Blog - Gary David Gillen

ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference

ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference at 21111 Haggerty Road Novi, Michigan at the Sheraton Detroit Novi from January 24, 2025, to January 26, 2025. I also attended ConFusion Detroit in 2019, 2020, (2021 was canceled due to COVID-19), 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsored the conference. I attended the opening ceremonies, the guests of honor dessert reception, three panels, a concert, and two author readings. This year’s theme was Monumental Confusion celebrating the fiftieth time they have put on the conference.

This is a link to the ConFusion website.

http://confusionsf.org/

The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsors Detroit ConFusion.

This is my badge for ConFusion Detroit 2024.

[insert badge here]

Summary

ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference Recap

[insert summary here]

Recommendation – Conclusion

[insert recommendation here.]

Links

This is my post about the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 19 to 21, 2024. The theme was the Labyrinth of ConFusion. My star of the con was Author John Scalzi.

ConFusion Detroit 2024 Conference Recap

In January 2023, I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan. I still want to write a post about that.

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 21 to 23, 2022. The theme was Rising ConFusion. My stars of the con were Guest of Honor author Jim C. Hines and Science Guest of Honor Dr. Jordan Steckloff.

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Conference Recap

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 16 to 19, 2020. I attended four panels, two readings, and one interview. The con theme was How to Train Your ConFusion, based on the movie, How to Train Your Dragon. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading of Chapter Two of his upcoming book named The Last Emperox. My other highlights were Kameron Hurley’s interview and the lecture on Edible Insects and Human Evolution. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2020

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 18 to 20, 2019. The con’s theme was Storming the ConFusion, so they chose the areas with names related to the movie The Princess Bride. I had a great drive to Detroit just before the snowstorm came. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading and was engaging in the panel I attended. My other highlights were Ada Palmer’s interview and watching The Princess Bride at the Con. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

Confluence Pittsburgh 2024 Conference

Confluence Pittsburgh 2024 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the Confluence Pittsburgh 2024 Conference from July 26 to 28, 2024 They held the conference at 1160 Thorn Run Road Coraopolis, PA in the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I also attended the conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. COVID-19 changed the conference to a virtual con named C’monfluence in 2020 which I viewed online. The Parsec organization of Pittsburgh runs this literary science fiction, fantasy, and horror conference. The events included panels, readings, interviews, writing workshops, and filk concerts. I attended two panels, one reading, and a concert.

The link to the Confluence website.

http://parsec-sff.org/confluence/

They held the Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport.

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2024 Program Guide Cover

Picture of my badge from Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2024

Summary

Saturday, July 27th at 10 AM

The Challenges of Writing a Long Series panel with Richard Kadrey, Frederic Durbin, and Barbara Doran

[Insert comments here]

They held the panel in the Commonwealth East Room with 11 attendees.

Saturday, July 27th at 11 AM

Not Everything is a Series: The Best Stand-Alone Novels of the Last Decade panel with Rich Horton, Albert Wendland, Lawrence C. Connally, and Alan Bailey.

[Insert comments here]

They held the panel in the Commonwealth East Room with 13 attendees.

Saturday, July 27th at 12 PM

Reading by Marie Vibbert.

She talked about the three novels she has published. They are Megadeth, Galactic Hellcats, and the Gods Awoke.

She read three pieces at the reading.

She read the twelfth chapter of her novel Galatic Hellcats, published on March 9, 2021. The POV character was named Kieth the Worker.

Goodreads link to the novel named Galactic Hellcats.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53388150-galactic-hellcats

The second novel in the Galactic Hellcats series will be published in 2025.

Next, she read from a work-in-progress novel named Mars Strike.

Lastly, she read the third chapter of her novel The Gods Awoke.

Goodreads link to the novel named The Gods Awake.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61815780-the-gods-awoke

They held the reading in the Solstice Room with 4 attendees.

Saturday, July 27th at 12:30 PM

Concert with Gwendolyn Grace.

She performed her concert A Capella. She had a Harry Potter CD for sale named Houses of Hogwarts. The last song she performed was named Love Louder.

They held the concert in Ballroom 1 with 14 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

[Insert Recommendation here]

Links

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh on July 30, 2022, at the Sheraton. I also attended Confluence in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. I attended 3 panels, two readings, an improv comedy show, a concert, and the guest of honor presentation

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2022

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh held virtually from 10-02-20 to 10-04-20. I attended the opening ceremony, five panels, three readings, one presentation, the guest of honor presentation, and the conference breakdown.

