Participants Schedule Details
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David Abzug
Leesa Almgren
Brian Babendererde
Alice Bentley
Michael Brian Bentley
Bob Blackwood
Bluebeard
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk
Carolyn Clink
Rachel Cohan
Mike Cole
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Michael D'Ambrosio
Marinda Darnell
Lee Darrow
Tim Dinan
Dermot Dobson
Dennis Dombrowski
Laura Dombrowski
Doug Drummond
Matthew Duhan
Lex Dunning
Alex Eisenstein
Phyllis Eisenstein
Carol Ferraro
kT FitzSimmons
Jim Fortas
Tonya Foust
Dr. Lisa Freitag
Debbie Gates
Rana George
Chris Gerrib
Jerry Gilio
Liz Gilio
Marnie Gucciard
Trista Gunderman
Daniel Gunderson
Peter Heltzer
Bill Higgins
Kelley Higgins
Butch Honeck
Valli Hoski
Elizabeth Anne Hull
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Todd Johnson
Fran Juergensmeyer
Alex Kaempen
Joe Karpierz
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Greg Ketter
Deb Kosiba
Dina Krause
Leonard Krol
Dawn Kuczwara
Jer Lance
Jim Landis
Barisha Letterman
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Mary Mascari
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas
Heather McConaha
Amy McNally
Jessica Merrick
Adam Miller
Terrence Miltner
Helen Montgomery
Frances Moritz
Deirdre Murphy
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Pat Nuccio
Jody Lynn Nye
Erik V. Olson
Ruth Palileo
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Phoenix
Jim Plaxco
Fred Pohl
Neil Rest
Jim Rittenhouse
Spider Robinson
Frank Rodriguez
Bill Roper
Robert J. Sawyer
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Isabel Schechter
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Luke Ski
Tom Smith
Kevin Spencer
Chazz Spengler
Colleen Spengler
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Lucy Synk
Curtis Taitel
Bill Thomasson
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger
Tim Vaulato
Tom Veal
Leane Verhulst
John Vittallo
April Voecks
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Art Warneke
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Brooke Wievel
D'Andre Williams
Greg Williams
Ian Wincentsen
Peter Wincentsen
Jeff Wincentsen
Gene Wolfe
delphyne woods
David Abzug
Spider Robinson and Robert Heinlein - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch A
Spider Robinson has long acknowledged his debt to Robert Heinlein. In 2006, Robinson was able to pay this debt back when he collaborated with Heinlein on Variable Star. This panel looks at the two authors' similarities and differences.
David AbzugWalt Boyes
Erik V. Olson (M)
Spider Robinson
Curtis Taitel
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Science Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
From polywater to lawsonomy to n-rays, the march of science has been littered with discarded ideas that seem humorous, misguided, or even sinister to our modern, enlightened sensibilities. Come and learn about the disproven theories that couldn't stand the light of day, and speculate on which modern theories might join them on the dustheap of history.
David AbzugTonya Foust
Jer Lance
Jim Landis (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Games for Non-Gamers - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Even if you don't have the time or inclination to get into role-playing games, you can still be a gamer, whether it is Fluxx, Blink, or Scattegories. Come and learn fun games and realize that anyone can game.
David Abzug (M)Marnie Gucciard
Terrence Miltner
Oh God, I'm A Gamer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Whether you have shelves full of every edition of Dungeons and Dragons or simply carry a deck of playing cards with you, you might be a gamer. What does it mean to be a gamer? How can you share your pastime with people who don't think they are gamers? And what other games should you begin to play?
David Abzug (M)Heather McConaha
Terrence Miltner
Isabel Schechter
Heinlein's Undying Hand - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
While many authors’ books go out of print almost immediately after they die, Heinlein’s have managed to remain in print and continue to have a massive, devoted following (including Capricon 30 GoH Spider Robinson). What is it about his books that inspires such a devotion? Even the sucky ones?
David AbzugPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Fred Pohl
delphyne woods
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Leesa Almgren
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
Massage Therapy: Relief for Stress and Pain Remediation - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Even if a massage doesn't cure the underlying cause of the pain, it can certainly alleviate pain caused through tension. Come and learn what massage therapy can do for you and why it is more than just a backrub.
Leesa Almgren (M)Lee Darrow
Liz Gilio
Brian Babendererde
Mix and Match SF - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch B
Science fiction and fantasy often adopt the styles of other genres. This panel looks at such strange mixes as space westerns, paranormal romances, and fantasy mysteries to help you stretch your reading dollar.
Brian BabendererdeRichard Chwedyk
Michael D'Ambrosio (M)
Celebrating the Greatest Heroes in SF and Fantasy - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
They stand above the genre like colossi of Rhodes. James T. Kirk, Frodo Baggins, Hiro Protagonist. Who are the heroes that define science fiction and fantasy? What makes readers and viewers able to relate to them, or even just want to be like them? Come and discuss the Good Guys and perhaps find new books and movies to enjoy.
Brian BabendererdeTrista Gunderman
Kevin Spencer
Tim Vaulato (M)
Anime: Giving Voice To Animated Characters - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful anime character. Not only must the look be right for what the character does, but the voice must also match. In same cases, this is obvious, you wouldn't want James Earl Jones to provide the voice of Sailor Moon, but what type of girl's voice do you want? How do you determine what vocal qualities will make an anime character an instant classic?
Brian BabendererdeAlice Bentley (M)
Rana George
Daniel Levin
D'Andre Williams
The Critical Gap Between Film and Text - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Do critics and reviewers who examine the written word have a different set of assumptions than those who look at film?
Brian BabendererdeBob Blackwood (M)
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Autographing: Watt-Evans, Babendererde - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Is SF/Fantasy a Dying Genre or Just Evolving? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow A
A round table discussion which focuses on whether science fiction and fantasy are continually evolving or if the genres are in the process of dying out, and, if they are, what is causing their extinction.
Brian BabendererdeRachel Cohan
Jody Lynn Nye (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Gene Wolfe
Alice Bentley
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Celebrating Local Artists - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Home to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, our city has produced a plethora of great SF artists, from J. Allen St. John to Randy Broecker. Come and learn about the rich artistic heritage of Chicago and learn which current artists call our city home.
Alice Bentley (M)Walt Boyes
Curtis Taitel
Anime: Giving Voice To Animated Characters - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful anime character. Not only must the look be right for what the character does, but the voice must also match. In same cases, this is obvious, you wouldn't want James Earl Jones to provide the voice of Sailor Moon, but what type of girl's voice do you want? How do you determine what vocal qualities will make an anime character an instant classic?
Brian BabendererdeAlice Bentley (M)
Rana George
Daniel Levin
D'Andre Williams
What Technical Advances Will be Accepted by the General Population? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch A
Are there certain kinds of technical advances that are more likely to be accepted by the general population than others?
Alice BentleyDermot Dobson
Jim Rittenhouse (M)
Celebrating the Greatest Villains in SF and Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B
From Snidely Whiplash to Darth Vader, the villains are frequently the most interesting characters in science fiction and fantasy. What draws us to them? Are they more nuanced than the heroes? Is it our hidden desire to break the rules? Or is it that black capes are the height of fashion?
Alice Bentley (M)Dave McCarty
Kathryn Sullivan
Tim Vaulato
The Best in On-line Comics - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Every day, you can spend hours looking through comics on-line...not just the ones that also appear in your newspaper, but original content from the likes of xkcd, Dork Tower, Order of the Stick, and more. Come to this panel to learn where to get your daily laughs, many of which may be tailored specifically for the fannish crowd.
Alice Bentley (M)Mike Cole
Deb Kosiba
A Look Back At The Earliest Capricons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A
Some of the people who were there at the beginning talk about Capricon I (the con, not the movie). Hear old stories of those days of long ago.
Alice Bentley (M)Dina Krause
Phoenix
Neil Rest
Joseph Stockman
Bookstores Through the Years - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
What economic and social trends allow independent bookstores to thrive? What is the future of the big-box stores? If they go belly-up, what will take their place?
Alice BentleyGreg Ketter
Dina Krause (M)
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Michael Brian Bentley
Job Networking: How to Use Technology to Search for a Job - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
The internet provides a whole new area to network when looking for a way to buy those collectibles, books, or just to go see the latest movie. How can you use your time cruising the web to increase your chance of landing that lucrative job?
Michael Brian Bentley (M)Peter Heltzer
Dawn Kuczwara
Bob Blackwood
The Critical Gap Between Film and Text - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Do critics and reviewers who examine the written word have a different set of assumptions than those who look at film?
Brian BabendererdeBob Blackwood (M)
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Literary and Cinematic Dystopias - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
While we would all love to live in the perfect world, imperfect worlds are much more interesting. From 1984 to Children of Men, science fiction authors and filmmakers are constantly warning us about the follies of policy and human nature. Who has done this the best and how well do their warnings work?
Bob BlackwoodAlex Eisenstein
Paul McComas (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Joy Ward
Newest Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
The Lightning Thief, The Wolfman, Hot Tub Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland. Science fiction and fantasy films are hitting the local cineplex at an astonishing rate. Which ones will be worth the cost of admission and popcorn and which ones will you eventually be watching on cable with the curtains drawn?
Bob Blackwood (M)Alex Eisenstein
Mary Mascari
Leane Verhulst
Bluebeard
The Bluebeard Show - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Ravinia B
It goes like this, see, it's a talk show. Bluebeard will interview people, get some performers, do a few short skits and answer emails. That kind of talk show. No kilt flying up, no profanity (or at least a very strong effort to avoid it) and no goat wrestling. Basically a family friendly show that all you cool cats can enjoy even if there are some whipper snappers about. It will be funny and somehow non-offensive. Bluebeard Promises!
Bluebeard (M)Walt Boyes
Spider Robinson and Robert Heinlein - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch A
Spider Robinson has long acknowledged his debt to Robert Heinlein. In 2006, Robinson was able to pay this debt back when he collaborated with Heinlein on Variable Star. This panel looks at the two authors' similarities and differences.
David AbzugWalt Boyes
Erik V. Olson (M)
Spider Robinson
Curtis Taitel
Celebrating Local Artists - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Home to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, our city has produced a plethora of great SF artists, from J. Allen St. John to Randy Broecker. Come and learn about the rich artistic heritage of Chicago and learn which current artists call our city home.
Alice Bentley (M)Walt Boyes
Curtis Taitel
E-Readers: The Greening of Books - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Discussion and Demos - bring your reader to show it off!
Walt Boyes (M)Chris Gerrib
Kathryn Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
Job Networking: Have You Been Laid Off? Is Your Firm Hiring? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
We know the job market stinks. Whether you believe we have yet to bottom out or are in the midst of a recovery, it doesn't really matter if you still need a job. Come and discuss job hunting techniques and perhaps get the all important lead for your next job.
Walt Boyes (M)Lucy Synk
delphyne woods
Chicago of Tomorrow - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
In this interactive panel event, the panelists and audience discuss the changes they would like to see in Chicago (both realistic and pie in the sky) over the next twenty years. The panelists will address the various suggestions and look at their feasibility.
Walt BoyesRichard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Chris Gerrib
Evolution of Vampirism: A Roundtable Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
There was a time that vampires were dark, evil creatures who viewed humans as cattle. Now they are as likely to spend pages upon pages sympathizing with their food sources. How did this change take place and, despite the current popularity of vampires, is it a good change for the royalty of the undead?
Walt BoyesTonya Foust
Fran Juergensmeyer (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Richard Chwedyk
I Write SF, but I'm a Techno-Idiot - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
Just because an author writes science fiction doesn’t mean they allow it into their lives. From the extreme of Harlan Ellison™ still using a manual typewriter or Ray Bradbury refusing to learn to drive, what Luddite tendencies plague today’s otherwise sophisticated science fiction author?
Richard Chwedyk (M)Fred Pohl
Gene Wolfe
Mix and Match SF - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch B
Science fiction and fantasy often adopt the styles of other genres. This panel looks at such strange mixes as space westerns, paranormal romances, and fantasy mysteries to help you stretch your reading dollar.
Brian BabendererdeRichard Chwedyk
Michael D'Ambrosio (M)
Blowing in the Wind - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
What happened to the 60's activists? Will their legacy impact the future of the planet?
Richard ChwedykDina Krause (M)
Neil Rest
Bill Thomasson
Chicago of Tomorrow - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
In this interactive panel event, the panelists and audience discuss the changes they would like to see in Chicago (both realistic and pie in the sky) over the next twenty years. The panelists will address the various suggestions and look at their feasibility.
Walt BoyesRichard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Chris Gerrib
Reading: Richard Chwedyk - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Richard Chwedyk
Carolyn Clink
What's Happening North of the Border? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Our very large neighbor to the North (no, not Wisconsin-Canada) has a vibrant science fiction scene, from the authors to the fans to the number of science fiction films and television shows that are made there. Some of our Canadian members will tell you what is happening in Canada in these post Anticipation days. Eh?
Carolyn ClinkRobert J. Sawyer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic (M)
Alex von Thorn
Rachel Cohan
Evil vs. Good: What Makes a Better Story? Evil or Good Winning the Day? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
At its most basic, a conflict has a good side (our side) and an evil side (their side). Traditionally, story-telling has the good side come out on top, but is that all there is? Can the evil side win and still provide a story that speaks to the reader? What are the strengths and weaknesses of letting the evil side win? What are some of the classics that focus on Evil Victorious?
Rachel CohanChris Gerrib (M)
Paul McComas
Kevin Spencer
Joy Ward
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
The Right Stuff: Heroes and Heroines - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Do they have common characteristics or backgrounds that help them win the day?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Leonard Krol
Mary Mascari
Is SF/Fantasy a Dying Genre or Just Evolving? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow A
A round table discussion which focuses on whether science fiction and fantasy are continually evolving or if the genres are in the process of dying out, and, if they are, what is causing their extinction.
Brian BabendererdeRachel Cohan
Jody Lynn Nye (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Gene Wolfe
Mike Cole
The Best in On-line Comics - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Every day, you can spend hours looking through comics on-line...not just the ones that also appear in your newspaper, but original content from the likes of xkcd, Dork Tower, Order of the Stick, and more. Come to this panel to learn where to get your daily laughs, many of which may be tailored specifically for the fannish crowd.
Alice Bentley (M)Mike Cole
Deb Kosiba
Art Show Docent Tour with Mike Cole - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia C (Art Show)
You may know what you like, but when you're shown the art by someone who knows what to look for, whole new vistas can open up, even in paintings you don't personally appreciate.
