Friday Schedule

We will be accepting entries into the Norweskids Youth Arts and Crafts Show in Olympic 1 all day starting at 8 a.m. Entries will be accepted between panels and during all open house panels until 5 p.m. Friday. We are excited to see your creations!

Dungeons & Dragons Adventurers League and Pathfinder Society will be running games throughout the weekend. Check the games schedule for details.

Bring your own games and play in the open game area.

Need a towel? Is your flowerpot a bit cracked? Need a suitable container for a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster? Stop by Olympic 1 for our drop-in crafting time. We will have materials on hand to create these and more! Space is also available for crafting your own creations.

All weekend there will be dealers and game developers running demos of games in Maxi’s Salon. Come up and see the latest and greatest games and talk to the game developers.

Come sign up for a game run by our GMs or check out a game from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Please speak to our staff when you sign up and we will make sure to meet your needs.

Start off your super day! Gain strength and confidence from power poses, which sometimes correlate to traditional yoga or martial arts, straight from the panels or scenes. Breathe deeply. Relax and loosen those muscles like the hero you are. Go boldly into your Norwescon Friday energized for the day’s activities! Wear comfortable clothes. This is a low-impact physical activity.

Marta reads from a work in progress—an excerpt from a novella which is an alternate history of the transcontinental railroad. Rated PG.

Can white write black? Can black write white? Can straight write queer and rich write poor? If it is impossible to write outside one’s own experience, why is diversity encouraged in SF/F? If it is possible, where do new writers begin learning how to depict diversity well? Panelists will discuss inclusion in literature and the possible pitfalls and rewards of writing characters from outside your personal cultural viewpoint.

Long, dramatic outerwear such as cloaks, trench coats, wraps, and various types of jackets are making a comeback in the movies. Join our lively panel as they discuss the various trends and the tricks of the trade for creating “the look” or repurposing items to achieve that super flash style.

Can a system designed to catch sex traffickers affect indie authors and publishers? It can! Find out how autobots and keyword searches can get an ISBN banned for good.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, the NASA mathematicians whose stories were dramatized in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, weren’t the only women and people of color who delivered distinguished service during NASA’s early decades. Come hear about the “Mercury 13,” Margaret Hamilton, Maj. Robert H. Lawrence Jr., and others who crossed the gender and color lines.

An introduction to what tabletop role-playing games are and how they are played. Ideas and suggestions on how to get started in the hobby.

Peak oil production was reached in the United States in 1971, and the world in 2008. Globally we have been exploring alternative energy production and, just as importantly, have been building a framework where the source of energy doesn’t matter, as long as it can produce electricity. The third industrial age is ending, and the fourth is underway. Understanding this is crucial to understanding the world in 10, 20 and 50 years from now.

Put on your pointy thinking caps and learn the steps to plotting, pacing, and formatting a 32-page picture book with the award-winning author of Strictly No Elephants. Ages 18+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

See and feel how hand weapons and body armor changed and developed from late Roman times through the Renaissance. Various weapons, armor, and their evolution will be explained. Participants will have the opportunity to handle real pieces of armor and modern replicas. This experience is like a museum where you can touch the artifacts. Handouts will be provided.

Science Guest of Honor Dan Koboldt presents “The Science of Science Fiction.”

A Scavenger Hunt with clues that lead to locations where stickers can be obtained. Come to the Info Desk to pick up the list of questions. Happy hunting!

Join the fun and participate in an augmented reality scavenger hunt where you can use a “tricorder” style app on a compatible phone to hunt for virtual items around the convention. Augmented reality means what you see in your phone camera view is not quite what you see in plain reality. Instead in some locations there may be different objects or signs… you’ll just have to hunt and see! See the Scavenger Hunt web page for more information.

Families with babies and toddlers are welcome to drop by and spend some time away from the hectic con scene. Older siblings are welcome as well.

Painting monsters. How do you show perspective? How do colors influence the viewer and the final product? Let’s discover the layers hidden behind some happy monsters. Bring your sketchbooks, pencils, and colors if you have them to follow along.

“Til Death Do Us Part” When the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I, comes to Canterbury, it’s an occasion to celebrate—her 40th birthday, in fact! But a body turns up on the night of the mariners’ masque being held in her honor. Who is dead? And who has used magic to hide the corpse by making it invisible to mortal eyes? Is this part of another attempt on the Queen’s life? How and why are the Fae involved? This story will appear in the fantasy anthology Lace & Blade 5, released on Valentine’s Day, 2019. Rated G.