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2020

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh on July 27 & 28, 20, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I also attended Confluence in ‘16, ‘17, and ‘18. I attended five panels, two fiction writing workshops, and the guest of honor presentation

Confluence Conference Pittsburgh 2019

They held the Confluence Conference from July 27, 2018, to July 29, 2018, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended two lectures, two panels, one fiction writing seminar, one author reading, and the guest of honor presentation.

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2018

They held the Confluence Conference from August 4 to August 6, 2017, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended seven panels, one writing workshop, one author reading, and the guest of honor presentation.

Confluence Conference 2017

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference on July 30 and July 31, 2016, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended 15 panels and the U.S.S. Improvise improv sketch comedy routine.

Confluence 2016 Conference

Writing Progress Report January 2025

This is my Writing Progress Report January 2025.

This was my 2024 Christmas Tree. The picture was taken on December 3^rd, 2024.

Writing Progress from December 2024.

I wrote four blog posts for my website, garydavidgillen.com. One of the posts was my writing progress report for December 2024, which I linked below.

Writing Progress Report December 2024

We postponed our Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop until January 2025.

Writing Progress from December 2024 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in December 2024.

In the past, I sent the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I sent out in 2020 and 2021 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submissions for 2022. None for 2023. None for 2024.

Events from December 2024.

I attended no events in December 2024

Writing Goals for January 2025.

In January 2025, I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for January 2025.

I plan to work on a story for the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call in January 2025.

Eventually, I plan to work on third draft edits for Assassin in New Marl City using comments from the Novel Writing Workshop at Parma, Ohio. I plan to split Chapter 1 into two chapters and add a scene to the new chapter 1.

Submit the stories Space-Dog Confession, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, Grognard, LARP Film noir, Sleeping Sickness, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, and Caliburnus. to other short fiction magazines.

Polish and send the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

In January 2025, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Planned Events for January 2025.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 23, 2025, to January 26, 2025. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

Monumental ConFusion

The con theme this year is Monumental, since this is the 50^th Confusion.

Marcon Columbus Conference 2024

Marcon Columbus Conference 2024 Recap

Introduction

I attended the Marcon Columbus Conference 2024 in Columbus, Ohio, from May 17, 2024, to May 19, 2024. They held the conference at Crowne Plaza North Hotel in Worthington, Ohio. I attended six panels at the con. I also attended Marcon in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. They will not have Marcon in 2025. Hopefully, the con will return in 2026, and I plan to be there.

This is a link to the Marcon website.

https://www.marcon.org/home

This is a link to the Marcon Conference Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/181050141046

This is my Badge for Marcon 2024.

This is a picture of the Dealer’s room banner.

Summary

Friday, May 17th at 8:00 PM

A panel with The Harp Twins and the Volkgang Twins

The Harp twins are identical twins who both play electric harps. They arrange their music. The Volkgang twins assisted them with percussion. In this panel, they talked about performing but did not perform at this time.

This is a link to their website which has a bio, links to buy their music, music videos, and a schedule of upcoming performances.

https://www.harptwins.com

They held the panel in Ballroom 4 with 30 attendees.

Saturday, May 18th at 10:00 AM

Dune Part 2 – Open Discussion, a panel with Lee Shamblin, Emily Lydic, and Ken Keisel.

The panel had an open discussion about the newly released film, Dune 2. They compared parts 1 and 2, the book’s adaption into film, and the impact of Florence Pugh’s arrival as the princess. The panel commented on the use of filming in infrared to get the interesting sequence that portrayed the Harkonnen home world. The panel also debated whether casting Christopher Walken as the Emperor was a mistake, distracting, or a genius.

They held the panel in Ballroom 1 with 10 attendees.

Saturday, May 18th at 11:00 AM

Science in Society, a panel with Geoffrey Landis, Rachael Thurston, Robert Lohman, and Charlotte Wolery.

The panel debated which scientific advances have made the most changes in social systems. Robert Lohman said chemistry, Rachel Thurston said vaccines, Geoffrey Landis said birth control and Charlotte Wolery said epigamic trauma.

They held the panel in Salon B with 10 attendees.

