Worldcon Schedule

Once upon a time, I lived in Kansas City, Kansas. No, really. I was born in St.Louis, and my family moved to KC when I was in kindergarten. (Specifically, in Shawnee Mission.) We lived there until the middle of second grade. KC is where my happiest and earliest memories of childhood reside. Sadly, I haven't been back since we moved. Therefore, I'm super excited about Worldcon being in Kansas City this year. (Even if it isn't in the part where I lived.) This is also the first year that the con committee (outside of the TX crew) extended an active invitation. (I'm very flattered.) I've a great list of panels too. That said, I'm very much looking forward to the convention. Hopefully, I'll see you there. 

Wednesday Aug 17, 2016
​7:00PM
Reading: Stina Leicht
Kansas City Convention Center, 2203 (Readings)

Thursday Aug 18, 2016
12:00PM
No, Really, That Makes Sense
Kansas City Convention Center, 2502A
Mr. William Dietz | Mike Shepherd Moscoe | Stina Leicht | John G. Hemry
Our panelists are tasked by the audience to come up with rational-sounding explanations for things in SF/Fantasy movies/TV/books that (on the surface) make no sense. Come prepared with some examples of these far fetched things for our panelists to describe. Feel free to bring a prop or two!

7:00PM
Attack the Gazebo! Running a Great RPG Session
Kansas City Convention Center, 2209
Alasdair Stuart | Stina Leicht | Mr. Gareth-Michael Skarka | Max Gladstone | Gary Kloster | Tex Thompson | Stephanie Loree
We've all played bad or boring games, but how do we make a really good one? Our panel think of exciting ways to make your game really work, and also consider some 'do-nots' when planning a tabletop game.

Friday Aug 19, 2016
11:00AM
Enjoying Urban Fantasy
Kansas City Convention Center, 2503B
Yanni Kuznia | Melissa F. Olson | Max Gladstone | Stina Leicht | Diana Rowland
Romance, horror, mystery, and even steampunk. Urban fantasy is rooted in the real world while employing traditional fantasy elements that shape the story, defining it to fit into or cross through many subgenres. Join our panelists for a lively discussion about what makes urban fantasy great, what they enjoy most about writing it, and the challenges of writing within multiple subgenres.

4:00PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Robin Wayne Bailey, Arnie Fenner, Stina Leicht, Alison Sinclair
Kansas City Convention Center, 2211 (KKs)

5:00PM
The Evolution of Epic Fantasy 
Kansas City Convention Center, 2209
Kate Elliott | Sarah Beth Durst | Tessa Gratton | Anna Kashina | Stina Leicht
Epic fantasy may have begun with the tales of Lord Dunsany and JRR Tolkien, but modern epic fantasy has evolved far beyond the pastoral landscapes inhabited by warlords and magicians. From Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or NK Jemison’s Inheritance Trilogy, have authors stretched, pulled, and prodded the term “epic fantasy” to its maximum effect?  What areas are left unexplored or overlooked? How does urban fantasy on an epic scale compare to its pastoral equivalent?

Saturday Aug 20, 2016
5:00PM
Being Jessica Jones 
Kansas City Convention Center, 2207
Anna Raftery (TAFF) | Stina Leicht | Ms. Jeffe Kennedy | Tui Sutherland | Aurora Celeste
Trigger Warning: This session will include discussion of a sensitive nature.
The Netflix series Jessica Jones tackles difficult subjects relating to domestic violence and rape. It does so from the perspective of a survivor, raising valuable questions about society and gender. This is within the environment of the Marvel Universe. Jessica Jones' appeal is to comic fans who are looking for complex representations of women on television. Our panel discuss the show's vital impact.


Sunday Aug 21, 2016
1:00PM
Autographing
Kansas City Convention Center, Autographing Space