Programme

The issues around data scraping, LLM training and human art being replaced by bots. The goalposts change every year as the software gets more advanced. Join the discussion to share the latest advice.

This is a session for those who have not attended World Fantasy Convention before and/or who would like to ask questions to help them get the most out of the event. It will be focusing on practical logistics rather than programme items.

In a time of climate crisis and extinction rebellion, how should fantasy engage with writing about the natural world?

From character art to maps and back-of-the-book reference material to wikipages to QR codes accessing soundtracks – how can bonus content help – or hinder – the story.

Folk stories fascinate us as much for the way they have been handed down as for the detail. Tales passed down through generations. Local legends reimagined into lingering horror or magical fantasy. Folktales cross genres and remain as sources of inspiration for writers. We will discuss.

The rise in popularity of audio books, dramas and podcasts is a phenomenon that needs to be discussed. Our panel share their experiences as readers, presenters, writers and voice actors.

An article in the Guardian in 2016 summarized what grimdark’s “domination” of the fantasy genre as a “commercial imperative to win adolescent, male readers” in opposition to “a truly epic and more emotionally nuanced kind of fantasy” that delivered storytelling. Many grimdark writers and readers, however, would argue that this description is the very antithesis of the genre. Our panel will discuss the radical political and narrative complexity of grimdark fantasy.

World building through prose: what our characters wear, eat, hear, touch can bring a wonderful depth and vividness to their world, immersing the reader in the truly fantastical. Our panel discuss the beauty of descriptive writing.

Finding asexual characters in fantasy remains a challenge. Join our panel to discuss good depictions of asexuality in the genre.

Sometimes evil refuses to die. The shadow lingers on, reforms and returns. The making of a villain that sticks around in the mind of the reader and survives longer than the hero is an art in itself. Join us to discuss.

Many stories involve adversity. Characters struggle to achieve their goals; if they don’t, do we care? Readers identify with people who overcome challenges to reach a better place. Suffering has its place in the narrative, but how do we ensure we do just enough? Our panel discusses the tough journeys characters go on in stories and how to balance adversity with readability.

Fantasy prose writing has a long tradition of poetry and lyricism. Our panel discuss fantasy and horror lyrical prose. AKA fantasy is high literature and always has been.

Since the 1970s, writers have been influenced by roleplaying games and roleplaying games have been inspired by writers. Our panel discusses the relationship between roleplaying games and writing stories. Where do the mediums work well together and where are the issues?

We cannot know the future, so all of our attempts to picture it are escapes into imagined worlds. Clarke’s Third Law indicates how magic and science can be the same thing expressed in different ways. Our panel discussed the relation between speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy and horror.

From the anthropomorphic in the work of Brian Jacques and Richard Adams, to the contemporary amalgamations of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shadows of the Apt, or Pullman’s daemon familiars. The depiction of animals in fantasy are varied and interesting to explore. Join us in doing so.

From Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next to Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland, fantasy has a long tradition of satirising the (so-called) real world and its own genre. Together, we will send up and take apart fantasy’s satirical strands and wonder why it is so good a tool for playing with reality

“Strong female character” has too often been a euphemism for a sword- wielding amazon battling those who wronged her. Fun and glorious though those women are, this panel will talk about the women who lead through intelligence, charisma, patience, or other skills.

Michael Moorcock’s article on Tolkien’s prose and his criticism of it’s childlike quality was first published by the British Fantasy Society in 1978. This raises the question, what is stylish fantasy writing? Is there a particular aesthetic to fantasy prose? Our panel discusses this.

Writing in Tough Guide to Fantasyland, Diana Wynne Jones told readers to ‘follow the map.’ Join our panel to explore the the incredible maps of fantasy worlds and how different writers have utilised them in innovative ways.

The phenomenon of Twilight changed the shelves in bookstores. Reclassification saw writers find a new niche and new audiences. Now ‘cosy’ is the new popular and Romantasy is on the rise. Join our panel to discuss the emerging trends.

Whether you’re considering Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, The Handmaid’s Tale or the gender flipped concept in Kiersten White’s And I Darken, finding and developing feminist themes in Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror can be a rich source of literary criticism. Writers are creating worlds and characters that that have been pivotal in moving forward understanding of women as equal humans. Our panel brings together the creative and critical perspective to get some insight into what this means what made these works so powerful.

Authors who are neurodiverse, characters who are neurodiverse. Widening representation in stories for readers and learning from personal experience. What are good examples in stories. Panellists share their experiences.