Sunday, May 19th at 10:00 AM

The Movies of Mel Brooks, a panel with Addie King, E. Davis, C. Mandragora, and Alyssa

The panel discussed their favorite movies by Mel Brooks. Do they still find them as funny as when they first watched them and why? Movies that came up were Spaceballs, Men in Tights, Blazing Saddles, History of the World Parts I and II, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, and High Anxiety.

They held the panel in Ballroom 3 with 8 attendees.

Sunday, May 19th at 12:00 PM

The Harp Twins, a concert with Camille Kitt and Kennerly Kitt.

The Harp twins are identical twins who both play electric harps. They arrange their music. I didn’t realize that they had moved the concert from 1 PM to 12 PM so I only caught their last song. Great performance like the others I have witnessed.

This is a link to their website which has a bio, links to buy their music, music videos, and a schedule of upcoming performances.

https://www.harptwins.com

They held the concert in Ballroom 4.

Sunday, May 19th at 1:00 PM

What is Evil, a panel with D. Wyatt Jr., C. Christoff, and R. Partington.

We all like to talk about evil, but what is evil really like? Is it a Godlike Sauron who simply wants to rule? Is it infinite sadism? Or perhaps is simply infinite selfishness? The panel discussed and tried to define evil for writers, readers, theologians, and would-be evil-doers.

They held the panel in Ballroom 3 with 8 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

I had a great time at the Marcon Columbus Conference 2024. My stars of the con were The Harp Twins for their concert and Q and A session. I also attended Marcon in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 and hope the con will return in 2026.

Links

Recap for the SF Conference Marcon Columbus 2022 on May 7, 2022. They held the conference at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. I also attended Marcon in 2017, 2018, and 2019. I attended three panels and one concert at the 2022 conference.

Conference Marcon Columbus 2022

Recap for SF Conference Marcon Columbus on May 11, 2019. They held it at Crowne Plaza – Columbus North. I also attended Marcon in 2017 and 2018. This year I attended four panels, a performance, and an interview.

Recap Marcon Conference 2019

Recap for SF Conference Marcon Columbus I attended on May 12, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. I attended four panels and two game shows.

Marcon Conference 2018

Recap for SF Conference Marcon Columbus on May 13, 2017. They held the conference at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. I also attended Marcon in 2018 and 2019. I attended five panels at the 2017 conference.

Conference Recap Marcon Columbus 2017

PenguiCon Detroit 2024 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the SF conference named PenguiCon at 1275 South Huron Street Ypsilanti, Michigan at the Ann Arbor Marriott, Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest from April 26, 2024, to April 28, 2024. I attended the opening ceremonies, three panels, and one author reading. This year’s theme was Open Source.

This is a link to the Con website.

Home

This is my badge for PenguiCon Detroit 2024.

Summary

PenguiCon Detroit 2024 Conference Recap

Friday, April 26th at 6 PM

Welcome to PenguiCon Opening Ceremonies:

[Insert Summary Here]

They held the opening ceremonies in Auditorium 1 with 40 attendees.

Saturday, April 27th at 10 AM

Panel on The Good, The Bad, and The Yikes with Ericka Kahler and Michael W. Lucas:

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in Salon II with 16 attendees.

Saturday, April 27th at 11 AM

Panel on How I Make a Living Writing with Michael W. Lucas:

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in Salon IV with 8 attendees.

Saturday, April 27th at 12 PM

Reading with Author E.M. Anderson:

[Insert summary here]

They held the reading in the Elizabeth Ann A room with 4 attendees.

Saturday, April 27th at 1 PM

Demonstration: Fun With Chemistry with Professor X and Lady Ana

Unfortunately, the presenters couldn’t make it, so the demonstration was canceled. I was looking forward to this demonstration because I’m a Chemist and it sounded fun.

They would have had the demonstration in Conference E room with 10 attendees.

Saturday, April 27th at 5 PM

Panel on Write What You Know with E.M. Anderson:

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Conference B room with 17 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

I felt the con went well and enjoyed my attendance. My star of the Con was the author E.M. Anderson. They read two chapters from different novels in their author reading and gave insightful comments on their panel about writing. I was looking forward to attending again in 2025, but I have recently heard that it was canceled.

Links

A Con like PenguiCon is the ConFusion Detroit Con. The links to my review of ConFusion Detroit Con that I have attended follows.

