How to Enjoy Your First Con
Rusty Hevelin, our beloved Toastmaster, will instruct the uninitiated in the arcane art of science fiction/ fantasy fandom.
Read Any Good Books Lately?
An open forum discussion of good books, old and new. Brought to you by The Cedar Rapids Book Discussion Group
Filking 101
Come learn from experience filkers about the subgenre of science fiction and fantasy fandom known as filk. So what is Filk? You wish to know? Then come and learn from veteran filkers Dave Stagner and Eric Oppen.
Are Star Empires Feasible?
A standard of science-fiction has been the star-spanning empire. But are such nations inevitable? How do you govern a state that crosses hundreds of parsecs? Are government borders even necessary or good? Do things like patriotism, race and religion seem to divide us? Discussion will cover how governments work, the effect of speed of communication on government, and how to overcome the things that divide us. Discussion leaders Jack McDevitt and Denny Lynch.
Writing Sex Scenes: Different Approaches
17 years old and older A discussion of various ways to write sex scenes--clinical, romantic, squicky, technical (muscle names and all), camera-ready, emotional-but-indirect, tentacley, etc.. This will be a discussion of writing style and relevant to both printfic and fanfic. Just like rated-R movies, if you are under 17, you need to come with a parent. Discussion lead by Nonie Rider
Alien Paleontology
What are our chances of finding the bones of previous space travelers, intelligent or otherwise, here or in our own travels? How long might such natural records be preserved? How many pristine worlds might already be contaminated? What questions about evolution might alien fossils answer? Discussion lead by Jack McDevitt
Pros & Cons of Writers' Groups
Panelists discuss issues about writing workshops: will a workshop benefit you? What should you look for in a group? How can you find one that will help you develop as a writer? When should you leave a group? Join our Author GoH, Jack McDevitt.
What Research? I Write Fiction!
Have you ever been jolted out of a good story because of some niggling bit of historical inaccuracy? This panel looks at the importance of doing your research so you can diverge with purpose. Can research can be a seductive trap – can you confuse the research with the novel and end up with "undigested research" – end up with facts and details that do not make the reader happier – Can you find unobtrusive fats that work their way in to the narrative without impeding the flow -- for example, Tom Wolfe's journalistic writing like The Right Stuff is great, but his novels are constantly arrested by lumps of research. Join our Author GoH, Jack McDevitt.
Dinner Party from Hell
Which of your favorite potential dinner guests should *never* be invited to the same event? Attendees come up with some dangerous combinations from history. Program lead by Denny Lynch
Mindbridge Meeting
Mindbridge, that wonderful organization which sponsors ICON, Gamicon, and AnimeIowa, will meet to discuss current and future projects
Robert A. Heinlein Centennial
July 7, 2007 marked the birth centennial of American author, futurist, philosopher and spaceflight advocate Robert A. Heinlein. Join Denny Lynch, Rusty Hevelin, and John Pershing as they spend some time reflect on the man that was Robert A. Heinlein.
The Seminal Works---The Books that Made SF/Fantasy What It Is
For high fantasy, it'd pretty much have to be "The Lord of the Rings". Cyberpunk'd not be anything like the same without Gibson's "Sprawl" trilogy--- "Neuromancer", "Count Zero", and "Mona Lisa Overdrive." Space opera draws heavily on "Doc" Smith's "Lensman" books. Military SF has two different strains---the "future infantry" version could be said to have been started by Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", but the "war in space" sort (think "Honor Harrington") has less clear roots. Discussion lead by Eric Oppen.
Broaden Your Universe
Help your fellow fen broaden their minds by signing up at the ICON Registration desk to read 7-10 minutes from your favorite literary work and/or author. Don’t want to read, then come to a potluck reading buffet where you can get a taste of what others believe to be the best of their favorite writers. You might find a new favorite author in the mix.
