2017 Programming

Check here for updates on the core convention programming and all the related events happening in Providence the week of the convention. For details on all the extended programming such as plays, concerts, and film screenings, go here!

PANELS and TALKS!
This section includes the schedule of talks, panels, author readings, and the like. This schedule is still subject to minor revisions, such as participating panelists. We will also make available a detailed downloadable .pdf of the full core schedule as well as the schedule of additional programming for NecronomiCon Providence 2017.

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FRIDAY

9-10:15am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Welcome by Niels Hobbs and Dennis P. Quinn
Shocking Revelations: Diverse Approaches to Lovecraft
Session Chair: Nathanial Wallace
“Red Hand, Red Hook: Machen, Lovecraft, and the Urban Uncanny”
Karen Joan Kohoutek
“The Death of the Artist: H. P. Lovecraft and the Nihilism of the Text”
Eric Berardis
“The Cosmic Drone of Azathoth: Adaptation, Genre and the Sublime”
Nathanial Wallace
“Will the Real Lovecraft Please Stand Up: An Example of Intertextuality in the Work of Frank Belknap Long and H. P. Lovecraft”
Byron Nakamura
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

PULP vs. PURE CTHULHU GAMING – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Pulp Cthulhu is a new “setting” for the Call of Cthulhu RPG, enabling players to take on larger than life heroes to tackle the dark designs of the Cthulhu Mythos. But what is “pulp” and how does it contrast to “pure” Call of Cthulhu? Join a panel of experienced game designers to discuss this topic and learn about how pulp scenarios are crafted.
Panelists: Paul Fricker, Lynn Hardy, Dan Kramer, Chris Lackey, Mike Mason (Moderator)

WEREWEIRD: LYCANTHROPY, ANIMISM, AND ANIMAL-TRANSFORMATION IN WEIRD FICTION – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Throughout the history of Weird Fiction, the idea of transformation has held sway- with roots from the werewolf legends of the French countryside to the Wendigo myths of the Pacific Northwest, the idea of the human becoming something less (or more) than human has held our collective imaginations. Here, we will discuss the idea of transformation in folklore and our continued fascination with it.
Panelists: Cody Goodfellow, KH Vaughan (moderator), Stephen Graham Jones, Sonya Taaffe

AMBROSE BIERCE: A LITERARY LEGACY – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
“Bitter” Bierce is one of America’s foremost writers. He was a man with a devastating sense of humor and a pen to match who disappeared into the wilds of Mexico in 1913. Bierce wrote many classics of weird literature such as “The Damned Thing” and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and many others. Our panelists discuss this legendary writer and his continuing influence today.
Panelists: Jason Eckhardt, Alex Houstoun, Derrick Hussey (Moderator), Rick Lai, Donald Sidney-Fryer

Friday – 10:30-11:45am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Gruesome Fashions: Lovecraft and Popular Culture
Session Chair: Faye Ringel
“Masked Men, Monsters and Puppets: Literary and filmic influences on some works of Mike Mignola”
Anders Lundgren
“Shadows over Camelot: Lovecraftian Motifs in Arthurian Fiction”
Michael A. Torregrossa
“Dynamics of Detective Fiction in H. P. Lovecraft”
Heather Poirier
“Your Eldritch Horror is in Another Castle: The Quest for Cosmicism in Gaming”
Ash Darrow
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

STRANGE, FAR PLACES – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Many of the locations in Lovecraft’s work actually existed in our world. Sadly, some have since disappeared – but many, particularly in Providence, still remain. Our panelists describe their favorite Lovecraftian places in the real world as well as comment on which locations exceeded their expectations or were disappointing.
Panelists: Sean Branney, KH Vaughan (Moderator), Donovan Loucks, Will Murray, Doug Wynne

TERROR TRENDS AND THE FUTURE OF WEIRD FILM – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Tired tropes and quick tricks have had their time onscreen. Filmmakers are beginning to delve into new territory in horror and science fiction film, with an increasing focus on literary works as a platform for innovative narratives. What opportunities might the independent film arena create for both weird and general horror narratives? Will there be greater opportunities for diverse voices as the production process becomes more accessible? Will there be greater literary influences bleeding through onto the screen? Topics will include trends that should be kept and those that should be left behind, recent innovations, and the future trajectory of both genres.
Panelists: Heather Buckley, Philip Gelatt, Izzy Lee, Brian Callahan (Moderator), Richard Stanley

MACHINATIONS AND MESMERISM: How Middle European Fantasists & Romanticists informed Modern Horror – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Modern weird fiction is rooted in countless literary genres. The fantastical works of many Middle-European authors (Goethe, Meyrink, Hoffmann, Kubin, Schulz, Tieck, etc.), both notable and obscure, are often overlooked as a strong source of influence to both general horror and modern Weird fiction. Join us for a discussion that will touch upon the worth of these narratives as sources, the themes that share a common thread with the modern weird, authors who may not be thought of immediately when one thinks of current dark literature, and how one might look upon the literary genre critically as forerunners to the present dark literary landscape.
Panelists: Leslie Klinger, Steve Mariconda, Anya Martin, Sean Moreland, Jon Padgett, Farah R. Smith

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Victoria Dalpe, Paul Di Filippo, Craig L. Gidney, Catherine Grant

12-1:30pm – LUNCH

PODCAST – The H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast LIVE! – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor – NEW LOCATION!