Mike ColeSF Artist Pictionary - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Fan and pro artists draw words from a hat and the audience has to guess what they are trying to illustrate.
Mike ColeLucy Synk
Tim Vaulato
delphyne woods
Eric Coleman
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Eric Coleman Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
When he's not performing with Toyboat, Eric Coleman has been known to do a bit of singing and guitar playing on his own. We've persuaded him to step out and perform some of his original material for us here.
Eric ColemanBirthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Toyboat Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Ravinia B
Toyboat (say that five times fast) is the first hard rock filk band that we've run into. Playing a mix of classic filk and their own compositions, Toyboat (Toyboat, Toyboat, Toyboat, Toyboat) is not just a band, it's an experience. Sometimes, it's a frightening experience, but that's why we like them so much.
Eric ColemanDaniel Gunderson
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Brother Guy Discusses The Heavens Proclaim - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
Brother Guy discusses his newly published coffee-table book The Heavens Proclaim, a new book on celebration. As seen on TV!
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)A Celebration Of Bad Films - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
They are the films you claim never to have seen, but when they come on cable, you can't turn away. You might even have a copy on DVD hidden behind the more sociably acceptable porn. What movies make Plan 9 From Outer Space look like a masterpiece of plotting, character, and special effects?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Paul McComas (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Twittering SF: Summarize Your Favorite SF/F Book As a Twitter Post - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
Bks R just way 2 long. Authors seem 2 think they need 2 include verbs & nouns & things. R panelists summarize their favrit bks in 140 ch.
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Dawn Kuczwara (M)
Erik V. Olson
Assault On The Moon - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Ravinia B
Chasing lunar water with a new generation of lunar spacecraft. Scientists have long theorized that the Moon could harbor reserves of water. Recent use of robot probes has indicated that they were correct. But is there enough? Are we seeing the beginning of a new Moon Race?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoBill Higgins (M)
Hidden Religion in SF/F - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Authors don’t have to create religions in their stories to infuse the narrative with religious motifs, there are more subtle ways to bring beliefs and their religious convictions into a story in ways the reader might not even realize.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)Eileen Maksym
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
The Golden Age of 2010 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia A
What would SF pioneers think of the world today?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Bill Higgins
Fred Pohl
Bill Thomasson
Manned visit to Mars: Round Table Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
Is it worth sending a man to Mars as opposed to unmanned probes?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoJim Plaxco
Bill Thomasson (M)
Religion and Science: At Odds? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Although some religious groups are opposed to the theory of evolution, others don't have a problem with it. Is this opposition the result of simple misunderstanding, a firm tenet of belief, or something else? What is really meant when a scientist talks about a theory? What does a non-scientist hear when that word is said?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein
kT FitzSimmons (M)
Gene Wolfe
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
The Gong Show - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
Can you spoon the theme to True Blood? How about tap dance to the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Express yourself interpreting the life of Data or even sing the Ballad of Jayne? If you think you have any talent, or even if you don't, come and perform for the judges at the Gong Show. You might get gonged or you might win, either way you will have fun and probably have something hit your funny bone, too.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczDennis Dombrowski
Laura Dombrowski
Olympiad - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
Join your fellow conventioneers in contests designed to test your skills and your funny bone.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Family Feud - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B
Come watch the Star Fleet Red Shirts vs. the Klingons in the battle of the ages, using words instead of weapons.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Frank Rodriguez
Greg Williams
Dark and Stormy Planet Contest Reading - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Yes, once again it is back. The bad writing contest. It's the opening sentences to worst stories never written, by you! The winners along with the other entries will be read Sunday morning. Drop off your stories at Convention Operations during the con. The stories will be judged on Saturday night.
Judges Gladly Accept Bribes!
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Michael D'Ambrosio
Do You Still Believe in the Future? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
They say the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" is thirteen and when you're thirteen all sorts of things are possible in the future. Now that you've grown up, chronologically, if nothing else, do you still view the possibilities of the future the way you did when you hit that golden age? Is it possible to retain that hope and optimism or are humans naturally cynical?
Michael D'AmbrosioDermot Dobson (M)
Butch Honeck
Jim Plaxco
Mix and Match SF - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch B
Science fiction and fantasy often adopt the styles of other genres. This panel looks at such strange mixes as space westerns, paranormal romances, and fantasy mysteries to help you stretch your reading dollar.
Brian BabendererdeRichard Chwedyk
Michael D'Ambrosio (M)
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
The Right Stuff: Heroes and Heroines - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Do they have common characteristics or backgrounds that help them win the day?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Leonard Krol
Mary Mascari
Cancelled TV Shows You Should Love - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
From Firefly to The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. to Wonderfalls, there are many shows that existed for less than a season but are available on DVD. What are some of these flops that you should know about and watch with the sadness of knowing there will never be any more episodes?
Michael D'AmbrosioBill Higgins
Phoenix
Jim Rittenhouse
delphyne woods (M)
Marinda Darnell
Ninja Burger - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
Now you can join the elite Ninja Burger delivery team! You will learn to deliver tasty burgers and fries anywhere. You will bring honor to your franchise. Failure is not an option.
Card Game 3-6 Players
Marinda Darnell (M)Killer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
Killer is a live roleplaying game . . . of assassination. Watch your back. Someone IS after you. Please come by the gaming room for full details.
Marinda Darnell (M)SPANC - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
Gather your crew of space pirate amazon ninja catgirls (aka SPANC), and embark on Capers to gather Loot and Toys, all illustrated by Phil Foglio!
Card Game 2-4 Players
Marinda Darnell (M)Lee Darrow
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
How to Read Tarot Cards - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Let's face it, cups, swords, staves and coins are so much cooler than diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. But each of those means something different, and when you add in the trumps, Tarot just blows regular cards out of the water. Come and learn what the suits and trumps really mean and how they can tell you what to expect.
Lee DarrowRana George
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Deirdre Murphy (M)
delphyne woods
A Celebration Of Bad Films - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
They are the films you claim never to have seen, but when they come on cable, you can't turn away. You might even have a copy on DVD hidden behind the more sociably acceptable porn. What movies make Plan 9 From Outer Space look like a masterpiece of plotting, character, and special effects?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Paul McComas (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Massage Therapy: Relief for Stress and Pain Remediation - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Even if a massage doesn't cure the underlying cause of the pain, it can certainly alleviate pain caused through tension. Come and learn what massage therapy can do for you and why it is more than just a backrub.
Leesa Almgren (M)Lee Darrow
Liz Gilio
Twittering SF: Summarize Your Favorite SF/F Book As a Twitter Post - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
Bks R just way 2 long. Authors seem 2 think they need 2 include verbs & nouns & things. R panelists summarize their favrit bks in 140 ch.
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Dawn Kuczwara (M)
Erik V. Olson
Innovations in Medical Products from SF/Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
Biomedical scanners, machines that can map our bodies in three dimensions, supervaccinations that offer disease immunity...what innovations in the medical field come for suggestions first appearing in science fiction and what ideas from SF might still inspire a new generation of medical advances?
Lee DarrowDermot Dobson
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Liz Gilio
How to Read Palms: Palmistry Demonstration - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Since ancient times, the Indians, Chinese, Roma, and other cultures have believed that the lines crisscrossing your palm could reveal information about your future. This demonstration will allow you to have your palm read by practicing chiromancers who are members of Capricon. Do you hold your future in the palm of your hand?
Lee Darrow (M)Jody Lynn Nye
delphyne woods
Tim Dinan
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Euchre 101 (How to Play Euchre) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Willow A, Willow B
The Capricon Euchre Tournament has been going strong for many years now, and we also have the bimonthly Euchre Club. We know that some of you have never learned to play before now, but want to be one of the cool players like us! All levels of player, from complete novice to "I learned a long time ago" are welcome to join our expert Euchre players and learn from the best!
Tim DinanHelen Montgomery
Ruth Palileo
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Dermot Dobson
Do You Still Believe in the Future? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
They say the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" is thirteen and when you're thirteen all sorts of things are possible in the future. Now that you've grown up, chronologically, if nothing else, do you still view the possibilities of the future the way you did when you hit that golden age? Is it possible to retain that hope and optimism or are humans naturally cynical?
Michael D'AmbrosioDermot Dobson (M)
Butch Honeck
Jim Plaxco
Fannish Health Issues - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Obesity, Diabetes, Myopia, Trimethylaminuria. Fans, especially as fans age, have a variety of medical problems that require attention. Although doctors can help in many cases, fans also need to learn to take better care of themselves, whether through diet, exercise, or simply listening to their bodies. Come and learn how you can become a healthier and happier fan.
Dermot DobsonPhyllis Eisenstein
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
What Technical Advances Will be Accepted by the General Population? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch A
Are there certain kinds of technical advances that are more likely to be accepted by the general population than others?
Alice BentleyDermot Dobson
Jim Rittenhouse (M)
Climate Change: Local Effects (with Boskone) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Dermot Dobson
Jim Landis
Innovations in Medical Products from SF/Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
Biomedical scanners, machines that can map our bodies in three dimensions, supervaccinations that offer disease immunity...what innovations in the medical field come for suggestions first appearing in science fiction and what ideas from SF might still inspire a new generation of medical advances?
Lee DarrowDermot Dobson
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Liz Gilio
Dennis Dombrowski
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
The Gong Show - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
Can you spoon the theme to True Blood? How about tap dance to the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Express yourself interpreting the life of Data or even sing the Ballad of Jayne? If you think you have any talent, or even if you don't, come and perform for the judges at the Gong Show. You might get gonged or you might win, either way you will have fun and probably have something hit your funny bone, too.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczDennis Dombrowski
Laura Dombrowski
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Laura Dombrowski
Music Trivia - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Think you know the theme song to Firefly, or True Blood? Remember the songs from shows 30 years ago? Think you can answer them? Come find out what you know and what you remember at our Music Trivia contest. It will be fun for everyone and you might go away humming one of those old ditties.
Laura Dombrowski (M)Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Match Game - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
You might remember the show from the 70's and 80's. Come and possibly be lucky enough to have a chance to match our panelists in filling in the blank. Our winners will receive prizes.
Laura Dombrowski (M)Peter Heltzer
Dave McCarty
April Voecks
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
The Gong Show - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
Can you spoon the theme to True Blood? How about tap dance to the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Express yourself interpreting the life of Data or even sing the Ballad of Jayne? If you think you have any talent, or even if you don't, come and perform for the judges at the Gong Show. You might get gonged or you might win, either way you will have fun and probably have something hit your funny bone, too.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczDennis Dombrowski
Laura Dombrowski
Olympiad - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
Join your fellow conventioneers in contests designed to test your skills and your funny bone.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Family Feud - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B
Come watch the Star Fleet Red Shirts vs. the Klingons in the battle of the ages, using words instead of weapons.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Frank Rodriguez
Greg Williams
Dark and Stormy Planet Contest Reading - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Yes, once again it is back. The bad writing contest. It's the opening sentences to worst stories never written, by you! The winners along with the other entries will be read Sunday morning. Drop off your stories at Convention Operations during the con. The stories will be judged on Saturday night.
Judges Gladly Accept Bribes!
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Doug Drummond
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
International, National, and Local SF Awards - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow B
You've probably heard about the Hugo and Nebula Awards, but there are a slew of other awards presented every year, from the Golden Duck, given out by Chicago's own SuperConDuckTivity, for Children's SF to the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for gender bending SF. Come and learn about lesser known awards and discover a whole new range of award winning books and stories to fill your reading hours.
Doug Drummond (M)Valli Hoski
Neil Rest
Jim Rittenhouse
Matthew Duhan
Zombie Ninja Pirates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
Matthew Duhan
Lex Dunning
AD&D;, 1st Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
Lex Dunning
Spycraft - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
Lex Dunning
Alex Eisenstein
Literary and Cinematic Dystopias - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
While we would all love to live in the perfect world, imperfect worlds are much more interesting. From 1984 to Children of Men, science fiction authors and filmmakers are constantly warning us about the follies of policy and human nature. Who has done this the best and how well do their warnings work?
Bob BlackwoodAlex Eisenstein
Paul McComas (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Joy Ward
Newest Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
The Lightning Thief, The Wolfman, Hot Tub Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland. Science fiction and fantasy films are hitting the local cineplex at an astonishing rate. Which ones will be worth the cost of admission and popcorn and which ones will you eventually be watching on cable with the curtains drawn?
Bob Blackwood (M)Alex Eisenstein
Mary Mascari
Leane Verhulst
Phyllis Eisenstein
Fannish Health Issues - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Obesity, Diabetes, Myopia, Trimethylaminuria. Fans, especially as fans age, have a variety of medical problems that require attention. Although doctors can help in many cases, fans also need to learn to take better care of themselves, whether through diet, exercise, or simply listening to their bodies. Come and learn how you can become a healthier and happier fan.
Dermot DobsonPhyllis Eisenstein
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Chicago of Tomorrow - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
In this interactive panel event, the panelists and audience discuss the changes they would like to see in Chicago (both realistic and pie in the sky) over the next twenty years. The panelists will address the various suggestions and look at their feasibility.
Walt BoyesRichard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Chris Gerrib
The Golden Age of 2010 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia A
What would SF pioneers think of the world today?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Bill Higgins
Fred Pohl
Bill Thomasson
Autographing: Eisenstein, Sullivan - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Autograph Table
Phyllis Eisenstein
Kathryn Sullivan
Religion and Science: At Odds? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Although some religious groups are opposed to the theory of evolution, others don't have a problem with it. Is this opposition the result of simple misunderstanding, a firm tenet of belief, or something else? What is really meant when a scientist talks about a theory? What does a non-scientist hear when that word is said?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein
kT FitzSimmons (M)
Gene Wolfe
Heinlein's Undying Hand - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
While many authors’ books go out of print almost immediately after they die, Heinlein’s have managed to remain in print and continue to have a massive, devoted following (including Capricon 30 GoH Spider Robinson). What is it about his books that inspires such a devotion? Even the sucky ones?
David AbzugPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Fred Pohl
delphyne woods
Carol Ferraro
Carol Ferraro and Barisha Letterman Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Barisha and Carol have been singing together in harmony for years and have written a lot of fine filk songs. If you haven't heard them before at Capricon or elsewhere, here's your chance to catch them live! (And since they're still working on their album, it may be a while before you can catch them pre-recorded...)
