Some characters and character-creators of Capricon 39

When you talk about science fiction and fantasy, you're going to meet a lot of memorable characters.

And that's just the people who write it.

Beguiling as the fictional characters might be, they have to be dreamed up and written about, by someone. And a science fiction convention such as Capricon 39 is a great place to meet writers.

Meeting a writer is sometimes as startling as meeting your first radio personality, but the wit, the knowledge, the humor and the perceptiveness you enjoy in their fiction didn't come by accident from that person. Most of the writers I know are interesting in their own right.

And some of them are a particular pleasure to be on panels with or to listen to on panels you're not on. In this post I'd like to feature three writers who made this year's Capricon a particular treat for me. I've included links and some of their covers to give you an idea of what they write. Perhaps you'll find something that's right up your alley.

Megan Mackie

Megan Mackie
Megan was on a couple of panels with me, "Book Reviews vs. Literary Criticism," and "Things Authors Always get Wrong!"

She brought perceptive comments from personal experience with a troll to the "Book Reviews" panel, and discussed unrealistic descriptions of women, their behavior, and their bodies, to the "Authors Get Wrong" panel.

I found her to be well-informed and well-spoken, altogether a positive addition to our panel discussions.

And no wonder. Her website reveals she's a podcaster (The Princess Peach Conspiracy) as well as the author of a growing series of urban fantasy books.

Set in a magical alternate Chicago (Megan just happens to live in the Chicago of our space-time continuum), her "Lucky Devil Series" seems to be off to a strong start.

Finder of the Lucky Devil is the first in Megan Mackie's "Lucky Devil" series, followed by The Saint of Liars.

Chris Gerrib

Chris Gerrib
Chris was on the "Space Opera" Themed Reading panel with me, as well as the "Things Authors Always Get Wrong!" panel with Megan and me. He is the author of the "Pirates of Mars" Trilogy.

He, too, hails from Chicago, and his cover story is that he's an IT director at a Chicago-area bank, with only a small, manageable Mars obsession.

He read selections from the first book in his "Pirates of Mars" series, The Mars Run, for the "Space Opera" Themed Readings.

In the "Things Authors Always Get Wrong!" panel, he discussed the ways that authors who don't do their homework can be tripped up by actual facts that readers may know in the realms of the way military organizations work, logistics, and economics.

Chris Gerrib's "Pirates of Mars Trilogy" is available in print or e-book format from Amazon.

The Thursday panel, "Publishing and Marketing for Indie Authors," featuring (L-R) Lance Erlick, Jim Plaxco, Beverly Bambury, Blake Hausladen, and Jonathan P. Brazee.

Jonathan P. Brazee

Jonathan P. Brazee

I first met Jonathan Brazee at Northamericon '17 in Puerto Rico, and we've been bumping into each other periodically ever since. I have enjoyed his comments on many different panels.

At Capricon 39, I particularly enjoyed the panel discussion "Publishing and Marketing for Indie Authors."

He is the highly prolific author of "more than 75 titles," including 44 novels. But don't let that high output fool you about the quality of his work.

In 2017 he was a Nebula Finalist for Weaponized Math." In 2018 he was a Nebula Finalist for Fire Ant, and a finalist for the Dragon Award for Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel for Integration. 

He also is an active member of SFWA, the esteemed  Science Fiction Writers of America organization.

Jonathan Brazee's nominated works from 2017 and 2018, L-R: for the Nebula: Weaponized Math (2017) and Fire Ant (2018); for the Dragon Award for Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel, Integration (2018).

IMAGES: Many thanks to Capricon 39 for the convention's header, which I cropped for size. I am grateful to Megan Mackie's website for her author photo and her two book covers.  Many thanks to Chris Gerrib's Amazon Author Page for his author photo, and to the individual Amazon pages for The Mars Run, Pirates of Mars, and The Night Watch, for their book covers. Many thanks to Jonathan Brazee's Amazon Author Page for his author photo, and to his Amazon listings for Weaponized Math, Fire Ant, and Integration, for the cover images.

Interpretations of greatness

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week

One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we've heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow "superior" to other races.

Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the "receiving end" of slavery.*

I'll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts resonate with the greater depth.

IMAGES: The "In their own words" graphic is my own design. I found the quote in a Huffington Post article, "The Civil War was about Slavery." Many thanks to AZ Quotes, for the quote-image from Marcus Garvey.

