Here is the programme for Scintillation 2026!
Main Room
Friday
18.00 A Good Read Thomas Noriega (M) Mary Ellen Shaw, Steven desJardins, Vicki Parnell
Four readers each choose a book, everyone reads everyone else's book, and they all discuss them.
19.15 Neologisms Gretchen McCulloch (M) Naomi Kritzer, Ada Palmer, Moti Lieberman, Tamara Vardomskaya
When we make up new words for new things, how do we do it? And why do some stick and become real words?
20.30 Trace Elements: Shaping the Conversation Alexis Shotwell (M) Mathieu Glachant, Bailey Harrington, Rich Horton, Shaz Taslimi
Let's talk about Jo and Ada's new essay collection and what valuable things it brings to the table.
Saturday
10.00 What is it we love when we love SF? Caroline Mullan, Rich Horton, Jo (M), Jon Evans, Ada
11.15 The train to Aisnar Jo (M), Alexis Shotwell, Mathieu Glauchant, Shaz Taslimi
Discussion of Ursula K. Le Guin's Malafrena and Orsinian Tales.
12.30 LUNCH
14.00 The Fascinating World of Copyediting Jo Walton, Bailey Harrington
What is copyediting? Why does it matter whether we spell fairy tale as one word or two?
15.15 Books that are Impossible to Recommend Jo (M), Gretchen, Sherwood Smith, Thomas Noriega, Lila Garrott
Sometimes even mentioning a title in context is a spoiler. And how many content warnings are too many?
16.30 Iterations Jon Evans, Jo, Sherwood Smith, Lila Garrott
Time loops, repeats, and the kind of thing Jo did in Lent. How and why do we do them?
17.45 What can we learn from Gene Wolfe? Jon Evans, Ada Palmer, Riley Rosener, Thomas Noriega (M), Rich Horton
You know, technically.
18.45 DINNER
20.00 Is Translation Possible? Tamara Vardomskaya Yves Meynard, Greer Gilman, Caroline-Isabelle Caron (M)
They say a translator is a traitor, but we still translate and are translated.
21.00 Getting something finished: Graham Darling, Tamara Vardomskaya (M), Alice Degan, Jason Pchajek, Maya Chhabra
It's very important, but how do we do it? There's a lot of people ready to teach you how to start, but how do you stop?
Sunday
10.00 Writing Weird POVs Ada Palmer, Jo Walton (M), Victoria Goddard, Greer Gilman, Alison Sinclair
How do we do it, why do we do it, isn't it fun?
11.15 The Near Future, the Near Past Naomi Kritzer, Jo (M), Jon Evans, Alison Sinclair
The hardest time to write about is the time we've just lived through and the immediate future.
12.30 LUNCH
14.00 Life and Work of Jean-Louis Trudel: Caroline-Isabelle Caron, Yves Meynard, Christian Sauve, Rene Walling
We're very sad we've lost Jean-Louis, let's take the chance celebrate him a bit and introduce his work to new readers.
15.15 Reading and Writing when the world's on fire Naomi Kritzer, Ada Palmer, Alexis Shotwell (M) Alison Sinclair, Jason Pchajek
16.30 How do you Structure a book? Jo Walton (M), Victoria Goddard Ada Palmer, Greer Gilman, Sherwood Smith
What's structure for, how does it help, how does it get in the way?
17.45 Raffle
Reading Room
Friday
19.15 Reading: Jo Walton
20.30 Book club: What We Are Seeking Emmet O'Brien
Saturday
10.00 Reading: Victoria Goddard
10.35 Reading: Naomi Kritzer
11.15 Reading: Ada Palmer
12.30 LUNCH
14.00 Let's talk about Dante ari dorsey, Victoria Goddard
15.15 Talk: Fiction in the Age of Climate Change Jason Pchajek
16.30 The Art of Greer Gilman Greer Gilman, Emmet O'Brien
17.45 By Its Cover Rene Walling
Sometimes the cover for one book is re-used for another. Can you guess which book got which cover? A game with prizes.
18.45 DINNER
20.00 Vega Victrix Reading and Launch Emmet O'Brien
21.00 Sassafrass Concert Ada Palmer, Lauren Schiller, Michael Mellas
Sunday
10.00 French Language Book Club Shaz Taslimi, Vicki Parnell
11.15 Steven Halter interviews Ada Palmer
12.30 LUNCH
14.00 Book club: Soldier in the Mist Thomas Noriega
15.15 Lila Garrott interviews Sherwood Smith
16.30 Reading: Yves Meynard
17.05 Reading: Graham Darling
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If you're interested in what we've done in previous years, you can take a look at some past programmes here:
Programme 2025