Carol FerraroBarisha Letterman
kT FitzSimmons
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Watching a Novel Unfold - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Rob Sawyer and fans discuss the differences between reading FlashForward and watching the television series. What changes had to be made and how do the readers feel about those differences?
kT FitzSimmonsJoe Karpierz
Dave McCarty (M)
Robert J. Sawyer
Religion and Science: At Odds? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Although some religious groups are opposed to the theory of evolution, others don't have a problem with it. Is this opposition the result of simple misunderstanding, a firm tenet of belief, or something else? What is really meant when a scientist talks about a theory? What does a non-scientist hear when that word is said?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein
kT FitzSimmons (M)
Gene Wolfe
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Jim Fortas
Magic Tournament - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:00 pm to 1:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 2 (Gaming)
Come and play Magic the Gathering
Jim FortasMagic Tournament (Sat.) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 2 (Gaming)
Come and Play Magic the Gathering
Jim FortasTonya Foust
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Science Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
From polywater to lawsonomy to n-rays, the march of science has been littered with discarded ideas that seem humorous, misguided, or even sinister to our modern, enlightened sensibilities. Come and learn about the disproven theories that couldn't stand the light of day, and speculate on which modern theories might join them on the dustheap of history.
David AbzugTonya Foust
Jer Lance
Jim Landis (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Munchkin Bites - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
The Munchkins are now vampires . . . and werewolves . . . and changelings. Bash through the haunted house and slay the monsters. The OTHER monsters. You can't slay your fellow munchkins, but you can curse them, send foes at them, and take their stuff. Of course . . .
Card Game 3-6 players
Tonya Foust (M)Chez Geek - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Beer. Nookie. Roommates. Just another Friday night at Chez Geek, the fun new card game that lets you set up house with your friends - for as long as you can stand them.
Card Game 3- 8 players
Tonya Foust (M)Greed Quest - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
Greed is Good . . . and there's treasure to be won, so what are you waiting for? Three to six players race to the bottom of the dungeon to grab The Hoard. Now all you have to do is get out with it . . . but everyone else is between you and the exit.
Tonya Foust (M)Ninja Burger (2) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
Now you can join the elite Ninja Burger delivery team! You will learn to deliver tasty burgers and fries anywhere. You will bring honor to your franchise. Failure is not an option.
Card Game 3-6 Players
Tonya Foust (M)Evolution of Vampirism: A Roundtable Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
There was a time that vampires were dark, evil creatures who viewed humans as cattle. Now they are as likely to spend pages upon pages sympathizing with their food sources. How did this change take place and, despite the current popularity of vampires, is it a good change for the royalty of the undead?
Walt BoyesTonya Foust
Fran Juergensmeyer (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Munchkin - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Card Game 2-6 players
Tonya Foust (M)Dr. Lisa Freitag
Ethics of Genetic Testing - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch B
Now that we've mapped the human genome, what ethical questions are starting to arise? Should people be tested for genetic deviations? What good will that do them? How can that knowledge be used or abused by doctors or insurance companies?
Dr. Lisa FreitagEileen Maksym
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Mental Health Treatment: How Far Have We Really Come? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Although we may not put our "lunatics" in asylums any more, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Even the act of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist is enough to raise some people's eyebrows. How close are we to being an enlightened society when it comes to mental health and what steps can we take to remove the stigma?
Dr. Lisa FreitagKelley Higgins
Helen Montgomery (M)
Becky Thomson
Joy Ward
Innovations in Medical Products from SF/Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
Biomedical scanners, machines that can map our bodies in three dimensions, supervaccinations that offer disease immunity...what innovations in the medical field come for suggestions first appearing in science fiction and what ideas from SF might still inspire a new generation of medical advances?
Lee DarrowDermot Dobson
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Liz Gilio
Debbie Gates
Debbie Gates Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Debbie Gates has performed for years with Wild Mercy, but for those times when she's not out gigging with the rest of the band, she's assembled a fine repertoire of filk and folk that's enjoyable on any occasion. Come on by and enjoy!
Debbie GatesRana George
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
How to Read Tarot Cards - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Let's face it, cups, swords, staves and coins are so much cooler than diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. But each of those means something different, and when you add in the trumps, Tarot just blows regular cards out of the water. Come and learn what the suits and trumps really mean and how they can tell you what to expect.
Lee DarrowRana George
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Deirdre Murphy (M)
delphyne woods
Anime: Giving Voice To Animated Characters - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful anime character. Not only must the look be right for what the character does, but the voice must also match. In same cases, this is obvious, you wouldn't want James Earl Jones to provide the voice of Sailor Moon, but what type of girl's voice do you want? How do you determine what vocal qualities will make an anime character an instant classic?
Brian BabendererdeAlice Bentley (M)
Rana George
Daniel Levin
D'Andre Williams
Chris Gerrib
E-Readers: The Greening of Books - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Discussion and Demos - bring your reader to show it off!
Walt Boyes (M)Chris Gerrib
Kathryn Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
Evil vs. Good: What Makes a Better Story? Evil or Good Winning the Day? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
At its most basic, a conflict has a good side (our side) and an evil side (their side). Traditionally, story-telling has the good side come out on top, but is that all there is? Can the evil side win and still provide a story that speaks to the reader? What are the strengths and weaknesses of letting the evil side win? What are some of the classics that focus on Evil Victorious?
Rachel CohanChris Gerrib (M)
Paul McComas
Kevin Spencer
Joy Ward
Chicago of Tomorrow - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
In this interactive panel event, the panelists and audience discuss the changes they would like to see in Chicago (both realistic and pie in the sky) over the next twenty years. The panelists will address the various suggestions and look at their feasibility.
Walt BoyesRichard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Chris Gerrib
On the Internet No One Knows You're a Dog! - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow B
The internet offers an unprecedented level of anonymity. While many users revel in the ability to be whomever they want at different times, others feel that people hiding behind anonymity is one of the problems with the internet. Is there, should there, be a compromise between the forces of anonymity and those who want users to take responsibility for their posts?
Chris Gerrib (M)Trista Gunderman
Jer Lance
Becky Thomson
Jerry Gilio
Phandemonium Book Club: Short Stories, by Frederik Pohl - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow B
Phandemonium hosts this discussion of several short stories that appeared in guest of honor Frederik Pohl's 2005 collection The Platinum Pohl. Come and discuss "The Merchants of Venus," "The Meeting," "The Greening of Bed-Stuy," "Fermi and Frost," and "The Gold at the Starbow's End."
Jerry Gilio (M)
Liz Gilio
What Makes the Best Hall Costumes? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Hall costumes, which can be worn around the convention and inspected, follow a different set of rules than display costumes, which are worn during the masquerade, but not necessarily off stage. What goes into making a hall costume that will make people chase you down to look at the details?
Liz GilioKerri-Ellen Kelly (M)
delphyne woods
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Massage Therapy: Relief for Stress and Pain Remediation - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Even if a massage doesn't cure the underlying cause of the pain, it can certainly alleviate pain caused through tension. Come and learn what massage therapy can do for you and why it is more than just a backrub.
Leesa Almgren (M)Lee Darrow
Liz Gilio
Phandemonium Book Club: FlashForward, by Robert J. Sawyer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow B
Phandemonium presents a book discussion of Robert J. Sawyer's 1999 novel FlashForward, the basis for the hit television show of the same name.
Innovations in Medical Products from SF/Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
Biomedical scanners, machines that can map our bodies in three dimensions, supervaccinations that offer disease immunity...what innovations in the medical field come for suggestions first appearing in science fiction and what ideas from SF might still inspire a new generation of medical advances?
Lee DarrowDermot Dobson
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Liz Gilio
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Marnie Gucciard
Games for Non-Gamers - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Even if you don't have the time or inclination to get into role-playing games, you can still be a gamer, whether it is Fluxx, Blink, or Scattegories. Come and learn fun games and realize that anyone can game.
David Abzug (M)Marnie Gucciard
Terrence Miltner
Trista Gunderman
Homeopathic Remedies: Fact or Fiction? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Homeopathy is just one of many "alternative" medicines, treating diseases with a series of dilutions. Is this a legitimate treatment? If it is, what can mainstream doctors learn from its techniques? If it isn't, does it do harm or merely have a placebo effect?
Trista GundermanDr. John D. Nikitow (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Celebrating the Greatest Heroes in SF and Fantasy - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
They stand above the genre like colossi of Rhodes. James T. Kirk, Frodo Baggins, Hiro Protagonist. Who are the heroes that define science fiction and fantasy? What makes readers and viewers able to relate to them, or even just want to be like them? Come and discuss the Good Guys and perhaps find new books and movies to enjoy.
Brian BabendererdeTrista Gunderman
Kevin Spencer
Tim Vaulato (M)
On the Internet No One Knows You're a Dog! - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow B
The internet offers an unprecedented level of anonymity. While many users revel in the ability to be whomever they want at different times, others feel that people hiding behind anonymity is one of the problems with the internet. Is there, should there, be a compromise between the forces of anonymity and those who want users to take responsibility for their posts?
Chris Gerrib (M)Trista Gunderman
Jer Lance
Becky Thomson
Daniel Gunderson
Howlin' Beagle - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Howlin' Beagle plays an eclectic mix of popular and folk music, from the Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan. Whatever they're playing on a given night, they're always entertaining.
Daniel GundersonLollipop Oooza Music Festival - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 am to 10:00 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Join us for our junior jam session. Bring your own instrument or enjoy an array of percussion choices as we explore musical mayhem. Make a joyful noise and catch the rhythm.
All ages welcome.
Chazz Spengler (M)
Toyboat Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Ravinia B
Toyboat (say that five times fast) is the first hard rock filk band that we've run into. Playing a mix of classic filk and their own compositions, Toyboat (Toyboat, Toyboat, Toyboat, Toyboat) is not just a band, it's an experience. Sometimes, it's a frightening experience, but that's why we like them so much.
Eric ColemanDaniel Gunderson
Peter Heltzer
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
How to Throw a Party at a Convention - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Evenings at Capricon are the time to party, but just like everything else at a con, you can throw a party and not just attend one. Learn from some of Capricon's past party mavens how to pick the right theme, carry the right food and drink, and walk out with the coveted best party prize. Begin planning your party for Capricon 31.
Peter Heltzer (M)Dave McCarty
Terrence Miltner
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
They say you can judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by reading only page 119? Join us and find out.
Peter HeltzerHelen Montgomery (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Leane Verhulst
Match Game - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
You might remember the show from the 70's and 80's. Come and possibly be lucky enough to have a chance to match our panelists in filling in the blank. Our winners will receive prizes.
Laura Dombrowski (M)Peter Heltzer
Dave McCarty
April Voecks
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Job Networking: How to Use Technology to Search for a Job - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
The internet provides a whole new area to network when looking for a way to buy those collectibles, books, or just to go see the latest movie. How can you use your time cruising the web to increase your chance of landing that lucrative job?
Michael Brian Bentley (M)Peter Heltzer
Dawn Kuczwara
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Bill Higgins
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Searching for Weirdness in the Vaults of Life Magazine - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Searching for weirdness in the vaults of Life magazine. Puppets, Jetpacks, Ballet on the moon?
Bill HigginsAssault On The Moon - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Ravinia B
Chasing lunar water with a new generation of lunar spacecraft. Scientists have long theorized that the Moon could harbor reserves of water. Recent use of robot probes has indicated that they were correct. But is there enough? Are we seeing the beginning of a new Moon Race?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoBill Higgins (M)
The Golden Age of 2010 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia A
What would SF pioneers think of the world today?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Bill Higgins
Fred Pohl
Bill Thomasson
Cancelled TV Shows You Should Love - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
From Firefly to The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. to Wonderfalls, there are many shows that existed for less than a season but are available on DVD. What are some of these flops that you should know about and watch with the sadness of knowing there will never be any more episodes?
Michael D'AmbrosioBill Higgins
Phoenix
Jim Rittenhouse
delphyne woods (M)
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Kelley Higgins
Mental Health Treatment: How Far Have We Really Come? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Although we may not put our "lunatics" in asylums any more, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Even the act of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist is enough to raise some people's eyebrows. How close are we to being an enlightened society when it comes to mental health and what steps can we take to remove the stigma?
Dr. Lisa FreitagKelley Higgins
Helen Montgomery (M)
Becky Thomson
Joy Ward
Butch Honeck
Do You Still Believe in the Future? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
They say the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" is thirteen and when you're thirteen all sorts of things are possible in the future. Now that you've grown up, chronologically, if nothing else, do you still view the possibilities of the future the way you did when you hit that golden age? Is it possible to retain that hope and optimism or are humans naturally cynical?
Michael D'AmbrosioDermot Dobson (M)
Butch Honeck
Jim Plaxco
Lost Wax Casting - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow A
Come see a slide show on how bronze casting is done, starting with a wax casting to a finished product.
Butch HoneckValli Hoski
Celebrate Conventions: Any Given Weekend - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Where's it at, who's got it and where can I get a good tuna fish sandwich? There are some excellent conventions all over the country (and all over the world). Come to this panel to hear about other conventions you may be interested in attending and share your experiences of remote conventions you've enjoyed!
Valli HoskiDave McCarty (M)
Isabel Schechter
Curtis Taitel
International, National, and Local SF Awards - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow B
You've probably heard about the Hugo and Nebula Awards, but there are a slew of other awards presented every year, from the Golden Duck, given out by Chicago's own SuperConDuckTivity, for Children's SF to the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for gender bending SF. Come and learn about lesser known awards and discover a whole new range of award winning books and stories to fill your reading hours.
Doug Drummond (M)Valli Hoski
Neil Rest
Jim Rittenhouse
Goodbye 10, Hello 11 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Although it is hard to believe now, David Tennant had his detractors when he took over the iconic Time Lord role from Christopher Eccleston. What does Matt Smith need to do in order to be deemed a success?
Valli HoskiKathryn Sullivan (M)
Lucy Synk
Curtis Taitel
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
The Non-Fiction Library All SF Fans Should Have - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Sure, you have Foundation and Neuromancer on your shelves, but what non-fiction books should you also have? History, Science, Sociology, Psychology ... the panel runs through the gamut of the Dewey Decimal System to fill out your shelves.
Elizabeth Anne Hull (M)Todd Johnson
Leonard Krol
Best Books of 2009 - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
What novels were published in 2009 that you really should read? The Empress of Mars? Finch? The Mystery of Grace? Our panelists not only tell you what their favorite books of the year were, but also discuss what they liked about them. And come with your own suggestions.
