Friday Schedule

Horror doesn’t have to center on traditionally privileged groups as creators, subjects, or audience members. What are some good examples of horror that center other voices and experiences? What are promising areas where the horror field can become more diverse?

Follow Eric L Vargas as he moves from a rough layout to the beginnings of a polished piece, and ask questions as he works.

Keith and Alan return for the first of two shows this year! Join us for the latest previews, news, and rumors—the hot topics and the latest trends—out of Hollywood. We highlight the latest info, innovations, and challenges, and also the wider entertainment culture: TV shows, home video, theme parks—the whole gamut! Ask a question—we’ll research and have an answer for you at the second show on Sunday.

“The Spheres of Nilspace.” Rebecca A. Demarest reads selected poetry. Rated PG.

Werewolves, vampires, zombies, ghosts—all were people to start with. Let’s talk about the monsters that are really just people.

Great science fiction is about human struggle. Great military science fiction is about human struggle within a military context. We’ll briefly look at archetypal science fiction settings and military scenarios. Most of our time will be spent addressing how to embed adventure, wonder, and excitement into your stories. Which authors got it right, which authors came up short, and why? Bring your thoughts and examples for a wide-ranging discussion on what makes great military science fiction great.

“Secret Menu.” In this story from the anthology Mad Scientists Need Love Too, a Trevellian named Zinn gets a dire warning about the promiscuous humans stationed on his home planet. But when he meets one of these humans, Zinn finds him hard to resist… Rated R.

The worlds of sci-fi and fantasy suffered from a lack of diversity for many decades, despite the wonderful contributions of authors like Gene Roddenberry, Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and Ursula K. Le Guin. We have made major strides in recent years, yet some authors are still unsure of how to be more inclusive in their storytelling. We will discuss issues of cultural appropriation and how to respect the unique experiences of underrepresented groups in worldbuilding. Storytellers discuss what we can do to keep moving toward inclusion.

Want to introduce your child, younger sibling, or other younger players into the gaming hobby? Our panelists will discuss ways to include younger players without overwhelming them.

The idea of a brave horse rider who lives by a code of virtue has its roots in both Christian and Arabic histories. In fact, the Arabic ideal of furūsiyya (“horsemanship”) directly impacted the tenets and aims of chivalry via Moorish Spain and during the Crusades. What other knightly castes appear in world history? How do samurai or Mongolian Baghaturs compare?

Have an amazing idea for an anthology, but wonder what the next steps are? Then this panel is for you! What do you need to get the idea off the ground? What are some pitfalls you should avoid? Do you need to find a publisher to get on board? How do you know how much money you need?

Believable sci-fi requires a background that gives the story plausibility. From environmental issues in post-apocalyptic dystopia, to mechanics and engineering, to astronomical navigation of the stars, panelists discuss the science behind the stories.

As we come to grips with a year of illness, loneliness, loss, and death, it’s inevitable that grief will spill into our writing—or deliberately become the focus of our stories. What are the pitfalls—and the potential benefits—of writing about grief? What are outstanding examples of people writing about it effectively? This panel examines the topic from the perspectives of writers, editors, and publishers.

Conjuring Moonlight. Tooth and Spell Trilogy, book two. Rated PG.

2021 Philip K. Dick nominee Alastair Reynolds reads from his upcoming novel, Inhibitor Phase. Rated G.

The Covington Witches, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and American Horror Story: Coven are just a few examples of television geeking out over witches lately, and there are many more. Why are witches so popular again? What cultural magic/folk traditions are being portrayed? Are they being portrayed well, or without real cultural awareness or anything to say? Which witch shows do you like best?

For many with mental health struggles, being public about it can mean losing jobs, having others change the way they interact with you, or becoming a scapegoat. Yet a major way to destigmatize mental health is to encourage folks to be more public about their conditions and experience. This panel addresses the good and bad sides of being public about mental health conditions.

You have the idea for the costume, but you need just the right color… Or maybe you want to try a dye technique, such as tie dye, shibori, batik, or serti, but don’t know where to start. We’ll walk through the most common ways to get color into different types of fabric, where to source your materials, and what kind of equipment you’ll need to get started.

Though great strides have been made in recent years, we still hunger for depictions of complex relationships between women, whether familial, platonic, or romantic. What are we still lacking? What stories about female love would make the panelists’ hearts sing?

Lady Heather is a classically trained singer who studied voice in Glasgow, Scotland. As she explains: “I sing Italian at people.” Now the former student is a teacher of voice lessons. Besides opera, she likes to sing just about any genre of music and may just take requests during her show. She also likes to muse on the comical side of her experiences.

