It's finally here... ICON Programming! Wondering just what you'll be doing at ICON? Here are some fantastic ideas.
Please note: Schedule is subject to changes on-site.

Friday

Amtgard Exhibition
Main Programming – 6pm
Amtgard is a live-action fantasy role-playing and boffer combat game. The fighters from Shire Olympus, located in Cedar Rapids, IA, will be doing an exhibition fight as well as demonstrating the different weapons used in Amtgard-style fighting.

Opening Ceremonies / TICC
Venezia/Firenze/Napoli – 7pm
Join the ConCom and Toastmaster in the official start of ICON. Learn where all the important things are. Get told of any programming changes. Watch a hysterical skit by TICC East.

How to Enjoy Your First Con
Programming A – 8pm
Your first time at a con can be very disconcerting. You don't know what to expect. You don't know what the people will be like, and you're not really sure if you want to stay for one day or for several. Never fear, Rusty Hevelin is here.

SF Poetry
Programming C – 8pm
What is SF poetry? Who reads it, writes it, publishes it, honors it? Join us as we read award-winning poems, discuss new markets and current trends, and – time permitting – even pen impromptu poetry! Discussion lead by Lisa Bradley and Tyree Campbell.

Wylde Nept
Main Programming – 9pm
The James brothers and band are back again to share their versions of the best Irish drinking song, some traditional Irish and Scottish music, and even some outstanding original pieces. Don’t miss out on this performance... because this year they have a brand-spanking-new CD out.

Fannish Brewing 101
Programming C – 9pm
Hops, yeast, and malt: Home brewing is becoming a fannish tradition. At least one convention has no beer in its consuite other than home brew. Why the fascination? Find out some fundamentals and quirks from experienced brewers. Learn from the wise Gregg Parmentier.

Rubbing Your Alien the Right Way
Art Programming – 9pm
This panel addresses the fact that we are all aliens, harboring strange phenomena such as back stiffness, neck aches, tension headaches, etc. Learn some techniques and practice them on your partner (either during the panel or afterwards). Bring some favorite rubbing solution or oil – massage, avocado, olive, sweet almond, etc. – and wear a halter top (females) and shorts or a bathing suit. Pillows, blankets or a towel also come in handy for positioning. Precautions and contraindications will also be addressed.
Marguerite Ahlstrom, Certified Massage Therapist, is assisting Myrna Parmentier with the panel. Marguerite is available throughout the weekend for private massage sessions.

The Return of the Queen
Programming A – 10pm
A discussion on writing feminism in a medieval world. The “real” Middle Ages are not known having fostered feminism. Apart from the upper aristocracy, few women had any power or freedom of action, and that power was limited by the rules of male society. What are the effects of introducing feminism to a medieval setting? Discussion lead by C.S. Friedman and Mickey Zucker Reichert.

Masculine ICON
Programming C – 10pm
The myths, the men, the miasma... Want to know how to pick up women at a convention? How do you know it is time to take a bath? When do you know you have had too much carbohydrate- and sugar-laden consuite food? When is a costume too much clothing – or not enough? What are the safety rules when engaging Klingon women? Join Evil Dave Duncan in this discussion of the masculine side of ICON.

Space Opera Round Robin
Programming A – 11pm
A round robin is a story that is told by several different storytellers. In a round robin there is no set plot or outline to follow, but the storytellers must follow the continuity established by previous storytellers. So put on your pj’s, get another drink, and join C.S. Friedman, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Mike Miller, and Russ Madden for a bedtime story you won’t soon forget.

Saturday

My First Masquerade
Programming C – 10am
What happens at a masquerade? What is the process from the time an entrant checks in at the masquerade station until the leave stage? Panel led by Michelle Clark, Kat Pepmiller, and Evil Dave Duncan.

Man and Machine: The Digital Art of Larry Price
Art Programming – 10am
ICON’s Artist GoH will be presenting on his style of art.

What if Tolkien Had Never Published?
Programming A – 11am
Is a big chunk of the success of The Lord of the Rings that there was a hunger for something of that sort? What would have happened if Tolkien had never written a word? Would someone, or something, else have filled the void and caused the explosion of fantasy anyway? This session will also include a discussion of “Is Tolkien the creator of fantasy as a genre?” Come debate with Eric Oppen, Rusty Hevelin, Orange Mike Lowrey, and Glen Cook.

Science vs. Science Fiction
Programming B – 11am
Science fiction: “Fiction that imaginatively uses scientific fact and speculation to create a fantastic situation.” That's what Webster says, anyway. But sometimes some use it to refer to those silly stories about spaceships and monsters, even if most such stories are really about something entirely different and probably not very silly at all. Do science and science fiction work together or against each other? Discussion led by Anthony Hendon and Tamara Siler Jones.