This is my post about the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 19 to 21, 2024. The theme was the Labyrinth of ConFusion. My star of the con was Author John Scalzi.

ConFusion Detroit 2024 Conference Recap

In January 2023, I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan. I still want to write a post about that.

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Conference Recap

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 16 to 19, 2020. I attended four panels, two readings, and one interview. The con theme was How to Train Your ConFusion, based on the movie, How to Train Your Dragon. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading of Chapter Two of his upcoming book, The Last Emperox. My other highlights were Kameron Hurley’s interview and the lecture on Edible Insects and Human Evolution. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2020

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

Writing Progress Report December 2024

This is my Writing Progress Report December 2024.

I attended the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 8, 2024. Cleveland beat Golden State 136 to 117. It was a great game.

Writing Progress from November 2024.

I wrote three blog posts for my website, garydavidgillen.com. One of the posts was my writing progress report for November 2024, which I linked below.

Writing Progress Report November 2024

In November 2024, I presented the short story named Kay-Eye to the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call.

Writing Progress from November 2024 Continued

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in November 2024.

In the past, I sent the stories; Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submissions for 2022. None for 2023. None for 2024.

Events from November 2024.

I attended no events in November 2024

Writing Goals for December 2024.

In December 2024, I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my Writing Progress Report for December 2024.

We will postpose our Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop until January 2025.

Submit the stories Space-Dog Confession, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, Grognard, LARP Film Noir, Sleeping Sickness, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, and Caliburnus. to other short fiction magazines.

Polish and send the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

In December 2024, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Planned Events for December 2024.

The next conference I plan to attend is ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 23, 2025, to January 26, 2025. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

https://2025.confusionsf.org

The con theme next year is Monumental since this is the 50^th Confusion.

Western Reserve Writers Conference 2024

Introduction

I attended the 39th annual Western Reserve Writers Conference 2024 on March 23, 2024. They held the Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library at the William N. Skirball writer’s center at the branch. It was a one-day event with an introduction, a keynote speaker, three breakout sessions, and one first-page critique panel.

This is the link to the Cuyahoga County Library.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org

This is the link to the writer’s center at the library branch.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Services/William-N-Skirball-Writers-Center.aspx

Summary

Saturday, March 23rd at 9:30 AM

Welcome and Conference Overview

Deanna R. Adams is the conference coordinator and Laurie Kincer is the librarian in charge of the writer’s center.

Laurie explained how they set up the library, where the three meeting rooms were located, and about the door prizes available at 4 PM. Deanna introduced the keynote speaker, Brandi Larsen.

They held the welcome and conference overview in the meeting room A/B/C with about 100 attendees.

Saturday, March 23rd at 9:45 AM

Keynote Speaker: What’s Best for Your Writing Right Now.

The keynote speaker was Brandi Larsen, the 2024 Cuyahoga County Public Library Writer in Residence. She is a writer, speaker, and a writing coach.

She talked about sharing how to weave in the threads of community, craft, and commerce to bring more joy and inspiration into your writing (and encourage you to approach the writing desk with confidence).

Craft: The big questions. Can you get to the page? Figure out your writing style alignment. What is your why? Can you communicate what you wish? Can you finish what you start?
Community: The world needs your work. We need each other. Find your people. Showing up matters. Books are loved into life.
Commerce: What do you want for your writing? Are you ready for your writing to become a product?

They held the talk in the meeting room A/B/C with about 100 attendees.

Saturday, March 23rd at 11:30 AM

Breakout Session: Self-Editing Tips for Writers of all kinds.

The presenter was Rebecca Ferlotti. She is an editor.

You must self-edit your work first before you even consider sending your work to an editor. So, why do you hate editing? Whatever you do, don’t stop writing to read between the lines. Read the story out loud to change your headspace. Print out the story and cut it to edit it. When you read, keep in mind detail deficits and places to pare down your writing. Also consider continuity issues, word choices and grammatical errors. Final advice: complete your first draft before your first edit.

You can find Rebecca Ferlotti at the following website.

The Content Cornerstone

They held the talk in the writer’s center meeting room with about 45 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

I enjoyed attending the Western Reserve Writers Conference 2024. I also attended the conference in 2019, 2022, and 2023 (they canceled the conference in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19). My Star of the Con was Rebecca Ferlotti. She had some brilliant advice for writers who want to self-edit their work.

