February 9, 2012 - February 12, 2012
David Abzug
Tim Akers
Brian Babendererde
James Bacon
Alice Bentley
Bob Blackwood
Alex Bledsoe
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes
Capricious
Bill Cavalier
Richard Chwedyk
Allyson Clarkson
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Dale Cozort
Lizzie Crowe
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Marinda Darnell
Sondra de Jong
Tere de la Torre
Dermot Dobson
Cory Doctorow
Laura Dombrowski
Matthew Duhan
Steve Dunteman
Alex Eisenstein
Phyllis Eisenstein
Matt Forbeck
Rebecca Frencl
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Debbie Gates
Chris Gerrib
Anne Geyer
Jerry Gilio
Roland J. Green
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Daniel Gunderson
Merrie Haskell
Peter Heltzer
Bill Higgins
Valli Hoski
Tom Huber
Mark Huston
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Alex Kaempen
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Greg Ketter
John Klima
E.E. Knight
Alisa Kober
Kim Kofmel
Dina S. Krause
Leonard Krol
Jennifer Lawrence
Michael Lee
Daniel Levin
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Eileen Maksym
Mary Mascari
Dave McCarty
Les McClaine
Paul McComas
Heather McConaha
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Holly McDowell
Cathy McManamon
Amy McNally
Jessica Merrick
Jen Midkiff
Adam Miller
Terrence Miltner
Mary Anne Mohanraj
MoiraCoon
Nayad Monroe
Helen Montgomery
Deirdre Murphy
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Jody Lynn Nye
John O'Neill
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Bob Passovoy
David Perry
Jim Plaxco
Greg Press
Samantha Haney Press
Paul Radecki
Jim Rittenhouse
Jason M. Robertson
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Frank Salvatini
John Scalzi
Isabel Schechter
Drew Scheeler
Robert Scott
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Michael T. Sherman
Jon Silpayamanant
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver
Luke Ski
Dick Smith
Kristine Smith
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
David "Raven" Stowell
Kelly Strait
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Tom Trumpinski
Dr. Michael Unger
Leane Verhulst
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Brooke Wiewel
Michael Z. Williamson
Crystal Wolf
Gene Wolfe
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
Reading: Tim Akers - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Tim Akers
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Reading and Music: Alex Bledsoe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Author Alex Bledsoe reads from his new novel, The Hum and the Shiver, while musicians play some of the traditional folk songs featured in the book.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Amy McNally
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Reading: Walt Boyes - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
Walt Boyes
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
Golden Age Babylon - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Wobegon
Come hear the saucy, scandalous, and degenerate tales of first fandom. Learn *why* the Hugo is that shape.
Capricious (M)
Robert E. Howard: The Godfather of Sword & Sorcery - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
An overview of the life and work of Robert E. Howard, the creator of the Sword & Sorcery genre of fiction. His most famous creation is Conan the Cimmerian, of course, but Howard also wrote historical fiction, boxing stories, contemporary adventure tales, straight and humorous westerns, detective & horror stories, poetry and much more for the pulp magazines of the 20s & 30s. Join Howard scholar "Indy" Bill Cavalier as he talks about the legacy of REH and how his legend has gotten even bigger in the 21st Century.
Bill Cavalier
Reading: Richard Chwedyk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Richard Chwedyk
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Cheshire Moon Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cheshire Moon is the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird Lizzie Crowe and crazed magician Eric Coleman. What began as a simple joining of two talents in song circles, and occasionally during the mad-hatter antics of Eric Coleman on stage, whipped and frothed into the most likely of pairs. Eric’s love of punk, folk and prog rock gives them an eerie, otherworldly sound, while Lizzie brings the voice of that otherworld to life in chorus and verse. Together they bring about a torrent that is as playful as it is lightly sinister, all wrapped up in a pretty little beribboned box. Do you dare to open it?
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Creation Stories - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Most people learn what a religion has to teach through the stories it tells, and science is often communicated with the structure of "story" --setting, crisis, insight, resolution. Brother Guy Consolmagno will examine Science Fiction as an example of how our understanding of various cosmologies gets communicated, through story, into popular culture.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins Talk about Science Stuff - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins are fascinating. Hear them discuss fascinating things...about SCIENCE!
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Cheshire Moon Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cheshire Moon is the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird Lizzie Crowe and crazed magician Eric Coleman. What began as a simple joining of two talents in song circles, and occasionally during the mad-hatter antics of Eric Coleman on stage, whipped and frothed into the most likely of pairs. Eric’s love of punk, folk and prog rock gives them an eerie, otherworldly sound, while Lizzie brings the voice of that otherworld to life in chorus and verse. Together they bring about a torrent that is as playful as it is lightly sinister, all wrapped up in a pretty little beribboned box. Do you dare to open it?
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Think you got what it takes? Then come join us for Capricon's own version of Jeopardy!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Phandemonium 101 / Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Fri - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Sat - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Sun - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Choose Your Own Panel! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
Welcome to our first panel of Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures! YOU get to choose the topics of this panel! Some topics will bring you riches, while other panel topics will bring you CERTAIN DOOM! Choose wisely.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
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.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Leane Verhulst
Choose Your Own Panelists! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
More Amazing Adventures! The Moderator chooses new panelists from the audience every ten minutes! The topic will be the Moderator's whim.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Reading and Q & A: Cory Doctorow - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cory Doctorow
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
The Coming War on General Purpose Computation - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The Cory Doctorow Keynote Speech. The copyright war was just the beginning. The last 20 years of Internet policy have been dominated by the copyright war, but the war turns out only to have been a skirmish. The coming century will be dominated by a war against the general purpose computer, and the stakes are freedom, fortune, and the privacy of the entire human race.
Cory Doctorow
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Autographing: Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Cory Doctorow
John Scalzi
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Zombie Ninja Pirate Vampire Werewolf Fairies - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Can you become the ultimate mystical combo-creature? Zombie Ninja Pirate Vampire Werewolf Fairies is a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek fantasy card game where you become combinations of types of characters. You race to collect objects in your Chest to help you or hurt your opponents, depending on which characters you become. With well known, award-winning artists and silly strategy, this is a quick, fun game for the whole family. 2-10 players age 13 and up. Game plays less than an hour.
Matthew Duhan (M)
Mogul - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (Gaming)
It is the 1930s, a time of much industrial building and growth. Buy factories an businesses, in order to produce goods and sell them to gain victory points. The person who can best manage their buildings and meet their goals will win. This is a prototype of Gozer Games' upcoming game, planned to be released later this year. Come get a sneak peek, and give feedback on this new game. 3-5 players age 13 and up. Game plays about 2 hours.
Matthew Duhan (M)
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Munchkin (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
Kill the Monster. Steal their Stuff. Stab your Buddies in the Back. Go down into the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Admit it. You love it. Munchkin is the dungeon experience . . . with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff.. . Card Game 3-6 players.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Munchkin (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Kill the Monster. Steal their Stuff. Stab your Buddies in the Back. Go down into the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Admit it. You love it. Munchkin is the dungeon experience . . . with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff.. . Card Game 3-6 players.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Zombie Jamboree - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come try Zombie Dice, Zombie Munchkins, and Lords of the Fries. All zombies, all the time.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Munchkin Quest (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (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.
Steve Dunteman (M)
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein: A Conversation - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein, two of Chicagoland's preeminent SF/F authors, discuss their work and their careers.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Reading: Matt Forbeck - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Willow
Matt Forbeck
Autographing: Matt Forbeck, Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Matt Forbeck
Paul McComas
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Reading: Rebecca Frencl - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - Elm
Rebecca Frencl
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
LEGO© Mania the Prequel - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Build a robot or a space ship! Legos will be out and ready for you to create! You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
LEGO© Mania - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Castles, Dungeons, and much more! Legos will be out and ready for you to create! The sky is the limit on what you can design!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Cartoons, Comics and Coloring - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create your own comic, color some comics that need some flair and watch cartoons with your friends.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Beads, Balloons, Bubbles and Badges - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations while our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, makes 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.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
John Wardale
LEGO© Mania the Sequel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - TBD
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 (M)
Kid’s Gaming - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Many games for kids 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 (M)
LEGO© Mania the Finale - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Debbie Gates concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Debbie Gates, of Wild Mercy, performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Debbie Gates
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Reading: Chris Gerrib - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River C (Cafe)
Chris Gerrib
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
The Chicago-SF.org Close Reading Group will be discussing the Hugo-nominated novel Feed by Mira Grant (the pseudonym of Windycon's Guest of Honor Seanan McGuire).
Anne Geyer (M)
Jason M. Robertson (M)
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Phandemonium Bookclub: Little Brother - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of Little Brother by Guest of Honor Cory Doctorow.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
The Middleman: Live Commentary! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sands of Zanzibar! Join Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine for a live commentary of The Middleman episode "The Pilot Episode Sanction."