Battlestar Galactica – What the Frack
Main Programming – Noon
Where the heck and what the frack... come discuss the latest twists in the new Battlestar Galactica. Discussion lead by Aaron Oehring and Megan Harper.

Rigid Old Fannish Fossils vs. Illiterate Young Whippersnappers
Main Programming – 1pm
Is there a generation gap in the “literature of the future”? The old pharts of fandom sit around and mock new forms of fannish interest, and the worthlessness of visual media ephemera (and grumble about calling it “sci-fi”). The young snot-nosed fans sit around and mock the ossified old fannish interests in dead authors nobody reads, archaic fan history, and out-of-date technology. Is there a crossing of the gaps? Or is the chasm too deep? Discussion lead by Orange Mike Lowrey, Evil Dave Duncan, Denny Lynch, Mickey Zucker Reichert, and Mark Moore.

Undead and Kicking
Programming A – 1pm
The death of horror has been much exaggerated! What's happening in horror? A quick visit to the horror section of any bookstore chain reveals four bays of books by only 8-10 writers. Isn’t there more to horror than that? Is the genre alive, dead, or undead? They said in the 80s and 90s that horror was dead, but since then there has been a resurrection. Join Shawn Ervin and Bo3b Harper for this look into the future of horror.

Reading by C.S. Friedman, Author Guest of Honor
Programming B – 1pm
C.S. Friedman has a new book coming out in January 2007 – come to the reading, and just maybe she will share a selection from it with you.

Tribute to James A. Van Allen
Main Programming – 2pm
Dr. James A. Van Allen, discoverer of the Earth's radiation belts which bear his name, died this past August. Dr. Van Allen was very influential in space research and in the scientific community in general, from the fifties until well beyond his retirement in the mid-eighties.

Stargate SG1 and Atlantis
Programming C – 2pm
Can they stay good? Have you heard the rumors about cancellations? Come catch up on all the juicy details. Panel lead by Susan Ray, Kat Pepmiller, and T.J. Starbuck.

Fem-Bots and Faeries
Art Programming – 2pm
Although we no longer live with the nipple shortage of the 1950s, fantasy art remains unreconstructed. Why hasn't feminism affected SF and fantasy art -- or has it? Discussion lead by Larry Price and Nonie Rider.

Whose Con Is It Anyway?
Main Programming – 3pm
A fannish version of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Come enjoy an hour of laughing and watching friends, loved ones, and total strangers make fools of themselves, just to make you laugh. Hosted by Beth Wheeler.

Firefly Freedom
Programming A – 3pm
Liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have all embraced the ideas expressed in Joss Whedon's Firefly series and movie Serenity. What exactly do the characters say, and what does it all mean? Or is the Firefly universe a Rorschach test for the politically minded? Discussion led by Russ Madden.

Art Auction
Main Programming – 5:30pm
Whenever a piece in the Art Show has two or more bids, it goes to the Art Auction. Here you get to furiously bid on the pieces of art you want – even if you didn’t know you wanted them before you walked into the room. Don’t forget to pop into the Art Auction if you bid on any art; you don’t want someone else to get it! The Charity Art Auction also takes place at this event. Auctioneer Charles Piehl.

Doctor Who – The Next Generation
Programming B – 5pm
The latest incarnation of Doctor Who has excited fans – old and new – and is already scheduled for more series and specials. What does this Doctor Who get right and wrong? What about Eccleston, Tennant, and Piper? Discussion led by Aaron Oehring and Megan Harper.

Female Writers Writing for the Male Audience
Programming A – 6pm
Feminist literary criticism has argued that our understanding of literary paradigms, metaphors, and meaning in general is affected by the gender of both author and audience. Critics from this school feel that women and men do not inhabit an identical world, or at the very least, do not view it identically. This panel will discuss the nature of the text/reader transaction, and its effect on the dialogue between a woman writer and her
audience. Discussion led by C.S. Friedman and Mickey Zucker Reichert.

Star Trek vs. Star Wars – A Debate
Programming A – 7pm
May the best SF win! Audience participation is encouraged. Bringing rotten food to throw at people you don’t agree with is discouraged. Fighters: Denny Lynch, Evil Dave Duncan, and Kat Pepmiller.

Kaffeeklatch with Glen Cook
Programming B – 7pm
The prolific author of the Garrett and Black Company series (among numerous other novels), Glen Cook, can usually be found hucking books in the Dealers’ Room, where he'll be happy to sell you any of his enchanting works. Glen takes time away from his dealer duties to chat it up with attendees. Take this hour to talk about his writing process, his favorite authors, or even his newly released book, A Cruel Wind: A Chronicle of the Dread Empire.

Masquerade
Main Programming – 8pm
One of the highlights of ICON, the Masquerade is a theatrical presentation where you will see fandom's best costumers briefly bring to life characters and scenes from science fiction and fantasy. MC Michelle Clark.