“Toothsome Things.” A Red Riding Hood story that’s not unusually dark, but is a little weird and very angry. Publication is forthcoming in Strange Horizons. Rated R.

Could science build the animals of fantasy? Could a dragon exist? Breath fire? Fly? Talk?

Take five space explorers, add a dash of royalty and a pinch of humor, stir well and form Voltron. This panel will take a look at the history of the franchise from its beginnings in 1984 to the reboot that’s taking the fandom by storm, plus all the versions in between. So activate those interlocks, connect your dynotherms, make sure your infracels are up, and point your mega-thrusters to go!

Escapist fiction is how many of us connect and interact with society’s mores and shortcomings. What responsibility do writers have when presenting a moral message, and how do editors help a story get it across without making every story an allegory?

Whether going to a local con or feast, or traveling around the globe to Worldcon, building costumes that will break down and fit into luggage and transport intact is a real challenge. We share various ways to plan your costume build as well as tricks learned the hard way for smooth transit.

Everybody wants to make a demo. What can you do with what you’ve got? If that won’t do—and it probably won’t—what do you really need to create a good demo? How little can you get away with? And once you have it, what do you do with it? How do you set it up? How do you use it to capture or create the best sounds you can? We’ll discuss software and hardware solutions both.

The term Afrofuturism is only about 20 years old, but the movement is of earlier origin and includes science fiction (Delany, Butler), music (Sun Ra, Parliament Funkadelic), and many other subgenres including movies, comics, and games. Join our panel as they examine Afrofuturism as both a term and a movement.

From old-school LARPs and murder mystery parties to modern escape rooms, there are plenty of fun, interactive storytelling methods young adult authors can tap into for a fresh take on tension, characterization, and plot twists. Come get advice for putting non-linear and/or non-traditional narratives together just in time for the next family birthday party or library event.

Come meet our writer guest of honor, Mary Robinette Kowal, and learn about her work and process.

Conventions can be overwhelming and difficult for everyone. Come by Olympic 1 for sensory-friendly activities and open space for stimming and being yourself.

Want to learn more about the bid to bring Worldcon to Seattle in 2025? This is the place!

Jon will be reading one or more short stories, selected with audience input. Rated PG.

More than one editor has accused me of writing “good-ass banter,” and I’m okay with that. Many writers struggle with writing natural speech (reality is no excuse for fiction) or having characters talk their way out of trouble (looking at you, Scalzi!). We can also get into things like eye dialect, why not to italicize foreign language words, and non-traditional text notations (e.g., telepathy or screen displays). Presented by Clarion West. Ages 17+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

“Wishbone” and “Two Aunts and the Cornwall Horror.” “Wishbone” is a near-future political dystopian piece. “Two Aunts and the Cornwall Horror” is humorous horror, a mashup of Lovecraftian plot with Wodehousian prose. Rated PG.

If you plan to enter the masquerade, you must come to one of the four pre-masquerade meetings (Thursday at 9 p.m., Friday at noon, or Saturday at 8 a.m. for regular entrants, or Saturday at 5 p.m. for children) to get all the information you need to compete and turn over your music. If you have not already registered online, a computer will be available for you to do so. If you are just curious and have questions, we have the answers.

It may seem strange, but many people find the horror genre unexpectedly soothing, as it provides catharsis or other controlled experiences of negative emotions. Our panelists discuss their favorite “comfort horror” and why it works for them.

Much like First Page Idol, this is an opportunity to run your pitch past a group! Get feedback on how well your pitch is translating and if it will be successful—no need to submit your pitch online! Just come to the panel ready to share a few lines about your story and get instant feedback from the pros.

Come join a discussion of positive LGBTQIA+ representation in games. Our game pros talk about queer issues, themes, and experiences in the tabletop games hobby and industry.

Representation is important in geek spaces, from guests to attendees. Being able to have your own voice represented matters, but sometimes marginalized people are used as tokens or pawns in a larger space they do not control. There are many varied reasons for this. We’ll discuss how to recognize this when it’s happening and what to do about it.

Come hear news from the past year from the non-U.S. space agencies. With pictures! A perennial Norwescon favorite.

PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the act of creating art: a panel on writing, painting, drawing, singing, and dancing through the dark.

Is worldbuilding an extension of plot or something separate altogether? How much time should go into the worldbuilding phase of writing a book/series? Panelists will discuss how they began creating distinctive worlds in their works, what they wish they had done differently, and what they wish they had known before they ever started.

Come meet the managing editor and chief operating officer of this year’s Spotlight Publisher, Subterranean Press.

