MarsCon 2006

Programming Ideas Page

Our programming ideas page worked out pretty well last year so we're going to repeat it. Do you have an idea for a programming event you would like to attend? Do you have a special interest in sf/fantasy art, a particular author or genre, gaming, fan fic, music, poetry (even Vogon poetry)? Are you intrigued by hard sciences, fantasy, costuming, media, fanish zaniness? Anyone attending MarsCon can be a program presenter and/or participant; we encourage you to get involved in this rewarding aspect of convention volunteering. Or, if you're not willing to run a programming event yourself, throw out your ideas and see if they engage anyone else's enthusiasm.

Read the list below, then add your ideas.

The Dork of the Rings
Our feature film THE DORK OF THE RINGS will be coming out in August 2006, but we have been screening our trailer and 20 minute documentary at conventions worldwide such as GenCon (Indy), Ring*Con (Germany), Elf (Orlando), The One Ring Celebration (Pasadena) and Dragon*Con (Atlanta) to name a few. We'd love to send you a DVD if you have room in your programming to show this fun documentary hosted by our very our JACK PETERSON. Visit our website at www.dorkoftherings.com to see clips and all kinds of other goodies.

Suggested by Tim Richardson on Thursday, February 02, 2006 at 23:35:08

The Doctor's In the House...
Doctor Who will be returning to America this March on the Sci-Fi Channel. We'll be talking about the new show (both season 1 & 2) and the spin-off Torchwood, as well as audio adventure/book developments in the classic series.

Suggested by Matt Savelkoul on Friday, January 27, 2006 at 13:45:24

By Your Command...
Come discuss what TV Guide has hailed as the best drama on television. Not best genre show...best drama show period. We'll be talking about current and future developments of the new Battlestar Galactica series.

Suggested by Matt Savelkoul on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 10:57:59

Crafty Geek Discussion Panel
Some friends and I who do this panel at Convergence would like to do it at marscon if you can fit us in. It's just a general crafters discussion where people can come and exchange crafting ideas. We will have some ideas with printouts, directions to try some new things such as making Custom Geeky Coasters, Stenciling original tshirts, etc.

Suggested by Erica/Eowynmn on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 09:28:06

Keelhauled Studios ADD Pirate Comedy Show
The Keelhauled pirates, Nigel Sade and Bluebeard, perform their trademark two-man comedy act featuring Dueling Sean Connery's, Batmann & Robbin, audiance participation, various props, baudiness and fabulous looking pirates! You can even buy great Keelhauled swag so you can prove you saw them and have been Keelhauled LIVE! (Well, not really keelhauled . . . but at least you can get a shirt or something!)

Suggested by Pirate Comedy Show on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 13:15:20

Charity Auction
Help us raise funds for two worthwhile causes by bidding for some incredible items, donated by fans like you. Proceeds will benefit the Family Circuits and the Gordy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Thank you for your generosity!

Suggested by ConCom on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 20:03:23

Friday Night Improv with Dean Haglund
Clean enough for all ages and smart enough to satisfy even the sharpest technophile, Dean's one-hour shows are quick-witted, fast-paced, and always a complete surprise, especially to Dean! Join him Friday night at 8:00 pm at the Main Stage as he recreates an X-Files episode on the spot using audience participation and his own unique brand of improv comedy. Tickets to the event are $10.75 via PayPal (the $.75 covers transaction fees). They can be purchased on-line by registered con attendees or bundled with a convention membership, and will be available for pick-up on Friday at Dean's table. Tickets may also be purchased for $10.00 at Dean's table the day of the show. Please note: people attending the show must be registered for the convention and must present a con badge and ticket for admission.

Suggested by Dean Haglund on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 20:01:03

The Lone Gunman
Dean Haglund is probably best known for his nine seasons playing Langly, one of the computer geeks known as "The Lone Gunmen" from the hit FOX TV series The X-Files. He also starred in the The X-Files spin-off series The Lone Gunmen. His character is so popular that Haglund photo Dean is a main attraction at X-File and Sci-Fi conventions all over North America. He appears on trading cards, T-Shirts and even has his own comic book ("The Lone Gunman" published by Dark Horse Comics).