Working together to build a story is exciting, particularly when you don’t know what is coming next. We’ll work together as a group to create a new story with the help of our friends! For younger storytellers.

Blood Like Garnets. Leigh Harlan reads from their debut short story collection. Rated R.

No planet, no problem. Well, there are a few. Okay, let’s start with gravity!

The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope will be a Hubble-class telescope with a far wider field of view and a 288-megapixel camera, intended to find extrasolar planets and evidence of dark energy. Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter to make repeated passes by its namesake Jovian moon, to make scientific observations and select a landing site for a proposed follow-on Europa Lander. We’ll discuss these missions, their hardware, their goals, and their prospects.

Steen Schuler demonstrates how she virtually repurposes old, well-worn objects into little mechanical creatures.

Grandmother Fish: A Child’s First Book of Evolution. Wiggle like Grandmother Fish and hoot like Grandmother Ape! The first book to teach evolution to preschoolers was informally tested at Norwescon in 2014, self-published in 2015, and published by Macmillan in 2016. Now it’s in Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. The book was created by a local author-artist team and was 15 years in the making. See how to use this book to teach evolution to children. Kids welcome. Rated G.

2021 Philip K. Dick Award-nominee Elwin Cotman reads a short story from his forthcoming collection, Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class. Rated R.

Participants who have entered the masquerade by the March 20 deadline must come to one of two pre-masquerade meetings, on Thursday at 4 p.m. or Friday at 1 p.m., to go over your video, introduction, and confirm the details you want our mistress of ceremonies to say about your entry. If you are just curious and have questions, we will have answers. You may not like those answers, but we will have them.

Writer guest of honor Jacqueline Carey will read excerpts from one of her most recent novels, Starless, and give the audience a sneak peek at the upcoming Cassiel’s Servant. Rated G.

Brittany Otto demonstrates her hand-cut paper technique to create portals into fantastical worlds.

Join award administrators and nominees for this year’s Philip K. Dick Award discuss the award and its legacy.

Does your gaming group work together, or is every player out for themselves? Should a GM actively compete against the players? Panelists will discuss this vital aspect of gaming, whether in person or online.

Where do the gods come from? One culture’s theology is another’s mythology. As writers, we get to decide—but where do we go for inspiration? What makes a creation story plausible, and why is it essential?

Once, most humans lived by hunting and gathering. Then, people, perhaps unwittingly, began to modify the grasses whose seeds they saved and ate. Over thousands of years, many of our traditional grains were created and became staples in the human diet. How did this gradual shift to grains from meats, vegetables, and seeds change the human body and human society?

The solar system on edge just after the Eros Incident. Ceres Station in turmoil after being handed over to the OPA. A missing sister in dire peril. Can you track her down… before it’s too late? Game developer Ian Lemke leads players through “Star-Crossed,” an original adventure for The Expanse RPG, published by Green Ronin. This session will be simulcast to Twitch, with live audience interaction available within Airmeet for Norwescon attendees.

Masks are fun to wear and fun to make. But masks also serve a purpose! Together we’ll work on decorating and making masks from household items like paper plates, while building characters and history to go with them. Gather together paper, paper plates, string, markers, and anything else you think might go well on a mask! All ages.

What does a mermaid wear? Anything they want! Come to this panel to learn about traditional tops as well as other things that are new to the mermaid scene, and what it takes to really nail down your mermaid look.

“The Untimely Death of Northgate Mall.” As Northgate Mall is partially demolished, and many vendors leave the retail spaces, a young man encounters the forgotten Weird things that live behind the mall’s public face. Rated PG.

After 16 years, Virgin Galactic has yet to conduct a revenue flight, but the company will announce a new suborbital spaceplane just before the convention, and Blue Origin could enter the market at any time. Come hear the details!

Lizzy D Hill demonstrates the process of illustrating the children’s book, When the Fireflies Came…, with her fantasy watercolor paintings.

Purveyors and Acquirers. In the port city of Arlanda, Zeal, an orphan with a mysterious benefactor, is an apprentice in the shadowy organization known as the Trade. Through his training and natural skill, he rapidly becomes adept at procuring possessions and secrets that belong to others. When one of his fellow apprentices is kidnapped by a group preying on the children of Arlanda, Zeal’s mentors discover to their surprise that the kidnappers are using the conjuring arts. Rated G.

2021 Philip K. Dick Award-nominee M.R. Carey reads from a post-apocalyptic sci-fi work set in a world ravaged both by the effects of climate breakdown and by the scientific interventions that were meant to combat it. Rated G.