Friday – 1:30-2:45pm

ACADEMIC TALKS – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
1. Matt Buffington, Ph.D., USDA, Washington, DC – “Hymenoptera: Harbingers of eldritch entomophagy”
The insect order Hymenoptera includes species common to many people, such as the honey bee (Apis mellifera), fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), and common yellow jackets (Vespula species).  However, the vast majority of Hymenoptera species remain unnamed by scientists, grow to only 1mm long as adults, and lay their eggs in host insects.  These eggs hatch, and the wasp larvae feed on the host insect, often keeping the host alive, and modifying the host’s behavior to the benefit of the wasps.  Research on these wasps attempts to not only elucidate this odd behavior, but also to harness it to control pest species with out the use of pesticides.  This presentation will explore the bizarre world of parasitic Hymenoptera, the odd life-histories recorded for these insects, and the singular people which conduct research on this group.

2. Mrinalini Nikrad, Ph.D., Seres Therapeutics, Cambridge – “Antarctic Biology: An Ethereal Ecosystem in Delicate Balance”
Under the water’s surface, the coldest waters are home to the largest sea sponges, spiders, and jellyfish – HP Lovecraft may have been more right than he realized when describing the biology of the mythical creatures, the Elder Things, in his famous book, At the Mountains of Madness! Icy Antarctic waters however, are dominated by microbial species necessary to make this whole ethereal ecosystem thrive, and whose balance is now being threatened by warming conditions.

MAKING SHORT FILMS – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
How does the process of creating a short weird/horror film differ from a feature length project? What are the ins-and-outs of creating a short narrative piece? What festivals actively show films of this nature? Join us for a lively discussion that extends from the ins-and-outs of short horror film production to the current films, directors, producers, and writers making waves in the independent horror scene today.
Panelists: Sean Branney, Philip Gelatt (Moderator), Cody Goodfellow, Izzy Lee, Bryan Moore, Diana Porter

CLARK ASHTON SMITH – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
2018 will be Clark Ashton Smith’s 125th birthday. In anticipation, we examine the life and work of this dreamer from California with some of the world’s foremost CAS scholars, and our Poet Laureate, Donald Sidney-Fryer, who was a protégé of CAS. Considered to be one of Weird Tales’ “Three Musketeers” along with Lovecraft and Howard, Smith continues to influence new writers today.
Panelists: Martin Andersson (Moderator), Scott Connors, Larissa Glasser, Will Murray, Donald Sidney-Fryer, Jason Bradley Thompson

WRITING NON-STALE MYTHOS TALES – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Cthulhu is a plush toy, a bobble-head, slippers and action figures. How can today’s writers escape this ‘normalization’ of a creature whose very existence is supposed to be mind-shattering? Is it even possible to write a new Mythos story that would have the same impact today that “The Call of Cthulhu” had back in 1926, without reverting to simple pastiche? Our panelists think so and have done it! Find out how in this discussion of why the Cthulhu Mythos is just as frightening today as it ever was.
Panelists: Alex Houstoun, Kij Johnson, Tom Lynch, Vincent O’Neil (Moderator), Peter Rawlik, Darrell Schweitzer

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Nadia Bulkin, Michael Cisco, Caitlin Kiernan, KH Vaughan

STORIES FROM THE BORDERLAND – LIVE! – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special Presentation: Featuring the art of Michael Bukowski and Jeanne D’Angelo, with discussion led by Anya Martin and Scott Nicolay.
“Bringing the Stories Back Alive: Expanding and Illustrating the Canon of The Weird” During Necronomicon 2015, Michael Bukowski and Scott Nicolay first conceived the idea for Stories from the Borderland, their unique collaborative project designed to introduce audiences to great weird stories that have fallen through the cracks of the canon–and the monsters that inhabit them. Sixteen episodes later, Michael and Scott return to Providence to share a new & never before seen episode of SFTB before a live audience, followed by a discussion of the research behind the series led by project editor Anya Martin. For a grand finale, artist Jeanne D’Angelo will debut the art for the new parallel series, Tales from the Crossroads.

Friday – 3:00-4:15pm

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Straining in its Own Direction: Lovecraft and the Sciences
Session Chair: Heather Poirier
“The Lovecraftian Solar System: A Tour of Our Cosmic Neighborhood Through the Eyes of H. P. Lovecraft”
Fred S. Lubnow
“At the Mountains of Mars: Lovecraft’s Relationship with the Red Planet”
Edward Guimont
“The Madness of Minds: Consciousness and Materialism in Lovecraft’s Fiction”
Shawn McKinney
“Reviewing Lovecraft’s Cause of Death: A Clinicopathological Conference”
Joshua D. King
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

ELDRITCH ARTHOUSE: WEIRD FICTION INFLUENCES IN ART CINEMA – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Jodorowsky, Lynch, Gilliam, Maddin, Tarkovsky… Arthouse cinema directors have long been praised for their use of strange and abstract elements. How much of these narrative and visuals elements are rooted in literary works, particularly in Weird fiction? What parallels may be drawn between notable works of film and particular works of the Weird?
Panelists: Joseph Dwyer, Gemma Files, Philip Gelatt (Moderator), Mike Griffin, Izzy Lee, Richard Stanley