Suggested by Dean Haglund on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:57:36

Beyond Farscape
Gigi Edgley has performed in many plays including Romeo and Juliet with the Boston Shakespearian Company, Road, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Les Miserables, Boy's Life, The Rover, Kill Everything You Love, 4.48 Psychosis, The Caged Birds and Kakos. Gigi's other film and television credits include Day of the Roses, Water Rats, Monkey's Mask, Beastmaster, Lost World, Pure White Light, The Bastard and Him and Her.

Suggested by Gigi Edgley on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:54:07

What the Frell?
Gigi Edgley is an Australian actress who stole the hearts of American geeks and Sci-fi enthusiasts with her role as Chiana on Farscape, a cult science fiction TV show by the Jim Henson Company.

Suggested by Gigi Edgley on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:49:27

SF Trivia Contest
Show your knowledge, win prizes!

Suggested by Whitestar Phoenix on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:29:21

Monster Hunting
Then & Now

Suggested by Whitestar Phoenix on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:28:27

Inside Star Trek
Paul Lawrence spent six years on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine--three of them freelance and three as the Key 2nd Assistant Director. Join him for some stories from behind-the-scenes in Hollywood.

Suggested by Paul Lawrence on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:17:23

Star Gate versus The Hyper Drive
They say getting there is only half the fun, but each has it's hazards, risks and benefits. So which is the better choice for an author, a TV producer or an Interstellar Mission planner?

Suggested by Hugh S. Gregory on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:06:07

Mars Bases - The Hazards and The Needs
So you want to build a Mars base, eh? Do you know what you need? Do you know what to pack along? And do you know what order things need to be constructed in for the base to function fully from day one?

Suggested by Hugh S. Gregory on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:04:47

Foreign Space Exploration Update - The Year 2005 In Review
An annual report and look back at what other countries space programs world wide have been doing for the past year.

Suggested by Hugh S. Gregory on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 19:02:46

Exploring Analogue Mars - Pisces One Expedition Report
The Joys of Life In a Tuna Can Shaped Mars Habitat or What I Did On My Winter Vacation! Report on the adventures, misadventures and scientific research under taken by the joint Brazilian, Swedish, Canadian and American "Pisces Expedition" last winter at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah.

Suggested by Hugh S. Gregory on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 18:46:11

Soviet Space Disasters
A look back at the early era of Space Exploration by the former Soviet Union, including some of their more notable successes, and their previously secret and hidden space disasters.

Suggested by Hugh S. Gregory on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 18:43:13

Toys in Space
How do your favorite toys work in outer space? What would a Nerf basketball do? Or, how about magnetic marbles? A hands on A/V demonstration for grade school kids and people of all ages.

Suggested by Ben Huset, Minnesota Space Frontier Society on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 18:34:55

International Space Station Update
The International Space Station, the largest cooperative program in history, combines the resources of 16 nations in scientific research. Get the latest information on the program.

Suggested by Ben Huset, Minnesota Space Frontier Society on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 18:27:18

The Nonfiction of Alien Contact
First contact themes in history - a look at possible first contact in the past, present and future. Has contact already occurred or is it still yet to come? What would contact be like, and what would it mean to you?

Suggested by Craig R. Lang, MUFON on Monday, January 09, 2006 at 20:13:45

Creative Trance Workshop
A workshop for the creative imagination: A moment of progressive relaxation takes you into your deepest and most creative inner mind. Take some time to enjoy some imaginal scenery. Ask a question. Invent an idea. ...or simply travel into the amazing universe of the imagination.

Suggested by Craig R. Lang, MUFON on Monday, January 09, 2006 at 20:12:46

UFOs and Close Encounters
What is a UFO and what is a close encounter? Are we being contacted? If so, who are our mysterious visitors from the sky? A look at some interesting UFO and close encounter cases and some of the prevailing themes observed in the investigation of UFO abduction.

Suggested by Craig R. Lang, MUFON on Monday, January 09, 2006 at 20:11:55

Props, build, buy or borrow?
Props can make or break some costumes, also they are simply fun to collect. Come and explore diferent perspectives on buying them, or building your own.

Suggested by Todd Coss, Nathan Lalum, Brian Timm on Friday, January 06, 2006 at 07:50:58

Costuming 101
Are you wondering how to get started in this fun hobby? Come and ask questions, share experiences, and hear different perspectives on how to get started.

Suggested by Todd Coss, Rae Lundquist, Katie Nelson, Elizabeth S. on Friday, January 06, 2006 at 07:49:57

A Songwriting Panel
Well, since we have a whole bunch of really talented writers in a wild variety of styles, how about a songwriting panel?

Suggested by Eric Coleman on Thursday, January 05, 2006 at 15:30:35

Classic video games panel
A panel on classic gaming, emulation vs. playing/maintaining the real systems, and why it's so hard to find Atari joysticks without teeth marks on them.

Suggested by ShoEboX on Thursday, January 05, 2006 at 08:41:12

Fantastic Plastic: Space & Science Fiction Model Building
You've just cracked the shrink wrap on that new plastic model kit. Now the fun begins. This session will explain and demonstrate tips and techniques to help you turn those shards of plastic into a bee-yoo-tee-ful scale model.

Suggested by Roger Sorensen on Wednesday, January 04, 2006 at 11:08:43

Space Update
An update on all things spaceflight technology - what happened this year, what is planned for the future. We will have probes en route to both Mercury and Pluto by then!

Suggested by Kent on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at 21:59:25

Mars in UT Episode II
Find out what is going on in the UT desert at the Mars Society's Semi-Secret training base as they plan for human exploration of Mars.

Suggested by Ben on Monday, December 19, 2005 at 07:04:34

It was a Graveyard Bash: Growing up in Monster Culture
From SHOCK THEATER to FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, "The Monster Mash," Aurora monster models, THE MUNSTERS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, to the present; an affectionate look at the history and subculture of Monster Fandom.

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman on Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 11:51:00

Horror Cinema 102:1950-
Keep Watching the Skies! I was a Teenage Whatever. Hammer. American International. Evil Kids. The Living Dead. Giant monsters from Tokyo. THE SIXTH SENSE and the re-invention of subtlety. There's so much to talk about the time will just fly by. Participants are encouraged to bring recommended viewing lists to share.

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman on Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 11:47:41

Horror Cinema 101:1896-1949
Within a chronological framework we'll consider studios (Universal, RKO, etc.), producers (Carl Laemmle, Jr., Val Lewton), movements, directors (F.W. Murnau, Tod Browning, James Whale), actors (King Karloff, Scream Queen Fay Wray, Lugosi, Chaney Sr. & Jr.), films that are historically important and why, films we love most and why. Participants are encouraged to bring recommended viewing lists to share.

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman on Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 11:42:56

Horror Literature 102: The 20th and 21st Centuries
From Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood to Lovecraft, Fritz Leiber, Shirley Jackson, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and beyond. Participants are encouraged to bring recommended reading lists to share.

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman on Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 11:36:06

Horror Literature 101: The 18th and 19th Centuries
An organized but unstuffy look at early-and-middle-period classic ghost-and-horror stories, from THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO to FRANKENSTEIN, "The Fall of the House of Usher," "Carmilla," THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, DRACULA, and THE TURN OF THE SCREW. Participants are encouraged to bring recommended reading lists to share.

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman on Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 11:32:51

Guns of Sci-Fi
Who needs lasers? Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate...in these visions of the future, a gun is still a gun. Discuss what guns are being used as the hottest sci-fi props and whether or not the technology will eventually evolve.

Suggested by Erik D. Pakieser on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 17:31:59

The Great Luke Ski and Worm Quartet
I hope to see both The Great Luke Ski and Worm Quartet featured prominently as musical guests at MarsCon 2006. They rock!

Suggested by Gel on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 22:40:11

Basic Bellydance
I second Ruth Souther's suggestion for some bellydance programming. First some instruction, then some dancing. I'd prefer that it not be on Sunday morning like it was in 2005; that was a little too early to be up and dancing! :) It'd also be great to have a drum jam on Friday and/or Saturday night, where people can drum and dance.

Suggested by Gel on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 22:37:43

Reading from Russian Folktales
Baba Yaga - the Russian Witch who flies in a Hat not on a broom, and has a house on Chicken Legs! Introduce chidlren to a not too scary alternative to English Witches with fun accents...

Suggested by Brinn Hemmingson on Tuesday, December 06, 2005 at 15:58:58

Paranormal Chick-Lit, Romance that Goes Bump in the Night
Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts are getting down in dirty in this popular romance sub-genre. What's up with that? Panelists will discuss the popularity of authors like MaryJanice Davidson, Kim Harrison, and Charaline Harris.

