Schedule

Generated: Wed Jan 16 12:13:32 EST 2013

Friday - Saturday - Sunday - Monday

Friday 3:00pm

Food, Booze, and Caffeine, Oh My! — ConComm, Lecture — 1hr — Alcott (3W): What you eat and drink during a convention can affect your energy, health, mood and over all convention experience. Learn affordable ways to eat healthy at conventions, and how this can increase your energy level as much or more than caffeine and other tips for staying happy and healthy during conventions and beyond. This is presented by Operation Hammond, the country's largest non-profit First Aid and Social organization. We are nerds helping nerds in times of need.; Hope McChesney

Arisia's First E-Gaming Room — Gaming, Participatory Event — 7hr — Carlton (3E): Come visit and stay awhile in Arisia's first ever Electronic Gaming Room. We've got consoles and games galore, as well as knowledgeable staff from GameUnderground to get you started in this fun and addictive pastime. Open Friday through Sunday.

Friday 3:45pm

Key the Metal Idol — Anime, Projected Media — 2hr 10min — Stone (2): Key is a robot, created by her 'grandfather', Dr. Mima. Every year, on her birthday, her battery is recharged and she is given a new, larger body so that she can live among humans. Now Dr. Mima is dead and has left behind a mysterious final message: if Key can get 30,000 people to love her, she can become human. Can Key accomplish this goal before her battery runs out?

Friday 4:00pm

First Aid and Lifesaving — ConComm, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Do you know what to do if the unthinkable happens and your friends get injured or sick? In this unique panel you will learn first aid techniques, what to do in an emergency, how to care for intoxicated people, and special situations that come up at conventions. Upon completion of this panel you will be certified in American Heart Association First Aid. The cost of this training is $25.00, which covers the cost of the First Aid card and materials. This panel is limited to 20 people.; James Fedora

Fantastic Planet — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 12min — Harbor III (3E): This is the classic French animation that takes place in a distant world where Ter, a human slave, escapes from his alien masters with a learning machine, which he begins to use. Is it a metaphor for class struggle? Is it just a story that teaches us that knowledge is power? Watch the movie and find out; even if you never decide what it means, the magnificent hand-drawn animation is worth the admission. Note: This is not the film with the Interociter, you missed that one two years ago.

Blood Drive Signup — Events, Participatory Event — 5hr — Lobby (2): Come by the Blood Drive table in the lobby next to the Info Desk to sign up for a slot to donate. While advanced reservations aren't required, they do guarantee a 30 minute slot!

Friday 5:30pm

Art and Science: The Collaborations — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Bringing art and science together can offer unique ways of better understanding. Explaining superfluids with dance rather than PowerPoint, a jazz concert on cancer with a son's compositions based on his father's work as a research oncologist, or an album with corresponding apps to explore and interact with each song's science-related theme. What collaborations do you know of, and do you have suggestions of others that could happen?; Freyja Dean (m), Comiku Girls, Thomas Nackid, Carsten Turner

DC's New 52: Year Two and Second Wave — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): In light of an entire year's worth of comics, as well as a "Second Wave" of six or so ongoing monthly titles, we'll be taking a closer look at DC. What are the changes we're seeing there, including the redesigned logo?; Ed Fuqua, Jaime Garmendia, Alex Jarvis (m), Troy Minkowsky, Joey Peters

How to Give an Effective Reading — Writing, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): The workshop is specifically designed for authors who need to do readings at conventions, book-signings, or other events. Just because you can write brilliantly does not necessarily mean you can read aloud brilliantly. Learn how to use voice acting techniques for greater impact in readings.; Bob Kuhn

Could a Technocracy Work? — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): One of the SF cliches is the ruling council of scientists. Could this actually work? What would have to be done, and would it serve a useful purpose? Who would suffer, or at least be neglected?; Ira Domnitz, Terry Franklin (m), Karl G. Heinemann

Judging and Being Judged in Costume Contests — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): What do judges look for when looking at costumes up close and on stage? Past judges and contestants discuss what judges look for in both presentation and workmanship.; Lisa A. Ashton, Byron P. Connell, Tina Connell, Marty Gear (m), Carol Salemi

The Mind of the Nerd: Psychology and Fandom — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr — Hale (3W): While the geek population is broad and diverse, there are some common psychological traits among geeks. What are these traits, and what can we learn about ourselves and each other by examining them?; Jeni Rae Duschak, Melissa Kaplan, Vanessa Layne (m), Little Mel, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Science in Politics — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): How are science and scientific advances used in the political arena? How do large-scale, long-term projects like the mission to the Moon get approved? Are technological achievements hampered by the political process? Do science and politics always have to be at odds with one another?; Martha Adams (m), Michelle D'Entremont, Ken Gale, Steven Hirsch, Thomas Traina

Bards in History — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): The bard is a character that has existed throughout history, but what is truth and what is fiction? Come learn about historical bards and how they compare with the myths and legends.; Elaine Cunningham, Catherine Kane, Suford Lewis, Paula Lieberman, Daniel Marsh (m)

Crafts for Adults: Working with Clay — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Sculpt! Sculpt like there's no tomorrow! Come by and make various clay shapes with your own two hands.; Lisa Hertel

Learn how to play — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Learn how to play a wide variety of games, taught by a rising star in the GM community, one Brian Hertel. Learn games like Dominion, 7 Wonders, Munchkin, Fluxx, and many more. Although this feature of the game room is aimed at teaching kids how to play, adults are welcome to play.

Zpocalypse — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr 30min — Harbor I (3E): Zpocalypse is a survival board game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland for 2–4 players. A combination of tactics, combat, resource management, charcter development, teamwork, and strategy are needed to survive the onslaught of Zpocalypse. Running every day in the convention, stop by our tables in gaming and have some Zombie killing fun.

Best of the Small Press — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Which innovative and thought-provoking magazines, stories, and books produced by small presses might folks have missed reading in 2012? And more to the point, which ones should not be missed? From science fiction to horror, fantasy, and everywhere in between, what (particularly non-award winning) works are worth a second look?; Keith R. A. DeCandido, Kate Kaynak, Hildy Silverman, Trisha Wooldridge (m)

Crunchyroll — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Watching anime legally has never been easier or more affordable. What companies are working to bring us the best and the newest? Well, maybe just the newest. And where do you find all this anime?; Elizabeth O'Malley, Richard Ralston (m)

Friday 5:55pm

Serial Experiments Lain — Anime, Projected Media — 2hr — Stone (2): There are two separate worlds; the physical world around us, and the computerized world of the Wired. Lain is an ordinary thirteen-year-old girl until she receives an email from a classmate who had suddenly committed suicide: "I just abandoned my body. I still live here…" Has the real world and the Wired world begun to blur?

Friday 6:00pm

Game of Thrones 2nd Edition — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Players take on the roles of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as they vie for control of the Iron Throne through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Strategic planning, masterful diplomacy, and clever card play are all required to spread your influence over Westeros.

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Down on the Ground — Media, Projected Media — 1min — Harbor III (3E): Mike Stoltz grew up during the Space Age, living in Florida and watching the world changing around him. This short, semi-abstract film shows his impressions of growing up in that place and time.

Contra Dance — Music, Participatory Event — 2hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Somerville dance caller Dave Eisenstader will teach a session of contra dances to the rocking music of the Free Raisins. No partner or experience necessary.; Dave Eisenstadter, Amy Englesberg, Jeff Kaufman, Audrey Knuth

Friday 6:05pm

Baikonur — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 35min — Harbor III (3E): Alexander Asochkov plays the part of a space-obsessed young man in a Kazakh nomad tribe. His family roams the desert, scavenging debris from space launches at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and he aids them by tracking them as they fall on his radio. The law says that "anything that drops from the sky we can keep," but when a beautiful French astronaut falls to earth in a space capsule there is a question. In the end, all of his dreams come true, but not the way he expected. 35mm, subtitled.

Friday 7:00pm

The Man Who Sold the Moon — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): In a sci-fi story from the 1940s, Robert Heinlein's D.D. Harriman succeeds in spearheading a private venture to go to the Moon. With the first private spacecraft (SpaceX) to visit the International Space Station, Heinlein seems to have foreshadowed more than many might have once believed. Is science finally fulfilling Heinlein's predictions? Where is it falling short? What unforeseen technological advances are making his predictions moot? And what of his predictions on social issues?; Howard G. Beatman, Terry Franklin (m), Toni Lay, Steve E. Popkes, Ian Randal Strock

Comics Year in Review — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): From the Second Wave of DC's New 52, to the passing of Moebius, Tony DeZuniga, John Severin, Al Rio, and others, to Marvel's "Avengers vs. X-Men", we review the past year in comics.; Glenn Hauman, Daniel Miller (m), Dan Morris, Joey Peters, Mark "Justin du Coeur" Waks

A Hero Like Me — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): How much does a reader want to be able to identify with the protagonist of a story? Does having the hero have superhuman or near-superhuman attributes make him or her less sympathetic to the reader? Genre expectations affect this, and perhaps affect who's attracted to what genre—superhero comic book protagonists have a different profile from the typical YA protagonist, usually an almost-ordinary kid. What other factors influence the reader's sympathy? Are they stronger or weaker?; Vikki Ciaffone (m), Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Ken Schneyer

The Nature of Gender: Past, Present and Future — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): What is gender? What makes most of us feel we have one, some of us feel we have more than one, and others feel we have no gender at all? In some cultures two genders is considered the norm (or the only reality), but in other cultures there are more genders and more flexibility between them. How is the meaning of gender changing in present-day American culture? Will gender still have the same meaning in the future?; Dash, Buzz Harris, Melissa Kaplan (m), JoSelle Vanderhooft

Age and Treachery: The Older Fan — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): How does growing older impact one's experiences as a member of fandom? How do our experiences color how we enjoy the ideas, the stories, and the media? Did we think, a decade (or three) ago, we'd still be going to conventions and seeing the same friends? Are we worried about the future of fandom?; Martha Adams, Mario Di Giacomo, Melina M.Gunnett (m), Marlin May, Michele Weinstein

Reading: Brusso, Cooney, & Graykin — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Charlene Brusso, C.S.E. Cooney, and Justine Graykin read selections from their works.; Charlene Brusso, C.S.E. Cooney, Justine Graykin

Creating Art: Learned or Innate? — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Is the talent to create the wonderful artwork we see in the Art Show something you can learn, or is it an ability that you are born with? Does it take many years of practice to become proficient at it? Does Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 Hour Rule apply?; Roger Dean, Heidi Hooper, Bettina Kurkoski, Jacob Lefton, Scott Lefton (m)

Humor and Fandom — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Members of fandom often find things funny that the rest of the world doesn't. The success of web comics like "xkcd" is ample proof of that, but that is far from the only example. Can fandom as a culture be defined by what amuses us, and is it really different from the mainstream or are we just kidding ourselves?; D. Cameron Calkins, Elaine Cunningham, William Frank, JeffWarner, Eric Zuckerman (m)

Wargames — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Strategic and tactical tabletop games, such as Warhammer, Battleground, and Europa, simulate complex military operation. How do the design differences impact play? What makes a wargame enjoyable? How do the PC versions of these (and other) wargames differ from their tabletop forbears? Can a real-time strategy video game like Starcraft or Age of Empires be counted as a wargame?; Alex Feinman, Jaime Garmendia, James T. Henderson Jr (m)

Rails of New England — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): Designed by Arisia's own Walter Hunt, Rails of New England is a historically accurate game of making money in the 19th century. Buy businesses, and build your railroad to improve them and take advantage of the many ways to gain assets.

Firefly — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Come out into the black and join the crew of a firefly vessel. Folks come for different reasons but have all arrived at the same place.

Slip Through Their Fingers — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Join the rebellion in this Star Wars game taking place directly after Empire Strikes Back.

Kill Your Darlings — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Harbor II (3E): William Faulker is oft-quoted as saying, "in writing, you must kill your darlings," to indicate trimming the parts of your story that you love but just don't work. Do you find yourself writing around the object of your affection—whether a scene, setting, or character—to justify shoehorning it in? Stop now. This panel will give advice on the letting go of or changing your favorite bits that don't have the right fit for your story.; Alexander C. Danner, Alisa Kwitney Sheckley (m), Gail Z. Martin

Facing the Prejudice of Giants — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): The World Fantasy Award is a statuette of H. P. Lovecraft's head. Yet, as many have pointed out, Lovecraft was deeply racist and anti-Semitic. More than the rest, women, people of color, LGBT, and other minorities must deal with the uncomfortable truth that many of the Giants we honor hate(d) us, or employ problematic stereotyping in their work. How do we reconcile these contradictions? How do we respond? When should a work's status as "great literature" be reconsidered in light of its flaws?; Mark L. Amidon, Brandon Easton, Kate Nepveu (m), Daniel JosÃ© Older, Julia Rios

Anime Under the Influence — Anime, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Robert Heinlein. Ursula K. LeGuin. E.E. "Doc" Smith. You know them as beloved SF and fantasy authors, but did you know that their works have been turned into animated features and TV shows in Japan? Join us as we view clips and discuss the transition that western fantasy and SF has made, many times, to Japanese animation.; Mike Toole

Fairy Tales on Film and TV — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): The shifting of fairy tale perceptions has been happening for awhile, but it seems to have really spread to the mainstream in the past year or so. Once Upon a Time and Grimm on television and two retellings of Snow White (Snow White and the Huntsman and Mirror, Mirror) in the movie theaters. What's the new appeal? Who's the audience for these reworked stories?; Felicitas Ivey, Resa Nelson, Misty Pendragon (m), Cynthia A. Shettle-Meleedy, Timothy J. Tero

Pick, Pass, Play Open Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Come listen and/or make music in this unthemed song circle. We will go around in a circle giving every person a chance to perform (Play), request a song (Pick), or Pass. All types of music are welcome, but expect to hear a lot of songs related to science fiction, fantasy, science, and fandom.; Daniel Marsh

Working with Tech — Costuming, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Grand AB (1W): Find out what goes into the Masquerade. Learn what the Arisia Tech Crew has available for you to use and how to make the most of it for your presentation. We will also discuss common mistakes made and how to avoid them. All aspects of theatrical tech as apply to the Masquerade will be discussed, including lights, sound, and staging.; Paul Kraus, Abby Noyce, Carl z! Zwanzig (m)

Friday 7:30pm

Zombi-thulu — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): The Zombie Apocalypse has struck. If that wasn't bad enough, a vile cult is trying to summon Cthulhu. Can you stop the cultists while not getting eaten by ravenous zombies? Were the cultists responsible for the Zombie Armageddon? Can you defeat Cthulhu and also reverse the zombie plague?

Friday 8:00pm

The Man in the White Suit — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 25min — Harbor III (3E): Alec Guinness, as an eccentric English chemist, manages to invent an indestructible fabric but soon discovers both industry and labor are against his innovation for economic reasons. This film is a beautiful little study on social change brought about by technological advancement. Does it hold up after half a century? It does and it doesn't, because society and technology are different. What will they be like in another half-century? 16mm B&W.

Marvel's The Avengers — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 20min — Stone (2): Joss Whedon and Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army. PG-13.

Friday 8:15pm

Sound System Tuning and Subwoofer Arrays — Theater & con tech, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Grand AB (1W): Learn how to tune a sound system to optimize it for a particular room. We will also experiment with subwoofer arrays in an attempt to minimize the sound bleed through to an adjacent room.; Paul Kraus

Friday 8:30pm

Introduction to Arisia — ConComm, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Is this your first time at Arisia? Maybe your first time at a con? Welcome! Our experienced panelists will give you tips on how to get the most out of the con, and on con survival in general.; Samantha Dings, James Fedora, Melina M.Gunnett, Crystal Huff, Jude Shabry (m), JeffWarner

Insanity and Evil in Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Mainstream comics, such as the Batman series, often depict their villains as being mentally ill in some way. Do comics really equate evil with insanity? How does this affect the real world, individuals who are mentally ill, or our perception of the mentally ill? Is mental instability being glorified by pop culture icons such as the Joker or Dexter? How are "evil" insane characters treated differently from "good" insane characters? How is their mental illness in turn treated differently?; Bob Chipman, Little Mel, Daniel Miller, Ruth Wejksnora-Garrott (m)

Worldbuilding with the Soft Sciences — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Let's skip past geology and cosmology and go straight to the sciences that study culture: linguistics, psychology, cultural anthropology, and the like. How does knowledge in these areas inform (or laughably fail to inform) speculative fictions' world building? How can we use insights from these disciplines to build worlds with a realistic diversity in their cultures?; Alex Feinman, Justine Graykin, Vanessa Layne, Kimberley Long-Ewing (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Diversity and Inclusion — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Arisia is a diverse community, and with that comes multiple voices and potentially divergent perspective and ideas. How do we discuss multiple perspectives and points of view—some of which may be mutually exclusive or hard to hear—and make sure everyone gets heard without resorting to the kinds of name-calling and divisiveness that often marks such discussions?; Jan Dumas, Brandon Easton, Maddy Myers (m), Bonnie Barlow Turner

The Role of Art in the E-Book Era — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): When browsing for books on the shelves of your local bookstore is as limited a concept as going to the cobbler to have shoes handmade, what will be the role of art in book design? Are book covers as marketing tools becoming a thing of the past? Will there be more opportunity for interior art due to the lack of print costs? Will art sales increase or decrease in the e-book era? What other problems/opportunities do you see for e-art?; Thomas Nackid (m), Joey Peters

Reading: DeCandido, Gannon, & Palmer — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Keith R. A. DeCandido, Charles E. Gannon, and Suzanne Palmer read selections from their works.; Keith R. A. DeCandido, Charles E. Gannon, Suzanne Palmer

Non-Monogamy: A Diverse Set of Options — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Monogamy is the default societal assumption, but one that many don't follow. While there are a lot of panels on the poly lifestyle at Arisia, other approaches to relationships sometimes can get left out in the shuffle. This panel will explore the many ways that people approach relationships that don't fall under the default.; Michelle D'Entremont, Karl G. Heinemann (m), Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, laurel, Ian Cooper Rose, Alan Wexelblat

Build a Siege Engine — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Staging a siege this Arisia? We've got all the craft sticks, rubber bands, and stale marshmallows you'll need! Come design your own trebuchet, mangonel, ballista, or catapult and compete with your friends!; Judah Sher, Scott Wilhelm (m)

Costume Makeup Basics — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Harbor II (3E): Makeup is important to achieve an all-around great look in your costume. Learn how makeup in costuming can differ from daily makeup, different techniques for different types of costumes, and when to vary techniques from hall costuming to stage costuming.; Aurora Celeste, Bill Frankenfield, Marty Gear (m), Carol Salemi

Vampires: Fear of the Other, Fear of the Body — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Scholars of vampire literature have alleged that early traditions of the vampire in Europe reflect fears of Jews, both religiously and racially. Yet over time, the vampire has morphed. Rather than representing fear of societal dilution, the vampire represents destruction of the individual body, and concepts of the "blood disease" as like unto AIDS began to enter the zeitgeist. Rather than express fear of the other, more modern vampire literature embraces the other.; Mark L. Amidon, Inanna Arthen, Susan Hanniford Crowley (m), Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Gail Z. Martin

The Ultimate Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Panel — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Back by popular demand! Ever wanted to visit Amestris? Well, be sure to join us as we transport you to the world of FMA; no passport needed. Members of the FMA world will be hosting, and you won't want to miss this unique and sure to be highly entertaining panel, moderated by Izumi Curtis.; Jeni Rae Duschak, Pam "Izumi" Larson (m), PJ Letersky

Species as a Metaphor for Race — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Avatar, District 9, and even Star Trek are among relatively recent SF films that have offered us aliens who are arguably standing in for real races or ethnic groups. How does SF film handle racial issues? Is it a way of avoiding painful topics or a way of addressing them by other means?; Andrea Hairston, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Sabrina Vourvoulias (m), James Zavaglia, Eric Zuckerman

NESFA Songbook Sing-along — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Group singing from the NESFA Hymnals, a collection of filk songs set to well-known tunes. Singers and listeners both welcome. Loaner hymnals provided. Here is a chance for new filkers to learn a few songs and experienced filkers to sing some old favorites.; Elaine Cunningham, Ellen Kranzer (m)

Learn/Assist with shooting a Live TV Show — Theater & con tech, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Grand AB (1W): Learn to shoot a live TV show? Arisia TV will be airing "The Day the Earth Stood Still," a radio play adaptation of the 1951 film originally produced for Lux Radio Theater in 1954. Learn to operate a field camera in a multi-camera setup shooting a staged production and stick around to actually shoot the production. A radio play is a good opportunity for beginners because the actors mostly stand still. There are also opportunities to try directing or technical directing.; Syd Weinstein

Nexus Elements LARP: Session 1 — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Grand C (1W): Nexus Elements, a place where magic is as common as might. On the Isles of the Forgotten King, the fairy folk run wild and humans are nothing but myth. It has now been a few years since Lady Carthairen was gifted the isle of Ashling, in the kingdom of Delben. Her island is still barely settled. Much of the wilderness seems to fight back against the taming of this land. She calls again for heroes new and old, offering gold as well as opportunity for new adventure! LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAY game. 16+

Friday 9:00pm

Torchwood Toronto — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): A grief crazed Ms. Carter hacks into the Torchwood database and gets a good deal of secret info. She is using the info to damage those people in Government she can still reach. She started a group of rebels called the 10%ers after stealing Torchwood material from a storage facility in Scotland. The mission: Capture alive Ms. Carter and Ren Con and her followers so Ms. Carter can get the help she needs before most governments enact nasty and harsh laws to keep a lid on things.

Trailer Park Wars — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): Try to create the best trailer park ever! Pick a name, bring in some trailers, and win some tenants. Whoever has the most flamingos wins.

Techno Contradance — Music, Participatory Event — 2hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): A traditional New England folk dance with rather untraditional music. Firecloud combines the driving beats of techno music with live fiddle tunes and improvisation in a new high-energy sound. No partner or experience necessary, all dances will be taught.; Jon Cannon, Julie Vallimont (m)

Friday 9:30pm

Drum and Dance at Arisia — Music, Participatory Event — 3hr — Burroughs (3E): This is an open Drum circle. All are welcome; if you have a drum please bring it. You don't need a drum to dance or enjoy the ambiance, but if you have one, don't forget to pack it. You can also bring Zills, tambourines, and any non-amplified instruments. Yes, kids are welcome, but this is not babysitting so please do not leave children unattended.; Angela K. Bowen (m), Penelope Messier, Richard E. Parker

Friday 10:00pm

Eat Your Vegetables — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): A well-balanced diet is essential for human functioning, but how do we get the variety we need on a starship, space colony, or other tightly enclosed environment? What other uses could "farms" be in these types of environments?; David Larochelle (m), Dr. James Prego, Alexandra Thorn

When Comics Creators Go Off the Deep End — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): How much of authors' lives can be chalked up to idiosyncrasies? Does the current state of the authors reflect on past achievements? Can a disturbed mind create great art? How much of what we love in these writers is reflected in their lunacy, and how much becomes too much?; E. J. Barnes (m), Bob Chipman, Ken Gale, Glenn Hauman, Mark "Justin du Coeur" Waks

Self-Editing Your Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Whether you hope to attract the attention of a traditional agent or publisher, or plan on self-publishing, you're much more likely to succeed if you have a well-written, polished product. With the rise of print-on-demand and e-books, it's easier than ever to get your work in print, but is it the best work you're capable of doing? Come learn how to debug your own work before you send off that next pitch letter to an agent or upload your e-book to Amazon so you don't look back with regret.; Jeffrey A. Carver, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Anna Erishkigal, Gordon Linzner (m)

BDSM 101: A Beginner's Guide — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): There are a lot of different ways to practice BDSM. How can you get into it without getting in over your head? What can you do to stay safe while experimenting and exploring your own limits? We'll go over a few do's and, more importantly, don'ts of trying BDSM. 18+ Only.; Shana Fuqua, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Shelley Marsh, Percival, Ian Cooper Rose (m)

Bringing Zombies to Life — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Become one of the living dead! Panelists will discuss the best makeup and materials to turn yourself into zombie. Also, learn about zombie events around the area where you can put your new skills to use.; Bill Frankenfield, Marty Gear, Misty Pendragon, Carol Salemi (m)

Reading: Anderson, Bowker, & Wilkins — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Michael Anderson, John Bowker, and Connie Wilkins read selections from their works.; Michael Anderson, John Bowker, Connie Wilkins

Invisible Fangirls — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Women have always been part of science fiction—as readers, fans, authors, artists, editors, and more. However, when conventions and geeks get coverage, the women and girls are often absent or only pointed out so that the reporter can be shocked they are there at all. Why is there still the perception that science fiction, conventions, gaming, and comics are still (or have always been) exclusively a boys' club?; Adrianne Brennan (m), Vanessa Layne, Paula Lieberman, Maddy Myers, Suzanne Palmer

What Are Makerspaces? — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Have you heard about Makerspaces and Hackerspaces, but not sure what they are? Our panelists will tell you all about these amazing institutions and their benefits to the community.; Sparr Risher, Judah Sher, Andrew Van Zandt (m)

Cards Against Humanity — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): It's Apples To Apples for adults. Described as a card game for the horrible people of the world, this one doesn't disappoint. Pick the most rude, disgusting, and filthy card you have to answer the question and then try not to fall of the chair laughing at the reasons why your card was or wasn't picked.