*Please note that Marcus Garvey, who was born in 1887 in Jamaica, did not directly experience slavery. However, he dealt with its after-effects in the Jim Crow South and throughout his life's work--as do all too many people still today.

Capricon 39, "Strange Beasts Arise" (Between storms)

Ty and I made it to Chicago between storms, and then again home from Chicago, between storms. We lucked out massively, and for that I'm intensely grateful.

Sheltering in place: Here's how it looked on Sunday night before we were supposed to drive home Monday. The Wheeling, IL area near the Westin Chicago North Shore got at least 4 inches of snow. But Chicagoland can handle it!

Better yet, Capricon 39 made it WORTH dodging storms in Chicago in February. Con Chair D'Andre Williams and his concom outdid themselves, and for that I'm also intensely grateful.

It was a full-range sf convention, featuring an Art Show, gaming, special events, panels, a large, well-stocked dealers' room, and a fine range of excellent parties, including a bunch of them on Thursday night of the con. Capricon cultivates its evening parties, and the results speak for themselves. Great job, Jason Betts!

Seanan McGuire was the Author Guest of Honor, Phil Foglio the Artist Guest, Carrie Dahlby was the Music Guest, and Doug Rice the Fan Guest. It bears noting that Foglio and Rice go way back, and they can be very entertaining. All of the GoHs were engaged and engaging.

Wheeling's snow removal professionals ROCK! By the time we left at noon, the main hazards were the potholes. No snow-pack, no icy patches, we were even blessed with blue skies!

As I am at most sf conventions I was primarily interested in stimulating panel discussions and the quality of the Art Show. Each of those departments will be the subject of upcoming blog posts.


IMAGES: I took the "weather photos" myself. Feel free to use either, with link back and attribution. The Capricon 39 header is from their website.

The effects of slavery

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week

One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we've heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow "superior" to other races.

Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the "receiving end" of slavery.

Bonus quote: I couldn't resist.

I'll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts resonate with the greater depth.

IMAGES: The "In their own words" graphic is my own design. I found the quote in a Huffington Post article, "The Civil War was about Slavery." Many thanks to AZ Quotes for the Quote-image from Frederick Douglass, and to Signature's article (found via Pinterest), "Nat Turner Remembered: 12 Author Quotes on Slavery," for the quote-image from Booker T. Washington.

My Capricon 39 Art Panels

The Artdog Image of Interest

Kicking off the year with a panel comprised of both old and new . . .

IMAGE: I took this photo (with Art Show permission) of my own art at the Capricon 39 Art Show. Reuse or reblog if you wish, but please do it with a "by Jan S. Gephardt" attribution, and a link back to this page. Thanks!

Of morality and dreams

The Artdog Quotes of the Week

One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we've heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow "superior" to other races.

Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the "receiving end" of slavery.

I'll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts resonate with the greater depth.


IMAGES: The "In their own words" graphic is my own design. I found the quote in a Medium article, "Five Myths About Robert E. Lee." Many thanks to AZ Quotes for the Harriet Tubman quote-image.

Is justice colorblind?

The Artdog Image of Interest

Normally, it's not a good thing to be "colorblind" where race is concerned. That can make it too easy to pass over injustices and put-downs (both "microaggressions" and the more macro sort).

But, as with so-called "blind auditions," sometimes it's only justice, if it IS colorblind, so everyone is treated equally.

IMAGE: Many thanks to Duke University and Tamberly Ferguson, via the A2L website, for today's infographic.

Subordination v. Freedom

The Artdog Quotes of the Week

One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we've heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow "superior" to other races.

Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the "receiving end" of slavery.

I'll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts resonate with the greater depth.


IMAGES: The "In their own words" graphic is my own design. I found the quote in a Huffington Post article, "The Civil War was about Slavery." Many thanks to AZ Quotes for the quote-image featuring the words of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

Making progress . . .

The Artdog Image of Interest

Have we made progress? Some. Could we improve more? Undoubtedly.

From Visually.

In matters of equity and social justice, no picture is ever static, and progress is always relative. This infographic was created in 2014, so the data is already 5 years old or older. But this is a moderately recent snapshot of where we stand.

I normally celebrate February as "Social Justice February" in a nod to Black History Month. But remember that--as with feminism--greater social justice makes the world a better place for ALL of us.

IMAGE: Many thanks to Visually and the team of Noureen Saira, designer, and Elliott Smith, writer, via University of Phoenix, for this infographic "snapshot."