2024 DRAFT panels list
The following is the preliminary draft of panels for 2024. We are still doing some revision and beginning to align good panelists to participate in these. See below for a link to submit suggestions for panelists. We are particularly keen to attach panelists who have substantial experience with the topic and who can work well with other panelists.
IF you are a previous panelist or programming participant, or if you would like to be considered as a panelist, please get in touch – please use this survey and get in touch!
Note again, this is just the preliminary list of panels, and does not include all the other core or extended programming – academic talks, Armitage symposium, author readings, games, films, etc, etc, etc…
CLASSIC WEIRD (non-Mythos)
- A Man Sinister: The Weird Fiction of Jean Ray. Jean Ray (Raymundus
Joannes de Kremer, Belgian, 1887 – 1964) was a prolific multi-lingual
journalist and writer, best known for his tales of the fantastique in which the
supernatural collides with realism to create tension, fear, and disbelief.
Among his works available in English are the novel Malpertuis, and
collections of short fiction such as Ghouls in my Grave and The Great
Nocturnal: Tales of Dread. Our panelists discuss Jean Ray’s work and his
place in the French fantastique literary tradition. - Franz Kafka: “Everything I leave behind me … [is] to be burned
unread.” Kafka (Bohemian, 1883 – 1924) was a world-renowned literary
giant whose work spawned its own adjective to describe circumstances
nightmarishly complex, oppressive, senseless, and bizarre. His stories are
tales of alienation, transformation, guilt, and suffering and feature
protagonists victimized by absurd, malevolent forces beyond their control.
Strange, surreal, and a major influence on weird literature in the Post-War
era. Our panelists discuss the author, his life, and the relationship of his work
to weird literature, art, and film. - In the Shadows of Belief: The Surreal and Erotic Horror of Stefan
Grabiński. Stefan Grabiński (1887 – 1936) was born in Poland and
captivated by the occult and mysticism at a young age and this fascination is
manifest in his works of dark supernatural fantasy. Called the “Polish Poe”
or “Polish Lovecraft” his bizarre, hyperbolic, magical stories are infused
with surreal eroticism yet grounded in the anxieties of the modern industrial
age, anticipating many contemporary literary trends. Only recently available
in English translation, our panelists explore the life and work of Grabiński
and its relation to weird fiction. - Angela Carter: Infernal Desires and Bloody Chambers. Carter’s
(English, 1940 – 1992) work was broad, including novels of desire and
sexual awakening, non-fiction critique such as The Sadean Women and the
Ideology of Pornography, and screenplays, such as The Company of Wolves,
based on short stories published in her collection The Bloody Chamber.
Whether writing post-apocalyptic fable, magical realism, or dark fantasy and
horror, her work was unflinching, political, and often steeped in myth,
fairytale, and sexuality. Our panelists discuss her work and legacy. - Weird By Any Other Name: Margaret St. Clair. (American, 1911 –
1995) was an author of science fiction and fantasy, sometimes published as
Idris Seabright or Wilton Hazzard. A pioneer of strange stories in the pulps,
she produced work across multiple genres, including at least eight novels
and over 130 short stories, several of which were adapted for the television
series Thriller and Night Gallery. The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles is
one of many stories reprinted and anthologized repeatedly. - Against Nature and Reason: Origins of the Decadent Weird. Our
panelists discuss the Decadent Movement in literature, which valued fantasy,
hedonistic excess, transgression, and extravagant language, and authors of
that period who wrote within the weird such as Vernon Lee (Violet Paget),
M. P. Shiel, Count Eric Stenbock, and R. Murray Gilchrist. In addition, the
relationship to later decadent writers, such as Clark Ashton Smith, Robert W.
Chambers, H. P. Lovecraft, and contemporary examples, will be explored. - Tales From a Dying Earth: Clark Ashton Smith’s Zothique Cycle. A
deep dive into the morbid, far-future Earth of Zothique, a primitive, decadent
world of sword and sorcery adventure, written by Smith (American, 1893 –
1961) and anthologized by Lin Carter. Smith’s darker sensibilities and
literary excess make the work distinctive (although some elements have not
aged well). - Fallen Natures: Materialism and the Supernatural from Milton to
Modern Horror. Panelists will dive into the maelstrom of weird matter,
discussing how fictions of the supernatural, from the cosmic epics of 17th
century writers including John Milton and Lucy Hutchinson to the tales of
Poe and Lovecraft to the work of many contemporary horror writers, draw
upon, respond to and shape forms of philosophical materialism. - Dispatches from the Hollow Earth: The History and Influence of
Subterranean Fiction. The history of speculative fiction is replete with
stories of underground civilizations, dinosaur-filled caverns, drill machines,
and molemen. Our experts discuss this strange literature, its themes and
tropes, and add a shovelful of geological sciences to the discussion. - The Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe and its Long Shadow. Poe (American,
1809 -1849) was a leading American voice in gothic and romantic literature
as an author, literary critic, and poet. His work was a significant influence on
the development of detective mystery, science fiction, and weird fiction. Our
panelists engage in a close examination of Poe’s poetry and his writing on
the theory of poetry. - Uncovering Dark Pearls: Emily Dickinson’s Witch Poems. Emily
Dickenson (American, 1830 – 1886) is considered one of the most important
poets in American literature and often touched on supernatural themes. In
this panel, we take a close look at the poetry of spells and witchcraft of the
White Witch of Amherst. - Seething Nuclear Chaos, From Azathoth to Oppenheimer: How the
Dawn of the Atomic Age Changed Cosmic Horror. Cosmic horror in the
pre-nuclear period regularly explored issues of dying worlds, the extinction
of the human species, and forces beyond human imagination. For many,
these were purely theoretical concerns until President Harry Truman
announced the destruction of Hiroshima by “harnessing… the basic power
of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been
loosed…” What was the impact of the atomic age and the suddenly urgent
prospect of global nuclear annihilation on cosmic horror? - The Cosmic Horror of Herman Melville and his Influence on Weird
Fiction. Panelists discuss the work of Melville (American, 1819 – 1891)
through the lens of cosmic horror. It could be argued that Melville should be
recognized as a precursor of weird fiction alongside Hawthorne and Poe. In
particular, Moby-Dick may have been influential in Lovecraft’s iconic Call
of Cthulhu! His more supernatural tales and influence on HPL, Hodgson,
and the Pulp Era are explored. - Arthur Machen: Modern Master of Supernatural Horror. Among
“living creators of cosmic fear,” Lovecraft gave Arthur Machen pride of
place. There are common themes and tropes in their fiction, but the writers
differ greatly — philosophically and temperamentally. Two philosophers
and two scholars of the weird tale will explore the enduring appeal of
Machen’s fiction, and contrast Lovecraft’s and Machen’s use of paganism,
deep time, the ineffable, and other ingredients of the weird. (Organized by
The Friends of Arthur Machen.) Dean Zimmerman, Eric Steinhart, Aaron Worth, and Geoffrey Reiter
HPL & Mythos-Specific (Literature and Biography)
- From the Night Land to the Dreamlands: Parallels and Convergences in
Hodgson and Lovecraft. William Hope Hodgson (English, 1877 – 1918)
and H. P. Lovecraft (American, 1890 – 1937) were both authors of weird
fiction who shared influences, thematic concerns. In life, both experienced
extreme poverty and familial loss. In death, both remain well-regarded and
their work has been expanded in pastiche and tribute. Our panelists discuss
them in the context of their similarities, differences, and place in the Weird. - The Cowboy and the New Englander: The Correspondence of Robert
E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. Between 1930 and Lovecraft’s death in
1937, Howard and Lovecraft engaged in a lively correspondence. Our
panelists discuss what their letters reveal about their relationship,
collaborations, and influence on one another’s work. - Nyarly’s Angels: Asenath Waite, Keziah Mason, Lavinia Whatley.
