M59Programming Brainstorm
Minicon 59 (2026) will take place April 2-5, 2026, at the RadiShTree
Our Guests of Honor are
- Author: Patricia C. Wrede
- Gaming: Matt Leacock
- Featured Musicians: Graham and Becca Leathers
THE MINICON 59 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page
The Brainstorming Page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS! This Wiki page is for keeping track of possible programming items for Minicon 59. Typically we only use about half of the ideas we come up with, so do not mistake this list for a preview of actual M59 programming. But if you see something here that interests you, bear in mind that you can increase the likelihood of the idea blossoming into an actual programming item by volunteering to be on it, or just by letting us know that you would love to attend it if it happens.
Contact the Programming Department
Shoot us an email at programming@minicon59.mnstf.org.
If you'd like to submit an idea for a programming item, you can either do it by email or use this nifty form.
STATUS
[Aug 7, 2025] The Programming Committee is just getting its feet under it, so the Brainstorm Page is pretty much a jumble right now. I'm just going to enter the item descriptions we have so far and try to make sense of it later. Ooookay, that's a little better. I think I captured all the great suggestions that have come in through the Ideas Form plus things we thought of during our first Programming Committee meeting. --- sharon
Minicon After Dark
We came up with a lot of ideas for discussions and meetups that need a little more intimate setting than a traditional panel. How about this? We could hold some of these in the evening in the Minicon Bar, or maybe in a nearby side room.
Author Meetup
Just an informal meetup with some of the many many authors who attend Minicon. Whether you're just getting started or are working on your 200th published book, you're welcome to join in.
Internet Nostalgia
Let's drink to those fond old Internet memories! Classic memes, platforms, interactive games. Who remembers GeoCities? Second Life? Or if you're even older, Usenet newsgroups like alt.rec.funny. Have another drink and do your best impression of the Dancing Baby!
x Best F&SF Stories According to Us
You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's best SF+F. Bring your lists! Bring your opinions! We will craft the definitive list of the best print SF+F stories of all time (*final count TBD to avoid brawling in the aisles).
Japanese Ro Sham Bo
Rock paper scissors with combat.
UNSORTED
Streaming Service Geekout: What to Watch Next
It's still true - we are living in the golden age of episodic television. I'm still not tired of sharing my favorites and looking for new things to watch. How about you?
Zines: TNG
Wow, look at that! Fanzines are making another comeback! Let's talk about the history of self-published zines - personal or literary or ... something else?
Still Worth Reading
A lot of classic books haven't aged well, for various reasons. Which classics are still worth reading? Which do you only recommend with a serious caveat? Is "period-typical" bigotry worth tolerating?
Getting Published: If I'd Known Then What I Know Now
Just got your first book or story into print? What did you learn along the way? Share the mistakes you made so we don't have to make them ourselves.
The Reading Gender Gap
Men are reading less fiction in general and they tend to read fewer books by women authors. Do these trends hold in fandom?
Echoes of WWII in SF
Many classic science fiction writers were personally impacted by WWII, mentally and physically. What were the immediate and lingering impacts on their writing? Do we still see a legacy in science fiction tropes today?
Star Wars Roundup
Star Wars round-up on recent shows and games set in one of our favorite galaxies.
History of Cats Laughing
Have Emma Bull, Steven Brust, and Adam Stemple tell stories
What Do You Do if an Asteroid is About to Hit Earth?
NASA's Center For Near Earth Object Studies has developed a series of hypothetical scenarios as a training tool for addressing the asteroid impact hazard. These can also be used as a near-future or alternate history science fiction table-top game; either by the members of a panel or by a larger audience. Okay, I REALLY want to hear more about this one! -- sharon
Mashups and Memes
So what things can be put together and what should never be put together. Shakespeare and Klingons, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, Cats and Kiss,...
Imaginary Spacecraft -- Pushing the Boundaries
Is your ship made of nuts and bolts? Circuits and Apps? Or something NASA never even dreamed?
The Physics of the Multiverse
Multiple dimensions? Infinite timelines? Are these plausible?
Red Star, Blue Star, Old Star, New Star
Supergirl parties on planets with red suns. What are some other ways astral classification can be used as a plot device?
You Got Your Fantasy in my Science Fiction! (And You Got Your SF in my Fantasy!)
When does crossing genres work? (And when is it just plain annoying?)
Research and World Building, or, Write the Story, Already!
How much background preparation is too much? Do you use World Building as a procrastination device?
Brainiac vs the Buterlian Jihad
Can AI be contained?
Holidays, Rituals, and Folk Mythology
Christmas and Yule, Lussi and St. Lucia ... how did our holiday traditions evolve from earlier rites and folk beliefs?
Do We Still Need Agents?
Christmas and Yule, Lussi and St. Lucia ... how did our holiday traditions evolve from earlier rites and folk beliefs?
I'm Neurodivergent and It's Awesome
What is your neurodivergent superpower? And where do you express your most badass, awesome self? Let's talk about the positives.
This Year in Film
Open discussion about movies we've seen this past year.
I Won a Major Award!
Literary awards you should know about. (Lamp prize may not be available in all areas.)
Cyberpunk in the Age of AI
How is this genre evolving? How can cyberpunk tropes integrate (keep up with) developments in technology, especially AI?
Books We Cull, Books We Keep
How do you curate your personal library? Do you keep every book you read? Do you read every book you keep?
Are the Classics Still Classics?
How relevant are the *big names* we all read *back in the day?*
Is That Alien on the Spectrum? (And How Would We Know?)
What might neurodivergence look like in non-human (or extraterrestrial) species?
How Will We Keep Out AI Content (and do we want to)?
As an editor, would you reject AI-generated stories out-of-hand? And will you always be able to tell?
What Are You Reading (non-fiction)?
Read any good biographies lately? Books on natural science? Share what non-fiction you've been reading.
Trends in Publishing
What trends are you noticing in newly published books?
Where Can I Talk about Books? (Or Comics? Or Historical Costuming?)
Where can we find groups (in-person or online) to share our knowledge and enthusiasm for our special interests?
When Should I (Self) Publish?
Is self-publishing just a last resort for unsellable manuscripts? Or a wise business decision? Share your insight and experience.
Writing in Online Games
How has writing for gaming evolved? Discuss the writing in games such as Horizon, Red Dead Redemption, and The Last of Us.