Elizabeth Anne HullJoy Ward
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
Spooks - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
You don't have to outrun the monsters . . . if you can outrun your friends.
Card Game 3 + Players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Carcassonne - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
Build cities, farms, and roads in this game of world building. Board Game 2-6 Players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Deluxe Illuminati - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
They're all around us. Secret conspiracies are everywhere, and where can you find the only truth? Certainly not in the game of Illuminati. Fnord.
Card Game
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Toon: Capricious Birthday Massacre - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 2 (Gaming)
Klang-Irons, & Catgirls & Geeks oh my. Capricious is having a birthday, and it has been invaded by TOONS.
Role Playing Game 2 - 8 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Revolution - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 2 (Gaming)
Blackmail the printer. Threaten the innkeeper. Bribe the priest. Welcome to Revolution!
Board game 2-4 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Talisman - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
Talisman takes you on a journey through magical lands, as you endeavor to reclaim the Crown of Command. Each turn will see your hero advancing, battling, gaining knowledge and power necessary to defeat the guardians lurking between the Portal of Power and the Valley of Fire.
Board Game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Chrononauts The Gore Years - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
The card game of time travel.
2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Chez Cthulhu - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
Bring the horror of Lovecraft's Mythos right into your apartment . . . as if the leftovers from the Pizza with Absolutely Everything weren't bad enough. Work your job – will you be a Morgue Janitor, a Sanitarium Guard, or a Gravedigger? Buy things to give you Slack, like a comforting Straitjacket . . . or some Friendly Tentacles to make your day a little brighter. Invite people over to your room . . . and sacrifice them! And Nookie . . . don't forget the Nookie. Preferably without the Ectoplasmic Slime.
Card Game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Todd Johnson
The Non-Fiction Library All SF Fans Should Have - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Sure, you have Foundation and Neuromancer on your shelves, but what non-fiction books should you also have? History, Science, Sociology, Psychology ... the panel runs through the gamut of the Dewey Decimal System to fill out your shelves.
Elizabeth Anne Hull (M)Todd Johnson
Leonard Krol
Fran Juergensmeyer
New Authors You Should Know - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Panelists look at authors who have burst onto the scene in the last half decade and discuss why these authors are having success and how the internet is making their appearance different from the successful authors of earlier eras.
Fran JuergensmeyerPatricia Sayre McCoy (M)
This Is Not Your Mother's Urban Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
A decade ago, urban fantasy referred to stories in which faerie and magic crept into our own world. Now, urban fantasy is its own publishing subgenre and tends to deal with vampires, and ghoulies, and things that go bump on the darkened city streets. Where did this change come from?
Fran JuergensmeyerDeirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Evolution of Vampirism: A Roundtable Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
There was a time that vampires were dark, evil creatures who viewed humans as cattle. Now they are as likely to spend pages upon pages sympathizing with their food sources. How did this change take place and, despite the current popularity of vampires, is it a good change for the royalty of the undead?
Walt BoyesTonya Foust
Fran Juergensmeyer (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Alex Kaempen
Battle Tech - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Blue Table (Gaming)
Come Play the classic game of big robot combat.
War Game 2 + Players
Alex Kaempen (M)Battle Tech (2) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 1:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Blue Table (Gaming)
Come Play the classic game of big robot combat.
War Game 2 + Players
Alex Kaempen (M)Battle Tech (3) - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Blue Table (Gaming)
Come Play the classic game of big robot combat.
War Game 2 + Players
Alex Kaempen (M)Joe Karpierz
Watching a Novel Unfold - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Rob Sawyer and fans discuss the differences between reading FlashForward and watching the television series. What changes had to be made and how do the readers feel about those differences?
kT FitzSimmonsJoe Karpierz
Dave McCarty (M)
Robert J. Sawyer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
What Makes the Best Hall Costumes? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Hall costumes, which can be worn around the convention and inspected, follow a different set of rules than display costumes, which are worn during the masquerade, but not necessarily off stage. What goes into making a hall costume that will make people chase you down to look at the details?
Liz GilioKerri-Ellen Kelly (M)
delphyne woods
How to Read Tarot Cards - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Let's face it, cups, swords, staves and coins are so much cooler than diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. But each of those means something different, and when you add in the trumps, Tarot just blows regular cards out of the water. Come and learn what the suits and trumps really mean and how they can tell you what to expect.
Lee DarrowRana George
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Deirdre Murphy (M)
delphyne woods
Fun with Food: Taste of Capricon - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come sculpt wacky creations with marshmallows, gummies and other edible substances. Build a Treats-A-Pizza or just nibble the goodies. Who says you shouldn't play with your food? Not us!
Kerri-Ellen KellyColleen Spengler (M)
Lemony Snicket's Writer's Workshop - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come craft with us for a book building make & take. Color, stencil, stamp and sticker a story to create your own book to take home with you.
For ages 3 and up
Colleen Spengler (M)
Mad Hatter's Tea Party - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
We're all mad here, mad you know! Come have a harum scarum top-toffing time at our Mad Hatter's Tea Party! I hear the doormouse likes karaoke.
Clean Cups!
Kerri-Ellen KellyColleen Spengler (M)
Greg Ketter
Bookstores Through the Years - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
What economic and social trends allow independent bookstores to thrive? What is the future of the big-box stores? If they go belly-up, what will take their place?
Alice BentleyGreg Ketter
Dina Krause (M)
Deb Kosiba
The Best in On-line Comics - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Every day, you can spend hours looking through comics on-line...not just the ones that also appear in your newspaper, but original content from the likes of xkcd, Dork Tower, Order of the Stick, and more. Come to this panel to learn where to get your daily laughs, many of which may be tailored specifically for the fannish crowd.
Alice Bentley (M)Mike Cole
Deb Kosiba
Dina Krause
Blowing in the Wind - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
What happened to the 60's activists? Will their legacy impact the future of the planet?
Richard ChwedykDina Krause (M)
Neil Rest
Bill Thomasson
A Look Back At The Earliest Capricons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A
Some of the people who were there at the beginning talk about Capricon I (the con, not the movie). Hear old stories of those days of long ago.
Alice Bentley (M)Dina Krause
Phoenix
Neil Rest
Joseph Stockman
Bookstores Through the Years - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
What economic and social trends allow independent bookstores to thrive? What is the future of the big-box stores? If they go belly-up, what will take their place?
Alice BentleyGreg Ketter
Dina Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
The Right Stuff: Heroes and Heroines - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Do they have common characteristics or backgrounds that help them win the day?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Leonard Krol
Mary Mascari
The Non-Fiction Library All SF Fans Should Have - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Sure, you have Foundation and Neuromancer on your shelves, but what non-fiction books should you also have? History, Science, Sociology, Psychology ... the panel runs through the gamut of the Dewey Decimal System to fill out your shelves.
Elizabeth Anne Hull (M)Todd Johnson
Leonard Krol
Lost Futures: Where Did the Flying Cars Go? - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
The science fiction of yesteryear promised us many things, from flying cars to portable communications devices. Why didn't these happen? Did some of them happen but in a way that we don't even recognize them as the real life descendents of our promised science fiction gizmos?
Leonard Krol (M)Kevin Spencer
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Dawn Kuczwara
Film Roast ( 90 minutes) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - River C (Films)
Rated PG-13 / R / Blue (at times)
Don’t miss our annual film roast of a classic surprise B movie! Greg and Dawn return to “Celebrate” one of the Worst / Best movies of 1981. 30 Years in the making….this is a can’t-miss-classic of Capricon!
Dawn KuczwaraGreg Williams
Twittering SF: Summarize Your Favorite SF/F Book As a Twitter Post - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
Bks R just way 2 long. Authors seem 2 think they need 2 include verbs & nouns & things. R panelists summarize their favrit bks in 140 ch.
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Dawn Kuczwara (M)
Erik V. Olson
Job Networking: How to Use Technology to Search for a Job - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
The internet provides a whole new area to network when looking for a way to buy those collectibles, books, or just to go see the latest movie. How can you use your time cruising the web to increase your chance of landing that lucrative job?
Michael Brian Bentley (M)Peter Heltzer
Dawn Kuczwara
Jer Lance
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Science Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
From polywater to lawsonomy to n-rays, the march of science has been littered with discarded ideas that seem humorous, misguided, or even sinister to our modern, enlightened sensibilities. Come and learn about the disproven theories that couldn't stand the light of day, and speculate on which modern theories might join them on the dustheap of history.
David AbzugTonya Foust
Jer Lance
Jim Landis (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
On the Internet No One Knows You're a Dog! - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow B
The internet offers an unprecedented level of anonymity. While many users revel in the ability to be whomever they want at different times, others feel that people hiding behind anonymity is one of the problems with the internet. Is there, should there, be a compromise between the forces of anonymity and those who want users to take responsibility for their posts?
Chris Gerrib (M)Trista Gunderman
Jer Lance
Becky Thomson
Jim Landis
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Nuclear Fission or Fusion or ???: What Will Power our Future? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Wind...Water...Coal...Steam...Oil. Over the centuries our fuel choices have changed as we've found more effective alternatives. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the most effect alternatives, nuclear fission, carries a strong negative, and fusion isn't ready for prime time. What advances will fuel sources see in the next 50 years? 100 years? Will we ever run out of fuel?
Jim LandisPat Nuccio
Jim Plaxco (M)
Isabel Schechter
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Science Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
From polywater to lawsonomy to n-rays, the march of science has been littered with discarded ideas that seem humorous, misguided, or even sinister to our modern, enlightened sensibilities. Come and learn about the disproven theories that couldn't stand the light of day, and speculate on which modern theories might join them on the dustheap of history.
David AbzugTonya Foust
Jer Lance
Jim Landis (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Climate Change: Local Effects (with Boskone) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Dermot Dobson
Jim Landis
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Barisha Letterman
Carol Ferraro and Barisha Letterman Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Barisha and Carol have been singing together in harmony for years and have written a lot of fine filk songs. If you haven't heard them before at Capricon or elsewhere, here's your chance to catch them live! (And since they're still working on their album, it may be a while before you can catch them pre-recorded...)
Carol FerraroBarisha Letterman
Daniel Levin
Anime: Giving Voice To Animated Characters - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful anime character. Not only must the look be right for what the character does, but the voice must also match. In same cases, this is obvious, you wouldn't want James Earl Jones to provide the voice of Sailor Moon, but what type of girl's voice do you want? How do you determine what vocal qualities will make an anime character an instant classic?
Brian BabendererdeAlice Bentley (M)
Rana George
Daniel Levin
D'Andre Williams
Eileen Maksym
Ethics of Genetic Testing - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch B
Now that we've mapped the human genome, what ethical questions are starting to arise? Should people be tested for genetic deviations? What good will that do them? How can that knowledge be used or abused by doctors or insurance companies?
Dr. Lisa FreitagEileen Maksym
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Hidden Religion in SF/F - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Authors don’t have to create religions in their stories to infuse the narrative with religious motifs, there are more subtle ways to bring beliefs and their religious convictions into a story in ways the reader might not even realize.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)Eileen Maksym
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Mary Mascari
The Right Stuff: Heroes and Heroines - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Do they have common characteristics or backgrounds that help them win the day?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Leonard Krol
Mary Mascari
Newest Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
The Lightning Thief, The Wolfman, Hot Tub Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland. Science fiction and fantasy films are hitting the local cineplex at an astonishing rate. Which ones will be worth the cost of admission and popcorn and which ones will you eventually be watching on cable with the curtains drawn?
Bob Blackwood (M)Alex Eisenstein
Mary Mascari
Leane Verhulst
Dave McCarty
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
How to Throw a Party at a Convention - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Evenings at Capricon are the time to party, but just like everything else at a con, you can throw a party and not just attend one. Learn from some of Capricon's past party mavens how to pick the right theme, carry the right food and drink, and walk out with the coveted best party prize. Begin planning your party for Capricon 31.
Peter Heltzer (M)Dave McCarty
Terrence Miltner
Phandemonium Book Club: Very Bad Deaths, by Spider Robinson - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Willow B
Phandemonium hosts a discussion of guest of honor Spider Robinson's 2004 novel Very Bad Deaths. Come and discuss this dark departure from Robinson's lighter fare.
Dave McCarty (M)Match Game - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
You might remember the show from the 70's and 80's. Come and possibly be lucky enough to have a chance to match our panelists in filling in the blank. Our winners will receive prizes.
Laura Dombrowski (M)Peter Heltzer
Dave McCarty
April Voecks
Celebrate Conventions: Any Given Weekend - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Where's it at, who's got it and where can I get a good tuna fish sandwich? There are some excellent conventions all over the country (and all over the world). Come to this panel to hear about other conventions you may be interested in attending and share your experiences of remote conventions you've enjoyed!
Valli HoskiDave McCarty (M)
Isabel Schechter
Curtis Taitel
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Celebrating the Greatest Villains in SF and Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B
From Snidely Whiplash to Darth Vader, the villains are frequently the most interesting characters in science fiction and fantasy. What draws us to them? Are they more nuanced than the heroes? Is it our hidden desire to break the rules? Or is it that black capes are the height of fashion?
Alice Bentley (M)Dave McCarty
Kathryn Sullivan
Tim Vaulato
Watching a Novel Unfold - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Rob Sawyer and fans discuss the differences between reading FlashForward and watching the television series. What changes had to be made and how do the readers feel about those differences?
kT FitzSimmonsJoe Karpierz
Dave McCarty (M)
Robert J. Sawyer
Chicago in 2012 Bid Meeting - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch B
Chicago is once again hoping to bring Worldcon to our doorsteps in the year 2012. This means that the voting to decide the site will happen later this year! Come to this panel to learn more about the bid and how you can help.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Paul McComas
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Evil vs. Good: What Makes a Better Story? Evil or Good Winning the Day? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
At its most basic, a conflict has a good side (our side) and an evil side (their side). Traditionally, story-telling has the good side come out on top, but is that all there is? Can the evil side win and still provide a story that speaks to the reader? What are the strengths and weaknesses of letting the evil side win? What are some of the classics that focus on Evil Victorious?
Rachel CohanChris Gerrib (M)
Paul McComas
Kevin Spencer
Joy Ward
A Celebration Of Bad Films - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
They are the films you claim never to have seen, but when they come on cable, you can't turn away. You might even have a copy on DVD hidden behind the more sociably acceptable porn. What movies make Plan 9 From Outer Space look like a masterpiece of plotting, character, and special effects?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Paul McComas (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
The Critical Gap Between Film and Text - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Do critics and reviewers who examine the written word have a different set of assumptions than those who look at film?