Films from Worldcon — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 7min — Harbor III (3E): Do you think you can see all of Chicon 7 in seven minutes? You can't. You can hardly see more than Larry setting up, Marcie tearing down, and a quick glimpse at the Hugos. But you know what? Even a tiny bit of Worldcon is a wonderful thing. In 16mm B&W.

Papi Chulo to Papi Cthulhu—Latino/as in SFF — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): An examination of the limits (and limited) depictions of Latino and Latina people in SF/F. We'll look at roles and characters in movies, TV shows, and books with a special (hopeful or critical) emphasis on Latino/as as written and directed by Latino/as in SF/F.; Jaime Garmendia, Daniel JosÃ© Older (m), Julia Rios, Sabrina Vourvoulias

Displacement in Literature — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Displacement is an essential element of great literature. The main character is physically displaced from social standing due to external events, due to someone who refuses to obey the social rules entering their world, or at some point in the past and has come to exact revenge or find answers. What are the different ways displacement shows up in literature? How is it used to its best effect? Why is displacement so central to literature and the human experience?; Greer Gilman, Dennis McCunney, Daniel Rabuzzi, Robert V.S. Redick, Kiini Ibura Salaam (m)

Introduction to LARPing — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Live Action Role Playing (LARP) is an acronym that keeps coming up in geek and convention circles. What do people do at a LARP? Why should I play? What kinds of LARPs are there? How do I get started?; John Bacon, Nat Budin, Heidi Hooper, Andrew Kirschbaum, Rachel Morris (m)

Ceilidh: Music Party with Emerald Rose — Music, Panel — 2hr — Webster (2): Bring an instrument and a favorite piece, or just an appetite for great music!; Clyde Gilbert, Arthur Hinds, Jeff Keller (m), Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

The Day the Earth Stood Still — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): A radio play adaptation of the 1951 film, originally produced for Lux Radio Theater in 1954, performed live by our good friends, the Post-Meridian Radio Players.; Richard E. Bartlett, Chris DeKalb, Joev Dubach, Andrew Harrington, John C. F. Hodges, Jeremy Holstein, Elizabeth Leclerc, Neil Marsh (m), Michael McAfee, Rob Noyes, Briavael O'Reilly, Elizabeth Salazar, Karen Sarao, Jacob Sommer

Friday 10:10pm

The Lost World: Silent Movie — Media, Projected Media — 46min — Harbor III (3E): This silent classic is adapted from the Arthur Conan Doyle story in which 19th century adventurers visit a land where prehistoric creatures still roam. The story still holds up today, especially in the steampunk world, and you can see constant references to this film in so many later works. The live organ accompaniment from Jeff Rapsis makes it an even better story. This may be the only chance in your life to see this film the way it was originally intended to be shown.

Friday 10:20pm

Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 — Media, Projected Media — 12min — Stone (2): Short sequel to The Avengers—SHIELD agent Stillwell is assigned to recover an abandoned Chitauri weapon being used by a young bank-robbing couple.

Friday 10:35pm

The Cabin in the Woods — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 35min — Stone (2): Even More Joss Whedon—Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods. Rated R.

Friday 11:00pm

Boston: Elder Machinations — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): An OWOD Vampire game. You play an elder vampire as well as your ancilla pawn. This will be a camarilla game filled with politics, mystery, and a chance to grab the throne.

Faebotica Concert — Music, Concert — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Featuring soulful vocals and creative instrumentation, Faebotica weaves a rich tapestry of lyrical, groove-oriented, trance-Americana. Drawing from Western Esotericism and post-modern mythworking, singer-songwriter Nicole Edgecomb gracefully delivers original odes, praise songs, and invocations.; Joe Ball, Jenn Bliss, Darrell Brown (m), Nicole Edgecomb, Sarah Privler, Marcio Roberto, Jason Winslade

Video Game Dance — Music, Participatory Event — 3hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): DJ Pet hosts a dance event that pulls from dance remixes of the popular video game themes with decor and visuals that evoke the memories and experiences of the games of the old school and today.; Shonna Beckett, Jim Dattolo (m), Seth Sawyer

Friday 11:30pm

BDSM 201: Hurting the Ones You Love — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Paddles and whips and floggers, oh my! What ever happened to the simplicity of a good old-fashioned spanking? From clothespins to dragontails, there are lots of ways to hurt the people you love most, and do it safely. Unfortunately, we can't show you how to do it in Massachusetts, but we can talk about it!; Michelle Driscoll, Shana Fuqua, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Shelley Marsh, Mistress Simone (m)

Cecilia Tan Erotic Fantasy/SF Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Circlet Press founder, erotic SF editor, and author Cecilia Tan reads selections from her works.; Cecilia Tan

The Best and Worse of Hentai — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Why is it so popular? Why do men and woman love watching it? There is no line to cross when it comes to this taboo cartoon, whether straight or gay. Let's talk about the best and worst in terms of animation and story line.; Ed Fuqua, JoSelle Vanderhooft, John C. Watson (m)

Doctor Who: Companions Through the Ages — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Our celebration of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who doesn't overlook the importance of his companions. From schoolgirl Susan to sword-swinging Amy, they have run the gamut. Who are your favorites and why? What makes a "good" companion and who were you glad to see go?; Victoria Janssen (m), Gordon Linzner, Jennifer Pelland, Santiago Rivas, James Zavaglia

Saturday 12:00am

I Love the Smell of Xenomorphs in the Morning — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): For 10,000 years the Lady of Pain has silently ruled the city of Sigil. Sigil is the large metropolis in the Astral Sea, a city of untold millions making sacrifices to sustain and protect it in the face of a hostile universe. Only the strongest and most ruthless of man can survive here, and in this grim darkness of the Great Wheel, there is only War.

Unmoderated Open Filk — Music, Panel — 5hr 45min — Webster (2): Open Filk descends into chaos. Music will continue as long as people are interested.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show — Theater, Drama — 2hr — Grand AB (1W): Shenanigans and sensual overloads shall ensue as you join us in Dr. Frank N. Furter's castle. As the audience shouts and sings, the Teseracte Players will be strutting, dancing, and, well, having a grand time. Join us for a night of absolute pleasure!; Kevin Benoit, Nick Bento, Linda Brennan, Michael Lee Budlong, Karin Carlson, Eric Carter, Patrick Connelly, Sandy Cronin-Tassi, Evie Da Rosa, Kelly Davis, Ken Davis, Mimi Dietrich-Wu, Sara Dion, Becca Driver, Meg Farmer, Lauren Gray, David Hahn, Cody Hall, Ashley Haslam, David Jubinski, Amy Kreines, Amy Lake, Arthur Laurie, Ted Lynch, Glenn MacWilliams, James Mobius, Genna Rose, Roy Rossi, Alyssa May Smith, Tori Sviokla, Joye Thaller, A. J. Watts, Kevin Wynott, Amy Yampanis, Keith Yampanis

Saturday 12:10am

Suck — Music, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): A horror/comedy/musical centered on a rock 'n' roll band that will do anything to become famous. Rated R.

Saturday 1:40am

The Man From the Future — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 45min — Stone (2): Zero is a brilliant scientist, but 20 years ago he was publicly humiliated and lost the love of his life. One day, an accident with one of his inventions makes him travel in time. After the chance to change his story, Zero returns totally changed. Subtitled, rated R.

Saturday 3:25am

Never Let Me Go — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 44min — Stone (2): British film based on Kazuo Ishiguro's brilliant novel. Kathy H, Tommy and Ruth are students at a mysterious boarding school. Kathy watches from afar as Ruth and Tommy fall in love, but fate has a greater threat in store for all of them. R 2010

Saturday 5:10am

Death Defying Acts — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 32min — Stone (2): On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con the famous magician. PG

Saturday 6:40am

The Reptile (1966) — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): Hammer Horror. Harry Spalding and his wife, Valerie, inherit a cottage in a small country village after his brother mysteriously dies. The locals are unfriendly and their neighbor Dr. Franklyn, a doctor of theology, suggest they leave. They decide to stay, only to find that a mysterious evil plagues the community. PG-13.

Saturday 7:30am

Star Trek DS9: Pale Moonlight Pt 2 — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): The USS Poinard from the 10th fleet is ordered to pick up a passenger who will have new orders. The passenger is Commander Sloan from Star Fleet Intelligence. He wants to secretly follow a shipment of 85L, a bionemetic gel that is being picked up by an Orion Cartel representative. Find who will be the end user intended for the shipment and steal or destroy it, and you must do so without implicating the federation.

Saturday 8:10am

Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz — Media, Projected Media — 1hr — Stone (2): Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse get whisked away into the Land of Oz. Animated Musical, PG.

Saturday 8:30am

Chainmail 101 — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Learn how to make chainmail!; Liz Cademy (m), Ket Melissa Waters

Faeries of Color: Tales of the Fae Beyond Europe — Literature, Panel — 1hr — Otis (2): People often think of fairy tales as stories from British or Western European cultures, but what about Asia and Central Asia? The Middle East? Africa? American Indians and First Nations? These cultures have equivalent fairy tales that address our human relationship to the wild/natural world and reflect important cultural elements that define a society's values. What can these fairy tales teach us?; Vikki Ciaffone (m), Trisha Wooldridge

Discworld at 30 — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Thirty years ago, Terry Pratchett released The Colour of Magic, the first of (now) 39 Discworld novels. Discworld has proven a favorite amongst fandom, even spawning any number of derivative works, from stage adaptations to board games. How has Discworld evolved over thirty years and nearly forty novels? Which storylines are more satisfying, generally, and which leave the reader cold? Come discuss this wonderful series that hits an anniversary in 2013!; C.S.E. Cooney, Christopher K. Davis, Adam Lipkin (m), Kate Nepveu, Sarah Smith

Table Top RPG with Damien — Fast Track, Panel — 2hr 45min — Hancock (2): Back by popular demand, Damien is running another weekend long game. Come join in the fun!; Z. Quinn Ochs Thomas, Damien Turi (m)

Geeky Play Date — Fast Track, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Looking to meet up with other parents and kids at the con? Geeky Play Date is a casual, drop-in space for you and your children. Kids can bring their favorite toys and make new friends! Parents can do the same! Please note: this is NOT a babysitting service/venue, plan on tending to your children. If you need to leave a Red-Ribbon Fast Track child for a 10am panel, you may do so after 9:45, and checking with Fast Track staff.; Dale Meyer-Curley, Liz Turi

Swords of Chivalry 1 — Fast Track, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Hands on swordsmanship lessons for kids. Come use safe, foam weapons to learn the skills a knight would have used!; Dawn-Marie Dunn, Stuart Ferguson (m)

Saturday 9:00am

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Settlers of Catan — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): In Settlers of Catan, players try to be the dominant force on the island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads. On each turn, dice are rolled to determine what resources the island produces. Players collect these resources to build up their civilizations to get 10 victory points and win the game.

The Cutting Truth of the Sword — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Kunstbruder presents: A Demonstration of test cutting with the Medieval sword. Followed immediately by hands-on lessons with the Longsword. Learn the basics of attack and defense in the German tradition. All equipment provided, no experience necessary.; Dawn-Marie Dunn, Stuart Ferguson, Steven Hirsch, Steve Huff, Andrew Kilgore, Sarah "Tashari" Morrison, Andy Rosequist, Cecilia Villero, Joanna Weston, Nathan Weston

Digby: The Biggest Dog in the World — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 28min — Harbor III (3E): A friendly sheepdog accidentally swallows a growth-boosting chemical which a laboratory worker takes from the defense lab where he works in an attempt to grow larger tomatoes. Soon he becomes the size of a battleship, but is stolen by criminals who sell him to a circus. This British production is intended for kids but adults will find it worth watching as well, if only for Spike Milligan's role as the lab manager. Captioned for the hearing impaired.

Walk the Labyrinth — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 2hr — Grand DE (1W): Take a long walk in a small space. Come find your center in our 30'x30' Seven-Circuit Classical Labyrinth. A tool for walking meditation, use it to find a little peace during the excitement of Arisia. Supervised children welcome.; Sandy Charron, Derek D. Lichter, Jude Shabry (m)

Tai Chi — GOH, Participatory Event — 1hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Tai Chi taught by GOH Stephen Barnes.; Steven Barnes

Saturday 9:10am

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910) — Media, Projected Media — 10min — Stone (2): An early version of the classic, based more on the 1902 stage musical than on the original novel. Black and white silent film with musical accompaniment and intertitles.

Saturday 9:30am

Dragonball Episodes 1 & 2 — Anime, Projected Media — 50min — Stone (2): Goku may be small, but he might be the strongest boy on the planet! Left alone after the death of his grandfather, he meets girl-adventurer Bulma by chance. Together they set off in search of the mysterious Dragonballs that, when brought together, can summon the mighty dragon who can grant any wish.

Saturday 10:00am

The Future of the City — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): What implications do current technologies and social trends have for the future of cities in North America? How might mass transit change? Might certain cities, or cities in certain regions, change in ways other cities might not be able to, or might not have to? What impact might flooding, droughts, changing weather patterns, lack of investment in infrastructure, migration patterns, and changing resource availability have? What are the implications for our daily routines?; Roger Dean, Fabrisse (m), Bill Frankenfield, Cristina Garmendia, Toni Lay

All About the Masquerade — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): For costumers of all levels who want to learn more or need a refresher, we will cover what to expect from registration through rehearsals, from stage ninjas through stage lights, and from the Green Room and Den Moms to the MC and the judges.; Ann Catelli, Byron P. Connell, Tina Connell, James Hinsey (m), Syd Weinstein

Punching Up the Action — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): You've got great characters and a decent plot but, somehow your actions scenes fall flat. How do you get the immediacy of a chase scene or the adrenalin of a knockdown, drag-out fistfight that's depicted so well in your head onto the printed page? At the same time, how do you keep the action engaging without going over the top and straight into cheesy? Listen as our panelists detail what makes effective, engaging action within a story and highlight examples of doing it well.; Jeffrey A. Carver, Jeanne Cavelos, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Charles E. Gannon, Gordon Linzner (m)

Volunteer Teaching Opportunities — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Many of us have unique skills and knowledge we would love to share… if we had the time and resources. Not everyone can take time off from their careers to become a professional teacher. How can the rest of us volunteer to teach others? And how can we gain the skills to become good teachers?; Forest Handford (m), Sheila M. Oranch, Bonnie Barlow Turner

Art Education — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Formal education of art in public schools has been declining. In the current conversations about the state of the economy, arts and art education are seen as extravagances. What could turn around that perception? What were the panelists' experiences in formal art training, and what would be needed to ensure the next generation of artists is adequately trained? How can the audience help?; Laura Amazeen-LaPlante, Sarah "Tashari" Morrison, Carsten Turner (m)

Reading: Dern, Nelson, & Silva — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Daniel P. Dern, Resa Nelson, and Richard A. Silva will read selections from their works.; Daniel P. Dern, Resa Nelson, Richard A. Silva

All About Kickstarter — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Kickstarter and similar websites have proven successful to get certain artistic endeavors (i.e., films, web series, comics, etc.) funded. What works, what doesn't, and what constitutes a major faux pas when using Kickstarter?; Bob Kuhn (m), Bart Leib, Ken Schneyer, Susan Soares, James "Coder Brony" Turner

Arisia's First E-Gaming Room — Gaming, Participatory Event — 7hr — Carlton (3E): Video Gaming! Includes many consoles and monitors for you to enjoy. Knowledgeable help from the GameUnderground staff to assist you at all times.

Disability and Fandom — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Many fen have disabilities, and they aren't always obvious to the outside world. Are these disabilities barriers to full participation in the fannish community? What can conventions do to make sure every fan gets the full convention experience? What can all fans do to help their fellow fen who need it?; Stephanie Clarkson, Jan Dumas, Jaime Garmendia (m), Selkiechick, JoSelle Vanderhooft

Making Stained Glass — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Come learn about doing stained glass and work on a small learning piece. Workshop materials fee is $5. There will only be very limited sign up at con in Program Nexus.; Corey Blumenthal, Mary Dumas (m)

Learn how to play — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Learn how to play a wide variety of games, taught by a rising star in the GM community, one Brian Hertel. Learn games like Dominion, 7 Wonders, Munchkin, Fluxx, and many more. Although this feature of the game room is aimed at teaching kids how to play, adults are welcome to play.

Zpocalypse — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 7hr — Harbor I (3E): Zpocalypse is a survival board game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland for 2–4 players. A combination of tactics, combat, resource management, charcter development, teamwork, and strategy are needed to survive the onslaught of Zpocalypse. Running every day in the convention, stop by our tables in gaming and have some Zombie killing fun.

A Gaslamp Grand Assault of Arms — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Characters in the perilous worlds of steampunk study a variety of martial arts. Whether to fight off ruffians, prepare for a duel at dawn, or try to fit into their fancy trousers for an upcoming ball, the people of our world's Victorian age did, too. Come experience the elegant weapons of a more civilized age—the Higgins Academy of the Sword's Grand Assault, an exhibition of authentic gaslamp martial arts.; Krista Baker, Gabrielle Belisle, Marc Belisle, Sandy Coyne, Charlie Davidson, Evan Davidson, Jeffery Forgeng, William Frisbee, Jess Gerrior, Stefan Herlitz, Alissa Innamorati, Dan Innamorati, David Innamorati, Sandie Innamorati, Amanda Kirk, Stephen Lu, Ken Mondschein, Chris Palagi, Dan Rossetti, Dave Scott, Jeff Turk, Kim Turk, Bryan Wexler

Ray Bradbury: A Retrospective — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Few golden-age authors were as beloved as Ray Bradbury, and his death last year was a loss keenly felt. Come discuss your favorite Bradbury works, the uniqueness of his authorial voice, and some of his lesser-known gems.; Susan Hanniford Crowley, Justine Graykin, Walter Hunt, Sonya Taaffe (m)

Raising Geeky Kids in a Non-Geeky World — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Raising geeky kids in a non-geeky world presents unique challenges. How do you encourage your little ones to follow in your geeky footsteps? How do you balance school and other structured activities with your and your child's interests? What can you do about bullying?; Bridget Joyce Boyle, Michele Weinstein, Sara Weinstein, Alan Wexelblat (m), Michelle Wexelblat

The Hunger Games — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): The film adaptation of The Hunger Games was a box office success but was it any good? Things sometimes get lost in the process of adaptation, but did they lose too much? Did the movie make sense if you hadn't read the book? What worked and what didn't? And are you ready for three more films (with Mockingjay set to be split in two)?; Aurora Celeste, Randee Dawn, Ed Fuqua, Don Sakers (m), Meg Westfox

How to Write Your Own Stories — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Got a story you're just dying to get out, but you can't quite seem to get it on paper? Or when you do, it just goes everywhere? We'll discuss the basics of writing your own story.; Melina M.Gunnett

Kamikaze Costuming — Fast Track, Panel — 4hr — Webster (2): Fabrics, Pins, Imagination! Come make your own costume. Then, show off your creation in the Masquerade tomorrow if you want.; Amanda Dings, Josephine Monreal, Persis L. Thorndike (m)

Make a Drum/Drum Circle Workshop — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Make your very own drum! If you want, you can use it in our own Fast Track drum circle.; Larry Morris

Belly Dancing for Beginners — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Belly dancing is a great form of exercise! Come learn some basic moves with us.; Samara Martin

Blood Drive — Events, Participatory Event — 6hr — Lobby (2): Pay It Forward! Arisia is once again joining with the Heinlein Society to run a Blood Drive. Saturday's collections are by the staff of Mass. General Hospital.

Dubstep Yoga — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 1hr 30min — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Dubstep yoga is a high-energy practice set to dubstep music. It is quick paced, invigorating and incorporates one or two moves from breakdance. No mat necessary, but bring it if you have one.; Dakota Freeman

Autograph—Doyle, Kirschbaum, & Martin — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Debra Doyle, Andrew Kirschbaum, and Gail Z. Martin.; Debra Doyle, Andrew Kirschbaum, Gail Z. Martin

Saturday 10:20am

Patlabor: The Movie — Anime, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): Patlabor is set in an alternate Tokyo in 1999 where robotic vehicles called 'Labors' are employed in heavy construction work. The movie follows a team within the Metropolitan Police, as they uncover a plot aimed at the Labor industry. As a powerful typhoon heads towards Tokyo, the 'Special Vehicles Section 2' must thwart the plans of a mad genius, or face thousands of berserk Labors. Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Subtitled, PG.

Saturday 10:30am

Traveller 5: Cirque — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): The Zhodani have again been pushed out of human space, but at great cost. The Third Imperium, and particular the Spinward Marches, can find a new normal. How is this done? Andii and Houke get a ship and hir entertainers an prepare a route from Rhylanor to Regina. The re-christened -Cirque- will bring live entertainment to twenty different worlds in celebration of life, peace, and an end to strife. That's the plan, anyway. There's an old Solamani saying about swamps and alligators…

The Jetsons: Good Little Scout — Media, Projected Media — 30min — Harbor III (3E): Scoutmaster George Jetson takes a troop of boy scouts to the moon and gets lost. Hilarity ensues.

Saturday 11:00am

Return to Ravnica Booster Drafts — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Triple Return to Ravnica Booster draft. Will be sanctioned if 8 or more people attend. $15 entry fee. You must buy the entry fee at the Pandemonium booth in the dealer's room and bring the receipt to the draft. Prizes will be in Return to Ravnica booster packs based on the number of attendees.

Salem Zouaves — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): In the nineteenth century, a military fashion craze swept Europe and the United States. Known as Zouaves, they were originally French-Algerian light infantry famous for their colorful Turkish uniforms, athletic precision drill, and ferocity with cold steel in battle. The Salem Light Infantry, an elite militia company from Salem, Massachusetts, went Zouave in April, 1861. This presentation will feature a demonstration in uniform of the bayonet-fencing drill practiced by the Salem Zouaves.; Caroline Bigelow, Kendra Brown, Tristan Brown, Laura Eisener, Sarah Goss, Hunter Heinlen, Paul Kenworthy, Don Kindsvatter, Mark Millman (m), Mark Nickerson, John O'Brien, Antonia Pugliese, Barbara M. Pugliese, Julia Pugliese, Lily Shafer, Lauren Stern, Monique Todd, Andy Volpe, Timothy Volpe, Amy West, Alexander Wurst, Karl Wurst, Nicholas Karl Wurst

The Movie Year in Review — Media, Panel — 1hr 30min — Harbor III (3E): Our annual look back at the year in SF, horror, and fantasy film. Our panel of experts will cover every theatrical release of 2012. Find out which ones are worth catching up with. Note: time for audience participation is reserved for the end of our panel's high speed review.; Dr.Chris, John Bowker, Garen Daly, Daniel M. Kimmel (m), Michael A. Ventrella

Saturday 11:30am

Science Year in Review — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): 2012 was a great year for science! SpaceX rendezvoused with the international space station, the Higgs Boson was discovered, Curiosity landed on Mars, IBM's Sequoia replaced the K computer as the world's fastest supercomputer, and so much more! Come learn about the greatest happenings and discuss the ramifications for the future.; Amy Chused, Jeff Hecht (m), Reese Jordan, Tom Wysmuller

Stage Presentation: A Minute or Less to Impress — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): A minute can seem so short when trying to put together a masquerade presentation, but it can feel like an eternity to the audience and judges. How do you use the time allowed to entertain the audience and wow the judges? Can it be done in less than 30 seconds?; Byron P. Connell, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Suford Lewis (m), Carol Salemi, Syd Weinstein

Sex, SF/F, & Racial Stereotypes — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): A discussion of the ways in which people of color are depicted in SF/F, and the sexual stereotypes that are often included in those characters. Is it really diversity when all you've included is a token character rife with harmful stereotypes? We will also discuss the roots of these tropes and why they're so popular.; Tananarive Due, Brandon Easton, Andrea Hairston, Mikki Kendall (m), Sabrina Vourvoulias

Paganism 101 — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): What does it mean to be pagan? What resources are available for pagans in their communities? Our panelists discuss how they came to their tradition, how paganism impacts their daily life, and what challenges and rewards they experience as a modern pagan.; Inanna Arthen (m), D. Cameron Calkins, Ken Gale, Sean Kane, Virginia Richards-Taylor

Artists as Entrepreneurial Heroes — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): It has been said by some that entrepreneurs in the arts are the hidden engines of the economy: the "unsung heroes". By nature entrepreneurial, artists—and the curators, gallery owners, small-press publishers and editors—who travel in their van have propelled the American economy through the Great Recession and its grouchy, spasmodic recovery. Is this true? How does the effect of the creative economy propagate through a community?; Loren Damewood, Cristina Garmendia, Heidi Hooper, Jacob Lefton, Daniel Rabuzzi (m)

Cambridge SF Workshop Flash Fiction Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): New works from the oldest extant professional SF/F writers group in New England.; Heather Albano, James L. Cambias, Elaine Isaak, Alexander Jablokov, Steve E. Popkes, Ken Schneyer, Sarah Smith

Convention Feedback 1 — ConComm, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Tell us what's going wrong early in the con when we might be able to fix a problem on the fly. (We don't mind hearing about what's going well either.); Jaime Garmendia, Lisa Hertel, Crystal Huff, Rachel L. Silber (m)

Rousing Chorus Songs — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): An open sing emphasizing songs—folk, filk, whatever—with uncommonly good choruses that really pull people in.; Michael Gibson, Angela Kessler, Jeremy H. Kessler (m), Ellen Kranzer

Stitch 'n' Bitch — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Like to work with fiber? Whether you knit, crochet, spin, or even do macramÃ©, we'd love to have you.; Aimee Bouchard, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, Hillary Sherwood (m)

More than One Way to Traumatize a Character — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Writers go to all the trouble of worldbuilding, developing a plot, and possibly even a conlang, but when it comes to giving female characters a background, so many authors just shrug and say "rape". This background of sexual violence is often portrayed unrealistically and is just there as sloppy shorthand. Dear authors: rape is not the only available trauma! What are some other ways authors can put characters in danger, or other traumas they can embed in their pasts?; Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Shira Lipkin, Daniel JosÃ© Older, Kiini Ibura Salaam, Trisha Wooldridge

Geeky Babes & Hunks: Physical Beauty and Fandom — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): The stereotype of the SF fan's physical appearance is one of awkwardness and unattractiveness. However, with the rise of the internet, cosplay, and coverage by such cable channels as G4, the public image of the fan has changed to include "hotness." What effect has this had on the average fan?; Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, PJ Letersky, Dr. James Prego, James Zavaglia, Eric Zuckerman (m)

Gender and Gaming — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): This panel seeks to explore how American views on gender roles affect what games we choose to play, and how we behave when we play. You know the stereotypes: men like violence and strategy, women like sparkles and community-oriented games. But what about gamers who don't fall into those categories—gamers who don't like what they're "supposed" to like, or who reject this binary entirely? Let's talk about how to make each other feel welcome, and rethink how we play together and what we enjoy.; Adam Lipkin, Maddy Myers, Jessa Phillips, Carolyn VanEseltine, Brianna Wu (m)

Autograph—Gannon, Long-Ewing, Sawicki — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Charles Gannon, Kimberly Long-Ewing, and Steve Sawicki.; Charles E. Gannon, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Steve Sawicki

Tactile Tour of the Art Show — Art, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Art Show (1E): The use of touch can stimulate the imagination and help complete your mental image of a work of art. This guided tour allows those with impaired vision access to selected art in the Art Show to do just that.; Fabrisse

Saturday 12:00pm

Small World — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): A crazy board game of world domination. Take control of races that are familiar but different every ame and vie against the other players for control fo the world that is too small for all of you.

