The long-awaited Lunacon report
..as transcribed over the week following the amazing event. Enjoy.
Attending Lunacon at the end of a massive month-long trip along the East Coast, half of which was devoted to law school research, may not have been the best idea: I arrived exhausted and consequently ended up attending more plotless mayhem panels as opposed to ones with actual content. Many of these were costuming panels, which turned out to be mostly very small gatherings of very serious costumers, earnestly discussing studs, beads, leather, and Renaissance trappings: interesting, but out of my current scope. I didn't go to the "Strangers Have the Best Candy" panel this time; the two previous year's panels, as fascinating as it is to discuss the creation of the ideal literary or genre villain, were enough for me in my non-writing state. Anyhow, I already know why my villains fall flat. They're multidimensional with interesting backgrounds and sympathetic facets and all that good stuff, but they don't do much. I guess I just don't have enough villainy in me. XD
Other things I didn't go to: "Time Management for Writers" (I know the tactics, I just don't practice them), the Gorilla Suit Film Festival (popped in for a minute to see a very bronze-looking '70s Doc Savage smiling at a pretty woman and, I kid you not, a special-effects GLINT twinkles in his eye), "Weapons in Space!!" (because I'd just read an article in a science magazine about the subject, "Sinbad's Golden Voyage" (though I was kind of sorry to miss it, as a young Tom Baker played the villain), or "The Eye of Argon Reading" (my brother went to that -- go here, pick a random page, and try, just TRY, to read it out loud with a straight face).
First of the fandom panels was "You Are Not Alone": one of only two Doctor Who panels that actually focused on the show in general rather than spinoffs or romance. Basically a rehash of everything LJ's been saying all year. *grins* I got to make a point about the maid costumes being insulting in Human Nature and a nonissue in The Last of the Time Lords, but there really wasn't much said that I hadn't heard already online.
"Joss Whedon Must Die, or Joss Whedon Is My God": turned out to espouse the latter argument because one of the panelists didn't show up until the last minute and then couldn't really find any good reasons why the great Whedon should be excoriated. The general consensus was yeah, he kills off our favorite characters and icebergs our favorite ships, but he does it so WELL. What was really interesting was that one of the panelists was under a nondisclosure agreement, and kept having to skirt subjects because she has worked for people connected to some of the shows.
"Star Trek Spec." In which certain recent Internet rumors were -- if not debunked -- at least given the beady eye, the villain's name was revealed, the new actors (and status of the TOS crew as icons open to interpretation by any actor) were discussed, and a fun time was had by all. That was one panel where I was grinning all the way through. This movie had better be so darned awesome.
"Potterdammerung: The End is Here" was chronologically the last panel I attended, and a bit of a downer, because it seemed that all the panelists (and the audience) could do was complain. The book was too long, it didn't have enough details, it spent too much time in the woods, she killed my favorite character (one panelist in particular ended every sentence with "and then she wouldn't have had to kill Fred," which, after a while, consistently left the crowd in stitches). There was immense criticism of Rowling's decision to leave so many wrapup details out, the question of whether her interviews must be included as canon -- the published authors said they do, while the ficcers weren't so sure -- and it ended with a general consensus that Rowling really ought to rewrite the book, possibly splitting it in two to include all the detail. I raised my hand way too many times, and had to ask, at the end, what the panelists actually liked about the seventh book; they cited the Harry-and-Hermione section in the forest, Snape's death (getting kudos for being gripping enough), and one or two other scenes that I don't remember.
One thing a lot of people agreed with was that DH wasn't as fun a read as previous books; one can't just pick it up in the middle and read a section and grin. It has to be read from beginning to end or used for research, and it's a bit too long to read the whole of every time.
I went to a number of general interest panels as well. "Reading Out Loud", a workshop chaired by Elizabeth Glover, was excellent -- the cardinal rules for reading before an audience are 1) stand up, 2) don't stand behind a table, 3) read with expression and inflection, and 4) read at an appropriate volume for the crowd.
"Understanding Your Publishing Contract": interesting and informative; a lot of stuff about royalties and rights and clauses, but I'm still not looking forward to next year's intensive Contracts course. Basically: one requires an agent to manage a contract, and it had better be a good one.
"When Fandom and Livejournal Collide": again, nothing I hadn't heard online. The three panelists basically said that not enough of their associates moved off Livejournal to annoy them, and that while the management(s) haven't been very competent or communicative, it still has a bigger general sf and writing community than anywhere else.
"Vampires: Soooo Five Minutes Ago", the general consensus of which was "Anne Rice has a lot to answer for." By which the panelists menat that the market is now flooded with emo vampires, and it's time for something new.