Brian BabendererdeBob Blackwood (M)
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Literary and Cinematic Dystopias - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
While we would all love to live in the perfect world, imperfect worlds are much more interesting. From 1984 to Children of Men, science fiction authors and filmmakers are constantly warning us about the follies of policy and human nature. Who has done this the best and how well do their warnings work?
Bob BlackwoodAlex Eisenstein
Paul McComas (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Joy Ward
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Heather McConaha
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
Are you the Traitor - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
It's the moment of truth in your quest to destroy the Evil magic Key. Your band of adventurers faces two Wizards: an Evil Wizard who wants to use the key to unlock evil powers, and the Good Wizard who has the ability to destroy it. The problem is, the Evil Wizard has disguised himself to look exactly like the Good Wizard, so who do you give the Key to? Choose quickly: one of your trusted Guards is secretly a Traitor - and next round that Traitor might be you!
Heather McConaha (M)Are You a Werewolf - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule.
Heather McConaha (M)Are you the Traitor (2) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
It's the moment of truth in your quest to destroy the Evil magic Key. Your band of adventurers faces two Wizards: an Evil Wizard who wants to use the key to unlock evil powers, and the Good Wizard who has the ability to destroy it. The problem is, the Evil Wizard has disguised himself to look exactly like the Good Wizard, so who do you give the Key to? Choose quickly: one of your trusted Guards is secretly a Traitor - and next round that Traitor might be you!
Heather McConaha (M)Are You a Werewolf (2) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule.
Heather McConaha (M)Oh God, I'm A Gamer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Whether you have shelves full of every edition of Dungeons and Dragons or simply carry a deck of playing cards with you, you might be a gamer. What does it mean to be a gamer? How can you share your pastime with people who don't think they are gamers? And what other games should you begin to play?
David Abzug (M)Heather McConaha
Terrence Miltner
Isabel Schechter
Are You a Werewolf (3) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule.
Heather McConaha (M)Amy McNally
Amy McNally Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Fiddler Amy is incredibly talented. Not only does she play well-known material well, but she also has been known to play along wonderfully on songs that she's hearing for the first time. The rest of us are still trying to figure out how she does it -- when we're not just enjoying listening to her play.
Amy McNallyJessica Merrick
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
Adam Miller
The Stars are Right - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Summon the Great Old Ones, who will shower you with power beyond your dreams. Or perhaps they'll eat you. Or both.
Adam Miller (M)Munchkin Quest - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Kill the monster, grab the treasure, stab your buddy. That's what it's all about. Now, Munchkin comes to the boardgame.
Board Game 2-6 players
Adam Miller (M)Red Dragon Inn - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
You and your adventuring companions have spent all day slogging through the Dungeon, killing monsters and taking their stuff. Now you're back in town, healed up, cleaned up, and ready to party at the Red Dragon Inn.
Card Game 2-4 Players
Adam Miller (M)Munchkin Quest (2) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Kill the monster, grab the treasure, stab your buddy. That's what it's all about. Now, Munchkin comes to the board game.
Board game 2 - 6 players
Adam Miller (M)Red Dragon Inn (2) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
You and your adventuring companions have spent all day slogging through the Dungeon, killing monsters and taking their stuff. Now you're back in town, healed up, cleaned up, and ready to party at the Red Dragon Inn.
Card Game 2-4 Players
Adam Miller (M)The Stars are Right (2) - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Summon the Great Old Ones, who will shower you with power beyond your dreams. Or perhaps they'll eat you. Or both.
Adam Miller (M)Terrence Miltner
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
How to Throw a Party at a Convention - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Evenings at Capricon are the time to party, but just like everything else at a con, you can throw a party and not just attend one. Learn from some of Capricon's past party mavens how to pick the right theme, carry the right food and drink, and walk out with the coveted best party prize. Begin planning your party for Capricon 31.
Peter Heltzer (M)Dave McCarty
Terrence Miltner
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Games for Non-Gamers - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Even if you don't have the time or inclination to get into role-playing games, you can still be a gamer, whether it is Fluxx, Blink, or Scattegories. Come and learn fun games and realize that anyone can game.
David Abzug (M)Marnie Gucciard
Terrence Miltner
Oh God, I'm A Gamer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Whether you have shelves full of every edition of Dungeons and Dragons or simply carry a deck of playing cards with you, you might be a gamer. What does it mean to be a gamer? How can you share your pastime with people who don't think they are gamers? And what other games should you begin to play?
David Abzug (M)Heather McConaha
Terrence Miltner
Isabel Schechter
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Helen Montgomery
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
They say you can judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by reading only page 119? Join us and find out.
Peter HeltzerHelen Montgomery (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Leane Verhulst
Intro to the Con - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow A
Welcome to Capricon! Ask our panelists any questions that you have about the convention, where things are and what the convention is all about. This is an ideal panel for new attendees who have never been to Capricon before or who have never been to a science fiction convention. Ask them questions about whether just reading or watching SF makes you a fan or is it the social aspect of gathering at a con or participating in a blog that makes you one.
Helen MontgomeryLeane Verhulst
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Euchre 101 (How to Play Euchre) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Willow A, Willow B
The Capricon Euchre Tournament has been going strong for many years now, and we also have the bimonthly Euchre Club. We know that some of you have never learned to play before now, but want to be one of the cool players like us! All levels of player, from complete novice to "I learned a long time ago" are welcome to join our expert Euchre players and learn from the best!
Tim DinanHelen Montgomery
Ruth Palileo
Euchre Tournament - Friday - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 11:00 pm to 2:00 am - Willow A, Willow B
The 8th Annual Euchre Tournament. Bring a partner and get ready to play some cards. Don't have a partner? Don't worry, we'll find you one - for the game only - anything else is your own responsibility. And remember, this is a friendly game. Weapons policy will be strictly enforced at the euchre tournament.
Mental Health Treatment: How Far Have We Really Come? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Although we may not put our "lunatics" in asylums any more, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Even the act of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist is enough to raise some people's eyebrows. How close are we to being an enlightened society when it comes to mental health and what steps can we take to remove the stigma?
Dr. Lisa FreitagKelley Higgins
Helen Montgomery (M)
Becky Thomson
Joy Ward
Dramatic Readings from the Weekly World News: 2009 in Review - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
In 2007, the Weekly World News stopped publishing their print edition. They thought it would stop us…but they were WRONG! Come join us for much silliness, laughter, and bad puns as we bring you the best of this year's online stories from "The World's Only Reliable Newspaper."
Helen Montgomery (M)Snow Goons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lobby
Time to head outside and play in the snow! Join us as we romp through the snow drifts and create stunning (and by stunning, we mean...well, twisted!) works of snow art, a la Calvin and Hobbes. In the event of uncooperative weather, we will meet in Calahan's Crosstime Saloon (Consuite) instead and have hot cocoa!
Helen MontgomeryErik V. Olson
Phandemonium 101 & Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Learn about Phandemonium - the parent corporation for Capricon and then beat...I mean, meet the candidates for the Phandemonium Board. Ask them questions to find out the meaning of life, the universe and everything
Chicago in 2012 Bid Meeting - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch B
Chicago is once again hoping to bring Worldcon to our doorsteps in the year 2012. This means that the voting to decide the site will happen later this year! Come to this panel to learn more about the bid and how you can help.
Euchre Tournament - Saturday - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 pm to 2:00 am - Willow A, Willow B
The 8th Annual Euchre Tournament. Bring a partner and get ready to play some cards. Don't have a partner? Don't worry, we'll find you one - for the game only - anything else is your own responsibility. And remember, this is a friendly game. Weapons policy will be strictly enforced at the euchre tournament.
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Frances Moritz
Lord of the Fries - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
Welcome to Friedey's, the Fast Food Restaurant of the Damned!
Card game 2-5 players
Frances Moritz (M)Cartoon Frag - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Round (Gaming)
Bugs Bunny shoots Stitch with the missile launcher. Cartoon Frag is a computer game without a computer. It's a "first-person shooter" on a tabletop; up to six can play playing some of their favorite cartoon characters.
Frances Moritz (M)Battle Cattle - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Cafe (Gaming)
The hilarious game of cow-to-cow combat, is now a card game. America's finest beefsteak puts on armor, grabs the big guns, and goes at it hoof and horn. It includes six full-color cow cards, 110 full-color playing cards, and short, easy rules. Fast, fun, quick to learn . . . and your foes are hamburger.
Card Game 2-6 players
Frances Moritz (M)Deirdre Murphy
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
How to Read Tarot Cards - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Let's face it, cups, swords, staves and coins are so much cooler than diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. But each of those means something different, and when you add in the trumps, Tarot just blows regular cards out of the water. Come and learn what the suits and trumps really mean and how they can tell you what to expect.
Lee DarrowRana George
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Deirdre Murphy (M)
delphyne woods
History and Evolution of Religion - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Every religion changes over time. The Catholic Church allowed priests to marry up until 1054. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem caused many religious practices to change. What causes religions to evolve? What makes it more difficult for some religions to evolve? And what happens when a religion changes too quickly (or slowly) for its followers?
Deirdre MurphyPatricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Face painting techniques - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow B
Deirdre Murphy
This Is Not Your Mother's Urban Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
A decade ago, urban fantasy referred to stories in which faerie and magic crept into our own world. Now, urban fantasy is its own publishing subgenre and tends to deal with vampires, and ghoulies, and things that go bump on the darkened city streets. Where did this change come from?
Fran JuergensmeyerDeirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Reading: Deirdre Murphy - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Deirdre Murphy
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Homeopathic Remedies: Fact or Fiction? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Homeopathy is just one of many "alternative" medicines, treating diseases with a series of dilutions. Is this a legitimate treatment? If it is, what can mainstream doctors learn from its techniques? If it isn't, does it do harm or merely have a placebo effect?
Trista GundermanDr. John D. Nikitow (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Ethics of Genetic Testing - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch B
Now that we've mapped the human genome, what ethical questions are starting to arise? Should people be tested for genetic deviations? What good will that do them? How can that knowledge be used or abused by doctors or insurance companies?
Dr. Lisa FreitagEileen Maksym
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Science Fiction vs. Science Fictional - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B
There are some novels and films that are science fictional, even if they aren't science fiction. For instance, Jules Verne wrote Around the world in 80 Days to prove that someone living in 1873, but many people would consider it science fiction, even though nothing in the book is. What makes a work without science fiction in it seem science fictional?
Dr. John D. NikitowJody Lynn Nye
Robert J. Sawyer (M)
Pat Nuccio
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Nuclear Fission or Fusion or ???: What Will Power our Future? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Wind...Water...Coal...Steam...Oil. Over the centuries our fuel choices have changed as we've found more effective alternatives. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the most effect alternatives, nuclear fission, carries a strong negative, and fusion isn't ready for prime time. What advances will fuel sources see in the next 50 years? 100 years? Will we ever run out of fuel?
Jim LandisPat Nuccio
Jim Plaxco (M)
Isabel Schechter
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Phandemonium 101 & Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Learn about Phandemonium - the parent corporation for Capricon and then beat...I mean, meet the candidates for the Phandemonium Board. Ask them questions to find out the meaning of life, the universe and everything
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Jody Lynn Nye
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
They say you can judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by reading only page 119? Join us and find out.
Peter HeltzerHelen Montgomery (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Leane Verhulst
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Science Edition - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
From polywater to lawsonomy to n-rays, the march of science has been littered with discarded ideas that seem humorous, misguided, or even sinister to our modern, enlightened sensibilities. Come and learn about the disproven theories that couldn't stand the light of day, and speculate on which modern theories might join them on the dustheap of history.
David AbzugTonya Foust
Jer Lance
Jim Landis (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Reading: Jody Lyn Nye - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Jody Lynn Nye
Autographing: Nye - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Autograph Table
Jody Lynn Nye
Science Fiction vs. Science Fictional - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B
There are some novels and films that are science fictional, even if they aren't science fiction. For instance, Jules Verne wrote Around the world in 80 Days to prove that someone living in 1873, but many people would consider it science fiction, even though nothing in the book is. What makes a work without science fiction in it seem science fictional?
Dr. John D. NikitowJody Lynn Nye
Robert J. Sawyer (M)
Is SF/Fantasy a Dying Genre or Just Evolving? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow A
A round table discussion which focuses on whether science fiction and fantasy are continually evolving or if the genres are in the process of dying out, and, if they are, what is causing their extinction.
Brian BabendererdeRachel Cohan
Jody Lynn Nye (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Gene Wolfe
How to Read Palms: Palmistry Demonstration - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Since ancient times, the Indians, Chinese, Roma, and other cultures have believed that the lines crisscrossing your palm could reveal information about your future. This demonstration will allow you to have your palm read by practicing chiromancers who are members of Capricon. Do you hold your future in the palm of your hand?
Lee Darrow (M)Jody Lynn Nye
delphyne woods
Erik V. Olson
Spider Robinson and Robert Heinlein - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch A
Spider Robinson has long acknowledged his debt to Robert Heinlein. In 2006, Robinson was able to pay this debt back when he collaborated with Heinlein on Variable Star. This panel looks at the two authors' similarities and differences.
David AbzugWalt Boyes
Erik V. Olson (M)
Spider Robinson
Curtis Taitel
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Twittering SF: Summarize Your Favorite SF/F Book As a Twitter Post - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
Bks R just way 2 long. Authors seem 2 think they need 2 include verbs & nouns & things. R panelists summarize their favrit bks in 140 ch.
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Dawn Kuczwara (M)
Erik V. Olson
Snow Goons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lobby
Time to head outside and play in the snow! Join us as we romp through the snow drifts and create stunning (and by stunning, we mean...well, twisted!) works of snow art, a la Calvin and Hobbes. In the event of uncooperative weather, we will meet in Calahan's Crosstime Saloon (Consuite) instead and have hot cocoa!
Helen MontgomeryErik V. Olson
Phandemonium 101 & Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Learn about Phandemonium - the parent corporation for Capricon and then beat...I mean, meet the candidates for the Phandemonium Board. Ask them questions to find out the meaning of life, the universe and everything
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Ruth Palileo
Euchre 101 (How to Play Euchre) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Willow A, Willow B
The Capricon Euchre Tournament has been going strong for many years now, and we also have the bimonthly Euchre Club. We know that some of you have never learned to play before now, but want to be one of the cool players like us! All levels of player, from complete novice to "I learned a long time ago" are welcome to join our expert Euchre players and learn from the best!