Keith and Alan return for the first of two shows this year. Join them for the latest previews, news, and rumors—the hot topics and the latest trends—out of Hollywood. They highlight the latest info, innovations, and challenges and the wider entertainment culture: TV shows, home video, theme parks—the whole gamut! Grab your seat early for all the latest.

Bring the family to meet some mermaids, get a photo with them, and learn about their lives under the sea.

Not for the faint of heart or squeamish. This workshop offers hands-on experience treating wounds with needle and thread, splint, and bandage, perhaps even removing an arrow embedded in muscle. Groups of participants will move thru a series of stations dealing with bodily injuries presented in a realistic manner—an absolute must for authors trying to write authentic prose!

Host: Richard Stephens.

The Lobster’s Dilemma. “All sentience feeds the sentience of all” is the motto of The Consortium Kitchens, a gathering of the greatest races of the galaxy where diplomacy is based on food. When first contact is made with a new sentient species, it is up to Chef Lena Proust to determine if they are welcome at the Consortium tables. All she has to do is cook an exquisite diplomatic meal, prevent an intergalactic war, and figure out who wants her dead. A tall order by any standard. Rated PG.

Enjoy some milk and cookies while our youth pros interview Special Guest of Honor Nancy Pearl.

You Sexy Thing. Former space marine Niko Larsen and her crew think they’ve escaped the ranks of the Holy Hive Mind and successfully set up a restaurant on the space station TwiceFar. But when a mysterious package arrives and things begin exploding, they find themselves drawn back into a plot that will leave Niko confronting her deadliest and most implacable foe—who happens to hold her long lost love – as a hostage. Rated G.

How do illustrators create compelling narratives using only the visual medium of art? Panelists will discuss techniques such as eyelines, value, and composition that are used to create successful illustrations.

Why do novelists spend so much time working on those first 50 pages of their books? What must writers take into account when crafting them? What is “baiting the hook” versus “setting the stage”? In this panel, we’ll also talk about great first lines, first paragraphs, first chapters, and what makes them wonderful.

How to get the most out of your limited rehearsal time at the Con. Our veteran competitors and masquerade directors talk about the do’s and don’ts for this extremely important preparation experience.

One of the eternal ongoing debates among horror fans is what actually makes something horror. Is it setting, mood, story, attitude, emotional effect, philosophical position? A certain ineffable “I know it when I see it” something? How do we classify horror-ish genres like dark fantasy, paranormal noir, and gothic?

From heartbreaking videos of “The Doll Test” to both young children and adults who feel they can’t be accepted as they are—why is it important that our books, media, games, and cultures are diverse? Why isn’t the status quo good enough? The goal is to empower people of all stripes and diverse experiences and to show characters and role models that help us all to feel like we can be a part of both that world and fandom.

Seems like every time you turn around lately, you are being bombarded by news about AIs. However, this term, while heavily used, actually is used to mean a lot of different things, from predictive learning systems to chatbots to financial systems to full-blown general AIs. Join our panelists as they discuss the many faces of artificial intelligence.

When it comes to the publishing industry, writing is only one of the skills needed to be successful. How we present ourselves matters. Unless we’re bestsellers right out of the gate, chances are we’ll need to do a lot of leg work to get folks aware of our writing and experience. While it can be tempting to take a giant leap ahead, each step forward offers a beauty of accomplishment that can only be achieved through experience and action. Join author Sienna Saint-Cyr as she shares a “best methods” approach to being a professional in the industry and why earning your way is the best way. Presented by Cascade Writers. Ages 18+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

Do you have what it takes to gain the appreciation of our audience and panel of fan and celebrity d/r/u/n/k/s/ judges? Find out! Bring your song, work-in-progress, shtick, stand-up act, freak show, your whatever—bring your talent to our free form talent show! You have eight minutes, two songs, or until the gong gongs, whichever is shorter. Show us what you got!

You got questions? Our top-notch science minds have your answers. But you may not like them…

Artist Guest of Honor Tran Nguyen shows us her art and talks about how she got into the business.

Olympic 1 will be free for play, reading, crafts, and lounge time.

What’s so wrong with being a Slytherin? Need to find your fellow Hufflepuffs? Maybe, you’re looking to start out on an adventure and need a partner? Come find your fellow Potterheads at this meet-up.

The Ultra Long Goodbye. Patrick will read a non-spoilery excerpt from his work-in-progress, the third novel in his Ultra series. Rated G.

The Making War. Rated G.

