CONvergence Schedule

[mmerriam]

Friday:

 Signing

Venue: Autograph Table
Start: 2:00 pm   End: 3:00 pm
About: Dana Baird, Michael Merriam and Joel Arnold
Panelist(s): Michael Merriam, Joel Arnold, Dana Baird

MinnSpec Meeting

Venue: Cabana 118
 Start: 5:00 pm   End: 6:00 pm
About: Come learn about this resource for local aspiring science ficiton and fantasy writers.
Panelist(s): Hilary Moon Murphy, Michael Merriam

 

Saturday:

 Reading

Venue: Vista Suite
Start: 11:00 am   End: 12:00 pm
About: The author of "Shimmers & Shadows" reads from of his work.
Panelist(s): Michael Merriam

Disabilities in Science Fiction

Venue: Cabana 118
Start: 12:30 pm   End: 1:30 pm
About: Looking at the disabled through the lens of science-fiction - or do handicapped Captains get better parking places in space dock? What will we consider to be a disability if blindness is cured ala La Forge's visor?
Panelist(s): Michael Merriam, Elise Matthesen, Betsy Lundsten
 

 

Sunday

Writing Workshop For Teens

Venue: Vista Suite
Start: 12:30 pm   End: 1:30 pm
About: Michael Merriam will give some tips and tricks for young writers just getting started. The focus will be on the basics of story and story construction with some time for Q & A. As the name suggests, this panel is meant for younger attendees.
Panelist(s): Michael Merriam (mod)
 

 The Twin Cities School

Venue: Atrium 8
Start: 3:30 pm   End: 4:30 pm
About: The Cities have produced a lot of professional writers. Is there something in the water? Is it the great fans and built-in audience? Is it Dreamhaven and Uncle Hugo's? The Loft? What? Join area writers as they talk about the local SF & F scene.
Panelist(s): Kelly McCullough, Hilary Moon Murphy, Michael Merriam, Ruth Bermam

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I decided after a few years of watching Geordi LaForge that I didn't believe in blindness being cured by one thing. I believed that Geordi got the visor and BlindGuy#2 had some surgery on his optic nerve and BlindGalA got treatments that changed her body chemistry and prevented her going blind in the first place and BlindGalB...you know what I mean here: blind isn't just one thing.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I am deeply dubious about any Sf/F that presents a "Once size fits all" approach to "curing" a disability. I am also deeply tired of disabled characters in SF/F that seem to exist for the sole purpose of being Cured! By! Science! (or Magic! in fantasy) or else play the Wise! Mentor! who guides the hero until they are killed.

Fortunately, since I work as a fiction writer, I am able to at least attempt to do something about this.