One of the hats I’ve been wearing this year is Guest Liaison for Continuum 5 – Galaxies by Gaslight.

It’s now just a few weeks away (August 14 – 16), and as the program‘s solidified I’ve managed to wrangle my way onto four panels as well:

• Visions of the Future
  How will we have to re-write our vision of the future in the light of the potential effects of climate change?
• Joss Whedon isn’t a God at all, it seems
  Is Dollhouse a hit or a miss? Discuss.
• Time Travel Can Really Ruin Your Day
  Time travel is either at the core of, or now firmly embedded through the continuity of, so many major SF properties, from Dr Who and Terminator, to Star Trek, Babylon 5, Heroes and Lost. What is the reason for its popularity in commercial drama? Does it make continuity too complicated, alienating casual viewers? What makes for good and bad uses of time travel narratives?
• The Apocalyptic City
  When the end comes, it will start in Melbourne. Discussion of the role Melbourne [and Australia] will play at the end times.

Having never been on a panel before, I will be totally winging it. But as I always say, we learn by failing.

Obviously, I have strong opinions on all the subjects, but last time I checked reality didn’t have a SaveDraft, Publish feature. I will also try not to verbally @-reply to people too much (although a live tweet stream would be killer too!)

Still, it shall be much fun I’m sure, and with luck there will be some audio and/or visual record of it.. because I’m sure it shall all pass in a blur to me.

Especially given in between panels I have the actual Guests of Honour, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Narrelle M. Harris, to take care of.

Wish me luck!