Sat Talk Descriptions (in numeric order) (count 256)

Nominees and presenters should try to find 15-30 minutes between noon and 4:00 pm on Saturday, the day of the ceremony, to familiarize themselves with the stage, the paths they may need to walk, etc. It's better to do this while the lights are on.

Get ready to match the stars! An SF-themed take on the classic 1970s game show. Audience members will be selected randomly as contestants and can win prizes by matching the answers our panel give to questions like "Captain Kirk has the biggest ___ in Starfleet!" This is the late night version of the game show classic. No holding back with your answers.

Garth gives a reading of some of his favourite works.

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What do you need to know? Where do you find authors and artists? What niche do your books fill? Do you need a million bucks or will a couple hundred do? How do you get what you publish into stores?

Every member of L.A.con IV is a member of WSFS, the World Science Fiction Society, and is eligible to attend and vote at the Society's Business Meetings. It's here that the Constitution and Rules that govern the Worldcons are discussed and voted upon. Exercise your rights as a member of the Society by attending and voting. The results of Worldcon Site Selection will be officially announced at this meeting.

the editors at Tor Books give a preview to what's coming in the months ahead.

2007 will mark the centennial of Robert Heinlein's birth. Take a tour of the life and work of one of the field's true masters.

Kurt Busiek, Jeph Loeb/Alfred Miller, Grant Morrison, and others have found radically different ways to retell and re-invent Superman's story. Panelists discuss approaches that add to and detract from the collective myth.

Robert Gordon, the writer of Galaxy Quest, talks about writing and making this Hugo-winning paean to science fiction television and Fandom.

How do you explain your, um, hobby to your spouse, in-laws, friends, co-workers, etc.? Do they ever get it?

How to make a living as an artist and not end up with the short end of the paint brush. An artist may create for the joy of creating, but you still have to eat. People who make their (and their family's) livelihood from their artwork tell why it isn't a sin to sell.

It's been over 100 years since L. Frank Baum wrote the first "Oz" book. How has the world of Oz changed? Which books count? Which don't? What about the films? Oz historians and fans talk about that world over the rainbow.

What does it take to create "real" fantasy? Are there rules in a universe run by magic? How do you build a fantasy world?

None of us would be here if we simply kind of liked science fiction or fantasy. We're here because we need to be here, to interact with other people as impassioned as we are. What makes these stories resonate within us? What draws us here?

What makes for an addictive computer game? What is there about Doom or Halo that made you waste countless hours playing? Game designers discuss what they do.

Paying so-called agents a fee to represent them? Calling agents and editors every day to see how they like their novel? That ain't the half of it. Come hear established writers and editors give you a heads up on things you should know better than.

Flip-open communicators and the global central computer were science fiction twenty-five years ago. Today cell phones and the internet are ubiquitous. Technological advance keeps turning science fiction's starry eyed dreams into reality -- almost. This panel discusses SF dreams come true, and how the reality has turned out to differ from the vision.

How did Japan's male dominant culture produce so many kick-butt female characters? Did Japanese anime creators develop the concept themselves, or did they all watch lots of Avengers episodes when they were young?

Suppose we had a Moonbase? What kind of physics, astronomy, astrophysics, biology, etc. could be done there? Would this be strictly a science station, like our bases in Antarctica, or would colonization soon follow?

Ever had nightmares of running down long corridors away from Dr.Who’s nemesis, praying to find some stairs? This panel will hopefully cure them, as there’s interactive construction - while the panel discuss ways to stop the Daleks we build their preventative measures, and then see if they are up to the task

How a guitar works to make music.

Heinlein's "juveniles" might be his best. This one matches the convention's theme, and it's full of wonders. Matt Dodson taking a telephone from his luggage must have been astounding in 1948. That guess held up; others didn't; but how the author treats them!

These days, when you go into a convention's Dealers Room, it isn't uncommon to see one or more tables of people selling recordings of filk songs. Is there really money to be made? For the singers and songwriters or just for the dealers? How do you get involved? Who do you have to ask? What are the legalities?