Links

This is my Recap for the Western Reserve Writers Conference on March 26, 2022, where I attended the introduction, a keynote speaker, and two breakout sessions. The Cuyahoga County Public Library held the conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch.

Western Reserve Writers Conference 2022

I attended the 36^th annual Western Reserve Writers Conference on April 27, 2019. They held the Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library at the William N. Skirball writer’s center at the branch. It was a one-day event with an introduction, a keynote speaker, three breakout sessions, and one first-page critique panel. I attended the introduction, a keynote speaker, and two breakout sessions. I thought The Western Reserve Writers Conference was well run, diverse in the presentations offered, and informative. My Star of the Con was Bree Barton. Her presentation was fun, the exercises were useful, and I liked her personality.

Western Reserve Writers Conference 2019

I attended the 34^th annual Western Reserve Writers Conference on September 23, 2017. I could not attend last year. This is a link to my review of the 2017 conference.

The Western Reserve Writers Conference

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2024

Introduction

I attended the SF conference called Cleveland ConCoction at 600 North Aurora Road Aurora, Ohio at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 8 to 10, 2024. I also attended Cleveland ConCoction in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. (2020, 2021, and 2022 was canceled due to COVID-19).I attended the opening ceremony, eight panels, two author showcases, and the closing ceremony. This year’s theme was the Neverending dungeon celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the release of Dungeons and Dragons game system and the 40^th anniversary of the release of the movie The Neverending Story.

ConCoction 2024 Banner

ConCoction 2024 Program Guide Cover

[insert program cover]

ConCoction 2024 Badge

[insert badge]

The link to the ConCoction website.

http://www.clevelandconcoction.org/

Bertram Inn and Conference Center

Summary

Friday, March 8 at 2 PM

History of Computing Before Computers, a panel with D. Mark Hayes.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Hayes A Room with 11 attendees.

Friday, March 8 at 3 PM

Write That Novel, a panel with Becca Lynn Mathis and David Wyatt.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Pegasus Room with 9 attendees.

Friday, March 8 at 5 PM

The Opening Ceremonies.

[insert summary here]

They held the ceremonies in the Pegasus Room with 27 attendees.

Friday, March 8 at 6 PM

Author Showcase with Marie Vibbert, Becca Lynn Mathis, Geoffrey Landis, Mary Turillo, and A.S. Ferguson.

[insert summary here]

They held the showcase in the Grant A Room with 4 attendees.

Saturday, March 9 at 10 AM

The Fermi Paradox – The Silurian Hypothesis, a panel with David Wyatt.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Hayes C & D Room with 16 attendees.

Saturday, March 9 at 12 PM

Now What?!, a panel with Becca Lynn Mathis.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Hayes A Room with 3 attendees.

Saturday, March 9 at 2 PM

Author Showcase with Addie King and Rami Ungar.

[insert summary here]

They held the showcase in the Grant A Room with 10 attendees.

Saturday, March 9 at 3 PM

Research and Authenticity in Fiction, a panel with Marcus Cook, David Balrog. A.J. Mathews, and Shannon Eichorn.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Hayes A Room with 14 attendees.

Sunday, March 10 from 10 AM

Melissa Scott talks about whatever she wants, a panel with Melissa Scott.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Grant A Room with 7 attendees.

Sunday, March 10 from 11:30 AM

The Power of Short Fiction, a panel with Marie Vibbert, Rami Ungar, Geoffrey Landis, Evan Graham, and Addie King.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Pegasus Room with 11 attendees.

Sunday, March 10 from 1 PM

Dreamstates, a panel with the band Dreamstates.

[insert summary here]

They held the panel in the Pegasus Room.

Sunday, March 10 from 2 PM

The Closing Ceremonies

[insert summary here]

They held the ceremonies in the Pegasus Room with 35 attendees

Recommendation – Conclusion

This is my Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2024. I had a great experience at Cleveland ConCoction 2024. The Bertram Conference center is nice. I’m glad to be back. My star of the con was Becca Lynn Mathis. I saw her in two panels and in an author showcase. My other highlights were seeing Marie Vibbert and Geoffrey Landis both in a panel and in an author showcase. I’m planning on attending next year.

