February 10, 2011 - February 13, 2011
David Abzug
Leesa Almgren
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
China Barnes
Elaine Bergstrom
Donald J. Bingle
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Stephen Boucher
Walt Boyes
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Richard Chwedyk
Rachel Cohan
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Dale Cozort
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Marinda Darnell
Lee Darrow
Sondra de Jong
Tere de la Torre
Mark De Smet
Tim Dinan
Dermot Dobson
Laura Dombrowski
John Donat
Matthew Duhan
Phyllis Eisenstein
Melissa Fichter
Tonya Foust
Dr. Lisa Freitag
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Debbie Gates
Deb Geisler
Janice Gelb
Chris Gerrib
Jerry Gilio
Don Glass
gundo
Bill Higgins
Butch Honeck
Valli Hoski
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Nancy Hutchins
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Caitlin Jung
Alex Kaempen
Joe Karpierz
John Kaufmann
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Kelly
Kim Kofmel
Deb Kosiba
Dina S. Krause
Leonard Krol
Dawn Kuczwara
Jer Lance
Jennifer Lawrence
Kathy Lehman
Daniel Levin
Sandra Levy
Sunshine Levy
Tracy Lunquist
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Eileen Maksym
Lisa Malec
Mark Mallchok
Ross Martinek
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas
Heather McConaha
Cathy McManamon
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Adam Miller
Tim Miller
Terrence Miltner
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Mary Anne Mohanraj
MoiraCoon
Helen Montgomery
Deirdre Murphy
Jason Neerenburg
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Shelagh Nikkel
Erik V. Olson
Bryan Palaszewski
Ruth Pe Palileo
Dr. Bob Passovoy
John Picacio
Jim Plaxco
Jim Rittenhouse
Jason M. Robertson
Frank Rodriguez
Bill Roper
Francisco Ruiz
Frank Salvatini
Patricia Sayre McCoy
John Scalzi
Isabel Schechter
Mike Scott
Trudy Seabrook
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Melanie Silver
Luke Ski
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
Susan Stoltze
Kelly Strait
Geri Sullivan
Kathryn Sullivan
Stephen D. Sullivan
Terry Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Becky Thomson
Amanda Trumbull
Dr. Michael Unger
Barb VanTilburg
Ray VanTilburg
Tom Veal
Leane Verhulst
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Art Warneke
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Rochelle Weber
Brooke Wiewel
Wild Mercy
Cary Williams
Greg Williams
Gene Wolfe
Ben Yalow
Mary Frances Zambreno
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
Autographing: Brian Babendererde & Kathryn Sullivan - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Autograph Table
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
International Comics - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
The internet has made it much simpler to find comics from around the world. On the down side, there are a whole lot of them, and not enough time to sift through them all. Let our panel of comics lovers help guide you towards the best of comics in the global community.
Greg Baldino (M)
Stephen Boucher
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
The "Twilight" Film Roast (Teens Only) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Teens only - you love it, you hate it, and you absolutely want to come hang out in the Teen Lounge and roast it!
China Barnes
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Autographing: Elaine Bergstrom (aka Marie Kiraly) & Elizabeth Anne Hull - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Reading: Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Lawrence Watt-Evans & Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Autograph Table
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
Death of the Desktop Computer - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Is it time to hold the wake? With laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is there still a market for full-sized desktop computers?
Stephen Boucher
Henry Spencer (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
I Gave $20 to Stephen Boucher (and got to go to Australia!) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Join our Fan Guests of Honor for a look at what's going on in Down Under Fandom. For starters, the 2010 World Science Fiction Convention, Aussiecon 4, was held in Melbourne, Australia. Come see what you missed, or share your memories of the event, and learn what else is happening down there.
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
International Comics - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
The internet has made it much simpler to find comics from around the world. On the down side, there are a whole lot of them, and not enough time to sift through them all. Let our panel of comics lovers help guide you towards the best of comics in the global community.
Greg Baldino (M)
Stephen Boucher
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Concert: Barry Childs-Helton - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Barry is one of fandom's finest songwriters, recently nominated for a Pegasus Award as Best Composer. Come listen and find out why.
Barry Childs-Helton
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Concert: Sally Childs-Helton - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Sally plays percussion for Wild Mercy, but today's she's promised us an interesting interactive music experience. Let's see what she's got planned...
Sally Childs-Helton
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Reading: Richard Chwedyk - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Concert: Eric Coleman - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Eric is one of fandom's more eclectic singer / songwriters, covering a wide range of subjects in his own unique style.
Eric Coleman
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
News from the Asteroid Belt - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Breaking news! The asteroid belt has shrunk - it is now a Medium instead of a Large! No, wait, wrong belt. Let's try that again. Breaking news! Join our expert panelists for a look into what's going on with our nearby neighbor in the solar system, the Asteroid Belt.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Bill Higgins
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Media)
It's time for a quiz show! Test your knowledge of fannish trivia and see if you're smarter than the average fan!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Olympiad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Can you beat the other teams in time to escape the destruction of the planet?
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Settlers of Catan NACC Qualifier - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 am - Curtain Room in ConSuite
Capricon 31 will be hosting a North American Catan Championship(NACC) qualifier. The NACC qualifier will run Saturday starting at 10 AM. A maximum of 32 players will be seated.
Players will compete on Saturday by playing 4 games of Settlers of Catan. The players are then ranked and the top 15 players will play one semi-final game, with the top 4 playing a final round to determine the winner. The winner will be sponsored, by Capricon and Mayfair Games, to compete in the NACC at GenCon 2011.
The prize for the winner includes travel, room (based on double occupancy), badge, and a seat in the NACC competition at GenCon 2011 in Indianapolis. The winner of the NACC is invited, paid for by Mayfair Games, to play in the World Wide Catan Championship in 2012 for the World title.
Players must be at least 18 years of age, and should expect to play the entire tournament. Cost for the event is the purchase of a badge for admittance to Capricon 31.
Marinda Darnell (M)
Hypnosis Demo (ages 13+) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Hypnosis Demo II (ages 18+) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Phandemonium 101 / Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Learn about Phandemonium, the parent corporation for Capricon, and then meet the candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election (see Sunday at Noon). Everyone is welcome, as all attendees of Capricon are voting members of the corporation!
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
Reading: Tere de la Torre - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Time Travel Review Board - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Curtain Room in ConSuite
Tragically-killed puppies. Embarrassing TV gaffes. Burned toast. These everyday tragedies are relics of the past now that time travel has been invented! But who will safeguard the past from those who would tamper with it for malicious purposes?
On December 1st, the Time Travel Review Board of the NSF will review all applications for time travel permits leaving during the year of 2104. Please come prepared to explain your project and the larger impact of your work. History will be made (and unmade) as a horde of would-be time travelers descend upon our beleaguered review board. What will the past be tomorrow?
Time Travel Review Board is a light comedy horde LARP dealing with everything from the politics of Ancient Egypt to the King of Rock and Roll. In this game, players will either play members of the review board approving or rejecting applications for time travel, or various applicants trying to go on various trips. Everyone will see the results of the trips as the game progresses.
12-24 players, 3 hours
Mark De Smet
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Who Invented the Telephone? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
In 1870, Elisha Gray moved to Highland Park, where he remained until 1899. During that time, he mostly worked for Western Electric and is best known for inventing the telephone, although Alexander Graham Bell invented it almost simultaneously and may have worked behind the scenes to beat Gray to the patent. A tale of brilliance, treachery and re-writing history.
John Donat
ISFiC Open Meeting - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
An open meeting for ISFiC, the parent organization that runs Windycon, Picnicon, ISFiC Press, and the ISFiC Writer's Contest. If you attended Windycon, then you are a member of ISFiC, so please stop by and give us your input on how we are doing and what you would like to see.
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Friday evening) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Saturday morning) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Saturday afternoon) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Autographing: Phyllis Eisenstein - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Reading: Melissa Fichter - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - Willow
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
LEGO© Mania - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! Build a castle with dragons and knights or an alien with a flying saucer attacking the Earth. You're only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Edible Art - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Ever want to play with your food? You get a chance in this panel! Create aliens and other creatures out of candy and then eat them.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
BEADazzled - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Celtic Coloring - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Coloring can be relaxing and fun! Join your friends in coloring some creative Celtic designs and learn the basics of drawing Celtic knots.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Hilarious Hats and Marvelous Masks - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create a hat out of newspaper and duct tape and a colorful mask out of foam, feathers and other fun things.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Sci Fi/Fantasy Pictionary - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
How good are you at guessing what other people draw? Come see if you can win the big prize!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
LEGO© Mania the Sequel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! Build a castle with dragons and knights or an alien with a flying saucer attacking the Earth. You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Gaming Galore - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Many games will be available to play including Munchkin, Settlers of Catan/Kids of Catan and Kids of Carcassonne. Feel free to bring your own to play or teach a friend!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Terrific Tangrams and Tessellations - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Test your talent with tangram puzzles and try you hand at creating a tessellation.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Apples 2 Apples - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Play the popular game Apples to Apples with other kids.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Concert: Debbie Gates - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Debbie plays keyboards and drums for Wild Mercy. Today, she'll be pulling out her guitar for a solo performance that should be lots of fun.
Debbie Gates
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
I Gave $20 to Stephen Boucher (and got to go to Australia!) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Join our Fan Guests of Honor for a look at what's going on in Down Under Fandom. For starters, the 2010 World Science Fiction Convention, Aussiecon 4, was held in Melbourne, Australia. Come see what you missed, or share your memories of the event, and learn what else is happening down there.
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
Phandemonium Bookclub: The God Engines by John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of The God Engines, the Hugo Award nominated novella by our Guest of Honor, John Scalzi.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Concert: gundo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River AB (Cafe)
You don't often see gundo on stage without a band standing up there with him. Here's the rare solo gundo for your listening enjoyment.
gundo
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
News from the Asteroid Belt - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Breaking news! The asteroid belt has shrunk - it is now a Medium instead of a Large! No, wait, wrong belt. Let's try that again. Breaking news! Join our expert panelists for a look into what's going on with our nearby neighbor in the solar system, the Asteroid Belt.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Bill Higgins
50 Years of Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - River C (Media)
Hello? Anyone out there? Hello? Can you hear us? How about now? Bill Higgins examines some recent developments in SETI and in our understanding of life on other worlds.
Bill Higgins
Lost Wax Casting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Butch Honeck presents on how bronze casting is done, starting with a wax casting to a finished project.
Butch Honeck
Art Show Docent Tour: Butch Honeck - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Butch Honeck, who creates brilliant 3D bronze castings will give you a tour of the Capricon art show and his professional opinion of what's on display.
Butch Honeck
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Autographing: Elaine Bergstrom (aka Marie Kiraly) & Elizabeth Anne Hull - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Dork Frag - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Game starts. Enemy in sight...Frag him! Grab his stuff! Run! Get a bigger gun! Grab some armor! There he is again! Frag him! Whoa, there's another one. Run...you're hit! You're down. Respawn! Grab a weapon! Start again! Frag is a computer game without a computer. It's a "first-person shooter" on a tabletop. Move your fighter and frag your foes; draw cards for weapons, armor, and gadgets; move through the blood spatters to restore your own health! If you die, you respawn and come back shooting! Dork Frag is Frag with characters (Ken, Carson, Igor, Matt, Kayleigh and Gilly) from Dork Tower. Board Game 2-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
3D Frag - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Game starts. Enemy in sight...Frag him! Grab his stuff! Run! Get a bigger gun! Grab some armor! There he is again! Frag him! Whoa, there's another one. Run...you're hit! You're down. Respawn! Grab a weapon! Start again! Frag is a computer game without a computer. It's a "first-person shooter" on a tabletop. Move your fighter and frag your foes; draw cards for weapons, armor, and gadgets; move through the blood spatters to restore your own health! If you die, you respawn and come back shooting! 3D Frag uses miniatures. Board Game 2-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
After the Cylon attack on the Colonies, the battered remnants of the human race are on the run, constantly searching for the next signpost on the road to Earth. They face the threat of Cylon attack from without, and treachery and crisis from within. Humanity must work together if they are to have any hope of survival...but how can they, when any of them may, in fact, be a Cylon agent? Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game is an exciting game of mistrust, intrigue, and the struggle for survival. Based on the epic and widely-acclaimed Sci Fi Channel series Battlestar Galactica, the board game puts players in the role of one of ten of their favorite characters from the show. Each playable character has their own abilities and weaknesses, and must all work together in order for humanity to have any hope of survival. However, one or more players in every game secretly side with the Cylons. Players must attempt to expose the traitor while fuel shortages, food contaminations, and political unrest threatens to tear the fleet apart. Board Game 3-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
Doom: The Boardgame - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
In Doom: The Boardgame, demonic invaders have broken through from another dimension into the Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars base. Marines have been deployed to the base to protect UAC personnel and destroy the invaders. Up to three players will take the roles of heavily armed and highly trained marines, while one player will control the legion of demonic invaders. In the game, the marine players explore the claustrophobic rooms and corridors of the Mars base, attacking monsters, picking up new weapons and equipment, and working together to complete specific mission objectives. Board Game 2-4 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
Star Munchkin - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
The Munchkins are back - and they're in space! Now they're Mutants, Cyborgs, and Cat People . . . grabbing Lasers, Vibroswords, and Nova Grenades . . . fighting Fanged Fuzzballs, Bionic Bimbos, and the Brain In A Jar. Card Game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Carcassonne - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Build cities, farms, and roads in this game of world building. Board Game 2-6 Players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Deluxe Illuminati - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Ninja Burger - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Chez What - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Talisman - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
What would you do with a Time Machine? Would you stop the sinking of the Titanic? Prevent the assassination of JFK? Kill Hitler before WWII? These are just a few of the possibilities in Chrononauts, the award-winning card game of time travel. To win, you must change history at key points called Linchpins, so that history transforms into the Alternate Reality your character calls home. You can also win by collecting a specific set of Artifacts, such as a live dinosaur, the Mona Lisa, and an unpublished Shakespearean play. But be careful - if you create too many paradoxes, you could destroy the entire universe! Card game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Battle Tech (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Hypnosis Demo (ages 13+) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Hypnosis Demo II (ages 18+) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
The Overdeveloped Bump of Curiosity: Adult Readers' Perception of SF & F - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Ask three fans about how to define SF & Fantasy and how to tell them apart and you'll likely get three different answers. Or even four. So what happens when you ask 32 readers, some of whom are fans and some are not? Find out in this presentation drawn from a Canadian doctoral dissertation about readers of SF & Fantasy.
Kim Kofmel
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
Celtic Knot Drawing - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Artist Deb Kosiba teaches you the basics of Celtic knot drawing.
Deb Kosiba
Stained Glass Demo - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
Come join artist Deb Kosiba for a demonstration of creating a piece of stained glass art.
Deb Kosiba
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Film Roast - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Ravinia A (Anime)
Join Dawn Kuczwara and Greg Williams on an epic journey of mockery as they poignantly puncture the propriety of some unlucky cinematic target. Due to the fact that all of our library will be packed up for departure, the specific title of the target film will remain classified until after launch (meaning, whatever we can scrounge from the Redbox on Luna Station on the way by). What? Shut up! You kids today are spoiled! When I was your age, escape pods didn't even HAVE movie screens, and no, you can't have another juice box - it's 700,000,000 miles to the next rest stop.
Dawn Kuczwara
Greg Williams
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Reading: Jennifer Lawrence - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River AB (Cafe)
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Reading: Eileen Maksym - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - Willow
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
What You Don't Know Will Kill You - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Media)
Whether you are a model and prop builder, costumer, or just a human being, you live in a far more dangerous world than you realize. Modern technology is founded on new materials and substances, which are being developed at an exponential rate. Thirty years ago, toxicology research was already twenty years behind, and the situation hasn't improved. Come find out what the dangers are and how to protect yourself, whether in the workshop or the kitchen.
Ross Martinek
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Chicago is hosting the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention! Come find out what we're planning and how you can be involved in the fun!
Dave McCarty (M)
Helen Montgomery
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Adapting SF / F to the Theater - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Phandemonium has had several outings to see theatrical adaptations of SF - everything from Bat Boy: The Musical to Neverwhere. Join our panelists, including the director of Capricon 31's live performance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, for a discussion of the perils and possibilities of bringing SF to the stage.
Paul McComas (M)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Voodoo: Real and Reel - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Media)
Voodoo was used by slaves to retain some semblance of identity and self-determination, allowing them to escape -- at least for the length of the ceremony -- their legal status as "property." Voodoo in films is usually portrayed a bit differently. Come learn more about these spiritual rites as seen in film, books, and reality. The program will conclude with a brief but authentic voodoo demonstration.
Paul McComas
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Reading: Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River AB (Cafe)
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Autographing: Paul McComas & Stephen D. Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Are You the Traitor? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Concert: Cathy McManamon - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Cathy comes to Chicago filk from the folk circuit, performing solo and with a partner in the folk-rock duo Tragic Hair Shadow. Her original music caught the circle's attention at Windycon, and we're glad that we get to hear her again at Capricon. Cathy plays guitar, recorder, and hand percussion, has one album out, and is working on another.
Cathy McManamon (M)
Concert: Amy McNally - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Amy frequently plays the fiddle to accompany others. Here she'll be playing and singing herself, perhaps with a little help from her friends. Did we mention that she's got an album coming out soon?
Amy McNally
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Concert: Jen Midkiff - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Jen plays the harp and sings beautifully. Was there something else that you needed to know to get you to come listen?
Jen Midkiff
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Munchkin Quest - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-12-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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)
SPANC - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (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
Adam Miller (M)
Chez Cthulhu - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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
Adam Miller (M)
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Thee Bluebeard Show - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Come to see THEE BLUEBEARD SHOW!! The ONLY improv comedy show at Capricon. It's THEE late night talk show matinee where Thee Bluebeard interviews you and anyone randomly chosen from the audience to sit in the guest seat and answer the serious questions about stuff. Wanna be on stage in front of a bunch of con people or do you just want to push one of your friends up there? See what happens mates. Autographs to follow and bring your own spatula.
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Autographing: Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Autograph Table
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lobby
Bring your snowpants and gloves and come outside with us to build Snow Goons! What are Snow Goons, you ask? Snowmen, but seriously twisted, a la Calvin and Hobbes. (Weather permitting)
Helen Montgomery
Erik V. Olson
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Chicago is hosting the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention! Come find out what we're planning and how you can be involved in the fun!
Dave McCarty (M)
Helen Montgomery
Phandemonium Bookclub: The God Engines by John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of The God Engines, the Hugo Award nominated novella by our Guest of Honor, John Scalzi.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Dramatic Readings from The Weekly World News - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
In 2007, The Weekly World News stopped publishing their print edition. This, however, does not deter us from celebrating our love of Bat Boy! Join us for much silliness, laughter, and bad puns as we bring you the best, and the worst, of this year's online stories from "The World's Only Reliable Newspaper".
Helen Montgomery
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Concert: Jason Neerenburg - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
When he's not performing with Toyboat, Jason pulls out his guitar and sings solo. Come on by and take a listen!
Jason Neerenburg
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Massage Demo - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Professional Massage Therapist Shelagh Nikkel teaches you how to rub people the right way.
Shelagh Nikkel
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lobby
Bring your snowpants and gloves and come outside with us to build Snow Goons! What are Snow Goons, you ask? Snowmen, but seriously twisted, a la Calvin and Hobbes. (Weather permitting)
Helen Montgomery
Erik V. Olson
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
NASA Technology Planning (Get to the Escape Pods!) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River C (Media)
NASA's integrated technology roadmap, including both technology pull and technology push strategies, considers a wide range of pathways to advance the nation's current capabilities. The present state of this effort is documented in NASA's DRAFT Space Technology Roadmap, an integrated set of fourteen technology area roadmaps, recommending the overall technology investment strategy and prioritization of NASA's space technology activities. This document presents the DRAFT Technology Area 02 input: In-Space Propulsion Systems. NASA developed this DRAFT Space Technology Roadmap for use by the National Research Council (NRC) as an initial point of departure. Through an open process of community engagement, the NRC will gather input, integrate it within the Space Technology Roadmap, and provide NASA with recommendations on potential future technology investments. Because it is difficult to predict the wide range of future advances possible in these areas, NASA plans updates to its integrated technology roadmap on a regular basis.