R.H. BARLOW: LOVECRAFT AND BEYOND – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
He was one of Lovecraft’s closest friends but what do you really know about Robert H. Barlow? Learn more about this enigmatic person who is also the subject of a recent novel. His legacy in preserving Lovecraft’s work may be one of the most important of all!
Panelists: Martin Andersson, Scott Connors, Alex Houstoun (Moderator), Paul LaFarge, Dwayne Olson

LOVECRAFT CRITICISM: WHAT’S LEFT? – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
One might ask, “What is there left to talk about regarding Lovecraft?” After all, his life has been explored in several biographies (such as S.T. Joshi’s monumental I Am Providence) and his work has been the subject of serious academic and scholarly attention for close to forty years. So, is there anything left to say? Find out at this illuminating panel as several experts debate if the Lovecraft vein has been over-mined.
Panelists: Peter Cannon (Moderator), Steven Mariconda, J.M. Rajala, Darrell Schweitzer

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Shadows and Tall Trees Launch Party – Robert Levy, Simon Stranzas, Steve Rasnic Tem, Michael Wehunt

DRIVE-IN LOVECRAFT— Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special Presentation: Some of the most fascinating pieces of HPL memorabilia are posters related to movies based on Lovecraft’s fiction and themes. Alan Tromp, a lifelong Cthulhu fan, shares bizarre Mythos art from his collection of film art from the 1950s – 80s, encompassing the US, England, Italy, and Thailand. Unusual features such as Hunchback of the Morgue and Legendary Curse of Lemora are covered, as well as films inspired by HPL’s tropes, literary mentors, and Weird Tales colleagues. See trailers for Dunwich Horror, Caltiki the Immortal Monster, Haunted Palace, and the forgotten 70s Yog-Sothoth (maybe) flick! Trivia contests and audience participation balance the chills with thrills. Be there, or BEWARE.

Friday – 4:30-5:45pm

THE FAIRY FOLK: FAERIE IN THE WEIRD TRADITION – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Weird Fiction, from its beginning, has been influenced and shaped by folklore and myth and, in particular, the fairy tale. Come join our panel of experts as they discuss the influence of the fairy tale on Weird Fiction from its inception to the modern age (Blackwood, Dunsany, Campbell, etc.).
Panelists: Paul Di Filippo, Gwendolyn Kiste, Fred Lubnow, Rory Raven (Moderator), Faye Ringel, Jeff Shanks

GAMES AND TECHNOLOGY – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
As horror / sci fi and Lovecraftian gaming has grown, so has technology. No longer are games confined to a tabletop; they can be played on a multitude of platforms. Learn what is best in life and use your newfound technology to crush your enemies and see them driven before you.
Panelists: Leah Bond, Ash Darrow, John Haremza (Moderator), Matt Hawkes, Vince LaRosa and Jesse Pyne

WOMEN DIRECTING WEIRD – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Some of the most powerful directors, producers, and writers emerging in the indie film world are women. Many of those women make their mark working within the horror genre. Join us for a lively discussion between media creators who know the ins-and outs of the film industry.
Panelists: Heather Buckley (Moderator), Gwen Callahan, Gemma Files, Izzy Lee, Diana Porter, Andrea Wolanin

GUESTS OF HONOR – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Please join us as we introduce and celebrate the guests of honor for the NecronomiCon Providence 2017, followed by a discussion with the audience.
Panelists: Ellen Datlow, Kij Johnson, Stephen Graham Jones, Steven Mariconda, Nnedi Okorafor, John Jude Palencar, Donald Sidney-Fryer, Richard Stanley, Peter Straub, s.j. bagley (Moderator)

Friday – 6:00-7:15pm

SNEAK PEEK: Richard Stanley’s The Colour out of Space, The Movie! – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor – NEW ADDITION!
Special Presentation: Guest of Honor Richard Stanley is prepping his adaptation of Lovecraft’s classic tale. Come hear the director discuss his vision for the film and the influence of Lovecraft on his work. (~45 minute presentation)

WOMEN IN THE LOVECRAFT CIRCLE – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Lovecraft was one of the greatest letter writers even known with upwards of 100,000 letters written in his lifetime. Although much attention has been given to his letters with other well-known writers like Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith, he had extensive correspondence with many women as well! How did Lovecraft relate to these women and, more importantly, what did they think of him? Join us and find out!
Panelists: Sean Branney, Scott Connors (Moderator), Faye Ringel, Elena Tchougounova-Paulson

EROTIC LOVECRAFTIANA – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
At first, the concept seems to be a contradiction. Lovecraft was robustly asexual with barely any interest in the subject in his writing or real-life. And yet, erotic Lovecraftian stories, films, and anime have been extremely popular. Is it possible to combine the two and create an entirely new offspring? Our panelists think so and will not only defend their conclusions but offer their recommendations.
Panelsts: Paul LaFarge, Livia Llewellyn, Peter Rawlik, Sonya Taaffe (Moderator), Joe Zannella

Friday – 7-9pm

GUEST RECEPTION – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
A private reception for Guests-of-Honor, Guests, and Golden Key holders – hors d’oeuvres provided, cash bar available. The reception will feature the giving of the Robert Bloch Award to two very worthy Weird recipients.

Friday – 9pm-Midnight-ish

ELDRITCH BALL – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
“BEYOND INNSMOUTH – see Extended Programming listing for more info, or visit the Eventbrite page for passes and info!