Beyond the art. Panelists will discuss what it takes to be a professional artist in today’s market from contracts, pricing, and copyright law, to getting work and interacting with art directors and clients.

Some stories can reinforce real-world imbalance and destructive behaviors towards marginalized populations in fiction, while others give catharsis to those populations and make them feel empowered and valued. What voices and safe spaces do the best storytellers give to marginalized people? How do they use fantasy to explore those spaces?

What did you see? What did you miss? Our movie experts will give you a down-and-dirty breakdown of every single fantasy, science fiction, and horror genre film that has come out since last year’s Norwescon. It’s gonna be fast, it’s gonna be furious, but most of all, it’s gonna be fun!

Let’s face it—most of us are not built like the Son of Krypton or Odin, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to emulate our heroes. Come examine design choices, fabric selection, and construction techniques that flatter and work with what you’ve got to make you look super cool or super villainous.

After the U.S. won the race to the moon, the Soviet Union launched the first space station in 1971. The Salyut program included six stations that hosted a total of 32 crews. Skylab, a much larger station, hosted three crews before delays in the space shuttle program resulted in its unplanned reentry in 1979. Come discover what the world learned from these pioneering missions.

Administrators and nominees for this year’s award discuss the P.K. Dick Award and its legacy.

Special Guest of Honor Nancy Pearl dives into why we like the books we like, and why that’s just fine.

Bring your musical instruments and enthusiasm for an all-ages-welcome singalong including selections from Labyrinth, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Steven Universe, Hamilton, and much more! For the finale, we will attempt to recreate the famous “Mad About Me” (Cantina Band Song) from Star Wars!

You’ve all seen the viral videos online and heard about pools banning tails. Come learn about how to safely swim as a merperson, and find out how to do some extra nifty FUNderwater tricks! It’s a whole new world when you have a tail, so come get your flukes wet, develop good practices (no matter your age or level of experience) and try some backflips, bubble rings, breath holds, and more! Tails are welcome, but not required.

All dressed up in your finest costume? Come memorialize your look for the holidays by having your photo taken with Santa and Krampus. All proceeds benefit Northwest Harvest. Look for our holiday heroes in the Photo Area in the main Lobby.

PK Dick Nominee Audrey Schulman reads from Theory of Bastards. Rated G.

How do you develop a novel’s plot? Is it luck, trial and error, or are there classic approaches you can use to bring out your best story? Learn to bring forth the magic within your creativity–and give it form in the world: your story! Kay Kenyon is the author of 14 SFF novels, including a new fantasy trilogy from Simon & Schuster/Saga. She will focus on idea generation, rising action, and the interplay of major character and antagonist. Ages 13+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

Come along on an undersea family adventure! We will hear stories, sing songs, and learn undersea facts with the mers.

Landfall. Book 2 of the Homefront Trilogy. Rated PG.

Get ready to throw yourself at the ground and miss, because you’ll have to fly all over Norwescon to complete our Hitchhiker’s Guide-themed LARP! Have your towels handy, avoid any Vogon poetry slams, and be ready to make new friends and weird enemies as the fate of the universe hangs in the balance… or it could be the fate of breakfast. You never know with these things. Sign up in Cascade 1.

How does the imperialism of American and Western culture affect our fannish lives? How can we branch out into non-Western fandoms without fetishizing another culture? How do we express our appreciation of other cultures through costumes and everyday activities without negatively appropriating from other people and groups?

One of the great things about fanfiction is its sheer volume. There’s something for everyone, and more get posted every day! Unfortunately, it can be hard to keep up, and inevitably good stories can get missed. Our panelists will bring their own rec lists to share, and everyone is invited to take part—by the end of the hour, we should all have something new to read and enjoy.

This panel covers dealing with mistakes, disagreements, and controversy without ruining your life or your career. Topics Include how to share a real apology and protect yourself from fan harassment.

The fields of technology, information science, and scientific research have traditionally been fairly hostile to women. Women still find it difficult to get tenured positions, critical research funding, and articles adjudicated in peer-reviewed journals, which can stifle their careers. This panel looks at the state of women in technology and information science and what can be done to improve the situation.

Whether you’re a publisher or a self-published author, you will eventually have to address the realities of eBook distribution. Let’s explore the digital landscape. Where do you send your eBook? What should you expect? What are the technical requirements? What do you need to upload it? What should you include in the eBook? We will explore the different outlets around the country and around the world. Presented by Clarion West. Ages 18+. Open seating. No sign-up required.

