The complete (as of 24 March) Schedule

FRIDAY

Noon:
Cartoon Classics Video (Mencken Room)
1 pm:
The Wizard of Oz (1939) the vaudeville version Video (Mencken Room)
2 pm:
Pinocchio (1940, Disney) Children's (Washington Room)
3:05:
Stargate (1995) Video (Mencken Room)
3:28:
Beauty and the Beast (1993, Disney) Children's (Washington Room)
4 pm:
Art Programming: What's in Store Now and Future, with Rikk Jacobs and Others Art (Adams)
Building Your Own Game World. Ever wanted to design your own game setting? Listen to seasoned G/Ms discuss the dos and don'ts on designing a game setting. Get pointers on how to make it work, what you need to do to keep it fresh, realism and fantasy, and most importantly, how to keep your world going. Bring your ideas and get ready to create. Gaming (Poe Room)
If Only You Believe: Religion in SF and Fantasy. Which has more appeal: orthodoxy, heresy or complete religious tolerance? Is there a reason that faithful characters in fiction seem zealous and narrow? Is this an American observation, or do most SF fans see religious faith as a straitjacket rather than as a guiding light? Is there really that much difference between good humanists and good religious characters? William Barton (m), Robert Chase, Adam Corbin Fusco, Daniel O. Graham, Jr., S. Andrew Swann. Main (Jefferson Room)
4:55:
Dumbo (1941, Disney) Children's (Washington Room)
5 pm:
Kelly and Laura Freas Art (Adams Room)
Star Wars: The CCG. A demonstration of the Collectable Card Game of Star Wars, hosted by Jonathon Quisenberry of Decipher Games. Learn about this really neat and interesting game and be part of a demonstration group. Space is limited. Gaming (Poe Room)
Balticon for Beginners. If this is your first Balticon, or if you just want to learn how to get the most out of Balticon, this panel is for you. Members of the convention committee will guide you through the highlights of the convention and answer your questions. The Balticon Committee. Main (Jefferson Room)
5:10:
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996 version) Video (Mencken Room)
6 pm:
James and the Giant Peach Children's (Washington Room)
Highlander: The CCG. "In the end, there can be only one." Learn the basic strategy of Thunder Mountain's popular Highlander card game with Jim Duncan. Space is limited in each run of the demo, so please reserve space at the Game Staff Desk. Gaming (Poe Room)
Philosophy in SF and Fantasy. Do Heinlein's and Haldeman's differing takes on the military in society come more from their times or personal philosophies? What is the difference between politics, preaching, and philosophy in fiction? Which writers' philosophies have made their books more fun to read? Which books have stimulated responses in the form of other books dealing with the same philosophical questions? Which books are quoted more than they are read? Ought SF to have an intrinsic philosophy? Is the essential element of SF not science, but the philosophy of science, since SF encourages us to think about science? How have various strains of philosophy fared in SF and fantasy? Eric Kotani (m), Alexis Gilliland, Paul Levinson, Joe Mayhew, John C. Sparhawk. Main (Jefferson Room)
Untangling the Web: Using the Internet for Research. What are the pitfalls of doing research using the Internet? Besides the World Wide Web, what other resources are available for conducting research via the Internet? Paul Shuch (m), Jessie Eaker, Charlie Ellis, John McDaid, Trish Wilson. Main (Adams Room)
Due South: The Report of Our Demise... Due South, the part cop show, part "Twin Peaks meets the Light side of the Force", has returned from cancellation to production. Find out from its fans how it happened and their labors at building a fan-run convention from the ground up. Dan Delaney (m), Gabrielle Lafleur, Ann C. Keitz. Media (Carroll Room)
6:52:
Blackjack Video (Mencken Room)
7 pm:
Show Me the Funny: Humor in SF and Fantasy. If you slip on a weightless banana peel, is it funny? Is humorous SF just a weak imitation of the real thing? Is Terry Pratchett a genius or what? Esther Friesner, Marcos Donnelly, William T. Levay, Dan McGirt, John C. Sparhawk. Main (Adams Room)
Masquerade Photo Area (Poe Room)
7:20:
SF & Fantasy Writing: M.C.E.T. Part 1 Video (Washington Room)
7:30:
Paul Shuch -- Concert Sideshow (Jefferson Room)
7:44:
Art of Fighting Video (Mencken Room)
8 pm:
Filk as a Teaching Tool. Can music, filk particularly, be used as a teaching tool. Paul Shuch, Michael Stein. Filk (Jefferson Room)
The Business of Writing. What would we do differently if we were starting out again? What is the most common mistake new writers make? Is business sense more important than aesthetic sense? Where can a writer learn about the business side? Do agents know anything the rest of us don't? What is tax deductible? What should a writer know about the law? Is it possible to make a living writing SF/F? How negotiable are contacts, really? Are there any benefits to joining writers' groups like SFWA or HWA? What, if anything, does it mean to have a writing "career"? What are some of the pitfalls that a beginning writer is likely to run into? Michael Capobianco (m), William Barton, Marcos Donnelly, Dan McGirt, Ron Sarti. Main (Adams Room)
8:10:
SF & Fantasy Writing: M.C.E.T. Part 2 Video (Washington Room)
8:30:
Cartoons Video (Mencken Room)
9 pm:
Sex in SF & Fantasy. What is the appropriate level of sexual detail for an SF/F story? What features do you look for in an alien partner? How do you explain all those human/alien hybrids in media SF? Given different species, magic, philosophy, etc., what constitutes "sex" in SF/F? Where is the line between "NationalGeographic-style" description and sex? What's the difference between sex and death? How is sex in SF/F different than in other genres? Does sex add verisimilitude to SF/F? When do sexual encounters between characters become a turn-off? Catherine Asaro (m), Michael Capobianco, Esther Friesner, David Vierling. Main (Adams Room)
Masquerade (International A/B/C)
SF & Fantasy Writing: M.C.E.T. Part 3 Video (Washington Room)
Masquerade Video Overflow Video (Mencken Room)
9:50:
Addams Family B/W TV (1964) Video (Washington Room)
10 pm:
SF Trivia Contest. Run as usual by Brick Barrientos. Main (Jefferson Room) to midnight.
10:40:
Forbidden Planet (1956) Video (Washington Room)
11:30:
Big Wars Video (Mencken Room)
12:25:
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Video (Washington Room)
12:50:
Darkside Blues Video (Mencken Room)

SATURDAY

9 am:
Writers' Workshop, with William Barton, A. C. Crispin, Warren Lapine, Trish Wilson Main (Douglas Room)
10 am:
How to Draw Dragons and Dinosaurs. Rikk Jacobs Art (Jefferson Room)
Dan McGirt -- Storytelling Children's (Washington Room)
Players Workshop. A round-robin workshop to improve your skill as a player of RPGs. Get pointers on how to improve your game, improve your basic player skills, and help others do the same. A workshop for all levels of players, from novice to experienced. Gaming (Pratt A)
Mythopoeic Literature. How does it differ from other fantasy? Is it "better"? Has any writer risen to the level of excellence of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings since it was published? Robert Sacks (m), Robert Chase, Robert Frezza, Ron Sarti. Main (Adams Room)
Real Carbon Life, or "How Does This Soot You"? Hal Clement Main (Carroll Room)
Media Coverage of Space: Help or Hindrance? Free Form Discussion Science (Poe Room)
Technical Theater Basics: Walk backstage during a live show or, worse yet, into the masquerade room while the stage, lighting, and sound are being put together and it is immediately obvious that you are walking into another world. It is a world with different vocabulary, rules, and customs. Find out what you need to know to visit this alien world safely, converse with crusty but lovable inhabitants, and maybe even help them in their mysterious native rituals. This panel is designed for anyone who has ever wanted to help set up the masquerade, but could not figure out how. Fran Felix, Denise McMahon, Larry Schroeder Techie (Intl B/C)
Toy Story (1995) Video (Mencken Room)
Adam Corbin Fusco Reading (Peale Room)
10:30:
Laura Ann Gilman Reading (Peale room)
11 am:
Basic Matting Techniques demo. Nancy Janda Art (Jefferson Room)
Egg Decorating -- Wax, dye, decoupage and other techniques Children's (Washington Room)
Discussion Group: Star Wars. Why is Star Wars so popular again after 20 years? When is Lucas going to gear up for episodes 1-3? Tolkien deliberately created an English language epic, with great success; Lucas deliberately created an SF movie epic, with great success... Brenda Clough. Main (Adams Room)
Military SF. What are some of the archetypes? Are readers interested in military intelligence operations? Which do you prefer--military SF that recreates past conflicts and battles or that breaks new ground? What do writers most often get wrong/right? How do fantasy "chicks in chainmail" differ from SF women in uniform? Do you have to be a veteran to write good military SF? How much detail should there be in combat scenes? Why is war popular? How realistic is the military SF being published? Do people still read Starship Troopers? Can we blame military SF on Heinlein? Do tanks have a future in real life or SF? Robert Frezza (m), Chris Claypoole, Linda Grant DePauw, Daniel O. Graham, Jr., Ron Sarti. Main (Carroll Room)
Comics Today. Both in the comic business and between the covers of the latest issues changes are coming faster and faster. A discussion of both the current trends of comic books and the changes underway with the companies who write them. Lee Moyer. Carol Pinchefsky, Paul Selzer. Media (Pratt B)
Building the Early Space Station. Paul McNeill, Boeing representative. Science (Poe Room)
Instant Presentations -- Just Add Costumes. (stage movement / dramatic presentation) Taking a costume and turning it into a stage presentation with lighting and sound is a difficult art that requires knowledge, experience, and talent. Watch our panel of experts combine their skills to transform hall costumes from the audience into complete stage presentations. Who knows, you may see the idea behind next year's "Best of Show" created before your eyes... Larry Schroeder, Denise McMahon, Betsy Marks. Techie (International B/C)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz do a Reading (Peale Room)
11:30:
Independence Day (1996) Video (Mencken Room)
Gamemasters Workshop. The second part of the workshop, dedicated to helping all levels of Gamemasters to improve their game, and to help other GMs do the same. Get help improving your gamemaster skills, get pointers on how to better deal with player conflicts, or share your knowledge with others.
