I can’t believe the Worldcon is almost here! We leave for San Antonio on Wednesday.

Here’s my “final” program schedule (subject to change, of course):

Writers Workshop E
Friday 13:00 – 15:00
(Closed workshop.)
David D. Levine, Amy Sundberg

Truly Alien
Friday 19:00 – 20:00
What kinds of life forms might exist in our own solar system that aren’t based on carbon and liquid water? For starters, how about Chris McKay’s cryogenic creature, which might breathe nitrogen, eat aldehydes, and hang out on Titan? What about life forms that rely on radically different energy sources?
Karen Burnham (M), David D. Levine, Patricia MacEwen, Jack McDevitt

Reading: David D. Levine
Saturday 11:00 – 12:00
David D. Levine

The Role of the Companion
Saturday 13:00 – 14:00
The Doctor’s companions are more than just your run-of-the-mill sidekicks. The companions change the Doctor and influence our view of him. This panel will discuss the affect of the Doctor’s companions over the years.
David D. Levine (M), Julie Barrett, Jessica Reisman, Selina Rosen, Lynn Stran, Michael Damian Thomas

Short Stories – What’s Next?
Saturday 15:00 – 16:00
Our panelists discuss the role short stories have and will play in science fiction and fantasy, from proving ground to promotions to the merits of writing and reading short stories. We’ll explore where the form is headed, whether its early popularity is enduring. The panel will also discuss the influence which contests and electronic publishing have had on short stories.
Kij Johnson (M), David D. Levine, Steven Silver, John Joseph Adams, Damien Broderick

Mars and/or Bust!
Sunday 10:00 – 11:00
The colonization of space has long been a trope of SF stories. Enough already! When do we leave? How close are we really to living on other planets? What are the economic, political, and technological considerations?
Michael J. Martinez (M), Karen Burnham, David D. Levine, John K Strickland Jr.

Mad Science
Sunday 12:00 – 13:00
Presenting preposterous theories for world domination and evil conspiracies.
David D. Levine (M), Mary Robinette Kowal, John Joseph Adams, Seanan McGuire

Melding Mind and Machine
Sunday 17:00 – 18:00
Dr. Stephen Hawking is just the beginning. Soon we may be able to relatively inexpensively use brain-machine interfaces to overcome paralysing, debilitatiing infirmities. What is the state of the science, and what is possible? What happens if (when) someone decides to expand normal abilities using this technology — is there anything wrong with that?
Andrew Adams (M), Carol Luckhardt Redfield PhD, Yasser Bahjatt, John M Cmar, David D. Levine