Alien Wars — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): Join us for a miniature war game using US marines, German Bundeswehr, and the Bug Menace in a skirmish in order to obtain mineral resources on another planet. Ever want to feel like you're in something akin to Starship Troopers? Now's your chance.

The Alexandria Mystery — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): The Emperor has requested that you investigate a disappearance in Alexandria. You must find out the truth before the Minions of Neptune can hide it forever.

Baby, it's Cold Inside! — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Life in Alpha Complex has always been cold in the metaphorical sense, but now it's cold in the literal sense. In fact, it's bloody freezing! Whether due to commie sabotage, technical fault, or GM fiat, the temperature is dropping rapidly. Worse still, Friend Computer (usually a font of helpful information) either can't or won't acknowledge the problem. Even worse, the troubleshooters have been giving the treasonous mission of trying to stop everybody from freezing to death.

Mage Wars — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): The entire story of Westlock: Dark Prophets will be played out; 1 chapter per hour.

All-Star Superman — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 15min — Stone (2): While saving the crew of the first manned mission to the sun, Superman is poisoned by solar radiation. Dying, he decides to fulfill his lifelong dreams, while still saving the Earth from various threats. But when Lex Luthor reveals his latest plot to control the world, Superman must use his remaining strength to stop him. Animated PG-13

Sassafrass and Stranger Ways concert — Music, Concert — 2hr — Grand DE (1W): Sassafrass is a Pegasus Award-nominated a cappella filk group who perform original pieces with complex vocal harmonies. Stranger Ways is a dark modern folk band that plays traditional and original music with heavy harmonies and a macabre sense of humor.; Nat Budin, Brian Chin, Lila Garrott, Kara Hurvitz, Emily Lewis, Jenn Sagotsky, Jon Sagotsky, Brad Smith, Tili Sokolov, Ruth Wejksnora-Garrott, Sandry Wilkie

Cross-Step Waltz for Dummies — Music, Participatory Event — 1hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Learn this modern waltz form that can be danced to many non-traditional songs. This session is for those without couple dance experience. Flat or low-heeled shoes suggested, leather soles ideal. No partner needed.; Susan de Guardiola

Saturday 12:30pm

Baikonur (Second Showing) — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 35min — Harbor III (3E): Alexander Asochkov plays the part of a space-obsessed young man in a Kazakh nomad tribe. His family roams the desert, scavenging debris from space launches at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and he aids them by tracking them as they fall on his radio. The law says, "anything that drops from the sky we can keep," but when a beautiful French astronaut falls to earth in a space capsule there is a question. In the end, all of his dreams come true, but not the way he expected. In 35mm, subtitled.

Saturday 1:00pm

Roots of SF/F Design — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): What are the roots of "native" styles in futuristic and fantasy design and architecture? We hope to provide some insight for those who want to create design elements that follow styles illustrated in popular SF/F, like modernism in "DieselPunk" or Art Nouveau in fantasy art. It's interesting to see how certain futuristic styles used in film sets are actually set pieces that may predate the film considerably. So, if we want our atompunk rec room, where do we look for stuff?; Thomas Nackid, Mercy E. Van Vlack, Frank Wu (m), Guillermo Zeballos

Violence Against Women and Children in Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): A death or murder can be a dramatic plot point in a story, but mainstream comics seem to frequently target women and children. The violence has also become more graphic over the years. Does this affect our perception of women and children in the real world? How so?; Bob Chipman, Alexa Dickman, James T. Henderson Jr, Alex Jarvis (m), Lindsay Moore

Self-Publishing 101: Distribution Resources — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): There's an enormous interest in self-publishing through new tools such as the Amazon Kindle Store, CreateSpace, Smashwords, Lightning Source, and iBooks. This panel is a practical nuts-and-bolts guide to educating writers on how to self-publish their own work using these new venues. The discussion will include resources used in formatting your manuscript, royalties, distribution channels, a reality check on sales, and ways to self-market your own books.; Jeffrey A. Carver, Anna Erishkigal (m), Nicole Jurkowski, Don Sakers, Susan Soares

Being a Sex-Positive Parent — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): You want your kids to be open-minded, tolerant people. You want them to know they can be anybody they want to be and date whoever they want to date. You want to be open with them about your lifestyle… but how much is too much? Are there pitfalls to openly communicating about sexuality with your kids? Where is the balance between too little info and over-sharing? Come share ideas with other parents and discuss how to talk to your kids without squicking them out.; Bridget Joyce Boyle, Ken Olum, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Ian Cooper Rose (m)

Costume Documentation — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): How to document a costume for competition, from the most basic to the decorative and complicated. Learn how to wow the judges with your work.; Aurora Celeste (m), Tina Connell, Jennifer Old, Jamila Sisco, Abigail Weiner

Comic Reading — Comics, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Comic writers can do readings too with the help of visual aids. Come see and hear creators show off their work. Comics come alive with voice (and the occasional sound effect).; Alexander C. Danner, Rhea Ewing, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Everett Soares

Author Guests of Honor Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes read from a selection of their works.; Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due

Geeks and Music: Beyond Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): There are certain musical artists that seem to be consistently popular among geeky sorts beyond those artists that are directly referencing topics of interest. It makes sense that we would all listen to JoCo and Tom Lehrer, but what about all these Rush and Mountain Goats fans? Who are the artists "outside genre" that consistently appeal to the fandom audience and why is that? Who else should we be listening to?; Adam Fromm, Clyde Gilbert, Melissa Kaplan (m), Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

Beyond Dice and Hit Points — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): The basic game mechanics of D&D—dice, hit points, and character creation—have influenced many tabletop games and roleplaying systems to follow. What are some alternative, less well known ways to design the game? What happens when you remove hit points, dice, or even the character sheet?; James L. Cambias, Alex Feinman, Peter Maranci, Percival, Jonathan Woodward (m)

Improbable Research and the Ig Nobel Prizes — Science, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Harbor II (3E): Highlights from Ig Nobel prize-winning studies and patents as presented by luminaries and experts in dramatic mini-readings. Between presentations, members of the audience will be challenged to divine the intended purpose of diagrams from research papers.; Marc Abrahams (m), David Kessler

Hoodoo, Voodoo & the Bullshit That Authors Do — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): A discussion of the depiction of Santeria, Hoodoo, Voodoo, and other such practices. They are often co-opted and commodified by outsiders who don't respect them or the practitioners. Adding someone else's beliefs to your story to "spice" things up is a risky practice, especially when you don't have any connection to the community. We will also discuss oral traditions and why relying on books written by anthropologists instead of actual practitioners is a terrible idea.; Inanna Arthen, Andrea Hairston (m), Mikki Kendall, Daniel JosÃ© Older

Back in MY Day… Anime — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Anime and its related genres—manga and video games—have been exported since 1961. Kimba the White Lion or Astro Boy may bring up warm fuzzies for you, but there are many more from back in the day. Lupin III started life as a manga in 1967! Final Fantasy is more than 20 years old! A discussion of favorite oldies-but-goodies.; Patrick Delahanty, Mario Di Giacomo, Jeni Rae Duschak, Daniel Marsh, Mike Toole (m)

Worst Episode Ever — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Most long-running shows, no matter how popular, will occasionally broadcast a dud (or even awful) episode. Our panelists will share an array of examples of what the worst episode of a number of genre shows are, and why they're so terrible. What factors do these episodes have in common? Did any long-running shows manage to get to the end without broadcasting a stinker?; Debra Doyle, Adam Lipkin (m), David Nurenberg, Santiago Rivas, Mark "Justin du Coeur" Waks

Table Top RPG with Damien — Fast Track, Panel — 4hr 15min — Hancock (2): Back by popular demand, Damien is running another weekend long game. Come join in the fun!; Z. Quinn Ochs Thomas, Damien Turi (m)

Tales of Wonder and Magic — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): What happens when fairies grant a young boy his fondest wish? Can a girl outwit a King and solve his riddle? Join professional storyteller Danielle Schulman for these traditional tales and more.

Steampunk Make and Takes — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Steampunk Make and Takes! Let your imagination soar!; Comiku Girls, Li Izumi

Origami Fun — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Create paper animals, rockets, balls, or your own creation using the ancient art of Japanese paper folding. Bring your creation to the origami storytelling panel.; Andrew Anselmo

Magic Show Part 1 — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): A magic show for kids!; Daniel P. Dern

Nexus Elements LARP: Session 2 — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Grand C (1W): Nexus Elements, a place where magic is as common as might. On the Isles of the Forgotten King, the fairy folk run wild and humans are nothing but myth. It has now been a few years since Lady Carthairen was gifted the isle of Ashling, in the kingdom of Delben. Her island is still barely settled. Much of the wilderness seems to fight back against the taming of this land. She calls again for heroes new and old, offering gold as well as opportunity for new adventure! LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAY game. 16+

Cross-Step Waltz for Experienced Folk — Music, Participatory Event — 1hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Introduction to cross-step waltz for those who already have some dance experience (couple dancing, contra, etc.) Learn the basics and a few variations for this beautiful modern waltz form that can be danced to a wide variety of music. Flat or low-heeled shoes suggested, leather soles ideal. No partner needed.; Susan de Guardiola

Autograph—Dr. Chris, Easton, & Letersky — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Dr. Chris, Brandon Easton, and PJ Letersky.; Dr.Chris, Brandon Easton, PJ Letersky

Docent Tour with Roger Dean — Art, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Art Show (1E): Tour the Art Show with the Artist Guest of Honor, Roger Dean.; Roger Dean

Saturday 1:15pm

Nine Science Lecture Shorts — Science, Projected Media — 2hr 15min — Stone (2): Macroscale Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Locking, Digitizing the Universe, Genetic-Based Aging, Theory of Everything E8, Bonus 7.5 Minutes of Life, Biological Dark Matter, DARPA Nerds, and Computational Universe Singularity from www.ted.com.

Saturday 1:30pm

Circus Maximus — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): It's part ancient Rome, part demolition derby, part NASCAR, and part sorcery and divine intervention. A chariot race using Pathfinder rules. Come prepared with creative schemes and sly tricks to hinder your opponents and win the race.

Power Grid — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Think you've got what it takes to manage a power plant empire? Buy power plants, enter new markets, generate power and block your opponents. An all time favorite from Rio Grande Games.

Beware the Auditors — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Building security is the bane of every runners existence. Few and far between are the jobs that don't devolve into a firefight. At least this time you know what you are getting into, an agent of EE Security hires you for an internal 'audit'.

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Game of Thrones 2nd Edition — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Take on one of the roles of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as they vie for control of the Iron Throne through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Use strategic planning, masterful diplomacy, and clever card play to spread your influence over all of Westeros.

Saturday 2:00pm

Psyche Corp concert — Music, Concert — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Electro-Alternative World Music, possibly with polio virus DNA translated into percussion.; Michael Lunapiena, Robert Pruyn-Bush

Etheraz—Kingdom of the Flame Youth LARP — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Have you ever wanted to seek treasure and un-cover secrets of the universe? Battle brutal bandits, gruesome goblins and unworldly undead and slay dragons? Find your way through the dungeon and claim the ancient treasure? Now you can in a interactive theater world armed with sword and sorcery. Will you be Hero or Villain? Find the Philosopher stone and save the world or let the shadow of the great conjunction fall upon the lands of Etheraz forever! Youth LARP intended for ages 10–18!

Saturday 2:15pm

John Carter — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 12min — Harbor III (3E): Adapted from Burroughs' classic Princess of Mars, this is the gallant tale of a Virginian transplanted to Mars who comes to the aid of a beautiful princess of that beautiful planet. This film did poorly at the box office because nobody knew what it was. Fans know, though, and if you liked the book, you will be pleased with the adaptation. "It's a great film but Disney doesn't know how to sell it," says Daniel Kimmel. "I am not like other men," says John Carter.

Saturday 2:30pm

The Science of Food — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): A hundred years ago, Casimir Funk first described vitamins. Not only did he determine the structure of vitamin B1 (thiamine), but he put forth the hypothesis that diseases like rickets, pellagra, and scurvy could be cured by vitamins. In many ways we understand more than ever how what we eat affects our bodies, yet these diseases are on the rise again. Come discuss the wonderful world of vitamins, from the nutrition science to the kitchen table, and how these ideas have changed our lives.; Thomas A. Amoroso, Abby Hafer (m), Dr. James Prego, Virginia Richards-Taylor, David G. Shaw

Female Fandom in Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Women have always been reading comics and we're seeing more women becoming involved in the comics industry. This has brought female readers and characters to the forefront, but we're still seeing evidence of sexism and misogyny in mainstream comics despite the headway being made by these talented women. How do we as readers face these situations? What can be done to rectify them? Let's talk solutions, make observations, and discuss the comics that actually feature well-written women.; Alexa Dickman, Alisa Kwitney Sheckley, Donna Martinez (m), Lindsay Moore, Mistress Simone

Write What You Know? — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): "Write what you know" is an adage often aimed at beginning writers. Since it is unlikely that most SF/F writers have actually traveled through time, journeyed out of our solar system, or met a dragon, it would seem that writing what you know has a different meaning to those who write in genre fiction. How do you write what you know when what you want to write doesn't exist in the real world?; Charlene Brusso, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Craig Shaw Gardner

Poly 101: An Introduction — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): New to polyamory? Interested in exploring polyamorous relationships, or just want to find out what it's all about? This panel is the one to start with! Our panelists will tell you all about their adventures in polyamory, and what they've learned along the way.; Lila Garrott, Alan M., Shelley Marsh, Micah Schneider (m), S. Tulchinsky

Sewing Patterns: How to Use, Modify, and Draft — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Is it better to draft your own patterns or use purchased patterns and start from there? Which patterns are amazing, and which ones should you stay away from? Our panelists discuss using patterns, making your own patterns, and how to use mock-ups to create the a perfect fit.; Aurora Celeste, Kristina Finan (m), James Hinsey, Elaine Isaak, Sarah "Tashari" Morrison

Reading: Hairston, Pelland, & Silverman — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Andrea Hairston, Jennifer Pelland, and Hildy Silverman read selections from their works.; Andrea Hairston, Jennifer Pelland, Hildy Silverman

Avatar: Legend of Korra — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Come and discuss the sequel to the popular animated show, Avatar: The Last Airbender. What has changed, and was it for the best in this latest series?; Forest Handford (m), James T. Henderson Jr, Jamila Sisco, Elayna Jade Smolowitz, Susan Soares

Who, Me, a Songwriter? — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Thinking about writing songs of your own? Starting out with somebody else's tune means you just need to write the words. How do you write an effective lyric? What makes a parody stand out from the crowd? The panelists will share their songwriting tips and maybe write a lyric or two.; Nat Budin (m), Grant Carrington, Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

3D Printing: What's Next? — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): From industrial machines to home-made RepRap machines, 3D printers are becoming more and more common. This technology is currently being used to print not only parts for models but food, guns, and potentially human organs—what will the future hold? What would a society that can fabricate nearly anything from a stored image and base materials look like? How close are we to getting there?; James Bredt, Scott Lefton, Sparr Risher, Judah Sher, Bill "Dr. Crash" Yerazunis (m)

The Body of the Future — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): SF gives us a view of various future possibilities for human bodies. Whether through evolution, body modification, or genetic manipulation, the SF future holds a lot of possibilities. How do those possibilities reflect the concerns and biases of our current society?; Vylar Kaftan, Shira Lipkin, Resa Nelson, Meredith Schwartz (m)

Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): These resin dolls from Japan—and now Korea and China—are all the rage among collectors of all ages, but what are these dolls? Why are they finding a huge following when they cost more than $2,000 each?; Corey Blumenthal, Mary Dumas (m), Comiku Girls, Li Izumi, Bettina Kurkoski

Portal: Beyond the Cake — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): How does a game that started out as a side project by some kids playing around with the Half Life 2 engine, become a geek culture phenomenon? Why does an abandoned laboratory ruled over by a passive-agressive supercomputer resonate with us? Is it the perfect metaphor for life in 21st century America?; Andy Hicks (m), Maddy Myers, Margaret Ronald, Carolyn VanEseltine, Brianna Wu

What Do You Mean, 10 and Up? — Fast Track, Panel — 3hr — Hancock (2): Have you been playing board games that say "10 and up" since you were 6? Wish you had? Come play with us. We will teach and play some board games intended for adults but accessible to children with a facility for board gaming. Feel free to bring your own (reasonably short) games. Adults and age-qualified kids also welcome.; Ken Olum (m), Peter L. Thomas

The World of Ang and Korra — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Did you watch Avatar, the Last Airbender? Did you watch The Legend of Korra? What did you think? What do you like about each?; Nicole Robinson, Don Sakers (m)

The Black Box — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): How do you know something is there and what it looks like when you can't even see it? How do we know what atoms are and what they look like? Examine objects hidden in black objects with probes to figure out what they are. Then build your own black box, hide your own mysteries inside, and challenge each other.; Ian Schleifer

Bernoulli Derby — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Relay and individual competitions using air pressure to levitate pingpong balls levitation races. Fast trackers will be shown simple fabrication techniques and will have space to experiment on their own.; Melina M.Gunnett, Scott Wilhelm (m)

Autograph—Cooney & Tan — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with C.S.E. Cooney and Cecilia Tan.; C.S.E. Cooney, Cecilia Tan

Saturday 3:00pm

Intro to Blackjack — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Step up to the table and learn how to play a favorite game of many a gambler or brush up on your game.

Alien Wars — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): Join us for a miniature war game using US marines, German Bundeswehr, and the Bug Menace in a skirmish in order to obtain mineral resources on another planet. Ever want to feel like you're in something akin to Starship Troopers? Now's your chance.

Return to Ravnica Booster Drafts — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Triple Return to Ravnica Booster draft. Will be sanctioned if 8 or more people attend. $15 entry fee. You must buy the entry fee at the Pandemonium booth in the dealer's room and bring the receipt to the draft. Prizes will be in Return to Ravnica booster packs based on the number of attendees.

The Nightmare Before Christmas — Theater, Drama — 2hr 30min — Grand AB (1W): An amazing spectacle, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a new production in the Teseracte Players arsenal. This year's production is promising to be even better than before. Let Jack, Sally, and the rest of the cast transport you into the "holiday worlds of old."; Kevin Benoit, Nick Bento, Linda Brennan, Michael Lee Budlong, Karin Carlson, Eric Carter, Patrick Connelly, Sandy Cronin-Tassi, Evie Da Rosa, Kelly Davis, Ken Davis, Mimi Dietrich-Wu, Sara Dion, Becca Driver, Meg Farmer, Lauren Gray, David Hahn, Cody Hall, Ashley Haslam, David Jubinski, Agnes Kamasi, Amy Kreines, Amy Lake, Arthur Laurie, Ted Lynch, Glenn MacWilliams, James Mobius, Genna Rose, Roy Rossi, Alyssa May Smith, Tori Sviokla, A. J. Watts, Kevin Wynott, Amy Yampanis, Keith Yampanis

Saturday 3:30pm

Proper Ladies Meet Bawdy Ladies, or Of Vice & Men — Music, Concert — 1hr 15min — Harbor II (3E): A slightly, delightfully, schizophrenic concert with The Proper Ladies and their alter egos, The Bawdy Ladies. Victorian romance (The Quilting Party, Love's Old Sweet Song) followed by the bravado of 17th to 20th century ribaldry (Down Went the Captain, Mount & Go, Nine Times a Night)—all from a woman's point of view.; Deborah Goss, Anabel Graetz (m)

Dating Rules from My Future Self — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 5min — Stone (2): A girl gets romantic advice from herself ten years in the future via text message. Nine Web Episodes Season 1 with product placement funding PG-13

Saturday 4:00pm

Isaac Newton: The Last Magical Alchemist — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first modern scientists, but he viewed himself as an alchemist in the Middle Ages tradition. He believed that the natural laws were so ordained by God. On the other hand, he refused to believe in the Trinity, which made him avoid being ordained an Anglican minister. Let's take a look at some of Newton's rather surprising beliefs and superstitions.; James Bredt, Alexander Jablokov, A. Joseph Ross (m), Ian Schleifer

Victorian Costuming — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Victorian Fashion spans from 1837 to 1901, and during that time there were many changes in what people wore. From everyday clothing to formal wear to undergarments, learn about the progression of styles through the decades, as well as how it influences costuming and fashion today.; Lisa A. Ashton (m), Aurora Celeste, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Daniel Marsh, Jamila Sisco

Worldbuilding 101 — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Wonderland and Oz are huge fantasy worlds built by their creators. Whether they're based on actual history, alternate universes, or future colony planets, how do authors create such worlds? What are the building blocks? How does an author figure out the more mundane or intricate details, such as extraterrestrial ecology, alien languages, or what people like to eat?; Keith R. A. DeCandido, Tananarive Due, Felicitas Ivey, Suzanne Palmer

Poly 201: Theory and Practice — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Once you've learned about the basics, how do you make polyamory work in the real world? In this panel, we'll tackle some of the harder questions, such as: How do you tell your friends and family? Should you? How can you find people whose poly styles are compatible with yours? What if my partners don't like each other?; Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Santiago Rivas, Meredith Schwartz, Michelle Wexelblat, Jonathan Woodward (m)

Tom Fish Memorial — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Memorial gathering for Tom Fish, one of Arisia's Founding Five.

