Program Schedule

8787. Sunday Church Service
Moderator: John Blaker

Join us for our Sunday Gathering, a time to celebrate, reflect, and connect with fellow fans.
John Blaker
SUN 9:00 am - 9:45 am, Carmel

8759. Reading of "Murder in Slushtime", a Pre-Disney Star Wars Story
Reading: Barbara Hambly

Join Barbara Hambly for a reading of the pre-Disney Star Wars story (originally published in the Star Wars Adventure Journal back in the '90s!), "Murder in Slushtime.
Barbara Hambly
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, Draco's Tavern - Catalina B

8775. Social Conventions in Heinlein: Families, Finances and Systems of Government
Moderator: Glen Olson

Were you inspired by the multi-generational Line Marriage from MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, warmed by the Nest in STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, fascinated by the group marriage and other relationship possibilities presented in Time Enough for Love through To Sail Beyond the Sunset?
Terry Brussel-Rogers, Glen Olson, Ben Wallin, Martin Young
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, La Jolla A

8819. The Role of Beta Readers: Getting Valuable Feedback
Moderator: Jim Doty

Do you need Beta readers? What is the value of these fans and how can they contribute to your finished product?
J.L. Doty, Jean-Paul Garnier, Sherwood Smith
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, La Jolla B

8832. What Do We Want the Future to Look Like?
Moderator: Vanessa MacLaren-Wray

Explore futuristic technologies, ethical AI, and societal transformations that could lead to a more inclusive and prosperous future. Engage with visionary thinkers and be part of the conversation that imagines the extraordinary possibilities of tomorrow!
Bradford Lyau, Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, Tracy Newby
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, Los Angeles A

8830. Was the Book Better?
Moderator: Derek McCaw

From Frankenstein to Who Censored Roger Rabbit, a discussion of speculative fiction with plots that Hollywood warped into something very different. What did the movie do better, and what do we wish more people understood about the source material?
Jason Crawford, Derek McCaw, Joyce Sperling
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, Los Angeles B

8648. Anthology 101
Moderator: David Boop

Have you either wanted to edit your own anthology or just submit to one? How does one pitch a whole anthology or just a single story? Bestselling editor David Boop brings some the authors from his many anthologies to a Q&A panel where we answer your burning questions. Featuring Eytan Kollin and more!
David Boop, Eytan Kollin, Michael Todd Gallowglas
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, Los Angeles C

8763. Road Squadron, The Sci-fi Car Club
Established 1999, Road Squadron is Coast-to-Coast with over 200 members! Drivers will discuss how they fell into the hobby, suggest build and design or theme strategies, cover typical materials from vinyl wraps to fiberglass shells, the paints and tools and so on. The club does charity events across the nation, raising funds for all sorts of organizations. Join founding member Obi-Shawn and long-timer Tom as they talk about their rides and adventures and how you can join in!
Tom Piedmont, Shawn Crosby
SUN 10:00 am - 10:55 am, Makers Room - Century A & B

8666. Batman: The Animated Series -- Its Inspiration and Legacy
Moderator: Bob Miller

Commemorating Batman: The Animated Series and its spinoffs by the people who made it. What made the shows so great despite the odds? Panelists include director Dan Riba, writer Stan Berkowitz, and moderator Bob Miller (writer, Starlog, Comics Scene, Animation Scoop and Batman: The Animated Interviews.)
Bob Miller, Stan Berkowitz, Dan Riba
SUN 10:00 am - 11:15 am, Marina

8704. First Tea: Brunch
Host: Genny Dazzo

Indulge in an elegant afternoon at the Loscon 50 High Tea. Join fellow attendees for a delightful experience featuring a selection of fine teas, delicious pastries, and engaging conversation. This event is the perfect opportunity to relax, socialize, and celebrate the convention in a refined setting.
Genny Dazzo
SUN 10:30 am - 11:00 am, Staff Lounge

