October isn’t just Halloween. It’s also Capclave, the Washington DC area’s hometown science fiction and fantasy convention. Like so many cons, they’ve gone virtual this year, but that doesn’t mean the guests or the programming are any less stellar. Guests of Honor from past Capclaves are returning to help the con celebrate its twenty-year anniversary—an anniversary like no other. You can check out the full schedule here.
But we know you’re all here for me. 😉 So I’ll make it easy on you. Check out these offerings:
Saturday, October17
1:30 PM
Panel: Magic – Obvious or
Mysterious
Participants: Sarah Beth
Durst, Charlotte Honigman, John Skovran, Carrie Vaughn, Jean Marie Ward
(Moderator)
Some modern fantasy settings
have the existence of magic and magical creatures known to the public—think True
Blood or Poul Anderson’s Operation Chaos. Others have the magic secret
such as Seanan McGuire’s Incryptid series or the TV show Supernatural.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach? Why might an author
choose one or the other? Are some authors better than one or the other?
7:30 PM
Panel: Sharing a Universe
Participants: Iver Cooper,
Keith R.A. DeCandido, Carrie Vaughn, Jean Marie Ward
Shared universes have been
around for years. 1632 is its own cottage industry these days, and Wild Cards
has experienced a rebirth. Panelists will discuss the advantages, disadvantages
and what it takes to work in this type of writing. What is the appeal to
authors and readers? Why do some shared universes work while others produced a
handful of volumes and vanished? What caused Thieves World to turn dark and
toxic, and how can other shared worlds avoid their fate?
Sunday
1:30 PM
Reading
Hope to see you in Capclave’s
virtual panel rooms soon. Stay safe!