Reading: Janssen, Older, & Taaffe — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Victoria Janssen, Daniel JosÃ© Older, and Sonya Taaffe read selections from their works.; Victoria Janssen, Daniel JosÃ© Older, Sonya Taaffe

Forming a Musical Group — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): What are the pros and cons of a performing group vs. going solo? How do you form a group, and what does it require? Do you audition people or ask people you know? What if someone isn't working out? What if your group becomes the next hottest thing? What if…?; Nat Budin, Merav Hoffman, Vanessa Layne, Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan (m)

Filk 101 Song Circle — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Curious about Filk? Come to this interactive introduction and ask your questions or request songs. Find out if anyone knows a song based on your favorite author's work or about your favorite small furry animal. See how a song circle works.; Kate Farb-Johnson, Ellen Kranzer (m)

Cross Casting and Gender in Gaming — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): What are the challenges in casting across gender lines? How does one portray a gender different than one's own without falling back on preconceived notions or stereotypes? How does cross casting differ between LARPs, Tabletop, and video gaming? Why, in worlds where characters can be anything from a dragon to a genetically-engineered fruit bat, do gamers still fall back on male and female as the default roles?; Anna R. Bradley, Michael McAfee, Maddy Myers (m), Carolyn VanEseltine

Trans* and Gender Variant SF — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): How are trans* and gender variant characters represented in science fiction? How often are these characters introduced only for the purpose of examining the experiences of cisgender individuals? How often are these characters well-developed as the center of the narratives about themselves? What are common pitfalls? And how much research should an author do into the lives of real-world trans* and gender variant people before setting out to write gender variant SF?; Dash, Michelle D'Entremont, Julia Rios, Cecilia Tan (m)

20 Years of Sailor Moon — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): With a newly released manga that is selling very well, a new anime coming soon, and new merchandise on the market, Sailor Moon is ready to make a comeback. (Though did it ever really go away?); Donna Martinez, Dan Morris, Elizabeth O'Malley, Brianna Wu (m)

Doctor Who at 50 — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): The Doctor is celebrating his 50th anniversary this year. What explains the long-lasting popularity of this character, through numerous recastings? Who are the classic Doctors, and who are the outstanding modern examples? How does one come into the series as a newbie? Let's celebrate a half century of Doctor Who and welcome new fans into the fold.; Bridget Joyce Boyle, Samantha Dings, Andy Hicks, Toni Lay (m), Gordon Linzner

Bedtime Stories That End Badly — Fast Track, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Bad children don't listen to their parents and come to a bad end.; Daniel P. Dern

Cartooning & Comic Creating — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Learn how to draw cartoons and construct a comic.; Mercy E. Van Vlack

I've Got All the Balls in the Air, Now What? — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Juggling for Kids; for both first time and experienced jugglers.; Adam Fromm

Flying High with Paper — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Paper, paper everywhere! Come and learn how to make paper airplanes!; Lisa Hertel

Autograph—Cambias, Hunt, & Kimmel — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with James Cambias, Walter Hunt, and Daniel M. Kimmel.; James L. Cambias, Walter Hunt, Daniel M. Kimmel

Saturday 4:30pm

Firefly — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Come out into the black and join the crew of a firefly vessel. Folks come for different reasons but have all arrived at the same place.

Shard — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): You are all crewmembers of an airship bringing a diplomat to a fellow kingdom. All you need to do is make sure everything goes smoothly and you'll be fine.

Saturday 4:35pm

UnAired Pilot—The Big Bang Theory — Media, Projected Media — 24min — Stone (2): Unaired version contains raunchier themes about our favorite sitcom physicists. A life without Penny. PG-13

Saturday 4:45pm

Bozo the Clown and the Space Pirates — Media, Projected Media — 10min — Harbor III (3E): Bozo the Clown and his young friend wander into a spaceship, mistaking it for a diner. They are taken to another planet where Bozo explains that he does not "dig that space talk." Do they escape from the grips of spacemen with zap rays? Do they ever get a chocolate malted? Watch this animated short and find out. In 16mm, B&W.

Saturday 5:00pm

Hallucinating Shakespeare — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): A euphoric spoken word show on the politics of the Plays—stage malfunction, cheap special effects, baseball chatter as iambic pentameter, and what if Romeo had checked his voicemail?; Michael Anderson

Crack In the World — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 36min — Harbor III (3E): This 1965 SF classic involves two scientists fighting over the safety of a geothermal energy project as well as the woman they both love. Dana Andrews and Janette Scott race against time to battle a crack in the earth's crust as it threatens to split the world apart. The special effects were unparalleled for their time and still hold up today, and we have a beautiful Technicolor print.

SchrÃ¶dinger's Girl — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 25min — Stone (2): Rebecca is a disgraced scientist carrying out illegal experiments to find parallel universes. Her counterparts in neighboring universes are also working on the same problem, but they but they have their own agendas and things get out of hand. PG-13

Saturday 5:30pm

Future Directions in Personal Computing — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Technology is becoming more invisible as it becomes embedded into smaller and more individual devices. Where desktop units were the norm, now the need for a laptop is questioned as phones and tablets do more. We expect our machines to deliver what we want when we want it, in spite of what that might mean for our privacy. Do operating systems matter anymore? Will we disappear into augmented realities? Will it be possible to live a disconnected life? Is Robot-Human Interaction the next big thing?; Alex Feinman, Jeff Hecht, David Larochelle (m), James "Coder Brony" Turner, Mark "Justin du Coeur" Waks

Fanfiction: Where to Find It and What It Means — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): You've gotten into a really great book/movie/tv show/game, and there's just not enough of it in the world. How do you find the stories, written by fans, that expand your favorite universe? Why do some fandoms get thousands of stories and others don't? And what the heck is slash? In this panel, we'll look at places to find stories (Archive of Our Own, fanfiction.net, livejournal communities, etc.), talk about types of stories that can be found, and have a general discussion of fandom mores.; Michelle D'Entremont, Anna Erishkigal, Fabrisse (m), Mimi Noyes, Cecilia Tan

Promoting Your Book — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): What works in promoting a book? Do book signings really help a small author? Are bookmarks and/or postcards effective at garnering attention? Does a blog help or hurt an author? Does an author have to have a website? How do you find good reviewers? What tactics do not work? What methods might work for an established author that wouldn't work for a beginner?; Kelly Hashway, Elaine Isaak (m), Gail Z. Martin, Susan Soares, Michael A. Ventrella

Flirt Like a Pro — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Flirting, like any skill, can be learned and gets better with practice. Our panel of experts are here to help! They will discuss and maybe even demonstrate ways to flirt like a pro, and what never to do under any circumstances!; Reese Jordan, Dr. James Prego, Cheryl Wallace, Jonathan Woodward (m)

Casting for Costuming — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Learn how to make a mold and cast gems, plastic objects, and foamy items. There are many types of molds and casting materials out there, so find out what will work best for your project. Includes on-the-spot demonstrations.; Dawn Albright, Aurora Celeste (m), Christa Newman, Jamila Sisco

Reading: Eldredge & Salaam — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Genevieve Iseult Eldredge and Kiini Ibura Salaam will read selections from their works.; Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Kiini Ibura Salaam

Inspired By — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Our panelists will discuss the authors and stories that most inspired them to become authors themselves, as well as other influences on their work.; Vikki Ciaffone, C.S.E. Cooney, Tananarive Due, Greer Gilman, Walter Hunt (m)

Making a Video Game 101 — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Carlton (3E): Though you've played video games, you've never really been sure how one gets made. How does a game go from concept to code to finished product? How is it marketed and distributed? Come talk with people who've worked in the industry and find out what makes a video game.; Vylar Kaftan, Carolyn VanEseltine, Brianna Wu (m)

Singing for Non-Singers — Music, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Anabel Graetz has taught thousands of people to sing. This beginning workshop is limited to 30 students.; Anabel Graetz

Art Exchange Prep 1 — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Take some time out to sit and chat with other attendees while you create small art projects to take home, or exchange on Monday at the Maker Fair. Possibilities include Artist Trading Cards, small knitted or crocheted projects, and small jewelry projects.; Shira Lipkin, Julia Rios, Judah Sher

Zpocalypse — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): Zpocalypse is a survival board game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland for 2–4 players. A combination of tactics, combat, resource management, charcter development, teamwork, and strategy are needed to survive the onslaught of Zpocalypse. Running every day in the convention, stop by our tables in gaming and have some Zombie killing fun.

Greatest History Never Altered — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Poul Anderson wrote a time travel story in which changing some of the finer details of the Punic Wars altered history beyond recognition, but most writers tend to stick to historical events more familiar to the readers. What other historical events would bring about interesting alternate histories? What does it take to change a more obscure historic event?; Mark L. Amidon, Christopher K. Davis (m), Lila Garrott, Dennis McCunney, Ken Schneyer

Anime Cons: Behind the Scenes — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Seasoned anime convention staffers discuss how much work it actually takes to put on a successful con. Perfect for people who are interested in staffing or volunteering for cons in the future. You're sure to hear some amazing horror stories from cons gone wrong and the lessons learned as well.; T. Christopher Davis, Patrick Delahanty (m), Jeni Rae Duschak, PJ Letersky, Richard Ralston

Everything's a Reboot — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Hollywood loves a franchise. Sometimes, though, the franchise doesn't launch (as with The Green Lantern). Other times they simply recast and start over, or give us younger versions of the characters. The current crop of reboots include X-men, Star Trek, James Bond, and Spiderman. The Hulk has been rebooted twice. Superman is being set for another reboot. When is enough enough? Do viewers enjoy endless variations of their favorite characters?; Garen Daly, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Troy Minkowsky, Steve Sawicki, JeffWarner (m)

Autograph—Brennan & Vourvoulias — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Adrianne Brennan and Sabrina Vourvoulias.; Adrianne Brennan, Sabrina Vourvoulias

Saturday 6:00pm

Jailbreak! — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 5hr — Harbor I (3E): You're a supervillain locked up in Gramercy Island, a maximum security prison designed to contain the most notorious and dangerous supervillains. However, a catastrophic hurricane has cut of power to the area for days, causing systematic failures throughout the prison. Now's your chance to escape! Can you and your 'comrades' escape Gramercy Island?

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Belly Dance Show — Events, Concert — 2hr — Grand DE (1W): The belly dancers return again to Arisia! From Star Trek to Firefly, science fiction has long been entranced by the shimmying undulations of belly dance. Join us as belly dancers explore brave new worlds of geeky belly dance fusion, featuring inventive performances from some of the Milky Way's finest dancers!; Cindy Arias, Greta Biedermann, Tamsyn Bindal, Manuela Birner, Laura Blake, Laura Ceredona, Eve Marie Eells, Rachel Gabriel, Regina Harrison, Audrey Jackson, Samara Martin (m), Katrina Meyer, Jennifer Pelland, Lauren Shamitz-Crooks, Bevin Victoria Solmon, Maura Sullivan, Angelina Vono, Angela Wimmer

Saturday 6:25pm

Star Dreamer — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 50min — Stone (2): Documentary about a visual wizard and a fantastic legacy of films which transformed and influenced the science fiction genre as we know it. Pavel Klusjantsev, a fantastic inventor and dreamer whose destiny was intimately linked with the Space Race and the whims of the Soviet dictatorship. PG 2002

Saturday 6:45pm

The Big Bounce — Science, Projected Media — 15min — Harbor III (3E): This AT&T-produced documentary from 1960 details the first man-made communications satellite, Echo. It's got footage of some details that get neglected today, and some discussion of the future of communications. In 35mm with amazing Technicolor.

Saturday 7:00pm

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Statistics are held to have a great deal of value for various purposes, but how reliable are they? How can they be skewed to show what a certain group wants? Exactly how big a grain of salt should we be taking with it all? Come listen to our panelists separate the facts from the fiction about statistics and how they are portrayed in the popular media.; Abby Hafer, Bob Kuhn (m), David Larochelle, Ian Schleifer, Syd Weinstein

Wonder Woman — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): The Amazing Amazon's book has been the critics' choice for best New 52 book and has stirred up a lot of controversy for old and new fans alike.; Ed Fuqua, Jaime Garmendia, Woodrow "asim" Hill, Donna Martinez (m), Mercy E. Van Vlack

Point of View — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): The use of different points of view can reveal or obscure elements of your story from the audience. Do certain points of view only work with certain types of stories? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each form?; Charlene Brusso, Mary Catelli, Debra Doyle, Alex Lidell, Joy Marchand (m)

Self-Objectification and the Geeky Girl — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Can geek girls only get attention when they dress sexy? Why do we see so many Leias in the gold bikini and not the white robe? Are corsets, thigh highs, and scantily-clad cosplay empowering self-expression or simply pandering to the male gaze? Can a geeky girl hold her own in jeans and a t-shirt?; Aurora Celeste, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Paula Lieberman, Shelley Marsh, Maddy Myers, Brianna Wu (m)

So You Want to Run a LARP? — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Maybe you've played in a LARP or three, or maybe you've only just learned about it. Now you want to run your own LARP. Where do you start? How do you recruit players and assistants? Where do you find a space? How much writing do you really have to do?; Anna R. Bradley, Nat Budin, James T. Henderson Jr, Rachel Morris (m), Michael A. Ventrella

Reading: Hashway, Nurenberg, & Ronald — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Kelly Hashway, David Nurenberg, and Margaret Ronald will be reading selections from their works.; Kelly Hashway, David Nurenberg, Margaret Ronald

Song Contest: Doom, Gloom, and Despondency — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): This is a serious, formal, thematic, judged song contest. Attendees are expected to maintain a solemn aspect (e.g., dark clothes, long face, and soft, respectful speech). In the event of a breach of decorum (e.g., laughter), the offender will be evicted for the duration of the current song—and the singer will receive bonus points. Contestants should sign up in advance at Program Nexus.; Michael Gibson (m), Jeff Keller, Angela Kessler, David Kessler, Jeremy H. Kessler

Dueling Easels with Roger Dean — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Come and encourage Artist GOH Roger Dean and artist Bob Eggleton as they attempt to create the 'best' picture depicting our Writer GOH's books. The results of this endeavor will be auctioned at the Art Show; come and bid!; Roger Dean, Bob Eggleton

Introduction to Tabletop Roleplaying — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Are you new to tabletop role-playing or want to learn more about it? It's easy to be overwhelmed by the complicated rules systems, finding a like-minded group of people to game with, and all those weird-looking dice! What systems are better for newer players? Our panel of experienced gamers will answer questions and make recommendations to start running or playing in a game, and how to make your games better.; W. "Ian" Blanton, Andrew Kirschbaum, Brian Liberge (m), Peter Maranci

Blackjack Tournament — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Try your luck for bragging rights at the Arisia Blackjack Tournament. This is the standard version of 21 (no lucky 7's, queens, nor Spanish 21). Tournament rules are available in the game room.

Rails of New England — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): Designed by Arisia's own Walter Hunt, Rails of New England is a historically accurate game of making money in the 19th century. Buy businesses, and build your railroad to improve them and take advantage of the many ways to gain assets.

Power Point Karaoke — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Everyone has BS'd their way through a presentation or two, but are you ready to take it to the next level? Come watch or take part in an improvisational game show where each participant presents a slide deck so carefully assembled by our certified Applied Rhetorical Scaffolding Expert Speakers that it won't matter that they've never seen them before!; Brad Smith

NASA Vortex Research — Science, Projected Media — 15min — Harbor III (3E): Aircraft leave a wake behind them just like boats do. Although you can't see the wake, it can cause havoc with other aircraft in the vicinity, especially during take-off and landing. NASA has long been doing research into how to reduce wakes and prevent these problems. Film provided by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. 16mm.

Innovation Starvation? — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Neal Stephenson wrote an essay called "Innovation Starvation" saying that we're suffering from a lack of innovation. In the last century, science fiction authors like Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein provided inspiration to researchers and engineers. Neal Stephenson proposes that it's up to the current generation of SF authors to provide similar inspiration for future inventors. Are we suffering from Innovation Starvation? If so, what can we do about it?; James L. Cambias (m), Alexander Jablokov, Alan Wexelblat, Stephen R. Wilk

Fannish Disaster Prepardness — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): In this Arisia favorite, we'll discuss ways to protect what's important to you from random acts of disaster. How do I protect my books from flooding? What foods should I keep on hand, other than Mountain Dew and Twinkies? What else should go in a disaster kit? Is renters insurance worth buying? Come learn how to prepare yourself for when the alien cyborg zombies come!; T. Christopher Davis (m), Anna Erishkigal, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, James D. Macdonald, Carsten Turner

Crafting Spirits: Home Brewing and Distilling — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Home brewing and distilling have exploded in popularity in recent years. Come learn the difference between an ale and a lager, or a vodka and a gin. Discuss brewing techniques, trade recipes, and share stories. Sampling must be saved for your hotel room!; Stephanie Clarkson (m), Sean Dixon-Gumm, Ian Cooper Rose, Jude Shabry

LARP Adventure Program: Faros — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Grand C (1W): Deep space travel and extended life have been obtained but not without a price. Most of the home planet has been destroyed by radiation storms. Resources have become paramount. Material, information and data exchange control the worlds known to man. Industries are playing upon the chessboard of a multiple star systems industry with planets as the pawns. Your adventure starts on a Faros space station orbiting a black hole. Inspired by the works of Gibson, Dick, and Herbert. 18+

Saturday 7:20pm

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 1hr 32min — Stone (2): SyFy Pilot Web version—The adventures of young William Adama in the First Cylon War. (2013) PG-13, unrated version coming on DVD Feb. 2013

Saturday 8:00pm

Emerald Rose Concert — GOH, Concert — 2hr — Grand AB (1W): Join Celtic Folk Rockers and Musical GOH's Emerald Rose for a Saturday night party as they play their Hobbit Dance Set of high energy, Celtic Rock inspired traditional and original music. This set will feature their most boisterous music, including their wacky geek songs, so come ready to party! Get ready to throw down Celtic style with the band that rocks the hobbits!; Clyde Gilbert, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

Saturday 8:30pm

Zombies: Victims of Parasites? — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): The idea of zombies is terrifying, with puppet-like mannerisms fueled by incomprehensible urges that seem contrary to nature. Strangely, this is more common than you might believe. From parasitic fungi that causes "zombie ants" to "voodoo wasps" injecting their offspring into termites, many parasites can affect the health and behavior of the host. Could infection by parasites be at the root of human behavior and even mental illness? What does that mean about the plausibility of real zombies?; James L. Cambias, Gordon Linzner (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Richard Stallman

Race, Gender, and Disability in Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): How have politics influenced comics? What can't you believe saw print? Conversely, how do politics affect the writers, artists, and editors who publish our beloved books?; Alexa Dickman, Brandon Easton, Jaime Garmendia (m), Woodrow "asim" Hill, Dan Morris

Plot and Structure — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): It is often remarked that there are only six original plots. How then do you make the plot of your story stand out? How is plot used to make a story come together coherently? Our panelists will discuss how to make a story come together as a whole.; Jeffrey A. Carver (m), Charles E. Gannon, Elaine Isaak, Alex Lidell, Gail Z. Martin

Negotiation and BDSM — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Whether you're into hard limits, soft limits, or just curious, finding a new play partner can be very exciting. However, before you get to the fun, come get some ideas for how to best negotiate that scene. Learn some skills on how to talk to your partner about what your fantasies might be—and what boundaries not to cross. Consent is sexy!; Michelle Driscoll, Reese Jordan, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Percival (m), Michelle Wexelblat

The New Board Game Classics — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Some board games are multi-generational classics. Monopoly, Scrabble, and Risk still play as well as ever after over half a century. Fifty years from now, what up-and-coming games will be the new classics?; Christopher K. Davis, Walter Hunt, Vylar Kaftan, Adam Lipkin (m)

Reading: Handford, Redick, & Vourvoulias — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Forest Handford, Robert V.S. Redick, and Sabrina Vourvoulias read selections from their works.; Forest Handford, Robert V.S. Redick, Sabrina Vourvoulias

Sandman's 25th Anniversary — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Neil Gaiman's Sandman was a comic that not only helped change the way comics are made, but was also one of those books that helped changed the public's perspective on comics in general. This year brings the series' 25th anniversary, and Gaiman is bringing to light a piece of the story that's been long missing. Come discuss one of the works that put the spotlight on DC's Vertigo line.; Ed Fuqua, Glenn Hauman, Alisa Kwitney Sheckley, Donna Martinez (m), Little Mel

Pick, Pass, Play Open Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Open Filking continues.; Ellen Kranzer

How to Go Pro as a Maker — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Interested in turning your hobby into your profession? Come hear from our panelists who have done just that as they cover everything from raising funding to forming an LLC.; Bill Frankenfield (m), Judah Sher

Devo Spice I — Music, Concert — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Devo Spice performs the comedy-rap songs that have made him one of the most requested artists on the Dr. Demento Show. Topics include technology, computers, Doctor Who, the 1980's, and more.

Speculative Poetry Reading — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Join us for a speculative poetry reading! The poets don't bite, but some of the poems do.; Erik Amundsen, Grant Carrington, C.S.E. Cooney, Merav Hoffman, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Shira Lipkin (m), Julia Rios, Sonya Taaffe, Trisha Wooldridge

Cyborgs, Identity, and Ghost in the Shell — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Batou exercises even though he doesn't have to, the Major maintains an exaggeration of her original gender, and the Tachikoma in the end achieve a transient state of group humanity. What would it mean if Chief Aramaki were a full-body cyborg? An avalanche of ideas about Transhumanism, and Oscar Pistorius is just the first pebble.; T. Christopher Davis, Richard Ralston, Mike Toole (m), JeffWarner, Bill "Dr. Crash" Yerazunis

Bad Superhero Films — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): The success of The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises might make us forget that not every superhero works. Some of them are pretty bad: Batman and Robin, Catwoman, Daredevil, Supergirl, Green Lantern… What causes a superhero movie to fail, and how many reboots are we willing to sit through?; Howard G. Beatman, John Bowker, Bob Chipman (m), Craig Shaw Gardner, Troy Minkowsky

Saturday 9:00pm

Game of Thrones 2nd Edition: Dance of Dragons — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): A Dance With Dragons is the first expansion for the Game of Thrones board game. Includes 42 alternate House cards and an alternate set-up to reflect each House's position in Westeros.

First Spaceship On Venus — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 25min — Harbor III (3E): This 1960 East German-Polish co-production is based on a Stanislaw Lem story, and holds up surprisingly well. After alien magnetic media are found in debris left from the Tunguska Meteor, the experimental Kosmostrator spaceship is sent to Venus to investigate the source. With a crew as international as the Enterprise, they find what seems to be an invasion plan. Surprisingly, this film is free of heavy-handed propaganda and has effects, sets, and plot that were quite advanced. In 35mm.

God's Puzzle — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 14min — Stone (2): Tokyo university students team up to unlock the secrets of the universe and to build one of their own. Contains mature Quantum Mechanical language and romance. Directed by Takashi Miike. 2008, PG-13, subtitled.

Saturday 9:30pm

Game Show: In-Character Speed Dating — Fan Interest, Interview — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Contestants (one pair at a time) interview each other in front of an audience, and the audience (not the contestants) rate the success of the match. You may choose any character you like—from history, literature, cinema, or your own fevered imagination—but plan to remain in character throughout. Costumes are encouraged. Best matches win lunch together at hotel restaurant.; Alex Newman (m), Liz Turi

Saturday 10:00pm

Animals that Defy Intelligent Design — Science, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): In this PowerPoint presentation, speaker Abby Hafer presents some of the wonderfully weird results of evolution, showcasing animals that no rational designer would have come up with. Is their very existence an affront to many areas of human philosophy and religion? Come learn, think critically, and decide for yourself!; Abby Hafer

Creating Minicomics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Minicomics are a great DIY way of making comics with very minimal requirements, and a popular way of getting started in the indie comics scene. There's a lot of material for discussion: comparing and contrasting with webcomics, different methods and genres of comic storytelling, the 24-Hour Comic movement, and local creators. Boston has a number of mini creators and several comic shops that sell minis.; E. J. Barnes (m), David Marshall, Dan Morris, Richard A. Silva

Adult vs. YA SF/F — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): What is the same and what is different about writing SF/F for adults versus writing it for young adults? What are the current trends in Adult and YA SF/F, and do they influence one another?; Ed Fuqua, Mikki Kendall, Alex Lidell, Sarah Smith (m)

Getting Started in the Public BDSM Scene — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): So you enjoy kink and think it might be fun to step out of the bedroom and meet others who share your interests. How can you find your local BDSM groups? Once you've found them, what should you expect… and how should you behave?; Michelle Driscoll, laurel, Lawrence "LORDLNYC" Nelson, Percival (m), Ian Cooper Rose

The Transit of Venus — Science, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): 2012 saw the last Transit of Venus. Unless you venture far into space, no one alive today will ever see another. What do England's Captain Cook, Mason & Dixon, and Edmond Halley have in common? Find out how we first zeroed in on the size of the solar system, and much more! Some fascinating NASA video clips will be included!; Tom Wysmuller

Reading: Crowley, Dawn, & Sawicki — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Susan Hanniford Crowley, Randee Dawn, and Steve Sawicki read selections from their works.; Susan Hanniford Crowley, Randee Dawn, Steve Sawicki

Running Great Games — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): How do you keep players engaged in a game? How do you manage different kinds of role-players and types of play? What about interruptions like roommates and smartphones? Share your secret techniques and best practices for running role-playing games (and other moderated games) that keep players coming back for more.; Steven Hammond, Andrew Kirschbaum, Brian Liberge, David Nurenberg (m), Michael A. Ventrella

Theme Circle: Chantey Sing — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Songs of sailing in all forms, with an emphasis on work songs from the age of sail. Open sing. Fun for all!; Michael Gibson (m), Jeff Keller, David Kessler, Jeremy H. Kessler

Arduino For Beginners — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Arduino is a popular, open-source, single-board microcontroller designed to make the process of using electronics in multidisciplinary projects more accessible. Interested in Arduino, but not sure where to start? This panel will introduce you to the basic concepts, give you ideas for future projects, and tell you where to go to learn more.; Sparr Risher, Bill "Dr. Crash" Yerazunis (m)

Morally Ambiguous Characters — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): What genre characters, either YA or adult, break out of being able to be labeled "good" and "evil"? What characters are labeled good or evil, but are actually more ambiguous in spite of their label? How do we respond to them as readers, and what challenges do they provide for writers?; Erik Amundsen (m), Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Robert V.S. Redick, Meredith Schwartz, Sonya Taaffe

The Voice of the Machine — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): What should a computer voice sound like? HAL 9000? GLaDOS? Majel Barrett? The Red Queen? The "thermostellar trigger" from Dark Star? A 1980's toy? Should computers have a distinct accent or none at all? Should there be a telltale so you know you're talking to a computer? What works and what doesn't, in media and in real life?; Bob Kuhn (m), Paula Lieberman, Michael McAfee, Dr. James Prego

A History of Horror Films — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): There are horror movies that are clearly SF and those that are not. What are the great horror films through the decades? How does one decide whether something is horror or SF, or both? Do today's horror films go too far with gore and sadism, or are they following historic patterns? No chainsaws will be permitted during the discussion.; Dr.Chris, Adam Lipkin (m), Misty Pendragon, Mistress Simone, Timothy J. Tero

Boston By Night—Mind's Eye Theater LARP — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Grand C (1W): The night is dark, and full of terrors; a quote from another fantasy genre but nonetheless accurate in Vampire: the Masquerade. In these nights of YouTube, iJournalism and Twilight, the Masquerade is thinner than ever. What is the modern vampire to do when a torch-wielding mob shows up on his doorstep? Has the Camarilla become an impediment to the Kindred it was created to protect?