Tim DinanHelen Montgomery
Ruth Palileo
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Ethics of Genetic Testing - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch B
Now that we've mapped the human genome, what ethical questions are starting to arise? Should people be tested for genetic deviations? What good will that do them? How can that knowledge be used or abused by doctors or insurance companies?
Dr. Lisa FreitagEileen Maksym
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Fannish Health Issues - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Obesity, Diabetes, Myopia, Trimethylaminuria. Fans, especially as fans age, have a variety of medical problems that require attention. Although doctors can help in many cases, fans also need to learn to take better care of themselves, whether through diet, exercise, or simply listening to their bodies. Come and learn how you can become a healthier and happier fan.
Dermot DobsonPhyllis Eisenstein
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Are There Such Things As Supergerms? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Are supergerms just media hype or are there actually pathogens that will adapt so quickly that there is no way for medical science to eradicate, or even treat, the illnesses they cause? Is there a limit to what medicine can achieve or will we defeat these germs before they wipe out the human race?
Dr. Bob PassovoyBill Thomasson (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Ravinia A
Bid for artwork at this fun and lively event where the auctioneers not only try to get your money, but your sanity too!
Dr. Bob PassovoyLucy Synk
Greg Williams
Phoenix
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
A Look Back At The Earliest Capricons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A
Some of the people who were there at the beginning talk about Capricon I (the con, not the movie). Hear old stories of those days of long ago.
Alice Bentley (M)Dina Krause
Phoenix
Neil Rest
Joseph Stockman
Cancelled TV Shows You Should Love - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
From Firefly to The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. to Wonderfalls, there are many shows that existed for less than a season but are available on DVD. What are some of these flops that you should know about and watch with the sadness of knowing there will never be any more episodes?
Michael D'AmbrosioBill Higgins
Phoenix
Jim Rittenhouse
delphyne woods (M)
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Jim Plaxco
Do You Still Believe in the Future? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
They say the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" is thirteen and when you're thirteen all sorts of things are possible in the future. Now that you've grown up, chronologically, if nothing else, do you still view the possibilities of the future the way you did when you hit that golden age? Is it possible to retain that hope and optimism or are humans naturally cynical?
Michael D'AmbrosioDermot Dobson (M)
Butch Honeck
Jim Plaxco
Nuclear Fission or Fusion or ???: What Will Power our Future? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Wind...Water...Coal...Steam...Oil. Over the centuries our fuel choices have changed as we've found more effective alternatives. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the most effect alternatives, nuclear fission, carries a strong negative, and fusion isn't ready for prime time. What advances will fuel sources see in the next 50 years? 100 years? Will we ever run out of fuel?
Jim LandisPat Nuccio
Jim Plaxco (M)
Isabel Schechter
Algorithmic Art: Where Art Meets Math - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia A
A brief history of algorithmic art and a look at some of the tools available today to those interested in its pursuit.
Jim PlaxcoISDC: The International Space Development Conference - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow B
The International Space Development Conferences is coming to Chicago on Memorial Day weekend this year. Come learn what this professional conference has to offer and learn how you can attend at a discount.
Jim Plaxco (M)Tom Veal
Manned visit to Mars: Round Table Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
Is it worth sending a man to Mars as opposed to unmanned probes?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoJim Plaxco
Bill Thomasson (M)
The Art of Astronomy - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
A look at the history of astronomical art.
Jim PlaxcoFred Pohl
I Write SF, but I'm a Techno-Idiot - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
Just because an author writes science fiction doesn’t mean they allow it into their lives. From the extreme of Harlan Ellison™ still using a manual typewriter or Ray Bradbury refusing to learn to drive, what Luddite tendencies plague today’s otherwise sophisticated science fiction author?
Richard Chwedyk (M)Fred Pohl
Gene Wolfe
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
The Way the Future Was (with Boskone) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Birch A, Birch B
Fred Pohl
Robert J. Sawyer
Gene Wolfe
Autographing: Fred Pohl - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Autograph Table
Fred Pohl
The Golden Age of 2010 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia A
What would SF pioneers think of the world today?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Bill Higgins
Fred Pohl
Bill Thomasson
Heinlein's Undying Hand - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
While many authors’ books go out of print almost immediately after they die, Heinlein’s have managed to remain in print and continue to have a massive, devoted following (including Capricon 30 GoH Spider Robinson). What is it about his books that inspires such a devotion? Even the sucky ones?
David AbzugPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Fred Pohl
delphyne woods
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Neil Rest
Blowing in the Wind - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
What happened to the 60's activists? Will their legacy impact the future of the planet?
Richard ChwedykDina Krause (M)
Neil Rest
Bill Thomasson
International, National, and Local SF Awards - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow B
You've probably heard about the Hugo and Nebula Awards, but there are a slew of other awards presented every year, from the Golden Duck, given out by Chicago's own SuperConDuckTivity, for Children's SF to the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for gender bending SF. Come and learn about lesser known awards and discover a whole new range of award winning books and stories to fill your reading hours.
Doug Drummond (M)Valli Hoski
Neil Rest
Jim Rittenhouse
A Look Back At The Earliest Capricons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A
Some of the people who were there at the beginning talk about Capricon I (the con, not the movie). Hear old stories of those days of long ago.
Alice Bentley (M)Dina Krause
Phoenix
Neil Rest
Joseph Stockman
Jim Rittenhouse
What Technical Advances Will be Accepted by the General Population? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch A
Are there certain kinds of technical advances that are more likely to be accepted by the general population than others?
Alice BentleyDermot Dobson
Jim Rittenhouse (M)
International, National, and Local SF Awards - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow B
You've probably heard about the Hugo and Nebula Awards, but there are a slew of other awards presented every year, from the Golden Duck, given out by Chicago's own SuperConDuckTivity, for Children's SF to the James Tiptree, Jr. Award for gender bending SF. Come and learn about lesser known awards and discover a whole new range of award winning books and stories to fill your reading hours.
Doug Drummond (M)Valli Hoski
Neil Rest
Jim Rittenhouse
Literary and Cinematic Dystopias - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
While we would all love to live in the perfect world, imperfect worlds are much more interesting. From 1984 to Children of Men, science fiction authors and filmmakers are constantly warning us about the follies of policy and human nature. Who has done this the best and how well do their warnings work?
Bob BlackwoodAlex Eisenstein
Paul McComas (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Joy Ward
Cancelled TV Shows You Should Love - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
From Firefly to The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. to Wonderfalls, there are many shows that existed for less than a season but are available on DVD. What are some of these flops that you should know about and watch with the sadness of knowing there will never be any more episodes?
Michael D'AmbrosioBill Higgins
Phoenix
Jim Rittenhouse
delphyne woods (M)
Spider Robinson
Spider Robinson and Robert Heinlein - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch A
Spider Robinson has long acknowledged his debt to Robert Heinlein. In 2006, Robinson was able to pay this debt back when he collaborated with Heinlein on Variable Star. This panel looks at the two authors' similarities and differences.
David AbzugWalt Boyes
Erik V. Olson (M)
Spider Robinson
Curtis Taitel
Spider Robinson Reading - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
When your guest is unable to attend, bring the con to your guest. Spider Robinson will be attending Capricon remotely to read via the magic of computer technology. Come hear Spider's works in his own voice.
Spider RobinsonFrank Rodriguez
Family Feud - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B
Come watch the Star Fleet Red Shirts vs. the Klingons in the battle of the ages, using words instead of weapons.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Frank Rodriguez
Greg Williams
Klingon Karaoke - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 pm to 12:00 am - Botanic Garden B
As this will be the last year for Klingon Karaoke, we're going out in style with Live Band Karaoke this year. So if you've never made it before, this will be the year that you WANT to attend. Live Band Karaoke lets you rock out with your Klingon out. Be sure that you attend this historic event.
Frank RodriguezBill Roper
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Open Filk (Thu) - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 10:00 pm to 2:00 am - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Bill Roper's Other Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Originally, this was Bill's only concert. But when Spider and Jeanne couldn't make it to the con, Bill was the emergency backup replacement for that slot. The good news is that Bill's been writing music so quickly lately, that he shouldn't have any trouble doing two entirely different sets for you. Come by and we'll find out what he pulls out of his hat.
Bill RoperBirthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Open Filk (Fri) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 3:00 am - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Bill Roper Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia B
Bill Roper
Open Filk (Sat) - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 3:00 am - Ravinia B
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Robert J. Sawyer
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
What's Happening North of the Border? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Our very large neighbor to the North (no, not Wisconsin-Canada) has a vibrant science fiction scene, from the authors to the fans to the number of science fiction films and television shows that are made there. Some of our Canadian members will tell you what is happening in Canada in these post Anticipation days. Eh?
Carolyn ClinkRobert J. Sawyer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic (M)
Alex von Thorn
Koffeeklatch with Author GoH Robert J. Sawyer - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
You don't have to drink coffee, tea, coffiest, klava, or klah to participate. Join one of your favorite Guests of Honor for an intimate round table discussion. Space is limited, so sign up at the Info Desk.
Robert J. SawyerThe Way the Future Was (with Boskone) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Birch A, Birch B
Fred Pohl
Robert J. Sawyer
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Robert Sawyer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:00 am - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Robert J. Sawyer
Autographing: Robert J. Sawyer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Autograph Table
Robert J. Sawyer
Watching a Novel Unfold - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Rob Sawyer and fans discuss the differences between reading FlashForward and watching the television series. What changes had to be made and how do the readers feel about those differences?
kT FitzSimmonsJoe Karpierz
Dave McCarty (M)
Robert J. Sawyer
Science Fiction vs. Science Fictional - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B
There are some novels and films that are science fictional, even if they aren't science fiction. For instance, Jules Verne wrote Around the world in 80 Days to prove that someone living in 1873, but many people would consider it science fiction, even though nothing in the book is. What makes a work without science fiction in it seem science fictional?
Dr. John D. NikitowJody Lynn Nye
Robert J. Sawyer (M)
Destiny vs. Free Will - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Is it more comforting to know your future is already set or that you are free to succeed or screw up on your own?
Robert J. SawyerGene Wolfe
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Patricia Sayre McCoy
2012: Are the Mayans Right? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is set to end on December 20, 2012. Many people have taken this to mean the end of the world despite the fact that nothing happened when the last Long Count Calendar ended on September 18, 1618. Why are some people convinced this ending is different? And why did the Mayans need a calendar that tracked for nearly four centuries?
Patricia Sayre McCoyKevin Spencer (M)
Bill Thomasson
delphyne woods
History and Evolution of Religion - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Every religion changes over time. The Catholic Church allowed priests to marry up until 1054. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem caused many religious practices to change. What causes religions to evolve? What makes it more difficult for some religions to evolve? And what happens when a religion changes too quickly (or slowly) for its followers?
Deirdre MurphyPatricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
The Critical Gap Between Film and Text - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Do critics and reviewers who examine the written word have a different set of assumptions than those who look at film?
Brian BabendererdeBob Blackwood (M)
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy
New Authors You Should Know - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Panelists look at authors who have burst onto the scene in the last half decade and discuss why these authors are having success and how the internet is making their appearance different from the successful authors of earlier eras.
Fran JuergensmeyerPatricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Isabel Schechter
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Nuclear Fission or Fusion or ???: What Will Power our Future? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Wind...Water...Coal...Steam...Oil. Over the centuries our fuel choices have changed as we've found more effective alternatives. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the most effect alternatives, nuclear fission, carries a strong negative, and fusion isn't ready for prime time. What advances will fuel sources see in the next 50 years? 100 years? Will we ever run out of fuel?
Jim LandisPat Nuccio
Jim Plaxco (M)
Isabel Schechter
Celebrate Conventions: Any Given Weekend - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Where's it at, who's got it and where can I get a good tuna fish sandwich? There are some excellent conventions all over the country (and all over the world). Come to this panel to hear about other conventions you may be interested in attending and share your experiences of remote conventions you've enjoyed!
Valli HoskiDave McCarty (M)
Isabel Schechter
Curtis Taitel
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
Oh God, I'm A Gamer - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow B
Whether you have shelves full of every edition of Dungeons and Dragons or simply carry a deck of playing cards with you, you might be a gamer. What does it mean to be a gamer? How can you share your pastime with people who don't think they are gamers? And what other games should you begin to play?
David Abzug (M)Heather McConaha
Terrence Miltner
Isabel Schechter
Euchre Tournament - Saturday - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:00 pm to 2:00 am - Willow A, Willow B
The 8th Annual Euchre Tournament. Bring a partner and get ready to play some cards. Don't have a partner? Don't worry, we'll find you one - for the game only - anything else is your own responsibility. And remember, this is a friendly game. Weapons policy will be strictly enforced at the euchre tournament.
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
What's Happening North of the Border? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Our very large neighbor to the North (no, not Wisconsin-Canada) has a vibrant science fiction scene, from the authors to the fans to the number of science fiction films and television shows that are made there. Some of our Canadian members will tell you what is happening in Canada in these post Anticipation days. Eh?
Carolyn ClinkRobert J. Sawyer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic (M)
Alex von Thorn
Luke Ski
The Great Luke Ski Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
If you haven't already run into The Great Luke Ski, then you may not know that he's a filk rapper and a regular contributor to the Dr. Demento Show. If you have run into Luke, then you know that he's relentlessly funny and puts on a unique show complete with props and costumes. Come early, because it's always a packed house!
Luke SkiTom Smith
Tom Smith Concert - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
You may have heard that Tom Smith is the World's Fastest Filker. He's also funny. Really, really funny. Except when he's being really, really serious. Either way, he's really, really good. Come by and see why.
Tom SmithKevin Spencer
2012: Are the Mayans Right? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is set to end on December 20, 2012. Many people have taken this to mean the end of the world despite the fact that nothing happened when the last Long Count Calendar ended on September 18, 1618. Why are some people convinced this ending is different? And why did the Mayans need a calendar that tracked for nearly four centuries?
Patricia Sayre McCoyKevin Spencer (M)
Bill Thomasson
delphyne woods
Celebrating the Greatest Heroes in SF and Fantasy - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
They stand above the genre like colossi of Rhodes. James T. Kirk, Frodo Baggins, Hiro Protagonist. Who are the heroes that define science fiction and fantasy? What makes readers and viewers able to relate to them, or even just want to be like them? Come and discuss the Good Guys and perhaps find new books and movies to enjoy.