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
Autographing: Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Les McClaine - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Les McClaine
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
From Concept to Screen: Lost- All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Guest of Honor Javier Grillo-Marxuach worked on the series Lost as a writer and supervising producer during its first two seasons. In this very special presentation, Javier will walk the audience from concept through script through execution on his classic episode of Lost, explaining the writing process in this behind- the-scenes look at how TV shows are conceived, developed and produced.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
The Middleman: The Panel! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Tropic of Cancer! Perhaps the greatest geeky property of all time, The Middleman went from being a beloved comic book to an awesome, sadly short-lived TV series, and finally back to a comic book again. Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and artist Les McClaine walk the audience through the concepts and executions of The Middleman.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Daniel "Gundo" Gunderson concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River C (Cafe)
Gundo steps away from the soundboard and performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Daniel Gunderson
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Reading: Merrie Haskell - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Merrie Haskell
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
How the Contraption in Reber's Yard Brought the Galaxy to Wheaton - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Radio sources in the sky were discovered in the 1930s, but nobody studied them until Grote Reber of Wheaton, Illinois tackled the problem. In his spare time, and on a shoestring budget, Reber assembled in his mother's backyard an enormous electronic contraption that would change astronomy forever. Eventually, radio astronomy would blossom into an important new discipline-- but for nearly a decade Reber was the only radio astronomer on Earth.
Bill Higgins
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins Talk about Science Stuff - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins are fascinating. Hear them discuss fascinating things...about SCIENCE!
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Reading: Mark H. Huston - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Mark Huston
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
With Pathfinder crushing D & D 4.0, Wizards of the Coast has finally admitted defeat. Not only are they working on D & D 5.0, they're asking gamers for input. What do we expect from a new D & D edition? Is it too late?
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Michael Lee
Talisman - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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)
Chez Freak - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Chez Freak
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Revolution (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Blackmail the printer. Threaten the innkeeper. Bribe the priest. Welcome to Revolution! Board game 2-4 players.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
What's New From SJG - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come and see some of the new games and items that have been released by Steve Jackson Games over the last year.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Life-size Kill Dr. Lucky - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A, Birch B
Why do all mystery games start just after all the fun is over? Welcome to J. Robert Lucky Mansion: a sprawling country estate full of unusual weapons, good hiding places and craven killers. Killers like you. The object? Kill Doctor Lucky. Find a weapon, track the old man down, and take him out. The obstacles? For one thing all of your friends would rather do it first. For another, Doctor Lucky is aptly named.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Print and Play Games - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
Come see what games you can download off the internet for FREE and learn where to get them.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Battle Tech (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:00 am to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: E.E. Knight - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
E.E. Knight
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
With Pathfinder crushing D & D 4.0, Wizards of the Coast has finally admitted defeat. Not only are they working on D & D 5.0, they're asking gamers for input. What do we expect from a new D & D edition? Is it too late?
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Michael Lee
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
The Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Reading: Eileen Maksym - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Eileen Maksym
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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 Middleman: Live Commentary! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sands of Zanzibar! Join Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine for a live commentary of The Middleman episode "The Pilot Episode Sanction."
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
Autographing: Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Les McClaine - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Les McClaine
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
Art Show Docent Tour: Les McClaine - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia C (Art Show)
You may know what you like, but when you're shown the art by someone who knows what to look for, whole new vistas will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join our Artist Guest of Honor, Les McClaine, on a tour of the Capricon art show and hear his professional opinion of what's on display.
Les McClaine
The Middleman: The Panel! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Tropic of Cancer! Perhaps the greatest geeky property of all time, The Middleman went from being a beloved comic book to an awesome, sadly short-lived TV series, and finally back to a comic book again. Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and artist Les McClaine walk the audience through the concepts and executions of The Middleman.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
The Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Futuristic Fiction: Taking the Roads Not (Yet) Taken - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
Who hasn't longed to look into a crystal ball to see what lies ahead for humanity? Author/actor/educator Paul McComas, an expert on and writer of speculative/dystopian fiction (2011's acclaimed Unforgettable: Harrowing Futures, Horrors, & [Dark] Humor; the upcoming Logan's Journey, co-written with William F. Nolan), performs and analyzes well-chosen excerpts from several authors, including Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, P.D. James, and the aforementioned Mr. Nolan. Writers of futurist fiction, Paul contends, are our modern-day prophets, whose words we ignore at our peril. (He brings along his guitar and throws a "post-apocalyptic ditty" into the mix, too.) A lively discussion is bound to follow!
Paul McComas
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
Reading: Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm - Willow
Paul McComas
Autographing: Matt Forbeck, Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Matt Forbeck
Paul McComas
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Are You a Werewolf? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Reading: Holly McDowell - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River C (Cafe)
Holly McDowell
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Cathy McManamon concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Cathy McManamon performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Cathy McManamon
Bill Roper concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Bill Roper will regale the Cafe crowd with some of his solo repertoire, with a possible visit from Filk's Favorite Fiddler, Amy McNally. (There could also be dancing, or singing, by small children... One Never Knows what will happen during Roper's set...)
Amy McNally
Bill Roper
Reading and Music: Alex Bledsoe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Author Alex Bledsoe reads from his new novel, The Hum and the Shiver, while musicians play some of the traditional folk songs featured in the book.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Amy McNally
Amy McNally concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Amy McNally lights up the Cafe with her fiddle artistry.
Amy McNally
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
SPANC - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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.
Jessica Merrick (M)
Chez Geek - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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.
Jessica Merrick (M)
Jen Midkiff concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River C (Cafe)
Jen Midkiff, of Wild Mercy, will bring her harp and vocals to the Cafe on Saturday. There could be surprise guests. Who knows... her daughter Maddie might even bring her violin!
Jen Midkiff
Red Dragon Inn (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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)
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
Reading: Mary Anne Mohanraj - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 12:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Mary Anne Mohanraj
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Kickstart Your Way to Self-Publishing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Author Mary Anne Mohanraj, who has previously published with HarperCollins and multiple small presses, discusses why she decided to try crowd-sourcing her latest book, and how, last October, she succeeded in raising $8000 in donations in one month, meeting her pledge goal. She'll address why people donated (she took a survey afterwards!) and also talk about the budget breakdown for that book, a collection of erotic SF stories, Demimonde.
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
Reading: Nayad Monroe - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Nayad Monroe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Dramatic Readings from The Weekly World News - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
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 (M)
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - 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
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Phandemonium Bookclub: Little Brother - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of Little Brother by Guest of Honor Cory Doctorow.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Reading: Deirdre M. Murphy - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Deirdre Murphy
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Jody Lynn Nye - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Jody Lynn Nye
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein: A Conversation - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein, two of Chicagoland's preeminent SF/F authors, discuss their work and their careers.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - 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
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Think you got what it takes? Then come join us for Capricon's own version of Jeopardy!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
David Perry concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
David Perry performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
David Perry
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Art of the Exploration of Space - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Jim Plaxco 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
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
The Chicago-SF.org Close Reading Group will be discussing the Hugo-nominated novel Feed by Mira Grant (the pseudonym of Windycon's Guest of Honor Seanan McGuire).
Anne Geyer (M)
Jason M. Robertson (M)
Bill Roper concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Bill Roper will regale the Cafe crowd with some of his solo repertoire, with a possible visit from Filk's Favorite Fiddler, Amy McNally. (There could also be dancing, or singing, by small children... One Never Knows what will happen during Roper's set...)
Amy McNally
Bill Roper
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Bill and Gretchen Roper in Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Bill and Gretchen Roper have been entertaining audiences with their unique bantering filk style for years, before taking some mandatory time off due to the arrival of their two daughters. The babysitter's working overtime tonight, so come catch them before they turn back into parents!
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Bill and Gretchen Roper in Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Bill and Gretchen Roper have been entertaining audiences with their unique bantering filk style for years, before taking some mandatory time off due to the arrival of their two daughters. The babysitter's working overtime tonight, so come catch them before they turn back into parents!
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
John Scalzi DJ's Your 80's Dance / Winter Formal - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 1:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming), Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
John Scalzi DJ's Your Dance. Need we say more? Oh yeah... There will be 80's music. It will be a winter wonderland. You will dance like it's Footloose (the one with Kevin Bacon).
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Reading and Q & A: John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
John Scalzi
Autographing: Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Cory Doctorow
John Scalzi
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Corseting 101 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
ADULTS ONLY. Come learn about the different types of corsets, how to find one that fits, and how to lace one properly. Feel free to bring your own corset.