8650. Art Show Auction
Discover a world of creativity and talent at our Art Show Auction. This event showcases a diverse collection of artworks from emerging and established artists, offering a unique opportunity to acquire stunning pieces for your collection.
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, International Ballroom

8816. The Red Planet from Burroughs to Andy Weir: Mars in Science Fiction Over the Years
Moderator: Bruce Davis

Mars figures largely in science-fiction. Come hear our panelists discuss various representations and the stories we have assigned to our red neighbor.
DJ Byrne, Bruce Davis, Jerome Scott, Matthew B. Tepper
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, La Jolla A

8789. Surviving Neurodiversity in a Normative World Without Losing Your Spiciness
Moderator: Susie Searight

An estimated 20% of the population is Neurodivergent with numbers growing annually. Our culture is rapidly realizing that our most educated and intellectually gifted peoples are neuroatypical. It's time to remove the stigma and embrace our Badassery.
Jason Crawford, Michael Todd Gallowglas, Jules Rivera, Susie Searight
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, La Jolla B

8803. The Ethics of Climate Intervention: Sci-Fi Perspectives
Moderator: Martin Young

What changes are we making to the climate and are they a good idea? How does this change impact genre media?
Jessica Brawner, Gerald Nordley, Seth Potter, Martin Young
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, Los Angeles A

8817. The Rise of Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy
Moderator: Wendy Van Camp

Women have grown from sidekicks, afterthoughts and romantic interests to fully formed characters and protagonists in their own right. Our panelists take a look at the development of female characters in genre literature.
Lauren Cipollo, Brenda Clough, Wendy Van Camp, Ben Wallin
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, Los Angeles C

8718. Hallmark: A Pop Culture Phenomenon
Moderator: Julia Ree

Hallmark, originally just a greeting card company, has been producing Christmas Ornaments for over 50 years. The early days saw a small influx of Peanuts, Disney, Muppets and Betsy Clark characters, which had some success. In 1991, however, they made a bold move, by testing the desire for a holiday version of the starship Enterprise. The resulting explosion of "want" solidified the plan to begin what is now an extreme push to highlight the very real desire to collect favorite characters and relive iconic childhood dreams. This presentation will focus on the kinds of Pop Culture icons represented in the 2024 Dream book catalog. Hallmark ornaments are not just for Christmas any more!
Julia Ree
SUN 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, Marina

8705. Second Tea: Lunch
Host: Genny Dazzo

Indulge in an elegant afternoon at the Loscon 50 High Tea. Join fellow attendees for a delightful experience featuring a selection of fine teas, delicious pastries, and engaging conversation. This event is the perfect opportunity to relax, socialize, and celebrate the convention in a refined setting.
Genny Dazzo
SUN 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm, Staff Lounge

8688. Disney Pins - Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather gatherings are informal meet ups for fans to come together and share their love of a particular fandom or subject.

Join other fans of Disney Pins to show and trade from your collection.
SUN 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm, Draco's Tavern - Catalina B

8786. Stephen King's On Writing, 20 Years Later
Moderator: Brian Buhl

Stephen King is a living legend, and his book On Writing has been influential for an entire generation of writers. In this panel, we will look at some of King's writing advice that has withstood the test of time, some that has not aged quite as well, and we may touch on other books on writing that supplement or supplant On Writing.
Steven Barnes, Brian Buhl, Brandon Case, Nicholas Tana, Natalie Rodriguez
SUN 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm, Los Angeles B

8845. Yesterwhen: Why Are So Many Fantasy Worlds Modeled After Our Own History?
Moderator: Bruce Davis

Fantasy worlds lean heavily on our real past. What fascinates us so much about our history that we use it when world building?
Bruce Davis, J.L. Doty, Jenni Powell, Martin Young
SUN 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm, Los Angeles C

8800. Tatting 101 Workshop
Moderator: Alice Massoglia

Come learn the basics of the art of lace making.

