P1100215 Nate Southard

with a miniature globe at Stump the Panel, an event that challenges panelists to find science-fictional uses for everyday objects. It's an annual ArmadilloCon tradition, but I'm sad to see it lose traction. This year there were only 4 people in the audience -- as many as there were panelists. Traditionally the objects to be "stumped by" were brought by the audience; last year, the panelists brought their own stuff to be stumped by. This year, only one person brought an object -- this globe. Challenged to think of a science-fictional interpretation for it, Nate Southard said this was Earth after reality-condensing catastrophe, and Rie Sheridan said it was alien GPS device. Derek: "Atlas Shrugged said, f--- it! Can we make it smaller?"

My blog posts on ArmadilloCon 2010:

Writers' workshop, and sandwiches that cost their weight in gold.

Nancy Kress toastmaster speech: secret deal between Google and SFWA

What you should have read this year -- a list of recent science fiction and fantasy books recommended by our knowledgeable panelists..

Religion in worldbuilding -- why is it hard to add religion to your science fiction or fantasy novel without it looking like a caricature?

Time travel meanders

Ilona and Gordon Andrews' special guest interview -- when a non-native English speaker becomes a published author in the US, there has to be an interesting story in there.

Or see all my blog posts from ArmadilloCon 31 (2010) in one page.