M49 Programming Brainstorm

This year, there were glitches.

Art & Craft

Combining Words and Pictures

Janny Wurts has a career that includes art and fiction, and often combines the two into one seamless work. In what ways does art influence a story, or is it the other way around? What can a cover tell us about a book? How does cover design impact the sales of a book and placement on book shelf displays?

Crafting in Spaaaaace

Through archaeology it has been determined that explorers had a tradition of crafting (e.g., nautical crews used needles and scissor for repair). It seems logical to assume that crafting will be used in the space frontier as well. What type of crafting will appear in space travel and colonization? What are the best skills to learn and teach in establishing a new colony? Why isn't crafting seen in media sf?

Knitting as a Post-Apocalyptic Survival Skill

Learn the basics of knitting, and the role this skill plays in the lifestyle of SF fans. In the event of a world-wide catastrophe what benefits would those of us with strong, nimble fingers bring to the new society?

Lies, Liars and Photography

The creator of the 2013 World Press Photo Foundation "photo of the year" was falsely accused of creating a composite image. Though the original image scene had not been altered, some work had been done with the contrast and color. How much is too much? How do astronomers and scientists apply filters, resizing, levels, and curves? Where is the line where digital manipulation becomes deception?

Slideshow: Pirates, Treasures, Myth and Legend

Explore the art of Don Maitz and his work surrounding the swashbuckler. What was the inspiration for these works?

Time, Technology and Art

Don Maitz has been producing imaginative and iconic work for over 30 years. In what ways has the flavor of SF changed in the book cover world? In what ways has the art industry changed in that time? How has the influence of digital media changed the field? What cool technologies do we imagine will benefit the art world in the future? Where does SF art/literature fit in now that content is much more mainstream? What are implications for artists and fans? Renfests, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, World of Warcraft: how do these encourage access to fantastical imagery?

Fan/Zeitgeist

All About Coffee

During the American revolution, terrorists dumped tea into Boston Harbor and tea became symbolic of British overlords. Thus began our love affair with coffee, arguably America's favorite legal drug delivery system. Let's talk about the history of coffee, coffee in fiction, coffee in fandom, coffee in pseudo-science, great recipes containing coffee, how to make the perfect cup, and the chemical process that causes run on sentences.

Art and Mental Health

Producing art as a coping mechanism and therapy. Or is it enough to just be exposed?

Fandom or Fandoms?

Is SF Fandom one monolithic thing or a collection of sub-fandoms? Is there a generational difference? "My fandoms are ..."

For the Sake of Art

A lot of sf/f fandom gets measured by the stick of how productive it is. We get a lot of pressure, subtle or not, to make our hobbies contribute to the economy, either by making money, by consuming things, or by at the very least being social. What would fandom look like if we weren't under these requirements? What if we could really just engage in our hobbies for the pure enjoyment of them?

History of Piracy

Actual pirates vs. media pirates. How old is piracy? Piracy caused a change in ship design (ancient Greece). Piracy and technology in the 21st century.

Is There a Better Way to Teach History?

History is arguably the most fascinating subject in the world. It is an amazing feat to be able to make it boring to middle and high school kids. In what ways are teachers today challenging or boring students? How much say does a teacher have in classroom curriculum, and how much does that vary from one school to another? What role does economic background play in these questions? How about "piracy" as a cluster topic for team teachers? Could we incorporate scurvy into word problems in an interdisciplinary approach?

Patent Trolls and Copyright Trolls

Patent trolls and copyright trolls (not to mention cybersquatters) are hideous creatures who dwell beneath decency. They pursue financial gain to which they have little or no claim. Recent estimated costs of defending against a patent infringement suit is around $1,000,000 before trial and $2.5 million total. What are patent and copyright trolls? How do they exploit the legal system, and how do we hunt them to extinction? Is there a way to use these powers for good?

So You're Being Invaded by Space Aliens

In the coming days how will humans adapt to the alien invasion? Will we band together as a species or continue fighting amongst ourselves? What alien strategies should we plan for? Of what interest are we to the aliens? Are they here to help us, to mine our resources, or "to serve man?"

The Fallacies of the Fannish Fallacies

Some of us think these are full of BS. What do you think?

Would You Rather ?

Which sounds more appealing: driving a tractor-trailer full of gasoline through Mad Max territory or driving away from a T-Rex in Jurassic Park? Would you rather comb Bettlejuice's hair or brush a dragon's teeth? Watch as panelists contemplate Stfnal dilemmas from literature and media.

Gaming

Escape and Evasion in RPGs

When is retreat the better part of valor? It's "Fight or Flight" in the RPG context! How does it fit with the philosophy of non-violent conflict resolution?