From Shannara to the Broken Earth trilogy, many fantasy worlds are anchored into a post apocalyptic crisis that we face in our future. Join our panel as we discuss the unique trappings of these fictions that are pitched as being part of an alternate future.

A delve into the myriad of published titles. Our panel looks for the undiscovered gems and treasures that you may have missed from your bookshelf. Join us for recommendations for your reading list!

Fantasy and Horror stories are written all over the world. Our panel discusses works that have been translated into English, how those translations have been received and what more can be done to bring the rich narratives of the world to greater audiences.

The machinations of kingdoms pitted against one another. The ways in which characters scheme and play games serving different agendas. Faction verses faction, cunning verses wisdom. Allegories of the real world in our escapes? Join our panel to explore politics in Fantasy.

We were all children once. What was a story that you read back then? How did it spark your imagination and what part did it play in bringing you to where you are today? Join the discussion on how we inspire new generations.

The vistas of impossible worlds that we will never see. The maps to invented places, the beautiful geography and geology that has been depicted so we can get a glimpse into the lives of the characters we journey with on their quests. Join us to discuss the role of the fantasy landscape in fiction.

The scare, the creeping dread. What makes you tremble and shake? A range of examples will be presented by our panel. Throw in a few of your own for the reading list.

The tale on the table. Stories emerge from modern board games as much as they do from other sources. The board game experience has changed with the rise of legacy games. The panel will discuss the story of the game with your friends and how board games can be a great source of inspiration for writers.

From Tolkien’s Smaug to the water dragons in Eliza Chan’s Fathomfolk series, why are dragons such a popular part of fantasy stories? Join our panel as they discuss their favourite dragons and how they keep them interesting and relevant for the reader.

The unexplained and the mysterious retain a lingering grip on the imagination of the reader. Our panelists delve into their experiences of these stories, discussiing the best ways to use existing lore as a framework for new stories.

Once a Upon a Time… An opening that resonates throughout history, promising a simple story. Yet, many fairy tales do not deliver a happy ending, and others have become twisted by writers looking to create a new spin from old ideas. Fairy tales remain an excellent source of inspiration for new fantasy and horror. Join us to discuss the best.

Ever wondered what an agent does, why you might want one and what they are looking for? Our panel discuss the author agent relationship, what they are looking for and what makes things work.

In fantasy and horror there are always experiences we have neglected or never heard of. Our panel will make some recommendations of historic works that deserve an audience, or modern content that is in danger of being missed.

The writer Tanith Lee passed away in 2015. Her writing across the genres is provocative, powerful, experimental and vivid. Now, a new generation of readers are discovering her work for the first time. Join our panel in remembering Tanith Lee and her work.

There are stories that defy genre classification, making use of methods and techniques from a variety of different writer toolboxes. Our panel discusses slipstream, and other compound works.

Scotland has a strong tradition of inspiring writers and writing, and in recent years there has been an veritable explosion of Scottish writers on bestseller lists and awards nominations. Is it something in the water? Join our panel as they discuss what makes Scotland such a great place for genre writers.

Tropes: love them or hate them. Do we need them? How much trope is too much trope?

The writer writes, and just occasionally, a story attracts the interest of film or television production companies. Or maybe there’s a game, or a theatre play that could be made of it? Join our panel in discussing their experiences working with adapted fantasy and horror.

Disabled characters are more prevalent in our fiction than they were, but there is a long way to go. How are disabled characters portrayed in Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction? Can we highlight some good examples? Are there writer voices we should be championing to improve representation? This panel discusses stories that feature disabled characters.

It’s been 50 years of the British Fantasy Convention (Fantasycon)! Many things have been and gone in that time. How has have the times changed? Our panel looks at what’s happened over the years and what’s happening now.

We make the world of the story, but it lives in the mind of the reader. Our panel discuss the ways in which worlds of fantasy and horror are made. What are the priorities and the elements that stay. long after the story is over?

The world of publishing is opaque and mysterious to writers, unless they choose to peek behind the curtain. Join our discussion where publishers will share their thoughts on the current state of the industry.

How do authors, agents and editors work together to bring a book from manuscript to a bookshelf? Come along to find out.

The classic subgenre revisited! Who is writing in this area now and can it be compared to the works of the past? Join our panel to discuss.

Magic systems are a staple of many fantasy books. Join our panels as they discuss the pros and cons of using magic systems, and how not to get bogged down when creating and putting into action all those rules, abilities and restrictions.

The literary art of writing fight and battle scenes. Expert authors discuss how they approach battles and duels in their novels. Who knows? They may even act out a few?