Calling all teen attendees and authors of all ages for an interactive discussion about what older folks mess up worst in their representation of youth culture. We’ll tackle topics including clothing and hairstyles, school subjects and extracurricular activities, and how the use of slang can go so very wrong, so very quickly.

Do you have to accept a contract as-is or you won’t get a book deal? This is where agents, lawyers, and good old-fashioned negotiation come in handy! In what areas might you have wiggle room and where should you leave things be?

Ever wanted to swim WITH a mermaid? This is your chance! Guests of all ages, genders, sizes, and abilities are welcome to come swim with the mermaids, as long as they can safely swim and navigate the pool on their own. Children must have a parent/guardian immediately present. No formal panel structure here, just a fintastically mermaidy free swim with merfolk in their true element There will be a short discussion of proper mermaid encounter etiquette at the start, to ensure everyone has a safe and happy experience – including the mermaids.

Cloudmakers. A standalone novel about computers taking over the world! Rated R.

For families with younger kids. We start with stuffed animals hacked to pieces and work together, with your parents, to assemble the pieces to create your own glorious creature using the materials of your choice (thread and needles, duct-tape and pins). There is a $5 materials fee per family to cover the cost of supplies.

PK Dick Nominee Ian McDonald reads from Cake or a piece from Hopeland. Rated R.

The horror genre is chock full of people having intimate relationships with monsters. If you do it classy enough, you might even win an Oscar. Let’s talk about some of our favorite pairings and explore just what it means when a human loves a monster.

Science fiction has always been the inspiration of technological advances, but now ideas can be achieved almost as soon as they are thought up. So how do writers stay a step ahead? How do writers handle the truth of real science and the fiction that is needed for writing their stories? Is it a crisis for the writer’s imagination, or does it serve to inspire?

We all hear about the dreaded slush pile, but is it really something to be dreaded? What are some tips and hints to get your story pulled from the slush and sent up the ladder?

Learn what metals were available before the 17th century, how they were extracted, refined, purified, and alloyed. Examples will be provided to see and handle them in various stages of refinement.

President Trump surprised the Pentagon in June 2018 by proposing a U.S. Space Force as a sixth branch of the armed forces. The idea wasn’t new, but previous proposals never got off the ground. Will it happen, and what will happen if it does? Join us to discuss the role of the military in space.

Fight scene aficionados Joseph Brassey (author of the Drifting Lands series, the Mongoliad books, and practitioner and instructor of historical European martial arts) and Fonda Lee (author of the Green Bone Saga, the Exo duology, and black belt in karate and kung fu) interview each other about writing fight scenes. They will share principles and pitfalls for writers wanting to improve the art and craft of portraying combat, break down what makes a great fight scene, and answer your questions. Presented by Cascade Writers. Ages 13+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

Birds of a feather will strut together at the Friday Fashion Show showcasing the magic, the beauty and the rich possibilities of feathers in fashion. Shake a tail feather and be cock of the walk, cuz the bird is the word—feathers of all shapes and colors to inspire you. Jointly presented with the Beyond Reality Costumers Guild.

Possibly eliminating deafness has caused an outcry of a loss of deaf culture. Iceland has a plan to eliminate Down syndrome from the population pre-birth, and you have all heard of plans for ‘master races’ and selective breeding. All of these things bring an emotional, possibly ‘moral’ response, but if a genetic trait limits the human SPECIES potential for survival, should we allow it to persist? Consider narrow female hip structure and C-sections: without modern medicine, this is a death sentence for both mother and child.

LEX the Lexicon Artist is Taiwanese-American rapper and egomaniac Alex Sun Liu. Plagued with self-repression, neurotic ambition, and delusions of grandeur, Alex created LEX in 2016 to shield polite society from her most socially unacceptable attributes, by redirecting them onto the stage instead.
With a comically narcissistic persona and a domineering stage presence, LEX delivers surgically precise rapid-fire raps about things she likes, things she’s done, and things everyone else is too afraid to say. LEX is ugly and real, and speaks to the minds of misfits everywhere. A larger-than-life portrait and complete self-expression of one 5′4″ Asian nerd, LEX is the freshest new rapper you’ll hear – “not in spite of being a nerd, but because of it.”

There’s so much more to talk about than can ever fit in one (or even two!) Movie News and Previews shows, and it can’t be held back! Come join the after-party, where Keith and Alan will talk about things they didn’t have time for in their Friday show.

“The Archronology of Love” excerpt: When you visit the Chronicle, you alter it. Your presence muddles the temporal record as surely as an archaeological dig muddles the dirt in your excavation sites. In the future, human archronologists will look back on you with scorn, much as you look back on looters and tomb raiders–but we forgive you. In our early encounters, we made our own errors. How can we understand something so alien before we understand it? We act out of love, but that does not erase the harm we cause. Forgive us. Rated PG.

