Boskone 52--My schedule

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I've given my winter wardrobe a once-over, so it must be time for Boskone 52. As I've said before, you know it's special if I'm willing to drag my Florida self up to Boston in February. Here's a blurb explaining all:

"Boskone is New England's longest running science fiction and fantasy convention. Join us for a weekend of fun at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston, MA from February 13-15, 2015. Programming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 13th and is free to the public from 2:00-6:00 pm. Memberships are required after 6:00 pm on Friday and throughout the duration of the convention. For more information, visit www.boskone.org"

MY SCHEDULE:

An (M) next to my name means I'm moderating that panel.

Growing Up in "Game of Thrones"

Friday 17:00 - 17:50, Harbor I (Westin)
The consequences of their parents’ plots sit squarely upon the shoulders of the Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen children. Their childhoods are gone, and they must come quickly into their own strengths if they hope to live through the great Game of Thrones. But have the adults underestimated the youngsters’ value — and valor — as players? How will they evolve? Who will survive? Who will gain power? Who will surprise them all?
Darlene Marshall (M)(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com), D. Lynn Smith, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Laurie Mann, Peadar Ó Guilín.

The Antihero

Saturday 10:00 - 10:50, Lewis (Westin)
Science fiction and fantasy with an antiheroic protagonist goes back at least to Lucifer/Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost. In these dark days, have we been seeing a rise in the number of antiheros in fiction? Is it harder or easier to write an antihero? Is it more or less satisfying to the reader? Why are antiheroes so popular?
Bob Kuhn (M), Laird Barron, Paul Di Filippo, Scott Lynch, Darlene Marshall(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com)

Mythic Love and Epic Romance

Saturday 11:00 - 11:50, Harbor III (Westin)
Some of the greatest love stories come from ancient mythology, such as Psyche and Cupid or Odysseus and Penelope. However, great love stories that span the fantastic and (in some cases) the centuries also come in more modern tales, featuring couples such as Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese, Bella and Edward, Wesley and Buttercup, Dr. Frankenstein and Elizabeth, and Count Dracula and Mina. What do these tales of love and romance tell us about love? What do these epic love stories tell us about ourselves? And why are we drawn to them?
Darlene Marshall (M)(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com), Debra Doyle, Max Gladstone, Chris Jackson, Ada Palmer.

Paranormal Romance Before It Was Cool

Saturday 14:00 - 14:50, Harbor II (Westin)
Paranormal romance is one of today's hottest genres, but it wasn't always that way. Panelists discuss the origins and early works that built the foundation for today's paranormal romance genre. What are some of the foundational works? What and who should you be reading from the early days of paranormal romance? Why did it take off like it did?
Leigh Perry (M), Melissa Marr, Darlene Marshall(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com) , Carrie Vaughn.

Reading: Darlene Marshall

Saturday 15:30 - 15:55, Griffin (Westin)

Darlene Marshall(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com)

Autographing: A.C.E. Bauer, Darlene Marshall, Leigh Perry (Toni L. P. Kelner), Karl Schroeder

Sunday 10:00 - 10:50, Galleria-Autographing (Westin)

A.C.E. Bauer, Leigh Perry, Darlene Marshall, Karl Schroeder

Swashbuckling

Sunday 12:00 - 12:50, Harbor I (Westin)
Swashbuckling adventure models itself on tales of privateers like Sir Francis Drake (latter half of the 16th century), buccaneers like Henry Morgan (mid-17th century), and pirates like Blackbeard (turn of the 18th century). We even see suitably swashbuckling pirates in the Caribbean into the early 19th century. Who today is writing adventure stories that tap this rich vein? How are they adapted for fantasy and science fiction? What is the appeal for a speculative fiction-loving audience? What happens when these stories go arrr-wry?
James Cambias (M), Steven Brust, Chris Jackson, Darlene Marshall(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com)

The Evolution of Urban Fantasy

Sunday 13:00 - 13:50, Harbor III (Westin)
Now wildly popular, urban fantasy first appeared on our literary radar in the 1980s — showcasing works by Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, and Terri Windling. Today, the genre embraces elements of paranormal romance, horror, and noir in books such as The Mortal Instruments, The Sookie Stackhouse Series, and The Dresden Files. Why is urban fantasy so successful? Are there further opportunities for writers in this genre, or is fantasy with a modern setting morphing into science-fantasy? What are our favorite urban fantasy books? Whom should we be reading?
Darlene Marshall (M)(darlenemarshall@darlenemarshall.com) , ML Brennan, Ginjer Buchanan, Leigh Perry, Max Gladstone.

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