Drew Scheeler (M)
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Adventure Quest - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create an adventure log and begin a scavenger hunt with the help of some fannish friends. At the end of the weekend, we will come together to share what we discover and earn a reward.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Build Your Own Adventure Kit - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Put together your own kit that will help you survive your weekend at Capricon.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Super Silly Stories - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come sit around the "campfire" and share some silly (and maybe a little scary) adventures with your friends.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Snow Goonies - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come design snow creations and get creative. If there is snow on the ground, we may even go outside and try to build them for REAL! What an adventure!
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Movie, Munchies and “MST3K” Jr - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come watch a movie with your fannish friends and enjoy a snack while you chime in on the movie as it plays.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Choose your OWN adventure - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Share the results of your adventure quest and put the finishing touches on your adventure log. Make a treasure chest to keep the items you discovered on your weekend quest.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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 Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Luke Ski concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Luke Ski brings his funny music to the Capricon Cafe.
Luke Ski
The Art of Hectography - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
A do-it-yourself printing method dating to the 19th and early 20th century, the hectograph or "jellygraph" was used to publish fanzines in early fandom, and has today come around to be a (mundane) art form. Come and see a demonstration of this lost fannish art.
Dick Smith
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Reading: Kristine Smith - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Kristine Smith
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Reading: Kathryn Sullivan - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Kathryn Sullivan
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Designing a Fantasy Role-Playing World and System - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Dr. Mike Unger will go over a variety of methods for the initial creation of a fantasy role playing world/campaign, including: how to limit/expand the scope of the campaign, how to develop plots, characters and enemies. He will also discuss the creation of your own fantasy role playing game system, including de-novo systems and systems which expand/alter systems which are commercially available.
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Carcassonne - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Build cities, farms, and roads in this game of world building. Board Game 2-6 Players.
Leane Verhulst (M)
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
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.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Leane Verhulst
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Reading: Joy Ward - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - Elm
Joy Ward
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Hair Braiding Demo - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - 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, and other advanced ideas like 5-strand and 7-strand fingering techniques; as well as shapes like hearts, spirals, and a pull-up weave. Tailored to the desires and abilities of the audience.
John Wardale (M)
Beads, Balloons, Bubbles and Badges - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations while our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, makes 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.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
John Wardale
Revolution (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (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, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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)
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Reading: Michael Z. Williamson - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 12:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Michael Z. Williamson
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Crystal Wolf concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Singer/songwriter Crystal Wolf is a newcomer to Capricon filk. Come check out her concert set in the Cafe!
Crystal Wolf
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Gene Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
The Art of Hectography - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
A do-it-yourself printing method dating to the 19th and early 20th century, the hectograph or "jellygraph" was used to publish fanzines in early fandom, and has today come around to be a (mundane) art form. Come and see a demonstration of this lost fannish art.
Dick Smith
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Participants Schedule Details
Back
List of active participants - scroll down to see their schedule
David Abzug
Tim Akers
Brian Babendererde
James Bacon
Alice Bentley
Bob Blackwood
Alex Bledsoe
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes
Capricious
Bill Cavalier
Richard Chwedyk
Allyson Clarkson
Eric Coleman
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Dale Cozort
Lizzie Crowe
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Marinda Darnell
Sondra de Jong
Tere de la Torre
Dermot Dobson
Cory Doctorow
Laura Dombrowski
Matthew Duhan
Steve Dunteman
Alex Eisenstein
Phyllis Eisenstein
Matt Forbeck
Rebecca Frencl
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Debbie Gates
Chris Gerrib
Anne Geyer
Jerry Gilio
Roland J. Green
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Daniel Gunderson
Merrie Haskell
Peter Heltzer
Bill Higgins
Valli Hoski
Tom Huber
Mark Huston
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Alex Kaempen
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Greg Ketter
John Klima
E.E. Knight
Alisa Kober
Kim Kofmel
Dina S. Krause
Leonard Krol
Jennifer Lawrence
Michael Lee
Daniel Levin
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Eileen Maksym
Mary Mascari
Dave McCarty
Les McClaine
Paul McComas
Heather McConaha
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Holly McDowell
Cathy McManamon
Amy McNally
Jessica Merrick
Jen Midkiff
Adam Miller
Terrence Miltner
Mary Anne Mohanraj
MoiraCoon
Nayad Monroe
Helen Montgomery
Deirdre Murphy
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Jody Lynn Nye
John O'Neill
Erik V. Olson
Dr. Bob Passovoy
David Perry
Jim Plaxco
Greg Press
Samantha Haney Press
Paul Radecki
Jim Rittenhouse
Jason M. Robertson
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Frank Salvatini
John Scalzi
Isabel Schechter
Drew Scheeler
Robert Scott
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Michael T. Sherman
Jon Silpayamanant
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver
Luke Ski
Dick Smith
Kristine Smith
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
David "Raven" Stowell
Kelly Strait
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Tom Trumpinski
Dr. Michael Unger
Leane Verhulst
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Brooke Wiewel
Michael Z. Williamson
Crystal Wolf
Gene Wolfe
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith
David Abzug
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Tim Akers
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
Reading: Tim Akers - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Tim Akers
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
Brian Babendererde
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
James Bacon
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Alice Bentley
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Bob Blackwood
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Alex Bledsoe
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Reading and Music: Alex Bledsoe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Author Alex Bledsoe reads from his new novel, The Hum and the Shiver, while musicians play some of the traditional folk songs featured in the book.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Amy McNally
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Andrea Boyes
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Walt Boyes
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Reading: Walt Boyes - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
Walt Boyes
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Capricious
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
Golden Age Babylon - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Lake Wobegon
Come hear the saucy, scandalous, and degenerate tales of first fandom. Learn *why* the Hugo is that shape.
Capricious (M)
Bill Cavalier
Robert E. Howard: The Godfather of Sword & Sorcery - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
An overview of the life and work of Robert E. Howard, the creator of the Sword & Sorcery genre of fiction. His most famous creation is Conan the Cimmerian, of course, but Howard also wrote historical fiction, boxing stories, contemporary adventure tales, straight and humorous westerns, detective & horror stories, poetry and much more for the pulp magazines of the 20s & 30s. Join Howard scholar "Indy" Bill Cavalier as he talks about the legacy of REH and how his legend has gotten even bigger in the 21st Century.
Bill Cavalier
Richard Chwedyk
Reading: Richard Chwedyk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Richard Chwedyk
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Allyson Clarkson
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Eric Coleman
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Cheshire Moon Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cheshire Moon is the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird Lizzie Crowe and crazed magician Eric Coleman. What began as a simple joining of two talents in song circles, and occasionally during the mad-hatter antics of Eric Coleman on stage, whipped and frothed into the most likely of pairs. Eric’s love of punk, folk and prog rock gives them an eerie, otherworldly sound, while Lizzie brings the voice of that otherworld to life in chorus and verse. Together they bring about a torrent that is as playful as it is lightly sinister, all wrapped up in a pretty little beribboned box. Do you dare to open it?
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Creation Stories - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Most people learn what a religion has to teach through the stories it tells, and science is often communicated with the structure of "story" --setting, crisis, insight, resolution. Brother Guy Consolmagno will examine Science Fiction as an example of how our understanding of various cosmologies gets communicated, through story, into popular culture.
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins Talk about Science Stuff - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins are fascinating. Hear them discuss fascinating things...about SCIENCE!
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Dale Cozort
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Cheshire Moon Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cheshire Moon is the fanciful collaboration of trickster bird Lizzie Crowe and crazed magician Eric Coleman. What began as a simple joining of two talents in song circles, and occasionally during the mad-hatter antics of Eric Coleman on stage, whipped and frothed into the most likely of pairs. Eric’s love of punk, folk and prog rock gives them an eerie, otherworldly sound, while Lizzie brings the voice of that otherworld to life in chorus and verse. Together they bring about a torrent that is as playful as it is lightly sinister, all wrapped up in a pretty little beribboned box. Do you dare to open it?
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Think you got what it takes? Then come join us for Capricon's own version of Jeopardy!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
Phandemonium 101 / Meet the Candidates - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Marinda Darnell
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Fri - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Sat - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Settlers of Catan World Wide Catan Championship Pre-Qualifier Tourny-Sun - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Capricon 32 is proud to host a Pre-Qualifier for the World Wide Catan Championship 2012 in conjunction with Mayfair Games. Players will compete to win a trip to GenCon Indy 2012 to play for a seat in the WWCC. The trip to GenCon Indy will include double occupancy hotel, 4 day badge to GenCon Indy, and transportation cost. There will be two chances to qualify for a seat in the Semi-Finals on Sunday. A three round tournament will be held on both Friday and Saturday. The top 16 players from the combination of those 2 days will advance to the Semi-Finals. Players do not have to play both Friday and Saturday, We will take your best days score. You can play one or both days. Whichever day has your highest score, Friday or Saturday will be your score taken for rankings. Rankings will be by win/lose record, broken by points. We should be able to wrap up each day (Friday and Saturday) by 9 PM, if not earlier depending on the number of players. Only 3 games will be played Friday, and 3 played on Saturday. Semi-Finals will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. Players will play 1 game. The winner from each table will then play 1 final game to determine the overall Capricon 2012 WWCC Pre-Qualifier Winner!