"Swordplay Workshop": fascinating panel by two costumers who explained how the Eastern and Western concepts of swordplay differed; how crusaders charged in screaming while samurais waited calmly for the moment to strike; how Eastern blades were tempered finely enough to cut through Western swords and armor like butter; how Flemish knife-fighting really worked, how to fight with short and long swords, and some strikes, stances, parries, safety information, and setting up a mock fight in a crowded area. Next Lunacon, however, the audience will actually get to handle the swords. I am so there.
"Writing Fight and Action Scenes". Jonathan Maybury: eighth-degree black belt in jiujitsu and a wealth of personal experience to draw from. Wolves are really easier to deal with than you think; pumas less so (because their claws actually work), but their throats and chests are vulnerable. No novice will suddenly become awesome and defeat the amazingly powerful villain in a personal battle unless there are mitigating factors. Two skilled fighters will not fight more than a minute or two -- without obstacles or distractions, the first few blows will be the last. Elderly or disabled fighters must win with the first or second blow, or risk losing by attrition. And don't have the villain die at the last minute by getting struck by lightning, unless the hero maneuvers him into it.
I also spent some time in the anime room. Death Note and Hellsing Ultimate -- yay. And the result? L has now joined Integra as one of my favorite anime characters. I know what happens to him eventually, but his relentless analysis of Light's modus operandi was just.so.cool, even though every scene was artistically set up so we never saw his face, while in the opening and closing credits... you totally see his face. *snickers* As for Hellsing, it was mainly Seras's story (gripe), but Integra had some very nice scenes -- her first confrontation with Anderson, for one. ("You only cut off his head?") Her voice was pretty good too. I do wonder, though, why her hair is so straight. Wasn't it rather wavy in the first manga volume?
I missed half the masquerade, arriving only in time for the awards. The Pirate Pixie had some nice fluttery wings and the Clumsy Pirate -- a kid who was judged in the adult class because his costume was so good -- tottered onto the stage on peg-leg stilts, with two hooks for his hands, two eyepatches over his eyes, a bottle marked XXX RUM on his belt, and a sword with a cork on the end of it. They also showed trailers for Hellboy II, Iron Man, Indiana Jones IV, and the Star Trek movie. Iron Man's was the best trailer, but honestly, I want to see them all.
So, all in all, not my most productive Lunacon, but a nice fannish interlude in a sea of responsibilities.
Attending Lunacon at the end of a massive month-long trip along the East Coast, half of which was devoted to law school research, may not have been the best idea: I arrived exhausted and consequently ended up attending more plotless mayhem panels as opposed to ones with actual content. Many of these were costuming panels, which turned out to be mostly very small gatherings of very serious costumers, earnestly discussing studs, beads, leather, and Renaissance trappings: interesting, but out of my current scope. I didn't go to the "Strangers Have the Best Candy" panel this time; the two previous year's panels, as fascinating as it is to discuss the creation of the ideal literary or genre villain, were enough for me in my non-writing state. Anyhow, I already know why my villains fall flat. They're multidimensional with interesting backgrounds and sympathetic facets and all that good stuff, but they don't do much. I guess I just don't have enough villainy in me. XD
Other things I didn't go to: "Time Management for Writers" (I know the tactics, I just don't practice them), the Gorilla Suit Film Festival (popped in for a minute to see a very bronze-looking '70s Doc Savage smiling at a pretty woman and, I kid you not, a special-effects GLINT twinkles in his eye), "Weapons in Space!!" (because I'd just read an article in a science magazine about the subject, "Sinbad's Golden Voyage" (though I was kind of sorry to miss it, as a young Tom Baker played the villain), or "The Eye of Argon Reading" (my brother went to that -- go here, pick a random page, and try, just TRY, to read it out loud with a straight face).
First of the fandom panels was "You Are Not Alone": one of only two Doctor Who panels that actually focused on the show in general rather than spinoffs or romance. Basically a rehash of everything LJ's been saying all year. *grins* I got to make a point about the maid costumes being insulting in Human Nature and a nonissue in The Last of the Time Lords, but there really wasn't much said that I hadn't heard already online.
"Joss Whedon Must Die, or Joss Whedon Is My God": turned out to espouse the latter argument because one of the panelists didn't show up until the last minute and then couldn't really find any good reasons why the great Whedon should be excoriated. The general consensus was yeah, he kills off our favorite characters and icebergs our favorite ships, but he does it so WELL. What was really interesting was that one of the panelists was under a nondisclosure agreement, and kept having to skirt subjects because she has worked for people connected to some of the shows.
