I’m spending the long weekend at Continuum 7, Melbourne’s own Speculative Fiction and Pop Culture Convention. If you haven’t yet purchased your membership, you’re most welcome to come along on the Friday night — it’s free! You’ll have a great time and you might even want to purchase a full or day membership for the weekend.
Here’s what I’ll be getting up to:
- 9.00pm — Friday 10 June –Earth/Fire Room
Great Debate: Immortality – There’s No Future In It
Who wants to live forever! No, really, who does? Is eternal life all it’s cracked up to be? Which is worse, death and the great unknown or hanging around for all eternity as a head in a jar? Our two teams of crack debaters will tackle this topic – but who will triumph? Hosted by Jack Dann, Debated by Catherynne M. Valente, Dave Freer, Narrelle Harris, Richard Harland, Kirstyn McDermott, Heath Miller
- 11.00pm — Friday 10 June — Sun Room
Dark Delights
Take your place, on the chaise lounge, pop a chocolate and enjoy the recitals, readings and discussion. Just how can something horrific be depicted as beautiful? Talie Helene, Kirstyn McDermott, Kyla Ward
- 6.00pm — Saturday 11 June — Fire Room
What’s Happening to the Bookselling Industry?
Borders and Angus & Robertson, gone! Is it the end times? Why are booksellers collapsing & what is replacing them in popularity? Justin Ackroyd, Crisetta MacLeod, Kirstyn McDermott, Julia Svaganovic
- 2.00pm — Sunday 12 June — Sun Room
Vampire Circus
Where the vampires go, other monsters seem sure to follow. Werewolves, ghouls, fairies and all manner of supernatural creatures populate the vampire circus, but do we we really need them? Can — should — monsters take centre ring without inviting all their friends? Jason Nahrung, Narrelle Harris, Kirsytn McDermott, Heath Miller, Julia Svaganovic
- 5.00pm — Sunday 12 June — Harmony Room
Author Reading (20 minutes)
- 8.00pm — Sunday 12 June — Fire Room
Writer and the Critic
The Writer and The Critic presents its first ever live-in-front-of-real-people podcast. Kirstyn McDermott (most definitely the Writer) and Ian Mond (not much of a critic, but we’ll make do) discuss books they have recommended to each other. Things might get fiery, offensive and painful, but it will also be an eloquent and erudite deconstruction of genre. Or something. Special guest podcaster: Catherynne M. Valente. Kirstyn selected “Full Dark, No Stars” by Stephen King, Ian has chosen “Among Others” by Jo Walton, and Cat’s pick is “EmbassyTown” by China Meiville. Warning: There will be spoilers! Come and listen and throw things at Ian. You know you want to.
- 12.00pm — Monday 13 June — Earth Room
Crones, Witches and Marginalised Power in Fairytales
Witches dominate as fairytale villains; how did older women get such a bad rap? Why is age and power in women something to fear and is that notion being changed in modern retellings? Let’s talk about fear, death, and post-menopausal sexual agency–and some good old fashioned crones. Catherynne M. Valente, Kirstyn McDermott, Emily De Rango, Kirsty Sculler, Julia Svaganovic
The full program is available here at the Continuum website. See you there!
Kirstyn McDermott 