Dance Club—Video Room — Music, Participatory Event — 5hr — Grand DE (1W): Get your groove on. In our second room, we're serving up downtempo, triphop, and other sexy beats, perfect for dancing, or for folks who just want to sit down, chill out, and relax. While you stretch out and cool your heels, behold our two projection screens! We'll be showing amusing and unexpected sci-fi clips to enjoy along with the music.

Dance Club—Main Room — Music, Participatory Event — 5hr — Commonwealth BC (1W): This year, we're changing it up! Come experience TWO dance floors, FIVE DJs, and a cash bar & lounge to get you lubricated: bring cash and ID if you wish to drink. The DJs' sets will change every hour, on the hour, to keep things fresh. The main room features high-energy music and dazzling lights to wake you up and get you rockin'.; Matt Bosse, Ian Waner Lippincott, Alexan Mardigian, Peter G. Nelson Jr., S. Tulchinsky

Saturday 10:45pm

ST:TOS: Space Seed — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 15min — Harbor III (3E): Captain Kirk, in an attempt to find someone who can overact even worse than he does, revives Khan Singh, a refugee from the Eugenics Wars of the 1990s who is played by the staggeringly arch Ricardo Montalban. If you have seen Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, you need to watch this to understand all the backstory. Presented in 16mm from original network print.

Saturday 11:00pm

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): Billy faces the "evil me" to win the girl of his dreams while his evil alter ego, Dr. Horrible, struggles to prove himself to his evil peers. The Teseracte Players bring this internet comedy to life with larger than life characters and their usual Teseracte flair!; Kevin Benoit, Nick Bento, Linda Brennan, Michael Lee Budlong, Karin Carlson, Eric Carter, Patrick Connelly, Sandy Cronin-Tassi, Evie Da Rosa, Kelly Davis, Ken Davis, Mimi Dietrich-Wu, Sara Dion, Becca Driver, Meg Farmer, Lauren Gray, David Hahn, Cody Hall, Ashley Haslam, David Jubinski, Agnes Kamasi, Amy Kreines, Amy Lake, Arthur Laurie, Ted Lynch, Glenn MacWilliams, James Mobius, Genna Rose, Roy Rossi, Alyssa May Smith, Tori Sviokla, Joye Thaller, A. J. Watts, Kevin Wynott, Amy Yampanis, Keith Yampanis

Saturday 11:15pm

Dreams With Sharp Teeth — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 1hr 35min — Stone (2): A documentary on speculative fiction writer and essayist Harlan Ellison, with Robin Williams and Neil Gaiman. 2008 R (language of course)

Saturday 11:30pm

Fun With Rope — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): One of the first things that comes to mind when you think about BDSM is rope. Come learn about rope bondage, from basic knots to some of those pretty harnesses you've seen around. No previous experience necessary! You don't even need a partner. 18+ Only.; D. Cameron Calkins, Percival (m), Sparr Risher

Death in Gaming — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): The consequences of death vary greatly from game to game. Almost every gamer ends up getting killed and having to deal with the death of their character. How do various systems treat death—are there differences between formats (video, tabletop, LARP, etc.)? Are there common depictions of Death as a character?; Andrew Kirschbaum, Rachel Morris (m), Michael A. Ventrella, Scott Wilhelm

Unmoderated Open Filk — Music, Panel — 5hr 45min — Griffin (3E): Open Filk descends into chaos. Music will continue as long as people are interested.; Elizabeth Birdsall

Make a Scale Flower — Maker, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Make colorful aluminum flowers using chainmail techniques and supplies used for scale-mail armor. Materials fee $5. Sign up in advance at Program Nexus.; Ket Melissa Waters

Changing Face of Fiction: Diversity and Backlash — Literature, Panel — 1hr — Otis (2): There's been a lot of talk about race, racism, and representation in fiction. Some say these real life issues have no place in what is meant to be an escape from reality, while others want to see characters that look like them as part of their escapism. Is a future with no diversity really an escape? What are we escaping from, and what is inescapable regardless of venue?; Dash, Brandon Easton, Andrea Hairston, Daniel JosÃ© Older (m)

What Anime is New Now? — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): This panel is a review and discussion about what nifty series have come out in the last year or two. About each series: What makes it nifty? What are the novel themes that it explores? Does it have particularly good characterization? Is the art and animation better than expected?; Richard Ralston (m), Mike Toole

The Exorcist at 40 — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): William Friedkin's film adaptation of The Exorcist shocked the nation 40 years ago. What was it about this film of a young girl possessed by a demon that grabbed audiences? Treated as a mainstream film rather than a genre piece, it demonstrated audiences would go to a well-made film that asked them to suspend their disbelief. How well has The Exorcist held up, and is it still considered the landmark it appeared to be at the time?; Dr.Chris (m), Anthony Finan, John G. McDaid, Timothy J. Tero

Sunday 12:00am

Starship Eros (X-rated Movie) — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 20min — Harbor III (3E): In this 1979 classic, aliens from Planet Eros come to earth to experiment sexually on Earth people. Soon they learn all kinds of things about Earth, most of which we cannot describe in this program. It is cut from the same cloth as our fine film Star Babe from last year, and is totally inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. People over that age will find it both hilarious and explicit. ID will be checked at the door, do not forget yours. 35mm

Commentary! The Musical — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): A Teseracte original production taken from the commentary track hidden on the Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog DVD, we bring you 'Commentary! The Musical'. Join Joss, Neil, Nate and Felicia as they recount the "makings of" and "stories behind the scenes." Joined by the other writers and ensemble, they have "so many fascinating insights to sing about."; Kevin Benoit, Nick Bento, Linda Brennan, Michael Lee Budlong, Karin Carlson, Eric Carter, Patrick Connelly, Sandy Cronin-Tassi, Evie Da Rosa, Kelly Davis, Ken Davis, Mimi Dietrich-Wu, Sara Dion, Becca Driver, Meg Farmer, Lauren Gray, David Hahn, Cody Hall, Ashley Haslam, David Jubinski, Agnes Kamasi, Amy Kreines, Amy Lake, Arthur Laurie, Ted Lynch, Glenn MacWilliams, James Mobius, Genna Rose, Roy Rossi, Alyssa May Smith, Tori Sviokla, Joye Thaller, A. J. Watts, Kevin Wynott, Amy Yampanis, Keith Yampanis

Sunday 12:50am

The Dead Inside — Music, Projected Media — 1hr 39min — Stone (2): Wes and Fi are empty. While their love for each other burns strong, artistically their hearts have been locked in a box for years. Wes is a burned out photographer shooting weddings, and Fi is an author struggling with a zombie manuscript. Another horror/comedy musical. 2011, Rated R.

Sunday 1:00am

Buffy: Once More with Feeling — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): The Teseracte Players bring a dancing demon to life and a twisted mind to the town Sunnydale. Invoked by one of their own, the Scoobies come together to beat the bad guy. Join us for a show filled with singing and dancing, and burning and dying, all in one episode!; Kevin Benoit, Nick Bento, Linda Brennan, Michael Lee Budlong, Karin Carlson, Eric Carter, Patrick Connelly, Sandy Cronin-Tassi, Evie Da Rosa, Kelly Davis, Ken Davis, Mimi Dietrich-Wu, Sara Dion, Becca Driver, Meg Farmer, Lauren Gray, David Hahn, Cody Hall, Ashley Haslam, David Jubinski, Agnes Kamasi, Amy Kreines, Amy Lake, Arthur Laurie, Ted Lynch, Glenn MacWilliams, James Mobius, Genna Rose, Roy Rossi, Alyssa May Smith, Tori Sviokla, Joye Thaller, A. J. Watts, Kevin Wynott, Amy Yampanis, Keith Yampanis

Sunday 2:30am

Rock & Rule — Music, Projected Media — 1hr 15min — Stone (2): A malevolent rock star kidnaps a female singer to force her to participate in the summoning of a demon and her band must help her stop him. Animated Musical, 1983, Canada, PG-13.

Sunday 3:45am

Another Earth — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): On the night of the discovery of a duplicate planet in the solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident. PG-13

Sunday 5:20am

Vampires — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 28min — Stone (2): Horror/comedy reality documentary on a clan of Belgian vampires. Pink is the new black. 2010, rated R, subtitled,

Sunday 6:50am

Stella Starcrash — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): Cheesy epic action in outer space—the good guys set out to track the evil Count's secret weapon. Caroline Munro and Christopher Plummer. 1978 PG

Sunday 7:30am

Estia: The Isle of Giants — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 2hr — Harbor I (3E): Estia, the Island of Fiants is part of the upcoming Shattered Seas Campaign Setting from the Gamer Assembly. The heroes set off to an abandoned island once home to the gods of old. Will they find the artifacts needed to further your patron's study of the worlds mysterious arcane energies or will you encounter far more sinister and dangerous secrets the island holds?

Sunday 8:20am

Ark 2010 (webisodes) — Media, Projected Media — 45min — Stone (2): 9 episodes made for the internet, starring RenÃ©e O'Connor. Memory impaired people from different times wake on a derelict starship. PG

Sunday 8:30am

Time for Tea — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Time for tea! This is a panel all about tea—different types, where to buy it, the ideal teapot, and, of course, how to make a perfect cup.; Comiku Girls (m), Li Izumi, Emily Lewis, Shelley Marsh

Make a Renfair Rosette — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Come join a fun workshop making a rosette by sewing gathered fabric together and then adding ribbons and beaded strands. Attach it to a pin-back or a barrette and you have an instant decoration! No prior sewing or crafting experience needed… You are only limited by your own imagination. Small fee for the materials kit, including everything needed for project. Guaranteed to give you even more creative ideas!; Lisa A. Ashton

Disabilities in Science Fiction — Literature, Panel — 1hr — Otis (2): How can we extrapolate the future of disability through the lens of science fiction? SF lets us explore how attitudes about disability may change and how disability itself may shift and change with theoretical advances in medicine and technology. How can the future be more accessible for all?; James T. Henderson Jr, Kay Holt, Kate Kaynak (m)

When Faith and Science Meet — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Many SF tales, like Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz and Russell's The Sparrow, deal with the intersection of unexpected discoveries and the faith of the characters. Cultural discourse often presents faith and science as polar opposites, but many people of many faiths have successfully reconciled their beliefs with a scientific worldview. This panel will present a civil conversation—between people who respect both faith and science—about how the two inform each other.; Justine Graykin (m), Reese Jordan, Catherine Kane, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Table Top RPG with Damien — Fast Track, Panel — 2hr 45min — Hancock (2): Back by popular demand, Damien is running another weekend long game. Come join in the fun!; Z. Quinn Ochs Thomas, Damien Turi (m)

Geeky Play Date — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Looking to meet up with other parents and kids at the con? Geeky Play Date is a casual, drop-in space for you and your children. Kids can bring their favorite toys and make new friends! Parents can do the same! Please note: this is NOT a babysitting service/venue, plan on tending to your children. If you need to leave a Red-Ribbon Fast Track child for a 10am panel, you may do so after 9:45, and checking with Fast Track staff.; Dale Meyer-Curley, Liz Turi

Sunday 9:00am

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Unfair Fights and Dirty Tricks — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Kunstbruder presents: A Demonstration of unarmed self-defense against a dagger and other unfair fights like Longsword versus Sword and Shield. Plus, how to turn a sword fight into a wrestling match. Followed immediately by hands-on lessons with the Rapier. Learn the basics of attack and defense in the German tradition. All equipment provided, no experience necessary.; Dawn-Marie Dunn, Stuart Ferguson, Steven Hirsch, Steve Huff, Andrew Kilgore, Sarah "Tashari" Morrison, Andy Rosequist, Cecilia Villero, Joanna Weston, Nathan Weston

X-15 — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 45min — Harbor III (3E): This 1961 film shows a look at men going into space almost before there was a space program. The X-15 rocket plane reached an altitude of 67 miles and this somewhat fictionalized film depicts the stories of the pilots and the women who loved them. Charles Bronson, Jimmy Stewart, and Mary Tyler Moore all show up, and the technical accuracy is pretty good thanks to assistance from the Air Force and NASA. In 16mm, Color by Technicolor.

Tai Chi — GOH, Participatory Event — 1hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Tai Chi led by GOH Stephen Barnes.; Steven Barnes

Sunday 9:10am

Princess Nine — Anime, Projected Media — 50min — Stone (2): Episodes 1–2 follows nine students of the Kisaragi School for Girls, who form a baseball team for the purpose of competing on equal footing against boys' teams at the prestigious National Highschool Baseball Championship. They are led by ace-pitcher Ryo Hayakawa, daughter of a former rising star. Her goal is to fulfill her late father's dream of playing at Koshien Stadium for the national championship. Dubbed.

Sunday 10:00am

Forward the Corporation — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): With prominent tycoons committing to asteroid mining, Google planning an orbital elevator, and the ongoing work of SpaceDev and SpaceX, are we going to start seeing the 21st century we imagined? Will private industry be the catalyst for kicking space exploration into high gear? Or will these projects get dropped by investors at the first dip in stock prices? What about ownership of what's explored? Nations can't lay exclusive claims to celestial bodies, but what about Amazon or Microsoft?; Forest Handford, Buzz Harris (m), Ian Randal Strock

Getting Ideas for Costumes and Presentations — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): How do costumers come up with their amazing creations? Do they appear at random, or are they influenced from other sources? Our panel discusses the origin and evolution of costume themes and inspirations.; Lisa A. Ashton (m), Ann Catelli, Bill Frankenfield, Marty Gear, Nightwing Whitehead

Character Building — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Making memorable characters that resonate with the reader and fit perfectly for the story is an art. How do you find the core of a character—their traits, habits, and attitudes—and show them effectively to your audience? Our panelists discuss various methods of getting to know your character in the course of your writing.; Elaine Cunningham, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Joy Marchand, Suzanne Palmer, Michael A. Ventrella

Home-Based Business and Children — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): If your business is based at home—perhaps as a writer or an artist—and you also have children, how do you get things done? Do you make a boundary between work times and family times, or do you try to multitask? Is there any way for your children to be part of the business? What lessons about work and creativity do you want them to learn?; Aimee Bouchard, Liz Cademy, James L. Cambias (m), Sheila M. Oranch, Micah Schneider

RPG Gaming: Rails vs. Sandbox — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Which style do you prefer as a GM? As a player? Does it drive you crazy when players ignore your intricate run-on-rails plots and chase the red herrings, or do players who keep turning to you to ask "what happens now" make you nuts? Maybe a little of both? Join our experienced GMs and players as we discuss the pleasures (and perils) of each style, as well as trading extreme examples and what makes them cool or frightening for players and GMs.; Morgan Crooks, Andrew Kirschbaum, Brian Liberge (m), Alan Wexelblat

Reading: Doyle, Kimmel, & Kurtz — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Debra Doyle, Daniel Kimmel, and David Axel Kurtz will read selections from their works.; Debra Doyle, Daniel M. Kimmel, David Axel Kurtz

Transportation and the Future — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): All right, flying cars seem cool, but probably wouldn't be practical. What would be? How does moving the human being from one place to another—whether it's down the street or to that nice planet near Alpha Centauri—play a role in the best possible future?; Toni Lay (m), Paula Lieberman, Ian Schleifer, Andrew Van Zandt

Arisia's First E-Gaming Room — Gaming, Participatory Event — 3hr — Carlton (3E): All day long you can play new and old Video Games. Helpful and knowledgeable GameUnderground staff will be there to assist you.

The Myth and Reality of Fannish Tolerance — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Fans like to think we welcome all newcomers but, like any tribe, we divide the world into "us" and "them." Where do we fall short on tolerance? How can we as fans make our community a more open and accepting space? What are we doing right?; Hugh Casey (m), Andy Hicks, Crystal Huff, Maddy Myers

Crafts for Adults: Fingerpainting — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Who needs brushes to paint? Come by and fingerpaint to your heart's content. Paint and paper will be available for use. Wear comfortable clothing you don't mind getting paint on.; Rachel Kadel-Garcia

Learn how to play — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Learn how to play a wide variety of games, taught by a rising star in the GM community, one Brian Hertel. Learn games like Dominion, 7 Wonders, Munchkin, Fluxx, and many more. Although this feature of the game room is aimed at teaching kids how to play, adults are welcome to play.

Zpocalypse — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 8hr — Harbor I (3E): Zpocalypse is a survival board game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland for 2–4 players. A combination of tactics, combat, resource management, charcter development, teamwork, and strategy are needed to survive the onslaught of Zpocalypse. Running every day in the convention, stop by our tables in gaming and have some Zombie killing fun.

Contemporary Fantasy Outside the City Limits — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): There's epic (or secondary-world) fantasy, and then there's urban fantasy, right? Well, what about contemporary fantasy outside the city? There's a growing strain of excellent rural fantasy, but has fantasy touched suburbs or small towns? Come discuss the best contemporary fantasy outside the city limits!; Inanna Arthen, Vikki Ciaffone (m), Gail Z. Martin, Sabrina Vourvoulias, Trisha Wooldridge

Queer SF/F — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Let's come and discuss our favorite gay, lesbian, bi/pansexual, transgender, and queer SF/F! How can authors create strong, believable, and relatable characters and relationships, without stereotyping? What books and stories should we be reading? What should we avoid?; Lila Garrott, Julia Rios (m), Don Sakers, Connie Wilkins

Horror for Kids — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Monster House, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, Paranorman, Monster vs Aliens, and Monster Squad; they are all movies targeted at kids from the Horror genre. What makes a horror movie appropriate—or inappropriate—for youngsters? Does one size fit all? How do you know if your kids will enjoy it? Young fans are encouraged to participate in the discussion. After all, parents might just be surprised at what their young darlings find entertaining.; Dr.Chris (m), Bob Chipman, Garen Daly, Elayna Jade Smolowitz

Bubblegum Crisis — Anime, Projected Media — 1hr 45min — Stone (2): Episodes 1–3 of one of the seminal series in anime history. The Knight Sabers are an all-female mercenary team, formed to deal with corrupt megacorporation, Genom and their boomers, android laborers that can be be used as weapons. The Knight Sabers are aided by the AD Police, a special unit tasked with dealing with boomer crimes. Japan Subtitled.

MyChip Child ID — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): The MYCHIP (Masonic Youth Child Identification Program) provides tools to help law enforcement authorities find and identify a lost or missing child. The Masons of Massachusetts, partnering with the Massachusetts Crime Prevention Officers Association and the Massachusetts Dental Association, donate MYCHIP resources to make this service available to the public. None of the information is copied and all the identifying materials are given to the child's family. Free. http://www.mychip.org/; Walter Hunt, Erik J. Meyer-Curley (m)

Play with Clay — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): We'll make our own play dough (flour, salt, water), then build stuff out of it.; Melina M.Gunnett (m), Jude Shabry

Share Your Fave Books — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): What was your favorite book you've read, and why?; Persis L. Thorndike

Kamikaze Costuming: Props — Fast Track, Participatory Event — 2hr — Webster (2): Come make your own props to go with your Kamikaze costume. Then, show off your creation in the Masquerade tonight if you want.; Persis L. Thorndike

Blood Drive — Events, Participatory Event — 6hr — Lobby (2): Pay It Forward! Once again, the Heinlein Society and Arisia are running a Blood Drive. Sunday's collections are by the staff of Children's Hospital.

Mass Bay Colony Pikemen — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): When the first English colonists came to America, they expected to have to fight. Muskets and pikes dominated the battlefields of Europe, and would soon decide Britain's fate in the English Civil Wars. See the Salem Trayned Band, a re-enactment unit portraying the militia of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in its earliest years, demonstrate how the colonists brought this military technology, including sixteen-foot pikes, to the New World.; Caroline Bigelow, Kendra Brown, Tristan Brown, Laura Eisener, Sarah Goss, Hunter Heinlen, Paul Kenworthy, Don Kindsvatter, Mark Millman (m), Mark Nickerson, John O'Brien, Antonia Pugliese, Barbara M. Pugliese, Julia Pugliese, Lily Shafer, Lauren Stern, Monique Todd, Andy Volpe, Timothy Volpe, Amy West, Alexander Wurst, Karl Wurst, Nicholas Karl Wurst

Realms LARP: The Frontier — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 6hr — Grand C (1W): In this fantasy LARP explore beyond the western frontier. When a vein of valuable magic crystals are found in uncivilized lands, treasure seekers, explorers, gamblers, thieves, bounty hunters, and even heroes converge to forge the destiny of a new town. There's magic in them thar hills! LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAY game, 16+

The Nature of Creativity — GOH, Panel — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Roger Dean is collaborating on a book about creativity. Is the creative process the same in different disciplines (writing versus painting versus performing)? How are dry spells handled? What do dry spells mean in different disciplines?; Steven Barnes, Roger Dean (m), Tananarive Due, Clyde Gilbert, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

Yoga using ropes — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 1hr 30min — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Come to rope yoga for a slow, intense practice combining yin yoga and rope bondage techniques. Be prepared to partner up! No mat necessary, but bring it if you have one.; Dakota Freeman

Autograph—Erishkigal, Isaak, & Lidell — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Anna Erishkigal, Elaine Isaak, and Alex Lidell.; Anna Erishkigal, Elaine Isaak, Alex Lidell

Sunday 10:30am

Firefly — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Come out into the black and join the crew of a firefly vessel. Folks come for different reasons but have all arrived at the same place.

Sunday 11:00am

Return to Ravnica Booster Drafts — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Triple Return to Ravnica Booster draft. Will be sanctioned if 8 or more people attend. $15 entry fee. You must buy the entry fee at the Pandemonium booth in the dealer's room and bring the receipt to the draft. Prizes will be in Return to Ravnica booster packs based on the number of attendees.