Watch and learn how to do simple but elegant wings.

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Teachers of all grade levels are using science fiction to encourage kids to read. And through SF's use of extrapolated scientific, political, and sociological ideas, it's also helping to get them to think. Educators talk about their experiences using the "literature of ideas" within their curriculum to stimulate and excite students.

Panel Chair: Faye Ringel, US Coast Guard Academy 1. New Maps of Hell, and 399 Other Exotic Territories: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy; Gary Westfahl, UC Riverside 2. What we Talk About When We Talk About Fantasy Literature: A History of Critical Movements from the 18th-century to Today.; David Sandner, Cal State Fullerton 3. Twilight Zone for the Academic: Using Speculative Fiction in Cultural Studies; Heather Urbanski, Lehigh University

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Is Science Fiction only aimed at Boys? We ask a selection of prominent authors to offer us their opinions and suggestions, for Girls and Boys too.

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Was Heinlein right? Is this our future? Who will be Nehemiah Scudder?

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of this science fiction classic.

Just what are the implications of global warming? What's the real science behind the opinions? What is being done to minimize the impact of continued fossil fuel use and all the other factors contributing to this potential environmental disaster?

Are current "mainstream" writers like Neal Stephenson reinventing science fiction? What would you call the fiction appearing in "Wired" and "Mondo 2000"? Is it cross-pollination or merely self-abuse?

Where should we draw the line? Who should draw it?

How to break out of that most dreaded prison of creativity: writer's block. Having trouble finishing things? Ego not getting enough strokes? Our panelists will tell you what's worked for them.

Perpetual motion machines, converting water into gasoline, and the Dean drive. Famous scientific frauds all. But what are some others? And how do you distinguish a real scientific breakthrough from flummery?

Come and hear stories about edits which went above and beyond clarity and reason. Writers discuss different editing styles they've encountered and talk about some of the good and bad experiences they've had with editors (names will be changed to protect the innocent).

Genetic modification from food to people; how far is too far?

Cats seem to be everywhere. Science Fiction. Fantasy. There are entire anthologies of cat stories. And not just in our genre. Romances and Mysteries have more than their share of cat tales as well. Are dogs anywhere to be seen? Why is literature so catty?

Star Trek's longtime assistant director Mike DeMeritt presents a slide show of crew-taken photos of behind-the-scenes moments on Star Trek Enterprise.

Animated science fiction on U.S. television goes back to Colonel Bleep and Tom Terrific (both 1957) and The Jetsons (1962). What are the unique aspects of creating and writing science fiction for animation? What's around today and what's coming in the future?

Come try your hand at fantasy and science fictional origami creations.

What defines a "classic"? What are some classic filksongs? How many do you know?

Over one hundred years ago, Jack the Ripper cut a bloody swath through London. But compared to modern serial killers, Jack was a flyweight. So why has he held such a fascination for so many writers through the years? And just who was Jack the Ripper?

What does it take to match poetry to a melody? With examples from Rudyard Kipling and Yeates.

A discussion of last night's Masquerade. What entries really stood out? Which things surprised even the staff? Was the judging in tune with the audience opinions? Staff will answer questions and invite feedback.

A quick course in speaking Japanese for fans planning to go to next year's Worldcon.

From sports mascots to children's party entertainment to, well, science fiction conventions! Animal costumes that cover from head to toe -- how to design them, find materials, and make them look good.

In addition to Star Trek, another science fiction TV series debuted 40 years ago. Time Tunnel, the story of two scientists who find themselves trapped as they adventure through time, only ran one season, but it was a memorable one. Fans of the show reminisce. (Time Tunnel previewed at the 1966 Worldcon, shortly before it's debut on television.)

Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray. Check the schedule for additional tours and guides.

So! Darth Vader vs Jack Sparrow – you think Darth will win??? We show you how to make light sabres and cutlasses, and then see who has the best swordsmanship skills as we fight on planks.

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"Young Adult" is a popular category. But why are some stories about sex, drugs, blood, death, and sex considered Y.A.? Who's reading Y.A. novels, and why?