Marmite – Love it or Hate it? There are a whole assortment of marmite characters – The heroes you hate, the villains who you miss when they’re gone. These are individuals who divide opinion. But what is it about them that makes us react? Join us to discuss how to make love/hate characters, and what we think of them.

Horror is for everyone. Our fear of difference has never been the same as our fear of the monstrous and evil. New takes on queer in horror bring opportunities for representation. Join the conversation about positive queer representation in the darkness.

Gone are the days of fantasy as a solely heteronormative space. Queer is here, refreshing and energetic, breathing new life into the worlds of our imagination. Our panel discuss some great examples of queer fantasy and shine a light on the best of them. Bring your reading lists!

Fairy tales, legends, and myths might well be among the most ancient of folk narratives, having their roots in the oral traditions of pre-literate societies. These stories have been reimagined, adapted, and subverted by writers for centuries, from Shakespeare to Disney to Anne Sexton. The 21st century has seen the popularity of such retellings explode, along with new academic interest in their many manifestations. Why? This panel of folk narrative experts seeks to answer this question and many more about the history, meaning, and purpose of these narratives around the world.

The love scene in fantasy and/or horror. Do relationships need to be consumated or remain chaste, or somewhere in between? What are the excellent ways in which writers have considered how their characters feel about each other. Join the discussion.

Who is pushing the boundaries, being brave and experimental with their fantasy and horror? Join our panel for a tour of the borderlines.

Forget exams. Here villainous teachers, treacherous classmates and other evils stand in the way of graduation. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of Dark Academia books, from R.F. Kuang’s award- winning Babel to Olivie Blakes’ The Atlas Six series. Why are readers and writers fascinated with this (perceived) dark side of education? And how much do these book reflect and challenge the institutions we all love, and love to hate

Writers enter the fantasy genre with Tolkien’s shadow looming large over them. Many are directly influenced by his work. Join us as we explore the ways in which the stories of Middle-Earth have influenced contemporary writers.

Living a life of making and imagination can be a rewarding one. Our panel discuss creativity, how it manifests and shapes the way they live.

Whether constitutional, absolute or symbolic, monarchical systems continue to fascinate readers and writers of fantasy fiction. Whether cruel tyrants or royals in exile, benevolent queens or warmongering empresses, it seems that more fantasies have monarchies than don’t. Our panellists will discuss the lure of royalty, some of their favourite examples of fantasy monarchs, good or bad, and why monarchy has had such a powerful hold on fantasy fiction.

Storytelling in computer games has evolved quickly as the technology has improved. Now, many of the games we play are incredible visual feasts, but these need great stories to go along with them. Our panel will discuss impressive computer games and their stories.

Weird fiction creates existential dread by the intrusion of the “impossible” into a representation of the real world. Could this be a horror that lingers beyond the fear? Or a fantasy that remains strange to us? Join us to discuss the unique qualities of Weird Fiction, the historical writers and the current practice.

A blue police box that travels through time and space, disgorging it’s pilot and assorted travelling companions into weekly peril. Doctor Who is a mainstay of British Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction. Join our panel to share memories and discuss.

Living things and the worlds they inhabit. Writers of Fantasy are not bound by reality and so can invent weird and wonderful things. Join us for a tour amidst the creatures and peoples that never existed. Exotic descriptions and prose abound! Help us invent new life and discuss how it might survive and thrive.

With more fantasy and horror books published every year, finding an audience can be difficult. Our panel discusses the role of reviewers and how to best manage being a reviewer in a crowded market.

Fantasy and horror allow authors to write from the perspective of the truly other – dragons, monsters, shape shifters, the undead. Writing the non-human can push writers to their creative limits and challenge both writers and readers to think about what it means to be human, but can also pose significant problems for the writer. Our panel discuss the perils, pitfalls and rewards of embodying fully non-human characters.

Mixing 21st century mileu with the trapping of fantasy is bread and butter to many writers and readers. The subgenres abound, involving all sorts of supernatural and magical. Join our exploration of modern times with a magical twist.

Comedy writing in fantasy, horror has always been there. Whether through satire or slapstick or a mixture of both, there is always something ridiculous to giggle about if played the right way. Our panel will explore some of the techniques of writing comedy in fantasy and horror.

Why are are many fantasy and horror novels told from the perspective of the young? Is age and experience a hindrance for characters as they try to grow and change? Or is the issue the audience. We’ve all been young, but have we all been old? Our panel will discuss the representation of older people in fantasy and horror.