Marinda Darnell (M)
Sondra de Jong
Choose Your Own Panel! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
Welcome to our first panel of Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures! YOU get to choose the topics of this panel! Some topics will bring you riches, while other panel topics will bring you CERTAIN DOOM! Choose wisely.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
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.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Leane Verhulst
Choose Your Own Panelists! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
More Amazing Adventures! The Moderator chooses new panelists from the audience every ten minutes! The topic will be the Moderator's whim.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Tere de la Torre
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Dermot Dobson
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Cory Doctorow
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Reading and Q & A: Cory Doctorow - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Cory Doctorow
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
The Coming War on General Purpose Computation - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The Cory Doctorow Keynote Speech. The copyright war was just the beginning. The last 20 years of Internet policy have been dominated by the copyright war, but the war turns out only to have been a skirmish. The coming century will be dominated by a war against the general purpose computer, and the stakes are freedom, fortune, and the privacy of the entire human race.
Cory Doctorow
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Autographing: Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Cory Doctorow
John Scalzi
Laura Dombrowski
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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, 02-12-2012 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sadly, every Adventure must come to an end, and so must this one. Come end the weekend in style and tell us your thoughts, good or bad; your feedback helps us make every Capricon an Amazing Adventure! The Powers That Be of Capricon 33 will also give a hint of what's to come when we convene in 2013.
Matthew Duhan
Zombie Ninja Pirate Vampire Werewolf Fairies - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Can you become the ultimate mystical combo-creature? Zombie Ninja Pirate Vampire Werewolf Fairies is a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek fantasy card game where you become combinations of types of characters. You race to collect objects in your Chest to help you or hurt your opponents, depending on which characters you become. With well known, award-winning artists and silly strategy, this is a quick, fun game for the whole family. 2-10 players age 13 and up. Game plays less than an hour.
Matthew Duhan (M)
Mogul - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table D (Gaming)
It is the 1930s, a time of much industrial building and growth. Buy factories an businesses, in order to produce goods and sell them to gain victory points. The person who can best manage their buildings and meet their goals will win. This is a prototype of Gozer Games' upcoming game, planned to be released later this year. Come get a sneak peek, and give feedback on this new game. 3-5 players age 13 and up. Game plays about 2 hours.
Matthew Duhan (M)
Steve Dunteman
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Munchkin (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
Kill the Monster. Steal their Stuff. Stab your Buddies in the Back. Go down into the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Admit it. You love it. Munchkin is the dungeon experience . . . with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff.. . Card Game 3-6 players.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Munchkin (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Kill the Monster. Steal their Stuff. Stab your Buddies in the Back. Go down into the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Admit it. You love it. Munchkin is the dungeon experience . . . with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff.. . Card Game 3-6 players.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Zombie Jamboree - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come try Zombie Dice, Zombie Munchkins, and Lords of the Fries. All zombies, all the time.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Munchkin Quest (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (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.
Steve Dunteman (M)
Alex Eisenstein
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Phyllis Eisenstein
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein: A Conversation - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein, two of Chicagoland's preeminent SF/F authors, discuss their work and their careers.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Matt Forbeck
Reading: Matt Forbeck - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Willow
Matt Forbeck
Autographing: Matt Forbeck, Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Matt Forbeck
Paul McComas
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Rebecca Frencl
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Reading: Rebecca Frencl - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - Elm
Rebecca Frencl
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
LEGO© Mania the Prequel - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Build a robot or a space ship! Legos will be out and ready for you to create! You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
LEGO© Mania - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Castles, Dungeons, and much more! Legos will be out and ready for you to create! The sky is the limit on what you can design!
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Cartoons, Comics and Coloring - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create your own comic, color some comics that need some flair and watch cartoons with your friends.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Beads, Balloons, Bubbles and Badges - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations while our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, makes 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.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
John Wardale
LEGO© Mania the Sequel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - TBD
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 (M)
Kid’s Gaming - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Many games for kids 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 (M)
LEGO© Mania the Finale - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Legos will be out and ready for you to create! You are only limited by your imagination.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
Debbie Gates
Debbie Gates concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Debbie Gates, of Wild Mercy, performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Debbie Gates
SF/F Music that Isn't Filk - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
Science Fiction and Fantasy has inspired more music than just filk. Artists such as David Bowie, Rush, Styx, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Janelle Monae have incorporated genre tropes and stories into their songs and albums. We discuss some of our favorites.
Richard Chwedyk
Eric Coleman (M)
Debbie Gates
Chris Gerrib
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Reading: Chris Gerrib - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River C (Cafe)
Chris Gerrib
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
Anne Geyer
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
The Chicago-SF.org Close Reading Group will be discussing the Hugo-nominated novel Feed by Mira Grant (the pseudonym of Windycon's Guest of Honor Seanan McGuire).
Anne Geyer (M)
Jason M. Robertson (M)
Jerry Gilio
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Phandemonium Bookclub: Little Brother - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of Little Brother by Guest of Honor Cory Doctorow.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
Roland J. Green
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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.
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
The Middleman: Live Commentary! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sands of Zanzibar! Join Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine for a live commentary of The Middleman episode "The Pilot Episode Sanction."
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
Autographing: Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Les McClaine - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Les McClaine
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
From Concept to Screen: Lost- All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Guest of Honor Javier Grillo-Marxuach worked on the series Lost as a writer and supervising producer during its first two seasons. In this very special presentation, Javier will walk the audience from concept through script through execution on his classic episode of Lost, explaining the writing process in this behind- the-scenes look at how TV shows are conceived, developed and produced.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
The Middleman: The Panel! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Tropic of Cancer! Perhaps the greatest geeky property of all time, The Middleman went from being a beloved comic book to an awesome, sadly short-lived TV series, and finally back to a comic book again. Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and artist Les McClaine walk the audience through the concepts and executions of The Middleman.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Daniel Gunderson
Daniel "Gundo" Gunderson concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River C (Cafe)
Gundo steps away from the soundboard and performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Daniel Gunderson
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Merrie Haskell
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Reading: Merrie Haskell - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Merrie Haskell
Peter Heltzer
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Bill Higgins
How the Contraption in Reber's Yard Brought the Galaxy to Wheaton - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Radio sources in the sky were discovered in the 1930s, but nobody studied them until Grote Reber of Wheaton, Illinois tackled the problem. In his spare time, and on a shoestring budget, Reber assembled in his mother's backyard an enormous electronic contraption that would change astronomy forever. Eventually, radio astronomy would blossom into an important new discipline-- but for nearly a decade Reber was the only radio astronomer on Earth.
Bill Higgins
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins Talk about Science Stuff - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Brother Guy and Bill Higgins are fascinating. Hear them discuss fascinating things...about SCIENCE!
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Valli Hoski
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Tom Huber
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Mark Huston
Reading: Mark H. Huston - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Mark Huston
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
John "Shadowcat" Ickes
Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
With Pathfinder crushing D & D 4.0, Wizards of the Coast has finally admitted defeat. Not only are they working on D & D 5.0, they're asking gamers for input. What do we expect from a new D & D edition? Is it too late?
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Michael Lee
Talisman - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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)
Chez Freak - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Chez Freak
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Revolution (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table A (Gaming)
Blackmail the printer. Threaten the innkeeper. Bribe the priest. Welcome to Revolution! Board game 2-4 players.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
What's New From SJG - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Come and see some of the new games and items that have been released by Steve Jackson Games over the last year.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Life-size Kill Dr. Lucky - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A, Birch B
Why do all mystery games start just after all the fun is over? Welcome to J. Robert Lucky Mansion: a sprawling country estate full of unusual weapons, good hiding places and craven killers. Killers like you. The object? Kill Doctor Lucky. Find a weapon, track the old man down, and take him out. The obstacles? For one thing all of your friends would rather do it first. For another, Doctor Lucky is aptly named.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Print and Play Games - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (Gaming)
Come see what games you can download off the internet for FREE and learn where to get them.
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Alex Kaempen
Battle Tech (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:00 am to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Battle Tech (Sunday) - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table E (Gaming)
Come play the classic game of big robot combat. War Game 2+ Players.
Alex Kaempen (M)
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Greg Ketter
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
John Klima
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
E.E. Knight
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: E.E. Knight - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
E.E. Knight
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Alisa Kober
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
Kim Kofmel
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Dina S. Krause
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
Leonard Krol
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Jennifer Lawrence
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Michael Lee
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Dungeons & Dragons 5.0 - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Elm
With Pathfinder crushing D & D 4.0, Wizards of the Coast has finally admitted defeat. Not only are they working on D & D 5.0, they're asking gamers for input. What do we expect from a new D & D edition? Is it too late?
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Michael Lee
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Daniel Levin
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
A Hard to Break Hobbit - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch A
We've all seen the movie trailer. Bilbo! Gandalf! Hot singing dwarves! Peter Jackson's Middle Earth is back. It's time to look back at The Lord of the Rings and begin the speculation about the forthcoming Hobbit duology.
Brian Babendererde (M)
Lizzie Crowe
Daniel Levin
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Tracy Lunquist
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Eileen Maksym
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
The Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
I Still Love My Paranormal Boyfriend- The Urban Fantasy Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Many thought that the Urban Fantasy sub-genre was a trend that would disappear after a few years. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case at all. This panel celebrates awesome Urban Fantasy writers such as Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, and Carrie Vaughn and all of their kick-a$$ characters.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Eileen Maksym
Reading: Eileen Maksym - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Eileen Maksym
Mary Mascari
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Dave McCarty
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Forgotten Role Playing Games of the 1980s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Do you remember Paranoia, Space: 1889, or Champions? This panel will reminisce about some of the best role-playing games of the 1980s other than Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
David Abzug
Eric Coleman
John "Shadowcat" Ickes (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Dave McCarty
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
Les McClaine
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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 Middleman: Live Commentary! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Sands of Zanzibar! Join Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine for a live commentary of The Middleman episode "The Pilot Episode Sanction."
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
Autographing: Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Les McClaine - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Autograph Table
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Les McClaine
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
Art Show Docent Tour: Les McClaine - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia C (Art Show)
You may know what you like, but when you're shown the art by someone who knows what to look for, whole new vistas will open up, even in artwork you don't actually like. Join our Artist Guest of Honor, Les McClaine, on a tour of the Capricon art show and hear his professional opinion of what's on display.
Les McClaine
The Middleman: The Panel! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Tropic of Cancer! Perhaps the greatest geeky property of all time, The Middleman went from being a beloved comic book to an awesome, sadly short-lived TV series, and finally back to a comic book again. Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and artist Les McClaine walk the audience through the concepts and executions of The Middleman.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (M)
Les McClaine
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Paul McComas
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
The Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Futuristic Fiction: Taking the Roads Not (Yet) Taken - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Willow
Who hasn't longed to look into a crystal ball to see what lies ahead for humanity? Author/actor/educator Paul McComas, an expert on and writer of speculative/dystopian fiction (2011's acclaimed Unforgettable: Harrowing Futures, Horrors, & [Dark] Humor; the upcoming Logan's Journey, co-written with William F. Nolan), performs and analyzes well-chosen excerpts from several authors, including Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, P.D. James, and the aforementioned Mr. Nolan. Writers of futurist fiction, Paul contends, are our modern-day prophets, whose words we ignore at our peril. (He brings along his guitar and throws a "post-apocalyptic ditty" into the mix, too.) A lively discussion is bound to follow!
Paul McComas
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
Reboots That Worked - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
One of the most dreaded press releases for fans is the announcement that their favorite property is getting a reboot. And yet, many reboots over the last few years have worked and even surpassed the originals. This panel will discuss some of the best reboots and why they worked while others failed.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Chris Gerrib
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Paul McComas
Reading: Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm - Willow
Paul McComas
Autographing: Matt Forbeck, Paul McComas - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Matt Forbeck
Paul McComas
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Heather McConaha
Are You a Werewolf? (Thursday) - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Are You the Traitor? (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table F (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, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 pm to 12:00 am - Lake Michigan A - Table F (Gaming)
A game of paranoia, deception and mob rule. Role Playing Game 4+ players.
Heather McConaha (M)
Katt McConnell
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Sean McConnell
Wax Chaotic in the Cafe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
Wax Chaotic arrived on the Filk scene in Indianapolis last year, and they are performing at Capricon for the first time in the Cafe.
Allyson Clarkson
Katt McConnell
Sean McConnell
Holly McDowell
Reading: Holly McDowell - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:30 am to 11:00 am - River C (Cafe)
Holly McDowell
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
What Makes Something Iconic? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
Darth Vader's helmet. The Daleks. Robbie the Robot. The Enterprise. These images have permeated popular culture. What makes them so iconic? Why are they iconic while other things failed to make a mark?
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Alex Eisenstein
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Holly McDowell
Cathy McManamon
Cathy McManamon concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Cathy McManamon performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
Cathy McManamon
Amy McNally
Bill Roper concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Bill Roper will regale the Cafe crowd with some of his solo repertoire, with a possible visit from Filk's Favorite Fiddler, Amy McNally. (There could also be dancing, or singing, by small children... One Never Knows what will happen during Roper's set...)
Amy McNally
Bill Roper
Reading and Music: Alex Bledsoe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Author Alex Bledsoe reads from his new novel, The Hum and the Shiver, while musicians play some of the traditional folk songs featured in the book.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Amy McNally
Amy McNally concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Amy McNally lights up the Cafe with her fiddle artistry.
Amy McNally
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Jessica Merrick
SPANC - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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.
Jessica Merrick (M)
Chez Geek - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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.
Jessica Merrick (M)
Jen Midkiff
Jen Midkiff concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm - River C (Cafe)
Jen Midkiff, of Wild Mercy, will bring her harp and vocals to the Cafe on Saturday. There could be surprise guests. Who knows... her daughter Maddie might even bring her violin!
Jen Midkiff
Adam Miller
Red Dragon Inn (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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 (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table A (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)
Terrence Miltner
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Avengers Assemble! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Iron Man 1 & 2. Thor. Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. The forthcoming Avengers film helmed by Joss Whedon. It's a good time to be an Avenger. What makes these films so successful?
David Abzug
Jerry Gilio
Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub
Tracy Lunquist (M)
Terrence Miltner
The Paranormal CW - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Guilty pleasures? Gossip Girl with fangs? Neither. The CW is providing some of the best SF/F dramas on television today. We'll talk about the current seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and the new hit, The Secret Circle.
Bob Blackwood (M)
Laura Dombrowski
Rebecca Frencl
Terrence Miltner
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Reading: Mary Anne Mohanraj - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 12:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Mary Anne Mohanraj
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Kickstart Your Way to Self-Publishing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Author Mary Anne Mohanraj, who has previously published with HarperCollins and multiple small presses, discusses why she decided to try crowd-sourcing her latest book, and how, last October, she succeeded in raising $8000 in donations in one month, meeting her pledge goal. She'll address why people donated (she took a survey afterwards!) and also talk about the budget breakdown for that book, a collection of erotic SF stories, Demimonde.
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter, and how can we approach them successfully?
Alex Bledsoe
Cory Doctorow
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
MoiraCoon
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
Nayad Monroe
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
Reading: Nayad Monroe - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Nayad Monroe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Welcome to the Glamorous World of Writing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Every writer began in the same place with some ideas and a blank page or screen. In this panel, SF/F writers discuss their origins and give advice to people who are just beginning their journey in the glamorous world of writing.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight (M)
Holly McDowell
Nayad Monroe
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Helen Montgomery
Dramatic Readings from The Weekly World News - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch A
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 (M)
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - 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
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Phandemonium Bookclub: Little Brother - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
The Phandemonium Bookclub has been meeting bimonthly since 2004. Join us for a discussion of Little Brother by Guest of Honor Cory Doctorow.
Jerry Gilio (M)
Helen Montgomery
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
Deirdre Murphy
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Reading: Deirdre M. Murphy - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Deirdre Murphy
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
Auto: Deidre M. Murphy, Rebecca Frencl, Brian Babendererde - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Autograph Table
Brian Babendererde
Rebecca Frencl
Deirdre Murphy
Jason Neerenburg
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Mike Nixon
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Jody Lynn Nye
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Jody Lynn Nye - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Jody Lynn Nye
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein: A Conversation - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
Jody Lynn Nye and Phyllis Eisenstein, two of Chicagoland's preeminent SF/F authors, discuss their work and their careers.
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
John O'Neill
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
Take That, Gutenberg! New Publishing Models in the 21st Century - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Clay tablets, roaming minstrels, mimeographs, Big Publishing Houses, corner bookstores, ePubs, self-publishing, and Kickstarter are just some examples of how we've financed and distributed stories over the years. How have stories gotten from the author to the reader, how is that model changing, and why? For whom is this a good change or a bad change? Why is how we get our books important?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Matt Forbeck
John Klima
Les McClaine
John O'Neill
Gaming *Is* Research for My Novel! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Birch A
Who said gaming isn't good for your writing? For these writers, role-playing games helped hone their skills as storytellers. How can role-playing help your writing? What are the pitfalls?
