Kevin Black

I think best fan writer is the appropriate nomination for Con-Verse!

The greatest thing she ever said to me was in 1943 after the opening of Oklahoma!, when I suddenly had unexpected, flamboyant success for a work I thought was only fairly good, after years of neglect for work I thought was fine. I was bewildered and worried that my entire scale of values was untrustworthy. I talked to Martha. I remember the conversation well. It was in a Schrafft's restaurant over a soda. I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be. Martha said to me, very quietly: "There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. As for you, Agnes, you have so far used about one-third of your talent."

As told by the late dancer and choreographer Agnes DeMille.

A Meal of Thorns 31 – Seattle Worldcon Host: Jake Casella BrookinsMusic by Giselle Gabrielle GarciaArtwork by Rob PattersonOpening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John BroughTranscribers: Kate Dollarhyde and John WM ThompsonReferences…

New episode is out! It's a Seattle Worldcon report, featuring interviews with @therisingtithes.bsky.social & @kaitlyncasimo.bsky.social, coffee & hiking sidequests, and sounds around town:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/08/25/a...

Thank you for your writing (on top of all your other work!).

Freebies Lounge already has four pallets of free books in storage with a fifth pallet arriving tomorrow (leave space).

Hi Owen--in Seattle we're still proud to say DEI and won't be bullied by Trumpists. Here's video of our Governor Bob Ferguson addressing the issue, on which he has full support from Seattle's mayor, council, and county executive: www.instagram.com/reel/DKf8ddn...

Rachel S. Cordasco has contributed fan writing to Seattle Worldcon's Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow blog and her work is outstanding.

The Worldcon souvenir book is locked and delivered to the printer and looks marvelous.

The only reasoning I see Hannah advancing is an argument that people over 55 don't understand LLMs. Perhaps they were inspired to go down this ugly road by a stereotype about conrunners being old and out of touch or something. Probably doesn't merit further discussion.

The gentleman above you is mistaken to think "I don’t think either of the people who wrote these statements is under the age of 55" is a fair comment--it is an ad hominem against individuals you don't seem to have any knowledge of, and is ageist AF.

Both individuals are under 55, one of them under 45, and this comment is appalling.

This was my chair on the set.

This is me with Christ Weitz, who with his brother Paul Weitz, are the executive producers, directors, and writers of Murderbot. Their production company Depth of Field optioned All Systems Red in 2021 and they've been working hard to bring it to TV ever since.

This is me with the ball and chart, taken through the monitor while I'm standing in front of the big camera in the hopper set. This has to be done periodically for the special effects team.

If you need a distraction, I'm going to be posting a few non-spoilery set photos over the weeks as a lead-up to the Murderbot premiere on May 16. (It's fun for me! I hope it's fun for you.) @troyce.bsky.social took these photos. #murderbot

Apple’s new sci-fi series “Murderbot” to make global debut May 16, 2025 Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a first look at “Murderbot,” created by Chris and Paul Weitz and starring Alexander Skarsgård

I have been so excited since I found out this would be announced today! RIP any ability for me to concentrate: www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2...

I am very happy SunnyJim had the idea to invite Head!!! to participate in @seattlein2025.org and that @pugbujeaud.bsky.social agreed to bring the show. Get the jump on it and see Head!!! during its Lakewood Playhouse run starting tomorrow thru April 13. SunnyJim and I are going Saturday.

Wholly gorgeous! @seattlein2025.org shares their cross stitch patterns, colouring pages, playlists and more.

Just a reminder that you have until 11:59 PDT on March 14th to nominate for the 2025 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Awards, and the Astounding Award!

More info can be found on the @seattlein2025.org site: seattlein2025.org/2025/02/10/h...

The Friend of Worldcon rate is unaffected, as are our other special rates.

It's a science fiction convention! We have time travel.

This is one of the coolest things I've seen an institution do in a long time. Bravo, Getty!

Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival is a celebration of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative fiction films from around the world. Th...

Submissions to the Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival are open through March 31, 2025. Judging is now underway for films which already have been submitted.

I have created another free cross stitch pattern for the Seattle Worldcon 2025 "Fun Stuff" section! seattlein2025.org

#crossstitch #sciencefiction #worldcon #seattleworldcon2025

Reactor (formally Tor) is doing a Martha Wells book club, follow along if you're interested in more reading from the Seattle Worldcon 2025 author Guest of Honor!
reactormag.com/columns/mart...

#reactor #marthawells #seattleworldcon2025 #booksky

Sorry Yaroslav! Hopefully we're getting you sorted now.

Sorry Fiona--that discount was for attending memberships only, which we should have specified more clearly.

A graphic showing that applications are open for Seattle Worldcon 2025's Fan Tables, Dealers Room and Art Show. More information is available at www.seattlein2025.org.

I have in the past advocated for something like "business meeting weekend"--an in-person or hybrid event that is temporally separated from the Worldcon--which is not quite what this is, but I am excited to see how this will work out.

I'm on the Seattle Worldcon staff (publications), but speaking for myself only here--I've always thought that a structure which effectively excludes or places a high tax on participation by people administering the Worldcon in decisions affecting administration of future Worldcons is a problem.

Announcement: Building the Business Meeting's Future--For Everyone! Have you ever wondered about or wanted to participate in how the rules that govern the Worldcon, the Hugo Awards, and other aspects of WSFS get made? We are excited to announce that this year we have ...

Have you wondered about or wanted to participate in creating the rules that govern Worldcon and the Hugo Awards? We are excited to announce we have developed a new process for the business meeting: a series of pre-convention, virtual meetings!

(read more at link)

seattlein2025.org/.../announce...

I was only 14-15 but liberal meant soft-headed people with out-there ideas in the popular discourse for a good spell after that; partly why Bill Clinton assumed the "New Democrat" label and embraced things like welfare reform on the way to kicking Bush/Quayle out of the White House four years later.

Those of us who are old enough remember when George H.W. Bush made "liberal" a slur during the 1988 election, right there with "card-carrying members of the ACLU." Nadine Strossen, president of the ACLU at the time, told me they didn't have membership cards but had to print a lot of them after that.