SF/F and Spirituality/Religion/Ethics
What kind of ethical lines are Science Fiction/Fantasy series in literature or T.V. drawing these days? How stringent are the standards, and is there hope for “getting better” if you go off the rails once or twice? How is “redemption'” (not necessarily in the Judeo-Christian sense of the word) defined and/or sought after by various characters? Is it attainable? Or is it the carrot held forever out of our reach, while we mostly get the stick? Take for example “The Dresden Files,” the series (and the books it is based on) portrays a basically ethical man (Harry Dresden) who crossed the line in a major way ONCE in self-defense, and has been paying for it in one way or another ever since. And then there's his advisor, Bob, stuck in his own head as an eternal punishment. Come argue with Lori Patton and Denny Lynch.
Basic SF Library
What are the books that everyone should have in their science fiction library? The ones that are most outstanding and formative of their field? This is a great one for expanding everyone’s libraries. Open discussion; be prepared to support your choices. Discussion lead by Jack McDevitt, Rusty Hevelin, and Eric Oppen
How To Assure Rejection
Single space your manuscript! Insult Robert Heinlein! Get your editor's home phone number, so when you're stuck on your story at three o'clock in the morning, you can call him up and brainstorm. What other advice should you ignore? Come learn and laugh with Jack McDevitt.
Fanzines in the Library: Science Fiction Collections at the University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is home to a significant collection of fanzines and apazines collected over many years by Mike Horvat. Learn how fanzines and apazines developed over the years, from early efforts in the 1930s and 1940s like Comet, Spaceways, and Le Zombie to important zines from the 1990s, along with a wealth of apazines from all over the country. You just might find yourself in the collection! Greg Prickman, Special Collections Librarian, along with faculty and students from the Department of English, will discuss how these zines are being preserved and used, and how we can make them more accessible and appreciated. Take a lighthearted journey through the history of fandom and discover the rich collections available for everyone to see right here in our own backyard. Program by Greg Prickman, Special Collections Librarian University of Iowa.
The Small Press in the Big Woods
Discussion of the role of the small press in SF/ Fantasy Fic. What do they bring to the table? Are they the mad laboratories of the fantastic or the hothouse gardens nurturing the next wave of SF/ Fantasy Fic? Discussion lead by Tyree Campbell and Scott Smith.
How to Participate in and Moderate a Panel
Veteran panelists discuss the tricks of the trade for being an effective panel member or moderator, and offer words of wisdom on things to avoid while serving on a panel. Learn from ICON 25 Fen GoH Orange Mike Lowrey.
Writing Fanfiction
Fanfiction is a common term for fiction about characters or settings written by fans of an original work, rather than by the original creators. This work is usually not commissioned by the original creators and is usually not professional published. Do you write fanfiction? Want to write fanfiction? Join this discussion about ways of approaching a character, suiting your prose style to the mood of the show (or not), the advantages of various point of views, etc. Moderated by Nonie Rider and Lori Patton.
What’s Good On TV?
Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Lost and many more. Science Fiction is on television more than ever before. Come discuss your favorite shows, what they do right and wrong, and what to expect from them in the future. Discussion lead by Scott Smith
The Dresden Files
A new show appeared this winter on the SciFi channel based on Jim Butcher's best-selling novels, The Dresden Files. It tells the story of Harry Dresden, a regular-guy private detective with extraordinary abilities. While most people see assaults, kidnappings or murders as the work of people with a depraved indifference for human pain, Harry is as likely as not to see the work of supernatural villains. Come discuss this new show…like it? Lump it? Discussion lead by Evil Fluffy Dave.
Meet Ralph J. Ryan
Come meet our Artist Guest of Honor, Ralph J. Ryan, and learn about his artist style, inspiration and generally get to know Ralph better.
The Dead Shall Rise: Zombies in Folklore, Science, & Popular Culture:
If vampires are the aristocrats, are zombies the lower class among the undead? How does the popular brain-eating movie zombie differ from the original Haitian folklore zombie? What other types of zombies are out there? What roles do they fill in a horror story? Can zombies be reconciled with science? Why are they so popular? Discussion lead by Zombie Shawn Beatty
What Makes Good Cinema or TV?
What makes a good/bad show or movie? What makes us like a show or movie; is it the acting, the story, the direction, the score or the special F/X, or a magic combination of all these things? Would Star Wars have been as big a hit if it were directed by Roger Corman and had music by Danny Elfman? Would the Twilight Zone have been as big a television icon if Ed Wood had been the writer? Can bad movies be good? Can popular movies be not so good? And finally guilty pleasure films/shows, we all have them. Why do we like them? Program hosted by Troy Menke.