Noon:
Modelling Design and Assembly. D.H. Covey Art (Douglas Room)
Real Life Drawing. Costumed models will pose for the artists. Mike Allen, Anita Allen, Ameeta Barlow, others Art (Jefferson)
Sing-Along Songs and Rounds. Children's (Washington Room)
The Fannish Inquisition. The 1998 World Science Fiction Convention, BucCONeer, will be held here in Baltimore. Here's your chance to ask the BucCONeer committee, and the committees vying for the right to hold future Worldcons, questions about their plans. Dan Cook, Samanda b Jeude, BucCONeer, Boston in 2001, Philadelphia in 2001, San Francisco in 2002. Main (Adams Room)
Whatdunnit? SF/F Mysteries. What's so hard about doing a good SF/F mystery?
What do SF/F and mysteries have in common? How is mystery writing different when it's SF/F? Is it possible to be "fair" when anything can happen? Since you're creating an entire world how do you get across the essentials without telegraphing the solution? How do you solve a crime in a world in which there is no role for detectives or a police force? Glen Cook (m), Gordon Linzner, S. Andrew Swann, Louise Tichner, Mark L. Van Name.Main (Carroll Room)
Star Trek: Growing Pains. Star Trek has grown into a major genre, with two prime time series and two in reruns, an active movie series, and countless books, toys, and fans that can be found in all areas of society. Has success caused them to expand farther than is good for them, or us? A. C. Crispin, Michael A. Burstein, James Zimmerman, William Levay Media (Pratt B)
Technology Development Programs at NASA. John C. Mankins of NASA HQ Science (Poe Room)
Backstage at the Masquerade. How to organize and manage a green room to make sure that the contestants are safe, comfortable, and happy and STILL get them to the stage on time. When you are dealing with 30 or 40 nervous contestants, this can be amazingly hard to do. Then there are the judges and the MC. Come find out how the experts manage to keep them all happy without breaking a sweat. Steve Lesnik, Ann Lesnik, Leticia Wells.
-- simultaneous with --
Video 101. Video production can be a black art, with hundreds of cables, countless boxes full of costly electronics, and countless hours spent getting the details just right. Find out how Balticon is doing the job this year in a detailed tour of the cameras and electronics used to tape the masquerade. Eric Fleisher, Megan Gentry, Skip Morris Techie (Both in International B/C)
Charles Sheffield Reading (Peale Room)
1 pm: I
nterview with the Freases. Kelly and Laura Freas, Rikk Jacobs, Bud Webster, and the audience Art (Jefferson Room)
Charlie Ellis -- simple magic tricks for all to learn. Children's (Washington Room)
Star Wars: The CCG. A demonstration of the Collectable Card Game of Star Wars, hosted by Jonathon Quisenberry of Decipher Games. Learn about this really neat and interesting game and be part of a demonstration group. Space is limited. Gaming (Pratt A)
Everything Old Is New Again? Changing Trends and Styles in SF/F. Are writing pastiches of 1940s SF a good idea? Are there any themes in SF that continue to flourish after 100 or more years? Martin Morse Wooster (m), D. Douglas Fratz, Richard Garfinkle, Warren Lapine, Paul Levinson, Trish Wilson. Main (Adams Room)
Grokking Lestat in the Land of Mordor: Novels That Attract Cult Followings. Can cult novels be created deliberately? What contributes to their attraction? In the case of cult series, what contributes to the series' lure? What differentiates the elements that appeal to the cult audience from those that appeal to the mainstream? Lissanne Lake (m), Daniel O. Graham, Jr., Shariann Lewitt, Dan Persons, Susan Shwartz. Main (Carroll)
X-33 and VentureStar SSTO. Carl Meade, Lockheed-Martin Co representative Science (Poe Room)
Practice Masquerade. An unjudged non-competitive masquerade on Saturday afternoon, designed for people who have never been on stage during a masquerade before. If you are interested in finding out what it feels like to be under the bright lights, this is your chance. All you need is the willingness to show up and walk across the stage. (It is also a chance for some of the newer members of the tech crew to practice on live people while still giving the costumers in the competition on Friday night our best, but don't worry about that. I won't hurt. Honest.) Larry Schroeder and other members of Techno Fandom. Techie (International B/C)
Darrell Schweitzer Reading (Peale Room)
1:30:
Gary Bowen Reading (Peale Room)
2 pm:
Painters Galore (demo). Four painters will set up and paint and answer questions. Lissane Lake, L.W. Perkins, Joe Bellofatto, R.Wayt Smith Art (Jefferson Room)