Bryan Palaszewski
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
NASA Human Missions to Asteroids and Other Fine Places - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River C (Media)
A NASA team tasked with fleshing out President Barack Obama's overhaul of the nation's human spaceflight program has briefed NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his deputy on a deep space exploration plan that rejects some key assumptions of the president's strategy but aligns with a version of the NASA authorization bill approved by the full Senate in August. Dubbed the Human Exploration Framework Team (HEFT), the group of NASA field center employees spent four months looking at the hardware that would be needed to heed the president's call for sending astronauts to an asteroid by 2025. In outlining his proposal in April, Obama proposed spending up to five years and some $3 billion researching heavy-lift propulsion technologies before choosing a design for the United States' first exploration-class rocket since Saturn V. The president also reversed an earlier decision to cancel the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, directing NASA to use the capsule as the basis for a space station crew lifeboat.
Bryan Palaszewski
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Adapting SF / F to the Theater - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Phandemonium has had several outings to see theatrical adaptations of SF - everything from Bat Boy: The Musical to Neverwhere. Join our panelists, including the director of Capricon 31's live performance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, for a discussion of the perils and possibilities of bringing SF to the stage.
Paul McComas (M)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Weird Inventions (Teens Only) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
So you think you've got the latest technology with your iPhone? And you figure in some distant future, somebody will make a freeze ray. But do you REALLY know the state of the art stuff? If you've dreamt it, somebody has probably already patented it at the US Patent Office. Ever since Benjamin Franklin created this government agency, it's dealt with the wonderful, the weird and the just plain cool. Check out some of the devices and systems already out there - even if they're not on the market yet! (Teens only, please!)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Media)
It's time for a quiz show! Test your knowledge of fannish trivia and see if you're smarter than the average fan!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Autographing: John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Autograph Table
The Art of John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Media)
Our Artist Guest of Honor presents a slideshow of his work, including paintings and book covers.
John Picacio
Art Show Docent Tour: John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join our Artist Guest of Honor, John Picacio, on a tour of the Capricon art show and hear his professional opinion of what's on display.
John Picacio
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Live Art Demo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Join professional artist Jim Plaxco for an artist / audience collaboration in the creation of a new piece of computer art.
Jim Plaxco
Art of the Exploration of Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Art and the Exploration of Space looks at the development of space art and how that art evolved over time to reflect the realities of aerospace engineering. Particular attention is paid to the means by which art is used to portray space exploration, from exploratory, educational, and inspirational perspectives. Also discussed is the NASA Art Program and NASA's recognition of the emotional impact of art vs photography.
Jim Plaxco
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Join the chicago-sf.org bookclub for a discussion of Who Fears Death by local author Nnedi Okorafor.
Jason M. Robertson
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Klingon Karaoke - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 9:00 pm to 12:00 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You told us to bring it back, and we listened! Come sing your escape pod worries away with our live band Karaoke!
Frank Rodriguez
Concert: Bill Roper - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Bill has been writing and singing filk for over thirty years and always seems to have something new for us. Come see what he's pulled out of his songbook this year!
Bill Roper
ISFiC Open Meeting - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
An open meeting for ISFiC, the parent organization that runs Windycon, Picnicon, ISFiC Press, and the ISFiC Writer's Contest. If you attended Windycon, then you are a member of ISFiC, so please stop by and give us your input on how we are doing and what you would like to see.
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Lost in Spaaaace! - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Yes, Virginia, there was SF on TV before Star Trek. Let's take a look back at some of the true classic SF television.
Frank Salvatini
Alex von Thorn (M)
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
Reading: John Scalzi - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
GoH Q & A: John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
We think we know John Scalzi through his long-running blog, Whatever. But really, there's so much more you don't know, secrets he has not yet revealed. Come and ask your questions - you shall be answered!
John Scalzi
Autographing: John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Concert: The Great Luke Ski - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - River C (Media)
The Great Luke Ski is funny, frantic, and always puts on a great show. Catch Chicagoland's own filk rapper before he gets away!
Luke Ski
Death of the Desktop Computer - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Is it time to hold the wake? With laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is there still a market for full-sized desktop computers?
Stephen Boucher
Henry Spencer (M)
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
Computing Before Computers - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Slide rules, calculating machines (Babbage, and his precessors and successors), nomograms, abaci, and other now-forgotten computing aids from the pre-silicon era.
Henry Spencer
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
One of Her Crazy Experiments (Teens only) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Geri Sullivan is perhaps best known for her series of experiments involving dissolving Peeps™ in various solvents. Today she brings you: FrankenPeep's Lab! Come assist her in her laboratory and become surgeons - creating Peeps™ monsters! (Teens only, please!)
Geri Sullivan
Ig Nobel Prizes / The Emergency Bra - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
The Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative - and spur people's interest in science and other fields of endeavor. One example is that of the Emergency Bra, designed by Dr. Elena Bodnar of Chicago. At Capricon's very own Improbable Research show, we'll take a look at several past winners as well as the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony itself.
Geri Sullivan
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Autographing: Brian Babendererde & Kathryn Sullivan - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Autograph Table
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
D & D - The Beginning - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
C'mon, we've all played a little D & D at some point, right? Stephen Sullivan joined TSR as part of the development team for Dungeons & Dragons. Come get the inside scoop on how the world's most famous role playing game came to be.
Stephen D. Sullivan
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Reading: Stephen Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Paul McComas & Stephen D. Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Japanese Fashion - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Elegant. Gothic. Lolita. Learn about the differences between seeing it in cosplay, anime, and manga, and wearing it in everyday life.
Amanda Trumbull
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
Art Show Docent Tour: Ray VanTilburg - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join Ray VanTilburg, everyone's favorite airbrush artist, former Guest of Honor, and the creator of Capricon 31's official t-shirt, for a tour of the Capricon art show.
Ray VanTilburg
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
Welcome to Capricon! Ask any questions that you have about the convention. This is an ideal panel for new attendees who have never been to Capricon, or have never been to a science fiction convention before now.
Leane Verhulst
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Lost in Spaaaace! - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Yes, Virginia, there was SF on TV before Star Trek. Let's take a look back at some of the true classic SF television.
Frank Salvatini
Alex von Thorn (M)
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Reading: Joy Ward - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River AB (Cafe)
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Hair Braiding Demo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
John will demo and teach people to do ropes, 4-strand "round" braids, classic (3-strand) French and (3-strand) Dutch (or inverted-French or underhand), as well as a Crown braid (technically a horizontal modified (3-strand) French braid), and other advanced ideas like 5 and 7-strand fingering techniques; as well as shapes like hearts, spirals, and a pullup-weave. Tailored to the desires and abilities of the audience.
John Wardale
Balloon Twisting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, will be making balloon sculptures including hats, devices, animals, aliens. Requests will be taken. 2 page menu of choices also available. Be forewarned: LATEX products will be in use.
John Wardale
Balloon Animal Workshop: Ages 8 - 12 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, will be leading a workshop on how to make a balloon dog. If there is time left, he will make other balloon creations by request. Be forewarned: LATEX products will be in use.
John Wardale
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Concert: Art Warneke - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Art hails from Milwaukee where he follows their fine tradition of good singers covering some of the best filk and found filk around.
Art Warneke
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Autographing: Lawrence Watt-Evans & Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Autograph Table
Reading: Rochelle Weber - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Rochelle Weber - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Revolution - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Blackmail the printer. Threaten the innkeeper. Bribe the priest. Welcome to Revolution! Board game 2-4 players
Brooke Wiewel (M)
Munchkin Cthulhu (House Rules) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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 Wiewel (M)
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Film Roast - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Ravinia A (Anime)
Join Dawn Kuczwara and Greg Williams on an epic journey of mockery as they poignantly puncture the propriety of some unlucky cinematic target. Due to the fact that all of our library will be packed up for departure, the specific title of the target film will remain classified until after launch (meaning, whatever we can scrounge from the Redbox on Luna Station on the way by). What? Shut up! You kids today are spoiled! When I was your age, escape pods didn't even HAVE movie screens, and no, you can't have another juice box - it's 700,000,000 miles to the next rest stop.
Dawn Kuczwara
Greg Williams
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
Family Feud - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Come join us as two teams do battle for their own escape pod!
Greg Williams (M)
Reading: Gene Wolfe - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Gene Wolfe - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Reading: Mary Frances Zambrano - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Autographing: Mary Frances Zambrano - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Participants Schedule Details
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List of active participants - scroll down to see their schedule
David Abzug
Leesa Almgren
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
China Barnes
Elaine Bergstrom
Donald J. Bingle
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Stephen Boucher
Walt Boyes
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Richard Chwedyk
Rachel Cohan
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Dale Cozort
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Marinda Darnell
Lee Darrow
Sondra de Jong
Tere de la Torre
Mark De Smet
Tim Dinan
Dermot Dobson
Laura Dombrowski
John Donat
Matthew Duhan
Phyllis Eisenstein
Melissa Fichter
Tonya Foust
Dr. Lisa Freitag
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Debbie Gates
Deb Geisler
Janice Gelb
Chris Gerrib
Jerry Gilio
Don Glass
gundo
Bill Higgins
Butch Honeck
Valli Hoski
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Nancy Hutchins
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Caitlin Jung
Alex Kaempen
Joe Karpierz
John Kaufmann
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Kelly
Kim Kofmel
Deb Kosiba
Dina S. Krause
Leonard Krol
Dawn Kuczwara
Jer Lance
Jennifer Lawrence
Kathy Lehman
Daniel Levin
Sandra Levy
Sunshine Levy
Tracy Lunquist
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Eileen Maksym
Lisa Malec
Mark Mallchok
Ross Martinek
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas
Heather McConaha
Cathy McManamon
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Adam Miller
Tim Miller
Terrence Miltner
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Mary Anne Mohanraj
MoiraCoon
Helen Montgomery
Deirdre Murphy
Jason Neerenburg
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Shelagh Nikkel
Erik V. Olson
Bryan Palaszewski
Ruth Pe Palileo
Dr. Bob Passovoy
John Picacio
Jim Plaxco
Jim Rittenhouse
Jason M. Robertson
Frank Rodriguez
Bill Roper
Francisco Ruiz
Frank Salvatini
Patricia Sayre McCoy
John Scalzi
Isabel Schechter
Mike Scott
Trudy Seabrook
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Melanie Silver
Luke Ski
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
Susan Stoltze
Kelly Strait
Geri Sullivan
Kathryn Sullivan
Stephen D. Sullivan
Terry Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Becky Thomson
Amanda Trumbull
Dr. Michael Unger
Barb VanTilburg
Ray VanTilburg
Tom Veal
Leane Verhulst
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Art Warneke
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Rochelle Weber
Brooke Wiewel
Wild Mercy
Cary Williams
Greg Williams
Gene Wolfe
Ben Yalow
Mary Frances Zambreno
David Abzug
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Leesa Almgren
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Brian Babendererde
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
Autographing: Brian Babendererde & Kathryn Sullivan - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Autograph Table
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Greg Baldino
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Reinvention of Comic Heroes - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
At many times in the history of long-running comics, characters have escaped their own history and re-invented themselves and started over. Sometimes these reboots have been well receieved. Other times, well, not as much. What are some of your favorite comic hero reinventions? Which ones made you want to stop reading it altogether? And who should be reinvented next?