Getting Medieval with the Rapier — Fan Interest, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Kunstbruder presents: A Demonstration of late Medieval rapier, a more rough and tumble, cut and thrust kind of fight. Followed immediately by hands-on lessons with the Rapier. Learn the basics of attack and defense in the German tradition. All equipment provided, no experience necessary.; Dawn-Marie Dunn, Stuart Ferguson, Steven Hirsch, Steve Huff, Andrew Kilgore, Sarah "Tashari" Morrison, Andy Rosequist, Cecilia Villero, Joanna Weston, Nathan Weston

TV Year in Review — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Harbor III (3E): A look back at SF, horror, and fantasy in 2012 on TV. What were the memorable shows? What are the new ones to watch? Vampires, time travel, super heroes—what's hot and what's not?; Howard G. Beatman (m), Randee Dawn, Adam Lipkin, Misty Pendragon

Roger Dean Presents: The Art of Roger Dean — GOH, Lecture — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Our artist guest of honor has a career that stretches from putting the "art" in "art rock" to exploring the future of human habitation. He's published three books, designed furniture and buildings, and created some of the icons of popular culture. Come see his work and hear him speak about its inspirations.; Roger Dean

Sunday 11:30am

Birding 101 — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): From your backyard to the polar regions of Earth, birds are everywhere. There are many things to consider about our interactions with our feathered friends. How are they affected by habitat destruction, climate change, and invasive species? To feed or not to feed? Let's discuss how to find them, recognize them, observe their behavior, and keep track of the ones you've seen and/or heard.; E. J. Barnes (m), Ken Gale, Jeff Hecht, Sandy Sutherland, Mercy E. Van Vlack

Northern Lights Costumers' Guild Meet-up — Costuming, Meeting — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Northern Lights is a chapter of the International Costumers' Guild, a non-profit organization that seeks to educate the public and enjoy the construction and wearing of all forms of costume. If you want to learn more about costuming and meet other costumers, we're the group for you!; Jill Eastlake (m), Elizabeth O'Malley

Fairy Tales and Folklore in Modern Literature — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Fantasy and, to a lesser degree, SF are infused with the fairy tales and folklore we grew up with. A story need not be a straight-up retelling of a fairy tale in order to use the elements of one—everyone knows the red hood and the foam on the sea. How are these elements being used in today's fiction? Where else can we go from here?; Vikki Ciaffone (m), Lila Garrott, Greer Gilman, Daniel Rabuzzi, Sonya Taaffe

Getting Involved with Your Local Fan Community — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): So you want to hang out with your fellow geeks once Arisia is over? Fandom in the Boston area has a wide array of groups and meet-ups for you to get involved with. Come join members of local organizations to talk about their group and how to participate.; Marty Gear, Melissa Honig, Suford Lewis (m), Paula Lieberman, Tom Murphy

Cooperative Games — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Most games are a competition between two (or more) opponents. Recently, though, there has been a rise in cooperative games like Pandemic, where the goal is to beat the game, not each other. Find out about cooperative games and what they may be teaching us.; Christopher K. Davis (m), Vylar Kaftan, Cynthia A. Shettle-Meleedy

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 30min — Hale (3W): Broad Universe is an international organization of women and men dedicated to celebrating and promoting the work of women writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Come hear samples from the works of several members of the Broad Universe organization.; Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Gail Z. Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Trisha Wooldridge, Phoebe Wray

How to Be a Fan of Problematic Things — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): 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, social justice 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.; Erik Amundsen, Woodrow "asim" Hill, Kate Nepveu (m)

What's so Special About Filk? — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Science fiction fans today have access to a wide variety of music that appeal to their geeky side. What is distinctive about filk, often called the folk music of science fiction fandom, in modern fandom? Come learn more about this tradition of fannish music.; Kate Farb-Johnson, Ellen Kranzer (m), Emily Lewis, Hillary Sherwood

Mail 'n' Flail — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): If knitters can "stitch 'n' bitch," then mailers can have a mail 'n' flail! All experience levels welcome, except absolute beginners.; Liz Cademy (m), Susan de Guardiola, Ket Melissa Waters

Dark Matter, a Decade Later — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): With Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due as the writer Guests of Honor, it is a timely opportunity to reflect on the original Dark Matter anthology, published in 2001. Authors within the collection, genre critics, and fans reflect on what the anthology did for the genre of sci-fi and for the presence of writers of color in the genre.; Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Brandon Easton, Andrea Hairston, Kiini Ibura Salaam (m)

Child-Safe Anime — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Finding anime that is safe for children to watch may be difficult for parents. Learn more about selecting popular child-friendly series and hidden gems!; Mario Di Giacomo, James T. Henderson Jr, John C. Watson (m)

We Control The Horizontal: The Outer Limits at 50 — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): First appearing on ABC in 1963, The Outer Limits appears to have been intended as a darker, more science fictional counterpart to The Twilight Zone. It lasted only two seasons, but its mark has been left indelibly on the culture and the speculative fiction landscape, with several classic episodes as well as release on DVD and a cable series revival.; Daniel M. Kimmel (m), Ken Schneyer, Stephen R. Wilk, James Zavaglia

Days of Lightning Balloon Car Rally — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Build balloon cars that are powered by static electricity and race them. Learn basic geometry and engineering concepts and learn about electrical fields.; Scott Wilhelm

Autograph—Crowley, Ewing, & Linzner — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Susan Hanniford Crowley, Rhea Ewing, and Gordon Linzner.; Susan Hanniford Crowley, Rhea Ewing, Gordon Linzner

Sunday 11:45am

Steampunk Shorts — Media, Projected Media — 15min — Stone (2): Arms Race, The Deadliest Game

Sunday 12:00pm

A Different Kind of Rescue — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 5hr — Harbor I (3E): The Lord High Chancellor (the King's High Mage) is having a bad day. First the king has taken half of the army to north to kill a dragon which has been destroying villages on the frontier. The Prince and his buddies have gone missing on a last minute hunting trip. The one survivor that made it back said that Orcs attacked and captured the Prince alive. The Chancellor tells you and your fellow heroes to come back with the Prince alive or else, and he's not kidding!

Blast Off in T-Minus — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): This is the world premier of the game Future Tense, the game of pulp science fiction. In this first game players will blast off to the stars and explore strange new worlds. It all begins when a strange signal is sent out to earth and group of explorers and scientists are sent out to investigate the strange signal. When they arrive they find a planet filled with strange life, and an even stranger evil that haunts this alien world. Before long the heroes realize that the evil has targeted them.

This Week on Brit TV — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 30min — Stone (2): Review of the latest offerings on British television. See schedule at door for latest update.

Lightning Talks — Fan Interest, Lecture — 2hr — Grand AB (1W): A variety of short talks on a number of different topics.

Sunday 12:15pm

Extra-Bad Film: Fire Monster vs. Son of Hercules — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Harbor III (3E): To escape the Ice Age, a tribe settles in a valley where they are attacked by cave dwellers who steal their women (who are all beautiful with permanent waves in their hair). The son of Hercules comes and rescues them, but is held captive until a volcano releases him and his permanent hair wave. He falls in love and helps the valley dwellers in their fight. The fire monster appears only briefly with no connection to the plot. Sponsored in conjunction with the Institute For Bad Cinema. 16mm, B&W.

Sunday 12:30pm

The UFO Experience — Media, Projected Media — 1hr — Harbor III (3E): A satirical look at the UFO craze of the 1970's, this fan-created film has been in production for twenty years and each year we say we will have the world premiere at Arisia. Well, this year it's finished and the world premiere is here at Arisia. Starring a cast of thousands, many of them well-known fans. In 16mm.

Sunday 1:00pm

Kessler's Nightmare: Space Debris Dilemma — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): How much of a problem is low Earth orbit (LEO) space debris, and what can/should be done about it? NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler once suggested a scenario in which the density of objects in LEO would be high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade—each collision generating debris and increasing the likelihood of further collisions. Which scenarios seem reasonable and which are too fantastic? How has this been handled in hard science reports and in fiction?; Jeff Hecht, Paula Lieberman, Stephen R. Wilk (m), Phoebe Wray

50 Years of X-Men — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): In September of 1963, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby opened the doors to Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, introducing the world to a group of flawed young teens with extraordinary powers. During its long history, X-Men has often dealt with themes of prejudice, racism, and alienation. Come discuss one of Marvel's most successful series.; Glenn Hauman, Daniel Miller, Dan Morris, Cynthia A. Shettle-Meleedy, Brianna Wu (m)

Keeping Track of the Action — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Let's say you're writing a complicated plot with many characters, scenes in multiple places, and perhaps a convoluted time sequence. How do you keep track of it all? Spreadsheet? Story board? Or do you keep it all in your head? What if you have a pile of background research to keep track of for the technological or historical realism that you've researched? What tools keep it all organized for you?; Mary Catelli, Debra Doyle (m), Suzanne Palmer, Margaret Ronald

Poly Parenting — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Mixing multiple relationships with raising children introduces a host of new complications as well as possibilities. How do you answer questions, schedule your time, and mix parenting styles? Does your parenting strategy change when your children are older? Does your style differ if the kids were blended, or born into the poly group? These and other questions will be discussed.; Aimee Bouchard (m), Ken Olum, Micah Schneider, Alan Wexelblat, Bobbi "Bey" Woodward

Costuming to Body Type — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Some clothing designs and silhouettes can look amazing on one person, and unflattering on the next. What designs work best for which body types, and how can you use different styles to look your best? How does this affect recreations?; Christa Newman, Jennifer Old (m), Jamila Sisco, Nightwing Whitehead

Reading: Amundsen, Lipkin, Rios — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Eric Amundsen, Shira Lipkin, and Julia Rios will be reading selections from their works.; Erik Amundsen, Shira Lipkin, Julia Rios

Panel in the Pool — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Pool (3W): FISH…IN…SPAAACE! There's now an aquarium on the Space Station, there may or not be a Wanda, but there's definitely no tartar sauce. That's One Small Splash for Fishkind, One Giant Leap for Zero-G Developmental Biology.; Greg R. Fishbone, Cheryl Wallace, JeffWarner (m)

Steampunk and Costuming — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Steampunk remains a very popular trend is costuming, and is beginning to spill into the mainstream. Is the definition of Steampunk still the same, or are many people misidentifying it? What truly makes a costume Steampunk, and which is more important, the Victorian elements or the futuristic elements?; Comiku Girls, Melissa Honig, Li Izumi, Sean Kane, David Larochelle (m)

Technology and the GM — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Carlton (3E): This year has seen a plethora of new technology for tabletop gaming. Several new virtual tabletops are out, and many more people are experimenting with iPad rule presentation. What tools are out there? What do we lose or gain with each of these transitions?; W. "Ian" Blanton, Steven Hammond, James T. Henderson Jr (m), Brian Liberge

Theme Circle: Humorous Songs — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Sing, listen, and laugh as everyone performs the funniest songs they know.; Paul Estin, Anabel Graetz, Jeremy H. Kessler (m)

Foodcraft: How Science Can Reinvent Your Kitchen — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Foodies are always inventing new scientific techniques to prepare their favorite ingredients in exciting new ways, but are these modern miracles available to someone on a budget? Or is the Modern Kitchen only a pipe dream? Learn the wonders of sous vide, sonic cavitation, and food grade centrifuges.; John Bowker (m), Stephanie Clarkson, David G. Shaw

Grueling Gaming Tournament — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 5hr — Harbor I (3E): Four games in five hours. The games are Dominion, Stone Age, 7 Wonders, and Rails of New England.

YA You Want to Read — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Come discuss the best YA SF/F that came out in 2012 and what to anticipate in 2013.; Aurora Celeste, Vikki Ciaffone, Victoria Janssen (m), Adam Lipkin

Manga & Anime Art Workshop — Anime, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Have you ever tried to draw manga but never got it quite right? Maybe the lines were not rounded enough or the eyes were all wrong? Come let our artists show you how it's done.; Bettina Kurkoski

The Hobbit — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Did The Hobbit really need to be turned into a new cinematic trilogy? Having seen the first film, are you eagerly anticipating the next installment or were you let down? Has director Peter Jackson recaptured the magic that made Lord of the Rings into a hit? How faithful is the film to Tolkien, and does it matter?; Bob Chipman, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Terry Franklin, Bob Kuhn (m), Kate Nepveu

Make and Take—Tie-Dyed Butterfly — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Come learn how to make colorful and beautiful butterflies with coffee filters, markers, and water.; Kate Brick

Table Top RPG with Damien — Fast Track, Panel — 4hr 15min — Hancock (2): Back by popular demand, Damien is running another weekend long game. Come join in the fun!; Z. Quinn Ochs Thomas, Damien Turi (m)

Origami/Papercraft Workshop — Fast Track, Panel — 45min — Hancock (2): A piece of paper and some instruction are all you need to create creatures interesting to our younger fans. Origami swans and such are still a lot of fun to make, but there have been a lot of additions to the art of crafting creatures and characters out of paper. For instance, Minecraft afficionados can create their favorite characters using Papercraft from minecraftpapercraft.com. Are there any other paper crafts that would appeal to the younger audience?; Andrew Anselmo, Sparr Risher (m)

Emerald Rose: Celtic Ballads and Story Songs — GOH, Concert — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Emerald Rose has been a House Band for the massive DragonCon in Atlanta for the past thirteen years. One of their most beloved endeavors is their annual Pern Weyrfest, an intimate Emerald Rose concert shared with fans of Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series. For the first time, Emerald Rose will be bringing this set of Celtic ballads and original songs to Arisia. Join them for a set of the softer side of Celtic music. Romance, heroism and epic ballads are the subject of this set.; Clyde Gilbert, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris, Brian Sullivan

Autograph—Kaftan & Sakers — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Vylar Kaftan and Don Sakers.; Vylar Kaftan, Don Sakers

Sunday 1:30pm

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Make Me Psychic — Media, Projected Media — 15min — Harbor III (3E): In this surrealistic cartoon by Sally Cruikshank, Anita the Duck purchases a Mesmerama machine to develop her psychic powers. Great power doesn't always come with great wisdom, and Anita's use of her newfound power as a party trick leads to total disaster. This short subject is worth it just to watch automobiles with tongues. Presented in 16mm.

Sunday 1:45pm

Golgo 13: The Professional — Anime, Projected Media — 1hr 31min — Harbor III (3E): Irresistible to women and unavoidable by his contractees, the mercenary assassin Golgo 13 is one of Osamu Dezaki's anime masterpieces. However, can he survive the Snake and the combined forces of the Western world when they are out to attack him? Victor Lee calls this, "one of the classic anime titles." Presented in 35mm.

Sunday 2:00pm

Spencer Hill Zombie Party — Events, Participatory Event — 2hr — Harbor II (3E): Spencer Hill Press hosts a Zombie APROMcalypse in celebration of the release of Kelly Hashway's YA novel, Touch of Death. Visit our makeup station to get zombified, wear your prom gown (or whatever outfit you want), dance to fun music and meet Kelly Hashway.; Kelly Hashway, Kate Kaynak

Psyche Corp — Music, Concert — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): Electro-Alternative World Music, because Wonderland will take revenge for what Oz did to the Mock Turtle. Possibly featuring the Fibonacci sequence.; Michael Lunapiena, Robert Pruyn-Bush

Sunday 2:30pm

A Moebius Retrospective — Art, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Jean "Moebius" Giraud, influential comic and SF artist, died last year. This panel will show some of his prolific art, and discuss trends and other artists that were inspired by his visionary work.; David Marshall (m), James Mobius, Dan Morris

Costume Recreation: Bringing the Screen to Life — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): There are two types of recreation—from live action sources and imagined sources. When recreating from live action, it has the advantage that someone, somehow, was able to create that look in real life, although with a huge budget and a talented team. Artists aren't bound by real world constraints like seams, stability, or gravity. How do you translate 2D to a real design? Learn the best approaches and techniques to recreating a look, and spare your wallet and sanity along the way.; Patrick Delahanty, Kristina Finan (m), PJ Letersky, Elizabeth O'Malley, Nightwing Whitehead

Erasure is Not Equality — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): A discussion of the erasure of people of color in history-based SF/F. Good writers research their subject matter, so why are we seeing SF/F set in the Old West, major cities, or anywhere that doesn't include the actual POC who were present and part of the historical record? Everything from the Moors in Scotland to Chinese laborers in the Old West to Africans in the Roman Empire will be discussed.; Tananarive Due, Lila Garrott, Woodrow "asim" Hill, Mikki Kendall (m)

Coming Out — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Coming out of the closet is not an easy decision or process, regardless of whether you are coming out as LGBT, poly, kinky, pagan, or Republican. Come share stories and advice on how and whether to come out to family, friends, and co-workers.; Michelle Driscoll, Anthony Finan, Ian Schleifer, Michelle Wexelblat (m), Bobbi "Bey" Woodward

The Arisia Book Club: Reading the Hugos — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Read this year's Hugo-winning novel (Among Others by Jo Walton) and stories (The Man Who Bridged the Mist by Kij Johnson, Six Months, Three Days by Charlie Jane Anders, and The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu), and come on down to discuss!; Susan de Guardiola, Kiini Ibura Salaam (m), Meg Westfox, Eric Zuckerman

Reading: Linzner, Macdonald, & Sakers — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Gordon Linzner, James Macdonald, and Don Sakers read selections from their works.; Gordon Linzner, James D. Macdonald, Don Sakers

The Psychology of Villainy — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): What does modern psychological research tell us about those who choose to harm others? Is there a neurochemical difference between, say, a pickpocket and an arsonist? There are papers which theorize that genes may play a role in an individual's ability to assess risk, which in turn affects the propensity for criminal behavior. Does all this research presage a society with squads of police arresting "pre-criminals"? Or does it absolve criminals as having biochemical or genetic predispositions?; Anna Erishkigal, Kara Hurvitz, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Vanessa Layne, Kimberley Long-Ewing (m)

Sing-Along: The Best of New Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Come sing along with some of the best and most singable filk songs (primarily winners of the Pegasus Award) from the last ten years! Lyrics will be projected.; Nat Budin, Paul Estin, Kate Farb-Johnson (m)

Art Exchange Prep 2 — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Take some time out to sit and chat with other attendees while you create small art projects to take home, or exchange on Monday at the Maker Fair. Possibilities include Artist Trading Cards, small knitted or crocheted projects, and small jewelry projects.; Shira Lipkin, Julia Rios, Judah Sher

Learn how to play — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Learn how to play a wide variety of games, taught by a rising star in the GM community, one Brian Hertel. Learn games like Dominion, 7 Wonders, Munchkin, Fluxx, and many more. Although this feature of the game room is aimed at teaching kids how to play, adults are welcome to play.

Lifewriting Workshop with Steven Barnes — Writing, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Lifewriting applies the structure of myth to human life. Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" is the collected wisdom of all the world's cultures, waiting for you to apply its life lessons. Get on the road to mastery of Body, Career, and Relationships.; Steven Barnes

Magickal Traditions: A Review — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Like most mainstream religious faiths, there is a wide variety in the practices and beliefs of modern pagans, neo-pagans, and heathens. In this panel, some of them will talk about what they do and believe.; Inanna Arthen, Jessie Belisle, Catherine Kane, Sean Kane, Virginia Richards-Taylor (m)

Gaming Year in Review — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): From video games like Diablo 3 and Guildwars 2 to card games including Oz Fluxx and Magic: The Gathering: Return to Ravnica, and even board games such as The Castles of Burgundy, there are many new games to review from 2012. Come discuss your favorites and find out what you've missed.; Walter Hunt, Adam Lipkin (m), Maddy Myers, Jessa Phillips, Brianna Wu

Safety Not Guaranteed — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 25min — Stone (2): Comedy/SF/Romance. Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel. R (language), 7.1 IMDB.

Science Experiments — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Come participate in cool science experiments using common household materials.; Abby Hafer, Richard A. Silva (m)

Drawing Manga for Beginners — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): What makes a drawing manga? How to draw manga.; Bettina Kurkoski

Learn to Knit — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Learn to knit—we provide everything!; Kate Brick

Spoon-A-Pults — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Come and construct your own spoon-a-pult.; Erik J. Meyer-Curley

Dungeon and Mazes — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Join us as we build our very own mini dungeons and mazes!; Forest Handford

Autograph—DeCandido and Older — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Keith R. A. DeCandido and Daniel JosÃ© Older; Keith R. A. DeCandido, Daniel JosÃ© Older

Sunday 3:00pm

Return to Ravnica Booster Drafts — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Triple Return to Ravnica Booster draft. Will be sanctioned if 8 or more people attend. $15 entry fee. You must buy the entry fee at the Pandemonium booth in the dealer's room and bring the receipt to the draft. Prizes will be in Return to Ravnica booster packs based on the number of attendees.

Imaginary Friends — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Having imaginary friends is usually a harmless part of growing up. In 2072, though, it can make life quite complicated an add an extra twist to a days work.

The Pyramid of Skulls — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): It started with the mutterings of a mad armless beggar in Parsool. You decided to dig up a Lysorian sea merchant, a former captain of the beggar, to loot a strangely inscribed ring leading you to raid the crystal chateau of a debauched Satarian count. You entered in silence and left hacking through flesh, clutching a scrap of parchment. Following it to the Great Library, you find a moldering folio who finally tells you where to find it: The Pyramid of Skulls. Now the real quest begins.

SCA/Renaissance Dance — Music, Participatory Event — 2hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Come dance with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) at a Renaissance Ball! We will be doing many types of dances, from the formal and elegant to the bouncy and energetic. No experience or partner necessary. All dances will be taught, so everyone will be able to join in the fun! Live music will be provided by the world famous Waytes of Carolingia. Medieval or Renaissance garb is welcome if you have some (and will certainly add to the atmosphere) but not required.; Marion Anderson, Tom Courtney, Ginger Fitzsimmons, Shana Heller, Ellen Kranzer, Thomas Natoli, Deirdre Rees, Robert J. Rossi, Jesse Wertheimer (m)

Sunday 3:55pm

FAQ About Time Travel — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 20min — Stone (2): While drinking at their local pub, three social outcasts attempt to navigate a time-travel conundrum. More effing Time travel language. R 2009 UK

Sunday 4:00pm

Beekeeping 101 — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): What do you need to start up your own hive? Learn not only about the basics of beekeeping, but also the threats to bees both cultivated and in the wild, from the studies of viruses causing widespread death of honeybees to the suggested affects of pesticides in Colony Collapse Disorder. What are the differences between urban and rural beekeeping? And what are the dangers inherent in the Africanized killer bee invasion of the southern United States?; Brennan Martin, Larry Morris, Mercy E. Van Vlack (m)

No Capes! Non-Superhero Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): A discussion on the politics, economy, and personalities involved in the world of non-superhero comics, with particular focus on the recent image surge and the apparent "rats leaving a sinking ship" trend at the big two.; Alexander C. Danner, Alex Jarvis (m), David Marshall, Dan Morris, Everett Soares

Everything You Know is Wrong — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): There are several works of fiction, both genre and mainstream, that rely on the unreliable narrator. Used to good effect, this can create an artful twist ending or have the reader second-guessing throughout the whole story. However, how does one create such a narrator? Does the viewpoint have to be first person, or can third person suffice? How do you keep readers following the path you've laid out without guessing the real story? A discussion on the making and use of an unreliable narrator.; Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Gordon Linzner, Joy Marchand (m), Ken Schneyer

Building a Poly Home — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): You know that multiple relationships are the right path for you, and are thinking of moving from dating to cohabitating. Deciding to move in together can be a tricky proposition for any relationship, but it can get even more complicated when there are more than two people involved. When it's time to pack the U-Haul, what are the potential issues—emotional, legal, and logistical—that you might face? Come hear from our panelists about the joys and challenges of creating a poly home.; Thomas A. Amoroso, Michelle Driscoll, Ken Olum, Ian Cooper Rose (m), Bobbi "Bey" Woodward, Jonathan Woodward

Fashion Throughout History — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Panelists will discuss how fashion, styles, and traditions changed throughout the years, and what that means for historical costuming. What are the most important things historical costumers should know in their research? Where do people most likely make mistakes? What makes a costume historically authentic, and how important is it? What tips can be offered on hand versus machine sewing, fabrics, and sources?; Sean Dixon-Gumm, Woodrow "asim" Hill (m), Elaine Isaak, Daniel Marsh

Reading: Hafer, Hunt, & Kirschbaum — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Abby Hafer, Walter Hunt, and Andrew Kirschbaum read selections from their works.; Abby Hafer, Walter Hunt, Andrew Kirschbaum

Arisia Corporate Meeting — ConComm, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): An open meeting of Arisia Inc., the organization that helps the con committee do its job every year. Non-members welcome (and welcome to join us).; Lisa Hertel, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, Benjamin Levy, Rachel L. Silber

Braiding Voices: Singing Rounds & Related Forms — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Take simple threads of music and weave them into a fabric of harmony: Rounds, guazas, and maybe a quodlibet or two.; Anabel Graetz (m), Angela Kessler, Vanessa Layne

Skin Painting — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Want to become a living canvas? Our panelists will be on hand to decorate faces, arms, and legs with all manner of beautiful designs. All ages welcome!; Bill Frankenfield

The Electric Grandmother — Media, Projected Media — 1hr — Harbor III (3E): In this adaptation of Ray Bradbury's I Sing the Body Electric, a robotic grandmother comes to live with a family to help them over the death of their mother. If only we could have a robot editor to help us over the death of a great writer.

Future Fantasy — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Epic fantasy is mostly set in the past. Urban fantasy is mostly set in the present. Why are there so few works that use magic and are set in the future? What might a futuristic fantasy world look like, and is it really indistinguishable from a sufficiently advanced technology?; Erik Amundsen, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Meredith Schwartz, Sonya Taaffe

Beyond Binary: Exploring Gender Via SF/Fantasy — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): When words can take you to the outer limits of space and far-flung fantastic lands, why should so many cultures share the same gender definitions (and oppressions) as we have in the present-day US? How has SF/F given us a different (and hopefully better) perspective on defining gender, and where is it falling short? What are some examples of literature that do a good job in exploring or addressing gender issues of our real world? What are some things we haven't seen yet but would like to?; Dash, Greer Gilman, Julia Rios (m), Cecilia Tan

Beyond the Fringe — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): The final season of Fringe has ended. Is this the great unsung SF series of the past few years? What do we make of the show and its odd take on Boston? Are we satisfied with its conclusion or did they blow it? And is Walter the character on TV you'd most like to have a strawberry milkshake with?; Inanna Arthen, Thomas Boutilier, Melina M.Gunnett (m), PJ Letersky, Susan Soares

Nerf War Support — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): I had an idea to support the Nerf War. I have worked out a way of reliably making paper rockets that are launched by blowing through a straw. I think for safety, range, and accuracy, they are on par with the Nerf Guns. A short time before the start of Nerf War, we could help the unprepared warriors to prepare.; Scott Wilhelm

Piscis Volans Circus — Events, Drama — 1hr — Grand DE (1W): The Piscis Volans is New England's premiere steam-punk circus troupe, featuring acts ranging from aerial arts and prop play, to contortionism and belly dancing! The crew is a collection of some twisted characters, so with a little live music this is the party you don't want to miss.; Eve Chaussee, Ainsley-Aude Croteau, Lauren Czaplyski, Alison Duda (m), Sara Garland, AJ Gould, Samantha Jacobus, Daryn Merchant, Kyle Nadeau, Emily O'Neil, Ana Ortega, Allie Pixie, Tyler Santinelli, Merg Spreadbury, Chris Stevens, Scott Winchester

Autograph—Kane, Pelland, & Salaam — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Catherine Kane, Jennifer Pelland, and Kiini Ibura Salaam.; Catherine Kane, Jennifer Pelland, Kiini Ibura Salaam

Art Show Auction — Art, Participatory Event — 2hr — Art Show (1E): A live voice auction for contested art from the Art Show (anything with 4 or more bids), the Dueling Easels paintings, and selected Director's Choice paintings. MC'd by Art Show Director Megan Lewis.

