NorWesCon 32 Report

I'm not usually this redundant between this blog and the SF Fandom Wordpress Blog but as I'm just getting back on my feet I figured a little redundancy wouldn't hurt anything.

In any event, here is a quick rundown of my weekend at NorWesCon 32 (which was held in SeaTac, WA the weekend of April 10 through 12).

I was invited to sit on six panels (The Blogger Effect, Comparative Study: Elves, On the Fringe, Using Fantasy and Science Fiction to Engage the Next Generation, Comparative Study: Orcs, Tolkien Has a Lot to Answer For, and The Fannish Community On Line).

The Blogger Effect was interesting because it was pretty much a free-form discussion between several bloggers (including me). Probably the low point of the panel was when I described an anecdote I shared on an old blog. My point was to demonstrate how I used self-deprecating humor to make people laugh (picture me picturing myself pouring a soft drink over my head as five girls look on -- okay, you had to be a Hercules fan to understand it all).

In any event, some of the tips the panel were unanimous about: write only about topics for which you feel some passion; don't attack other people; don't be drawn into blog wars with other people who attack you (don't respond to the attacks); don't share private, personal information; do say something of substance; do limit how much you say because your readers will eventually stop reading; pace yourself.

Comparative Study: Elves was set up by panelist Ciandi Stephens, who admitted her only qualification was that she is an avid gamer. I think that was actually good enough and she made some good comments about the topic. Dave Butler, a professional folklorist and mythologist, stole the show (in my opinion) with his insights into the Elves of historical folklore and mythology. Sure, I was able to join the discussion from a Tolkienist perspective and even managed to hang on in some of the folklore/mythology discussions, but if you ever get a chance to talk folklore and mythology with Mr. Butler, take it. I cannot find a Web site for him.

On the Fringe emjoyed light enough attendance that the three of us on the panel just took off and gushed about the show for an hour. I would say the room was about 1/3 full, which surprised me, given how well-done the show is. All the panelists (and the other guys are probably more qualified to speculate than me) felt the show would have to tie up some loose ends soon but that the second season would probably set the pace. My desire is that they not really fix too many issues in the second season (most television shows make radical changes in their second seasons).

Using Fantasy and Science Fiction to Engage the Next Generation was, for me, the most interesting panel. I was the only panelist who was NOT involved in professional education services. About half the audience were teachers or otherwise involved with education. There were several parents in the audience as well, including one gentleman who seemed frustrated that his kids' school system was not very friendly to science fiction and fantasy.

The panelists were pretty open about some of their frustrations with how the educational community treats science fiction (the community is more open to the concept of "What if" if you don't label it for science fiction or speculative fiction). Nonetheless, parents who want their schools to support open-minded exploration of the imagination should join their PTOs, support local library initiatives, and help launch events and projects that inspire the kids' imagination.

I pointed out that I like to promote videos made by schools. The teachers all felt that was a great resource for bringing science fiction and education together but not every school can put together a video/film-making program. Nonetheless, book fairs, science fairs, field trips, and other special events all present opportunities for kids to delve into science fiction through education. And I am really not doing the panel any justice with this brief report.

Comparative Study: Orcs surprised me by being the only Standing Room Only event among my panels. I guess people really like Orcs. About half the people in the audience were gamers. Dave Butler also sat on this panel and he once again wowed the room with the depth of his knowledge and insight into fantasy monsters and creatures. Again, if you get a chance to see him present on folk lore and mythology, go see him. You won't regret it.

Chris Pramas and Dylan S(ervantes?) shared some insights on why gaming Orcs are green (no real reason other than some Australian group thought that would be cool) and pig-snouted (another idea someone thought would be cool). Gaming Orcs, of course, owe something to Tolkien's Orcs but the two types of Orcs diverged many years ago.

Tolkien Has a Lot to Answer For seemed like it would be my biggest panel of the day but the room was not as packed as the Orc panel. I think the fact a lot of people were trying to have dinner prior to the Masquerade probably hurt us but we still had a pretty good audience. Jeff Grubb, who helped developed the Dragonlance game (and contributed the Gnomes), sat on the panel with me and Eric Mona (gamer/author). I had the opportunity to tell Jeff I really liked the Gnomes, and pointed out that their names (which grow throughout their lives) reminded me of Tolkien's Ents. Jeff said that's where he got the idea from.

Cool. Totally cool.

So we talked Tolkien and related topics and a good time was had by all.

The Fannish Community On Line unfortunately suffered from being scheduled at 10:00 AM on a Sunday. Persdonally, I was expecting a larger audience as at Dragon*Con it's usually the 10:00 AM Saturday events that are clobbered (by the parade). But that's another convention.

Leo Roberts and Amanda Cherry from Star Trek: Phoenix -- a fan film project that should result in six Webisodes later this year and next year -- sat on the panel along with film-maker Ryan Johnson (who also sat on the Comparative Study: Elves panel). Since there were at a few times more panelists than audience members we sort of just gabbed among ourselves, sharing gossip and experiences.

I'll admit that this is where I learned what Star Trek: Phoenix was all about (I had passed their table several times on my way to and from panels). The project is really amazing. When I stopped by their table after the panel I watched some of the footage from their documentary. I also watched all the videos on their Web site.

The project is the brain child of Temporal Studios here in the Seattle area and it's being produced by a professional crew. Check the STPHoenix.com site for more information.

I've recommended the project to Eric Watts, who runs the Dragon*Con Star Trek programming track. Eric loves these kinds of projects and is trying to work with Temporal Studios to bring them to Atlanta this Labor Day Weekend. My fingers are crossed, guys!

I had time to watch a couple of panels on costuming. Fascinating stuff. And I also ran into an old online friend, Lisa Mantchev, who was one of the early Compuserve IMPs, an online writers group I joined in the early 1990s. The Compuserve IMPs remain to this day (so far as I can determine) the most successful online writers group, in terms of how many members went on to become published. A new generation of IMPs were still active as recently as 1-2 years ago but I've not heard much since then.

Lisa has a book coming out later this year called Eyes Like Stars. Check out Lisa Mantchev's site for more information. Lisa said another IMP was at the con but I was unable to connect with her. I hope to run into more IMPs in the future.

And that's my con report. I apologize for the length of it. I didn't have time to write a short one (okay, that's not an original line but I love it so I use it whenever I can).

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