MarsCon 2025 - Virginia Beach: Full Schedule

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1:00pm EST

Henchmen (and Women) of the Empire

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Cobra, Hydra, and other followers of the bad guy. Where do they get their training? What is their motivation? Is there a good benefits package and what is the going rate for a top-notch lackey anyway?

Speakers

Robert Hampson

Author, Scientist

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a neuroscientist, professor, and author who spends his time exploring the frontiers of memory research and the far reaches of the imagination. With a Ph.D. in Physiology & Pharmacology, he studies how brains encode memories and develops futuristic technologies... Read More →

Nicole Glover

Author

Nicole Glover is the author of the historical fantasy series, Murder and Magic, which begins with The Conductors. When she's not writing, she's working as a UX researcher where her knowledge about murder and other mysteries is surprisingly useful.

Jason Cordova

Author

Bestselling author Jason Cordova has had his novels published in multiple languages around the world. He was both a John W. Campbell Award and Dragon Award finalist (though not in the same year). Author of the Black Tide Rising novel Mountain of Fire, and co-author of Monster Hunter... Read More →

Jacob Holo

Author

Jacob Holo has been a recreational geek since childhood, when he discovered Star Wars and Star Trek, and a professional geek since college, when he graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Electrical and Controls Engineering. He started writing when his parents... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Fandom, It's in the Details

2:00pm EST

Beyond the Chainmail Bikini: Battling Toxic Objectification in Art & Fandom

Friday January 17, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Everyone says “sex sells” but does it have to? Do we need to cater to heterosexual men in order to make a profit selling art at Comic-Cons and Sci-Fi Fantasy conventions? Can we create, write, and/or cosplay beautiful images of both men and women in respectful poses and outfits and still attract fans? Our panel will discuss objectification in art and fandom and what we can do to change it for the better.

Speakers

Ben Yalow

Fandom

I've attended about 900 cons, and worked on about a third of them, with jobs ranging from gofer to Chair of both regionals and the Worldcon. I've also edited 4 books for NESFA Press.

Kim Iverson Headlee

Author

Kim Iverson Headlee lives on a farm in the mountains of southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, fish, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, someone else's cattle, half a million honey bees, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old... Read More →

Jake Clark

Artist Guest of Honor

Jake Clark makes badass art for badass stories. Full of grit and storytelling, his work is geared to instantly capture attention. Using 3-d modeling software combined with digital painting, his fully custom creations play with perspective and scale in a way few other covers in the... Read More →

Lindsay Reinoehl Bartleson

Featured Costuming Guest

Lindsay Bartleson of Geek Diva Cosplay has been cosplaying for just under a decade. In that time she has received multiple awards at conventions in both workmanship and stage presentation and quickly reached the Master level. She has presented many cosplay panels and has also acted... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Fandom, Being a Fan

3:00pm EST

AI: What Can It Do, What Should It Do, & How Do We Write AI into our Stories

Friday January 17, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Join scientists and authors as they discuss Artificial Intelligence, including the possibility that companies are beginning to use AI to create art to not have to pay artists, actors, writers, etc. for their work. But is AI all bad? How might we be able to use it to help us? And how can we write it into our stories in an authentic way and a way that will satisfy our stories and our readers?

Moderator

Phillip Pournelle

Author, Gamer

Commander Pournelle retired from the Navy after 26 years of service as a surface warfare officer, operations analyst, and joint operations planner. He served on cruisers, destroyers, amphibious ships, and an experimental high-speed vessel. He served on the Navy staff conducting modeling... Read More →

Speakers

Robert Hampson

Author, Scientist

Dennis Myers

Author

Born and raised in central Minnesota, Dennis M. Myers developed a serious reading habit early in life due to the influence of his grandmother. In late high school he read one particularly "awful" book and, with all that teenage hubris, decided that he could do better. After spending... Read More →

Daniel Kemp

Author

Finishing at Ole Miss in 1998, Dan spent the next decade in infantry assignments in South Korea and the 101st Airborne. That lasted as long as his knees and his back held out. A master's in military history (Norwich University '12) and a somewhat turbulent personal life after the... Read More →

Adam Oyebanji

Featured Science Fiction Guest

I was born in Coatbridge, in the West of Scotland, more years ago than I care to remember. Though, now I come to think about it, who actually remembers being born? I moved east to Edinburgh, by way of Birmingham, London, Lagos, Nigeria, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York: a necessary... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Literature, Writing Techniques

4:00pm EST

Speculative Poetry

Friday January 17, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Often, speculative fiction in the form of prose gets the most attention. Just as prose seems to get more interest and attention than poetry regardless of the genre. Join our panelists as they discuss speculative fiction in poetry form, its unique difficulties and rewards, and who we should be reading in this genre. Panelists will also attempt to answer your questions about speculative poetry.