Coming Attractions
Hollywood seems to be in love with the sci-fi/ fantasy adaptations these days. Come check out what will be opening on movie screens near you. Our "Experts" will try to bring you the inside dish on upcoming blockbusters. Brought to you by Jason Gross.
Sauron in a Suit
The changing face of evil in modern society and story-telling. How has the face of evil changed with modern society and technology? Is yesterday's Dark Lord today's Evil CEO? Does the modern Dark Lord know he's a Dark Lord, or does he think “It's not personal, it's just business?” Discuss the idea of “monsters” in our midst (those that don't give you “fair warning” by being a big glowing eye thingie or wearing black armor and a mask, for instance). Discussion lead by Lori Patton
Tales From the Gazebo
Second Addition: Got a tale of gamer lunacy? Did a gamer you know (not YOU, of course!) get a Critical Success on his/her Pull Boneheaded Move skill? Come share with the group. Hear the famous tale of the “Head of Vecna.” Laugh at the munchkins! Fear the Gazebo! Discussion lead by Brian “The Gazebo Slayer” Anderson.
“Bedtime” Stories
Poe…Lovecraft, and other classic horror authors. Join readers for some bedtime stories that will leave you walking the halls in pairs and sleeping with your lights on. The stories will start with Denny Lynch reading “Night in the Crypt” by H.P. Lovecraft.
Fandom as an Ethnicity
An anthropological look at science fiction fans as a quasi-subculture, with its own rituals, traditions, customs, dialects, and tribal leaders. Discussion will be lead by Orange Mike Lowrey, fan and a natural-born free citizen of the ImagiNation and Rodney Ruff, all around good guy.
The Thing in the Basement: Subterranean Horror
From Lovecraft's oozing caverns to the New York subways, things horrific are often subterranean. Our experts will explore their favorite underground horrors. What is it about the underground that makes it an ideal setting for horror? Must the entrance to Hell always lead underground? There's something in the basement. Let's split up! Discussion lead by Zombie Shawn Beatty.
Ales, Porters, and Mead...Oh My
So you want to know how to homebrew, but have questions and are afraid to ask? Don’t worry, relax and have a home brew. Brewing is easy and fun, and we’ll answer those pesky questions you’ve always been meaning to ask. From the simplest mead to the most deluxe beer made with various different ingredients, the basics of home brewing are easy and we’ll show you how. Come discuss what it takes to start brewing your own beer and mead. Well discuss startup costs, inventory, space requirements, and of course how to brew. The founders of Batch One Brewing will be glad to answer any questions you have. So please come and join the home brew revolution.
Planet Cracking 101
Getting The Science Right In Space Opera! Gentlemen, have you ever suffered from Geek Envy? Have you ever lost the attention of a lady fair because you couldn't derive the numbers needed to blow up Alderaan fast enough to keep the conversational flow going? Ever wished you could find a workout program to give you that bulging forebrain that females all admire? Well then, break out your calculators and join noted game designer Ken Burnside in a one hour seminar on everything you forgot from high school and college physics to write space opera! We'll cover the Rule Of Three, give you cheat sheet of quick and dirty formulas for calculating energy costs to orbit - and give you a scale for what those numbers really mean! And, as an added bonus, we'll show you how to incorporate them into scintillating dinner conversation!
Harry Potter- Now That It Is Over
Come and discuss the conclusion of the Harry Potter series. Did you like it? Was it what you expected? Maybe even dream a little about what the future might hold for your favorite former Hogwart’s student. Discussion lead by the Davenport Area Gathering of Books and Humanoids (DAGOBAH).
Cross Genre
Boundaries, what boundaries? From romance to fantasy, science fiction through to horror, the boundaries between genres have become blurred. So what mixes work, and what don't? Can you have too many genres mixed together in one package? Discussion of shows like Angel, Buffy, Moonlight, Bloodties, etc. Discussion lead by Terri Pray.