Healthy Online Gaming - Just One More Turn

Does it count as balance if you've met your online gaming pals in meat space? Do I play WoW all the time because I'm depressed or am I depressed because I play WoW?

Mathematics and Gaming

How I learned math by gaming! What can we learn about probability from gaming? What does random really mean? How many times do you have to shuffle a deck to randomize it?

The State of Art in Gaming

What is art's impact on content, style, jobs/work opportunities now and into the future of the gaming industry? What is up now in the gaming art world, and what is just around the corner? From a player's perspective, how does art influence a game?

Literary

Atheist Writing Panel

A discussion of atheist writing: including non-fiction about atheism, atheism as presented in fiction work, and work by atheist authors.

Beer in Books (aka "Novel Beer")

Novel Beer - our favorite characters like a sudsy glass of brew now and then. From George RR Martin and Ommegang Brewery to Harry Potter and Butterbeer (what IS it exactly) to writing about beer in your own novel. We can talk about the basics of brewing and the different styles of beer in addition to the impact of beer on literature and the writer! Great for brewers, writers, fans, and drinkers.

Dr.Seuss Made Me a Fan

A brief discussion of what makes Dr. Seuss special, followed by some dramatic reading of favorites. This panel will round out with a read-off of "Fox in Socks." If more than one person gets all the way through, the next challenge will be to recite the work from memory. The winner will receive a prize of questionable or better value.

Fantastic YA

YA occupies the marvelous world between youth and adulthood where cause and effect are still a blurry mess. In what ways is learning to drive a car similar to defeating the evil queen? What makes YA special? How do YA readers look at the world differently?

Hands-On Research

The best way to write about something is by attempting to do it, but the problem with doing research is that it can be easy to let the research take over the story. How do we balance the story with the fun factoids and tidbits we learn, while doing things we plan on incorporating into our novels? How does doing it ourselves lend authenticity and credibility to the story? We would like to have some editors on this panel as well as writers.

Local References In Urban Fantasy

Minneapolis and Minnesota feature in several literary works. What about our culture, our climate, and our geography makes for interesting stories? How does an author use location to engage the reader?

Maenads, Oracles, and Other Madwomen of Myth & Folklore

Is she a bit touched, or privy to knowledge unknown to others? What makes an evil villainess exciting? A discussion of the frenzied, fanatical, and eccentric women that appear in the literature of the fantastic.

Navigating the world of small press publishing

How does an author break into the world of small press publishing? What benefits do small publishers offer? What should new authors be wary of?

Page 117

Somewhere between "It was a dark & stormy night" and "the butler did it" lies page 117. If all you knew about a novel was the contents of page 117, would you read and/or buy it? Page 117s of well-known novels and fresh works are read aloud and discussed by the panelists and audience members.

Plausible Impossible Physics

What makes a good magic system? How does an author use magic in fiction to frame a story? Does the system come from the story or is the story a setting for the system?

Rock & Roll in Speculative Fiction -- It's Hip to be Square

When we think of fantasy or the future, we don't think of rock and roll. Starting in the 1950's, SF has combined the influences of hedonistic young whippersnappers with fantastic narratives. A discussion on the rebellious spirit of rock and its influence.

Romance is Not Porn: Relationships in SF&F

Romantic relationships in Speculative Fiction: Who does it right and what are some examples of bad sex/relationships in literature? What makes it right? What makes it wrong?

Terra Incognita: The Role of Maps in SF&F Literature

A discussion of maps used in speculative fiction, either as endpieces or as part of the story. What are good (and bad) examples of maps of imaginary worlds? Can the inclusion of maps create problems? What can maps tell us of the modes of transportation, natural setting, and politics of the realm? Are maps for modern fantasy novels too modern (i.e. accurate)?

The History of the Prester John Legend

From the 12th to 17th centuries, the legends of priest-king Prester John were popular in Europe. The story captured the imagination of Europeans, who translated it into many languages and embellished upon the original story. What made this story go viral (by medieval standards)? How did the legend influence exploration, European expansion, and exploitation? Cat Valente has written two Prester John novels, The Habitation of the Blessed and The Folded World, with a third novel forthcoming (hopefully). She has also uploaded a YouTube video, Prester John: International Man of Mystery, explaining the history of the medieval legend of Prester John, as told by action figures.

The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (and Minicon 49)

Numbers as the plot (and titles) of science fiction works. The mythical power of numbers and their role in science fiction and fantasy.

The Year in SF

Our annual review of the best (or, at least, some of the most interesting) works released in the past year.

What the Heck is the Deal with Speculative Poetry?