Brian BabendererdeTrista Gunderman
Kevin Spencer
Tim Vaulato (M)
Evil vs. Good: What Makes a Better Story? Evil or Good Winning the Day? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
At its most basic, a conflict has a good side (our side) and an evil side (their side). Traditionally, story-telling has the good side come out on top, but is that all there is? Can the evil side win and still provide a story that speaks to the reader? What are the strengths and weaknesses of letting the evil side win? What are some of the classics that focus on Evil Victorious?
Rachel CohanChris Gerrib (M)
Paul McComas
Kevin Spencer
Joy Ward
Lost Futures: Where Did the Flying Cars Go? - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
The science fiction of yesteryear promised us many things, from flying cars to portable communications devices. Why didn't these happen? Did some of them happen but in a way that we don't even recognize them as the real life descendents of our promised science fiction gizmos?
Leonard Krol (M)Kevin Spencer
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Chazz Spengler
Lollipop Oooza Music Festival - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 9:00 am to 10:00 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Join us for our junior jam session. Bring your own instrument or enjoy an array of percussion choices as we explore musical mayhem. Make a joyful noise and catch the rhythm.
All ages welcome.
Chazz Spengler (M)
Icky Sticky Goopfest - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Let's make a mess! Come have fun creating and exploring the properties of Oobleck, slime, moonsand and other yucky messy things your parents don't appreciate.
Ages 4 and up
Launch Party - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
The sky is the limit when you come craft with us and build rocket ships and paper airplanes. Use your imagination and recycled materials to design and decorate your starship or fold your way to a better flier.
Chazz Spengler (M)Build A Beast Balloon Fun - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Use your imagination and our balloons to make a bubbly beastie. Come see a menagerie of inflatable animals and fantastic creations by the creative John Wardale. From ninja turtles to the Starship Enterprise, his designs are sure to blow your mind.
All ages welcome.
John Wardale
Colleen Spengler
Block Party 1 - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Join us for a massive build-a-thon with Lego bricks galore. Block heads of all ages welcome!
Colleen Spengler (M)Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Spring Carnival - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 9:00 am to 10:00 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Spring is in the air and the buds are blooming. Come try your luck with carnival games, or make some springtime crafts.
Colleen Spengler (M)Summer Games - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come try our tests of skill and games of luck and enjoy crafts to celebrate the Summer season.
All ages welcome
Colleen Spengler (M)Harvest Festival - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Time to celebrate all things Autumn! Come craft and play games of luck and tests of skill and complete your leaf collection.
Colleen Spengler (M)Winter Games - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come try our tests of skill and games of luck and enjoy crafts to celebrate the Winter season.
All ages welcome
Colleen Spengler (M)Sweetheart's Hour - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come share warm fuzzies and make heart shaped cards, tissue paper flowers, and make some jewelry too. Swap sweetheart candies with your chums.
Colleen Spengler (M)Fun with Food: Taste of Capricon - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come sculpt wacky creations with marshmallows, gummies and other edible substances. Build a Treats-A-Pizza or just nibble the goodies. Who says you shouldn't play with your food? Not us!
Kerri-Ellen KellyColleen Spengler (M)
Block Party 2 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Join us for a massive build-a-thon with Lego bricks galore. Block heads of all ages welcome!
Colleen Spengler (M)Jack Sparrow's Beach Party - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Arrrrrgh! Come dance with the pirates, make some sandy crafts, and sing-along with the parrots.
Colleen Spengler (M)Slumber Party 1 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come party with the DJ in her PJs for games galore and mega munchies.
If you snooze you lose!
Colleen Spengler (M)Royal Coronation - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come craft with us for a make & take of all the royal accessories fit for a young king or queen. Find your inner prince or princess and we'll help budding monarchs create tiaras and wands, crowns and swords.
For ages 3 and up
Fairy Queen's Garden Party - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come join our garden party for our friends from faerieland! Enjoy snacks and treats, games and crafts for you and your favorite teddy bear, doll, or imaginary playmate.
You'll have a faerie good time!
All ages welcome
Lemony Snicket's Writer's Workshop - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come craft with us for a book building make & take. Color, stencil, stamp and sticker a story to create your own book to take home with you.
For ages 3 and up
Colleen Spengler (M)
Block Party 3 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Join us for a massive build-a-thon with Lego bricks galore. Block heads of all ages welcome!
Colleen Spengler (M)Alien Landing Party - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
The Aliens have landed! Build bug-eyed monsters, aliens and wacky animal creations with Playdoh, MoonSand and other fun materials.
For ages 3 and up
Casper's Costume Party - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Dress up and spark the night spooktastic with some haunted happenings, creepy crafts and fiendish fun. We'll have dress-up trunks filled with all kinds of costumes for fun and games.
All Ages welcome
Colleen Spengler (M)Slumber Party 2 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come party with the DJ in her PJs for games galore and mega munchies.
If you snooze you lose!
Colleen Spengler (M)Mad Hatter's Tea Party - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
We're all mad here, mad you know! Come have a harum scarum top-toffing time at our Mad Hatter's Tea Party! I hear the doormouse likes karaoke.
Clean Cups!
Kerri-Ellen KellyColleen Spengler (M)
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Joseph Stockman
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
A Look Back At The Earliest Capricons - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia A
Some of the people who were there at the beginning talk about Capricon I (the con, not the movie). Hear old stories of those days of long ago.
Alice Bentley (M)Dina Krause
Phoenix
Neil Rest
Joseph Stockman
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Kathryn Sullivan
E-Readers: The Greening of Books - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Discussion and Demos - bring your reader to show it off!
Walt Boyes (M)Chris Gerrib
Kathryn Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
Celebrating the Greatest Villains in SF and Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B
From Snidely Whiplash to Darth Vader, the villains are frequently the most interesting characters in science fiction and fantasy. What draws us to them? Are they more nuanced than the heroes? Is it our hidden desire to break the rules? Or is it that black capes are the height of fashion?
Alice Bentley (M)Dave McCarty
Kathryn Sullivan
Tim Vaulato
Goodbye 10, Hello 11 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Although it is hard to believe now, David Tennant had his detractors when he took over the iconic Time Lord role from Christopher Eccleston. What does Matt Smith need to do in order to be deemed a success?
Valli HoskiKathryn Sullivan (M)
Lucy Synk
Curtis Taitel
Autographing: Eisenstein, Sullivan - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Autograph Table
Phyllis Eisenstein
Kathryn Sullivan
Is SF/Fantasy a Dying Genre or Just Evolving? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow A
A round table discussion which focuses on whether science fiction and fantasy are continually evolving or if the genres are in the process of dying out, and, if they are, what is causing their extinction.
Brian BabendererdeRachel Cohan
Jody Lynn Nye (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Gene Wolfe
This Is Not Your Mother's Urban Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
A decade ago, urban fantasy referred to stories in which faerie and magic crept into our own world. Now, urban fantasy is its own publishing subgenre and tends to deal with vampires, and ghoulies, and things that go bump on the darkened city streets. Where did this change come from?
Fran JuergensmeyerDeirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Reading: Kathryn Sullivan - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Kathryn Sullivan
Lucy Synk
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Art Show Docent Tour with GoH Lucy Synk - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia C (Art Show)
You may know what you like, but when you're shown the art by someone who knows what to look for, whole new vistas can open up, even in paintings you don't personally appreciate.
Lucy SynkJob Networking: Have You Been Laid Off? Is Your Firm Hiring? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
We know the job market stinks. Whether you believe we have yet to bottom out or are in the midst of a recovery, it doesn't really matter if you still need a job. Come and discuss job hunting techniques and perhaps get the all important lead for your next job.
Walt Boyes (M)Lucy Synk
delphyne woods
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Goodbye 10, Hello 11 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Although it is hard to believe now, David Tennant had his detractors when he took over the iconic Time Lord role from Christopher Eccleston. What does Matt Smith need to do in order to be deemed a success?
Valli HoskiKathryn Sullivan (M)
Lucy Synk
Curtis Taitel
SF Artist Pictionary - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Fan and pro artists draw words from a hat and the audience has to guess what they are trying to illustrate.
Mike ColeLucy Synk
Tim Vaulato
delphyne woods
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Ravinia A
Bid for artwork at this fun and lively event where the auctioneers not only try to get your money, but your sanity too!
Dr. Bob PassovoyLucy Synk
Greg Williams
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Curtis Taitel
Spider Robinson and Robert Heinlein - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Birch A
Spider Robinson has long acknowledged his debt to Robert Heinlein. In 2006, Robinson was able to pay this debt back when he collaborated with Heinlein on Variable Star. This panel looks at the two authors' similarities and differences.
David AbzugWalt Boyes
Erik V. Olson (M)
Spider Robinson
Curtis Taitel
Celebrating Local Artists - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Home to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, our city has produced a plethora of great SF artists, from J. Allen St. John to Randy Broecker. Come and learn about the rich artistic heritage of Chicago and learn which current artists call our city home.
Alice Bentley (M)Walt Boyes
Curtis Taitel
E-Readers: The Greening of Books - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Discussion and Demos - bring your reader to show it off!
Walt Boyes (M)Chris Gerrib
Kathryn Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
Celebrate Conventions: Any Given Weekend - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Where's it at, who's got it and where can I get a good tuna fish sandwich? There are some excellent conventions all over the country (and all over the world). Come to this panel to hear about other conventions you may be interested in attending and share your experiences of remote conventions you've enjoyed!
Valli HoskiDave McCarty (M)
Isabel Schechter
Curtis Taitel
Goodbye 10, Hello 11 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Although it is hard to believe now, David Tennant had his detractors when he took over the iconic Time Lord role from Christopher Eccleston. What does Matt Smith need to do in order to be deemed a success?
Valli HoskiKathryn Sullivan (M)
Lucy Synk
Curtis Taitel
Bill Thomasson
2012: Are the Mayans Right? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is set to end on December 20, 2012. Many people have taken this to mean the end of the world despite the fact that nothing happened when the last Long Count Calendar ended on September 18, 1618. Why are some people convinced this ending is different? And why did the Mayans need a calendar that tracked for nearly four centuries?
Patricia Sayre McCoyKevin Spencer (M)
Bill Thomasson
delphyne woods
Blowing in the Wind - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B
What happened to the 60's activists? Will their legacy impact the future of the planet?
Richard ChwedykDina Krause (M)
Neil Rest
Bill Thomasson
Are There Such Things As Supergerms? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Are supergerms just media hype or are there actually pathogens that will adapt so quickly that there is no way for medical science to eradicate, or even treat, the illnesses they cause? Is there a limit to what medicine can achieve or will we defeat these germs before they wipe out the human race?
Dr. Bob PassovoyBill Thomasson (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
The Golden Age of 2010 - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia A
What would SF pioneers think of the world today?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Bill Higgins
Fred Pohl
Bill Thomasson
Manned visit to Mars: Round Table Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
Is it worth sending a man to Mars as opposed to unmanned probes?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoJim Plaxco
Bill Thomasson (M)
Becky Thomson
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Mental Health Treatment: How Far Have We Really Come? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Although we may not put our "lunatics" in asylums any more, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Even the act of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist is enough to raise some people's eyebrows. How close are we to being an enlightened society when it comes to mental health and what steps can we take to remove the stigma?
Dr. Lisa FreitagKelley Higgins
Helen Montgomery (M)
Becky Thomson
Joy Ward
On the Internet No One Knows You're a Dog! - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow B
The internet offers an unprecedented level of anonymity. While many users revel in the ability to be whomever they want at different times, others feel that people hiding behind anonymity is one of the problems with the internet. Is there, should there, be a compromise between the forces of anonymity and those who want users to take responsibility for their posts?
Chris Gerrib (M)Trista Gunderman
Jer Lance
Becky Thomson
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Dr. Michael Unger
Homeopathic Remedies: Fact or Fiction? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Homeopathy is just one of many "alternative" medicines, treating diseases with a series of dilutions. Is this a legitimate treatment? If it is, what can mainstream doctors learn from its techniques? If it isn't, does it do harm or merely have a placebo effect?
Trista GundermanDr. John D. Nikitow (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Ethics of Genetic Testing - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch B
Now that we've mapped the human genome, what ethical questions are starting to arise? Should people be tested for genetic deviations? What good will that do them? How can that knowledge be used or abused by doctors or insurance companies?
Dr. Lisa FreitagEileen Maksym
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Fannish Health Issues - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Obesity, Diabetes, Myopia, Trimethylaminuria. Fans, especially as fans age, have a variety of medical problems that require attention. Although doctors can help in many cases, fans also need to learn to take better care of themselves, whether through diet, exercise, or simply listening to their bodies. Come and learn how you can become a healthier and happier fan.
Dermot DobsonPhyllis Eisenstein
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Are There Such Things As Supergerms? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow A
Are supergerms just media hype or are there actually pathogens that will adapt so quickly that there is no way for medical science to eradicate, or even treat, the illnesses they cause? Is there a limit to what medicine can achieve or will we defeat these germs before they wipe out the human race?
Dr. Bob PassovoyBill Thomasson (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium 101 & Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Learn about Phandemonium - the parent corporation for Capricon and then beat...I mean, meet the candidates for the Phandemonium Board. Ask them questions to find out the meaning of life, the universe and everything
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Tim Vaulato
Reading: Tim Vaulato - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Tim Vaulato
Celebrating the Greatest Heroes in SF and Fantasy - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
They stand above the genre like colossi of Rhodes. James T. Kirk, Frodo Baggins, Hiro Protagonist. Who are the heroes that define science fiction and fantasy? What makes readers and viewers able to relate to them, or even just want to be like them? Come and discuss the Good Guys and perhaps find new books and movies to enjoy.
Brian BabendererdeTrista Gunderman
Kevin Spencer
Tim Vaulato (M)
Celebrating the Greatest Villains in SF and Fantasy - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B
From Snidely Whiplash to Darth Vader, the villains are frequently the most interesting characters in science fiction and fantasy. What draws us to them? Are they more nuanced than the heroes? Is it our hidden desire to break the rules? Or is it that black capes are the height of fashion?
Alice Bentley (M)Dave McCarty
Kathryn Sullivan
Tim Vaulato
SF Artist Pictionary - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Fan and pro artists draw words from a hat and the audience has to guess what they are trying to illustrate.