The focus is on questions of pressing importance in today’s world. How do we craft stories that inspire, encourage, and above all, shape the future by teaching? How do we use writing to expand our knowledge and understanding of the world? How do we avoid being didactic, while still using our art to address the needs and concerns of today? This is a lecture and discussion; participants will get a handout with resources and writing exercises. All ages. Open seating. No sign-up required.

“Trust and Healing.” A nonfiction piece from Kintsugi: Powerful Stories of Healing Trauma, on healing and regaining sexual agency through a dominant/submissive relationship. Rated R.

Park your butt here for a speedy introduction to appropriate behavior in the hallways, at panels, during photo ops, and at evening gatherings. Our panel of experts is here to answer all your weird/tough/potentially embarrassing questions and to ensure you have the best possible experience as a Norwescon youth attendee.

How does nerd community make our lives better? What has it given us, and how do we help to keep that going and giving back to others as well? How do we do maintain that community and support marginalized communities as well?

Real-life religions often aren’t internally consistent. How can a writer give a fictional religion the depth and humanity needed to convey a compelling narrative?

Let’s embrace race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and neurodiversity. We are in an age where we are seeing more stories focused on people beyond the traditional Western paradigm of able-bodied, cis, white, and male, from Black Panther to Mad Max: Fury Road to The Shape of Water. It’s essential that these depictions are accurate and respectful. Let’s talk about films that succeed in being inclusive, films that have failed, and what representation we want to see more of.

A place of meditation and discussion, contemplation and thought for those who have passed since the last Norwescon. Honor those who have passed on with a thought, a memory, or a simple prayer to whatever you wish. Leave the name of someone you remember.

Why do the middles of stories so often menace writers? How do writers lose track of what happens next in their own stories? We’ll talk about raising stakes, thematic development, reversals, plot twists, and the strongest ways to set up your story’s big finish.

Learn how to age and distress your costumes to give them that long-lived-in look and create “antique-chic.”

Shubzilla and Bill Beats began working together in 2011. Originally rivals in past vocalist/producer challenges, Shubz and Bill chose to join forces and work together regularly, starting with the single “Wonderful World” for Bill Beats for President Vol.1. The EPs Dinner and A Movie and BOOMERS have been exceptional products of their collaboration. They have appeared together at Emerald City Comic-Con, MAGfest 2018, and The Day Jobs Mini-Tour: West Coast Edition, along with performances at Norwescon, the PAXWest Nerdcore Showcase, and many others. With Shubzilla’s frank and aggressive lyrics and Bill Beats’ penchant for samples and bass-heavy compositions, they do not disappoint.

Young artists may sign up for space in Olympic 1 to display, make, and sell or swap their art and crafts. Space is limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. Contact youth track lead Danielle Gembala at ddmgembala@gmail.com for questions and information.

Join Carnation Books for an anything goes, adults only fanfic meetup. All fandoms, ships, and recs welcome! 18+ only.

Surviving the TransHuman Mechaphilia Riots. Cyberpunk noir. Rated PG.

Having trouble creating original yet believable monsters and villains? Monsterologist Evan J. Peterson will take participants through a crash course in creating fearsome and antagonistic characters and beasts. Tap into what disturbs you and use that to flesh out provocative characters. Ages 13+. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. See the Writing Classes and Lectures page for details.

Come hear an excerpt from an upcoming novella release about an elven FBI agent living in Seattle and working in the Human Liaison Office. It would be easier if she didn’t hate humans. Rated PG.

What are writers groups and critique circles, and how do they help writers? What are some of your own experiences with writer groups? This panel will discuss best practices and share the good, the necessary, and maybe even the ugly of starting writers groups and critique circles.

The face of feminism in fandom has changed over the years, with some very visible situations in fandom events in very recent times. Our panelists will talk about representation, intersectionality, harassment, and what both the now and the future of feminism is for fans.

“It’s easy.” “Just do it.” “We won’t judge you.” Blah, blah, not actually helpful! In this panel, we acknowledge that GM anxiety is a thing and that it prevents people who want to tell stories from doing so. What can you do to craft a game that works for you (system-wise, set-up-wise, and story-wise)? Discover tricks to run the game, employ players to help (you’re not in this alone), while at the same time not relinquishing your soapbox.

