N.E. Brigand
Half-elven
Jul 13 2008, 6:04am
Views: 11642
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Mythcon 39 -- Aug. 15-18 -- New Britain, CT
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This coming Tuesday, July 15, is the last day for online registration for the 39th annual conference of the Mythopoeic Society, to be held in mid-August. After that, registration will only be possible at the door during the conference. For the first time, this year's Mythcon will be held in New England, at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. Mythsoc is an organization dedicated to "promoting the study, discussion, and enjoyment of fantastic and mythic literature", with a special emphasis on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams and the other Inklings. The group publishes the literary journal Mythlore (usually twice each year). The theme of this year's conference is "The Valkyrie and the Goddess: The Warrior Woman in Fantasy", and there will be a track of papers as well as panel discussions on that subject. In addition, there will be a variety of papers on Tolkien, Lewis, Williams and other fantasy. Here is a sample of the announced papers: "The Forgotten Women of Middle-earth"; "Tradition in Rowling, Tolkien, and Lewis"; "Tolkien and Oxford University"; "Feminity and Arachnitas in Tolkien's 'Shelob'"; "Realistic War in Tolkien's Battles"; and "The Feminism of LeGuin's Earthsea Books". There are also a variety of other activities and entertainments, this year including one I particularly want to see: a planetarium show on the astronomy of Middle-earth, led by Kristine Larsen, who was written some fine papers on that subject. There is also a banquet where this year's winners of the Mythopoeic Fantasy and Scholarship Awards will be announced. Among the nominees for adult fantasy are Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay, who got his start working with Christopher Tolkien on The Silmarillion. The children's fantasy nominees include J.K. Rowling, for the entire Harry Potter series. The Inklings-scholarship nominees include Diana Glyer's The Company They Keep and The History of 'The Hobbit' by John Rateliff. And one of the general fantasy scholarship nominees is The Shadow-Walkers, a study of monsters in Grimm, edited by Tom Shippey. There will be two guests of honor: Marjorie Burns, author of Perilous Realms: Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-earth, and Sharan Newman, author of the novel Cursed in the Blood as well as non-fiction including The Real History Behind 'The Da Vinci Code'. Other notable Tolkien and Inklings scholars attending this year's conference include Verlyn Flieger, Janet Croft, Arden Smith, David Bratman, Mike Foster, Christopher Gilson, Joe Christopher, Diana Glyer, Wayne Hammond, and Christina Scull. I know of at least three TORN contributors besides myself who will be attending: visualweasel, drogo, and Aelfwine. Anybody else?
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> We're discussing The Lord of the Rings in the Reading Room, Oct. 15, 2007 - Mar. 22, 2009! Join us July 7-13 for "The Black Gate Is Closed". +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= How to find old Reading Room discussions.
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