A selection of short papers on Horror and Fantasy from postgraduate students. These include, “Crossing Worlds, Crossing Death: Fantasy as a Medium to Talk about Loss”, “Imagined Realms, Cultural Roots – The Fabric of Romanian Fairy Tales”, “Echoes of Romanian Myth and Folklore”, “OMORI Video Game – Rendering Visceral Emotion in Translation into Romanian”.

In a society that is becoming ever more urban and reliant on technology, the sinister and increasingly alien nature of folk horror’s rural setting and
ancient traditions could explain the resurgence in its popularity in recent times. Often dealing with themes of isolation, folklore, paganism and the
dark aspects of nature, folk horror provides rich soil to grow a sense of fear and foreboding. The panel will discuss what makes a novel folk horror and some of their favourite elements and examples of the genre.

Some Fantasy is about simplifying the world into two sides, on a number of levels. Our panel will explore what new territory lies beyond these polarities, looking at characters, plots, morality and philosophies that take us towards new questions about the human condition.

Stories that involve a terrifying enemy that seems invincible and undefeatable. What if you put them against each other? Our panel will pit the Monsters of Legend against each other to determine who will win, who terrifies us the most and how had this influenced the literary scene?

Sometimes writers struggle to see what to get rid of in their drafts, others get stuck using the same words, or dont quite deliver on a brilliant idea. The work of an editor is a subtle craft that can make a story go from bland to brilliant, or good to exceptional. Our panel explores the craft of the editor.

Faith and the divine have played a huge role in fantasy, from Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods to N. K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow. This panel will discuss the presentations and representations of the divine in fantasy, the ways writers put faith on the page, and the role of gods in story

Conflict can erupts in all sorts of places. Some of the best scenes in fiction are military campaigns in the ballroom, or at the Queen’s council table. Join our panel for a discussion about verbal sparring, poisonings, impromptu assassinations and more.

Princesses and paupers! Merchants and muggers! CEOs and heroes! Social class (and caste) is baked into fantasy and horror, but how have writers traditionally considered class roles? Is that changing in the face of widening economic inequality and increasing awareness of diversity?

The past is dead, until it erupts into the present, ripped from our history and made into new flesh by storytellers inspired by lingering memory and legend. Join our panel to discuss the horror history that can inspire new writing.

The worlds of our imaginations manifest in art, films, games and television, but more importantly, in the mine of the reader and listener. Our panel discusses the iconic images of fantasy and how they have become part of our visual code.

From Ben Aaronovitch’s magical London to T. L. Huchu’s near-future Edinburgh, cities are often a key element of the story and maybe even the central character. Come along as our panellists share their favourite urban fantasy settings and discuss how to write about a familiar place but not as you know it!

The illustrated storytelling of this medium has a unique appeal. Most stories are fantasy and spark the imagination of readers. Join us to discuss some favourites.

The dark legacy of British Horror is a proud and powerful one. A succession of writers have inspired others who have taken up the mantle. Generation after generation of scary stories, but what makes them quintessentially British?

The unique writing of Terry Pratchett in one of the most popular fantasy worlds ever written. Our panel examine the prose of this exceptional series and share memories of his work and how he inspired others.

Sword lesbians are a recognised and popular trope in fantasy. How do we think about heroic positions and expansive gender expression in genre? How do queer people position ourselves in relationship to traditional masculinity and its phallus/sword continuum? Do we reclaim roles like knight/cavalier/Jedi, or do we find different ways for women/femmes to fight? Are sword lesbians also an expression of athleticism, when athleticism is often coded as masculine despite not really being tied to the masc/femme axis at all?

Scratch the surface of some fantasy stories and you realise the worlds your heroes live in don’t work. How do characters earn a living? How is food grown, transported and traded? How important is a realistic fantasy economy to you?

Traditionally, religion has been the tool of the priest saviour coming to banish the wicked, but new writing explores theology differently, causing us to question our assumptions for good and for evil. From The Nightmare Girl, to The Boys in the Valley, Join our panel to discuss new approaches to religion in the genre.

In folk tales, the villains were misunderstood rejects from society. Later, in Epic Fantasy, the enemy became exotic and mysterious civilisations who lived by different rules and values. Spare a thought for the henchmen and the stooge, or even for the thwarted evil genius. Is there more we can understand about how we make villains?

In fantasy and horror, there are ways in which music becomes part of the creation. Our panel will discuss the creative role original music plays in the building of stories in the genres. Bring your creations along!