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SATURDAY

9-10:15am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
A Very Terrible Difference: Race, Gender, and the Other
Session Chair: Byron Nakamura
“Perspectives on Lovecraft and Racism: Internet “Facts” and Recent Metafictions”
Faye Ringel and Jenna Randall
“Lovecraft Meets the Mummy: Orientalism, Race, and Monstrous Egypt in “Out of the Aeons” and Other Stories”
Troy Rondinone
“A Correlation of Contents: Mapping the Intersections of Queerness and Negativity in the Works of Lovecraft”
Fiona Maeve Geist & Eli Shurberg
“Human Sacrifice and Ritual Murder on the Bayou: Historical antecedents of the “endless Bacchanal” in ‘The Call of Cthulhu’.”
Daniel Schnopp-Wyatt
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

CAMPAIGNS IN CALL OF CTHULHU – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
The Call of Cthulhu tabletop RPG is famed for having some of the best campaigns written for any roleplaying game, with Masks of Nyarlathotep and Beyond the Mountains of Madness being two highly regarded campaigns. But how do campaigns get written and devised? This panel discussed the development process and what makes campaigns different to one-shot games of Call of Cthulhu.
Panelists: Scott Dorward, Paul Fricker, Lynne Hardy, Mike Mason (Moderator), Matthew Sanderson

NAMELESS CULTS: ROBERT E. HOWARD – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
The Gent from Bear Creek is more popular than ever before! Come and hear some of the foremost experts in Howard scholarship talk about his life and career.
Panelists: Scott Connors, Karen Kahoutek, Rick Lai, Jonas Prida, Jeff Shanks (Moderator)

THE EDGE OF SPACE: Where SF and Cosmic Horror meet – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Much of the sense of terror in cosmic horror comes from the concept of a mechanistic, uncaring universe. Not surprisingly, this is something that has been shared by many writers who would be considered more Science Fiction than Horror. Join us as we explore such writers as Olaf Stapledon, William Hope Hodgson, and Nnedi Okorafor as we discover that the line between Science Fiction and Horror is often blurred or disappears completely!
Panelists: Lois Gresh, Fred Lubnow, Nnedi Okorafor, Vincent O’Neil (moderator), Robert Waugh

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th floor
Poetry readings, led by Thomas Broadbent and Starry Wizdom

PAPERBACKS FROM HELL – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special Presentation: In the early Seventies, three books changed horror forever: Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Other. The first horror novels to hit bestseller lists since 1940, they opened the floodgates for an avalanche of horror paperbacks to pour onto supermarket shelves throughout the Seventies and Eighties until Silence of the Lambs slit the genre’s throat in the early Nineties. Writer Grady Hendrix delivers a mind-melting oral history of this now forgotten world of Nazi leprechauns, skeleton doctors, killer crabs, killer jellyfish, killer babies, pretty much killer everything. Prepare yourself for a tour of this long-lost universe of terror that lurked behind the lurid, foil-embossed, die-cut covers of…the Paperbacks from Hell!

Saturday – 10:30-11:45am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
Still Others Have Made Me Tremble: Comparative Lovecraft
Session Chair Matthew Beach
“Through a Lens Dark and Lightly: The Cosmicism of E.E. Smith and H. P. Lovecraft”
Rolf Maurer
“Lovecraft, Bataille, and Sacred Terror”
Ray Huling
“Lovecraft’s Accursed Share in Bataille’s General Economy”
Christian Roy
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

DARK CRIMES: The Weird in Noir Fiction – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Both Weird Fiction and Crime Fiction function around the idea that we cannot trust what we once thought infallible- our very sense of self and place in the world. What philosophies drive these seemingly different strains of literature together and what unites both in their bleak view of the cosmos mankind inhabits? This panel explores the bleak cosmic horror of man as written by Himes, Thompson, and Chandler
Panelists: Paul Di Filippo, Cody Goodfellow, Lois Gresh, Peter Rawlik, Rory Raven (Moderator), Sonya Taaffe

PODCASTING FOR GAMES – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
They’re everywhere. Podcasts have exploded recently and everyone seems to have one. What can you do to not only create a unique gaming podcast but make it successful? The teams behind the classic podcasts Legends of Tabletop, Misktatonic U., Dragon Fisters, and Into the Darkness, are here to help! Get advice from one of the best gaming podcasts around and learn how to make your podcast stand out.
Panelists: Chad Bouchard, John Haremza (Moderator), Dan Kramer,  Vince LaRosa, Jesse Pyne, Jef Wilkins

LOVECRAFT REVISIONS – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
They are the Rodney Dangerfields of Lovecraft’s work: the dreaded revisions! Consisting of stories edited and often completely rewritten by Lovecraft, they tend to be overlooked by many readers and scholars. Yet, Lovecraft’s work on his client’s stories elevated many of them from mere hackwork to excellent examples not only of his own prose and ideas but his philosophy as well. Hear why our panelists say that these revisions should not be passed over as ‘minor’ works.
Panelists: Peter Cannon (Moderator), Ruthanna Emrys, Alex Houstoun, Leslie Klinger, Steve Mariconda, Anne Pillsworth

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Barry Lee Dejasu, Larissa Glasser, Kij Johnson, James A. Moore

SOME NOTES ON A NON-ENTITY: A Lovecraft bio-graphic novel – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special presentation: For the first time, a biography of Lovecraft has been issued in graphic novel form! Published by PS Publishing, the graphic novel was written by Sam Gafford and drawn by Jason Eckhardt, both names well known in the Lovecraft field. In this exclusive presentation, Gafford and Eckhardt talk with Joey Zone about how they created the biography, the difficulties involved and the rewards. Eckhardt will be showing selections of the original art used in the book.

