Join me at Boskone (February 19-21, 2016) in Boston, MA for New England’s longest running science fiction and fantasy convention. It’s going to be a fun weekend filled with books, film, art, music, gaming, and more. For more information about Boskone, check out The Boskone Blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Visit the Boskone website to register.
I will be appearing in five panels, a reading, and a book release party. Details below!
Earth. We’re Stuck Here!
Friday 16:00 – 16:50, Marina 3 (Westin)
Maybe humanity’s future isn’t in space. What are the stumbling blocks to colonizing other planets, in our solar system or beyond? Is travel beyond the inner planets fantasy rather than science fiction? And, if so, what else are we going to do for fun?
James Patrick Kelly (M), Paula Crock, Jordin T. Kare, N.A. Ratnayake
Key Moments in Space Travel: Columbia (1981), Vostok (1961)
Friday 17:00 – 17:50, Harbor III (Westin)
In 2016, we celebrate 35 years since the launch of Columbia, the U.S.’s first reusable space shuttle, and 55 years since Vostok, the first human spaceflight in history. With more than half a century of space travel behind us, let’s take a look back at some of the more memorable moments in manned space flight and imagine what we can look forward to in the future.
Allen M. Steele (M), James Cambias, Andrew Owens, N.A. Ratnayake
100 Years of Relativity
Saturday 13:00 – 13:50, Harbor III (Westin)
Next month marks a century since Albert Einstein published his seminal work The Theory of General Relativity. It was our first clue that space bends, time warps, and black holes’ gravity sucks at both light and time. What did Einstein get right — and wrong? Do his ideas still ripple through our own time? For extra credit, panelists will reconcile general relativity with quantum theory.
Mark L. Olson (M), Janet Catherine Johnston, N.A. Ratnayake, Kenneth Schneyer
The Year in Physics and Astronomy
Saturday 15:00 – 15:50, Marina 4 (Westin)
An annual roundup of the latest research and discoveries in two sciences that matter. Our experts will share what’s new and interesting, cutting-edge and speculative. Topics could include new pics of Pluto but no pics of potential new Planet X; experimenting with quantum gravity; using optical light for deep medical imaging; and the birth of bouncing baby universes inside black holes.
Mark L. Olson (M), Paula Crock, Jeff Hecht, N.A. Ratnayake
Reading: N.A. Ratnayake
Saturday 16:30 – 16:55, Independence (Westin)
N.A. Ratnayake
Boskone Book Party
Saturday 18:00 – 19:20, Galleria-Stage (Westin)
Join us for Boskone’s Multi-Author Book Party, see what’s new from authors you love, and discover new favorites. Boskone is also launching three NESFA Press books tonight: The Collected Stories of Poul Anderson Vol 7, Conspiracy!, and The Grimm Future.
D L Carter, Tom Easton, Grady Hendrix, Carlos Hernandez, E. C. Ambrose, Judith K. Dial, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller, Cerece Rennie Murphy, N.A. Ratnayake, Erin Underwood
Phun with Physics
Sunday 14:00 – 14:50, Marina 1 (Westin)
Arguably one of the oldest forms of science, physics is not (always) a dry and dusty matter. Join our playful panel of madcap science mavens for a fun discussion on the history of physics. They’ll note some high and low points on the physics timeline, and consider how these inspired (or demoralized) later research.
Jordin T. Kare (M), John Chu, Paula Crock, Mark L. Olson, N.A. Ratnayake