Humans have been dreaming of electric people for centuries. Why are the Terminator, Alita, Blade Runner, Borg, and Robocop stories so continually compelling? Do androids have gender? And why so few POC androids and cyborgs? Panelists will discuss movies, music, and fiction that addresses constructed humanity.

Thirty years after the introduction of the internet, journalism has been transformed beyond all recognition. What Is news? How do you survive as a journalist in the age of Twitter? What are trust chains and why are they so important now? A look at how to stay informed and steer clear of disinformation.

Given the popularity of movie and TV adaptations of some of our favorite comic books in the last decade, what were some of the best adaptations? What were some of the worst? What do you hope gets adapted in the future?

Fandom has been working on increasing diversity for years, whether through introducing new speakers or topics of discussion. But is diversity enough? Or is the move toward inclusion our next step? Join panelists as they discuss diversity vs. inclusion and equality vs. equity.

The Drag Royalty of Norwescon brings to you an all-ages and all-genders drag workshop—The Norwescon Drag Academy. This two-part workshop will bring you the history of drag performance and its cultural impact along with information you need to get you started down the Fabulous Way, culminating with a participation-optional runway show Saturday evening to virtually strut your stuff. Your tour guides and mentors for these workshops are the Disney Drag Princess herself, Allen Ryde, and Seattle’s Dandiest Dandy, Mercury Divine!

Just the right amount of weathering can make or break a costume, whether it is constructed for competition, or just for fun. We will showcase a variety of techniques and engage in problem-solving discussions to get the look you want.

Relationships are hard in the best of times. Navigating the changing roles of family ties, cultural expectations, and growing up when your character falls in love with the forbidden is even harder. Panelists shares stories of love across races, cultures, species, and genders against expectations and demands in the stories they have written and those written by others, and how characters have created new paradigms of how love is defined, understood, and lived.

A Summoning of Demons A disastrous earthquake has left Cantagna on edge and Romy with increasingly vivid and disturbing dreams. Meanwhile, the Chimera crew is hired to forestall an arranged marriage with dangerous political overtones. But as they juggle a stubborn, brilliant bride and an oddly reclusive groom, they are plunged into an unraveling mystery of corruption, murder, myth, and magic, and a terrifying suspicion that ancient warnings about a monster under the Earth might be true after all. Rated G.

Let’s delve into the basics of bookbinding: folding, cutting, creating signatures, and putting your text block into a cover. This is a hands-on workshop in which you’ll make a small, sample-sized blank book, while learning about other non-adhesive based bookbinding techniques. You can find most of the materials and tools around your house! The full materials list is included in the PDF attached to this panel.

Small arms, i.e., pistols, rifles, shotguns, and sub-machine guns, are a key component in your character’s arsenal. We’ll start with photos, inert firearms, and videos to explain the basic nomenclature and characteristics of the weapons and their evolution. Then we’ll discuss how to employ them in your story with accuracy and believability. Finally, we’ll look at how they are evolving by analyzing Han Solo’s iconic “blaster,” and other advanced designs.

What makes a memorable scene? Panelists discuss not only the mechanics of scene construction in fiction but also why one scene hits a reader in the heart while other scenes may only be responsible for getting a character across town. What is a “beat” (as in, “good stories hit certain beats”) and how do good scenes assist the writer’s goal of hitting beats? We’ll discuss scene construction in both short stories and novels.

Disease pathogens and the vectors that love them.

Come check out a slideshow of art submitted by our NorwesKids!

Music is a powerful tool in storytelling on the big screen, but what about on the page? Can reading about music evoke the same emotion and memories that hearing it does? What are the different ways to use music in fiction? Panelists discuss their experiences and share their techniques for hitting the right note in your writing.

Come hear Cat read from her forthcoming Tor/MacMillan novel, You Sexy Thing, in which a band of retired soldiers turned chefs open a restaurant, The Last Chance, aboard space station TwiceFar. When a mysterious package arrives and things start exploding, they steal an intelligent bioship and are off in search of adventure. Rated G.

From Pennywise in It to the carnival in Something Wicked This Way Comes, it often seems like clowns and the circus are depicted as terrifying. Why do we find clowns and carnivals scary? What are some of our favorite and least favorite examples?

Sure, an editor will correct your spelling and punctuation, but you’ve got spell check for that. So why should you pay a professional editor? Editors can elevate your writing and even assist in catching cultural faux pas. Join the discussion to find out more.

Tod McCoy will read a story from his upcoming collection of reinterpreted fairy tale stories, based on the 19th-century travel journal The Black Forest. Rated PG.

Come for an interview with Norwescon’s science guest of honor Dr. Susan Langley.

Christopher Brown reads from his 2021 Philip K. Dick Award-nominated work Failed State, about a lawyer juggling two intertwined cases in the aftermath of a second American revolution. Rated G.