David Abzug (M)
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino
International Comics - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
The internet has made it much simpler to find comics from around the world. On the down side, there are a whole lot of them, and not enough time to sift through them all. Let our panel of comics lovers help guide you towards the best of comics in the global community.
Greg Baldino (M)
Stephen Boucher
China Barnes
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
The "Twilight" Film Roast (Teens Only) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Teens only - you love it, you hate it, and you absolutely want to come hang out in the Teen Lounge and roast it!
China Barnes
Elaine Bergstrom
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Autographing: Elaine Bergstrom (aka Marie Kiraly) & Elizabeth Anne Hull - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Donald J. Bingle
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Reading: Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Lawrence Watt-Evans & Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Autograph Table
Bob Blackwood
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
Toni Bogolub
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
Stephen Boucher
Death of the Desktop Computer - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Is it time to hold the wake? With laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is there still a market for full-sized desktop computers?
Stephen Boucher
Henry Spencer (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
I Gave $20 to Stephen Boucher (and got to go to Australia!) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Join our Fan Guests of Honor for a look at what's going on in Down Under Fandom. For starters, the 2010 World Science Fiction Convention, Aussiecon 4, was held in Melbourne, Australia. Come see what you missed, or share your memories of the event, and learn what else is happening down there.
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
International Comics - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
The internet has made it much simpler to find comics from around the world. On the down side, there are a whole lot of them, and not enough time to sift through them all. Let our panel of comics lovers help guide you towards the best of comics in the global community.
Greg Baldino (M)
Stephen Boucher
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Walt Boyes
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Barry Childs-Helton
Concert: Barry Childs-Helton - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Barry is one of fandom's finest songwriters, recently nominated for a Pegasus Award as Best Composer. Come listen and find out why.
Barry Childs-Helton
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Sally Childs-Helton
Concert: Sally Childs-Helton - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Sally plays percussion for Wild Mercy, but today's she's promised us an interesting interactive music experience. Let's see what she's got planned...
Sally Childs-Helton
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Richard Chwedyk
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Reading: Richard Chwedyk - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Rachel Cohan
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Eric Coleman
Concert: Eric Coleman - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Eric is one of fandom's more eclectic singer / songwriters, covering a wide range of subjects in his own unique style.
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
News from the Asteroid Belt - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Breaking news! The asteroid belt has shrunk - it is now a Medium instead of a Large! No, wait, wrong belt. Let's try that again. Breaking news! Join our expert panelists for a look into what's going on with our nearby neighbor in the solar system, the Asteroid Belt.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Bill Higgins
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Dale Cozort
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Media)
It's time for a quiz show! Test your knowledge of fannish trivia and see if you're smarter than the average fan!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Olympiad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Can you beat the other teams in time to escape the destruction of the planet?
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Marinda Darnell
Settlers of Catan NACC Qualifier - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 am - Curtain Room in ConSuite
Capricon 31 will be hosting a North American Catan Championship(NACC) qualifier. The NACC qualifier will run Saturday starting at 10 AM. A maximum of 32 players will be seated.
Players will compete on Saturday by playing 4 games of Settlers of Catan. The players are then ranked and the top 15 players will play one semi-final game, with the top 4 playing a final round to determine the winner. The winner will be sponsored, by Capricon and Mayfair Games, to compete in the NACC at GenCon 2011.
The prize for the winner includes travel, room (based on double occupancy), badge, and a seat in the NACC competition at GenCon 2011 in Indianapolis. The winner of the NACC is invited, paid for by Mayfair Games, to play in the World Wide Catan Championship in 2012 for the World title.
Players must be at least 18 years of age, and should expect to play the entire tournament. Cost for the event is the purchase of a badge for admittance to Capricon 31.
Marinda Darnell (M)
Lee Darrow
Hypnosis Demo (ages 13+) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Hypnosis Demo II (ages 18+) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Sondra de Jong
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Phandemonium 101 / Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Learn about Phandemonium, the parent corporation for Capricon, and then meet the candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election (see Sunday at Noon). Everyone is welcome, as all attendees of Capricon are voting members of the corporation!
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Tere de la Torre
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
Reading: Tere de la Torre - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Mark De Smet
Time Travel Review Board - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Curtain Room in ConSuite
Tragically-killed puppies. Embarrassing TV gaffes. Burned toast. These everyday tragedies are relics of the past now that time travel has been invented! But who will safeguard the past from those who would tamper with it for malicious purposes?
On December 1st, the Time Travel Review Board of the NSF will review all applications for time travel permits leaving during the year of 2104. Please come prepared to explain your project and the larger impact of your work. History will be made (and unmade) as a horde of would-be time travelers descend upon our beleaguered review board. What will the past be tomorrow?
Time Travel Review Board is a light comedy horde LARP dealing with everything from the politics of Ancient Egypt to the King of Rock and Roll. In this game, players will either play members of the review board approving or rejecting applications for time travel, or various applicants trying to go on various trips. Everyone will see the results of the trips as the game progresses.
12-24 players, 3 hours
Mark De Smet
Tim Dinan
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Dermot Dobson
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
John Donat
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Who Invented the Telephone? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
In 1870, Elisha Gray moved to Highland Park, where he remained until 1899. During that time, he mostly worked for Western Electric and is best known for inventing the telephone, although Alexander Graham Bell invented it almost simultaneously and may have worked behind the scenes to beat Gray to the patent. A tale of brilliance, treachery and re-writing history.
John Donat
ISFiC Open Meeting - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
An open meeting for ISFiC, the parent organization that runs Windycon, Picnicon, ISFiC Press, and the ISFiC Writer's Contest. If you attended Windycon, then you are a member of ISFiC, so please stop by and give us your input on how we are doing and what you would like to see.
Matthew Duhan
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Friday evening) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Saturday morning) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Zombie Ninja Pirates and Vampire Werewolf Fairies (Saturday afternoon) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
In Zombie Ninja Pirates you try to become four different types of people -- Zombies, Ninjas, Pirates, and Mad Scientists. In Vampire Werewolf Fairies you also try to become four different types of people -- Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, and Witches. The goal of the game is to collect objects to help you or hurt your opponents, and to become types that can use those objects. You can play as multiple types. At the end of the game, a fast-paced lightning round can make or break the winner. Card Game 2-10 players
Matthew Duhan (M)
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Autographing: Phyllis Eisenstein - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Melissa Fichter
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Reading: Melissa Fichter - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - Willow
Tonya Foust
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Dr. Lisa Freitag
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
LEGO© Mania - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! Build a castle with dragons and knights or an alien with a flying saucer attacking the Earth. You're only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Edible Art - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Ever want to play with your food? You get a chance in this panel! Create aliens and other creatures out of candy and then eat them.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
BEADazzled - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Celtic Coloring - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Coloring can be relaxing and fun! Join your friends in coloring some creative Celtic designs and learn the basics of drawing Celtic knots.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Hilarious Hats and Marvelous Masks - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create a hat out of newspaper and duct tape and a colorful mask out of foam, feathers and other fun things.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Sci Fi/Fantasy Pictionary - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
How good are you at guessing what other people draw? Come see if you can win the big prize!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
LEGO© Mania the Sequel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! Build a castle with dragons and knights or an alien with a flying saucer attacking the Earth. You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Gaming Galore - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Many games will be available to play including Munchkin, Settlers of Catan/Kids of Catan and Kids of Carcassonne. Feel free to bring your own to play or teach a friend!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Terrific Tangrams and Tessellations - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Test your talent with tangram puzzles and try you hand at creating a tessellation.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Apples 2 Apples - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Play the popular game Apples to Apples with other kids.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Debbie Gates
Concert: Debbie Gates - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Debbie plays keyboards and drums for Wild Mercy. Today, she'll be pulling out her guitar for a solo performance that should be lots of fun.
Debbie Gates
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Deb Geisler
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Janice Gelb
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
I Gave $20 to Stephen Boucher (and got to go to Australia!) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Join our Fan Guests of Honor for a look at what's going on in Down Under Fandom. For starters, the 2010 World Science Fiction Convention, Aussiecon 4, was held in Melbourne, Australia. Come see what you missed, or share your memories of the event, and learn what else is happening down there.
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb (M)
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Chris Gerrib
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Jerry Gilio
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
Phandemonium Bookclub: The God Engines by John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of The God Engines, the Hugo Award nominated novella by our Guest of Honor, John Scalzi.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Don Glass
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
gundo
Concert: gundo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River AB (Cafe)
You don't often see gundo on stage without a band standing up there with him. Here's the rare solo gundo for your listening enjoyment.
gundo
Bill Higgins
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
News from the Asteroid Belt - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Breaking news! The asteroid belt has shrunk - it is now a Medium instead of a Large! No, wait, wrong belt. Let's try that again. Breaking news! Join our expert panelists for a look into what's going on with our nearby neighbor in the solar system, the Asteroid Belt.
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Bill Higgins
50 Years of Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - River C (Media)
Hello? Anyone out there? Hello? Can you hear us? How about now? Bill Higgins examines some recent developments in SETI and in our understanding of life on other worlds.
Bill Higgins
Butch Honeck
Lost Wax Casting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Butch Honeck presents on how bronze casting is done, starting with a wax casting to a finished project.
Butch Honeck
Art Show Docent Tour: Butch Honeck - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Butch Honeck, who creates brilliant 3D bronze castings will give you a tour of the Capricon art show and his professional opinion of what's on display.
Butch Honeck
Valli Hoski
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Elizabeth Anne Hull
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Autographing: Elaine Bergstrom (aka Marie Kiraly) & Elizabeth Anne Hull - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Nancy Hutchins
Dork Frag - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Game starts. Enemy in sight...Frag him! Grab his stuff! Run! Get a bigger gun! Grab some armor! There he is again! Frag him! Whoa, there's another one. Run...you're hit! You're down. Respawn! Grab a weapon! Start again! Frag is a computer game without a computer. It's a "first-person shooter" on a tabletop. Move your fighter and frag your foes; draw cards for weapons, armor, and gadgets; move through the blood spatters to restore your own health! If you die, you respawn and come back shooting! Dork Frag is Frag with characters (Ken, Carson, Igor, Matt, Kayleigh and Gilly) from Dork Tower. Board Game 2-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
3D Frag - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Game starts. Enemy in sight...Frag him! Grab his stuff! Run! Get a bigger gun! Grab some armor! There he is again! Frag him! Whoa, there's another one. Run...you're hit! You're down. Respawn! Grab a weapon! Start again! Frag is a computer game without a computer. It's a "first-person shooter" on a tabletop. Move your fighter and frag your foes; draw cards for weapons, armor, and gadgets; move through the blood spatters to restore your own health! If you die, you respawn and come back shooting! 3D Frag uses miniatures. Board Game 2-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
After the Cylon attack on the Colonies, the battered remnants of the human race are on the run, constantly searching for the next signpost on the road to Earth. They face the threat of Cylon attack from without, and treachery and crisis from within. Humanity must work together if they are to have any hope of survival...but how can they, when any of them may, in fact, be a Cylon agent? Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game is an exciting game of mistrust, intrigue, and the struggle for survival. Based on the epic and widely-acclaimed Sci Fi Channel series Battlestar Galactica, the board game puts players in the role of one of ten of their favorite characters from the show. Each playable character has their own abilities and weaknesses, and must all work together in order for humanity to have any hope of survival. However, one or more players in every game secretly side with the Cylons. Players must attempt to expose the traitor while fuel shortages, food contaminations, and political unrest threatens to tear the fleet apart. Board Game 3-6 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
Doom: The Boardgame - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
In Doom: The Boardgame, demonic invaders have broken through from another dimension into the Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars base. Marines have been deployed to the base to protect UAC personnel and destroy the invaders. Up to three players will take the roles of heavily armed and highly trained marines, while one player will control the legion of demonic invaders. In the game, the marine players explore the claustrophobic rooms and corridors of the Mars base, attacking monsters, picking up new weapons and equipment, and working together to complete specific mission objectives. Board Game 2-4 players
Nancy Hutchins (M)
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Star Munchkin - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
The Munchkins are back - and they're in space! Now they're Mutants, Cyborgs, and Cat People . . . grabbing Lasers, Vibroswords, and Nova Grenades . . . fighting Fanged Fuzzballs, Bionic Bimbos, and the Brain In A Jar. Card Game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Carcassonne - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Build cities, farms, and roads in this game of world building. Board Game 2-6 Players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Deluxe Illuminati - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Ninja Burger - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Chez What - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Talisman - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
What would you do with a Time Machine? Would you stop the sinking of the Titanic? Prevent the assassination of JFK? Kill Hitler before WWII? These are just a few of the possibilities in Chrononauts, the award-winning card game of time travel. To win, you must change history at key points called Linchpins, so that history transforms into the Alternate Reality your character calls home. You can also win by collecting a specific set of Artifacts, such as a live dinosaur, the Mona Lisa, and an unpublished Shakespearean play. But be careful - if you create too many paradoxes, you could destroy the entire universe! Card game 2-6 players
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Caitlin Jung
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Alex Kaempen
Battle Tech (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players
Alex Kaempen (M)
Joe Karpierz
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
John Kaufmann
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Hypnosis Demo (ages 13+) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Hypnosis Demo II (ages 18+) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
Experience and discuss hypnosis - how does it work, why is it interesting and what does it feel like? Our certified hypnotherapists, Lee Darrow, C.H., Kerri Ellen Kelly, C.H., talk and demonstrate. Ages 13 and over only, please.
Lee Darrow (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Michael Kelly
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Kim Kofmel
The Overdeveloped Bump of Curiosity: Adult Readers' Perception of SF & F - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Ask three fans about how to define SF & Fantasy and how to tell them apart and you'll likely get three different answers. Or even four. So what happens when you ask 32 readers, some of whom are fans and some are not? Find out in this presentation drawn from a Canadian doctoral dissertation about readers of SF & Fantasy.
Kim Kofmel
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Deb Kosiba
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
Celtic Knot Drawing - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Artist Deb Kosiba teaches you the basics of Celtic knot drawing.
Deb Kosiba
Stained Glass Demo - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
Come join artist Deb Kosiba for a demonstration of creating a piece of stained glass art.
Deb Kosiba
Dina S. Krause
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Leonard Krol
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Dawn Kuczwara
Film Roast - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Ravinia A (Anime)
Join Dawn Kuczwara and Greg Williams on an epic journey of mockery as they poignantly puncture the propriety of some unlucky cinematic target. Due to the fact that all of our library will be packed up for departure, the specific title of the target film will remain classified until after launch (meaning, whatever we can scrounge from the Redbox on Luna Station on the way by). What? Shut up! You kids today are spoiled! When I was your age, escape pods didn't even HAVE movie screens, and no, you can't have another juice box - it's 700,000,000 miles to the next rest stop.
Dawn Kuczwara
Greg Williams
Jer Lance
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Jennifer Lawrence
Reading: Jennifer Lawrence - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River AB (Cafe)
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Kathy Lehman
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Daniel Levin
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Sandra Levy
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Sunshine Levy
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
Tracy Lunquist
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
I Was a Teenage Volunteer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What are the perks of volunteering at a convention? How do you use volunteering as a springboard to taking over the world, or, if that's too much, helping to run a convention of your very own?
China Barnes
Sunshine Levy
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman (M)
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Eileen Maksym
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Reanimation of the Zombies! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
What's up with the boom in zombie literature and films? From World War Z to The Walking Dead, zombies are becoming the new hot paranormal creature. (But not sexy hot like vampires and werewolves. That would be gross. Wouldn't it?)
Tere de la Torre (M)
Chris Gerrib
Eileen Maksym
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Reading: Eileen Maksym - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - Willow
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Lisa Malec
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Mark Mallchok
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Ross Martinek
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
From Peter Pan to Dragons to the Wright Brothers - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Flight! Some people are terrified by it, some people are fascinated by it. What is it about getting off the ground and into the air that is so intriguing to humans?
Dermot Dobson
Tonya Foust
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Ross Martinek
What You Don't Know Will Kill You - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Media)
Whether you are a model and prop builder, costumer, or just a human being, you live in a far more dangerous world than you realize. Modern technology is founded on new materials and substances, which are being developed at an exponential rate. Thirty years ago, toxicology research was already twenty years behind, and the situation hasn't improved. Come find out what the dangers are and how to protect yourself, whether in the workshop or the kitchen.
Ross Martinek
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Alien Landscapes on Earth - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
No need to leave the planet - there are some seriously weird looking places on Earth. Escape with us to some of the wildest, most bizarre, beautiful, and ugly places on the planet.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Jerry Gilio
Mark Mallchok (M)
Ross Martinek
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Dave McCarty
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Chicago is hosting the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention! Come find out what we're planning and how you can be involved in the fun!
Dave McCarty (M)
Helen Montgomery
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Paul McComas
Adapting SF / F to the Theater - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Phandemonium has had several outings to see theatrical adaptations of SF - everything from Bat Boy: The Musical to Neverwhere. Join our panelists, including the director of Capricon 31's live performance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, for a discussion of the perils and possibilities of bringing SF to the stage.
Paul McComas (M)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Voodoo: Real and Reel - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Media)
Voodoo was used by slaves to retain some semblance of identity and self-determination, allowing them to escape -- at least for the length of the ceremony -- their legal status as "property." Voodoo in films is usually portrayed a bit differently. Come learn more about these spiritual rites as seen in film, books, and reality. The program will conclude with a brief but authentic voodoo demonstration.
Paul McComas
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Reading: Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River AB (Cafe)
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Autographing: Paul McComas & Stephen D. Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Heather McConaha
Are You the Traitor? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Friday) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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! Role Playing Game 4 - 10 Players
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You a Werewolf? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players
Heather McConaha (M)
Cathy McManamon
Concert: Cathy McManamon - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Cathy comes to Chicago filk from the folk circuit, performing solo and with a partner in the folk-rock duo Tragic Hair Shadow. Her original music caught the circle's attention at Windycon, and we're glad that we get to hear her again at Capricon. Cathy plays guitar, recorder, and hand percussion, has one album out, and is working on another.
Cathy McManamon (M)
Amy McNally
Concert: Amy McNally - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Amy frequently plays the fiddle to accompany others. Here she'll be playing and singing herself, perhaps with a little help from her friends. Did we mention that she's got an album coming out soon?
Amy McNally
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Jen Midkiff
Concert: Jen Midkiff - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Jen plays the harp and sings beautifully. Was there something else that you needed to know to get you to come listen?
Jen Midkiff
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Adam Miller
Munchkin Quest - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-12-2011 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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)
SPANC - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (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
Adam Miller (M)
Chez Cthulhu - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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
Adam Miller (M)
Tim Miller
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
Terrence Miltner
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Thee Bluebeard Show - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Come to see THEE BLUEBEARD SHOW!! The ONLY improv comedy show at Capricon. It's THEE late night talk show matinee where Thee Bluebeard interviews you and anyone randomly chosen from the audience to sit in the guest seat and answer the serious questions about stuff. Wanna be on stage in front of a bunch of con people or do you just want to push one of your friends up there? See what happens mates. Autographs to follow and bring your own spatula.
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Autographing: Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Autograph Table
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Mary Anne Mohanraj
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
MoiraCoon
Using Social Networking to Market Your Art - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
How can you effectively use social networking options such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs to market yourself as an artist?
China Barnes
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
Helen Montgomery
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lobby
Bring your snowpants and gloves and come outside with us to build Snow Goons! What are Snow Goons, you ask? Snowmen, but seriously twisted, a la Calvin and Hobbes. (Weather permitting)
Helen Montgomery
Erik V. Olson
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Chicago is hosting the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention! Come find out what we're planning and how you can be involved in the fun!
Dave McCarty (M)
Helen Montgomery
Phandemonium Bookclub: The God Engines by John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of The God Engines, the Hugo Award nominated novella by our Guest of Honor, John Scalzi.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Dramatic Readings from The Weekly World News - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
In 2007, The Weekly World News stopped publishing their print edition. This, however, does not deter us from celebrating our love of Bat Boy! Join us for much silliness, laughter, and bad puns as we bring you the best, and the worst, of this year's online stories from "The World's Only Reliable Newspaper".