12-1:30pm – LUNCH

PODCAST – The Outer Dark Podcast LIVE! – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
The Weird confounds definition and defies closure, operating instead as a literature of question and interrogation, of opposition, of the outside…and of the outsider. An ongoing argument with consensus reality resides at the heart of Weird Fiction, and has from the start. Like the itchy grain within the oyster’s shell, this conflict is always creating new layers to The Weird. Today, as demagogues proclaim an era of “alternative facts” in their efforts to impose control over reality itself, Weird Fiction has grown larger, more complex, and more diverse than ever. Refusing confinement within a genre of its own, it spreads its rhizomes instead throughout every branch of speculative and mainstream fiction. Join our podcast in a discussion that will endeavor to tease out the key threads of The Weird’s forward movement and examine their mysterious tendencies and directions.

PODCAST – Miskatonic University Podcast and Good Friends of Jackson Elias, Together – LIVE! – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Step right up, folks and see some of your favorite horror game podcasters LIVE in three frightening dimensions! The Miskatonic University Podcast and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias join forces to dazzle your senses with unspeakable feats of podcasting. Submitted for speculation: What puts the Lovecraft in your Lovecraftian game?
Hosts: “Keeper” Chad Bouchard, Scott Dorward, Paul Fricker, “Keeper” Dan Kramer, Matt Sanderson and…Mystery Host?

Saturday – 1:30-2:45pm

ACADEMIC TALKS – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
1. Fred Lubnow, Ph.D., Princeton Hydro – “H.P. Lovecraft’s Understanding and Misrepresentation of the Theory of Evolution in his Tales”
hile H.P. Lovecraft was well known to have a deep appreciation for astronomy, he did express a genuine interest in other fields of science and attempted to incorporate the latest scientific findings into his tales. Such efforts included the Theory of Evolution. This presentation will review how Lovecraft was fairly accomplished and imaginative in the use of evolution in such epic tales as “At the Mountains of Madness” and “The Shadow Out of Time.” However, in other instances Lovecraft’s use of evolution in tales like “Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family” and “The Lurking Fear” were extremely misinformed on the mechanism of natural selection. This is particularly the case in the consideration of human evolution. Again, this presentation will review both the use and misuse of the Theory of Evolution in Lovecraft’s weird tales.

2. Daniel Look, Ph.D., St. Lawrence University, N.Y. – “Queer Geometry and Higher Dimensions: Mathematics in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft”
Mathematical ideas are found throughout the works of H. P. Lovecraft, from non-Euclidean geometries to conic sections.  Lovecraft’s use of these concepts adds to the feeling of horror and cosmic insignificance permeating his works.  To some, this horror arises from the unknown of the mathematics, but to those understanding the mathematichawal principles the story is, in some cases, even more horrifying.  We will investigate these mathematical ideas with the goal of understanding some of the theories Lovecraft was referencing.

ARTHUR MACHEN: Between Myth and Modernity – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Machen was one of the first writers to blend the weirdness of European myth and folklore with the burgeoning modern world and its new concerns. Our panelists will discuss Machen’s life and work and try to come to terms with how the seemingly exclusive influences on his work came together to create something truly remarkable, new, and deeply influential.
Panelists: Michael Cisco, Jack Haringa (Moderator), Karen Kohoutek, Donald Sidney-Fryer

THE LOVECRAFT CIRCLE – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Like everyone, Lovecraft had his own circle of friends and colleagues. Many of these were, or would become, celebrated writers themselves but what about others like Robert Barlow, Rheinhart Kleiner, Samuel Loveman, and many others? The measure of a man is said to be determined by those whom he calls friends. Come and meet some of Lovecraft’s friends and learn their stories.
Panelists: Martin Andersson, Peter Cannon, Scott Connors (moderator), Steven Mariconda, Dwayne Olson

THE MYTHOS: Lovecraft’s Greatest Creation or Suffocating Trope? – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
For many, the Cthulhu Mythos is their first exposure to Lovecraft and his greatest literary creation. But, today, is it still effective or has it become stale and cliche after being used by so many writers? Is Cthulhu still frightening or about as scary as a plush toy?
Panelists: Cody Goodfellow (Moderator), Peter Rawlik, Darrell Schweitzer, Douglas Wynne

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Lois Gresh, Stephen Graham Jones, Errick Nunnally, Anne Pillsworth

LOVECRAFT’S NEW ENGLAND, PART ONE – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special Presentation: A “Virtual Walking Tour” of Lovecraft sites in Providence, led by Donovan Loucks. Focusing on Lovecraft’s hometown, this presentation highlights thirty points of interest central to both Lovecraft’s life and work. Think of this as a “sitting tour” for those of you that aren’t able to make it on one of the walking tours!

Saturday – 3:00-4:15pm

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd Floor
No Ordinary Aesthetic Canon: Literary Studies
Session Chair Troy Rondinone
“Anthropodermic Bibliopegy and the Literature of H. P. Lovecraft”
Perry Neil Harrison
“The Rats in the Trenches: The Gothic Horror of the Great War as Revealed in the Writing of H. P. Lovecraft”
Steve Walker
“Transhumanism, Monstrosity, and Modernity: Rhetorics of Abjection in H. P. Lovecraft’s ‘The Whisperer in Darkness'”
Faith Trowell
“Lovecraft’s Dark Continent:
At the Mountains of Madness and Antarctic Literature”
Ian Fetters
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

EDITING HORROR – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
They are one of the most prolific parts of the horror genre: anthologies. But, how does one go about creating one? What are the challenges and difficulties in assembling material and giving an anthology its own unique character? Join a panel of award winning editors as they discuss how they create an anthology of sublime weird.
Panelists: Ellen Datlow, Mike Davis, Michael Kelly, Leslie Klinger, Peter Straub, Douglas E. Winter

POE and the NEW ENGLAND GOTHIC – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
What is the “New England Gothic”? Is it a tone, a theme, or a worldview? What did it mean and why is it so important in understanding the work of Poe, and the many he influenced? This panel seeks to find answers to these questions and many more!
Panelists: Matthew Bartlett, Bracken MacLeod (Moderator), Rory Raven, Faye Ringel, Paul Tremblay, Robert Waugh

ESTABLISHED ARTISTS of WEIRD – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Join us as our artist guest of honor, John Jude Palencar, and other accomplished artists discusses the ins, outs, and far outs of creating Weird Art in a professional publishing capacity.
Panelists: Bob Eggleton, Dave Felton (Moderator), Steve Gervais, John Jude Palencar, Lauren Panepinto, Liv Rainey-Smith, Rick Sardinha

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Matt Bechtel, Gwendolyn Kiste, Nnedi Okorafor, Farah R. Smith

LOVECRAFT’S NEW ENGLAND, PART TWO – Renaissance, Biltmore 17th Floor
Special Presentation: A “Virtual Walking Tour” of regional Lovecraft sites, led by Donovan Loucks. This slideshow includes photographs of 45 New England locations beyond Providence which reveal the inspirations for Lovecraft’s fictional towns of Kingsport, Arkham, Innsmouth, and Dunwich.

Saturday – 4:30-5:45pm

VOICES IN WEIRD POETRY – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
Weird poetry has been gaining ground over the past few years and continues to gather interest among scholars, writers, and readers. Who are some of these emerging voices? How might the emergence of this new energy in the medium stir interest in past works, and create a platform to expand interest in poetic works in the future?
Panelists: Frank Coffman, Darrell Schweitzer, Donald Sidney-Fryer, Sonya Taaffe (Moderator), Starry Wizdom

LOVECRAFT IN CONTEXT – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Lovecraft in context, more than just a quick annotation, some of Lovecraft’s most obscure references are links to other stories, secret crossovers, and in-jokes to the well-read. Find out what you are missing out by not delving into the details of that off-handed remark.
Panelists: Leslie Klinger, Paul LaFarge, Steve Mariconda, Sean Moreland, J.M. Rajala, Peter Rawlik (Moderator)

MISKATONIC U. & THE MYTHOS – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Miskatonic University looms large in the mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. Explore his inspirations for this hallowed institution of eldritch learning, its place in the Mythos, and continuing popularity as shown in anthologies, clothing, and ephemera.
Panelists: Sean Branney, Fred Lubnow (Moderator), Will Murray, Anne Pillsworth, Robert Waugh, Douglas Wynne

TEATRO GROTTESCO: The Bleak Universe of Thomas Ligotti – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Thomas Ligotti embraces the themes and moods of Lovecraft, Schulz, Cioran and others, and emerged from the shadow of these literary heirs to become one of the most powerful voices in Weird fiction. In this panel we discuss the bleak and pessimistic universe his work evokes, as well as works crafted by writers who count him among their influences.
Panelists: Matthew Bartlett, Michael Calia, Michael Cisco, Kurt Fawver, Alex Houstoun (Moderator), Jon Padgett

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Twice Upon an Apocalypse Launch Party – Inanna Arthen, Peter Dudar, Bracken MacLeod

Saturday – 6:00-7:15pm

THE KING IN YELLOW & ROBERT CHAMBERS – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
Thanks to a resurgence of interest via popular culture, this long-forgotten writer is better known than ever before. But what EXACTLY is “The King in Yellow” and why is it important? This panel discusses Chambers’ trail-blazing book, what effect it’s had on Lovecraftiana (if not Lovecraft himself) and weird fiction, and why it is gaining more readers today.
Panelists: Ruthanna Emrys, Alex Houstoun (Moderator), Rick Lai

SHIRLEY JACKSON AS WEIRD FICTION– Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Having written what’s generally considered the greatest haunted house novel of all time, The Haunting of Hill House, and one of the most lauded stories of psychological horror, “The Lottery,” Jackson remains a towering figure in horror literature. Join us as we examine her place in the canon of Weird Fiction and discuss how important she was in both the 20th century and in today’s modern world.
Panelists: Jack Haringa (Moderator), Gwendolyn Kiste, Anne Pillsworth, Paul Tremblay

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Looming Low Launch Party – Michael Griffin, Livia Llewellyn, Anya Martin, Michael Wehunt

POETRY WORKSHOP – Renaissance Room, Biltmore 17th Floor
A special session welcoming of all poets and aspiring poets, led by Thomas Broadbent and Starry Wizdom, with our Poet Laureate Donald Sidney-Fryer and several other remarkable eldritch scribes. Come together and share in the creative process or just enjoy the beautiful company.

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SUNDAY

8-9:30am

CTHULHU PRAYER BREAKFAST – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
The unholiest of cosmically unspeakable breakfasts, hosted by Most Exaulted Hierophants Cody Goodfellow and Anthony Teth. Separate ticketed event – tickets on sale July 21 via our eventbrite page
Golden Key and Silver Key members receive complementary admission.

Sunday – 9-10:15am

CALL OF CTHULHU’s FAVORITE SCENARIOS – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Join a host of respected Call of Cthulhu authors to hear about their favorite scenarios and what makes them tick. What makes certain scenarios special and how do the authors go about preparing to run a scenario.? Each author will recommend one of their favorite Call of Cthulhu scenarios, so expect an engaging discussion!
Panelists: Chad Bouchard, Paul Fricker, Mike Mason (Moderator), Badger McInnes, Christopher Smith Adair

FABULISM IN CONTEMPORARY WEIRD FICTION – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Before the short story, the novel, or even the play- there was the fable and fabulism has been a constant thread throughout the history of horror and weird fiction and, in recent years, many writers have been more openly showcasing fabulism in their work. This panel seeks to explore the phenomenon, it’s history, and it’s current use with several contemporary writers who have, themselves, embraced fabulism as a driving factor in their own work.
Panelists: Craig Gidney, J.T. Glover, Kij Johnson, Nnedi Okorafor, Simon Strantzas (Moderator), Peter Straub

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Rebecca Allred, Gemma Files, Jeffrey Thomas, Paul Tremblay

Sunday – 10:00-11:15am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
Emanations of Abominations: Lovecraft Around the Globe
Session Chair: Fred S. Lubnow
“Lovecraft Out of Space: Influences of the American Weird Fiction on Brazilian Literature and Cinema”
Lúcio Reis-Filho
“Alexander Blok and H. P. Lovecraft: on the Mythopoetics of the Supernatural”
Elena Tchougounova-Paulson
“Shadows out of Space, Colours Out of Time: The Cosmic Horror of Junji Ito and Charles Burns”
Sean Moreland
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

Sunday – 10:30-11:45am

THE DREADED SURREAL: Landscapes in Weird Fiction – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
External landscapes have been something of a dark playground for weird fiction writers and artists throughout the history of the genre. Many bizarre and unsettling places have served as the settings for countless memorable works. Which of these fictional places have been most memorable in the minds of artists and writers working in horror, weird fiction, and science fiction today? What strange, terrifying places may yet be created? And how might they steer the genre in terms of narrative structure and content?
Panelists: Christopher Burke, Craig Gidney, Mike Griffin, Eric Schaller (Moderator)

SOUTHERN GOTHIC HORROR: Yesterday and Today – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
From Faulkner and McCarthy to today’s luminaries like Stephen Graham Jones and Kristi Demeester, the Southern Gothic has cast a long shadow over Horror and Weird fiction. Come and explore the influence and persistence of the Southern Gothic on Weird and Horror fiction.
Panelists: Ellen Datlow, Jeff Shanks, Steve Rasnic Tem, Michael Wehunt

SMALL PRESS in the WEIRD – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Since the days of Arkham House, small press has been not only a major promoter of weird fiction but, often, it’s savoir as well. Today we are fortunate in having such great presses as Hippocampus Press, Centipede Press, PS Publishing, Dark Regions Press, Lovecraft eZine, Word Horde, and more who are keeping the genre alive as more mainstream publishers abandon it for mainstream best-sellers. Learn about the history of small press, where it is now, and where it is going at this panel which includes many of the people who run these presses themselves!
Panelists: Mike Davis, Dragana Drobnjak, Jason Ciaramella, Cody Goodfellow (Moderator), Derrick Hussey, Dwayne Olson

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Ruthanna Emrys, Jon Padgett, Peter Straub, Sonya Taaffe

Sunday – 11:30-12:45am

ARMITAGE SYMPOSIUM – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
Transformations and Reintegrations: Reclaiming Lovecraft
Session Chair: Rolf Maurer
“Lovecraft’s Consolation”
Matthew Beach
“Naming the Unnamable: The Ethics of Lovecraftian Horror”
Paul Neimann
“The Pathos in the Mythos: Scholarly, Platonic and Paternal Love in Some Lovecraft Tales”
Ann McCarthy
“Dreams of Lost Time and Space: Lovecraft’s Writings on Nostalgia and Home”
Daniel Rottenberg
(for more information on the symposium, visit the Armitage page)

12-1:30pm – LUNCH

PODCAST – The Lovecraft eZine LIVE! – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor

Sunday – 1:30-2:45pm

ACADEMIC TALKS – Bristol-Kent, Omni 3rd floor
1. Justin Woodman, Ph.D., University of London – “Becoming Part of the Lurking Evil: Lovecraftian Occultures in the Epoch of Cthulhu”
Despite a rationalist and demythologized reimagining of supernatural tropes in his fiction, Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos has influenced many aspects of contemporary occult, paranormal and conspiratorial beliefs. In relation to the concept of ‘occulture’ – the space in which the media, popular culture and the occult intersect – this paper not only examines the reasons for the popularity of the Cthulhu mythos within forms of contemporary esotericism, but also the relevance of this to current philosophical and political engagements with the Lovecraftian milieu. In particular it posits the current visibility of Lovecraft’s fictions as a consequence of their resonance with an increasingly alienating experience of the modern world: a world which, for some occultural participants and cultural commentators, has entered a monstrously Lovecraftian ‘Epoch of Cthulhu’ – one in which a range of esoteric/paranormal beliefs and pop-philosophical viewpoints seek in Lovecraft’s work the means to both explain and mediate the seemingly vast, indifferent and inhuman forces (of transnational consumer capitalism, state bureaucracy, and potential environmental collapse) which appear to govern daily life.

2. Leanne Elder, Ph.D., Yale University – “Monsters of the deep sea: the biology of unique marine organisms”
The deep sea is an unforgiving environment with few places for refuge, a near absence of light, and frigid temperatures. Due to the vastness of the deep sea, it is difficult for biologists to study the inhabitants of this realm. Many species have only been encountered by researchers a few times, adding the mystery surrounding them. Deep sea organisms are often bizarre, seemingly other-worldly in appearance, with remarkable adaptations for survival. It is not surprising that some of these real-life creatures have inspired protagonists including the Kraken, Dagon and Alien. This talk will explore the biology of a few of these amazing creatures, and how fact is as terrifying as fiction.

WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON: AN APPRECIATION – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
Now considered to be one of the founding fathers of both science fiction and weird literature, Hodgson died relatively unknown during the close of WWI. His work would go on to be hailed by such writers as Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Lovecraft, Ellery Queen, and others. During his life, Hodgson sailed around the world seven times, rescued a crewmate from shark infested waters, chained Houdini, and was one of the first to photograph storms at sea. Today, he is widely known as the author of four groundbreaking novels and often anthologized short stories. Learn more about this fascinating man, his life and his work at this panel featuring some of the foremost Hodgsonian experts.
Panelists: Michael Cisco, Sam Gafford, Adam Golaski, Nick Gucker, The joey Zone (Moderator)

FAITHFUL FRIGHTENERS – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Since the days of William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, religious horror has been a popular subject in the genre. But, how effective can it be if the reader is not a member of that religion? This lively discussion will cover this topic and will attempt to answer the question, “Can an atheist be scared of the Devil?”
Panelists: Tom Breen, Izzy Lee, Bracken MacLeod, Richard Stanley, Douglas Wynne (Moderator)

MARY SHELLEY and FRANKENSTEIN: The Roots of Cosmic Horror – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
It’s been two hundred years since a remarkable teenager named Mary Shelley gave birth to the modern sci-fi horror genre – creating the epic tale Frankenstein. In recent years, much of Shelley’s other work has also received renewed critical focus. Join our panel of distinguished critics as we discuss Shelley’s extraordinary life, her writing and the impact that Frankenstein still makes on literature today!
Panelists: Gemma Files, Gwendolyn Kiste, Leslie Klinger, Anya Martin (Moderator), Holly Schwadron

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
A Breath from the Sky Launch Party – Matthew Bartlett, Morgan Crooks, Jonathan Raab, Gordon White

Sunday – 3:00-4:15pm

THE WEIRD, WEIRD WEST – Newport-Washington, Omni 3rd Floor
If there’s one deeply and truly American literary tradition, it’s certainly the Western and, in this discussion, we seek to examine both the history of the Weird Western and its recent and surprising Renaissance.
Panelists: Gemma Files, Cody Goodfellow (Moderator), James A. Moore, Will Murray

CONTEMPORARY WEIRD ART – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Our panel of contemporary artists will be discussion trends in Weird Art, their experiences as creators, and the relationship between their work and Weird Fiction.
Panelists: Sara Bardi, Michael Bukowski, Jeanne D’Angelo, Justine Jones, Lee Joyner, Skinner, Stephen Wilson

THE BLEAK OBLIQUE: Aickman’s Influence on Contemporary Horror – Grand Ballroom, Biltmore 17th Floor
Since his death in 1981, the influence of Robert Aickman’s groundbreaking combination of ghostly terror and oblique strangeness has only grown stronger and his discomforting shadow can found influencing the work of contemporary writers from Simon Strantzas to Peter Straub. Join us as we seek to understand just why his strange stories remain so influential and we examine the contemporary work created in his shadow.
Panelists: Michael Cisco, Paul Di Filippo, Jack Haringa, Simon Strantzas (Moderator), Steve Rasnic Tem

AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Peter Cannon, J.F. Dubeau, Madeira Darling, Jonathan Thomas

Sunday – 4:30-5:45pm

THE FUTURE OF WEIRD FICTION and NECRONOMICON-PVD – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
Join our panel of experts as they discuss the most vital Weird Fiction of today and the direction they see it moving towards in the future. The panel concludes with some thoughts on this year’s convention and future plans…
Panelists: s.j. bagley (moderator), Sam Cowan, Ellen Datlow, Ruthanna Emrys, Michael Kelly, and… Niels Hobbs (if he’s still alive)

Please note: All event and program rooms have limited capacity as set by the Fire Marshal. Even though your pass is needed to get into most events, it does not guarantee you access if safe capacity has been reached. We can not clear rooms between events.