Hal Clement -- Natural history and a fabulous fossil display. Children's (Washington Room)
Childrens' Gaming Children's (Douglas Room)
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better: Fan Fiction. Is fan fiction a worthwhile "school" for writing? What makes good fiction (fan or otherwise)? Why write it? What is it about a world or character that inspires fans to want to write about it? What differentiates fan fiction from original? Is writing in a shared universe a form of fan fiction? James Zimmerman (m), Frances Freedman, Charles Gilliland, Roberta Rogow, Trish Wilson. Main (Adams Room)
Magic, The Technology of Fantasy Fiction. Does magic act in fantasy as science does in SF? Or is magic not a technology but an expression of spirituality? Is magic really indistinguishable from a sufficiently advanced technology? How do we explain limitations? What are its limits? Is magic similar to technology in being good or evil only in the results (rather than its intent) of its use? How important is it for the magic system in a story to be internally consistent? Can we create a magic system in five minutes or less? What are the elements in a solid, believable system of magic? What do you see in books that drives you crazy, or ruins your suspension of disbelief? Doranna Durgin (m), Nancy Varian Berberick, Chris Claypoole, Dan McGirt, Robert Sacks. Main (Carroll Room)
Xena. This show, while not a literary success, has attracted a small but enthusiastic following. See what treasure may lie beneath the surface of this show. Carole Breakstone (m), Sarah Eveland, Su Phua, James Fadden. Media (Carroll Room)
What Should America Be Doing in Space? Yoji Kondo from NASA Goddard Science (Poe Room)
The Ghost Catcher (short) Video (Mencken Room)
Mark Van Name Reading (Peale Room)
2:30:
Esther Friesner Reading (Peale Room)
2:37:
Ghostwriters (short) Video (Mencken Room)
2:50:
Bury My Lovely (short) and others Video (Mencken Room)
3 pm:
How to Do Story Boards. D.H. Covey Art (Jefferson Room)
Children's Concert Children's (Washington Room)
Fabric, the Gathering. Costuming with found materials. Thomas Atkinson (m), Carol Samemi. Costuming (Pratt B)
The Telltale Art: Edgar Allen Poe and Modern Horror Fiction. To what degree has Poe's prose style been influential? How did Poe extend the past Gothic tradition? How did he break from it? To what degree has Poe's subject matter influenced modern writers? Of all the current writers in the field, who reflects Poe's style or mood? What literary devices of Poe's are used frequently? Is Poe read anymore or merely watched? Are we actually talking about Poe, or Roger Corman? Diane Weinstein (m), Dan Bailey, Frances Freedman, Darrell Schweitzer. Main (Adams Room)
Otherwhen: Time Travel. Do all time paradoxes have to make your head hurt? What makes for a successful successful) time travel story? Which mechanisms for traveling through time seem most believable? Michael Burstein (m), D. Douglas Fratz, Richard Garfinkle, Muriel Hykes, Eric Kotani, F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre. Main (Carroll)
Space Robotics in Fact and Fiction. David Akin of UM Space System Lab Science (Poe Room)
Masquerade from Sign-up to Photo. Masquerades are complicated operations. LOTS of people are involved from beginning to end -- as the endless lists of credits at the end of the show can demonstrate. Find out just what all of those people do, and why the show cannot go on without them. Steve Lesnik, Betsy Marks, Larry Schroeder, Leticia Wells, Ken Warren, Marty Gear. Techie (International A)
Brenda W. Clough Reading (Peale Room)
3:10:
VOTOMS - Deadworld Sunsa, Parts 1 & 2 Video (Mencken Room)
3:30:
Snacks and Recess Children's (Washington Room)
Shariann N. Lewitt Reading (Peale Room)
4 pm:
Charity Auction. Several books donated by TOR, including autographed books, galleys and bookclub editions, will be sold at auction. All proceeds will go to Reading is Fundamental. (Carroll Room)
Filk GoH Concert -- Mike Stein Big Item (International A/B/C)
Spring hats, masks, and baskets -- Make your own to take home Children's (Washington Room)
Cross-pollination. The writer, costumer, artists discussion. Or: Why didn't you draw any seams? Amanda Allen (m), Gary Bowen, Jenne Brunham, Ric Frane, Pam Osborne. Costuming (Pratt A)
Crossing Genres I: SF Disguised As Mainstream Literature. Other than marketing strategy, what are we talking about? Which SF/F writers could be Magical Realists if Tor decided to put that on their spines? Just whom is Vonnegut kidding? Crichton, Clancy, and who else? Does one write cross-genre fiction differently than SF, with different elements in mind?