April is National Poetry Month, wherein the Academy of American Poets tries to widen the attention of poetry to individuals and media. But within the SF community, appreciators of poetry are not abundant. Is speculative poetry written for a specific subset of readers, and inaccessible to the general community? Reading poetry is a skill; how can that be encouraged?

Why Fairy Tales are for Adults (again)

Fairy tales survive by adapting across culture and history, and don't belong only to children. Their themes and tropes can be found in "adults only" media like Game of Thrones, True Blood, and Once Upon a Time. Fairy tales have been used by parents to establish a moral compass by "scaring children into good behavior;" how can this type of storytelling be used to examine cultural anxieties or to benefit adults as well?

Women in YA

While the adult best seller author list can often be described as a sausage-fest, the best sellers in YA are overwhelmingly written by women. Popular series like Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Twilight, and Divergent are just a few examples. YA is arguably dominated by women authors and most often marketed to young women and girls. Why do we think this is? Are the portrayals of women and girls in YA fiction positive portrayals? Should they be?

Younger than YA

Let's talk about children's F&SF books aimed at the pre-tween audience.

Keeping Fantasy Epic

How to maintain and grow a fantasy series. How does an author plan a series compared to a standalone? What advantages do larger formats have? Is there any good way to placate fans who are desperate for the Next One Right Now?

Media

Games Based on Movies and TV Shows

Awwww! Not another cheap grab for fan dollars! But wait! What about Battlestar Galactica and and Buffy The Vampire Slayer? There are some great, fun games in the tie-in universe. What does it take to make a tie-in game good? What are some of our favorites? What are clever ways that the creators use the mechanics of the fictional universe within a game system?

Anime for Speculative Fiction Fans

Where should SF fans start in anime? What are good movies/series for fans of sub-genres, such as horror, supernatural romance, action/adventure and drama?

Sherlock, the Series

"Sherlock" is a British television crime drama reworking of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson. How does the modern interpretation compare to the books? How accurate are the characters? Do the stories adapt well to the modern era? Is this fan fiction? How does this series compare to previous attempts to translate Sherlock Holmes to the screen? How does the series compare the the US Counterpart, "Elementary."

Pirate Movies

From Sinbad the Sailor (silent) to Captain Blood, to Captain Phillips, pirates have held a special place in movie-goers' hearts. We'll talk about a bunch of piracy-related films, including The Thief of Bagdad (1924 & 1940),Treasure Island (Wallace Beery), The Sea Hawk (Errol Flynn), Peter Pan (2003), The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, Captain Clegg (Peter Cushing), The Crimson Pirate (Burt Lancaster), Swiss Family Robinson, the Pirates of the Caribbean quartet, and Serenity, in search of pirate movies' enduring appeal.

Music

Music as Ritual

How does music bind a community together throughout time?

Soundtracks for Books

Movie/TV soundtracks have been used to enhance role-playing games. How about reading for enjoyment? Some novelists have included playlists in their novels and blogs. What type of music is good to read/write to? Do readers add their own soundtrack when they read?

Next Gen

Teen Genius Bar

Ask a young person anything you like. How do I get this app to work on my iPhone? Which features and benefits are available in various console-based video game system? What does this word that I'm afraid to look up on Urban Dictionary mean?

Science

Ask a Scientist

What is the most ill-informed science question you've ever been asked? Ask a Scientist about anything.

Getting Medieval (Science) on Your *ss

The first institutions recognized as universities were established during the Middle Ages. What was the accepted worldview for citizens of the medieval world? Was it based on natural observation, superstition, or something else? What was the influence upon the arts, architecture, and literature of the time?

Post Humans In Space

A great deal has been made of the fact that humans are no more adapted to life in free space than the first lobe-finned fish were to life on land. But unlike those primitive animals, we are now approaching the point where we can guide our own evolution. Given the assumption that we want to colonize space, which modifications are we likely to see? How does this compare with the ideas we have seen in SF, such as Bujold’s quaddies and Cadigan’s sushi?

The Future of Cities

The past century and a half has seen explosive urbanization. Despite a few counter-examples, this continues today. But what will cities be like a century from now? Will people be packed into dense City cores, with high-rises are more livable and human-friendly than those we see today? Or will the rise of telecommuting and robotic production mean that most people will choose to live, not in suburbia, but in the actual rurual countryside? What will be the consequences of these two divergent choices? Or are they actually compatible?

When is a cyborg?

Assistive technology for people with disabilities is getting better by the year. We can’t yet rebuild Steve Austin better, faster, stronger, but we’ve already seen serious debate about whether Oscar Pistorius’ spring-loaded feet gave him an unfair advantage in the Olympic sprints. How much longer before assistive technology is so good that everybody will want it? Certainly some of us envy Manny (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) his wonderful prosthetic arm.