The Star Wars universe expands in a most exciting way, showcasing survivors of the Mandalorian War and an exciting mix of new and familiar faces and species from the Star Wars universe. We review the first two seasons for favorite costume looks, and discuss ways you might recreate a bounty hunter look that suits you.

Nothing in the YA world is fraught with tension and terror, love and loss, anguish and angst, like school. Boarding school, high school, vocational school… The school can be a backdrop, the main setting, or a character itself. Panelists explore the diversity of schools, students, teachers, and peripheral characters and how they fit into great YA stories.

Megathruster is two geeks from Oregon, armed with acoustic guitars to bring their special blend of funny pop culture nerd rock to the masses. Described as “Tenacious D meets Jonathan Colton,” the duo has taken their funny and energetic stage show all over the Pacific Northwest, as well as to events such as FuMPFest in Chicago and Gen Con in Indianapolis. Their latest album, Wands at the Ready, features songs about Star Wars, punching Nazis, and of course, Alan Tudyk.

Xander Odell will read “Like Father”. Rated PG.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. was founded in 1965 and reincorporated in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Today, SFWA is home to nearly 2,000 authors, artists, and allied professionals, and is widely recognized as one of the most effective nonprofit writers’ organizations in existence. Come learn about all the amazing things we’ve been doing. All SFWA members are welcome, as well as non-members interested in our recent activities!

Comics involve so much more than writing dialogue and drawing images. There’s layout, style, flow, tone, word choice, and so much more. Listen to this panel of pros as they discuss the nuances of comic creation, and why knowing the industry can help inform you as an artist.

Many authors have their protagonists front and center taking out corrupt regimes, ending crime syndicates, and fighting for the survival of their people. Let’s talk about using fantasy as a lens to understand our politics, and how audiences perceive allegorical struggles against authoritarianism.

Does Tarot have its roots in Egyptian culture? How old is the oldest known Tarot deck and where was it created? When did Tarot become a tool of divination? Panelists will discuss not only the hard evidence about the history of Tarot but the self-described mystics, spiritualists, and less-than-honest characters who have impacted the history of the Tarot and our understanding of this unique deck of cards.

Join Norwescon members for an evening of science fiction and fantasy movies. We will use a Chrome browser plugin called Scener to sync the movie and allow members to chat with one another. Due to licensing issues, you must have a subscription to today’s streaming service (Netflix) and have logged into it before clicking on the link below. Movie Description: This blockbuster from South Korea is set in the year 2092 and follows the crew of a space junk collector ship called The Victory. When the crew discovers a humanoid robot named Dorothy that’s known to be a weapon of mass destruction, they get involved in a risky business deal. Rating: TV-MA – Mild violence and profanity. Runtime: 2h 16m. Join the watch party here!

Eliza Gauger shares her project Problem Glyphs, and guides participants through the steps of creation of ritual, personal, or just artistic sigils. Both digital and physical (pen and paper) methods will be demonstrated. Grab your pen or pencil and paper, or use your own digital art program and create your own.

Rain Music, my novel forthcoming this fall about ghosts, music, and magic colliding in the Olympic Rainforest in a tale of redemption and second chances. Rated PG.

Authors have the challenge to create books that will appeal to wider audiences. One of the trickiest demographics to tackle is the YA/adult crossover novel. This is like walking a tightrope lined with swords. How complicated is the plot? How raw are the emotions? Challenging human horrors like war, slavery, rape, death, mental health, and even vanilla sex can cause anxiety in the minds of the most creative writers. Authors explore how much is too much, how far they feel they can go without alienating or crossing a line, and how their work is changing the nature of popular discourse.

Now that you have the mermaid look, who are you? Learn about how you can develop your mermaid persona from mers who have been there and done that.

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

Our kids have unprecedented access to resources that previous generations did not. As a result, they are more likely to come to realizations about themselves, their gender, and their sexuality—sometimes at an earlier age than their parents are equipped to deal with. This is especially true in fandom circles, where much fan-produced media is queer-centric. How do you help your kids navigate fandom spaces safely, and support them in their process of discovering who they are?

Someday, Mars. In the late 22nd century, the politics of Earth and its colonies on Mars and the Moon are tense and delicate. Lucy Bradbury, a young geologist, dreams of living on Mars. But as she leaves Earth, she finds herself contending with an anti-space cult, a secret buried within space debris that could destabilize politics across the system, and a ship piloted by a sarcastic, sentient parrot. Rated PG.

