Boskone 50

Program

Boskone Program offers panels, talks, discussions, demos, and workshops on many aspects of the science fiction and fantasy field, populated by a wide assortment of speakers. We include items about hard SF and fantasy, science and art, fandom and movies, literature and TV, horror and comics, music and singing, and heaps of related topics! Program also includes interviews with our Guest of Honor, slide-shows and demos with our artists, and individual presentations. These are the types of presentations and settings you can expect at Boskone—since many panels run concurrently, it will be your tough decision as to what to attend!

Boskone's Special Guest John Hertz will be hosting three Classics of Science Fiction discussions.

In addition to a variety of Program, Boskone runs parties and entertainment throughout the weekend:

• Friday evening activities - Boskone Retrospective 8pm and Reception 9pm (in the Galleria)
  Tony Lewis, a founder of NESFA and chair of several past Boskones, will emcee this event, with reminiscences of Boskone 1–49 of the current series. Other Boskone veterans will also contribute stories. The Boskone Reception follows. The reception features refreshments and a cash bar to complement meeting and greeting old friends and new in the Con Suite, and touring the Art Show.
• Saturday afternoon - Book Launch for the release party of Door to Anywhere, a Poul Anderson collection introduced by NESFA Press Guest Jerry Pournelle will be at 3pm in the Galleria
• Saturday evening activities will include a Heather Dale set beginning at 8pm and Awards Ceremony at 9pm and the formal Heather Dale Featured Musician Concert following. Cash bar in the pre-function area of the Harbor Ballroom will be open all evening.
• Sunday afternoon - John Hertz will be leading a Regency Dance on Sunday afternoon at 1pm, open to all, in fancy dress or not, in the Harbor Ballroom

Boskone guests will be participating in many activities, including:

• Our Guest of Honor, Vernor Vinge, will be interviewed by his editor, Jim Frenkel. He will also take part in panels on the Singularity, Exploring the Programmer/ Archaeologist, and a reprise of A Greatness in the Con (about Vernor’s works).
• Official Artist Lisa Snellings will give a tour of her artwork in the Art Show and will join in at Dragonslair, in addition to her other program participation.
• Special Guest John Hertz will lead a Regency Dance and will lead discussions of three classics of SF.
• Our Featured Musician Heather Dale will perform in a pair of concerts on Saturday evening and will lead performance workshops during the day
• Hal Clement Science Speaker Jordin Kare will provide visions of what is and what can be during his talks on Laser Launch, 50 Ways to Leave Your Planet, and It Came from the USPTO (weird & silly patents), and a panel on Beaming Power from Space. Jordin will also perform in a filk concert.
• NESFA Press Guest Jerry Pournelle will be interviewed, and he will also be on panels about Space Colonization and Military Motifs in SF.

Types of Programming

• Anime/Video—A track of anime and video for your viewing pleasure
• Art Demos—See Artists in action!
• Autographs—Program participants will sign your books in the Galleria on Saturday and Sunday (you can get lots from the Hucksters!).
• Concerts—Performances by our Featured Musician Guest and various other performers
• Discussion Groups—Join program participants and other members in the Boskone Con Suite, our very own "living room of fandom." Discussion groups are small intimate conversations on focused topics—and we invite you to form your own group ("Birds of a Feather").
• DragonsLair/Children's Program—All kinds of kids'activities.
• Filksinging—Filksongs are fandom's folk songs, with themes of SF, fantasy and fannish interests. Items include theme circles, NESFA Hymnal singing and the Featured Musician Concert.
• Gaming schedule - video & board
• Kaffeeklatsches/Literary Beers—Participate an informal discussion with one of our program participants over coffee, tea, or beer. Attendance is limited; sign up is required. Sign-up for these at the Program Desk near Information.
• Panels—Dozens of discussions by our program participants.
• Photo Booth—Ever wanted a photo of yourself on the moon, maybe with a friend or with your favorite author? Can you picture yourself with alien eyes and a top hat? Costume pieces and backdrops provided, this will be a great opportunities to make some memories. Photos can be taken with your camera or given to you at con.
• Readings—Hear writers read and discuss their own works.