Publishers from different areas of publishing -- a major imprint, a small press, an on-line magazine, a prozine -- compare the similarities and differences in their tasks.

Many science fiction stories have a military background. Heinlein, Dickson, Pournelle, and many others have used space-faring soldiers as the centers of their stories. But how would those tactics work in "real life"? Who gets it right? What should be done better?

Some showrunners are now reading fan boards & fanfic sites to gauge reaction to what they're doing on their shows. Others avoid sites in order to keep "untainted". Writers and producers talk about the effect the fan community has on how a show develops. Do they ever have to deal with actors and their responses to the fans? What happens when you're torn between two disparate but equally vocal groups of fans?

Why should you care? What's out there? Do you need licenses? If you do it, can you quit your day job?

Possibly the genre's best writer/raconteur/critic tells us what he thinks.

What courses should you take? What should you major in? Where should you go?

What were they like? Who could have guessed so many thousands would show up? What's different between the Star Trek conventions of today and the ones of the earliest days? And how do the "Creation Cons" fit into the mix?

Experts discuss what changes the future will bring to our system of law and justice. The topics they'll cover will include Constitutional issues, intellectual property, cloning, eugenics, etc.

Some movies have a profound effect on people. Come here from our panelists which movies had a major effect on them and share your own stories.

A discussion of science fiction of the period. How was it different from what's out there today? From what came before it? Was it better? What are some of the best examples?

Dinosaurs have always been near and dear to the SF fan's heart. Come hear about new discoveries that reveal dinosaur lifestyles, exiting new finds from China and other places, the latest on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, and more.

Not that it's easy to do special effects with computers but, before CGI, things were different. Some of the practitioners of those early effects and others with expert knowledge talk about those halcyon days of miniatures, stop motion, and Jacobs Ladders.

Just one book to go in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series? What do you think will happen in Book 7? Our panelists tell you their ideas and ask for yours.

We're all people so we really can't think like an alien or a demon or an anthropomorphic dog. So what do we do to make non-human characters real without making them just seem weird? How do we bring them to life?

Bob Eggleton and Frank Wu, two easels. Have at you. Come see what they do.

Come sing of Neofen, SMOFs, and Crottled Greeps.

Old and young fans discuss what motivates them and present views of fanwriting.

Now that you've seen the masquerade, here's how to get started in science fiction costuming: methods, resources, ideas for beginners, including extra tips for hall costumes and masquerade presentations.

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Is a difficult personality required for brilliance in fan art, writing, editing, and convention running? Who are these misunderstood bastards and how can we still love them?

What changes will the future bring to the concept of the big city? Will the megalopolises continue to grow, until we have literal city-states, or will we see a move back to the 'burbs?

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Questions of Fannish etiquette will be addressed by our self-appointed arbiter of good taste. Some questions will be prepared, others will be taken from the audience.

Panel Chair: Eric Sonstroem, University of the Pacific 1. The Portrayal of Hacking in Film and Television; Eric Swedin, Weber State Univ 2. “The iPod Revolution and Fan Culture”; Amelia Beamer, Michigan State 3. Revisiting Remake: Digital Acting in Hollywood; Moira O'Keeffe, Univ of Pennsylvania

A panel discussion on writing for the cartoons you see on TV -- creating the story and characters, writing and editing scripts, and making it all fit inside half an hour!

Come take a guided tour of the Art Show with a knowledgeable guide who won't lead you astray.

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The master of horror gives us tales to terrify.

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We bring together the work that has been compiled and written by YOU, and prepare to dispatch it to various fanzines across the world.

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What would the world be like if molecular technology proved feasible? Would it become a dystopia far worse than anything imagined by Huxley or Orwell, or a socialist idyll, of people living free from the fear of poverty, death or pollution, in a land with more than enough material goods for everyone?

What sort of actions and environments are most conducive to getting and staying productive? How do you tell being blocked from being too tired?