Suggested Materials: A tatting shuttle and a ball of size 10 cotton thread. Limited kits will be available for $4
Alice Massoglia
SUN 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm, Makers Room - Century A & B

8829. Walt Lee Memorial
Moderator: Steve Lee

Join us for a panel discussion to celebrate Walt Lee (August 16, 1931 - November 23, 2014) - a life-long science-fiction and fantasy film fan, film consultant, regular Loscon guest, and creator of the seminal 3-volume "Reference Guide to Fantastic Films." Moderated by his son, Steve Lee.
Charles Lee Jackson II, Steve Lee, Craig Miller, Adrianne Grady, Tom Khamis
SUN 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm, Marina

8822. Third Tea: High Tea
Host: Genny Dazzo

Indulge in an elegant afternoon at the Loscon 50 High Tea. Join fellow attendees for a delightful experience featuring a selection of fine teas, delicious pastries, and engaging conversation. This event is the perfect opportunity to relax, socialize, and celebrate the convention in a refined setting.
Genny Dazzo
SUN 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm, Staff Lounge

8672. Building Props for Star Trek
Moderator: Max Cervantes

Join veteran Hollywood prop and prosthethics artist Max Cervantes as he shows a few of his Star Trek: The Next Generation creations and discusses his work on TNG, The Undiscovered Country film, and decades of film, TV and commercial productions building props, models and makeup FX.
Max Cervantes
SUN 2:00 pm - 2:55 pm, Makers Room - Century A & B

8729. Classics of SF Discussion: Eric Frank Russell, "Wasp" (1957)
Moderator: John Hertz

Moderator John Hertz will lead discussions of three Classics of Science Fiction panels at Loscon 50, one discussion each. Come to as many as you like. You'll be welcome to join in.

Each of the three is famous in a different way. Each may be more interesting now than when first published. Have you read them? Have you re-read them?

Again this author's wit is with us (he won a Hugo for his story about an offog). James Mowry, wondering why he's wanted, is told of an automobile crash in which four men died, their car wrecked, when a wasp flying through an open window distracted the driver; Mowry is being recruited as a wasp.
John Hertz
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, Draco's Tavern - Catalina B

8833. What Does Science Fiction Tell Us About the Geopolitics of Space Settlement?
Moderator: Tad Daley

Once human beings do start making permanent settlements off the surface of Planet Earth -- perhaps on the moon, perhaps on other celestial bodies, perhaps aboard self-sustaining space stations -- the political and social relationships with other human beings could go in any number of directions. Will these settlements have their own laws and constitutions and wholly govern themselves? Will they be subject to the laws and governance of nations back on Earth? If so, which nations? How about the present United Nations? How about a hypothetical future Federal Republic of Earth? What if some of the settlements start engaging in acts of aggression against other settlements, or even against Earth? And what does the long legacy of science fiction tell us about how these eventualities could or should unfold?
Krys Blackwood, Tad Daley, Bino Gopal, Jane Shevtsov, Gerald Nordley
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, La Jolla A

8748. Star Wars and More Movie Memories
Solo Panel: Craig Miller

Craig Miller, whose Hollywood career dates back to working on the original Star Wars, tells more Star Wars tales as well as stories about marketing genre films of the 1980s like Superman II, The Thing, Krull, The Dark Crystal, The Last Starfighter, The Black Cauldron, and more, as well as writing animation ranging from Curious George and The Smurfs to The Real Ghostbusters to G.I. Joe and Beast Wars.

Craig Miller
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, La Jolla B

8774. SPACE: 1999 - The Eagle Transporter Reimagined
Moderator: Aldo Spadoni

Join the exploration of a fascinating cultural phenomenon! The legacy of the Eagle Transporter from the 1970's Science Fiction TV Series, Space:1999, reflects the dreams of a generation. It also embodies a nostalgia for a future that never occurred, yet still resonates today.

