Balticon Wrapup

Ben and Mary Ellen discuss taking kids to conventions with Scott Roche. What do conventions do well, what do they not, and what could they do better?

A discussion moderated by Justin Landon on the diversity in books. Panelists are Delilah S. Dawson, Myke Cole and Cinda Williams Chima.From the programme:"This group was formed to address the need for all types of diversity in children's literature. The hashtag has been used to highlight examples of diversity in books across many genres. Come discuss the ways that social media movements can be used to effect real change in literature, and hear about some recommendations for books highlighting diverse characters and settings.

Ben and Mary Ellen discuss their trip to Balticon! Our picks this month:

Why do we enjoy characters that are emotionless interacting with "normal" emotional people? Wesley Chu moderates with panelists Whitney Ross, Amy Sundberg and Tom Doyle.From the programme:"Emotionally restrained heroes were popular in the age of reason; after Romanticism swept Europe, Jane Austen's Darcys and Knightleys were the only emotionally Vulcan-esque heroes left in media for quite some time. From Darcy/Lizzie on the page, to Spock/Uhura on the screen and Spock/Kirk in our fanfic, we love human passion rubbing up against Vulcan reason. What are other models of this dynamic? What's so appealing about loving a Vulcan...or being one?

It's been two years since we've done a SPOILERS episode, but this couldn't be passed by! Dave Robison, Starla Huchton and Jennifer Melzer join Ben in discussing the movie. If you haven't seen it yet, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

In this panel from ConFusion 2015 Jim C. Hines moderates how much Merrie Haskell, Myke Cole, John Scalzi and Robert J. Bennett suck.From the programme:"A panel of authors play "dueling suck" with their own works, trying to see who can best generate a vacuum"

We talk to the awesome creative couple Jared Axelrod and J.R. Blackwell.Promos from Mighty Marvel Geeks and Get Published. Our picks this month are:

Sometimes the things we like come with baggage. Topics that weren't treated well, authors who don't align with popular opinion, voting slates. This panel, recorded in January, discusses some of those things. Moderated by Phillipe McNally, panelists Jeannie, Amy Sundberg and Sarah Gibbons.From the Programme:"Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice & Fire, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Many of us like things that are deeply problematic! Liking these works doesn't (necessarily) make you a jerk. How can we like problematic things and not only be decent people, but good allies and activists? How does one's background matter? How does one address the problems? This panel will discuss how to own up to the problematic things in the media you like, particularly when you feel strongly about them."

A discussion about women and girls in fandom from ConFusion 2015.Moderated by Mari Brighe with panelists Jeannie, Cherie Priest and Delilah S. Dawson.From the programme:Let's talk about our favorite female characters and female fans (and maybe a word or two about why fandom keeps trying to pretend they're not as awesome as we all know they are).

We're back, finally! Ben and Mary Ellen talk about what they've been up to during the hiatus. Our picks for this month: