Balticon 2026 Schedule

(Moderator) Whether it’s the mist, a vampire’s glamour, or a memory wiping pen, most urban fantasy features a method of keeping the fantasy out of the urban. But what’s good policy for worldbuilding separation, and should it tie into the broader magic system? What are some common tropes, and their strengths?

The modern world is made smaller than ever with the ready access to transcontinental transportation. But how does public transit change in a fantasy world or on another planet? What materials and societal structures have to exist to allow for distance transportation? What types of efficient transit could only work in SFF, and is it inevitable for it to be a train?

So, you wanna do a mashup, eh? You think it will be fun to write a story that mixes up multiple genres in unique and exciting ways, like a Fantasy/Mystery or a Horror/Comedy? Awesome! In this workshop, we’ll cover strategies for blending genres, meeting multiple trope expectations, and creating consistent worldbuilding for your hybrid story. In this collaborative workshop, we’ll also brainstorm mashup ideas together and see where they take us.

(Moderator) Someone whose job is to uncover facts and reveal hidden underworlds is the perfect protagonist to develop urban fantasy’s mingling of worlds. But how often is the urban fantasy detective written as an interesting investigator rather than an infodump recipient? How do supernatural powers affect the deductive process? And with all the pro bono work, how do they always afford the cool outfits?

Post-Apocalyptic fiction tells stories about what comes after a great disaster. What makes these stories so popular? Why are we fascinated with the collapse of our civilization? Why is this subgenre especially popular in Young Adult fiction? Does post-apocalyptic fiction help us prepare for threats or cause us to underestimate them? Panelists will discuss this popular subgenre, how it reflects society.

What are the different ways the world can end, but leave a few survivors? What type of people are most likely to survive various world-ending disasters and what skills will be most effective. Which end of the world works – TV, movies, books, and comics do you find most convincing?

(Moderator: Charles Gannon, Assistant: David Keener) Award-winning author Chuck Gannon shares his practical experience after two years of using Patreon for purposes of revenue generation and IP expansion. The bottom line: there are a lot of pitfalls, but if you know where they are, this workshop can save you time and headaches. Learn how to tailor the Patreon platform for the specific needs of individual authors.