Aldo Spadoni has been working with Jeffrey on this documentary project as spacecraft technical advisor. Aldo explores the science and engineering behind the popular Eagle and figures out how it might be redesigned to make it more realistic.
Aldo Spadoni
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, Los Angeles A

8779. Special Effects and CGI: Bringing Sci-Fi Visions to Life
Moderator: Lynx Crowe

Special Effects have burgeoned in the past decades. What are the practical uses of the tools that make on screen magic?
Chris Butler, Lynx Crowe, Tom Funk, Mark L. Williams
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, Los Angeles B

8739. Magic Systems: Rules, Creativity, and Consistency
Moderator: Michelle Pincus

You're putting magic in your book. Now what? How do you prevent it from becoming a "get out of jail free" card for all situations? What are the limitations, the costs and the rules of your magic system?
Brandon Case, Brenda Clough, James Glass, SP Hendrick, Michelle Pincus
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, Los Angeles C

8711. GoH Q&A - Kathy Mar
Moderator: Nick Smith

A beloved figure in the filk music community, Kathy Mar has captivated audiences with her soulful voice and poignant lyrics. Her contributions to the genre have earned her multiple Pegasus Awards, and she continues to inspire with her performances and recordings.
Kathy Mar, Nick Smith
SUN 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm, Marina

8670. Browncoats - Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather gatherings are informal meet ups for fans to come together and share their love of a particular fandom or subject.

"Shiny! I like meeting new people." Come share all things Firefly with your fellow Browncoats.
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, Draco's Tavern - Catalina B

8824. Time Travel: The Do's, the Don'ts, and the Dear God Whys
Moderator: Glen Olson

Current theories hold out the possibility that time travel may be possible. We discuss current thinking...and talk about why this might be a good idea, or a bad one.
Charles Lee Jackson II, Glen Olson, Steven L. Sears, Chris Weber, Mark L. Williams
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, La Jolla A

8807. The Greatest Writing Advice I've Ever Received
Moderator: Brian Buhl

Writers will take turns discussing the greatest writing advice they've ever received. Some audience participation will be encouraged. If at the end, we've exhausted all of the good advice, we're almost certain to dive into some of the worst advice we've received, too.
Brian Buhl, Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, Jules Rivera, Yvette d'Entremont
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, La Jolla B

8778. Spacecraft that Survive When Things Go Sideways
Moderator: DJ Byrne

Explore the resilience and ingenuity behind spacecraft designed to withstand unexpected challenges. This panel will delve into the engineering marvels and problem-solving strategies that keep missions on track when things go wrong.
DJ Byrne, Lynx Crowe, Gerald Nordley, Seth Potter, Arlene Busby
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, Los Angeles A

8840. World-Building in Fantasy: Creating Fantastical Realms
Moderator: Sherwood Smith

How to build your world of wonder and make it a cohesive background for your characters and your story.
Noah Lemelson, Robert (Bob) Nelson, Jenni Powell, Erin Hunt Rado, Sherwood Smith, Gene Turnbow
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, Los Angeles C

8805. The Future of Loscon (and LASFS): The Next 50 Years
Moderator: Matthew B. Tepper

Join us for a visionary discussion on the future of Loscon and the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS). Hear from key members and enthusiasts about their hopes, plans, and innovative ideas to keep the spirit of science fiction and fantasy thriving.
Chris Butler, Susan Fox, Bradford Lyau, Michelle Pincus, Joyce Sperling, Matthew B. Tepper
SUN 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm, Marina

8677. Closing Ceremonies and Feedback Session
Join us as we wrap up Loscon 50 with a heartfelt closing ceremony. Celebrate the highlights of the convention, share your favorite moments, and express your gratitude to fellow attendees and organizers. Following the ceremony, participate in a feedback session where you can provide your thoughts and suggestions to help shape future Loscons. Your input is invaluable in making each year better than the last.
Eylat Poliner, Susan Fox, Shawn Crosby, Julia Ree, Kathy Mar, Larry Niven, Craig Miller, Genny Dazzo, Laura Brodian Freas Beraha, Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink, Christian McGuire, Sherri Benoun, Martin Young
SUN 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm, International Ballroom

Program Schedule

Scheduled as of 0000-00-00 00:00:00