What do you do if you aren’t seeing the kinds of romantic relationships you want in mainstream media? For fanfic authors the answer is write it yourself! In the process, consciously or not, many adult-rated fanfics explore their subjects in a way that recasts and reexamines social attitudes and behavior through a transformative lens. 18+ only.

In 2017, driverless cars seemed practically ready to drive themselves right off the dealer’s lot. Today, that belief’s taken a battering as some high-profile failures and challenges have pushed the horizon of self-driving cars well in the late 2020s, if not beyond. Join our panel to find out what’s happening in that field.

Characters from up-and-coming fandoms are breaking new ground in gender/sexual diversity, and just in time for today’s teens. Come meet fun cosplay folks who are ready, willing, and able to answer your questions about love and life while remaining in character.

Elon Musk wants humanity to colonize Mars within the next decade. Boeing’s CEO famously predicted that the first person to land on Mars would get there on a Boeing rocket. NASA wants to build a “Deep Space Gateway” in lunar orbit first. There are also Lagrange points, asteroids, and infinite orbits to consider. Once we’re ready to go somewhere, where should we go?

This Celtic group provides “full frontal harmonies.” Celt Check are regular performers at the Seattle Scottish Highland Games, and have done weddings, parties, taverns, pubs, fairs, and more. From sweet and gentle to rollickin’ and raucous, Celt Check! Does it all!

Don your best mad scientist outfit and come create marvelous monsters and creative chimera! We will take cute, fluffy stuffed animals and hack them to pieces to reassemble them in wholly unnatural ways. Warning! Not for the easily distressed or children! We will be working with scissors and needles, so only mature mad scientists may participate. Only rudimentary sewing skills are needed (plush is very forgiving). A sick sense of humor is a plus. $5 materials fee per participant.

To be determined. Rated G.

Maybe you don’t understand evolution. We can help with that!

Getting paid sounds easy, but in an industry filled with varying levels and types of payment, when is it okay to accept a trade of services? Or take part in a “for the love” project? Will putting work out really gain you more attention as an author? Learn from pros when may be a good time to say yes and when it might be better to walk away.

There was once a time when you were only watched by your neighbors, your priest, and the seneschal. With the rise of cities and social and economic dissatisfaction, the church and aristocracy began to hire professionals to watch their fellow citizens. These watchers evolved into organized agencies to police crime, coerce, report, and suppress dissidents. How did an informal beginning evolve into a tightly controlled system that by the 19th century was monitoring everything from personal mail to social clubs?

Alternate history and fantasy: What if we were us, but with magic? New alternate histories are being written all the time, from Daniel Jose Older’s Dactyl Hill Squad featuring a civil war with dinosaurs and Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon for Napoleonic wars with dragons to Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamourist History series set in Regency England. What are the questions that we’re seeking to answer in our fantastical alternate histories, and what are some of your favorites?

In this panel, we will explore sentient machines of all types in science fiction. What roles do “human” machines play in SF, and why do we as writers and readers find this archetype of human-as-machine/machine-as-human so valuable? As the line between human being and machine dissolves with looming advances in medical, biotech, AI, and virtual reality tech, how will this archetype (and stories portraying it) change?

Often one of the most overlooked artistic necessities, good references are essential to any serious artist. You can’t draw something if you don’t know what it looks like. Here panelists will discuss the importance of references and where to find them.

Create your own lace by learning the beautiful art of tatting. Master costumer Joy Day will supply your shuttle and thread and guide you through how to make your own lace and trim. Add extra-delicate detail work to your costumes and jewelry, and also develop a calming and beautiful handwork hobby. $10 materials fee paid to instructor. Limited to 12 participants. Pre-registration is required. See the Hands-On Workshops page for details. Additional seats are available for those who wish to watch only.

Movies, TV shows, and yes, even books romanticize the writing process, but for most of us, it’s like being back in school. But who’s teaching the classes? Who’s grading the papers? And who assigned this group project no one wanted? Come hear what writers actually have to do to make the grade in the publishing industry, and why your B- might be someone else’s A+.

The Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States is presented annually at Norwescon with the support of the Philip K. Dick Trust. The award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust, and the award ceremony is sponsored by Norwescon and the Northwest Science Fiction Society. Come hear readings from the nominated works. Dessert is provided.

A family-friendly dance party in Olympic 1!

Sinful Sisters Productions presents an evening of sci-fi inspired belly dance. Grab your towel, don’t panic, and enjoy the ride. Each belly dance will feature different characters from sci-fi TV, movies, and (maybe) games. The emcee is Arthur Dent.

