and pet dove named Cupid. She's pretty sure there is a husband in there somewhere... Read More →

Friday September 30, 2016 19:00 - 20:50 PDT
02 - Large Programming 2 Tynehead 2 (2nd Floor)

Reading Writing & Publication

Session Type Reception
Tags featured

10:30 PDT

Reading: Chilam

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.

Saturday October 1, 2016 10:30 - 10:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

11:00 PDT

Reading: Graham J. Darling

Panelists

Graham 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.

Saturday October 1, 2016 11:00 - 11:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

11:30 PDT

Reading: Claire McCague

Panelists

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.

Saturday October 1, 2016 11:30 - 11:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

12:00 PDT

Reading: Robert Luis Rabello

Panelists

Robert Luis Rabello

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

Saturday October 1, 2016 12:00 - 12:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

12:30 PDT

Reading: Stan Hyde

A reading by our Godzilla Fan Guest of Honor

Panelists

Stan Hyde

Stan is a model builder and artist, retired English literature, film and drama teacher, and a bona fide Godzilla expert (he has more than 200 models of Godzilla, each one different and can look at a photo of Godzilla and identify the movie the still came from by the shape of the ear... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 12:30 - 12:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type GoH Panelist, Presentation

13:00 PDT

Reading: Spider Robinson

1-Hour reading by our Toastmaster, Author Spider Robinson

Panelists

Spider Robinson

Cheap Executive Offficer, Tottering-on-the-Brink

Spider Robinson is renowned as one of Canada's most popular science fiction writers. Born in New York, NY, he has lived in Canada for nearly 40 years, mostly in Halifax and Vancouver. He wrote his first SF short story, "The Guy with the Eyes" (published in 1971) to escape the boredom... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 13:00 - 13:50 PDT
01 - Large Programming 1 (with AV) Tynehead 3 (2nd Floor)

GoH Session Reading

Session Type Presentation

14:00 PDT

Reading: Casey June Wolf & Eileen Kernaghan

Panelists

Eileen Kernaghan

Eileen Kernaghan lives in New Westminster. Her nine historical fantasy novels reflect her fascination with other times and places, from the prehistoric Indus Valley to Victorian England. Her most recent YA/teen novel, Sophie, in Shadow, shortlisted for a Sunburst Award for literature... Read More →

Casey J. Wolf

Casey June Wolf is a writer of occasional poems and speculative fiction stories that range from moody slipstream to hard science fiction. Upcoming publications include “Fog” in The Nettle Tree: Strangely Different Western Stories and several poems in Your Death Full of Flowers... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 14:00 - 14:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

14:00 PDT

Reading: T.G. Shepherd

Panelists

T. G. Shepherd

T. G. Shepherd's first novel 'As A God' is out now, from ETreasures Publishing (Ebook only at this time). Think 'Game of Thrones' meets 'Criminal Minds'.

Saturday October 1, 2016 14:00 - 14:25 PDT
08 - Small Workshops Boardroom (1st Floor)

14:30 PDT

Reading: Rhea Rose

Panelists

Rhea Rose

Rhea's first story was selected by Judith Merril for the very first Tesseracts anthology and nominated for an Aurora Award. Her latest works appear in Clockwork Canada and Pulp Literature. She has her MFA in creative writing from UBC.

Saturday October 1, 2016 14:30 - 14:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

15:00 PDT

Reading: Alyx J. Shaw

Panelists

Alyx J. Shaw

Alyx J Shaw is an irritable rantaholic who enjoys writing, making medieval honey wine, smoking, tarantulas, and raising strange and toxic plants. She shares her seedy apartment with a cat, tarantula, dog, and pet dove named Cupid. She's pretty sure there is a husband in there somewhere... Read More →

Saturday October 1, 2016 15:00 - 15:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

15:00 PDT

Reading: Robert J. Sawyer

1-Hour reading by our Author Guest of Honor, Robert J. Sawyer

Panelists

Robert J. Sawyer

SFWRITER.COM Inc.

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 →

Saturday October 1, 2016 15:00 - 15:50 PDT
01 - Large Programming 1 (with AV) Tynehead 3 (2nd Floor)

GoH Session Reading

Session Type GoH Panelist, Presentation

15:30 PDT

Reading: Julie McGalliard

Panelists

Julie McGalliard

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

Saturday October 1, 2016 15:30 - 15:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

17:00 PDT

Reading: Kieth Merrill

Panelists

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 →

Saturday October 1, 2016 17:00 - 17:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

17:30 PDT

Reading: Vik K. Walker

Panelists

Vik K. Walker

KatvikBooks

Award winning author of paranormal romance, and fantasy fiction.

Saturday October 1, 2016 17:30 - 17:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

18:00 PDT

Reading: Chris (C.C.) Humphreys

Panelists

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.'

Saturday October 1, 2016 18:00 - 18:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

18:30 PDT

Reading: Trevor Melanson

Panelists

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).

Saturday October 1, 2016 18:30 - 18:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

10:00 PDT

Reading: Catherine Girczyc

Panelists

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.

Sunday October 2, 2016 10:00 - 10:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

10:30 PDT

Reading: JM Landels

Panelists

JM Landels

Writer, Artist, Editor, Pulp Literature Press

Jennifer Landels is a founding editor at Pulp Literature magazine, a multi-genre fiction quarterly. As JM Landels she writes fantasy and historical fiction, and is the author of Allaigna's Song: Overture, due out in 2017. When she's not busy with words she plays with horses and... Read More →

Sunday October 2, 2016 10:30 - 10:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

13:00 PDT

Reading: Katrina Archer

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.

Sunday October 2, 2016 13:00 - 13:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

13:30 PDT

Reading: Lynda Williams

Panelists

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 →

Sunday October 2, 2016 13:30 - 13:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

14:00 PDT

Reading: GregRobin Smith

Panelists

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 →

Sunday October 2, 2016 14:00 - 14:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

15:30 PDT

Reading: Rob Boffard

Panelists

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.

Sunday October 2, 2016 15:30 - 15:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

16:00 PDT

Reading: Alisha Knaff

Panelists

Alisha A. Knaff

Editor in Chief, Razorgirl Press

I am a writer and editor of genre fiction. My own work is mostly urban fantasy, but Razorgirl publishes all manner of genre fiction. Come and see us in the dealers room!

Sunday October 2, 2016 16:00 - 16:25 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation

16:30 PDT

Reading: Judy McCrosky

Panelists

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.

Sunday October 2, 2016 16:30 - 16:55 PDT
06 - Medium Programming 2 (Readings) Green Timber 3 (2nd Floor)

Session Type Presentation