If so, what? What are the marketing problems of cross-genre fiction? What can/should be done about them? Why are some books, like Fail Safe, not considered speculative fiction? Nancy Kress (m), A. J. Austin, Alexis Gilliland, Joe Mayhew, Diane Weinstein. Main (Jefferson Room)
Non-Traditional Lifestyles: Do They Work in the Real World? Are they harder than traditional lifestyles? What happens when they intersect with your job? How does SF explore all kinds of alternative lifestyles? Brenda W. Clough (m), Shariann Lewitt, F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre, Mark L. Van Name. Main (Adams Room)
The Ups and Downs of Story Arcs. Babylon 5 and Deep Space Nine are just two of the more recent shows to deal with the problem of continuing plot threads that cross episodes (or seasons). While incredibly popular with hard core fans, they are not without their risks. D.Douglas Fratz, Robert R. Chase, Robert E. Sacks, Lissanne Lake, Michael A. Burstein (m). Media (Pratt B)
The Truth About Dinosaurs -- 1997 Update. Michael Brett-Surman, Tom Holtz, Ralph Chapman, Linda Deck, Paul Sorten Science (Poe Room)
Michael Capobianco Reading (Peale Room)
4:30:
Dan McGirt Reading (Peale Room)
5 pm:
The Time Machine -- travel to the past and discover what life was like in the good old days. Children's (Washington)
Costumer in Search of an Idea. Other idea sources and how to realize them. Amanda Allen, Lisa Ashton (m) Andrew Bergman. Costuming (Pratt A)
Why Not Filk A... Filk uses many musical styles, some more than others. What styles are underutilized and ripe for the filking? Harold Feld, D. Glenn Arthur, Michael Stein. Filk (Jefferson)
SF/Fantasy and Fandom Online. Why the parallel evolution? Why does SF/F and fandom on the net look so much like the original when the characteristics of the net would permit a very different architecture and function? Where are all the fans and pros online? Robert Chase (m), Muriel Hykes, Vol Ranger, Lawrence Watt-Evans. Main (Adams Room)
Aesop Revisited: SF/F Fiction with a Moral. Doesn't every story have a moral? Is a moral different from a "theme?" Does fiction really have a "moral" or do we just try to find one to convince ourselves that it is serious and worthwhile? Can you write a good SF story with an obvious moral? Can you have a message without beating the reader over the head with it? Are there inherent morals in the genre itself? Can they be flouted? Darrell Schweitzer (m), Brenda Clough, Marcos Donnelly, Robert Frezza, S. Andrew Swann. Main (Carroll)
SF/Fantasy on TV: The Future of the Future. The last few years have seen an explosion of SF/F on TV and in films. While many would not consider this as "pure" as the written word, it is exposing specualtive fiction to viewers that would be unlikely to pick up a book. Charlie Ellis, Roberta Rogow (m), D. Douglas Fratz. Media (Pratt B)
Space Telescope Discoveries -- 1997 Update. Mike Potter, STS Institute. Science (Poe Room)
Smokestack & Lightning (bagpipe concert) Sideshow (International A/B/C)
Hal Clement Reading (Peale Room)
5:30:
Catherine Asaro Reading (Peale Room)
5:40:
Frankenweenie (Tim Burton short) Video (Mencken Room)
6 pm:
Ar-r-rgh Matey, It Be a Pirate Panel. Piratical ensemble from the fantastic to the historical. Lisa Ashton, Diane Kovalcin (m), Betsy Marks, Ron Robinson, Susan Toker Costuming (Pratt A)
Dave Weingardt Concert Sideshow (Jefferson Room)
Hal 9000, Windows 95: Computers in SF. Has the representation of computers in SF become more accurate in recent years? How has their portrayal changed from the early years? Have computers lost favor as villains in SF? Jessie Eaker (m), Hal Clement, John McDaid, Dan Persons, Sandy Stewart. Main (Adams Room)