Half the population of Earth is gone. Those of us who remain can talk about superhero garb and the best alien looks in the Marvel Universe.

There’s a new Doctor in town, and she’s a woman! Finally! Let’s talk about the roles of women in Doctor Who, from the good to the bad. Where did they get it right, where did they go terribly wrong, and what does our new Doctor bode for the future of Doctor Who and its representation of women?

Sexy vampires and shirtless werewolves and brooding necromancers all have their place, sure, but where else do we find sex in horror? Is it really the kiss of death to be the non-virgin in a horror film?

What is nerdcore, how did it get started? Why are they rapping about video games and Star Trek? Can you learn more, right here, at this very convention? Come meet our nerdcore artists and learn where this came from and what it is all about.

What can artists and illustrators do to promote diversity in the fantasy and sci-fi genres? How and why we should incorporate different cultures and people into the medium?

Military vs. civilian law. Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officers will provide the common heritage and fundamental differences between these two bodies of law. We’ll assess how to employ them to make your writing more authentic.

Whether you’re Jedi or Sith, Alliance or Imperial, Twi’lek or Wookiee, test your puzzle skills and Star Wars knowledge in a challenge to escape from either an Imperial brig or the ship of a dangerous bounty hunter! Any weapons/props you bring will be available for use in-game at a certain point, but not at the start. There has to be some challenge for you Force-sensitive types! Sign up in Cascade 1.

Your fanfiction has gone through a lot of changes—so many it’s starting to look less like fic and more like an original story. Can you cut ties to the source material and publish it as original work? Come learn about “scrubbing” a story of its fanfic origins, and we’ll demonstrate the process in real time, with a bit of improv.

So you’ve got some songs, huh? Maybe you’ve done a show or two? Well, how the heck do you put together a collection of music? Deciding whether to release songs one at a time, via EP or via LP has a lot of factors. Should it go on the album, does the music makes sense together, is there a theme, or is this a journey? These are all important considerations. Let our artists walk you through it.

Learn tips and techniques for using Worbla in your costumes and props. Worbla is a thermoplastic that is thinner than Wonderflex and handles curves better than Sintra. It is non-toxic and doesn’t need special tools. You use hot air, water, or steam to shape the plastic however you want. There’s no waste because your scraps can be conditioned and 100 percent re-blended.

Asteroid mining has been a staple of hard SF for decades. Private companies such as Planetary Resources are seriously investigating the prospects. But is mining an asteroid really worth the trouble? Is the technology ready?

Anglicon’s Anglophile Film Festival featured indie films from filmmakers based out of Commonwealth countries. Come see some of the best short films from the 2017 festival. Hosted by Shawn Marier.

An entry-level discussion on some of the facets of transgender identities. We’ll discuss terminology, pronoun usage, whether there’s a difference between sex and gender, and when it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Suggested pre-panel Googling: Not Your Mother’s Trans 101, Gender Binary, Silencing Tactics.

Come and get a seat!

Bring your sewing/yarn project and join the fun!

Come sign up for a game run by our GMs or check out a game from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Speak to our staff when you sign up and we will meet your needs. 21+, photo ID required.

The Norwescon games department is cooking up some fun games and activities, including Fancy Friday Game Night! Put on your fancy duds, costumes, tiaras, or all of the above, and join us for an excellent time playing games on Friday night, right next door to karaoke!

Do you enjoy quality singing? Do you sing with quality? Neither of these things matter. Join us to both give and receive the gift of music! Well, at least singing (or something close enough).

The Guide has this to say about burlesque: It is a performance art evolved from another performance art derived from a literary art that mocks other art forms while occasionally providing social commentary and otherwise simple frivolity and silliness. In later evolutions, burlesque commonly involves a performer attempting to seduce the audience by making humorous reveals through the use of brightly decorated and sparkly battle clothing. This proceeds through a deterministic co-evaluation principle, leading to greater and larger reveals, often to humorous or other emotional effects. Burlesque performances to Vogon poetry, for safety reasons, are not recommended. A previous attempt at interpretive dance to one of the Azgoths of Kria’s poems resulted in the death of four audience members from internal hemorrhaging. Oh No, Not Again features performances from bi-pedal life forms such as Foxxy Squires, Bella La Blanc, Mandy Flame, Morgue Anne, Miss Violet DeVille, and more!

You know the deal. The bridge is out; I guess we’ll have to spend the night. Damn it, Janet! Let’s do the Time Warp again. Join a live cast performing this classic on our backstage screen. (Keep audience participation clean, we don’t want to ruin our relationship with the hotel.)