Sunday 5:00pm

Walk the Labyrinth — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 2hr — Commonwealth ABC (1W): Take a long walk in a small space. Come find your center in our 30'x30' Seven-Circuit Classical Labyrinth. A tool for walking meditation, use it to find a little peace during the excitement of Arisia. Supervised children welcome.; Sandy Charron, Derek D. Lichter, Jude Shabry (m)

Sunday 5:15pm

Technotise: Edit & I — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 28min — Stone (2): Belgrade 2074. Edit is a student. After a few failed exams, she decides to implant a memory chip… but something strange starts happening to her. Euro Anime, subtitled, 7.2 IMDB, rated R for language and adult themes, 2009, Serbia.

Sunday 5:30pm

Forensic Science and Criminal Justice — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Just how much can real-world forensic science and criminal justice tackle fields such as ballistics, DNA evidence, drugs, entomology, finding relationships and patterns in crime scenes and evidence? And, while forensic scientists work to improve accuracy and sensitivity, just how much are criminals able to use the same technological understanding to hide their crimes? Come discuss how and why courts (and the media) get it wrong, and how that misunderstanding differs from what is really possible.; William Hebard, Reese Jordan, Sarah Smith, Lisa J. Steele (m), Michael A. Ventrella

Sexuality in Comics — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): We'll be discussing how human sexuality is portrayed in both superhero and non-superhero comics.; Ed Fuqua, Karl G. Heinemann, Alex Jarvis (m), Lindsay Moore, Brianna Wu

Pulling the Emotional Strings — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): How do you get your readers to laugh, cry, or turn pale in horror from your printed words? How do you keep readers in suspense for an entire story? What techniques work to evoke empathy/sympathy for the characters so that your readers feel what they feel?; Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Joy Marchand (m), Jennifer Pelland, Everett Soares, Carolyn VanEseltine

Our Other Obsessions — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Believe it or not, sometimes geeks like things that are, well, not so geeky. Come join our panel for a discussion on our mainstream hobbies, and how they intersect with the rest of our lives.; Jeni Rae Duschak, David G. Shaw, Hillary Sherwood, Michele Weinstein, James A. Wolf (m)

Strong Stories with Strong Parents — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Absent or clueless parents are endemic in YA fiction. It's much easier to put your young protagonists in dramatic peril when Mom and/or Dad aren't there, aren't up to protecting or rescuing them, or not noticing they've gone AWOL. Let's talk about YA books that feature strong, capable parents who do the right things but whose kids still get in fantastic hot water. What are some of the ways of creating peril and predicament for teen characters even as their guardians parent them well?; Brandy Danner, Mikki Kendall, Bart Leib, Sonya Taaffe, Trisha Wooldridge (m)

Reading: Feinman, G. Gilman, & Lidell — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Alexander Feinman, Greer Gilman, and Alex Lidell will read selections from their works.; Alex Feinman, Greer Gilman, Alex Lidell

Designing a Memorable Roleplaying Character — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Designing a memorable character for a roleplaying campaign or LARP can be tricky. One must balance the limits of the gaming system, the demands of the narrative, and one's own preferences, but it's a critical element if you hope to have fun in the game. Our seasoned panel will share tips and techniques for creating memorable and fun characters for all sorts of roleplaying games, followed by a Q&A session.; T. Christopher Davis, Steven Hammond, Percival, Scott Wilhelm, Jonathan Woodward (m)

Delsarte Technique: Victorian Oratory — Music, Workshop — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Anabel Graetz, in addition to having taught thousands of people to sing, is one of very few living people trained in this most famous of Victorian oratorical techniques.; Anabel Graetz

Origami: The Art of Paperfolding — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Paper folding for everyone. Learn to fold flowers, balloons, and more! Beginners and intermediate folders welcome. Paper will be provided.; Andrew Anselmo (m), Sparr Risher, Guillermo Zeballos

Asexuality and Asexual Characters in SF — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): We're all familiar by now with the sexual orientations homosexual, heterosexual, and bi/pansexual. Much less discussed are asexuals, people who do not experience sexual attraction (but who may experience romantic attraction). We'll discuss what asexuality is and is not. Is it enough that a character has no on-page sex life, or should asexuality be more positively portrayed? We'll cover examples of works that include asexual characters, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these works.; Dash (m), Adrianne Brennan, Julia Rios

Avoiding Culturefail — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): How can writers best avoid creating simplistic or hurtful imaginary cultures? How can you portray real world cultures (and fictional cultures derived from them) without resorting to stereotypes? Is doing research enough? Where do you start?; Woodrow "asim" Hill (m), Vylar Kaftan, Daniel JosÃ© Older, Sabrina Vourvoulias

Game of Thrones — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): How does the HBO series compare to George R. R. Martin's books? Do you need to read the books to appreciate the show? Season 3 (starting in March) will cover only part of the next book which will continue to Season 4. Can a complex, multi-book series be successfully adapted for television? What if they didn't include all those hot naked people? And would you keep on watching if Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) got killed off?; Hugh Casey, Randee Dawn, Toni Lay, Meredith Schwartz (m)

Autograph—Fishbone — Writing, Signing — 1hr 15min — Autograph Space (1W): Autograph session with Greg R. Fishbone.; Greg R. Fishbone

Sunday 6:00pm

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Anarchist Pep Rally — Theater, Drama — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Anarchist Pep Rally is a collection of funny, manic rants on the politics of being awake. Elvis and chaos theory, the first soccer after apartheid, and the time a contestant on Let's Make a Deal fought for her baby ducks.; Michael Anderson

Classic Trailer Park — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Harbor III (3E): Everybody's favorite event! Ninety minutes of trailers for movies you love, hate, and never heard of! Once again we reach into the dumpsters behind the movie theater for the finest trailers possible, old and new. Presented mostly in 35mm with some 16mm and plenty of bizarre film formats.

Sunday 6:40pm

Dating the Enemy — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 1hr 40min — Stone (2): Comedy/Fantasy/Romance. A couple—a messy science journalist and a neat television host—wake up one morning to find they have switched bodies. A study in Gender roles. PG-13 Australia

Sunday 7:00pm

Medicine in Science Fiction and Science Fact — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): How doctors can keep soldiers alive—and who they're able to save, piece back together, and rehabilitate—is amazing. People with partially severed spines are taught to walk again with brain plasticity. The blind can have holes drilled into their brains and, with a computer, be made to 'see' a dot-matrix image. Drill electrodes into a skull and recreate a visual memory with a computer. How else are science fiction and science fact rapidly converging? Where do mad science and real science meet?; Thomas A. Amoroso, Anna Erishkigal, Dr. James Prego, Frank Wu (m)

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Panelists who have experience with the CBLDF, in varying capacities, delve into its history, discuss its origins, explore its advocacy, and explain its necessity in today's comics industry.; Alexa Dickman (m), Glenn Hauman, Alex Jarvis, Daniel Miller

Are Rules Meant to be Broken? — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Games have rules; societies have rules; guilds, armies, and magic all have rules. In fiction, sometimes the rules are explicit and sometimes they're implied. Either way, the rules create audience expectations. Panelists will discuss their approach to creating, using, and sometimes breaking rules in their writing.; Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Vylar Kaftan, Joy Marchand (m), Suzanne Palmer, Ian Randal Strock

Have We Arrived? — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): The New Yorker has a SF issue. HBO's premere original program is a fantasy series. Superheros dominate the box office. 'The Big Bang Theory' has science and fan memes on a network sitcom. Our cliches are omnipresent in the media. So, the question is, have the ghetto walls been broken down or is this a temporary fad? Come discuss where geeks fit in the social hierarchy!; Abby Hafer, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, A. Joseph Ross (m), JeffWarner, James Zavaglia

Interstitial Arts: A Discussion — Literature, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Interstitial art refers to any work whose nature falls between, rather than within, the familiar boundaries of recognized genres, making the work difficult to categorize or describe. This open discussion will be moderated by the co-founder of the Interstitial Arts Foundation, with participation by members of the IAF's Board and Working Group eager to discuss what interstitial art means to our community and how the IAF could better support and encourage interstitial work.; Julia Rios

Addressing Sexual Harassment in Our Communities — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Harassment and safety at conventions is not a new topic, but it has been very much in the spotlight for the past couple of years. Many conventions, including Arisia, are taking steps to prioritize safety. What are the best ways to make convention attendees safer? Should we be looking at convention polices and enforcement, reporting procedures, or social change on what fans tolerate as acceptable behavior? How do our current strategies work, how could they work better, and who is doing it well?; Woodrow "asim" Hill, Crystal Huff, Nicole Jurkowski, Shira Lipkin (m), Maddy Myers

Bawdy Song Circle — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): A moderated open circle for songs amorous, erotic, sexy, raunchy, or just plain lewd—with an emphasis on songs from a woman's perspective. Songs may be as rude as you like, but rudeness in excess of cleverness is tacky. (Note: If you think violence is clever, you're probably mistaken.) Sing, play, or just listen! Some material may be unsuitable for children.; E. J. Barnes (m), Kate Farb-Johnson, Anabel Graetz

Art Cars: A Primer — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): For some people, there is nothing more fun than driving around in a car painted bright colors with clown shoes or other amusing things glued to the hood. In this panel, we'll talk about the basics of Art Cars, including some how-to, possible legal issues, and how to handle the inevitable comments.; Dawn Albright (m), Bill Frankenfield

Rails of New England — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): Designed by Arisia's own Walter Hunt, Rails of New England is a historically accurate game of making money in the 19th century. Buy businesses, and build your railroad to improve them and take advantage of the many ways to gain assets.

Healthcare in Speculative Fiction — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): As the baby boomers approach retirement age, healthcare, and eldercare, the entire field of medicine is ever more urgently in need of advancement. We should be able to look to SF for a preview of what to expect in terms of medical advances, assistive technology, and more. How is SF dealing with the concepts of health and medicine, and what it means to be well?; Alexander Jablokov, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Meg Westfox

Race and Identity in SF/F — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Does genre literature have tools and tropes uniquely suited to complex discussions about race and identity? How can authors create racially diverse characters while avoiding tokenism and stereotypes? Is a "multicultural" future enough? Is the very notion of a post-racial society hopelessly naive?; Dash, Brandon Easton, Daniel JosÃ© Older, Kiini Ibura Salaam (m), Sabrina Vourvoulias

Prometheus and the Alien Series — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Starting with the original Alien in 1979, through the various sequels and most recently the prequel Prometheus, the Aliens franchise seems to keep going. Does Prometheus add anything significant to the mythology? And what about the Alien vs. Predator crossovers; should they count? Are the films simply about H.R. Giger's landmark and nightmarish designs or is there more than meets the eye?; Dr.Chris, Bob Chipman, Randee Dawn (m), John G. McDaid, Dan Morris

NERF Gun War — Fast Track, Participatory Event — 3hr — Webster (2): Bring your NERF guns and plenty of ammo for an all-out NERF gun battle! Please note that protective eyewear is Mandatory—bring goggles if you have them. A limited number of NERF guns and protective goggles are available for those who don't own one. Because of safety considerations, please do not bring modified NERF guns.; Scott Wilhelm

Masquerade doors open for seating — Events, Participatory Event — 1hr — Grand AB (1W): Masquerade doors open for seating.

Sunday 7:30pm

Looper — Media, Projected Media — 2hr — Harbor III (3E): What if there were time machines, and what if the mafia used them to rub out people they wanted to get rid of, in the past? And what if a killer was sent to kill himself? This is one of the finest time-travel films to come out in years. Was it this film that recently encouraged the Chinese government to make time-travel illegal? In 35mm Cinemascope.

Sunday 8:00pm

Devo Spice II — Music, Concert — 1hr — Harbor II (3E): Devo Spice performs the comedy-rap songs that have made him one of the most requested artists on the Dr. Demento Show. Topics include technology, computers, Doctor Who, the 1980's, and more.

The Masquerade — Events, Participatory Event — 3hr — Grand AB (1W): Come watch the entrants perform short vignettes to show off their costumes and see if your pick matches that of the judges. (Will be simulcast on Arisia TV.)

Sunday 8:20pm

Bunraku — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 5min — Stone (2): In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter, a bartender, and a young samurai plot revenge against a ruthless leader and his army of thugs, headed by nine diverse and deadly assassins. CGI that emulates paper cut-out stop motion in combination with Japanese style Bunraku origami puppeteers, and sets the stage for the aesthetic atmosphere that will absorb the rest of the film. Josh Hartnett, Ron Perlman, Demi Moore. R violence/ language 2010

Sunday 8:30pm

The Bolos are Coming! — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Given the success of the Google (DARPA) self-driving car, and the U.S. military's trend towards remotely piloted and semi-autonomous weapons platforms, how long does our panel of experts think it will be before Keith Laumer's A.I. augmented and heavily armed tank takes its place on the battlefield?; Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Richard Stallman, Andrew Van Zandt, JeffWarner

Diversity in the Audience — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Who's reading comics these days? All of us! The center of the comic book audience is still thought to be teenage boys but is that really true? Inspired by this amazing comic: http://doctor-morbius.deviantart.com/#/d5210z7; Alexa Dickman (m), Brandon Easton, Karl G. Heinemann, Woodrow "asim" Hill, Paula Lieberman

Writing and the Law — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): What are you legal rights as an author? What are the "gotcha" items to watch out for in a publishing contract? What kind of rights to publish your story should you give the publisher? Are there significant legal differences between publishing via traditional methods versus publishing online?; Greg R. Fishbone, William Frank (m), Vylar Kaftan, Ken Schneyer, James A. Wolf

Alternative Lifestyles and Fandom — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): It is no secret that a large portion of fans overlap with the alternative lifestyle community. Why do so many fans identify as kinky, poly, or queer? What is it about Fandom that makes it so accepting of Alternate Lifestyles that are not necessarily accepted in the larger community? Why are there kink panels at a science fiction con? How can we be sure to accommodate and embrace all that is a fan interest while making everyone feel welcome?; Bridget Joyce Boyle, Lawrence "LORDLNYC" Nelson, Percival, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Michelle Wexelblat (m)

Speculative Fiction on Stage — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Fandom tends to ignore the theatrical world, but playwrights are increasingly turning to SF for ideas. Theater buffs and critics talk about what's good and bad in theatrical SF and Fantasy.; Andy Hicks, Bob Kuhn (m), Stephen R. Wilk

Reading: Marchand & Rabuzzi — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Joy Marchand and Daniel Rabuzzi will read selections from their works.; Joy Marchand, Daniel Rabuzzi

Why Zombies? Why Now? — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Join Arisia Guests of Honor Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes in a discussion about zombies, and their place in both our literature and our culture. What makes them so intriguing and yet so mainstream?; Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (m)

Pick, Pass, Play Open Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Come listen and/or make music in this unthemed song circle. We will go around in a circle, giving every person a chance to perform (Play), request a song (Pick), or Pass. All types of music are welcome, but expect to hear a lot of songs related to science fiction, fantasy, science, and fandom.; Paul Estin (m), Kate Farb-Johnson

Worldbuilding for Games — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Prepublished settings and campaigns can be a big time-saver, but there's nothing like running a world—or worlds—of your own creation. The construction of your campaign and setting can make or break your campaign down the road. Our experts share their best practices and pitfalls for creating a world that will give your players an experience they'll never forget.; Morgan Crooks, T. Christopher Davis, Ed Fuqua, Peter Maranci, Alan Wexelblat (m)

Speculative Poetry is Awesome — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Over the past decade, speculative poetry has increasingly turned toward the mythic, personal, and powerful in subject matter, with venues such as Strange Horizons, Goblin Fruit, Mythic Delirium, Stone Telling, Cabinet des FÃ©es, and Jabberwocky showcasing a new generation of poets who've redefined what this type of writing can do. Come discuss what's new and wonderful in the world of speculative poetry!; Erik Amundsen (m), Shira Lipkin, Julia Rios, Sonya Taaffe

Fans as Agents of Social Service — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): From blood drives to bone marrow registry drives to benefits for disease research and the "Reading Is Fundamental" auction at Balticon—fandom has a history of doing socially useful stuff. What are our successes? Where could we do better? What aren't we doing within fandom that we could?; Bill Frankenfield, John C. F. Hodges, Kara Hurvitz (m), Cheryl Wallace

Doctor Who: The Dissertation of the Daleks — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): We continue our celebration of all things Who with a look at the Daleks, one of the Doctor's oldest and most persistent adversaries. Why are they so popular? When will they return? And how can they be stopped now that they don't need to climb stairs?; Samantha Dings, Forest Handford, Victoria Janssen, Michael Lee, Adam Lipkin (m)

Sunday 9:45pm

Mars Briefing — Media, Projected Media — 6min — Harbor III (3E): This fan-produced short tells the story of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds from a very different perspective. In Martian with English subtitles. In 16mm, Color by Cinelab.

Sunday 9:50pm

John Carter — Media, Projected Media — 2hr 15min — Harbor III (3E): Adapted from Burroughs' classic Princess of Mars, this is the gallant tale of a Virginian transplanted to Mars who comes to the aid of a beautiful princess of that lush and bountiful planet. This film did poorly at the box office because nobody knew what it was. Fans know, though, and if you liked the book, you will be pleased with the adaptation. "It's a great film but Disney doesn't know how to sell it," says Daniel Kimmel. "I am not like other men," says John Carter.

Sunday 10:00pm

The 100-Year Starship Project — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): DARPA and the NASA Ames Research Center have continued work on the 100-Year Starship Study. What capabilities are required to successfully mount a human interstellar mission? Is the best approach to reaching the stars a giant leap or incremental baby steps? What are the philosophical, moral, technological, and scientific advantages of a human versus a robotic crew?; Terry Franklin, David Larochelle (m), Alexandra Thorn, JeffWarner

Webcomics for Everyone's Stories — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Comics on the internet are the best way to get representation for the stories DC and Marvel won't touch. What are some examples of the kinds of alternative characters and narratives found in webcomics—or beyond superheroes.; Alexander C. Danner (m), Rhea Ewing, William Frank, Daniel Marsh, Elayna Jade Smolowitz

Self-Publishing 202: Independent Press — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): A forum for authors or groups with multiple works to self-publish, or established authors looking for an additional revenue stream. Topics covered will include the type of business entity to form (e.g., corporation, LLP, and sole proprietor), keeping the IRS happy, launching your own website, taking advantage of the Small Business Administration, finding quality editing on a budget, marketing your books, ISBN's, Inbound Marketing, and Search Engine Optimization.

Introduction to Power Exchange — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): TPE, Collars, Contracts, 24/7? Dominance and submission is a huge part of the BDSM world. Giving control to another person, whether it is for the duration of scene, a night, or an entire relationship, can be thrilling and a little terrifying. Come hear experienced kinksters discuss how they engage in power exchange, what makes it fun, and how to negotiate a D/s or M/s relationship.; Michelle Driscoll (m), laurel, Shelley Marsh, Percival, Ian Cooper Rose

The Record 2012 Open Arctic — Science, Lecture — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): September 2012 saw less ice viewed by satellites in the Arctic Ocean than had ever been observed in the 47 years that they have been orbiting the earth. There are stunning implications for climate/weather, Earth's energy balance, and public policy. Will CO2 no longer be a major driver of planetary temperatures? What will replace it?; Tom Wysmuller

Reading: Fuqua & Kane — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Ed Fuqua and Catherine Kane will read selections from their works.; Ed Fuqua, Catherine Kane

The Dark Lords — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Emperor Palpatine, Sauron, and Voldemort are prominent dark figures of power. A discussion of their sinister machinations, motivations, and misdeeds. What other characters live up to this title? What does it take to be a Dark Lord?; Ira Domnitz, Jaime Garmendia, James T. Henderson Jr, Suford Lewis (m), John C. Watson

Pick, Pass, Play Open Filk — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Even more music!; Elizabeth Birdsall

The Future of Rapid Prototyping Technology — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, SLS machines… As the technology improves, these tools are starting to be used for actual production, not just prototyping. Where is this trend going? Are Star Trek style replicators on their way?; James Bredt, Scott Lefton, Sparr Risher, Judah Sher (m)

Unreliable Narrators in Speculative Fiction — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): If someone reports they're hearing voices from another dimension, we readers of speculative fiction are likely to take them at their word. However, in a mainstream novel, that's a clue that we have a narrator who is not to be taken altogether seriously. Is the device of an unreliable narrator a marker that we're teetering on the border between mainstream and fantasy? Is sometimes crazy just crazy, and have there been good uses of unreliable narrators in genre fiction?; Christopher K. Davis (m), Kate Nepveu, Sarah Smith, Sonya Taaffe

Is Western Animation Finally Catching Up? — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Recently, there has been a spate of high quality animation that, while still ostensibly for the kids, can also appeal to the grownups as well—Korra, Young Justice, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and more. Has anime influenced them? Is there a shared connection between the creators and fans?; James "Coder Brony" Turner, JoSelle Vanderhooft, James A. Wolf (m)

GM Helpline — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): Having trouble with your game? Have the players broken the plot? Or do you just need a little inspiration? Our panel of experienced game masters will answer questions, offer advice, and make suggestions.; W. "Ian" Blanton, T. Christopher Davis, Steven Hammond, Brian Liberge (m), Peter Maranci

Sunday 10:25pm

Poligamy — Fan Interest, Projected Media — 1hr 24min — Stone (2): AndrÃ¡s, a struggling screenwriter, every day wakes up to find his girlfriend replaced by a different girl, who acts like nothing happened. The first Polyamourous/Quantum uncertainty film. 2009 Subtitled R Hungary

Sunday 11:30pm

The Eye of Argon — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): The reading of the infamous text.; Keith R. A. DeCandido, Walter Hunt, Daniel M. Kimmel, Hildy Silverman, Michael A. Ventrella

Home Depot in the Bedroom — Maker, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): You don't have to spend a fortune to have an impressive toybox. Home Depot is an adult playground and toystore, if you walk the aisles with an open mind. We'll discuss tricks, tips, and ideas for your next "home improvement" project. 18+ only.; John Bacon, Reese Jordan, Scott Lefton (m), Percival, Sparr Risher

Unmoderated Open Filk — Music, Panel — 5hr 45min — Griffin (3E): Open Filk descends into chaos. Music will continue as long as people are interested.

Um, It's Complicated: Relationships in SF/F — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): As complex as real world relationships are, SF/F fiction offers a much wider (and weirder) array of choices, options, and difficulties. Does dating a hive mind count as being monogamous? How about pre-emptive paternity suits filed against time travelers? What if you're in love with a sentient cloud of neutrinos? From John Varley's Eight Worlds stories to Charles Stross's Accelerando and beyond, explore the limits of what relationships are like in a world different from our own.; Erik Amundsen, Santiago Rivas, Meredith Schwartz (m), Cecilia Tan

50th Anniversary of Classic Anime — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): While 1963 is the 50th anniversary of a certain British TV show, three major SF anime series began in the same year. Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy), Tetsujin 28 (Gigantor), and 8 Man have influenced later anime and manga, and in this panel we'll discuss how and why they were so relevant.; Mario Di Giacomo, Richard Ralston, Mike Toole (m)

Sunday 11:50pm

Ronal the Barbarian — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 29min — Stone (2): CGI fantasy comedy about young Ronal who lives in a barbarian village. Ronal is weak, skinny, and doesn't have the usual barbarian traits, so is considered a laughing stock. Then one day his village gets attacked, and his tribe is kidnapped by the evil Volcazar. Ronal decides to save his tribe and defeat Volcazar, but on his way he must survive many dangerous situations. Subtitled, R, Denmark.

Monday 12:00am

Repo the Genetic Opera — Theater, Drama — 2hr — Grand AB (1W): Presented by The Teseracte Players of Boston, join the RKO Army as they take you to a world gone wrong. Family drama and a corporate power struggle play out on a backdrop of a society wracked with disease, where transplants are reclaimed when the bill comes past due.; Samantha Acampora, Casey Amos, Erika Attaya, Kaylee Baglezz, Kara Cancelliere, Matt Cicero, Kels Ferguson, George Foster, Amanda Fuvich, Jeana Garcia, Mia Gaulin, Jeremy Giannetti, Cassia Gordon, Nicole Hanscom, Ryan Heady, Dave Hollinsworth, Mike Kichenman, Chris Lawrence, Allie Lesniak, Glenn MacWilliams, Little Mel, Bobby Menard, Maddy Meyers, Ray Mitchell, Jessi Pysz, J. Chris Quint, Christine Raboin, Roy Rossi, Chris Smith, Ben Stanfield, Matt Stewart, Amanda Taylor, Amanda Vetelino

Monday 1:20am

Khottabych — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 30min — Stone (2): SF/Fantasy/Comedy. A Moscow hacker acquires a magic kettle with a Russian genie inside. Romance, Russian Mafia, and Microsoft ensue. 2006, R, subtitled, Russia.

Monday 2:50am

Extraterrestrial — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 34min — Stone (2): Everyone knows what to do if one morning the sky would be absolutely full of UFOs: run as fast as you can. However, what would happen if the invasion started while you are in the flat of the girl of your dreams, the one you have just met? R, subtitled, 2011, Spain.