Fifty years ago, Godzilla was released in the US. (It was released two years earlier in Japan.) Over the years, Godzilla has gone from giant monster and anti-nuclear message to a heroic warrior, keeping nasty monsters at bay, and back again. In that time, fans have come to love the giant lizard. How has he changed? Which changes were for the better? And where is he headed now?

Before there was writing, people were telling horror stories. Today, tales of horror, of vampires, of slasher killers, of nameless things that go bump are amongst the biggest selling books. What is it about us that makes us want to be scared to death?

The winner of more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other author, not to mention being L.A.Con IV's Guest of Honor, Connie Willis has a large and varied body of work. Critics and fans (and some you-call-these-friends?) talk about what makes her work so great.

A "readers theatre" performance of a classic story of science fiction. Readers include Anne McCaffrey, Karen Black, Bob Caso, and R.S. Daley.

Superpowers we'll accept as a given. But what effects would there be on society if there really were superheroes? Would government's just let them act? Would near absolute power corrupt? Would the existence of superheroes ultimately bring forth supervillains? What toll (or benefit) would the world see from years or decades of superpowered daring-do?

Why is the SF backlist disappearing? What does this mean to authors? To booksellers?

What can you do to help push your new book? Get your friends to turn the book "cover out" in bookstores? Get your face in Locus? Do booksignings at Bookstar help? Will any of it do any good?

Indoor plumbing led to polio epidemics. Lead in paint and gas poisoned people. To what extent is modern science and technology responsible for figuring out whether or not something that seems good is also going to cause serious problems?

John & Bjo Trimble present a slide show on the history of Star Trek , from the 1960s to now.

If we were to read a story written in the 23rd Century but set in our time, what might we find wrong with it?

Can the science fiction field stay the same? Or is it like a shark: move or die? If it is a shark, where is it going?

Tim Powers discusses books he would reccomend and then asks how one should write fantasy and what particular challenges it presents & how to deal with them and why fantasy still strongly affects people even in our skeptical high-tech age

Overseeing a TV series? How hard can it be? You just write the scripts and hand them to the director, right? People who have had the job tell us about the ins-and-outs of being in charge on genre TV series.

How are the comic books of today different from what they used to be? What can we look forward to in the future? Is there a future for comics? Is it in print or on line?

What's it like running an SF bookstore? Is there much hope for their survival? True stories from the front.

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Growing seemingly beyond their ability to sustain, is there a future for mega-cities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, Mexico City? What about smaller cities? Their budgets are stretched to the point of snapping, too. What can be done to save cities

Sign up in the Filk Lounge for your opportunity to present your best song on stage.

Glitzy, glittery and gaudy techniques to make your costume stand out. Learn materials and basic techniques for adding sparkle, shine and focus to your hall or masquerade costume.

Fan Funds are groups that, by election, bring fans from one continent to another, to help spread the word between our international brethren. Funding for these trips is by donation or fund raising like auctions of cool and fannish stuff. Come bid. Come help.

Discussion group for fans of dragons, unicorns, gryphons, and everything else that doesn't exist so far as we know -- but we love them anyway!

Authors and fans from Japan talk about the works being created there and how they differ -- if at all -- from what's written in the US and elsewhere.

Let's go over the basics, from philosophy to raising capital to gaining recognition from fellow fans, businesses, and governments alike.

Panel Chair: Brian J Burns, George Washington University 1. Real Freedom according to The Prisoner; Kim Paffenroth, Iona College 2. I want my RAH TV...; William H. Patterson, Jr., The Heinlein Scholar, U.C. Santa Cruz 2003-2006 3. The Mockery of Moronic Media, or, Why Does the Monster Always Eat the Reporters First?; Tiffney Quin Mortensen, California State University, Northridge

We look at designing futuristic bad clothing with artists. We will have T-shirts on hand to practice on.

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With the emergence of authors like Stross, MacLeod, Vinge, Egan, etc., Hard SF is making a comeback. What's brought it back to the fore? Or did it ever really go away?

Examples are many: Suzy McKee Charnas's "Motherlines" and Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower". But was it just a child of the '70s or does this sub-genre of fantasy and science fiction continue to thrive. Why or why not?