Speakers

Pamela K. Kinney

Author

Pamela K. Kinney gave up long ago, ignoring the demanding voices in her head and has been writing ever since. Her horror short story, “Bottled Spirits,” was runner-up for the 2013 WSFA Small Press Award and considered one of the seven best genre short fiction for that year. She... Read More →

Jim & John Gaines

Authors

Jim and John Gaines write sci fi together as J.M.R.Gaines. Their novels Life Sentence and Spy Station form part of the Forlani Saga series, along with Earth Regained (in progress). They have also publish space-themed short stories and poetry in a variety of journals. Jim is a retired... Read More →

Gray Rinehart

Literary Guest

Gray Rinehart is a writer, an editor, a singer/songwriter, and a retired Air Force officer. He is the only person to have commanded a USAF satellite tracking station, written speeches for Presidential appointees, devised a poetic form, and had music on The Dr. Demento Show. He is... Read More →

Cassandra Clarke

Author Co- Guest of Honor

Cassandra Rose Clarke’s novels have been finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her poetry has placed second in the Rhysling Awards, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and appeared in... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Literature, What to Read

5:00pm EST

The Blibbering Humdinger Concert A

Friday January 17, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Speakers

The Blibbering Humdingers

Featured Musical Guest

We are Scott, Kirsten, Aiden, Liam, and Chuck! We create acoustic nerdrock for –Gamers, geeks, and galactic guardians, browncoats, centaurs, and mandalorians;Hobbits, elves, and wizard gangsters; avengers, defenders, and black-belt hamsters;Elder gods, small gods, fans of Tripod... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos, Concerts

6:00pm EST

Opening Ceremonies

Friday January 17, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Join our Toastmaster, Michael Khandelwal, and our Guests of Honor as we officially open MarsCon 2025 (Virginia Beach).

Speakers

Jake Clark

Artist Guest of Honor

Cassandra Clarke

Author Co- Guest of Honor

Christopher Ruocchio

Author Co- Guest of Honor

Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of the Sun Eater, a series blending elements of both science fiction and fantasy, as well as more than twenty works of short fiction. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Christopher received a degree in English... Read More →

Rhiannon's Lark

Musician Guest of Honor

Have you ever wanted to hear a Disney princess singing about the things you love…board games, ninjas, and krakens? Rhiannon’s Lark is happy to make your wish come true. Alyssa Yeager is an accolade-winning musician including the Pegasus award for “Best Performer” and Guest... Read More →

Stephen Buonocore

Gaming Guest of Honor

Stephen Buonocore is a hobby game entrepreneur, game media personality, game industry veteran, as well as a former financial services industry IT professional.Buonocore is the retired founder, owner and President of Stronghold Games, formed in 2009 to publish quality hobby board and... Read More →

Michael Jon Khandelwal

Mars Con Toast Master

Michael Khandelwal is the Executive Director of The Muse Writers Center, a nationally recognized literary center in Norfolk, Virginia. An award-winning writer and teacher, he writes poetry, fiction, editorials, profiles, and feature articles, which have appeared in Rattle, Coas... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos

7:00pm EST

Guest of Honor - Cassandra Clark

Friday January 17, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Stop by and hear one of our Author Guests of Honor discuss her current and upcoming projects and how the writing process works for her. There will be time for questions from the audience.

Speakers

Cassandra Clarke

Author Co- Guest of Honor

Teresa Bhaile

Guest Liaison and Programming Director, Mars Con Inc (Virginia)

Friday January 17, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos, Guests of Honor

8:00pm EST

Rhiannon's Lark Concert A

Friday January 17, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Speakers

Rhiannon's Lark

Musician Guest of Honor

Friday January 17, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos, Concerts

9:00pm EST

Mikey Mason Concert A

Friday January 17, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm EST

Main Programming Room

Speakers

Mikey Mason

Featured Musical Guest

Mikey Mason spent more than a decade as a full-time standup comedian. He headlined on all four coasts, performed multiple times each on NBC, at the legendary House of Blues, and the Hard Rock Casino. He even headlined the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. But it wasn’t... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 9:00pm - 10:00pm EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos, Concerts

10:30pm EST

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday January 17, 2025 10:30pm - Saturday January 18, 2025 12:30am EST

Main Programming Room

Friday January 17, 2025 10:30pm - Saturday January 18, 2025 12:30am EST
Main Programming Room

Events & Demos