Helen Montgomery
Deirdre Murphy
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Jason Neerenburg
Concert: Jason Neerenburg - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
When he's not performing with Toyboat, Jason pulls out his guitar and sings solo. Come on by and take a listen!
Jason Neerenburg
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Shelagh Nikkel
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Massage Demo - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Professional Massage Therapist Shelagh Nikkel teaches you how to rub people the right way.
Shelagh Nikkel
Erik V. Olson
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lobby
Bring your snowpants and gloves and come outside with us to build Snow Goons! What are Snow Goons, you ask? Snowmen, but seriously twisted, a la Calvin and Hobbes. (Weather permitting)
Helen Montgomery
Erik V. Olson
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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 & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Bryan Palaszewski
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
NASA Technology Planning (Get to the Escape Pods!) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River C (Media)
NASA's integrated technology roadmap, including both technology pull and technology push strategies, considers a wide range of pathways to advance the nation's current capabilities. The present state of this effort is documented in NASA's DRAFT Space Technology Roadmap, an integrated set of fourteen technology area roadmaps, recommending the overall technology investment strategy and prioritization of NASA's space technology activities. This document presents the DRAFT Technology Area 02 input: In-Space Propulsion Systems. NASA developed this DRAFT Space Technology Roadmap for use by the National Research Council (NRC) as an initial point of departure. Through an open process of community engagement, the NRC will gather input, integrate it within the Space Technology Roadmap, and provide NASA with recommendations on potential future technology investments. Because it is difficult to predict the wide range of future advances possible in these areas, NASA plans updates to its integrated technology roadmap on a regular basis.
Bryan Palaszewski
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
NASA Human Missions to Asteroids and Other Fine Places - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River C (Media)
A NASA team tasked with fleshing out President Barack Obama's overhaul of the nation's human spaceflight program has briefed NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his deputy on a deep space exploration plan that rejects some key assumptions of the president's strategy but aligns with a version of the NASA authorization bill approved by the full Senate in August. Dubbed the Human Exploration Framework Team (HEFT), the group of NASA field center employees spent four months looking at the hardware that would be needed to heed the president's call for sending astronauts to an asteroid by 2025. In outlining his proposal in April, Obama proposed spending up to five years and some $3 billion researching heavy-lift propulsion technologies before choosing a design for the United States' first exploration-class rocket since Saturn V. The president also reversed an earlier decision to cancel the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, directing NASA to use the capsule as the basis for a space station crew lifeboat.
Bryan Palaszewski
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Ruth Pe Palileo
Adapting SF / F to the Theater - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Phandemonium has had several outings to see theatrical adaptations of SF - everything from Bat Boy: The Musical to Neverwhere. Join our panelists, including the director of Capricon 31's live performance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, for a discussion of the perils and possibilities of bringing SF to the stage.
Paul McComas (M)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Weird Inventions (Teens Only) - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
So you think you've got the latest technology with your iPhone? And you figure in some distant future, somebody will make a freeze ray. But do you REALLY know the state of the art stuff? If you've dreamt it, somebody has probably already patented it at the US Patent Office. Ever since Benjamin Franklin created this government agency, it's dealt with the wonderful, the weird and the just plain cool. Check out some of the devices and systems already out there - even if they're not on the market yet! (Teens only, please!)
Ruth Pe Palileo
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Media)
It's time for a quiz show! Test your knowledge of fannish trivia and see if you're smarter than the average fan!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You get one carry-on sized suitcase. What will you bring with you when we leave the planet? Capricious plans on bringing some tin cans, his party hat from Cap 30, and his prized copy of Heinlein's "-All You Zombies-". Come prepared to create your own packing list and join in the ensuing hilarity!
David Abzug
Rachel Cohan
Jerry Gilio
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
John Picacio
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Autographing: John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Autograph Table
The Art of John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Media)
Our Artist Guest of Honor presents a slideshow of his work, including paintings and book covers.
John Picacio
Art Show Docent Tour: John Picacio - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join our Artist Guest of Honor, John Picacio, on a tour of the Capricon art show and hear his professional opinion of what's on display.
John Picacio
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Jim Plaxco
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Live Art Demo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Join professional artist Jim Plaxco for an artist / audience collaboration in the creation of a new piece of computer art.
Jim Plaxco
Art of the Exploration of Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Art and the Exploration of Space looks at the development of space art and how that art evolved over time to reflect the realities of aerospace engineering. Particular attention is paid to the means by which art is used to portray space exploration, from exploratory, educational, and inspirational perspectives. Also discussed is the NASA Art Program and NASA's recognition of the emotional impact of art vs photography.
Jim Plaxco
Jim Rittenhouse
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Jason M. Robertson
Whatever Happened to Cyberpunk? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Decades ago, the work of authors like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, and Pat Cadigan described worlds of the digital frontier filled with cowboys and hustlers and all variations of cool folk. We were drawn to these descriptions of landscapes we were only starting to glimpse through the infant networks that some of us were connecting to. The scenes were cool, the characters were cool, the world was COOL! Now, the world of Cyberpunk seems all but extinct. What happened? Did "jacking into the 'Net" only to find the greatest suburban mall ever kill our dreams? Is wide participation the death knell of cool? How do we get our 'Net back? Do we want our 'Net back? Come explore the life and times of Cyberpunk and see what we can learn about the dangers of realizing our dreams.
Tere de la Torre
Dave McCarty (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Join the chicago-sf.org bookclub for a discussion of Who Fears Death by local author Nnedi Okorafor.
Jason M. Robertson
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Frank Rodriguez
Klingon Karaoke - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 9:00 pm to 12:00 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
You told us to bring it back, and we listened! Come sing your escape pod worries away with our live band Karaoke!
Frank Rodriguez
Bill Roper
Concert: Bill Roper - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Bill has been writing and singing filk for over thirty years and always seems to have something new for us. Come see what he's pulled out of his songbook this year!
Bill Roper
ISFiC Open Meeting - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
An open meeting for ISFiC, the parent organization that runs Windycon, Picnicon, ISFiC Press, and the ISFiC Writer's Contest. If you attended Windycon, then you are a member of ISFiC, so please stop by and give us your input on how we are doing and what you would like to see.
Francisco Ruiz
The Death Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Despite modern medicine and the promises of science fiction, immortality continues to elude us. Instead of bringing salvation, advances have made it possible to hang onto life well past when some would consider it desirable. Sarah Palin criticized the growing need for end of life decisions, but perhaps “death panels” are just what we should have. We will examine dying in American hospitals, options for end of life care, and how decisions should be made. How do you want to die?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Paul McComas
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Francisco Ruiz
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
Frank Salvatini
Lost in Spaaaace! - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Yes, Virginia, there was SF on TV before Star Trek. Let's take a look back at some of the true classic SF television.
Frank Salvatini
Alex von Thorn (M)
"I'm bored. What do you want to do?" "I dunno. What do you want to do?" - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
How do you pass the time when you're stuck on a spacecraft for 50 years?
Tonya Foust
Deb Kosiba (M)
Frank Salvatini
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Adult Escapism: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll (ages 21+) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
A round-table discussion of some of the more "adult" forms of escaping. 21 and older only.
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Ross Martinek (M)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Frank Salvatini
Patricia Sayre McCoy
What Else Should We Be Reading? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
What non-genre books, fiction and non-fiction, are worthy of our attention?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler
Dina S. Krause
Paul McComas
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
John Scalzi
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River C (Media)
Welcome to Capricon 31: Escape! Join us as we kick off this year's event and get some idea of what to expect and to meet our GoHs and the people who make it all possible.
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
2011 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
The nomination period for the 2011 Hugo Awards is open! What books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Joe Karpierz
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi
Reading: John Scalzi - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Science Fiction Films Today: More Special Effects than Science Fiction? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Are "Science Fiction" films still science fictional? Do cool special effects make up for the lack of actual science? What about critical successes like Moon, that didn't have blockbuster special effects? Our film critics and experts discuss where SF and film is headed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Mark Mallchok
Paul McComas
John Scalzi
GoH Q & A: John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
We think we know John Scalzi through his long-running blog, Whatever. But really, there's so much more you don't know, secrets he has not yet revealed. Come and ask your questions - you shall be answered!
John Scalzi
Autographing: John Scalzi - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Closing Ceremonies & Feedback Session - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River C (Media)
All good things must come to an end and that includes Capricon 31, the best Capricon you'll attend in 2011. Come to Closing Ceremonies to help us ring out the old con and usher in the new when the Cap32 chair gives a hint of what will happen when we convene in 2012.
Isabel Schechter
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
A Priest, a Rabbi, a Minister, and an Imam Step Onto a Starship... - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Astronomy heavily figures into the timing and practices of several religions. Leave the planet, and all your astronomical references either change or go away completely. A discussion of how various religions would need to adjust when confronted with things like different lengths of day or month, different numbers of moons, living on a moon with both a star and a planet in the sky, traveling between planets or stars with no day/night cycle at all, etc.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Francisco Ruiz
Isabel Schechter
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Mike Scott
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Differences in Fan Cultures in the U.S. and Abroad - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
We like to think of fandom as one big family, but different branches of the family tree have developed in their own unique ways, creating their own traditions and ideals. Come meet some of our extended family from around the US and the world and hear about how they do things "over there".
Stephen Boucher
Deb Geisler (M)
Janice Gelb
Kim Kofmel
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Trudy Seabrook
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Will the "re-boot" of Star Trek knock Star Wars from the top? Has Star Wars ever been at the top? Han Solo or James T. Kirk - who's badder? Join us for a spirited round-table discussion of one of SF's greatest arguments. Bonus points if you come in costume from either show and engage in a Nerf™ weapon duel!
Paul McComas (M)
Jason M. Robertson
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Melanie Silver
Breaking Into the Art Business - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
You're an artist, and want to do it commercially. Meet the pros who have turned their passion into their profession, and learn how you can do the same.
John Kaufmann
John Picacio (M)
Melanie Silver
The Obligatory Doctor Who Panel - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Go on. Discuss amongst yourselves. We have absolute faith in your ability to discuss Doctor Who for 75 minutes without any direction from us!
Joe Karpierz
Daniel Levin
Eileen Maksym
Tim Miller (M)
Melanie Silver
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
Luke Ski
Concert: The Great Luke Ski - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm - River C (Media)
The Great Luke Ski is funny, frantic, and always puts on a great show. Catch Chicagoland's own filk rapper before he gets away!