The Singularity has become the hot topic in science, at least at science fiction conventions. What is it? And what does it mean for the future?

You don't have to be a rock star or Tom Cruise to have a fuss made over you. Celebrities in a variety of fields talk about what's different for them from "before" and what it's like to deal with their popularity. Is it all it's cracked up to be?

Current planned, and proposed space science, applications, and transportation missions being undertaken by NASA. And just how likely are they to happen?

Come see trailers, film clips, and other previews from upcoming major films. Surprises, prizes, and maybe even mystery guests.

Is it just coming up with sneaky traps for players? That seems like a good way to get people not to want to play in your games. What should a good Game Master do to make the game fun for everyone? (And have them not hate him for devising a trap that killed their character.) How much work does it take to be really good at it?

There's a lot of "art" to creating comics but there's a business side to. What does it take to publish comics today, for big companies and self-publishers? What's distribution like? How do you stay in business? Is there really a market for comics or are comics now just a testing ground for future movie properties?

Is there such a thing as "hard" fantasy, like "hard" science fiction? Is it just a matter of research or better world building? What does it take to make a fantasy "hardcore"? Who's writing hard fantasy, what is it, and how does it work?

Whatever it was, it was one of the most undigested movements in America. Has there been a lasting effect? What have we learned?

It's been almost thirty years but now the story is complete. How has the tale changed over the decades? The original films seemed to be about Luke. But the newer films are all about Darth Vader. Just whose story is it? Did advances in special effects hurt or help?

James Cawley and others from the cast and crew of this much-hailed internet version of Star Trek talk about what they've done, and where they're boldly going.

Sure, Verne was before him and there were others around the same time, but the popularity and acceptance of his "scientific romances" makes a strong case for his being the father of the form. Come hear about The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and First Men in the Moon, and about his lesser-known works like The War in the Air and Tono Bungay.

Who would have thought that we would live to see an international plague, the fall of the Iron Curtain, or the virtual end of the Space Program? What's next that we aren't expecting?

Many science fiction magazines include non-fiction pieces about science fiction. There are books galore that talk about the field or about individual authors. How do you write non-fiction about science fiction? How do you get into the market? Just what is the market and how do you pitch pieces?

60 years ago, Los Angeles held its first World Science Fiction Convention. Come here some of the people who were there talk about what it was like and how things have changed, for Fandom, for Worldcons, for Los Angeles, and for them, in the sixty years since Pacificon I.

The Awards Ceremony honors the semi-finalists, finalists, and winners who entered the ninth annual contest, which is co-sponsored by Baltimore Worldcon '98 and L.A.con IV. 750 elementary, middle, and high school students participated by submitting science fiction and fantasy stories, art work with a science fiction or fantasy theme, or a science essay. The honorees were selected after their work survived a jury process and then was reviewed by five additional judges.

A revival of the (in)famous operetta first performed at Westercon XX in 1967.

A demonstration using resin casting to make hard shell costume parts.

The Ursa Majors are furry fandom's equivalent of science fiction's Hugo (tm) Awards, or mystery's Anthony Award. Now entering its sixth year. Come find out how the awards are chosen -- and what sort of things have been nominated or won in the past.

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Horror on television, from 1949 to today, including The Twilight Zone, Thriller, One Step Beyond, The Outer Limits, etc.

Come bid on some great art from the convention's art show. Auction rules available in the Art Show.

Using Mr. Spock instead of Dr. Spock. Morals, manners, and family. Do we really raise our children differently or are they just born that way? Hear comments from fannish parents and the adult children of fans.

Panel Chair: Kim Knight, UC Santa Barbara 1. LETO II, THX-1138, LOGAN 5, AND 3JANE: Numbers in Names in Science Fiction; Elizabeth Swanstrom, UC Santa Barbara 2. Deconstructing Fantasy and Science Fiction as Mysteries; Michael Carniello, Independent Scholar 3. Forced Isolation: Communism vs. Individualism in Ender's Game; Antares Alleman, University of Texas at Arlington

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