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AussieCon - avoiding Gillian
Aug. 22nd, 2010 09:16 amI always try to give people a guide on how to avoid me at major events. AussieCon is no exception. As always, I apologise for the really cool people and topics you'll miss by avoiding me. You might want to check the final program at AussieCon for last minute adjustments: you wouldn't want to run into me by thinking I was in one room when I was actually in next door.
Writers and their history: how writers use and view the historical aspects of their settings
Thu 3 pm Rm 214: (A) 1. (my academic paper thingie where I take the name of many good writers in vain)
Minotaurs in space helmets: Using myth in science fiction (Should Alan and I stir each other - this is the question)
What use are the myths of the world’s cultures to the creation of science fiction? Are there archetypal stories we can draw from to create new worlds and ideas, or are they best suited for re-telling classical stories with a high-tech or otherworldly perspective? A look at what’s been done, who did it best, and why.
Alan Baxter, Gillian Polack, James Shields
Thursday 4 pm Room 219
Foundlings and orphans (I have lots of theories about this topic - some of them are almost half respectful, too)
The orphaned baby who grows up to become a master wizard. The lonely farmboy who becomes a powerful Jedi. The last son of the planet Krypton, who assumes the mantle of the world’s greatest hero. Foundlings and orphans form a common and powerful theme in popular culture and fiction around the world, but why? What is the origin of this storytelling theme, and why does it appeal to writers and audiences so much?
Faye Ringel, Sarah Parker, Delia Sherman, Gillian Polack, Mary Victoria, Mur Lafferty
Friday pm Room 211
Alternate Australia: Remaking antipodean history (I have soem truly evil ideas for our beloved country)
What were the historical turning points for the Australian continent, and how might - for a change in mind here, an unexpected delay there - Australian history have been changed entirely? A hypothetical discussion of all manner of potential past and future Australias.
Alan Stewart, Dirk Flinthart, Erika Lacey, Gillian Polack
Friday 5 pm Room 203
Signing Sun 1 pm Rm 201 - best place to find me and chat, since I am unlikely to have queues (very, very unlikely!)
Kaffeeklatsche Sun 2 pm Rm 201 - other best place to find me and chat. I'm happy to be asked questions about the Middle Ages or food history or whatever you need for your fiction that I can provide, as well as talk about my own writing and editing. If you're using food or history in your fiction, think of me as a handy resource... (and come here rather than accosting me in the corridor with said questions)
Writing strange lands: Other cultures in YA speculative fiction (we are going to have so much fun on this panel - we've already been talking - 2 NZ writers and me)
This panel will discuss the impact of dominant cultures in writing YA Speculative Fiction.
Karen Healey, Gillian Polack, Helen Lowe (chair)
Monday 10 am Room 212
Remembrance of things past or yet to come? History and YA spec fic (you want to avoid this for me and totally be there because of Jenny and Richard and Paul - maybe eat a sandwich while I'm talking? or send a tweet saying how cool most of the panellists are? Or that you thought that the panel was going to be about madeleines.)
How does History contribute to YA Speculative Fiction? What are some of the best works which have a History component?
Jenny Blackford, Richard Harland, Gillian Polack, Paul Poulton (chair)
Monday 1100 Room 211
Counterfactuals: Science fiction vs historical analysis (I'm not intimidated by the other panellists. Not. Absolutely not. And yes, I lie.)
What role can alternate history fiction play in historical analysis? By examining the potential after-effects of a fictionalised course of events, do we gain a fresh and valuable perspective on what actually happened? If so, what requirements exist for alternate history fiction to achieve this aim? A look at alternate history fiction from two perspectives: as science fiction readers, and as historians. Kim Stanley Robinson, Gillian Polack, Dena Taylor, Jonathan Walker
Monday 2 pm Room P1
SF and the Australian landscape (The "land of sweeping plains" panel. Except not. Because I gravely doubt that we're a predictable mob. kaaron and I aren't, for certain.)
The distinctive Australian landscape has been the inspiration for generations of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. How has the Australian terrain defined Australian SF in the past, and in what ways does it define it today? A look at our country’s landscape through the lens of our writers and artists.
