Report from GRL in Atlanta

[Charming, Order theorist]

Hi all GSF denizens. I attending GRL this year and I am here to report on the science fiction activities there.

First of all, there was an M/M Science Fiction Panel. It was called "Sex in Space" but it was much more interesting than that. Not that sex isn't interesting, but you can get that anywhere. :-) Good discussion on world building and alien origins (seed race versus parallel evolution).

The panel included Angel Martinez, Belinda McBride, and K.C. Burn. I've read books by all of them. One of the most interesting parts of the discussion was when each author talked about how her background affected the kind of scifi she wrote. So Belinda's interest in history and political science showed up in Uncommon Whore, and K.C.'s interest in biochemistry showed up in Alien 'n' Outlaw. (I hope I got that right - authors feel free to correct my faulty memory).

Angel, of course, is a true scifi geek, and discussed roughing out the spaceship engine for Gravitational attraction. :-) The authors gave me permission to post a picture here, so here it is, but it isn't very good. I saw a much better one which I will post here if the photographer OKs it.

[Angel]

:D It was so wonderful to finally see you in person, Charming! (And, kids, if you weren't at GRL, you missed Charming's totally kick-ass Star Trek costume for the Masquerade Ball.)

The audience made that panel - you guys were all so interested and engaged. The energy in the room was amazing - thank you!