My Lonestarcon 3 Schedule

Here's my schedule for Lonestarcon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, from August 29 to September 2, 2013. They're keeping me busier than in previous years with 3 panels, a kaffeeklatsch (my first), and an autograph session (where I usually check my email while everyone else is lining up for someone else like George R.R. Martin). If you're at the convention, please look for me and say hello.


Thursday, August 29, 13:00-14:00. Convention Center, Exhibit A
Autographing: Madeline Ashby, Derwin Mak, Byron Reese, David Lee Summers
 
Friday, August 30, 13:00 - 13:30. Convention Center, 002B
Reading: Derwin Mak
 
Friday, August 30, 15:00 - 16:00. Convention Center, 007A
Asian SF Literature:
What is the state of our genre in Asian countries and languages? Are there themes and qualities informed by geography?
Panelists: Takayuki Tatsumi (M), Wesley Chu, Toh EnJoe, Derwin Mak, Mary Anne Mohanraj
 
Saturday, August 31, 14:00 - 15:00. Convention Center, 007CD
What Does SF Tell Us about Dealing with China in the Future?
The Chinese government supports sf magazines, trying to inverse-engineer what sf did in the USA: inspire interest in science & engineering among the young. Can this be a useful way to see into China's culture? Can a Chinese sf community help bring a Communist regime to a peaceful opening toward the West?
Panelists:  Gregory Benford (M), Emily Jiang, Derwin Mak, Max Gladstone
 
Saturday, August 31, 16:00 - 17:00. Marriott Riverwalk Hotel, Riverview Room.
Kaffeeklatsch: Eileen Gunn, Derwin Mak, Ramez Naam
 
Sunday, September 1, 11:00 - 12:00. Marriott Rivercenter Hotel, conference 8.
Religion and Fandom:
Panelists: Janice Gelb (M), Derwin Mak, Jesi Pershing, Steven Silver

Nominate "The Faun and the Sylphide", "Flying Devils" and Shanghai Steam for the Aurora Awards

Calling all Canadians citizens at home and abroad and permanent residents of Canada: our national science fiction awards, the Aurora Awards, are now open for nominations. This year, I have two short stories that are eligible to be nominated in the category of Best Short Fiction - English:

"The Faun and the Sylphide", from Tesseracts Sixteen: Parnassus Unbound, edited by Mark Leslie, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, Calgary, 2012

"Flying Devils", from Shanghai Steam, edited by Ace Jordyn, Calvin D. Jim and Renee Bennett, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, Calgary, Alberta, 2012.

 

During the nomination period, these stories will be available free on my website at: http://www.derwinmaksf.com/Auroras-2013.html

Also, Shanghai Steam is the first Chinese-theme steampunk anthology ever, so please consider nominating it for the Aurora Award for Best Related Work - English. Editors are Ace Jordyn, Calvin D. Jim, and Renee Bennett. Publisher is Absolute XPress / EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing.

To learn more about the Aurora Awards and to nominate stories and individuals, visit:

 http://www.prixaurorawards.ca/Membership/

The CSFFA charges a $10 membership fee, so both new and returning members will be asked to pay $10 by Paypal. Renewing members can access the membership portal and make nominations after paying the membership fee. New members will receive a Society number by email and can go back to the Aurora Awards website and submit nominations. Nominees do not get any sort of monetary gain from the fees. The CSFFA is a non-profit organization, and its small budget, raised by the membership and voting fees, goes to administer the awards program and produce the trophies. $10 is a low price to promote national pride in our science fiction and to give a small reward to your favourite authors, artists, and fan organizers.

Nomination deadline is noon, April 15, 2013.