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Archives, Bujold, London, Spinrad, GRRM and more: Day 2 of LoneStarCon
The second full day at LoneStarCon and took in seven panels and strongly resisted temptation at the art show. There were some prints I liked a a couple of paintings that were tempting, but since I'm saving up for London next year, I resisted.
A Virtual Tour of the World's Largest Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection
Julia Ree, Melissa Conway
The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy
This is the largest collection special collection of sf materials, started 40 years ago. Core of the collection as 7500 books from Dr. Eaton in 1969. Now they have over 100,000. Also collect manuscript collections, artifacts, boys books, manga, comic books, fanzines, full runs of pulp magazines. They started the collection and now a PhD program on sf studies is being created around the collection. They collaborate with other 33 institutions who have similar collection policies to make sure materials go to the right institution: Science Fiction Collections Consortium
They even have their own tv series at the university, 3-8 minute episodes. Biennial conference Science Fiction in Media.
Where there's a Will there's a Way: Reproductive Technology, Medical Ethics and the Law
Sam Scheiner, Tore Hoie, Lois McMaster Bujold, Bill Thomason
The panelists consisted of a biologist, a collaborator in international ethics, a biomedical researcher, an author, and a pediatrician who is now a bioethicist. They started defining ethics as a set of universal rules that can be applied worldwide, not the same as morals, which can differ depending on location. The panel wasn't totally in agreement on that, however. They also brought up the fact that very new technology presents a new ethical dilemma. When one of the male panelists asserted that the rights of sperm donors throws a kink in parental rights laws, Bujold had to correct him and remind him that there are egg donors now with similar legal and ethical problems to sperm donors. The discussion was lively with the panel and the audience.
A Look at London in SF and the London Worldcon
Robin Hobb, Nigel Furlong, Pat Cadigan, Martin Easterbrook
Lots of information about getting around in London and things to see and do. They also described they layout of the Excel Center. London A-Z was highly recommended.
Starship Century
Gregory Benford, Karen Burnham, Joe Haldeman, Nancy Kress
Starship Century was a symposium that resulted in a book exploring the idea that we could build an interstellar craft within 100 years. One thing I really liked about this panel was the gender balance and the fact that the NASA rep was a tatooed young woman. There's a book resulting from the outcome of a symposium. They discussed some of the ideas behind this venture. Beam-driven sails are probably the way to go, you wouldn't have to carry your fuel. NASA is in favor of this because the technology is all conceived of, it's budgetary matter. We can't know what we'll find out there, it is by it's very nature unknown.
An Interview with Norman Spinrad
A fascinating tour of his career, Spinrad discussed writing, politcs, drugs and Philip K. Dick, among other things. I found it interesting that Dick told Spinrad that, after watching the ending of Blade Runner he thought the film makers really got it - that the important aspect of a being is it's ability to care for others.
George RR Martin Reading
He read a Tyrion chapter from The Winds of Winter and answered questions from the audience. Sigh. He teased us with great scenes and we have to wait so long to finally get it.
SF Squeecast
Lynne M. Thomas, Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Catherynne M. Valente, Seanan McGuire
My absolute favorite podcast, they are even more fun in person. Seriously, if you not listening to SF Squeecast you're really missing out.
This was the one day I thought I'd make time for hitting some of the bid parties, but I was so tired after SF Squeecast that I just went out to dinner and had a quiet evening reading. I know, sounds lame, but sometimes vacation means kicking back and being lazy.
A Virtual Tour of the World's Largest Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection
Julia Ree, Melissa Conway
The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy
This is the largest collection special collection of sf materials, started 40 years ago. Core of the collection as 7500 books from Dr. Eaton in 1969. Now they have over 100,000. Also collect manuscript collections, artifacts, boys books, manga, comic books, fanzines, full runs of pulp magazines. They started the collection and now a PhD program on sf studies is being created around the collection. They collaborate with other 33 institutions who have similar collection policies to make sure materials go to the right institution: Science Fiction Collections Consortium
They even have their own tv series at the university, 3-8 minute episodes. Biennial conference Science Fiction in Media.
Where there's a Will there's a Way: Reproductive Technology, Medical Ethics and the Law
Sam Scheiner, Tore Hoie, Lois McMaster Bujold, Bill Thomason
The panelists consisted of a biologist, a collaborator in international ethics, a biomedical researcher, an author, and a pediatrician who is now a bioethicist. They started defining ethics as a set of universal rules that can be applied worldwide, not the same as morals, which can differ depending on location. The panel wasn't totally in agreement on that, however. They also brought up the fact that very new technology presents a new ethical dilemma. When one of the male panelists asserted that the rights of sperm donors throws a kink in parental rights laws, Bujold had to correct him and remind him that there are egg donors now with similar legal and ethical problems to sperm donors. The discussion was lively with the panel and the audience.
A Look at London in SF and the London Worldcon
Robin Hobb, Nigel Furlong, Pat Cadigan, Martin Easterbrook
Lots of information about getting around in London and things to see and do. They also described they layout of the Excel Center. London A-Z was highly recommended.
Starship Century
Gregory Benford, Karen Burnham, Joe Haldeman, Nancy Kress
Starship Century was a symposium that resulted in a book exploring the idea that we could build an interstellar craft within 100 years. One thing I really liked about this panel was the gender balance and the fact that the NASA rep was a tatooed young woman. There's a book resulting from the outcome of a symposium. They discussed some of the ideas behind this venture. Beam-driven sails are probably the way to go, you wouldn't have to carry your fuel. NASA is in favor of this because the technology is all conceived of, it's budgetary matter. We can't know what we'll find out there, it is by it's very nature unknown.
An Interview with Norman Spinrad
A fascinating tour of his career, Spinrad discussed writing, politcs, drugs and Philip K. Dick, among other things. I found it interesting that Dick told Spinrad that, after watching the ending of Blade Runner he thought the film makers really got it - that the important aspect of a being is it's ability to care for others.
George RR Martin Reading
He read a Tyrion chapter from The Winds of Winter and answered questions from the audience. Sigh. He teased us with great scenes and we have to wait so long to finally get it.
SF Squeecast
Lynne M. Thomas, Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Catherynne M. Valente, Seanan McGuire
My absolute favorite podcast, they are even more fun in person. Seriously, if you not listening to SF Squeecast you're really missing out.
This was the one day I thought I'd make time for hitting some of the bid parties, but I was so tired after SF Squeecast that I just went out to dinner and had a quiet evening reading. I know, sounds lame, but sometimes vacation means kicking back and being lazy.
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