Luke Ski
Henry Spencer
Death of the Desktop Computer - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Is it time to hold the wake? With laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is there still a market for full-sized desktop computers?
Stephen Boucher
Henry Spencer (M)
Requiem for the Space Shuttle - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Fare thee well, we'll miss you, Space Shuttle program! Or will we? What new opportunities can rise from the ashes?
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Jim Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Abandoning the Earth on Short Notice - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Sometimes you can see the asteroid coming and have time to make a plan. What happens if someone looks away from the telescope at the wrong time, and now you're on a time crunch? Brainstorm scenarios for the apocalypse and how we might get ourselves out of them.
Bill Higgins (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Henry Spencer
Computing Before Computers - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Slide rules, calculating machines (Babbage, and his precessors and successors), nomograms, abaci, and other now-forgotten computing aids from the pre-silicon era.
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
Supernaturals and the New Planet - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
If the new planet has a different sun, will it still burn vampires? Will werewolves shift twice a month if there are two moons? Should we take the supernaturals and paranormals with us when we go?
Elaine Bergstrom
Rachel Cohan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin
Joseph Stockman (M)
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
The Vampire Panel: Team "Squee!" vs. Team "I Don't Care" - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Elm
How long will the vampire trend continue? Will we return to the days of scary vampires, or will they stay sexy? Are you done with vampires, or crave more? A lively debate on a pop culture phenomenon.
Elaine Bergstrom
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Susan Stoltze
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
Kelly Strait
Other Than Fandom: Our Other Hobbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
There are a lot of things outside of science fiction that seem to attract a larger than normal percentage of science fiction fans...knitting, juggling, a capella music, and British humor, just to name a few. Why?
David Abzug
Tim Dinan
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Kelly Strait (M)
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
Nice Planet You've Found There. Try To Not Screw It Up. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We destroyed one planet. How do we ensure we don't repeat the same mistakes? What limits do we need to design into a new society with limited resources?
Dermot Dobson
Ross Martinek (M)
Bryan Palaszewski
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Let's Play God - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
Scientists and doctors are often accused of “playing God,” but no one seems to have specified what, exactly, God does that can so easily be imitated. Or what is wrong with imitating it. What sorts of things are considered godlike behaviors or experiments? What are the potential rewards or punishments? Are there any lines that should not be crossed, or slippery slopes that we are standing too close to? Should God be worried?
Dr. Lisa Freitag (M)
Eileen Maksym
Ruth Pe Palileo
Isabel Schechter
Kelly Strait
Geri Sullivan
Upcoming Worldcons - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon. The Big One. Come hear about upcoming Worldcons (Reno and Chicago) and Worldcon Bids (Texas and London...and perhaps a surprise bid for 2020?) so you can plan your vacations for the next few years!
Dave McCarty (M)
Tim Miller
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
One of Her Crazy Experiments (Teens only) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Geri Sullivan is perhaps best known for her series of experiments involving dissolving Peeps™ in various solvents. Today she brings you: FrankenPeep's Lab! Come assist her in her laboratory and become surgeons - creating Peeps™ monsters! (Teens only, please!)
Geri Sullivan
Ig Nobel Prizes / The Emergency Bra - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
The Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative - and spur people's interest in science and other fields of endeavor. One example is that of the Emergency Bra, designed by Dr. Elena Bodnar of Chicago. At Capricon's very own Improbable Research show, we'll take a look at several past winners as well as the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony itself.
Geri Sullivan
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
What are Fanzines and How Do I Find Them? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Fanzines are the foundation of fandom. It's how the fannish culture first came together and it is still a thriving part of the community. What are the best fanzines out there today?
Janice Gelb (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Mike Scott
Geri Sullivan
Kathryn Sullivan
The Future of Cover Art in the Age of E-Books - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
As we move towards digital readers, what happens to cover art? How can you judge a book by its e-cover? Some cover art can be horrendous, so is this a good thing?
Walt Boyes
John Picacio (M)
John Scalzi
Kathryn Sullivan
MacGyver Would Be Embarrassed - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
You know how periodically you feel the need to yell at the TV? Or perhaps throw the book across the room? Come vent about the stupid ways TV shows and authors get their characters out of trouble!
Richard Chwedyk
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dermot Dobson
Bill Higgins (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
The Companions of Dr. Who - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
We invite you to cordially and civilly debate the merits of each of the Doctor's Companions and come to an agreement as to whom is best. Alternatively, a spirited argument complete with creative insults and invitations to duel could also be fun. Ready? Go!
Dale Cozort
Valli Hoski
Jer Lance (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Broad Universe promotes and celebrates writing by women within science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and seeks to support both the women who produce those works and the readers who enjoy them. Come be Broad minded and hear some great readings!
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
What Can a Reference Librarian Do for You? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
If you're going to write, you're going to need to know how to do research. While many people rely upon the internet, reference librarians can help you find other sources, and teach you how to research faster, better, and smarter. Join our librarians to learn some tricks of the trade that can aid you in your quest for accuracy in your writing!
Valli Hoski
Sandra Levy
Patricia Sayre McCoy
Kathryn Sullivan (M)
Autographing: Brian Babendererde & Kathryn Sullivan - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Autograph Table
Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
How to pack for a space flight - what would we really need on a long-term voyage? What technology is and isn't ready yet? In addition, what do we want to bring with us from Earth that isn't about technology?
John Kaufmann
Jer Lance
Bryan Palaszewski
Patricia Sayre McCoy (M)
Kathryn Sullivan
Stephen D. Sullivan
D & D - The Beginning - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
C'mon, we've all played a little D & D at some point, right? Stephen Sullivan joined TSR as part of the development team for Dungeons & Dragons. Come get the inside scoop on how the world's most famous role playing game came to be.
Stephen D. Sullivan
Breaking Into the Gaming Industry - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Got an idea for the next D & D or WoW? Learn from the pros how to get into the gaming industry and succeed.
David Abzug
Brian Babendererde
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
A Celebration of Bad Films, Part Deux - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
We couldn't cover them all last year, so welcome back for Part Deux! 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 Consolmagno
Lee Darrow
Dave McCarty
Paul McComas (M)
Stephen D. Sullivan
Reading: Stephen Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Paul McComas & Stephen D. Sullivan - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Escapist Gaming - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
For most people, a primary childhood escape was "make believe". As "adults", we still escape through games - role playing, board games, online, and others. What are your favorite escapist games?
Donald J. Bingle
Matthew Duhan
Melissa Fichter
Eileen Maksym
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Terry Sullivan
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
"Classic" SF - What Still Provides a Fresh "Sensawondah" Today? - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
Heinlein. Clarke. Bester. Sturgeon. What "classic" SF novels have held up over time and still pack that same "WOW!" punch?
Chris Gerrib
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Kathy Lehman
Deirdre Murphy (M)
Terry Sullivan
Unreadable Award Winners - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Ever pick up an award-winning book and say "Oh, this won an award. It must be good."? Then after you finish, you wonder how you can get those three hours of your life back? Yeah, us too.
Joe Karpierz
Susan Stoltze (M)
Terry Sullivan
Curtis Taitel
You Can't Go Home Again - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What happens when you go back and re-read the books you loved as a kid? How does it change the experience?
Bob Blackwood
Toni Bogolub
Dina S. Krause (M)
Leonard Krol
Curtis Taitel
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
This Planet Sucks! - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
How does a sucky planet actually lead to technological development? How much of the planet actually needs to be habitable, and how much can we work around with a little duct tape and creativity?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Ross Martinek (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Living Until 2100 - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Babies born now are very likely to live to see the year 2100. What changes might they see? What are young adults today worried about for their future? What do older adults think about their concerns, and how do they compare to their own experiences? A round table discussion on the potential to see the next century.
Dermot Dobson
Daniel Levin
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Becky Thomson
Freaking the Mundanes - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
OK, raise your hand if you've deliberately freaked out a mundane. Yeah you, in the corner, raise your hand. Why do we do it? Should we do it? If we're going to do it, how can we do it well?
Lee Darrow (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Jer Lance
Sunshine Levy
Becky Thomson
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming), Lake Michigan B
Begin your weekend Escape! Join all your friends at the 5th Annual Midwinter Faire! Games, puzzles, craft make-n-takes, massage tune-ups, and pizza! It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with your old friends, and make a few new ones!
Leesa Almgren
Don Glass
Caitlin Jung
Deb Kosiba
Lisa Malec
Deirdre Murphy
Shelagh Nikkel
Amanda Trumbull
Japanese Fashion - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Elegant. Gothic. Lolita. Learn about the differences between seeing it in cosplay, anime, and manga, and wearing it in everyday life.
Amanda Trumbull
Steampunk Costuming 101 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Steampunk costuming is the "in" thing right now - in part because it looks cool, and in part because it's really easy! Learn how to search through your current wardrobe as well as get ideas on things to purchase to supplement what you already have so you can create your dream steampunk outfit!
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Trudy Seabrook
Susan Stoltze (M)
Amanda Trumbull
Dr. Michael Unger
Warning: Not Intended for Use In Outer Space - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Is sending humans into space a Bad Plan?
Dr. John D. Nikitow
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Health in Outer Space - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
Humans in space is a tricky prospect. From physical health issues that can develop, to changing nutritional needs, to mental health concerns, a lot of preparation and thought needs to go into long-term flights for humans. What are the biggest issues, and can they be overcome?
Leesa Almgren
Dr. John D. Nikitow
Frank Salvatini
Becky Thomson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
I'm in Love with a Mundane - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
Are you in a mixed relationship? Is your partner perfect in every way, other than the fact that they're a (gasp!) mundane? Or is that what makes them perfect? Our panelists lead a round table discussion on how to mix fan, non-fan, and love.
Tonya Foust
Isabel Schechter (M)
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Barb VanTilburg
Selling Your Art Online - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Etsy. Cafe Press. Your own website. More and more options are appearing for artists who want to sell their art online. Talk with professional artists and learn which choice would be best for you.
Deb Kosiba (M)
MoiraCoon
Barb VanTilburg
Ray VanTilburg
Art Show Docent Tour: Ray VanTilburg - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 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 will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join Ray VanTilburg, everyone's favorite airbrush artist, former Guest of Honor, and the creator of Capricon 31's official t-shirt, for a tour of the Capricon art show.