Tiki Swain, Kaaron Warren, Annette Schneider, Gillian Polack
Monday 3 pm Room 216
Writers and their history: how writers use and view the historical aspects of their settings
Thu 3 pm Rm 214: (A) 1. (my academic paper thingie where I take the name of many good writers in vain)
Minotaurs in space helmets: Using myth in science fiction (Should Alan and I stir each other - this is the question)
What use are the myths of the world’s cultures to the creation of science fiction? Are there archetypal stories we can draw from to create new worlds and ideas, or are they best suited for re-telling classical stories with a high-tech or otherworldly perspective? A look at what’s been done, who did it best, and why.
Alan Baxter, Gillian Polack, James Shields
Thursday 4 pm Room 219
Foundlings and orphans (I have lots of theories about this topic - some of them are almost half respectful, too)
The orphaned baby who grows up to become a master wizard. The lonely farmboy who becomes a powerful Jedi. The last son of the planet Krypton, who assumes the mantle of the world’s greatest hero. Foundlings and orphans form a common and powerful theme in popular culture and fiction around the world, but why? What is the origin of this storytelling theme, and why does it appeal to writers and audiences so much?
Faye Ringel, Sarah Parker, Delia Sherman, Gillian Polack, Mary Victoria, Mur Lafferty
Friday pm Room 211
Alternate Australia: Remaking antipodean history (I have soem truly evil ideas for our beloved country)
What were the historical turning points for the Australian continent, and how might - for a change in mind here, an unexpected delay there - Australian history have been changed entirely? A hypothetical discussion of all manner of potential past and future Australias.
Alan Stewart, Dirk Flinthart, Erika Lacey, Gillian Polack
Friday 5 pm Room 203
Signing Sun 1 pm Rm 201 - best place to find me and chat, since I am unlikely to have queues (very, very unlikely!)
Kaffeeklatsche Sun 2 pm Rm 201 - other best place to find me and chat. I'm happy to be asked questions about the Middle Ages or food history or whatever you need for your fiction that I can provide, as well as talk about my own writing and editing. If you're using food or history in your fiction, think of me as a handy resource... (and come here rather than accosting me in the corridor with said questions)
Writing strange lands: Other cultures in YA speculative fiction (we are going to have so much fun on this panel - we've already been talking - 2 NZ writers and me)
This panel will discuss the impact of dominant cultures in writing YA Speculative Fiction.
Karen Healey, Gillian Polack, Helen Lowe (chair)
Monday 10 am Room 212
Remembrance of things past or yet to come? History and YA spec fic (you want to avoid this for me and totally be there because of Jenny and Richard and Paul - maybe eat a sandwich while I'm talking? or send a tweet saying how cool most of the panellists are? Or that you thought that the panel was going to be about madeleines.)
How does History contribute to YA Speculative Fiction? What are some of the best works which have a History component?
Jenny Blackford, Richard Harland, Gillian Polack, Paul Poulton (chair)
Monday 1100 Room 211
Counterfactuals: Science fiction vs historical analysis (I'm not intimidated by the other panellists. Not. Absolutely not. And yes, I lie.)
What role can alternate history fiction play in historical analysis? By examining the potential after-effects of a fictionalised course of events, do we gain a fresh and valuable perspective on what actually happened? If so, what requirements exist for alternate history fiction to achieve this aim? A look at alternate history fiction from two perspectives: as science fiction readers, and as historians. Kim Stanley Robinson, Gillian Polack, Dena Taylor, Jonathan Walker
Monday 2 pm Room P1
SF and the Australian landscape (The "land of sweeping plains" panel. Except not. Because I gravely doubt that we're a predictable mob. kaaron and I aren't, for certain.)
The distinctive Australian landscape has been the inspiration for generations of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. How has the Australian terrain defined Australian SF in the past, and in what ways does it define it today? A look at our country’s landscape through the lens of our writers and artists.
Tiki Swain, Kaaron Warren, Annette Schneider, Gillian Polack
Monday 3 pm Room 216