Dance
Main Programming – 10pm
Shake it… sh-sh-sh-shake it… shake it like a Polaroid picture! Music provided by Lion’s Pride Entertainment.

Open Mike – After Dark
Programming A – 10pm
All the kids are in bed, or at least distracted by the loud and abusive tunes at the dance... time to show your racy side. Come read a selection of
your R-rated writing to a bunch of fen (save your tamer work for the 10am Sunday session). Bring your favorite original short story, poetry, fan fic, or excerpt from a longer piece. It doesn't matter if you are a published professional or just starting out — we want you to share your imagination and talent. Each author will be given up to 15 minutes to read. Shorter readings are welcome! Sign up for your spot at the ICON Registration Desk before 5pm on Saturday. Moderated by T.J. Starbuck.

Sunday

Benefactors’ GoH Brunch
Zazza’s Restaurant – 9am
ICON 31 Benefactors join Guests of Honor C.S. Friedman and Larry Price for a private brunch. Take this time to learn more about the GoHs and about their craft. Not yet a Benefactor? You can upgrade your membership at the Registration Desk.

Open Mike
Programming B – 10am
Are you a writer? Would you like to read your work to a bunch of fen? Yes? ICON 31 is hosting Open Mike readings. Bring your favorite original short story, poetry, fan fic, or excerpt from a longer piece. It doesn't matter if you are a published professional or just starting out — we want you to share your imagination and talent. Each author will be given up to 15 minutes to read. Shorter readings are welcome! Sign up for your spot at the ICON Registration Desk before 5pm on Saturday. This is for works that are PG-13 or gentler. Moderated by Lisa Bradley.

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Main Programming – 11am
“It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents -- except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which
swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps
that struggled against the darkness.” -Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830). Think you can do wors… er, better? Then pick up your contest entry form at the ICON Registration Desk and return it completed before 5pm on Saturday. Finalists will be read Sunday at 11am, and the winner will be announced. Judges: Lindsay Elliott, Dave Stagner, and Charles Piehl.

Zombie March 2007
Programming C – 11am
The Iowa Zombie March 2006 was a huge success. There was shuffling, moaning, attempts to break through walls, even a mundane backing his truck down the street to get away… and of course there were tasty tasty brains. Come see pictures from 2006 and learn how you can be a part of the Iowa Zombie March 2007. Presentation by Shawn Ervin and Shawn Beatty

Can It Be Fine Art if It's Science Fiction?
Art Programming – 11am
Many galleries and fine art markets insist that SF art cannot be fine art. Should this or can this be changed, and if so, how? Discussion led by
Larry Price.

Looking at Classic SF Authors
Programming B – Noon
We’ll take nominations from the floor, with supporting arguments for the nominations. Debate choices. Vote. Winner: Heinlein? Panel lead by Rusty Hevelin, Denny Lynch, Mickey Zucker Reichert, C.S. Friedman, and Russ Madden.

Vogon Poetry
Main Programming – 1pm
Vogon Poetry is poetry normally written by the Vogons, an alien race in Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. According to The Guide: ”Vogon poetry is of course the third worst in the Universe.” It is said listening to Vogon poetry is an experience similar to torture. ICON wants you to give it a try. Write your best version of Vogon poetry (which will be plain in comparison to the true authors, because most of the attendees of ICON are mere humans) on an entry form available at the Registration Desk. Return the form to the same place no later than 5pm Saturday. The winners (and we use that term very loosely) will be announced during a reading Sunday at 1pm. We recommend, if you must attend, bringing earplugs and ear muffs, and wrapping a towel around your head to shield your ears. Judges: Tamara Siler Jones, Cicatrice du Veritas, and Susan Ray.

Military SF
Programming C – 1pm
Enjoy works produced by David Drake, S.M. Stirling, David Weber, and David Feintuch, and other military SF authors? Come and talk about this subgenre with Nonie Rider, Evil Dave Duncan, and Bo3b Harper.

Digital Collage
Art Programming- 1pm
Join Artist GoH, Larry Price, to learn the methods behind creating original art through digital collage.

DAGOBAH Galaxy Bowl
Main Programming – 2pm
Come join the Davenport Area Gathering of Books and Humanoids (DAGOBAH) for this fun game show.

How NOT to Get Published
Programming B – 2pm
There have been countless books, articles, and panels on the topic of How to Get Published, most of which seem to recite the same old platitudes: write about what you know about, find a “voice,” show don't tell, etc. But what about those folks who clearly don't want to get published? You know, the ones who send in manuscripts written in green crayon or with cover letters threatening to murder the editor's children if their story is not plucked ceremoniously from the slushpile. Now you, too, can learn the deep dark secrets of How NOT to Get Published, a tongue-firmly-in-cheek guide presented by Micky Zucker Reichert for the as-yet-unpublished writer who wants to get published (or not).