Mike ColeLucy Synk
Tim Vaulato
delphyne woods
Tom Veal
ISDC: The International Space Development Conference - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow B
The International Space Development Conferences is coming to Chicago on Memorial Day weekend this year. Come learn what this professional conference has to offer and learn how you can attend at a discount.
Jim Plaxco (M)Tom Veal
Leane Verhulst
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
They say you can judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by reading only page 119? Join us and find out.
Peter HeltzerHelen Montgomery (M)
Jody Lynn Nye
Leane Verhulst
Intro to the Con - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Willow A
Welcome to Capricon! Ask our panelists any questions that you have about the convention, where things are and what the convention is all about. This is an ideal panel for new attendees who have never been to Capricon before or who have never been to a science fiction convention. Ask them questions about whether just reading or watching SF makes you a fan or is it the social aspect of gathering at a con or participating in a blog that makes you one.
Helen MontgomeryLeane Verhulst
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Phandemonium 101 & Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow B
Learn about Phandemonium - the parent corporation for Capricon and then beat...I mean, meet the candidates for the Phandemonium Board. Ask them questions to find out the meaning of life, the universe and everything
Newest Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
The Lightning Thief, The Wolfman, Hot Tub Time Machine, Alice in Wonderland. Science fiction and fantasy films are hitting the local cineplex at an astonishing rate. Which ones will be worth the cost of admission and popcorn and which ones will you eventually be watching on cable with the curtains drawn?
Bob Blackwood (M)Alex Eisenstein
Mary Mascari
Leane Verhulst
Phandemonium Board Meeting & Election: All Welcome - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to the Open Phandemonium Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this annual meeting of Capricon's parent organization. All attending convention members will have the chance to vote for two new board members to replace those who are retiring, and hear other such business as may come before the board -including any business YOU want to bring to them.
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
John Vittallo
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Presents News from Cassini - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
The Cassini spacecraft is sending all sorts of interesting data about Saturn. This presentation, direct from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will bring you up to date on Saturn, its incredibly complex ring system, and the myriad moons orbiting it, including Titan.
John VittalloApril Voecks
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Match Game - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
You might remember the show from the 70's and 80's. Come and possibly be lucky enough to have a chance to match our panelists in filling in the blank. Our winners will receive prizes.
Laura Dombrowski (M)Peter Heltzer
Dave McCarty
April Voecks
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Alex von Thorn
What's Happening North of the Border? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Our very large neighbor to the North (no, not Wisconsin-Canada) has a vibrant science fiction scene, from the authors to the fans to the number of science fiction films and television shows that are made there. Some of our Canadian members will tell you what is happening in Canada in these post Anticipation days. Eh?
Carolyn ClinkRobert J. Sawyer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Evil vs. Good: What Makes a Better Story? Evil or Good Winning the Day? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow A
At its most basic, a conflict has a good side (our side) and an evil side (their side). Traditionally, story-telling has the good side come out on top, but is that all there is? Can the evil side win and still provide a story that speaks to the reader? What are the strengths and weaknesses of letting the evil side win? What are some of the classics that focus on Evil Victorious?
Rachel CohanChris Gerrib (M)
Paul McComas
Kevin Spencer
Joy Ward
Mental Health Treatment: How Far Have We Really Come? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Although we may not put our "lunatics" in asylums any more, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Even the act of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist is enough to raise some people's eyebrows. How close are we to being an enlightened society when it comes to mental health and what steps can we take to remove the stigma?
Dr. Lisa FreitagKelley Higgins
Helen Montgomery (M)
Becky Thomson
Joy Ward
Literary and Cinematic Dystopias - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
While we would all love to live in the perfect world, imperfect worlds are much more interesting. From 1984 to Children of Men, science fiction authors and filmmakers are constantly warning us about the follies of policy and human nature. Who has done this the best and how well do their warnings work?
Bob BlackwoodAlex Eisenstein
Paul McComas (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Joy Ward
Reading: Joy Ward - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Joy Ward
Best Books of 2009 - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
What novels were published in 2009 that you really should read? The Empress of Mars? Finch? The Mystery of Grace? Our panelists not only tell you what their favorite books of the year were, but also discuss what they liked about them. And come with your own suggestions.
Elizabeth Anne HullJoy Ward
John Wardale
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
It’s time to start the celebration! There will be pizza, games, events, and more for your enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!
Build A Beast Balloon Fun - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Use your imagination and our balloons to make a bubbly beastie. Come see a menagerie of inflatable animals and fantastic creations by the creative John Wardale. From ninja turtles to the Starship Enterprise, his designs are sure to blow your mind.
All ages welcome.
John Wardale
Art Warneke
Art Warneke Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Art Warneke is one of the strongest male vocalists in Milwaukee's filk community and he's got excellent taste in his choice of the music that he covers, so it's always a treat to hear him sing. Drop in for a cup of coffee and a spot of filk.
Art WarnekeLawrence Watt-Evans
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
History and Evolution of Religion - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow A
Every religion changes over time. The Catholic Church allowed priests to marry up until 1054. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem caused many religious practices to change. What causes religions to evolve? What makes it more difficult for some religions to evolve? And what happens when a religion changes too quickly (or slowly) for its followers?
Deirdre MurphyPatricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
A Celebration Of Bad Films - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Birch A
They are the films you claim never to have seen, but when they come on cable, you can't turn away. You might even have a copy on DVD hidden behind the more sociably acceptable porn. What movies make Plan 9 From Outer Space look like a masterpiece of plotting, character, and special effects?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoLee Darrow
Paul McComas (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
Hidden Religion in SF/F - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Authors don’t have to create religions in their stories to infuse the narrative with religious motifs, there are more subtle ways to bring beliefs and their religious convictions into a story in ways the reader might not even realize.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)Eileen Maksym
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Autographing: Watt-Evans, Babendererde - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Evolution of Vampirism: A Roundtable Discussion - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
There was a time that vampires were dark, evil creatures who viewed humans as cattle. Now they are as likely to spend pages upon pages sympathizing with their food sources. How did this change take place and, despite the current popularity of vampires, is it a good change for the royalty of the undead?
Walt BoyesTonya Foust
Fran Juergensmeyer (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Lost Futures: Where Did the Flying Cars Go? - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
The science fiction of yesteryear promised us many things, from flying cars to portable communications devices. Why didn't these happen? Did some of them happen but in a way that we don't even recognize them as the real life descendents of our promised science fiction gizmos?
Leonard Krol (M)Kevin Spencer
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
Brooke Wievel
Burn In Hell (Chicago Edition) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Green Cafe 1 (Gaming)
Each player tries to assemble the tastiest combinations (called "Circles") of history's sinners. Collect groups of Mass Murderers, Cannibals, or even Clerics . . .
Card Game 2-6 Players
Brooke Wievel (M)Munchkin Cthulhu - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Red Round (Gaming)
Munchkins have hacked their way through dungeons, kung fu temples, starships, haunted houses, and super-foes. Now they face their greatest challenge – Cthulhu! Will they survive? Will they retain their sanity? Will they . . . level up?
Card Game 2-6 players
Brooke Wievel (M)D'Andre Williams
Anime: Giving Voice To Animated Characters - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful anime character. Not only must the look be right for what the character does, but the voice must also match. In same cases, this is obvious, you wouldn't want James Earl Jones to provide the voice of Sailor Moon, but what type of girl's voice do you want? How do you determine what vocal qualities will make an anime character an instant classic?
Brian BabendererdeAlice Bentley (M)
Rana George
Daniel Levin
D'Andre Williams
Greg Williams
Film Roast ( 90 minutes) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - River C (Films)
Rated PG-13 / R / Blue (at times)
Don’t miss our annual film roast of a classic surprise B movie! Greg and Dawn return to “Celebrate” one of the Worst / Best movies of 1981. 30 Years in the making….this is a can’t-miss-classic of Capricon!
Dawn KuczwaraGreg Williams
Coarse Language in SF - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Isaac Asimov used to write "unprintable" as an epithet. Battlestar Galactica invented the word "Frak." Modern authors tend to be much saltier in their use of language. How do you tell when you've gone too far? Should there be a rating system letting people know books have adult language?
Rachel CohanMichael D'Ambrosio
Doug Drummond
Jessica Merrick
Isabel Schechter
Greg Williams (M)
Family Feud - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B
Come watch the Star Fleet Red Shirts vs. the Klingons in the battle of the ages, using words instead of weapons.
Mike (Ciggy) CyganiewiczLaura Dombrowski
Frank Rodriguez
Greg Williams
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Ravinia A
Bid for artwork at this fun and lively event where the auctioneers not only try to get your money, but your sanity too!
Dr. Bob PassovoyLucy Synk
Greg Williams
Ian Wincentsen
Critter Crunch - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
The robots are attacking! Fortunately, only each other. Come to Critter Crunch, plunk down your credits, and take the helm behind monstrous killer robots and a battle to the death or disability.
Ian WincentsenPeter Wincentsen
Jeff Wincentsen (M)
Peter Wincentsen
Critter Crunch - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
The robots are attacking! Fortunately, only each other. Come to Critter Crunch, plunk down your credits, and take the helm behind monstrous killer robots and a battle to the death or disability.
Ian WincentsenPeter Wincentsen
Jeff Wincentsen (M)
Jeff Wincentsen
Critter Crunch - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm - Botanic Garden B
The robots are attacking! Fortunately, only each other. Come to Critter Crunch, plunk down your credits, and take the helm behind monstrous killer robots and a battle to the death or disability.
Ian WincentsenPeter Wincentsen
Jeff Wincentsen (M)
Gene Wolfe
I Write SF, but I'm a Techno-Idiot - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
Just because an author writes science fiction doesn’t mean they allow it into their lives. From the extreme of Harlan Ellison™ still using a manual typewriter or Ray Bradbury refusing to learn to drive, what Luddite tendencies plague today’s otherwise sophisticated science fiction author?
Richard Chwedyk (M)Fred Pohl
Gene Wolfe
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
Reading: Gene Wolfe - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Capricon Cafe)
Gene Wolfe
The Way the Future Was (with Boskone) - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Birch A, Birch B
Fred Pohl
Robert J. Sawyer
Gene Wolfe
Hidden Religion in SF/F - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Authors don’t have to create religions in their stories to infuse the narrative with religious motifs, there are more subtle ways to bring beliefs and their religious convictions into a story in ways the reader might not even realize.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)Eileen Maksym
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Is SF/Fantasy a Dying Genre or Just Evolving? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow A
A round table discussion which focuses on whether science fiction and fantasy are continually evolving or if the genres are in the process of dying out, and, if they are, what is causing their extinction.
Brian BabendererdeRachel Cohan
Jody Lynn Nye (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Gene Wolfe
Religion and Science: At Odds? - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Although some religious groups are opposed to the theory of evolution, others don't have a problem with it. Is this opposition the result of simple misunderstanding, a firm tenet of belief, or something else? What is really meant when a scientist talks about a theory? What does a non-scientist hear when that word is said?
Br. Guy ConsolmagnoPhyllis Eisenstein
kT FitzSimmons (M)
Gene Wolfe
Destiny vs. Free Will - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Is it more comforting to know your future is already set or that you are free to succeed or screw up on your own?
Robert J. SawyerGene Wolfe
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.
delphyne woods
What Makes the Best Hall Costumes? - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Hall costumes, which can be worn around the convention and inspected, follow a different set of rules than display costumes, which are worn during the masquerade, but not necessarily off stage. What goes into making a hall costume that will make people chase you down to look at the details?
Liz GilioKerri-Ellen Kelly (M)
delphyne woods
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Welcome to Capricon 30: Celebration! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect, meet our GoHs, and meet the people who make it all possible.
How to Read Tarot Cards - Thursday, 02-11-2010 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Let's face it, cups, swords, staves and coins are so much cooler than diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. But each of those means something different, and when you add in the trumps, Tarot just blows regular cards out of the water. Come and learn what the suits and trumps really mean and how they can tell you what to expect.
Lee DarrowRana George
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Deirdre Murphy (M)
delphyne woods
2012: Are the Mayans Right? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is set to end on December 20, 2012. Many people have taken this to mean the end of the world despite the fact that nothing happened when the last Long Count Calendar ended on September 18, 1618. Why are some people convinced this ending is different? And why did the Mayans need a calendar that tracked for nearly four centuries?
Patricia Sayre McCoyKevin Spencer (M)
Bill Thomasson
delphyne woods
Job Networking: Have You Been Laid Off? Is Your Firm Hiring? - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Elm
We know the job market stinks. Whether you believe we have yet to bottom out or are in the midst of a recovery, it doesn't really matter if you still need a job. Come and discuss job hunting techniques and perhaps get the all important lead for your next job.
Walt Boyes (M)Lucy Synk
delphyne woods
Birthday Party and Wizard Rock Concert - Friday, 02-12-2010 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
Capricious turns 30. Come and join us in celebrating his milestone with music and cake. Yes, there will be lots of cake! The cake will be followed by a concert with a Wizard Rock (Harry Potter) band - Dreary Inferi!
SF Artist Pictionary - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Fan and pro artists draw words from a hat and the audience has to guess what they are trying to illustrate.
Mike ColeLucy Synk
Tim Vaulato
delphyne woods
Cancelled TV Shows You Should Love - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
From Firefly to The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. to Wonderfalls, there are many shows that existed for less than a season but are available on DVD. What are some of these flops that you should know about and watch with the sadness of knowing there will never be any more episodes?
Michael D'AmbrosioBill Higgins
Phoenix
Jim Rittenhouse
delphyne woods (M)
How to Read Palms: Palmistry Demonstration - Saturday, 02-13-2010 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Since ancient times, the Indians, Chinese, Roma, and other cultures have believed that the lines crisscrossing your palm could reveal information about your future. This demonstration will allow you to have your palm read by practicing chiromancers who are members of Capricon. Do you hold your future in the palm of your hand?
Lee Darrow (M)Jody Lynn Nye
delphyne woods
Heinlein's Undying Hand - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
While many authors’ books go out of print almost immediately after they die, Heinlein’s have managed to remain in print and continue to have a massive, devoted following (including Capricon 30 GoH Spider Robinson). What is it about his books that inspires such a devotion? Even the sucky ones?
David AbzugPhyllis Eisenstein (M)
Fred Pohl
delphyne woods
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, 02-14-2010 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - Ravinia A, Ravinia B
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 30, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2010. But come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap31 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2011.