Ray VanTilburg
Tom Veal
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Leane Verhulst
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
We're baaaack! No escaping this panel! They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can you judge it by what's on Page 119?
Jerry Gilio
Paul McComas
Leane Verhulst (M)
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
Welcome to Capricon! Ask any questions that you have about the convention. This is an ideal panel for new attendees who have never been to Capricon, or have never been to a science fiction convention before now.
Leane Verhulst
Can Bacon Go Wrong? - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
Yes, we know that in theory, everything is better with bacon. But sometimes, occasionally, can it go horribly wrong? Can there be too much of this great thing? Are some things really not better with bacon? (Sunday morning pancakes not included.)
Brian "Thee Bluebeard" Miskelley
Erik V. Olson (M)
John Scalzi
Geri Sullivan
Leane Verhulst
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Lake Michigan 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.
Alex von Thorn
Lost in Spaaaace! - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
Yes, Virginia, there was SF on TV before Star Trek. Let's take a look back at some of the true classic SF television.
Frank Salvatini
Alex von Thorn (M)
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Game of Thrones: George R. R. Martin in 2011 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
An HBO series. A 2012 calendar by our Artist GoH, John Picacio. A LARP based on the story. A defense by Neil Gaiman to a rabid, impatient fan. George R. R. Martin and his Game of Thrones is hot! hot! hot! Come see what you're missing and what you should be anticipating in 2011 and beyond.
Sondra de Jong
John Picacio (M)
Alex von Thorn
Mainstream TV Shows with Geek Cred - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
The Big Bang Theory. Castle. Chuck. Mainstream TV is finding its Inner Geek and coming out loud and proud. What's it like seeing "our people" on popular TV shows?
Elaine Bergstrom
Dale Cozort
Shaina Lyn-Waitsman
Terrence Miltner
Alex von Thorn (M)
Website 101: My Website Is More 90s Than Yours - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
What do you need to make a website that works? Learn to evaluate what you want your site to do, and what you need to do with the site to achieve the goal.
Tere de la Torre (M)
Jim Rittenhouse
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Should you stay or should you go? - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
When the time comes to evacuate the Earth, who gets to go? Who gets to decide? Would you be one of the lucky ones?
Brian Babendererde
Eileen Maksym
Ross Martinek
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Joy Ward
Developing the Economy of New Worlds - Thursday, 02-10-2011 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
Barter systems? Paper money based on Unobtainium found on the new planet? Keynesian Supply Side Reaganomics? What makes sense as humans head out to colonize new worlds?
Walt Boyes
Tim Dinan
Tom Veal (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
Reading: Joy Ward - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River AB (Cafe)
It Was All a Dream - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Dreams are the ultimate escape from reality. Is dream interpretation useful? Why do we daydream? How do dreams help us manage our lives? What about nightmares - are they an escape or are they something we want to escape?
Susan Stoltze
Terry Sullivan
Joy Ward (M)
The Legacy of 2001 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The movie the defines, for both good and bad, what science fiction is. A look back at this masterpiece of film and the impact it had upon the genre.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Leonard Krol
Joy Ward
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
A Dog and His Boy: Intelligent Animals in SF / F - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Animals have long played an important role in SF, from comic sidekick to loyal companion to protagonist. What are some of the best examples? How does one write well from the perspective of a cat or a horse? Which animal characters would we like to have around for real?
Laura Dombrowski
Jennifer Lawrence
Jason M. Robertson
Melanie Silver
Joy Ward (M)
John Wardale
Hair Braiding Demo - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
John will demo and teach people to do ropes, 4-strand "round" braids, classic (3-strand) French and (3-strand) Dutch (or inverted-French or underhand), as well as a Crown braid (technically a horizontal modified (3-strand) French braid), and other advanced ideas like 5 and 7-strand fingering techniques; as well as shapes like hearts, spirals, and a pullup-weave. Tailored to the desires and abilities of the audience.
John Wardale
Balloon Twisting - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, will be making balloon sculptures including hats, devices, animals, aliens. Requests will be taken. 2 page menu of choices also available. Be forewarned: LATEX products will be in use.
John Wardale
Balloon Animal Workshop: Ages 8 - 12 - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, will be leading a workshop on how to make a balloon dog. If there is time left, he will make other balloon creations by request. Be forewarned: LATEX products will be in use.
John Wardale
Spinning Stories and Bending Braids - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Hear some stories and learn how to spin your own tall tale. Hairbraiding will be available for those that would like their hair braided.
David Abzug
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
John Wardale
Art Warneke
Concert: Art Warneke - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Art hails from Milwaukee where he follows their fine tradition of good singers covering some of the best filk and found filk around.
Art Warneke
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Graphic Stories: A Primer for Newbies - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
There is now a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Why? Because there are so, so many fantastic graphic stories out there! What graphic stories should you be reading?
Rachel Cohan
Michael Kelly
Sunshine Levy (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Breaking into the Comics Industry - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Comics are booming - in print and online. How can you make yours stand out? What connections should you be making in order to get into the business and how to succeed at a superheroic level?
Brian Babendererde
Greg Baldino (M)
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Autographing: Lawrence Watt-Evans & Donald J. Bingle - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Autograph Table
Rochelle Weber
Reading: Rochelle Weber - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Rochelle Weber - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
Panelists will read from random pages of books, and the audience tries to guess the source. Guess correctly, and you may win a prize! Or not.
Joseph Stockman (M)
Kelly Strait
Rochelle Weber
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Luddite Science Fiction - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Can science fiction be anti-technology, or does that make it a different genre?
Chris Gerrib
Ross Martinek
Joseph Stockman (M)
Rochelle Weber
Brooke Wiewel
Revolution - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Blackmail the printer. Threaten the innkeeper. Bribe the priest. Welcome to Revolution! Board game 2-4 players
Brooke Wiewel (M)
Munchkin Cthulhu (House Rules) - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table D (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 Wiewel (M)
Wild Mercy
Concert: Wild Mercy - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
The concert that's been three years in the making, as all of Wild Mercy arrives at Capricon at last! We're not sure exactly what's on the program for tonight, but we're sure that it's going to be good.
Barry Childs-Helton
Sally Childs-Helton
Debbie Gates
Amy McNally
Jen Midkiff
Wild Mercy
Cary Williams
Euchre 101 - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - 16th Floor Lounge (Euchre)
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 want to learn how to play the best card game ever and be one of the cool kids, like us! Perhaps some of you need a quick review before you play in the Euchre Tournament? Some of the best Euchre players Capricon has to offer are here to teach you!
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Cary Williams
Greg Williams
Film Roast - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Ravinia A (Anime)
Join Dawn Kuczwara and Greg Williams on an epic journey of mockery as they poignantly puncture the propriety of some unlucky cinematic target. Due to the fact that all of our library will be packed up for departure, the specific title of the target film will remain classified until after launch (meaning, whatever we can scrounge from the Redbox on Luna Station on the way by). What? Shut up! You kids today are spoiled! When I was your age, escape pods didn't even HAVE movie screens, and no, you can't have another juice box - it's 700,000,000 miles to the next rest stop.
Dawn Kuczwara
Greg Williams
Art Auction - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Attend the live voice art auction on Saturday evening. Over the years, we have had great auctioneers, and we expect to be impressed and amused again this year by the auctioneers AND the art!
Stephen Boucher
Janice Gelb
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Greg Williams
Family Feud - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Media)
Come join us as two teams do battle for their own escape pod!
Greg Williams (M)
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Gene Wolfe - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Autographing: Gene Wolfe - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Circumstances - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Lake Michigan B
For decades, readers have devoured stories about what happens when the Average Joe from our world falls into another world and becomes someone important. What's the appeal of these stories?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Ross Martinek
Gene Wolfe
Mainstreaming of SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events)
When did SF come out of the closet and start gathering around the water cooler? Are we finally escaping the "ghetto" of SF?
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Gene Wolfe
Succeeding as a Professional Writer - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Words. Words. Words. You've got them, you're putting them on paper, and you want to sell them and become a published, professional author. Join some of our pros and get tips on how you can you make your dream come true.
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Nice Idea You've Got There... Too Bad You Can't Write. - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
It has been said that part of why SF / F is marginalized by critics is because the quality of writing is poor. It has also been said that fans put up with poor writing if the ideas are cool enough. Is a neat idea enough? What options exist for writers to improve the quality of their writing?
Walt Boyes
Richard Chwedyk (M)
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Gene Wolfe
Book Cover Illustration and Design - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
Everyone has opinions about book covers. What's good, what sucks, and what could be better? Why do you choose certain covers in a buying situation over others? An open discussion and critique of SF / F cover art.
Walt Boyes
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Picacio (M)
Gene Wolfe
Tentacle Love - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch B
The influence of Lovecraft and Cthulhu on today's SF and horror.
Brian Babendererde
Valli Hoski
Stephen D. Sullivan (M)
Gene Wolfe
Ben Yalow
Bad Technology Triumphs Over Good - Friday, 02-11-2011 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan B
Why do some demonstrably inferior technologies (VHS v. Beta, QWERTY v. Dvorak) win out over superior technology? What does this tell us about ourselves as tool users?
Stephen Boucher
John Donat
Bryan Palaszewski (M)
Ben Yalow
Con-Running Horror Stories - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Many people wonder why some of us like to run conventions? Yes, it can be stressful, and yes, sometimes it's really overwhelming, but down the road, the "horror stories" become downright funny and entertaining. Come hear some of the "disasters" that will now leave you howling with laughter!
Janice Gelb (M)
Kim Kofmel
Ben Yalow
Mary Frances Zambreno
Reading: Mary Frances Zambrano - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River AB (Cafe)
Introducing Your Kids to SF - Saturday, 02-12-2011 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events)
When indoctrinating, er, introducing your kids to SF, which books should you start with?
Melissa Fichter
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Deirdre Murphy
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Escapist SF: Guilty Pleasures - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Lake Michigan B
Who owns a book cover that they use when they're reading certain books in public? Who bought an e-reader so no one will see what you're reading? What books are hiding in the back of the bookcase, or perhaps shoved into a dresser drawer under your pajamas? You've read them over and over, and take comfort every time, but can't face the public shaming if you tell anyone you like them. What are your guilty SF pleasures?
Donald J. Bingle
Rochelle Weber
Mary Frances Zambreno (M)
Autographing: Mary Frances Zambrano - Sunday, 02-13-2011 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table