Schedule for Dublin 2019

Making the Asexual Textual. - 15th August.  21.00 - 21.50  Wicklow Hall 1  CCD
Panel

In the last, many asexual and/or aromantic characters in science fiction and fantasy stories have not been overtly identified this way.  Should writers be more explicit in stating asexual and aromantic characters' identity?  Ho do asexuality and aromanticness shape and change the way characters and their relationships with others are perceived or written?

Wendy Metcalfe, Dr. Darcie Little Badger, Dr Edmund Schluessel, Jasmine Gower


Relationships with sentient AIs in science fiction - 17 August.  14.00 - 1450. Liffey Hall 2 CCD
Panel 

Sentient AIs are common in SF stories.  Do writers use a sentient AI as a way to avoid making that character sexual?  How does an AI's lack of sexuality, or birth gender, allow writers to explore relationships in new ways?

Wendy Metcalfe, Adam Wing, Mr. Derek Kunsken, Ace Ratcliff, Karolina Fedyk

Older Characters and older authors - 18 August.  13.00 - 13.50.  Wicklow Room 3. CCD
Panel

A decade ago the media would label an author of 50 as 'older'.  Today, more writers are beginning their careers in their 60s and 70s.  Do these older writers write and champion older characters, or is there still pressure to appeal to a younger demographic with equally young protagonists?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a full time writer at an older age?

Kari Sperring, Wendy Metcalfe, Sam Fleming, Giovanni De Feo




Comments

  1. Interesting, Wendy! I'll try to get to some of these if I can.

    I actually used a genderless AI in one of the two novels I have shelved for now. I had the male MC refer to the AI as 'it', as well. I'm not sure why I made that decision, though the character does have a rather confusing arc due to posthuman events involving his mind and two different women, so perhaps I felt that a close relationship with a gendered AI as well would have made the mix too rich.

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