Links

This is my recap of the SF conference Cleveland ConCoction 2019 at 600 North Aurora Road Aurora, Ohio at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 1 to 3, 2019. I attended the opening ceremony, four panels, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the Programming Department for four hours and in the ConSuite for four hours. This is a link to my conference recap.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2019

I attended the SF conference Cleveland ConCoction at 600 North Aurora Road Aurora, Ohio at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 9, 2018, to March 11, 2018. The 2019 convention was from March 1 to 3, 2019 and I realized as I was writing a recap for that conference, I had not posted a recap for the 2018 conference. This is a recap for the conference from last year. I attended the opening ceremony, five panels, two author showcases, a performance, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the ConSuite for eight hours.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2018

This is my recap for the SF conference Cleveland ConCoction from 2017. They held it from March 10, 2017, to March 12, 2017. Attended nine activities and volunteered in the ConSuite for twelve hours.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2017

End of All Things by John Scalzi

End of All Things by John Scalzi, Book #6 of The Old Man’s War series.

Introduction

End of All Things by John Scalzi is the sixth book in the Old Man’s War series. The book is a series of four interconnected novellas. The Earth, The Colonial Union, and the Conclave face a threat bigger than all of them. Can the Colonial Union save humanity from extinction?

Summary

They published End of All Things by John Scalzi as a series of four interconnected novellas.

Novella #1 The Life of the Mind. Rafe Daquin is a captured pilot who must discover his circumstances and defeat an unknown threat to reclaim his life.

Novella #2 This Hollow Union. This novella describes the situation in the Conclave.

Novella #3 Can Long Endure. Lieutenant Heather Lee of the Colonial Union faces tough choices in her missions and changes.

Novella #4 To Stand or Fall. Lieutenant Harry Wilson of the Colonial Union narrates the events leading to the potential compromise between the Colonial Union, the Earth, and the Conclave.

The book also has an alternate version of the first novella. It features the same events and characters but has different perspectives and a different ending.

Recommendation

End of All Things by John Scalzi is an interesting continuation of the Old Man’s War series. I liked the alternate version of the first novel. It seemed like this was the last novel of the series, but they plan to publish a sixth novel in 2025. I plan to read it when they release it.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The End of All Things by John Scalzi.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23168809-the-end-of-all-things

Zoes Tale by John Scalzi is the fourth book in the Old Man’s War series. Zoe Perry tells her side of the story from The Last Colony.

Zoes Tale by John Scalzi

Last Colony by John Scalzi is the third book in the Old Man’s War series. John Perry and his family colonize a new planet. Can he protect the colony, or will it perish, leading to the extermination of humanity?

Last Colony by John Scalzi

Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi is the second book in the Old Man’s War series. Jared Dirac is a clone with another man’s memories. He must save humanity from three allied alien races determined to destroy humanity.

Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

Old Man’s War is the first novel in the Old Man’s War series. This is the link to my review.

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin.

Introduction

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin is written like a history written by a contemporary arch maester of the Targaryen dynasty. The fictional history book tells the story of the Targaryen dynasty from the first King Aegon the Conqueror up to the seventh King Aegon III. The Targaryen slogan is Fire and Blood, and fire and blood is found on very page of this book.

Summary

Martin presents the book writing like he is Archmaester Glydayn writing a history using various resource material. Glydayn’s uses the dry dynasty approved story and the writings of Mushroom the Jester for the salacious parts. Martin’s idea for the book started with the 2014 book named The World of Ice and Fire. That book has short versions of the story of the whole dynasty including up to the events of the Song of Ice and Fire series.

Martin published three extended sections of that book in three different anthologies. They published “The Sons of the Dragon” in the 2017 anthology named The Book of Swords. It covered the reigns of the sons of Aegon the first. They published “The Rogue Prince” in the 2014 anthology named Rogues. It was about the reign of Viserys the first. They published “The Princess and the Queen” in the 2013 anthology named Dangerous Women. It was about the Dance of Dragons. HBO adapted this part as the HBO show named House of the Dragon.

Martin revised and expanded the three sections for the Fire and Blood book with some added sections to complete the story. Martin plans to write a second volume of Fire and Blood that will cover the Targaryen rulers after Aegon the third up to the events that begin in the novel named Game of Thrones.

Recommendation

Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin is an interesting history book of the fictional Targaryen Dynasty. It gives interesting background material to the series. HBO adapted the Dance of Dragons section of the book for the HBO series named House of the Dragon. It provides essential reading for understanding the author’s vision for the events that are depicted in the show.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62805560-fire-blood

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