Last Impressions: Satisfying Endings. Which endings are most effective--happy, bittersweet, or tragic; conclusive or ambiguous? Should endings convey lessons that go beyond the story at hand? Can there be more than one good ending? Why does a story need an ending? How important in an ending in an "unending series? Does an ending have to be tidy or are loose ends okay? Are there books or stories you love even though you hate the endings? That you loved until the ending? When writing, how do you know you've reached the end? F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre (m), Eric T. Baker, William Barton, Adam Corbin Fusco, Louise Tichner. Main (Carroll)
Space: Above and Beyond -- KIA or MIA? The short-lived SF series seen on Fox may yet return to the air. Members of the Space Ready Reserve (the S:AAB fan club) will talk both about the series and their attempt to bring their show back. Dwane M. Bowen (m), Kate Duncan, Jane Harmon, Pat Moss. Media (Pratt B)
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About DNA. Marc Kantorow and Fielding Hejancik of NIH Science (Poe Room)
Smokestack & Lightning (bagpipe filk) Filking Sideshow (International A/B/C)
A. C. Crispin: Chapter One of The Paradise Snare: Book One of the Han Solo Trilogy. Reading (Peale Room)
6:10:
VOTOMS - Deadworld Sunsa, parts 3 & 4. Video (Mencken Room)
6:30:
Roberta Rogow Concert Sideshow (Jefferson Room)
7 pm:
Fan Guest of Honor Speech and Awards. Samanda b Jeude, Don Cook, the Young Writer winners, and the Compton Crook winner. Big Item (International A/B/C)
Media Costume Critique. Or, Why I don't Like the Costumes in (Insert Show Here). Andrew Bergstrom, Dan Delaney (m), Dave Kiefer, Ann & Steve Lesnik. Costuming (Pratt A)
Media Filk: Argo's Grandchildren. How has media filk changed since BFA? Roberta Rogow, Harold Feld, Crystal Paul. Filk (Jefferson)
Crossing Genres II: Historical Fiction. Why does a good dose of history lend depth to genre fiction? Does the historical mindset of the times constrain character motivation, plot, etc. in historical fiction? Why is it so hard to write? Why do people who write alternate histories keep forgetting the details? How is historical narrative distinguished from fiction? Is fiction superior to academic writing in presenting "truth"? Can you write historical fiction without writing alternate history? If you don't get every historical detail right, are you a hack or an artist? Vol Ranger (m), Eric T. Baker, Linda Grant de Pauw, Charles Gilliland, William T. Levay. Main (Adams Room)
Heroes and Villains. Do we need them? How important is motivation in creating viable heroes and villains? What about backstory? What actions make the villain a real villain, or the hero a real hero? What makes a larger than life hero or heroine believable? What makes the most threatening villain? Doranna Durgin, Shariann Lewitt, James Zimmerman. Main (Carroll Room)
Star Trek: Klingons. For 30 years the Klingons have held the attention of countless fans and have inspired stories, mythology and even their own language. Come listen to five members of the Imperial Klingon Battle Fleet provide a glimpse of a part of Star Trek not seen on your TV. Brad Graper (m), Bill Koblinsky, Cheryl Koblinsky, Terry Smith, John Ziegler. Media (Pratt B)
Sex in Zero-G in Fact and Fiction. David C. Theison of UM Astronomy Dept Science (Poe Room)
Aladdin (1994, Disney) Children's (Washington Room)
Gordon Linzner Reading. (Peale Room)
7:30:
Dan Persons Reading (Peale Room)
8 pm:
Art Guest of Honor Presentation Kelly and Laura Freas Big Item(International B/C)
Razzle-Dazzle. Embellishments and Glitz. Faith Baker, Diane Kovacin, Sharon Landrum, Sue Toker (m), Ann Stephens. Costuming (Pratt A)