Suggested by Lyda Morehouse on Monday, December 05, 2005 at 12:19:57

Firefly - A More Realistic Future
Joss Whedon's "Firefly" brought us an extremely interesting future where we don't have space aliens and big starship battles. Where character development, personal relationships, plots and adventure are far more important than special effects. It'd be a real treat to meet and talk with some of the cast and makers of Firefly.

Suggested by Mithel on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 09:33:03

Your Life in the Cards - Beginning Tarot
Learn basic Tarot in an hour. Bring a deck or use one of ours, but see past, present, and future as the Oracle unfolds before you.

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:31:56

Basic Bellydance
Not just beginning bellydance instruction but a celebration of movement and sound. No complicated choreography to frustrate, all body types can experience the beautiful isolations that make bellydance so popular. Last but not least, a free for all jam session to Turkish Rock Star, Tarkan.

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:23:46

Spirituality in Stories:
: It appears to be both a dangerous topic and yet fascinating to just about everyone. Can a character be sustained if there is no hidden beliefs, no deeper connections to his or her world? What is spirituality versus religion? How does the presence or absence of either make for a better story? Can you have religion in space after youâ ve â touched the face of Godâ ? What about those Earth-based beliefs, if you donâ t have any world to stand on?

Suggested by ruthsouther@sbcglobal.net on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:16:06

Tarot: Working with Archetypes:
The patterns of the universe exist for a reason. Archetypes speak loudly and everyone recognizes them either directly or unconsciously. Use the Major and Minor Lessons of Life to enhance storylines and build better characters. You do not have to have any knowledge regarding Tarot to let the archetypes and symbolism speak.

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:13:45

Take a Plot and Make it Real:
Your characters may be fabulous, but if you put them into contrived, unbelievable circumstances, you will lose your reader every time. Consistency, knowing the texture, tastes and smells of your world, weaving the fabric of your plot into the lives of your characters as the background rather than slapping the reader with it.

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:12:07

Character Development, or the Life of Charlie:
An in-depth discussion on creating an entire history for a character, most of which will never be put within the pages of your story. To have a fully-rounded, three dimensional cast of characters, human or non-human, you must know where they came from, why they are where they are, how they got there, their grief, their joys, their losses, their achievements. You must know all about them before you can make a reader want to know them, too.

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:09:29

Mythic v Mundane
What is the difference and how does one take the mundane and make it fantasy? The best fantasies written are the ones based on everyday routines with an edge of realism. Fantasy worlds created out of the mundane, believable but oh-so-different..

Suggested by Ruth Souther on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 19:07:46

Contemporary Fantasy: Where Elves/Vampires Are Sexy *and* Available
Contemporary fantasy often juxtaposes elements of old mythologies with cell phones and fast food. What do we find so compelling in this mix? In a wide-ranging discussion of contemporary fantasy, we'll discuss this subgenre's history and enduring appeal as well as our favorite authors and stories.

Suggested by Paula L. Fleming on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 20:11:02

Circle Story
Watch authors mix it up as they try to create stories on the spot -- with no delete key! One writer will start, speak for two minutes, then hand off the tale to the next person, and so forth. Will the result be sublime, silly, or both? If the panelists get stuck, they may ask the audience for ideas!

Suggested by Paula L. Fleming on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 19:54:44

The Ambiguous Space of Suspended Disbelief
Riding a roller coaster is fun because it's an adrenaline rush with a safety belt. We're in that in-between place between hurtling toward certain death and being perfectly safe. Likewise with stories: we love imagining that Nazgul are sniffing us out or Reavers want to rape, kill, and eat us (in that order, if we're lucky), all the while knowing that the monsters don't exist. How does fiction successfully occupy this middle ground? When does a story lose us to one side or the other?

Suggested by Paula L. Fleming on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 19:51:54

A Theory of Everything -- even SF?
Contemporary philosopher Ken Wilber's "Integral Theory" attempts to explain everything -- science, religion, history, psychology -- in one handy color-coded diagram. But "everything" includes speculative fiction as well. What are the theory's implications for science fiction, fantasy, and horror? Can we find something that doesn't fit?