Panelists discuss HPL’s most significant women characters, their roles,
relationships, and the representation of women in his work. What was his
understanding of gender and gender roles? What characters did he choose to
focus on and why? Why these particular women in a body of work primarily
focused on male protagonists? - Ladies and Gentlemen, Tonight’s Top Ten List: Top Ten Greatest Stories
by HPL. Chaos reigns as our panel of fractious and opinionated experts
count down and defend their selections for the best of his work. Guests in
the front row are advised to bring plastic sheeting in case it comes to blows. - The Amateurs. Amateur presses were deeply important to HPL. In this
panel, the history and legacy of the Amateur organizations, their
publications, connection to the world of Pulp-Era weird fiction, and
Lovecraft’s relationships with them are explored. - New York State of Mind: Lovecraft’s New York Period. On March 2,
1924, Lovecraft abruptly moved to New York City and married Sonya
Greene. Just two years later, he returned to Providence, broke, and leaving
behind a failing marriage. In the interim, he explored the city, wrote, and met
and corresponded with the KALEM Club and members of the Lovecraft
Circle. Our panelists do a deep dive into his big city adventure, what it
reveals about his psychology, and the impact it had on his life and writing. - Master of Hounds and More: Frank Belknap Long. Long (American,
1901 – 1994) was an author of short fiction, novels, and poetry with a career
spanning seven decades. He is best known for his horror and science fiction,
including his contributions to Mythos fiction such as The Hounds of
Tindalos. Our panelists discuss his life, work, and legacy, with special
attention to his relationship and correspondence with Lovecraft. - The New Wave Arkhamites. As the 60s gave way to the 70s, writers such
as Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, James Wade, A. A. Attanasio and
others entered the realm of Mythos literature, contributing to the expansion
of the Mythos with a new style and attitude. Our panelists discuss the
emergence of this generation, what made them different from the Mythos
writers of previous eras, and their lasting influence. - W. H. Pugmire: Queen of the Sesqua Valley. Wilum “Hopfrog” Pugmire
(American, 1951 – 2019) came up as part of the Seattle punk scene and
publisher of the zine Punk Lust. A devotee of Lovecraft, he was a leading
writer and poet in neo-Lovecraftian fiction and poetry from the 1980s until
his death. Much of his work was set in the fiction Sesqua Valley of the
Pacific Northwest, and featured lush prose and genderfluid eroticism.
Panelists discuss his life and work. - Edward H. Cole. Cole has been somewhat overlooked in Lovecraft
scholarship, perhaps because his letters were not included in the original
Arkham House Selected Letters. Cole was one of Lovecraft’s first significant
friendships in his amateur press days and HPL a frequent houseguest in
Cole’s Quincy, MA, home, from which Cole would drive Lovecraft to
various historic spots. He also claimed to have introduced Lovecraft to Sonia
Greene and was significant in bringing Lovecraft out of his social shell. Cole
also produced the earliest printed memoir of Lovecraft in 1940. While other
Lovecraftian correspondents are better known, Ed Cole may be the most
important of HPL’s formative writing days. - Small Press Publications of the 70s/80s. A discussion of the importance
and contributions of small press magazines and zines, such as Nyctalops,
Whispers, Eldritch Tales, and Weirdbook, in keeping Mythos fiction alive.
Despite small budgets and circulation compared to national mainstream
magazines, they published many of the important genre writers working
during the period leading up and into the 80s mainstream horror boom.
Contemporary Weird (Non-Mythos)
- The American Nightmares of Joyce Carol Oates. Scholar, playwright,
poet, and author Oates (American, 1938 – present) has been a major presence
in horror and weird fiction across a career spanning decades. Panelists
discuss the work, themes, influences, and contributions of one of the grand
dames of American literature. - Michael Moorcock: No Gods, No Masters. Editor, author, and musician
Moorcock (English, 1939 – ) is a renowned writer of fantasy and science
fiction, and considered part of the New Wave literary movement. Best
known for his creations Elric of Melniboné, the Multiverse, Hawkmoon, and
the Eternal Champion, his writing is driven by political commentary, satire,
and the reversal or subversion of genre theme and tropes. Our panelists
discuss his work, legacy, and political activism. - Bleak and Decaying Landscapes: The Weird Fiction of Joel Lane. Lane
(English, 1963 – 2013) is best known for his short work in horror and dark
fantasy, most often set in the economically depressed industrial cities of
central England. His characters are often as isolated and broken as the urban
centers they haunt. He also wrote poetry, noir novels, and essays on horror
and fantasy, some of which are collected in This Spectacular Darkness. Our
panelists discuss his work, influences, and place in the history of weird
fiction. - Joe Pulver: The bEast Among Us. Author, editor, and poet Joseph S.
Pulver Sr. (American, 1955 – 2020) was well-known for his work curating
and expanding stories of the Cthulhu Mythos and Chamber’s The King in
Yellow. He also edited tribute anthologies to Thomas Ligotti, Ramsey
Campbell, and was instrumental in the publication of Michael Cisco’s lost
manuscript The Knife Dance. Panelists discuss his work, unique prose style,
and contributions to the weird. - The Birds. Reptilian, violent, beautiful, strange, and possessed of a definite
yet alien intelligence. It’s no wonder that our avian friends occupy an
important role within the weird. Panelists discuss the varying role of birds in
weird literature and film. - This Place Is Not For You: Impossible Architecture In Weird Fiction.
Join us as we explore the abandoned halls of alien and forgotten races,
non-Euclidean spaces, liminal passageways, and labyrinths of mysterious
origin. At the Mountains of Madness, House of Leaves, Piranesi, Labyrinths,
Solaris, and Mapping the Interior are just some of the many titles that
employ strange structures. How do authors use the scale, design, and
function of buildings and other designed spaces to disturb and disorient the
reader in weird fiction? What is the psychological impact of these factors on
characters? - Verdant and Creeping: The Land Plant (Embryophyte) in Weird Film
and Fiction. Trees, vines, and grasses; familiar and comforting aspects of
the natural world around us. But in nature and in reality, often strange, alien
and deadly. Trees that whisper dark secrets, lurking carnivorous mouths, and
alien pods dot the weird landscape. Plants as adversaries and entities are
prominent in mythology and folklore and throughout modern stories. Our
panelists discuss the history and symbolism of these leafy terrors with
reference to literature, film, and television. - Transgressive Horror and Weird Fiction. Panelists discuss the history and
significance of transgressive fiction, a movement that rejects societal
conventions and portrays behavior and ideas that may shock or disturb, with
an emphasis on weird and horror fiction from the 1980s to present. - History and Contributions of Black Women Authors. Specifics TBD by
panelists. History, major writers, recent renaissance, influences, etc. - Weird Fiction in Translation. Panelists discuss the history of weird fiction
in translation, essential translated work, new and upcoming releases. What
are the challenges of translation and barriers to bringing translated work to
the English-reading audience? What authors or regional and linguistic bodies
of work remain under-recognized or are simply not yet widely available in
translation? - It Came from the Frozen North! The Canadian Weird. One could make
the case that Canada has punched above it weight in terms of per capita
contributions to weird fiction. Our panel of live Canadians discuss weird
fiction from Canada, the writing and publishing environment, and how the
cultures that comprise Canada are reflected in film and literature.
Film, Gaming, Writing, Art, etc.
- You Will Not Be Saved: The Cosmic Horror of John Carpenter’s
Apocalypse Trilogy. The Thing (1982), Prince of Darkness (1987), and In
the Mouth of Madness (1995) comprise Carpenter’s (American, 1948 –
present) self-described “Apocalypse Trilogy” and share thematic elements
such as the incomprehensibility of the universe, the insignificance of the
human race, and the uncertainty of identity and knowledge. In each, contact
with intergalactic or interdimensional forces sets off growing dread and
madness and ends with the end of the human world pending or underway.
Our panelists discuss the films and source materials Carpenter draws on for
inspiration. - The Weird One Frame at A Time: The Strange World of Stop Motion
Animation. For as long as there have been motion pictures, directors have
used stop-motion animation to bring the otherwise unfilmable to life. Our
panelists explore the use and importance of the technique from the early
days of Georges Méliès and Willis O’ Brien, through the golden age of Ray
Harryhausen, to modern masters such as Stefano Bessoni, Randall William
Cook, Mark Gustafson, Parker Merritt, Jan Švankmajer, Henry Selick, Phil
Tippett, and the Brothers Quay. - White Space, Implication, Inference. The Reader as Collaborator in
Weird Fiction. While every reader experiences their own version of a book,
this is even more true in weird literature where ambiguity and uncertainty
are more central than most genres. Our panelists discuss writing uncertain
narratives and supporting multiple interpretations in weird fiction. What is
the contract we enter into with the reader in setting expectations? How do
we deliver a satisfying experience without definitive answers or
explanations? Role of reader, examples etc. - Making it Strange: Literary Techniques for Writers. The uncanny,
sublime, grotesque, condensation, surrealism, expansion and contraction,
recontextualizing, fragmentation, disruption. These are but some of the
methods or modes writers use to create the weird. Panelists discuss the use
and effectiveness of techniques with examples from classic and
contemporary work. - Writing through Apocalypse: Poets at the End of the World. How do we
write about the dystopian present while making room for better futures?
How might a poetics of apocalypse open space for grief, rage, and
resiliency? Poets discuss their approaches to writing through the apocalypses
of the past, present, and future with examples from their own work.
(Adapted from the AWP 2023 panel presented by F. Choi, S. Jones, B.
Shaughnessy.) - Weird Gaming: Indy and Freelance Perspectives
- Genre Mixing in Call of Cthulhu Settings. The Cthulhu Mythos exists
across time and space, predating human civilization and known dimensions.
Of course, it crosses genre! Add some horror to your western, espionage
thriller, space opera, high fantasy, or period piece. Our experts discuss
writing genre mash-ups. What are the challenges and benefits? How do you
blend the different (and sometimes conflicting) conventions, philosophies,
and tropes embedded in different genres effectively? - Crafting Horror: Designing Call of Cthulhu Scenarios. Our seasoned
game designers discuss how to design successful scenarios for Call of
Cthulhu. What elements should be present and how do they fit together to
create a frightening and satisfying payoff? What pitfalls can the author avoid
with advance planning? - Fictional Mythologies for Game Development and Fiction. Our friends at
Chaosium discuss the process of myth-creation and world building in
fantasy and supernatural settings (Call of Cthulhu, RuneQuest, Warhammer,
and Pendragon). How do writers create vivid and detailed fictional universes
that are bold, distinctive, and vivid? - Six-Shooters and Spell Books: The Weird West on the Tabletop. A
review of history and influence of Weird Western RPG and boardgames,
with reference to their connection to film and literature. - Beneath the Light of Black Suns: Creating Strange Planes of Existence
for Game and Fiction Writing. Gaming professionals discuss the challenge
of writing and running scenarios in universes that function very differently
from our own. What worldbuilding and rules are necessary when time,
space, or physics are at odds with our lived experience? How do you bring
an elemental, astral, or dream space to life convincingly? - Super Weird: Superhero narrative in film, comics, and literature ranges
from the very conventional to the deeply strange. Doom Patrol, The Swamp
Thing, Sandman and many other mainstream titles are clearly part of the
world of weird fiction. Panelists discuss the relationship of superheroes to
weird fiction, with examples of those that fall most clearly into the canon of
the strange, from mainstream and indy sources. - The Comic Adaptations of Robert E Howard. Howard’s creations Conan
the Barbarian, Kull the Conqueror, and Solomon Kane have all enjoyed
significant success as comic book characters. Panelists review the history of
Howard adaptations from the first in 1952 to present day and discuss his
influence on comic writers and artists. - Editing the Weird. An all-star line-up of editors discuss editing and
curating weird and horror fiction. - Strangely Speaking: The Weird in Audiobook, Radio Play, Podcast, and
Other Recorded Media. Experts discuss the art of adapting and recording
weird and horror fiction for broadcast and live performance. - Mythos Influence on Heavy Metal. You wanna know dark and brutal?
Malevolent, ancient, alien gods, in a universe beyond all comprehension and
indifferent to our existence and suffering. Dude, that is the most metal thing
I ever heard in my whole life. It’s the most brutal thing ever. Totally metal.
Join our panelists for a discussion of heavy metal’s incorporation of, and
tributes to, the Cthulhu Mythos: the bands, the lyrics, the concept albums. - Mythos and Madness in the Creative Commons: SCP Foundation,
Creepypasta, The Backrooms, and Other Collective Weird Internet
Projects. Spawned from internet forums, usenet groups, and wikis,
collaborative fictional projects have emerged as a growing source of horror
and weird fiction. Our panelists discuss the history and influence of these
collective efforts and the ethos underlying collaborative internet writing,
with particular attention to their intersection with the Cthulhu Mythos and
Cosmic horror. - Ars Necronomica Panel. Artists featured in the Ars Necronomica Art
Show discuss their work, process, and inspirations, and the current state of
weird art. - GoH Panel. Meet this year’s Guests of Honor.
- Wrap Meeting/Feedback. Once again, we bring the weekend to a close,
thank our many contributors, and solicit feedback on the convention. As a
bonus, there will be a short presentation on the panel content of
NecronomiCons from 1993 – present
IF you are a previous panelist or programming participant, or if you would like to be considered as a participant, please get in touch – please use this survey and get in touch!