"Star Trek Spec." In which certain recent Internet rumors were -- if not debunked -- at least given the beady eye, the villain's name was revealed, the new actors (and status of the TOS crew as icons open to interpretation by any actor) were discussed, and a fun time was had by all. That was one panel where I was grinning all the way through. This movie had better be so darned awesome.
"Potterdammerung: The End is Here" was chronologically the last panel I attended, and a bit of a downer, because it seemed that all the panelists (and the audience) could do was complain. The book was too long, it didn't have enough details, it spent too much time in the woods, she killed my favorite character (one panelist in particular ended every sentence with "and then she wouldn't have had to kill Fred," which, after a while, consistently left the crowd in stitches). There was immense criticism of Rowling's decision to leave so many wrapup details out, the question of whether her interviews must be included as canon -- the published authors said they do, while the ficcers weren't so sure -- and it ended with a general consensus that Rowling really ought to rewrite the book, possibly splitting it in two to include all the detail. I raised my hand way too many times, and had to ask, at the end, what the panelists actually liked about the seventh book; they cited the Harry-and-Hermione section in the forest, Snape's death (getting kudos for being gripping enough), and one or two other scenes that I don't remember.
One thing a lot of people agreed with was that DH wasn't as fun a read as previous books; one can't just pick it up in the middle and read a section and grin. It has to be read from beginning to end or used for research, and it's a bit too long to read the whole of every time.
I went to a number of general interest panels as well. "Reading Out Loud", a workshop chaired by Elizabeth Glover, was excellent -- the cardinal rules for reading before an audience are 1) stand up, 2) don't stand behind a table, 3) read with expression and inflection, and 4) read at an appropriate volume for the crowd.
"Understanding Your Publishing Contract": interesting and informative; a lot of stuff about royalties and rights and clauses, but I'm still not looking forward to next year's intensive Contracts course. Basically: one requires an agent to manage a contract, and it had better be a good one.
"When Fandom and Livejournal Collide": again, nothing I hadn't heard online. The three panelists basically said that not enough of their associates moved off Livejournal to annoy them, and that while the management(s) haven't been very competent or communicative, it still has a bigger general sf and writing community than anywhere else.
"Vampires: Soooo Five Minutes Ago", the general consensus of which was "Anne Rice has a lot to answer for." By which the panelists menat that the market is now flooded with emo vampires, and it's time for something new.
"Swordplay Workshop": fascinating panel by two costumers who explained how the Eastern and Western concepts of swordplay differed; how crusaders charged in screaming while samurais waited calmly for the moment to strike; how Eastern blades were tempered finely enough to cut through Western swords and armor like butter; how Flemish knife-fighting really worked, how to fight with short and long swords, and some strikes, stances, parries, safety information, and setting up a mock fight in a crowded area. Next Lunacon, however, the audience will actually get to handle the swords. I am so there.
"Writing Fight and Action Scenes". Jonathan Maybury: eighth-degree black belt in jiujitsu and a wealth of personal experience to draw from. Wolves are really easier to deal with than you think; pumas less so (because their claws actually work), but their throats and chests are vulnerable. No novice will suddenly become awesome and defeat the amazingly powerful villain in a personal battle unless there are mitigating factors. Two skilled fighters will not fight more than a minute or two -- without obstacles or distractions, the first few blows will be the last. Elderly or disabled fighters must win with the first or second blow, or risk losing by attrition. And don't have the villain die at the last minute by getting struck by lightning, unless the hero maneuvers him into it.
I also spent some time in the anime room. Death Note and Hellsing Ultimate -- yay. And the result? L has now joined Integra as one of my favorite anime characters. I know what happens to him eventually, but his relentless analysis of Light's modus operandi was just.so.cool, even though every scene was artistically set up so we never saw his face, while in the opening and closing credits... you totally see his face. *snickers* As for Hellsing, it was mainly Seras's story (gripe), but Integra had some very nice scenes -- her first confrontation with Anderson, for one. ("You only cut off his head?") Her voice was pretty good too. I do wonder, though, why her hair is so straight. Wasn't it rather wavy in the first manga volume?
I missed half the masquerade, arriving only in time for the awards. The Pirate Pixie had some nice fluttery wings and the Clumsy Pirate -- a kid who was judged in the adult class because his costume was so good -- tottered onto the stage on peg-leg stilts, with two hooks for his hands, two eyepatches over his eyes, a bottle marked XXX RUM on his belt, and a sword with a cork on the end of it. They also showed trailers for Hellboy II, Iron Man, Indiana Jones IV, and the Star Trek movie. Iron Man's was the best trailer, but honestly, I want to see them all.
So, all in all, not my most productive Lunacon, but a nice fannish interlude in a sea of responsibilities.