Matt Forbeck
E.E. Knight (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
John O'Neill
Erik V. Olson
Snow Goons! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - 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
Dr. Bob Passovoy
Jeopardy! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Think you got what it takes? Then come join us for Capricon's own version of Jeopardy!
Mike (Ciggy) Cyganiewicz
Dr. Bob Passovoy (M)
David Perry
David Perry concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm - River C (Cafe)
David Perry performs a solo set in the Capricon Cafe.
David Perry
Jim Plaxco
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
Art of the Exploration of Space - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Willow
Jim Plaxco 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
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
Greg Press
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Samantha Haney Press
Whither Goes the Art Show? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
At conventions today, we see art in traditional art shows, artists alleys, and dealers rooms. How have new avenues of accessing art on the Internet impacted the interaction between fans and art at conventions?
Brian Babendererde
Alisa Kober
MoiraCoon
Samantha Haney Press (M)
Paul Radecki
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
Jim Rittenhouse
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
Jason M. Robertson
chicago-sf.org Bookclub - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
The Chicago-SF.org Close Reading Group will be discussing the Hugo-nominated novel Feed by Mira Grant (the pseudonym of Windycon's Guest of Honor Seanan McGuire).
Anne Geyer (M)
Jason M. Robertson (M)
Bill Roper
Bill Roper concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Bill Roper will regale the Cafe crowd with some of his solo repertoire, with a possible visit from Filk's Favorite Fiddler, Amy McNally. (There could also be dancing, or singing, by small children... One Never Knows what will happen during Roper's set...)
Amy McNally
Bill Roper
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Bill and Gretchen Roper in Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Bill and Gretchen Roper have been entertaining audiences with their unique bantering filk style for years, before taking some mandatory time off due to the arrival of their two daughters. The babysitter's working overtime tonight, so come catch them before they turn back into parents!
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
52: The DC Comics Reboot Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
After multiple crises, DC finally decided to start all over again with a more or less new continuity for their iconic characters. Months of backlash and debate were followed by great sales and mixed reviews. Did the reboot work? Was it worth it? Did the reboot go far enough?
James Bacon (M)
Jennifer Lawrence
Les McClaine
Bill Roper
The Wide World of Comics Media - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch B
There are more ways to get a comic book or graphic novel these days besides picking one up at your local comic book store. Let's look at the various delivery methods for comic books and graphic novels and how that changes their impact. We will look at this from the perspective of the reader, writer, and artist. Excelsior!
Matt Forbeck
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Les McClaine
Bill Roper (M)
Gretchen Roper
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Bill & Gretchen Roper and Cheshire Moon.
Eric Coleman
Lizzie Crowe
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Bill and Gretchen Roper in Concert - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Bill and Gretchen Roper have been entertaining audiences with their unique bantering filk style for years, before taking some mandatory time off due to the arrival of their two daughters. The babysitter's working overtime tonight, so come catch them before they turn back into parents!
Bill Roper
Gretchen Roper
Frank Salvatini
Avengers Vs. X-Men - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Marvel is planning a major crossover event. Who will win this fight? A discussion of how Captain America punching Cyclops in the face might affect the Marvel Universe.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Les McClaine
Frank Salvatini
Firefly: Still Shiny After All These Years - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch B
It's not a show; it's a lifestyle.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Peter Heltzer
Frank Salvatini (M)
Webcomics Keep Me Sane at Work - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Willow
There has been an explosion of webcomics in the past decade, on a vast array of topics. Come hear about which ones to check out, and geek out about your favorites.
Daniel Levin
Les McClaine (M)
Frank Salvatini
John Scalzi
John Scalzi DJ's Your 80's Dance / Winter Formal - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 1:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming), Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
John Scalzi DJ's Your Dance. Need we say more? Oh yeah... There will be 80's music. It will be a winter wonderland. You will dance like it's Footloose (the one with Kevin Bacon).
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Reading and Q & A: John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
John Scalzi
Autographing: Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Cory Doctorow
John Scalzi
Isabel Schechter
Can You Choose Your Own Adventure? Free Will Vs. Destiny - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch B
Many of our most beloved stories involve destiny, and either giving in or fighting it (for good or ill). Can we actually choose our own paths, or is destiny undeniable?
Br. Guy Consolmagno (M)
Tom Huber
Eileen Maksym
Isabel Schechter
Coming Out of the TARDIS: Revealing Your Geek Life - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch B
We've all had that awkward moment- the moment we revealed our geeky hobbies to a mundane friend, co-worker, or loved one for the first time. Panelists talk about how they navigated the "Coming Out of the TARDIS" process and survived to tell the tale.
Jerry Gilio
Peter Heltzer
Valli Hoski (M)
Isabel Schechter
Drew Scheeler
Corseting 101 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch A
ADULTS ONLY. Come learn about the different types of corsets, how to find one that fits, and how to lace one properly. Feel free to bring your own corset.
Drew Scheeler (M)
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
Robert Scott
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
So You Want to Throw a Con Party... - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
So you want to throw a con party? Learn how to do it effectively, safely, and with pizzaz.
Kim Kofmel
Michael Lee
Terrence Miltner (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Conrunning for the Unbalanced - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
Are you enjoying your convention experience? Do you sometimes wonder if you should volunteer to help run an awesome convention? A bunch of convention committee veterans discuss what it actually takes to plan an SF/F event.
Michael Lee
Dave McCarty
Helen Montgomery (M)
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Michael T. Sherman
Adventure Quest - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Create an adventure log and begin a scavenger hunt with the help of some fannish friends. At the end of the weekend, we will come together to share what we discover and earn a reward.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Build Your Own Adventure Kit - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Put together your own kit that will help you survive your weekend at Capricon.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Super Silly Stories - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come sit around the "campfire" and share some silly (and maybe a little scary) adventures with your friends.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Snow Goonies - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come design snow creations and get creative. If there is snow on the ground, we may even go outside and try to build them for REAL! What an adventure!
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Movie, Munchies and “MST3K” Jr - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Come watch a movie with your fannish friends and enjoy a snack while you chime in on the movie as it plays.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Choose your OWN adventure - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Share the results of your adventure quest and put the finishing touches on your adventure log. Make a treasure chest to keep the items you discovered on your weekend quest.
Michael T. Sherman (M)
Jon Silpayamanant
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Il Troubadore Klingon Music Project - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
il Troubadore, known on the planet Qo'noS as bomwI'pu' has been performing tlhIngan QoQ (Klingon music) live since 2009, and their music was recently featured in Chicago's own "A Klingon Christmas Carol." During their travels through space (and time) il Troubadore have managed to learn songs from many alien races, including tunes in the tongues of the Ewoks and the languages Huttese, Fremen, Vulcan, Tenctonese and Shyriiwook. They've even managed to learn tunes in dozens of languages from the planet Earth! You haven't lived until you've heard Klingon's singing a happy bouncy Ewok song. Really... you want to be there!
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
Elaine Silver
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Melanie S. Silver
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Robin Silver
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Harry Potter's Graduation Party - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - River AB (Programming - Media)
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of those crazy Hogwarts wizards-in-training have passed (well some of them) their NEWTS and are leaving Hogwarts behind. (When did Neville get hot?) Reminiscences, speculation, and rehashing are encouraged in this squee-belation. Muggles welcome. Refreshments will not be served because we freed the elves.
Peter Heltzer
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Daniel Levin (M)
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver
Trivia for Chocolate - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
What it says on the tin. The traditional Steven H Silver trivia contest. Answer trivia questions correctly, get chocolate. The person with the most chocolate on hand at the end wins! (Try not to eat your stash.)
Elaine Silver
Melanie S. Silver
Robin Silver
Steven H Silver (M)
Opening Ceremonies - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Welcome to Capricon 32: Amazing Adventures. 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 Thin Line Between Fan and Pro - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Elm
The line between being a fan and a professional is often thin and permeable. Are the two categories mutually exclusive? Can you be both?
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Steven H Silver (M)
Alternate History that Doesn’t Involve WW2 or the Civil War - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
As any judge for the Sidewise Awards knows, hundreds of Alternate History stories come out each year. Though many of them seem to fixate on World War II and the Civil War, some find more unique points in history for a divergence. What are some of the best Alternate History stories that explore underutilized periods in history?
Walt Boyes (M)
Dale Cozort
Mark Huston
Jim Rittenhouse
Steven H Silver
Pluto Is Still a Planet in Illinois - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
Pluto got demoted. (We blame Neil DeGrasse Tyson). But here in Illinois, it's still a planet. Why are we still so invested in the classification of this distant object?
Br. Guy Consolmagno
Bill Higgins (M)
Jim Plaxco
Steven H Silver
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
Chicon 7: The 2012 Worldcon Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Birch A
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
Steven H Silver
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Luke Ski
Luke Ski concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Luke Ski brings his funny music to the Capricon Cafe.