Bard Be Nimble, Bard Be Quick. Ian Hunley, Harold Feld. Yaakov and Ian show us how bards deftly fit the story to the audience Filk (Jefferson Room)
Folklore Storytelling (rated PG-13). Tales of tricksters and hero-mages. Josepha Sherman. Main (Adams Room)
Tired Blood? Vampire Fiction in the 1990s. Is there anything new to learn about vampires from scientific or historical sources? Can a Star of David hurt a vampire? Ric Frane (m), Gary Bowen, William T. Levay, Wendy Mitchell, Bennett Pomerantz. Main (Carroll Room)
Meet 10th Month Productions. You've seen their films at Balticon. Now they will explain how they get their vision to the silver screen without access to a Hollywood-sized budget. Bob Beiderman (m), Anne Marie Mullen, Tom Tansey, Nina Ely, Andrew Ely. Media (Pratt B)
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Program Update. H. Paul Shuch, Ex. Dir. SETI League Science (Poe Room)
Nancy Varian Berberick Reading (Peale Room)
8:30:
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996, Disney) Video (Washington Room)
Marcos Donnelly Reading (Peale room)
8:40:
Grappler Baki Video (Mencken Room)
9 pm:
Guest of Honor Speech -- Glen Cook Big Item (International B/C)
The Costume Obstacle Course. A workshop and discussion on how to move around in a hoop skirt, maneuver a sword or staff, wear wigs, etc. Amanda Allen (m), Thomas Atkinson, Ric Rader, Ann Stephens. Costuming (Pratt A)
Cyberpunk. Has the cyberpunk metaphor become a required feature of technodazzle? Is the technology changing the subgenre? Is it all hype, or is there a point to it all? How has cyberpunk changed? What is your favorite ridiculous type of cyberpunk fiction? What is the cyberpunk trope that you are still looking forward to happening in real life? Eric T. Baker (m), William Barton, S. Andrew Swann. Main (Adams Room)
Free Form Discussion about Lunar Bases and Lunar Resource Development. Dana Carson, moderator. Science (Poe)
The Analog Mafia. The writers for Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact discuss the magazine, their own stories, and answer questions from the audience. Is the theme or content of a story more important than its style? Does Analog have a specific style-or "anti-style"-that catapults content over style? Are Analog stories predictable? What defines an Analog story? John C. Sparhawk (m), Catherine Asaro, A. J. Austin, Paul Levinson, Charles Sheffield, Bud Webster. Main (Jefferson)
The U.S. Department of Juggling & The Baltimore Juggler's Association. Watch a demo & learn to juggle. Sideshow (Carroll)
9:30:
Battle Arena Toshinden Video (Mencken Room)
9:55:
Phenomenon (1996) Video (Washington Room)
10 pm:
Wild Oats -- Concert. A local folk-rock band with connection to the east coast filk scene. Sideshow (International B/C)
Discussion Group: The Best of 1996. What do you think were the best genre books, stories, films, television shows, etc. of the year? What should win the Hugos/Nebulas, etc.? Martin Morse Wooster (m). Main (Jefferson Room)
Intellectual Property, the Internet, and the Individual. You thought the Communications Decency Act would kill the 'net! Trademark and copyright present a far greater threat to individuals and small entrepreneurs than any act of censorship. Find out the current case law, who the players are, who advocates for the little guy, and just what is the Domain Names Rights Coalition? Harold Feld. Main (Carroll Room)
Discussion Group: Babylon 5. Dan Delaney. Main (Adams Room)
Discussion Group: UFOs: Credible or Crapola? Bud Webster. Main (Douglass Room)
10:30:
Dracula: Dead and Loving It Video (Mencken Room)
Midnt:
Midnight Ecstacy. Art Rikk Jacobs.