Conventional wisdom holds that the original movie or show is the best, but lately there have been a lot of remakes that are way better than their source material. From She-Ra and Voltron to Robocop and Battlestar Galactica, we will tackle the question of which version is better, and debate about the merits and drawbacks of resurrecting old classics.

We all want more hours in the day, but that’s not going to happen (unless you know something we don’t). What are some tips and tricks to getting the most out of your time? Are there organizational tools that might help?

(TEENS ONLY) Scavenger hunters welcome! Sit down for a spell and interact with key characters from the world of The Princess Bride. They have tasks for you, and info to share!

The oldest form of geek music at science fiction conventions is an offshoot from folk called “filk,” and it has an intentionally open and deeply participatory culture. Open filk is where you can sing or play whatever you want to the most supportive crowd you will ever run into ever anywhere! Online audio delays make it difficult to perform together, so we encourage filkers to “raise your hand” and we’ll bring you to the stage one at a time. Listen or play along at home!

What first sparked your interest in space and space exploration? What was the first spacecraft you saw silently sweeping through the night sky? Was it the first landing on the Moon? Come hear what our panel of professionals has to say and add your own stories. Audience participation is strongly encouraged!

Chiptune, or chip music, is synthesized electronic media that’s created using a programmable sound generator (PSG). Panelists will talk about the versatility of chip music, and how it doesn’t always have to be electronic dance music (EDM).

From Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys to the present, the growing use of special forces in asymmetric warfare scenarios is changing how war is fought. We’ll look at current and future special forces training, deployment, and mission assignments by studying the evolution of the U.S. Army’s elite Rangers and how to use them in your writing.

Eliza reads from her book, Problem Glyphs.

Whether you’re monogamous, polyamorous, or anywhere else on the spectrum of relationship styles, effective communication takes practice. Are you listening to understand or to respond? Are you full of judgment or openness? Join panelists as they unpack the effective styles of communication. All-ages friendly.

(TEENS ONLY) 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 the ship of a dangerous bounty hunter! This virtual escape room includes downloadable puzzles and tasks to complete, and an interactive gamemaster to guide the solving experience!

What do you get when you combine a classic educational game with six skilled improv artists? They Died of Dysentery. We don’t know what that means either, but it’s sure to be hilarious. In this fun show, the audience picks the genre or franchise, and the narrator plays The Oregon Trail on an emulated Apple //e while our other players build an improvised narrative around the events of the game, leading to a hysterical climax that may end in their demise before arriving in the Willamette Valley.

Have you ever wanted to work in the hobby gaming industry? Should you work for a gaming company or start your own? Panelists will discuss the different routes to break into the gaming industry.

“You aren’t a real writer.” How often do fanfiction writers hear statements like that? The truth is, if you write, you’re a writer. This panel covers the “real” writing skills that fanfiction requires and teaches, as well as how to overcome creative imposter syndrome when making fan content.

This is a meetup to discuss the awards, nominees, and winners of this year’s Philip K. Dick Awards. Come find us at the Little Free Library booth in the arena, after the ceremony!

Join Norwescon members for an evening of science fiction and fantasy movies. We will use a Chrome browser plugin called Scener to sync the movie and allow members to chat with one another. Due to licensing issues, you must have a subscription to today’s streaming service (Amazon Prime) and have logged into it before clicking on the link below. Movie Description: An immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his immortal opponent, a murderously brutal barbarian who lusts for the fabled “Prize.” Rating: R for strong action violence, a scene of sexuality, sexual violence, and some language. Runtime: 1h 56m. Join the watch party here!

Norwescon has gone digital and your performers are still out here creating acts on video! Sparkle and Doom Productions presents… an evening of science fiction and fantasy-themed acts. The show will be followed by a discussion about the showcase and creating your very own act, digital or on-stage. This show is all ages! We look forward to seeing your lovely faces on the computer screen!

Join Norwescon members for an evening of science fiction and fantasy movies. We will use a Chrome browser plugin called Scener to sync the movie and allow members to chat with one another. Due to licensing issues, you must have a subscription to today’s streaming service (Amazon Prime) and have logged into it before clicking on the link below. Movie Description: A young wizarding apprentice is sent to kill a dragon that has been devouring girls from a nearby kingdom. Rating: PG. Runtime: 1h 49m. Join the watch party here!

Once upon a time, there was a showgirl who loved to read. Clad in adventure, nightmare, and humor, these stories become her own. To Airmeet she came on digital wings of Swarovski. Adventures, we all know, are better with friends. She brought eclectic ecdysiasts from far and wide to share their favorites of delight with care. After the witching hour tolls for the fans of the fantastic and dreamers speculating—the book may have been better, but these performances will be… Ripped From The Pages. Content warning: 18+