Luke Ski
Dick Smith
The Art of Hectography - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
A do-it-yourself printing method dating to the 19th and early 20th century, the hectograph or "jellygraph" was used to publish fanzines in early fandom, and has today come around to be a (mundane) art form. Come and see a demonstration of this lost fannish art.
Dick Smith
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Kristine Smith
Reading: Kristine Smith - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:00 am to 11:30 am - River C (Cafe)
Kristine Smith
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Henry Spencer
Goodbye, Space Shuttle - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
For the first time since the 1980s, the United States has no manned space craft in service. We look back at the glories and tragedies of NASA's shuttle program, and look ahead to the future. Will there one day be an American replacement for the space shuttle or will we remain dependent on other nations? Is the future of manned space exploration in the hands of private enterprise?
Chris Gerrib
Jim Plaxco (M)
Henry Spencer
Joseph Stockman
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Sex in Zero G - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. You got sex in my SF/F! No, you got SF/F in my sex scene! Is it SF/F with some sex in it or is it erotica with an SF/F bent? What happens when you cross the streams?
Tere de la Torre (M)
Eileen Maksym
Paul McComas
Joseph Stockman
ISFiC Open Meeting - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
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.
David "Raven" Stowell
Concert Setup and Sound Checks (Saturday) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Concert setup and sound checks for Toyboat and Il Troubadore. May be able to start later... this is my "worst case" time slot until I have confirmation from Dave Ifverson of how much time we need.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
Paul Radecki
Robert Scott
Jon Silpayamanant
David "Raven" Stowell
Toyboat Unclogged! - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
The question Toyboat is most often asked is "Why are the guitars distorted? Is there something wrong with the guitars?". So, due to underwhelming demand, Toyboat will leave their electric instruments at home (except for Raven, he'll still bring his organ, we tried to get him to play the accordion, but he just looked at us like we were crazy, still, he always looks at us like that) and bring … yeah … acoustic guitars, standup bass and real drums. There is still no safe minimum distance.
Eric Coleman
Daniel Gunderson
Amy McNally
Jason Neerenburg
Mike Nixon
David "Raven" Stowell
Kelly Strait
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Geek Girls Shall Rule the World! - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Elm
Geek girls are not imaginary unicorns. They are everywhere! Why do people still think that gaming, comics, and SF books are only for boys? Like Kari Byron, these women are here to bust some myths.
Lizzie Crowe
Tere de la Torre
Laura Dombrowski (M)
Kelly Strait
Kathryn Sullivan
Reading: Kathryn Sullivan - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Kathryn Sullivan
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
Cons That Are Almost as Cool as Capricon - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
Come and hear about other regional conventions that are nearly as cool as Capricon. (CONvergence, WisCon, Windycon, etc.)
Michael Lee (M)
Dave McCarty
Joseph Stockman
Kathryn Sullivan
Writing Young Adult and Mid-Grade Fiction (Teen Only) - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
From Harry Potter to Uglies, the Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction markets have exploded over the last decade. In this panel, authors discuss some of the challenges and benefits of writing to these younger markets.
Cory Doctorow (M)
Merrie Haskell
Jody Lynn Nye
Kathryn Sullivan
A Different Kind of Princess - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Ravinia B (Teen Lounge)
One of the great joys of modern Young Adult and Mid-Grade fiction is that many of the works feature strong female protagonists. This panel talks about some of the best and how they can inspire readers.
Merrie Haskell (M)
Valli Hoski
Deirdre Murphy
Kathryn Sullivan
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Lynne M. Thomas
What Are Libraries for? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Elm
Libraries. What are they for, exactly, when we have Google and bookstores? And what's the deal with giving away all of that information and loaning books for free? What's the deal with these librarians just giving things away? And why are they getting so loud these days?
Cory Doctorow
Merrie Haskell
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Autographing: Merrie Haskell, Kathryn Sullivan, and Lynne M. Thomas - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Autograph Table
Merrie Haskell
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Richard Chwedyk
John Klima
Mary Anne Mohanraj (M)
Nayad Monroe
John O'Neill
Lynne M. Thomas
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
The Politics of Glory: SF/F Awards - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The Hugo, Nebula, Tiptree, World Fantasy, and Sidewise Awards are some of the major Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. Let's look at the different awards and discuss the unique way each is selected, and why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
Richard Chwedyk
John Scalzi
Steven H Silver (M)
Lynne M. Thomas
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
You Are Not Alone: Writers Groups and Critique - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch A
Many SF/F writers, from Asimov to Tolkien, have belonged to writers groups or benefited from critique partners. How do these groups help an author hone her craft? Some members of writers' groups discuss their experiences.
Tim Akers
Eileen Maksym (M)
Nayad Monroe
Michael D. Thomas
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow! The Disney Imagineering Panel. - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Disney Imagineers created a shiny world full of possibility, often by inventing or upgrading current technology for their own purposes, all in service of the Happiest Place on Earth. What can we learn from Imagineers? How can amusement rides be a form of storytelling?
Cory Doctorow
Tracy Lunquist
Mary Mascari
Michael D. Thomas (M)
2012 Hugo Awards: Potential Nominees - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
The nomination period for the 2012 Hugo Awards is open! Which books, dramatic presentations, artists, fanzines, and new writers should be nominated?
James Bacon
John Klima
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Michael D. Thomas
Podcasters Are My Secret Friends - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Birch B
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of SF/F themed podcasts such as the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa, the Nerdist, the SF Squeecast, Galactic Suburbia, Writing Excuses, and Escape Pod. Chicon has even added a Best Fancast category to this year's Hugo Award ballot. We discuss some of our favorites.
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
My Sarah Jane - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Come squee and reminisce about Elisabeth Sladen. We will discuss her impact on both the old and new series and on Doctor Who Fandom.
Alex Bledsoe
Dermot Dobson
Michael Lee
Lynne M. Thomas
Michael D. Thomas (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
Questioning Fantasy - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Birch A
What is the plausibility of Fantasy literature? Could the people of Pern really ride dragons? Can different species actually mate? Could alohomara open a lock? Can your sword actually communicate telepathically with you?
Tom Huber
Deirdre Murphy
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (M)
Tom Trumpinski
New Things Scare Me and Make Me Uncomfortable! Howard, Lovecraft & Heinlein - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Elm
We return to Lovecraft, Howard, and Heinlein again and again, often in lieu of seeking out new stories. What is it about these writers that continues to appeal, 50+ years after publication? Why do these classics endure?
Brian Babendererde (M)
Tom Huber
Leonard Krol
Tom Trumpinski
The Non-Lucas SF/F/H Films of the 70s and 80s - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Elm
There was more Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror at the cinema in the 70s and 80s than just Star Wars. This panel will look at some classics of the period such as Conan the Barbarian, Logan's Run, Westworld, Rollerball, Night of the Comet, Escape from New York, The Thing, and many, many more.
Alex Bledsoe (M)
Dermot Dobson
Paul McComas
Tom Trumpinski
Dr. Michael Unger
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Birch B
Medical science continues to expand lifespans and reverse aging. What will society look like as the elderly begin to outnumber the young? How will people change once they know 60 is only middle age?
Dermot Dobson
Kelly Strait
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Dr. Michael Unger (M)
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Tales from the RPG Dark Side - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birch A
Then rocks fell and everybody died...Every gamer has an RPG horror story of a vicious Dungeon Master or an eccentric fellow player. This panel is sort of like a live version of Dork Tower, but with real people telling tales of horror from behind the screen or their character sheets. Grab your lucky dice. You're gonna need 'em.
David Abzug (M)
Dave McCarty
Dr. Michael Unger
Designing a Fantasy Role-Playing World and System - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Willow
Dr. Mike Unger will go over a variety of methods for the initial creation of a fantasy role playing world/campaign, including: how to limit/expand the scope of the campaign, how to develop plots, characters and enemies. He will also discuss the creation of your own fantasy role playing game system, including de-novo systems and systems which expand/alter systems which are commercially available.
Dr. Michael Unger
Phandemonium Board Meeting and Election - All Welcome! - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
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.
Leane Verhulst
The Walking Dead - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Birch A
The Walking Dead comic and AMC's television series based on it bring us the zombie apocalypse. Panelists will compare and contrast the portrayal of the zombie apocalypse in both mediums, and their plans for surviving it. (Bring a shovel).
James Bacon
Chris Gerrib
Greg Press
Leane Verhulst (M)
Carcassonne - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (Gaming)
Build cities, farms, and roads in this game of world building. Board Game 2-6 Players.
Leane Verhulst (M)
Judging a Book by Page 119 - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch A
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
Kelly Strait
Leane Verhulst (M)
Introduction to the Convention - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Elm
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.
