Readercon 34 Schedule
at the Boston Marriott Burlington in Burlington, Mass.
https://readercon.org
Saturday 19 July
10:00 a.m., at the autographer’s table
Autograph Session : Henry Wessells
Sunday 20 July
10:00 to 11:00 a.m., in : Create / Collaborate
The Art of the SF Book Cover
John Clute & Henry Wessells
Panel description : Since its inception, the British Library, the national library of the UK, has stripped dust jackets off books in its holding and discarded the unwanted wrappers, losing an essential piece of their cultural and artistic significance. In The Book Blinders, science fiction historian and theorist John Clute details the “annals of vandalism” at the British Library, with a focus on works lost (and found). John Clute and antiquarian bookseller Henry Wessells give a joint presentation on this subject, with numerous illustrations, and with extra time for Q&A.
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., in : Empower / Embrace
Reading : Henry Wessells
Henry Wessells reads from The Elfland Prepositions and from Another Green World (both newly published in 2025).
12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., in : Create / Collaborate
The Art of the SF Book Cover
John Clute & Michael Dirda
Panel description : The early divergence of American and British science fiction may best be witnessed in the works of UK authors in the 1930s and ’40s that have been called “scientific romances.” Unlike their pulp cousins in the US, these works lack the optimistic outlook of young square-jawed heroes out to conquer the galaxy. Instead, they offer anxiety about rogue scientists armed with Ultimate Weapons out to blackmail the world to either peace or servitude. In this presentation, famed fantastika theorist John Clute and Michael Dirda will discuss this less-recognized strand of SF.
[N.B. I will be running a slide show not dissimilar to the one for dust jackets.]
I should arrive at Readercon by midday on Friday. Temporary Culture will have a table in the book room on Friday and Saturday, and copies of A Conversation larger than the Universe, The Private Life of Books, The Elfland Prepositions, and Another Green World (advance copies of the Zagava paperback), the publications of the Avram Davidson Society, Sexual Stealing by Wendy Walker, and a variety of other books will be available for sale (cash, cheque, or paypal). If you see me, come say hello. There is always plenty of time for conversation.