Monday 4:25am

Crowley — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 46min — Stone (2): In 1947, noted Satanist Aleister Crowley dies. In Cambridge, 43 years later, with the help of a computer, Crowley's spirit takes over the body of Haddo, a mild-mannered, stuttering don. Over four days, as Crowley prepares for an occult extravaganza, bodies pile up, Crowley's elect engage in rites of passage, and Lia, a red-headed campus reporter, sniffs out a story that puts her in grave danger. Mathers, a scientist recently arrived from Cal Tech, may hold the key to her destiny. R 2008 UK

Monday 6:10am

Hinokio: Inter Galactic Love — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 50min — Stone (2): A boy tele-remotely uses a robot to live his surrogate life. This knowing take on young life has an E.T. vibe, while the more mature, grim aspects stir up memories of A.I. Japanese, live action, PG, subtitled.

Monday 8:00am

Daddy, I Am a Zombie — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 18min — Stone (2): Dixie is a 13-year-old girl, unhappy with her life: her mother is divorced from her father, a coroner, and in her school she is considered weird due to her gothic aspect. One night, Dixie suffers an accident when a tree crashes against her during a storm. Dixie wakes up later in the middle of a cemetery, turned in a zombie. With the help of Isis, an Egyptian mummy, and Gonner, a pirate zombie, Dixie tries to return to life.

Monday 8:30am

YA Books for Adult Readers — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): A lot of adults have become interested in young adult literature these past few years. Is there a difference between the YA lit that actually appeals to teens and that which appeals to adults? Is there a difference between the YA lit that a parent would recommend to his/her teens and the YA lit that a parent would read him/herself?; Aurora Celeste, Brandy Danner, Ed Fuqua, Alisa Kwitney Sheckley, Adam Lipkin (m)

Learn how to play — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Learn how to play a wide variety of games, taught by a rising star in the GM community, one Brian Hertel. Learn games like Dominion, 7 Wonders, Munchkin, Fluxx, and many more. Although this feature of the game room is aimed at teaching kids how to play, adults are welcome to play.

Table Top RPG with Damien — Fast Track, Panel — 4hr 15min — Hancock (2): Back by popular demand, Damien is running another weekend long game. Come join in the fun!; Z. Quinn Ochs Thomas, Damien Turi

Geeky Play Date — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Looking to meet up with other parents and kids at the con? Geeky Play Date is a casual, drop-in space for you and your children. Kids can bring their favorite toys and make new friends! Parents can do the same! Please note: this is NOT a babysitting service/venue, plan on tending to your children. If you need to leave a Red-Ribbon Fast Track child for a 10am panel, you may do so after 9:45, and checking with Fast Track staff.; Dale Meyer-Curley, Liz Turi

Swords of Chivalry 2 — Fast Track, Participatory Event — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Hands on swordsmanship lessons for kids. Come use safe, foam weapons to learn the skills a knight would have used!; Dawn-Marie Dunn, Stuart Ferguson (m)

Monday 9:00am

The Day Ponyville Stood Still — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 5hr — Harbor I (3E): A My Little Pony Friendship is Magic game running off an unofficial MLP system. One day, FOALs (the science fiction and adventure fanclub of Ponyville) decided to start a convention. Things have been running well during the convention until a strange pony shows up. Suddenly, everything is going wrong. No pony is who they seem and there is no foal who has all the answers.

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Audience Choice Film — Media, Projected Media — 2hr — Harbor III (3E): We will run any of the films listed for this weekend. You must arrive at 9:00 in order to cast your vote. Film will begin promptly at 9:15 after setup and preparation.

Monday 9:20am

Happy Duckling — Media, Projected Media — 9min — Stone (2): This innovative animated adventure, set in a pop-up book, follows a young boy who is reluctantly followed by a relentlessly happy duck. G, 2009, UK.

Monday 9:30am

Going Boldly (Web) — Media, Projected Media — 9min — Stone (2): Sneak Peak at 2015 reboot of Star Trek: New Voyages (now called Phase II), with a new Captain Kirk. Note: this is an early release, as there is a two year backlog of new episodes in post-production with the prior actor/director.

Monday 9:40am

Justice League: Doom — Media, Projected Media — 1hr 15min — Stone (2): Vandal Savage steals confidential files that Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League, and learns all their weaknesses. With Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern. Animated, PG-13.

Monday 10:00am

It's Metric, Baby! — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Two hundred years ago Napoleon first authorized the use of what would become the metric system. Love it or hate it, SI units are highly utilized in science, since their base unit system makes them so easy to calculate. However, the US still doesn't seem to have adopted it for mainstream usage. Is that the future? Discuss the quirks of a mixed system, defend your favorite, and figure out what the metric system could do for you!; Amy Chused, Alexander Jablokov, David Larochelle (m)

Short Fiction: Why Is It So Awesome? — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Short fiction is thriving in the age of the internet, and for good reason. It often takes more risks than novels do, and is free to explore ideas that don't need the length of a trilogy of novels. Come discuss your favorite short work and where to find it!; Erik Amundsen, Julia Rios, Ken Schneyer, Hildy Silverman (m)

Caught in the Slipstream: Fiction Between Genres — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): An increasing number of works don't seem to fit comfortably within genre boundaries—stories that use science fiction, fantasy, or horror tropes in combination or as an unusual aspect to otherwise non-speculative fiction. This is a discussion of crossover and interstitial fiction that points out the best of what's out there, why each piece succeeds, and how it expands the horizons of readers.; Daniel JosÃ© Older, Daniel Rabuzzi, David G. Shaw, Sabrina Vourvoulias (m)

Biophilia and the Cities of the Future — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): In the early 1980s, Edward O. Wilson coined the term biophilia. Recently, the idea has taken off as an academic study in architecture and urban planning. How will the human affinity for natural forms play out on the Ganymede colony or on a deep space exploration vessel?; Martha Adams, Fabrisse (m), Cristina Garmendia, Toni Lay

Wigs for Costuming — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): To achieve the best look possible, getting the right hair is a must. Wigs are great option, especially when characters have crazy colors and styles. Learn styling tips and the best places to buy wigs.; Christa Newman, Elizabeth O'Malley, Carol Salemi (m)

How Fans Hurt and Help Public Faces of Fandom — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Last year, Stephen King said Stephenie Meyer "can't write," and the "Twi-hards" came to defend her. Twilight boards were filled with reasonable discussions of the criticism, while sites like the Entertainment Weekly blog were filled with ill-informed attacks on King. Many fans have said they would never read the Twilight books because of the public image of Meyer's fanbase. How does the public face of fans help or hurt an author? Can fans do anything to change the perception of their fandom?; Randee Dawn (m), Shana Fuqua, Michael Lee, Paula Lieberman, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Poly in Sci-Fi — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Carlton (3E): For many of us, our first visions of the possibility of polyamory or ethical non-monogamy came from sci-fi of one sort or another. Heinlein is the most common, but many authors explore this topic. Which authors explore it, what are the differences in the different visions, and how does it shape poly in fandom today?; Thomas A. Amoroso, Karl G. Heinemann (m), Alan M., Meredith Schwartz

Bullying in Fandom — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): The fannish community claims to be anti-bullying, but online forums and message boards often teem with racist, sexist, and homophobic banter. Other groups, such as Furries, also face harassment. Minorities often encounter offensive comments and even threats of physical violence when criticizing an aspect of geek culture (such as depictions of people like them in a popular work). Why is bullying so prevalent in the community? How can we make fandom a more welcoming and respectful place for all?; Inanna Arthen, Melissa Kaplan, Little Mel (m), Lindsay Moore, Elayna Jade Smolowitz

Costuming for LARPs — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Costumes make LARPs atmospheric and engaging. For some games, they are essential! This panel will discuss costuming for dramatic effect, comfort, on a budget, and at the last minute. What is different about costuming for indoor, theatrical events as opposed to boffers in the woods? How can you look awesome while wearing something practical? Learn the secrets to make your costumes a success.; Anna Erishkigal, Bill Frankenfield, Heidi Hooper, Nightwing Whitehead (m)

Arisia Maker Showcase — Maker, Participatory Event — 4hr — Harbor II (3E): Our first annual Maker Showcase! Meet members of the local Maker community and see their latest projects in action!; Karen Christians, Bob Field, Melissa Glick, Henry Houh, Dan Landers, Marcy Laraway-Canterbury, Maggie McFee, Kevin Osborn, Ecco Pierce, Molly Rubenstein, Joe Schlesinger, Brandon Stafford, David Stokes

What SF/F Series Should I Begin With? — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): There are so many worthwhile SF/F series are out there, with new volumes still coming out regularly, that it's hard for the discerning reader to know where to begin. Temeraire? Discworld (and if so, which storyline)? The Vorkosigan Saga? Help! This panel will help discerning readers sort through the dross and discover a series or three that will really tickle their fancy for not just one afternoon's reading but many to come.; C.S.E. Cooney, Christopher K. Davis (m), William Frank, Dennis McCunney, Don Sakers

Anime for Bakas — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): An introductory course in Anime for fen who want to get their feet wet. What is a good starting point? Is subtitled or dubbed better? What are the "must see" anime titles?; Mario Di Giacomo, Richard Ralston (m), John C. Watson, James A. Wolf

All Together Now: Yellow Submarine at 45 — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): This year marks the 45th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' animated movie Yellow Submarine. It is a classic musical fantasy film for children of all ages, complete with bizarre creatures, fantastical adventures, and an overarching moral theme. Nominated for a Hugo, Yellow Submarine remains transcendent beyond its litany of classic songs by the Beatles. It influenced the look and feel of animated film for many years after.; Mark L. Amidon, Adam Fromm, Victoria Janssen, Daniel Miller, Michael A. Ventrella (m), JeffWarner

Gimp Basics — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Learn the butterfly, round, or square stitch using plastic lace.; Lisa Hertel

Quilting Basics — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Learn how to take small pieces of fabric and put them together to make a doll-sized blanket or a teddy-bear blanket.; Dawn Albright (m), Kate Brick

Pirate Time! — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Its Pirate Time! Come and make Pirate related crafts with Pirate related discussions!; Melina M.Gunnett, Forest Handford

Vinyasa Flow Yoga — Fan Interest, Participatory Event — 1hr 30min — Commonwealth ABC (1W): At the end of Arisia many people are feeling lethargic, worn out or even a bit detached from reality (no way!). Come practice vinyasa flow to refresh and rejuvenate. No mat necessary, but bring it if you have one.; Dakota Freeman

Monday 11:00am

HD Trailers — Media, Projected Media — 2hr — Stone (2): Two hours of coming attractions from Hollywood, the world, television, and the internet. IMDB is forecasting a bumper crop of genre shows for 2013.

Monday 11:30am

Alternative Energy — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): How plausible are alternatives to fossil fuels at the moment? What new options are out there? Just how expensive is it to "go green" in our energy generation? What are the world governments doing to this end right now, and what can the average citizen do?; Emily Coombs, Ken Gale, Alexander Jablokov, Tom Wysmuller (m)

Elseworlds and What-Ifs — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Alternate timelines and origins were once single issue one-offs to quell letter column fanfic, and now they are major enough to merit their own graphic novels. What are people's favorites? What other scenarios would fans like to see examined?; Jaime Garmendia, Merav Hoffman, Cynthia A. Shettle-Meleedy, Jonathan Woodward (m)

Weird Worlds — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Sure, you can write a fantasy novel with carefully configured continents and everyday human characters. Or you can write one where the characters are a deck of playing cards, chess figures, or where everyone lives on clouds. What are some of the weirdest worlds out there? What does it take to convince the reader to suspend their disbelief with such worlds? How does world-building change with some of the odder ideas?; Mary Catelli (m), Greer Gilman, Sarah Smith

The Undead and the People That Love Them — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): The undead are everywhere these days. Books, movies and TV are full of shows about them. Where is all this coming from? Why do we love our undead monsters so much?; Inanna Arthen (m), Susan Hanniford Crowley, James D. Macdonald, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Elayna Jade Smolowitz

Masquerade Debrief — Costuming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): What went right? What went wrong? What should we do again next year? Join the discussion at this year's Masquerade post-mortem.; Lisa A. Ashton, Jill Eastlake, Marty Gear

Reading: Dr. Chris, Kaftan, & Wilk — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Dr. Chris, Vylar Kaftan, and Steven R. Wilk will read selections from their works. Dr. Chris will be reading from The New England Horror Filmmakers.; Dr.Chris, Vylar Kaftan, Stephen R. Wilk

Goth Fans: Beyond the Black — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Goth subculture is well recognized by mainstream culture, and fans have been involved from the beginning. What attracts people to it? Can we define what makes someone "goth" or is that very idea antithetical to the culture? Can they survive without cloves? Black clothing strongly suggested.; Melissa Kaplan, Dr. James Prego, Mistress Simone, Andrew Van Zandt (m)

Operation Hammond Auction and Raffle Drawing — Events, Participatory Event — 3hr — Carlton (3E): Operation Hammond is a non-profit that provides medical services at conventions. You can view some of the items for auction and purchase raffle tickets at their table in the Harbor Foyer. www.operationhammond.org

Magic: The Gathering at Twenty — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): Twenty years ago, Magic: The Gathering was introduced as the first collectible card game. It has since been revised, redesigned, released dozens of expansions, and inducted into the GAMES Magazine Hall of Fame. What about this game has engendered its endurance? Have the changes been a good thing, or have they detracted from the game? What about the ethical merits (or lack thereof) of a game that requires continual monetary investment? What about the issues of gender and ethnic politics?; Alex Jarvis, Little Mel, Daniel Miller (m), Micah Schneider

The Perils of Near-Future Science Fiction — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): When writing near-future science fiction, one danger is that events will overtake your premise. Before you know it, your readers are looking back on the world that didn't happen rather than ahead to the possible future. What are some of the benefits that outweigh the risks? Does the reader's engagement with the story necessarily have to change when the story becomes near-past rather than near-future?; Mark L. Amidon (m), Christopher K. Davis, Dennis McCunney, Ian Randal Strock

Asian Folklore in Modern Anime — Anime, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): How are Asian magickal traditions presented in modern anime, and how do they translate to Western audiences? For example, the concept of "demon" has a different connotation in Asia than in the US. What other examples are there of what's lost in the translation, and are there examples of the reverse? How does it reflect on our understanding of one another's culture?; Mario Di Giacomo, Felicitas Ivey (m), Daniel Marsh

The Avengers — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): One of the most successful movies of 2012 raises a number of questions: do we want to see these superheroes go back to separate movies or simply reunited for "Avengers II?" Can Joss Whedon write his own ticket to make whatever he wants, or is he now locked into this series? And given its success, can a Warner Bros./DC "Justice League of America" be far behind?; Bob Chipman (m), Anna Erishkigal, Ed Fuqua, Karl G. Heinemann, Troy Minkowsky

Make it in Clay — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): A lump of clay (or fake clay) can lead to a whole bunch of possibilities. Let's play and find out what you can make!; Sheila M. Oranch

It's Storigami — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hancock (2): Storytelling and Origami; Rachel Kadel-Garcia

Build a Song Sing-a-Long — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Gather together and build a song as a group.; Larry Morris

Creepy Crawlies Time! — Fast Track, Panel — 1hr 15min — Webster (2): Come and learn about different insects!; Abby Hafer

Monday 1:00pm

My Cat Understands Me — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Many pet owners may insist that their dog, cat, or even bird expresses emotions, affection, personality, and even sentience. However, what evidence is there that animals feel and think the way we do? Where should we look first? Whales? Elephants? Apes? Some other species entirely? How can we determine an emotional state or self awareness without simply inferring from our own experience?; Comiku Girls, Justine Graykin (m), Abby Hafer

The Finite vs. the Open Ended Story — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): Some comic stories are self-contained items with a beginning, middle, and an end. Other comic stories are created as open-ended, allowing all possibilities of your imagination to fill in the void. Do you have a preference? If so, why? What happens when the industry or fans attempt to cross the two, "Before Watchmen" or "The Death of Superman"? Does it work? Is there backlash that makes for furious ret-conning for years to come?; Alex Jarvis (m), Andrew Kirschbaum, Troy Minkowsky, Mark "Justin du Coeur" Waks

The Horror of Our Youth — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Stories around the campfire, Goosebumps, Fear Street, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and Edward Gorey… There's a whole lot of wonderfully spooky and downright scary stuff out there for children and young adults! What makes a good scary book for younger readers? What are some things to remember when writing horror for younger audiences? And where can you find more horror for your kids? Feel free to bring your own flashlight and blanket-tent. Shh! Don't wake any parents!; Erik Amundsen (m), Adam Lipkin, Trisha Wooldridge

Alternative Activism — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): Many fans are also heavily involved in activism, advancing the rights of queer, poly, kink, trans, etc. folks. At this panel, you will learn the best ways to get your voice heard, and what organizations and causes could use your support. Come share your skills, meet some fellow activists, and get some ideas for how to best fight for your cause.; Terry Franklin, laurel, Alan M., Lawrence "LORDLNYC" Nelson, Ian Cooper Rose (m)

Growing Old in an Adventure-Filled World — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Board Room (3W): Most characters in adventure stories are young, or at least young-at-heart. Where are the characters who show that growing old in an adventurous universe does not necessarily lead to death, irrelevance, corruption or withdrawing from the world? Who do you want to be like when you grow up?; Vikki Ciaffone (m), Elaine Cunningham, Kay Holt, Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, David Axel Kurtz

Reading: Arthen & D'Entremont — Writing, Reading — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W): Authors Inanna Arthen and Michelle D'Entremont read selections from their works.; Inanna Arthen, Michelle D'Entremont

Convention Feedback 2 — ConComm, Panel — 1hr 15min — Burroughs (3E): Feedback for the staff about the convention so far.; Jaime Garmendia, Lisa Hertel, Rachel L. Silber (m)

Theme Circle: Ballads of the Supernatural — Music, Panel — 1hr 15min — Griffin (3E): Many traditional songs tell stories of the supernatural: ghosts, faeries, shape-changers, and so forth. Come listen or sing in this themed song circle.; Elizabeth Birdsall, Greer Gilman (m), Daniel Marsh, Sonya Taaffe

Steve Jackson Games v. U.S. Secret Service — Gaming, Panel — 1hr 15min — Independence (3E): It's been 20 years since a Texas federal court decided Steve Jackson Games, Inc. v. United States Secret Service. Its far-reaching consequences for the government's fight against cybercrime resulted in a quarter-million-dollar-plus verdict against the gov't, and the creation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and GURPS Cyberpunk. In light of the continued overreaction against alleged hackers, websites, and encryption experts, has the gov't learned its lesson in policing new technology?; Martha Adams, Christopher K. Davis, William Frank, David Larochelle (m)

Rails of New England — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 3hr — Harbor I (3E): Designed by Arisia's own Walter Hunt, Rails of New England is a historically accurate game of making money in the 19th century. Buy businesses, and build your railroad to improve them and take advantage of the many ways to gain assets.

How Do We Pay for the Future? — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): Science fiction has posited a wide range of economic models, from total abundance to mean scarcity, and from plutocracy to collectivism. What happens when goods are freely available to all? What happens when long-lasting food rations are worth killing for? What emphasis does the writer need to place on the economy, technology, and society to tell an intriguing tale?; Alexander Jablokov, Dennis McCunney (m), Ken Schneyer, Meredith Schwartz, Ian Randal Strock

Archery: The New Old Sport? — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Katniss in The Hunger Games, Hawkeye in The Avengers, and Merida in Brave—there seems to be a lot of interest in archery. Come listen to a panel discuss archery as portrayed vs. archery in real life. What can a fan expect if they decide to take up the sport? We'll discuss gear, skills needed, and the realities of this sport, as well as our favorite archers.; Forest Handford (m), Steven Hirsch, Ellen Kranzer, Toni Lay

John Carter: What Happened? — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Revere (2): A film based on a beloved book series by Edgar Rice Burroughs featuring swashbuckling action, colorful creatures, and a talented cast, and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Stanton; John Carter should have been a sensation. Yet the film was an undeniable box office disappointment and divided audiences, with many finding it lackluster and derivative while other viewers praise and passionately defend it. How did it go wrong?; Bob Chipman, Ed Fuqua, Daniel M. Kimmel (m), Jennifer Pelland, Stephen R. Wilk

Monday 1:30pm

Pathfinder RPG — Gaming, Scheduled Game — 4hr — Harbor I (3E): Pathfinder Society Organized Play is a worldwide fantasy roleplaying campaign that puts you in the role of an agent of the Pathfinder Society, a legendary league of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers dedicated to discovering and chronicling the greatest mysteries and wonders of an ancient world beset by magic and evil. Each scenario is about 4–4.5 hours long and takes you to various locales around the world of Golarion.

Monday 2:30pm

Alan Turing's Legacy: 100 Years Later — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W): Alan Turing would have been 100 years old last June. The WWII code breaker and founder of computer science was lost to us by suicide in 1954 after being convicted for his homosexuality—and chemically castrated as part of a deal to avoid prison. From his philosophical legacy of the Turing Test to the omnipresence of the modern computer in all aspects of our lives, what would he make of today's technological world and his role in it? What would he make of our attempts at artificial intelligence?; Bob Kuhn (m), Ian Schleifer, Sonya Taaffe

Wild About Kirby — Comics, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W): A discussion of the work of Jack Kirby, one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books. He was the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, and Captain America. He also created the highly innovative Fourth World series of comics for DC. His style has influenced comic book artists and authors for years, and his imprint upon the field of comics can still be felt to this day.; Mario Di Giacomo, Karl G. Heinemann, Alex Jarvis, David Marshall (m), Dan Morris

Urban Fantasy & First-Person Narrators — Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Bullfinch (3W): Two great tastes that taste great together, but why? Is it inherited from noir detective stories? Is urban fantasy the new noir?; Vikki Ciaffone (m), Debra Doyle, Andrew Kirschbaum, Hildy Silverman

Letting Your Geek Flag Fly — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W): You work out at the gym in a shirt you bought at a con. You carry your schoolbooks in an anime messenger bag. Your cubicle has nerdy decorations. How do you show your fandom to the world, and how does the world react? Does anyone notice?; Pam "Izumi" Larson, Dr. James Prego, Elayna Jade Smolowitz, John C. Watson (m), Michele Weinstein

Dead Dog Open Filk — Music, Panel — 5hr 45min — Griffin (3E): One last chance to sing, play, or listen to some filk music.

Housekeeping for Nerds — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Otis (2): You may be easily distracted (ooh, shiny!) or quickly bored, but at some point you will want to show off your place to a girl, boy, your parents, or maybe a new guild member. Come discuss tips and tricks for having and maintaining livable space by creating organizing and housekeeping systems that will keep your house from smelling like feet, without cutting into your WoW time too much.; Michelle Driscoll, Shana Fuqua, laurel, Andrew Van Zandt (m), Meg Westfox

The Ephemeral City — Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Paine (2): Festivals like Burning Man, Pennsic, and Rainbow Gatherings are huge annual events that bring together thousands of people for a short period, creating entire cities with their own economy and politics. What is the draw of a temporary society? What do these gatherings bring to the participants? How do they challenge "mundane" society? What are they really like, and what stays with you?; Inanna Arthen, Terry Franklin, Toni Lay, Meredith Schwartz (m)

Access:

Public

Printer-friendly version

Search form

Search form

Visit Our New Site

Schedule

Friday 3:00pm

Friday 3:45pm

Friday 4:00pm

Friday 5:30pm

Friday 5:55pm

Friday 6:00pm

Friday 6:05pm

Friday 7:00pm

Friday 7:30pm

Friday 8:00pm

Friday 8:15pm

Friday 8:30pm

Friday 9:00pm

Friday 9:30pm

Friday 10:00pm

Friday 10:10pm

Friday 10:20pm

Friday 10:35pm

Friday 11:00pm

Friday 11:30pm

Saturday 12:00am

Saturday 12:10am

Saturday 1:40am

Saturday 3:25am

Saturday 5:10am

Saturday 6:40am

Saturday 7:30am

Saturday 8:10am

Saturday 8:30am

Saturday 9:00am

Saturday 9:10am

Saturday 9:30am

Saturday 10:00am

Saturday 10:20am

Saturday 10:30am

Saturday 11:00am

Saturday 11:30am

Saturday 12:00pm

Saturday 12:30pm

Saturday 1:00pm

Saturday 1:15pm

Saturday 1:30pm

Saturday 2:00pm

Saturday 2:15pm

Saturday 2:30pm

Saturday 3:00pm

Saturday 3:30pm

Saturday 4:00pm

Saturday 4:30pm

Saturday 4:35pm

Saturday 4:45pm

Saturday 5:00pm

Saturday 5:30pm

Saturday 6:00pm

Saturday 6:25pm

Saturday 6:45pm

Saturday 7:00pm

Saturday 7:20pm

Saturday 8:00pm

Saturday 8:30pm

Saturday 9:00pm

Saturday 9:30pm

Saturday 10:00pm

Saturday 10:45pm

Saturday 11:00pm

Saturday 11:15pm

Saturday 11:30pm

Sunday 12:00am

Sunday 12:50am

Sunday 1:00am

Sunday 2:30am

Sunday 3:45am

Sunday 5:20am

Sunday 6:50am

Sunday 7:30am

Sunday 8:20am