Sondra de Jong (M)
Leane Verhulst
Alex von Thorn
George R. R. Martin Had a Better Year Than You - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
It was quite a year for George R. R. Martin and his fans. Not only did we see the long-awaited release of A Dance with Dragons, we also saw the acclaimed first season of a Game of Thrones. Did everything live up to our expectations? What do we think is coming next? (Other than, of course, winter.)
Brian Babendererde
Peter Heltzer
Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Alex von Thorn (M)
Finding Peace in Our Galaxy: Jedis and Trekkers Unite Against Twilight - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
George Takei recently started the Star Alliance to unite Star Trek and Star Wars fans against the common enemy: Twilight. Let's see where this discussion takes us.
Dale Cozort
Laura Dombrowski
Joseph Stockman
Alex von Thorn (M)
True Blood - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Birch B
ADULTS ONLY. It's gonna be a hot one tonight, with Sookie, Pam, Eric, Bill, and the inhabitants of Bon Temps. Get the scoop on our favorite southern vampires.
Brian Babendererde
Tere de la Torre (M)
Alex von Thorn
Joy Ward
My First Doctor- The Classic Doctor Who Panel - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Whether he wore a scarf or a leather jacket, he was still the Doctor. Journey back with us into the vortex to late night PBS in the 1980s or the SciFi channel in the 00s, as we look back at the first time we watched Doctor Who.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Michael Lee (M)
Kristine Smith
Dr. Michael Unger
Joy Ward
Death of the Bookstore? - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Birch B
With the closure of the Borders chain, the rise of the eBook, and the continued success of Amazon, it seems that the death of the brick and mortar bookstore could be around the corner. Are bookstores a thing of past? Will there always be a place for independent booksellers?
Alex Bledsoe
Walt Boyes (M)
Greg Ketter
Dina S. Krause
Joy Ward
That Was No Companion, That Was My Wife! The Doctor Who Season 6 Panel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Hello, sweeties! The second season of the eleventh Doctor is now complete. We found out about the Silence (and promptly forgot), the true identity of River Song, and that biting is better than kissing because there's a winner. It's time to talk about our favorite Time Lord's newest adventures! Geronimo!
Merrie Haskell
Valli Hoski
Kathryn Sullivan
Lynne M. Thomas (M)
Joy Ward
Reading: Joy Ward - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 10:00 am to 10:30 am - Elm
Joy Ward
John Wardale
Midwinter Faire - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Lake Michigan A (Gaming)
Come join us! There will be pizza, games, magic, crafts, and much more for your enjoyment. Sit down, find your old friends again, and enjoy a nice relaxing evening of entertainment with your friends.
Hair Braiding Demo - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - 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, and other advanced ideas like 5-strand and 7-strand fingering techniques; as well as shapes like hearts, spirals, and a pull-up weave. Tailored to the desires and abilities of the audience.
John Wardale (M)
Beads, Balloons, Bubbles and Badges - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - Third Floor (Kids Programming)
Decorate a badge holder for your badge and create other beaded creations while our crazy balloonatic, John Wardale, makes 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.
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale (M)
John Wardale
Brooke Wiewel
Revolution (Friday) - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table C (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, 02-11-2012 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Lake Michigan A - Table B (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)
Michael Z. Williamson
Retro-futurism Sure Beats the Boring Truth! - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Birch B
A celebration of looking backwards to look forwards. Steampunk, the Jetsons, and NASA all had cooler ideas about how the future looked than it really did. Why is our imagined future so much hipper than the one we live in?
Tim Akers
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Nayad Monroe (M)
W. A. (Bill) Thomasson
Michael Z. Williamson
Reading: Michael Z. Williamson - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 11:30 am to 12:00 pm - River C (Cafe)
Michael Z. Williamson
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
When Diplomacy Fails: Military SF - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Military SF focuses on how we function when diplomacy has failed. How does this sub-genre influence other parts of the genre? Why do we remain fascinated with imaginary warfare? How do writers effectively create military SF that feels "right"?
Walt Boyes (M)
Mark Huston
Michael Z. Williamson
Civil Disobedience: Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Cory Doctorow
Eileen Maksym
Mary Anne Mohanraj
John Scalzi (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Combat! How to Write Effective Action Scenes - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Birch A
Successfully put your reader in the middle of any action scene (without ending up in the hospital). Come learn what makes a thrilling action scene versus a snore.
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Michael Z. Williamson (M)
Crystal Wolf
Crystal Wolf concert - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
Singer/songwriter Crystal Wolf is a newcomer to Capricon filk. Come check out her concert set in the Cafe!
Crystal Wolf
Gene Wolfe
Dystopia Now - Thursday, 02-09-2012 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
The Dystopian sub-genre of Science Fiction has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Why does this bleak sub-genre remain so popular? What are the definitive dystopian works?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Paul McComas
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Which Non-genre Adventure Writers Should Genre Writers & Fans Read? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Alistair MacLean, Louis L'Amour, C.S. Forrester. Come and learn which non-genre adventure writers SF fans might enjoy.
Alex Bledsoe
E.E. Knight (M)
Michael Z. Williamson
Gene Wolfe
Religion in Worldbuilding - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
Authors too frequently just change around the fixtures on a real world religion and insert it into their fantasy world. These writers will talk about how they go about creating original religions, and how the use of religion can drive worldbuilding and shape the story's narrative.
Tim Akers (M)
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Nayad Monroe
Gene Wolfe
Does It Matter If Science Fiction Authors Are Bad at Predicting the Future? - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Willow
Sure, we get some things right, like flip phones or going to the moon, but SF authors also get a LOT wrong when they predict the future. Does it really matter? What is the value of the exercise of making predictions?
Cory Doctorow (M)
Bill Higgins
Kristine Smith
Gene Wolfe
Auto: Bledsoe, Eisenstein, Green, Knight, Nye, Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Autograph Table
Alex Bledsoe
Phyllis Eisenstein
Roland J. Green
E.E. Knight
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Reading: Gene Wolfe - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Gene Wolfe
The Transition from Short Story to Novel - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Though many might think these two mediums are very similar, not every writer can easily make the transition from one to the other. What are the pitfalls and what should the writer know before starting? Is it easier to do it in reverse and go from novel to short story? What’s similar and what’s different? Does it help to think of chapters as mini-stories? (Panel idea from Cat Rambo.)
Tim Akers (M)
Phyllis Eisenstein
Jody Lynn Nye
Gene Wolfe
Writing Is a Business - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
As aspiring writers enter the field, they will do almost anything to become published. This attitude often can lead to others taking advantage of their work. These professionals will share advice about agents, contracts, retirement, and...gulp...taxes.
Tim Akers (M)
Richard Chwedyk
Matt Forbeck
Gene Wolfe
delphyne woods
Fandom and Learning Disabilities - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Elm
A topic that often comes up during panels is how people with learning disabilities consume and create Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This panel will explore the relationship between people with learning disabilities and the literature, and the different adaptations that have helped them enjoy it.
Andrea Boyes
Walt Boyes (M)
Leonard Krol
delphyne woods
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
Fan Artists You Should Know - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Elm
There's a whole world of art and artists outside of what is considered "professional." What's going on outside of the professional Science Fiction and Fantasy art communities? Where can you find these artists and their art?
Steven H Silver (M)
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith
We Do It in Groups: Fandom and Social Media - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm
Fans can now constantly stay in contact with one another online through social media services such as Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter. How does this affect the fandom experience? Is it replacing clubs and conventions?
Kerri-Ellen Kelly
Michael Lee
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
The Art of Hectography - Friday, 02-10-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
A do-it-yourself printing method dating to the 19th and early 20th century, the hectograph or "jellygraph" was used to publish fanzines in early fandom, and has today come around to be a (mundane) art form. Come and see a demonstration of this lost fannish art.
Dick Smith
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)
The History of SF/F in Chicago - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Willow
Did you know that Fritz Leiber, James Tiptree Jr., and Fred Saberhagen all once lived in Chicago? Have you ever heard about the secret trips made by some of the Chicon 3 attending authors to the Playboy headquarters during the 20th WorldCon? Chicago has a rich SF/F history. Please join some of Chicago's most preeminent fans and scholars as they share tales from our fandom's marvelous history. (Alice Bentley will be joining us via Skype.)
Alice Bentley
Barry Lyn-Waitsman
Steven H Silver (M)
Leah Zeldes Smith
Fanzines for Fun and Non-Profit - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - Elm
Join us as we explore the vibrant world of fanzines. One of Science Fiction and Fantasy fandom's oldest means of communication, analysis, and community building, fanzines continue to flourish as they adapt to our changing times.
James Bacon
Bill Higgins
Steven H Silver
Dick Smith
delphyne woods
Leah Zeldes Smith (M)