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Noreascon Schedule
From 2-6 September I'll be in Boston for the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention. I'll be busy—just how I like it—taking part in 7 discussion panels, giving a reading, and holding a "literary beer" with Scott (his schedule is here [scroll down]).
Thursday 12:00 noon "Archetypes in SF: First Contact"
Jim Frenkel (Moderator)
Walter H. Hunt
Ed Lerner
Karen Traviss
Justine Larbalestier
In culture clashes between aliens and humans, the humans aren't always the good guys.....discuss the archetype, the ways it's been used, and how to turn it upside down.
My take: I'm glad I'm not moderating this one—there's too much to say about colonialism which is what most first contact novels are about. I'll be bringing up Eleanor Arnarson's Woman of the Iron People and James Tiptree, Jr.'s "And I Awoke on the Cold Hill's Side" at every opportunity.
Thursday 4:30pm Justine reads for half an hour
I'll read from my coming-out-next-March novel, Magic or Madness.
Thursday 7:00pm "The Seven Deadly Sins of SF and Fantasy"
Geary Gravel
Rosemary Kirstein
Justine Larbalestier (M)
Scott Westerfeld
Admit it—some SF motions just don't make sense...and a lot of them become standard background elements in the genre. Discuss a bunch of them (well, at least 7—and invent some new ones of your own, if you want!), why they're so terrible, and how they get established. Is it just that People Don't Think, or are there other reasons for these lousy ideas?
My take: this is the one I'm really looking forward to—it's excellently diverting ragging on all the stuff that annoys you most in your favourite genres. What drives me crazy? Universal translators, magic that has no cost and is conveniently pulled out of the bag whenever the characters get into a tricky situation, and good looks as a sign of moral worth.
Friday 12:00 noon "Archetypes in Fantasy: The Princess, Alone"
Ellen Datlow
Michelle Sagara West (M)
Jo Walton
Justine Larbalestier
My take: there was no description for this one so I'm not quite sure what the starting point is meant to be. I thought immediately of Rapunzel and the idea that the imprisoned prisoner must passively wait to be rescued. (Scott has a great version of the story in Pretties. Unfortunately for you, the reader, Pretties is the sequel to Uglies which isn't out until early next year. Lord knows when Pretties will be out. Er, Scott says September next year. Scott is not my lord.)
Friday 1:00pm "The Two Cultures in F&SF: Science Confronts the Humanities"
Ctein (M)
Matthew Jarpe
Nancy Kress
Justine Larbalestier
Decades ago, C.P. Snow defined the "Two Cultures" of technical intellectuals and literary intellectuals. The split is still with us. How does it influence our fantasy and science fiction? What works, what authors manage to bridge the gap? What works or authors make it deeper?
My take: there's just too much to say. I'm a humanities gal through and through having failed or simply not taken maths or science from year 7 (age 12) onwards. I deeply regret my abyssmal ignorance and stupidity in those areas now and have a lot to say about societies that keep producing people like me and how that gulf is reproduced in sf and fantasy.
Friday 4:00pm "Do Women Write Differently?"
Suzy McKee Charnas
Theodora Goss
Eileen Gunn
Elizabeth Anne Hull (M)
Justine Larbalestier
My take: I guess there's no description because it's pretty self-explanatory. But is it? I mean, which women? Writing differently than which men? What kind of writing? So yeah, I'll do the annoying scholarly thing of answering a question with lots more questions. (For you whingers out there who really want an answer, mine is: sometimes.)
Saturday 4:00pm "Lyrical Language"
Fruma Klass
Kelly Link
Terry McGarry
Delia Sherman
Justine Larbalestier (M)
Is it a good idea to bounce the reader out of the story by making
her aware of how beautifully you write? Define "beautifully." And,
under any circumstances, is "style" really so necessary?
My take: I sure am glad I'm moderating this one; I'd hate for anyone to think I wrote pretty or something. We Aussie writers are way too tough for that.
Sunday 1:00pm "The Justine and Scott Grand Literary Beer"
Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld
Scott and me in a bar, drinking beer, and talking shit about writing, Elvis, Buenos Aires, Australia, interface design flaws, women's basketball, cricket and anything else you might want to ask us about. Trust me, we are very, very, very good at this.
New York City, 25 August 2004
© 2004 Justine Larbalestier
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