Meet Me at Can*Con!
Everything Is True
Ada Hoffmann's author newsletter
Hi all!
I sure did wait until the last minute to announce this, but I’m going to be at Can*Con - Ottawa’s annual literary speculative fiction convention - this year, as usual. (In fact, I’m just about to hop on a train a few hours from now so I can make it to their pre-con Halloween party.) If you want to know where I’ll be during the weekend, here’s where:
8:00-8:50pm, Friday, November 1st - “The Fast and the Furry-Ous: The Rise of Anthropomorphic Characters.” Helga R. Paxton, Mona Storm, Joan Wendland, Ada Hoffmann (m)
Anthropomorphic characters show up in many different cultural mythos, as gods and heroes alike, throughout history, and have continued to be popular. Recently, of course, there is increased interest in and availability of anthropomorphic characters, both in media and internet subcultures. What draws us towards these animal-like characters and characteristics? What does
it allow us to explore? Is there a particular reason why it has gained such popularity in the present moment?
2:30-3:20pm, Saturday, November 2nd - “Cosmic Horror: Reaching Forward With All Tentacles.” Stephanie Anne, Ashley Deng, Ada Hoffmann, Matt Moore (m)
Cosmic horror has a long and complicated history as a genre—but the most exciting thing about it is its vibrancy. The list of incredible recent works is long, from shows like Lovecraft Country to works by authors like Cassandra Khaw, Victor Lavalle, and Premee Mohamed. How are works grappling with both serious real-world themes through horror, and launching the genre forward in badass and incredible ways? In what ways do they address complex histories related to race, gender, etc., and what ways do they not need to?
5:30-6:20pm, Saturday, November 2nd - “Undesirables: Navigating the Banning of Books.” E.D.E. Bell, Kari Maaren, Maaja Wentz, Ada Hoffmann (m)
Seemingly since the beginning of publishing, authors and readers have had to contend with the banning of books—but a new surge in the U.S. and beyond, particularly around schools and libraries, makes it seem like we’re sliding backwards. How do we navigate conversations around book banning, particularly when it’s tied to politics and identity? What can we, as industry professionals and as readers, do to combat this rampant censorship in our lives and in our communities?
There’s a bunch more really excellent programming lined up that I’m not involved with (I really want to see “Disrupting English: Neurodivergent Edition!”) as well as some intriguing parties and non-panel events, and I feel like this year is going to be really exciting. If you’re near the Ottawa area and a congoing type, I’ll see you there!