Suggested by Tycho on Sunday, November 13, 2005 at 16:08:43

Monster Myths as Metaphors
Some horror fiction has been less than entirely subtle (*ahem*Buffy*ahem*) about the metaphorical significance of its monsters. What can monsters tell us about the human condition? Why are we more receptive to hearing it from zombies and werewolves than from, say, Dr. Phil? And when, if ever, is a werewolf really just a werewolf and not an allegory?

Suggested by Tycho on Sunday, November 13, 2005 at 16:04:16

Music for Monsters
Do all the scary things have their own soundtracks? There are tons of ballads about the Fay for instance but not so many about vampires. What kind of music goes with the Big Bad if it's on the written page and not on screen?

Suggested by Catherine Lundoff on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 21:13:30

Van Helsing's Heirs
Are Slayers and hunters heroes or villains? Why do the vamps and other critters often win in the end? And how do you accessorize for a staking if you're not Sarah Michelle Geller?

Suggested by Catherine Lundoff on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 21:03:42

Erotic horror/dark fantasy or Things that do more than go Bump in the Night
Stories detailing the romantic and sexual relationships of vampires, werewolves and other critters have been popular for years and are only getting more so. What's the allure? Who does this well? Would you really want to do the nasty with someone who smells like a wet wolfhound?

Suggested by Catherine Lundoff on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 20:56:47

Horror vs. dark fantasy
Where is the line? When does fantasy bleed into dark fantasy into horror? Which end do your start at?

Suggested by Kelly McCullough on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:27:27

The allure of darkness
Sometimes when you're writing or reading a villain you find yourself in dire need of a shower. Sometimes you're fascinated by the evil within. Sometimes both. What makes a villain compelling.

Suggested by Kelly McCullough on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:24:07

The monster as hero
Vampires, werewolves, and demons. The darkest monsters can sometimes make the best protagonists. There's so much to work with both in terms of dark drives and room for redemption. Let's discuss the heroes of the night.

Suggested by Kelly McCullough on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:20:56

Night as setting
Darkness is a powerful tool for writers to connect to readers. How can the writer use darkness in their work, both as a straight forward element of description and as metaphor.

Suggested by Kelly McCullough on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:18:29

Ideas that go bump in the night
Many of my story ideas start with images or situations from dreams. This occasionally means getting up at three a.m. and writing. It also means learning how to convert dream into fiction. Let's discuss the interface between dream and inspiration.

Suggested by Kelly McCullough on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 12:15:38

Panel about nothing
Hey con goers, come on ecome all! This will be a panel to discuss... whatever! This is just what geeks do all the time anyway. We will discuss anything that can start out with the phrase " You know what would be really cool..." or "What if..." Come with ideas!

Suggested by Katie on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 at 23:45:51

Favorite Author Gripes
Are you sick of waiting for the end of the endless quest? Does the fact that the main character from book one is completely absent from book ten make you reluctant to pick up book eleven? Are the stories becoming ever more idiotic? Has the author become a little too obvious about his/her political leanings and made his/her stories a little too preachy for your tastes? Is his/her writing style simply getting on your nerves? Vent your frustration at your favorite author(s) at this panel. No author's work will be considered sacred, but be prepared to defend your assertion that Tolkein should have made Gandalf a woman.

Suggested by Nina on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 at 18:56:52

Heinlein's Rules for Writing
What can we learn about writing from this grandmaster of Sci-fi? What were his own rules about writing and why was he so successful? A presentation for those interested in writing fiction and for fans of RAH.

Suggested by Dave Walbridge on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 at 15:44:38

Preditable horror?
Can playing horror video, seeing it on TV news, reading comics and so forth REALLY make us more accpeting and ambivalent towards real-life horror? Has the genre been used to the point that it does society a dis-service? Examples - poilitical sci-fi (1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies) and real life.

Suggested by Brinn Hemmingson on Monday, October 31, 2005 at 12:02:35

From Lovecraft to Stephen King
Horror as a genre. Check your malodourous ichor at the door.

Suggested by Baron Dave on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 21:49:31

Bypassing the government to get to space
The Soviet Union sold their space program to the Chinese, and maybe others. The X-Prize has been claimed. Meanwhile, the US Space Program falters with Republican budget cuts and a risk-averse climate. How can we get into space without US government funding?