From Dusk till Dawn Video (Mencken Room)
The Arrival (1996) Video (Washington Room)

SUNDAY

9:30:
Easter Egg Hunt for ages 5 and 6 Children's (Washington Room)
9:45:
VOTOMS, Deadworld Sumsa Part 5 Video (Mencken Room)
10 am:
Auctioneering Techniques. Dr. G, Rikk Jacobs, Halls Art (Jefferson Room)
Arcaia: Padded Weapons Demonstration. Learn about the exciting games of Arcaia, Darkon, and others. There will be a combat demonstration, with your instructor Bill Gill. Learn the rules and take part in the demo. Gaming (Poe Room)
Meet the Editors. How much time does an editor spend on each book? What doesn't an editor do? What's new at your magazine/publishing house? Scott Edelman (m), Laura Ann Gilman, Warren Lapine, Darrell Schweitzer, Diane Weinstein. Main (Adams Room)
The Way It Wasn't: Alternate History. Does the popularity of alternate history spring from the attitude that "I can do better than that?" How rigorously do you work out turning points? How is "alternate history" different from "historical fantasy”? What is acceptable to change? When reading alternate history, what turns you off? Is there a point where you say, "No way!"? What alternate histories have annoyed you the most? What alternate history proposed by someone else would you like to steal and improve? Susan Shwartz (m), Eric T. Baker, Chris Claypoole, Esther Friesner, Richard Garfinkle, David Vierling. Main (Carroll Room)
11 am:
The Arts Electronic. Joe Bellofatto, R. Wayt Smith, Rikk Jacobs. Art (Jefferson Room)
Easter Egg Hunt for ages 7 to 12 Children's (Washington Room)
Don't Use A Crayon: Manuscript Submission Tips. Laura Ann Gilman (m), Scott Edelman, Gordon Linzner, Dan Persons, Heather Wood. Main (Adams)
If God Did Not Exist: Creating Religions and Mythologies. When building new belief systems in SF/F, do we have to work with "real world" systems as a guide or is it possible to invent something utterly new? Why do we need a god, anyhow? What if all religions turned out to be true? Nancy Varian Berberick (m), Catherine Asaro, Gary Bowen, Richard Garfinkle, Josepha Sherman. Main (Carroll Room)
Lighting 101. Have you ever wondered just how all of the bright lights we use during the masquerade work? This is your chance to find out. Join the Balticon tech crew for a detailed hands-on walk-through of the lighting equipment we are using for Balticon this year, conducted by the people who put it all together. John McMahon, Fran Felix
-- simultaneous with --
Microphone Techniques. Everyone has used a microphone. Few of us really know how to make them work their best. Find out how from the experts who do. They will show you how to make a clear intelligible tape that really sounds like your voice, teach you how to talk into a microphone without causing shouts of 'Louder!' to echo from the back of the room, and even help you overcome the temptation to tap on the microphone and say 'Is this thing on?' next time you are on stage. Scott Dorsey, Alex Latzco, Marty Gear, Susan de Guardiola Techie (Both in International B/C)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day Video (Mencken Room)
Noon:
Influential Writers. Which writers have influenced your own writing? Which have influenced the SF/F genre? Hal Clement (m), Grant Carrington, Eric Kotani, Charles Sheffield. Main (Carroll Room)
X-Files: Is the Truth Out There? The X-Files was the first in a set of series that presupposes that the government is not your friend. Is this the latest trend in TV or just one aspect of a larger public trend? Trish Wilson (m), Robert R. Chase, William T. Levay, Joel DiGiacomo Media (Adams Room)
Boogie Knights. Sideshow (International A)
Sound 101. Have you ever noticed just how complicated a professional sound system is? Join us for a detailed walk-through of the sound equipment used at this year's Balticon, conducted by sound techs who really know what all those little knobs do. Alex Latzco, Scott Dorsey.
-- simultaneous with --
Follow Spot Techniques. How to use a photon cannon (also known as a follow spot). Fran Felix. Techie (Both in International B/C)
1 pm:
Art Auction. Big Event (International A)
Filk on the East Coast. An open discussion on where to find more filk on the East Coast Filk (Poe Room)
My Favorite Books. Many of our favorite books are not SF/F. Why is reading outside one's genre important to the development of a genre writer? Robert R. Chase (m), Nancy Varian Berberick, Lissanne Lake, Charles Sheffield. Main (Jefferson)
The First 'Graph Is Free: Writing Openings That Grab the Reader. Do we really have to shoot the readers to make them pay attention? Do you need to grab the reader with your first line? What makes a good first line? Dan Persons (m), Gary Bowen, Nancy Kress, Warren Lapine, Ron Sarti. Main (Carroll Room)
Babylon 5: Now What? B5 is now in the 4th season of a (possible) 5 year run, What else may be in store for viewers from the show that gives viewers everything except predictability? Come listen to some of the possiblities (including sequels) that may be on the horizon as well as discussions about one of the deepest shows of any genre around. Michael A. Burstein, Perianne Lurie (m), Don Cook, Glen Cook, Samanda b Jeude. Media (Adams Room)
Hands-on Skills (or) Tech for the Neo-Tech. We have talked about technical theater all weekend. Here is a chance to actually do it -- actually get your hands dirty and play with all of the neat toys. Join us for a hands-on seminar aimed at teaching the skills you need to help during setup and strike. This panel is for people who are interested in helping but do not have the experience needed to just pitch in without some direction. It will include things like proper handling of lighting instruments, cables, safety rules, and everything else you need to know to help safely. This seminar will be occurring just before we tear down the lighting and sound equipment and pack it away. Of course, if anyone wants to practice their newly learned skills... Directed by members of Techno- Fandom. Techie (International B/C)
1:30:
Independence Day Video (Mencken Room)
2 pm:
Balticon Gripe Session Main (Carroll Room)
One Shot Concerts Sideshow (Jefferson Room)