Just The Caffeine Talking

ChiCon 7: The First Day

Events at the 70th annual World Science Fiction Convention got underway at noon on Thursday. I attended an interesting panel discussion about digital media, featuring Christopher Kastensmidt, Nancy Fulda, and Tom Dowd.

Following that, I went to see the discussion of "Researching History That Never Happened" by Mary Robinette Kowal, Kenneth Hite, Adam Christopher, Martin Berman-Gorvine, and Nick DiChario. Through some oversight, the room assigned for the panel was locked and unready, so the ever-adaptable team of experts held court in the foyer area outside.

After quite a bit of searching for the room, I found my way to the panel "Sometimes Things Go Wrong in Space" -- a trio of aerospace engineers (Henry Spencer, Kent Nebergall, and Charles Justiz) sharing anecdotesa bout things that went wrong, or nearly went wrong, in satellite and Space Shuttle launches.

At 4:30 I served on a panel ably chaired by Brad Aiken about "What Is Next for Body Modification?" Despite the title, we weren't talking about freaky piercings but about cybernetic and biological modifications to the basic human form. 

Then I rejoined my Crack Team of con-goers and went across the river to a Japanese barbecue restaurant for large quantities of meat. After that we boarded the shuttle bus down to the Adler Planetarium for the ChiCon evening reception. The youngest member of the Crack Team enjoyed the interactive space exhibits, while the older ones tried to get a glimpse of Saturn through the telescopes on the terrace, and talked about grown-up stuff with other grown-ups.*

After which we returned to the capacious Hyatt so that the junior Crack Team members could go to bed while the older ones toured the room parties put on by the Minneapolis, London, and Kansas City convention committees, vying to be picked for the next WorldCon site.

And so to bed.

*Grown-up stuff usually means talking about kids.

My ChiCon Schedule

This year the 70th annual World Science Fiction Convention is being held in Chicago over Labor Day weekend. ChiCon 7 starts on Thursday, August 30, and runs through Monday, September 3. The Guests of Honor include legendary science fiction writer Mike Resnick, and even-more-legendary astronaut Story Musgrave.

And, of course, me.

My schedule is as follows.

Thursday, August 30, 4:30-6:00 p.m.:  "What Is Next for Body Modification?"

What are the next likely advances in genetic engineering, prosthetics, organ/neuro-implants, and age retardation/reversal etc.?

Friday, August 31, 12:00-1:30 p.m.:  "Dyson Sphere Update"

What is a Dyson sphere? When can we make one, or at least part of one, and how? As a society, would we want to? What could one do with a Dyson sphere? Can we detect one now, or in the near future? What would be the environmental ethics of a Dyson sphere maker?

1:30-3:00 p.m.:  " Transhumanism: Where Do We, as Homo Sapiens Go From Here?"

Western society is rapidly moving toward a time when many dreams of the transhumanism movement, such as advanced genetic engineering, prosthet ics, organ/neuro-implants, and age retardation/reversal will become reality. The question is how society - including speculative fiction writers - will respond to this evolutionary change in human beings.

Saturday, September 1, 4:30-6:00 p.m.: "The Prime Directive: Altruism or Survival Strategy?"

Is galactic civilization billions of years older than we are? Giving the Kzin a star drive seems like a really bad idea. Are there rules out there? Would voluntary enforcement be enough if coupled with a few horror stories? How could rules be established and communicated? When and how might we find out?

Sunday, September 2, 1:30-3:00 p.m.:  "The Resurgence of Pseudo-Science in 21st Century America"

From Creationism/Intelligent Design to Astrology, non-scientific concepts seem to be capturing the population's imagination once again. What is causing this rise of anti-science and what, if anything can be done to stop it?

3:30-4:00 p.m.:  Reading by James L. Cambias

A reading from my forthcoming book A Darkling Sea.

Pi Fight!

Pi-Con is the Pioneer Valley's oldest and biggest science fiction and fantasy convention. This year's con runs August 17-19 at the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Connecticut (just south of the Massachusetts border on I-91). The guests of honor are Julie Czerneda, Robert M. Price, and Shira Lipkin; other guest include Elizabeth Bear, Emily Lewis, and George Claxton. More importantly, I will be there on Friday and Saturday. If you wish to come and see me talk or read a story, or just bask in my awesomeness, here's my schedule:

Friday, August 17, 6pm: "Howard Phillips Mainstream" -- how did an obscure Weird Tales writer of the 1920s become not only the biggest name in horror fiction but a multimedia superstar in the 21st century? James Cambias (moderator), Robert Price, Justine Graykin.

Saturday, August 18, 2pm:  "Real Steampunk Airships" -- solo presentation by James Cambias on real airships of the 19th century.

Saturday, August 18, 10pm:  "Which Way to the Barsoom" -- panel on Edgar Rice Burroughs's Mars novels and the recent film.

See you there!