Suggested by Baron Dave on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 21:46:25

Beyond Conspiracy Theories
The Lone Gunman/Magic Bullet. The Knights Templar. The DaVinci Code. Skull and Bones Society. What is real, and can believe what anyone says about it?

Suggested by Baron Dave on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 21:38:24

Selling it
Everybody and his brother seems to have a shop at Cafe Press these days. Is this the best way to move the goods when you decide to cash in on your fanish talents?

Suggested by Rich Brown on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 12:12:36

Fan Film : Star Wreck 6
Could the film rm screen this? it can be obtained via the web site at: http://www.starwreck.com/

Suggested by Ben on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 08:10:51

Harry Potter and the End of the Story
Six down and just one to go. How will Rowling end it? Will Harry be able to defeat Voldemort without getting himself killed? How will Harry deal with the death of <spoiler deleted>? Who else will Rowling kill off before the end? Will anyone get to live happily ever after? This is a panel for pure speculation. No theory is too outlandish. Spoilers for all six books published thus far will be uttered. Enter at your own risk.

Suggested by Nina on Monday, October 03, 2005 at 21:01:07

Fan Films
I've enjoyed the fan films event at the past couple MarsCons; can we do this again? Pretty please?

Suggested by Rich Brown on Monday, October 03, 2005 at 17:48:31

FLYING LIKE WILMA!!
I just heard Tony Goldmark's new band "Flying Like Wilma" on Dr. Demento last night and I think they would make a great addition to MarsCon this year!

Suggested by Laird Burns on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 22:30:36

Ed Wood went bump in the night.
I would like to have a panel on the works and interesting/silly life of Ed Wood. I was also planning to show all of his movies that I own in a private room party for Friday night.

Suggested by Michael Morley on Sunday, September 04, 2005 at 18:34:10

Robots That Do Not Go Bump in the Dark
Using sensors and software to prevent robots from running into, over, or through, people or objects. This important safety feature is needed by all mobile robots. Because a half ton scrub bot running amuck gives new meaning to the term fatal crash. William Crolley and ??? Twin Cities Robotics Group

Suggested by William Crolley - Roboman on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 00:30:50

DARK POEMS and Stories
Share your original short, short stories or dark poems in a round robin reading.

Suggested by Brinn Hemmingson on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:33:25

Books versus Screen
Why do we enjoy horror and especially erotic horror (Laurel Hanmilton series) when we can see it on the screen? How do the two compare? Things that go bump in the night - have books ever outdone film in temrs of being really creepy and good - great example, The Stand.

Suggested by Brinn Hemmingson on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:19:51

Battlestar Galactica
Would like to see the stars from the original BSG (Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Herb Jefferson, etc.) - rarely see them in the Midwest but they're very popular at other conventions...

Suggested by fanficcer on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 12:59:03

Star Wars celebs, authors, artists
As many as possible. Pretty self explanatory. ;) Some suggestions would be Tim Zahn (at MC 05), Stover, Stackpole, Allston, Greg Bear, Karen Traviss, Jim Luceno, or pretty much anyone. An example of a non-SW author would be Orson Scott Card, but I'm not holding my breath for him showing up.

Suggested by Nathan on Tuesday, July 05, 2005 at 18:44:49

The Great Luke Ski
He was amazing at MC 2005, and you should try to get him back for 2006!

Suggested by Nathan on Tuesday, July 05, 2005 at 18:37:25

Tony Goldmark
Tony Goldmark was awesome last con (2005) in the Dementia Smackdown, one would like to see him back for 2006.

Suggested by Razor on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 04:59:35

Pillow Fight
Well, the event title says it all, really, doesn't it?

Suggested by Fiona on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 13:15:13

Story Time
Child-friendly programming. Everyone likes being read to. What to read? Besides "The Skittle Skat Roarious Pie in the Sky Angel Food Cake." (I don't remember the exact title, but it is something like that.)

Suggested by Fiona on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 13:11:13

As always, MarsCon is immensely grateful for the incredible programming contributions we receive each year from artists, authors, guests, musicians, singers, actors, fan groups, clubs and individuals. Thank you for your support!

MarsCon 2006
March 3-5, 2006
Holiday Inn Select, Bloomington, MN

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