PHILCON 2010

Philcon 2010

My family and I will be making the trip to Philcon again this year but things will be more exciting this time around.
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy last year’s event because I actually had a great time. This time will be different for two reasons. 1) I have been invited to participate on four panels which is double the number from last year but the big difference will be the long awaited book launch of the sequel to Escape 2 Earth 2012.
For the past four and a half years my daughter Lauren and I have been writing short stories connected to Escape 2 Earth, so many in fact we have put several of them together in paperback and titled it Inside the Spiral Galaxy. Almost immediately after the release of Escape 2 Earth readers started asking what happened next.
I had been considering a sequel which is now going to be a trilogy and it appears that the Escape 2 Earth Universe has been born. What does this have to do with Philcon? Some of you may ask. Well the answer is the people, not only are they friendly most of them really appreciate a good science fiction story.
Very few ever talk about it but there actually two types of sci-fi cons, one for those who enjoy watching sci-fi movies and TV shows the other convention is for those who want the whole experience, the trifecta of science fiction which includes reading. With workshop panels including publishing companies and literary agents also panels covering everything from Dr. Who to True Blood it was clear to me that this crowd get’s it.

It is the perfect venue for the double book launch of Return 2 Earth and Inside the Spiral Galaxy. This will be an upbeat event so we are going full tilt with large sci-fi posters, refreshments and lots of special sci-fi related prizes. Two years ago I was invited to attend a science fiction convention loaded with TV and movie stars down in Dallas. It was fun but as a writer I really enjoyed my conversation with L.A. Banks and listening to John Maberry on last year’s panel at Philcon.

Who will win the Escape 2 Earth 2012 gift basket?

Here is a list of dates, times, and room number for my panels.

Fri 4:00 PM in Plaza V (Five) (1 hour)
ARE BLOGS AND FACEBOOK THE ENEMY? (535)
Sat 1:00 PM in Plaza IV (Four) (1 hour)
WHY SOME SCIENCE FICTION THEMES REACH THE MAINSTREAM AND OTHERS DO NOT(473)
Sat 9:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
ONE HIT WONDERS. (496)
Sun 1:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
WAS "AVATAR" THE NEXT "STAR WARS" (532)
I hope to see you there.

http://2010a.philcon.org
Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Escape 2 Earth Series
http://lawrencejohnsonsr.com

The PhilCon Blog

Yes!  It's that time again!  And since I received my schedule today I can share it with all of you.

Fri 4:00 PM in Plaza V (Five) (1 hour)



ARE BLOGS AND FACEBOOK THE ENEMY? (535)

[Panelists: Philippa Ballantine (mod), Orenthal Hawkins, Lawrence Johnson, Jay Smith]

Nowadays, the internet provides every scintilla of news about upcoming genre projects. Does the chatter crush your enthusiasm? Maybe you should relax, reserve judgment and resist the expectations of the "internet echo chamber" -- but how


Sat 1:00 PM in Plaza IV (Four) (1 hour)


WHY SOME SCIENCE FICTION THEMES REACH THE MAINSTREAM AND OTHERS DO NOT


(473)

[Panelists: Kimberly Ann Kindya (mod), Sanford Meschkow, Helen

Collins, Lawrence Johnson]

Post apocalyptic fiction and time travel stories may be two examples of science fiction themes that have fascinated the mainstream. Why do some themes in science fiction appeal to those who do not often read it?



Sat 9:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)


ONE HIT WONDERS. (496)

[Panelists: Michael J. Walsh (mod), Patricia M. Cryan, Lawrence Johnson]

Just as there are recording artists who are known for only one hit song, there are writers known for only one story."The Cold Equations" by Tom Godwin, “A Subway Named Moebius” by A.J. Deutch,“The Werewolf” by Clemence Houseman and LUD-IN-THE-MIST by Hope Mirlees come to mind.

Why in each case is critical attention focused on only one story by these writers?


Sun 1:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)


WAS "AVATAR" THE NEXT "STAR WARS" (532)



[Panelists: Phillip Thorne (mod), Peter Prellwitz, Lawrence Johnson, Theodore Krulik]

There are similarities: new technology, an exciting, but perhaps not very original plot and box office success. But thirty years into the blockbuster era, can anything match the impact of the original "Star Wars"
 
Last year was a blast.  Last year I had a great time at the True Blood panel and the Doctor Who panels as well as the Buck Rogers panel.  I got the chance to meet and chat with other great authors and I hope to do the same again this year.
 
I am looking forward even more so this year than I did last year because of the Return 2 Earth book launch and the contests that we will be holding.  What do you mean by we?  My daughter Lauren will also be avaliable to sign copies of her novella, The Visions of Koto-Ryin.
 
Everyone who arrives to the book signing will receive a ticket and will be eligible to win a prize.  Everyone who arrives and buys a book in the Escape 2 Earth series will be eligible to win other kinds of prizes.
 
The book signing is Saturday Nov. 20.
 
In the meantime check out Hugh Casey's Ten Reasons Why You Should Go to PhilCon:  http://hughcasey.livejournal.com/1354293.html
 
Check out some pictures from last year:
http://s779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/escape2earth1/Convention%20Philadelphia%20Scifi%20Convention/