The final programme http://www.satellite4.org.uk/programme/index.php is a good and well-balance combination of guest of honour solo talks (hey, we have Juliet McKenna speaking tomorrow) and panels addressing a series of topics.
(Note: for all panels I am going to talk about I will use the so-called Chatham House rule: you quote the comments, but not the speaker. It’s the one in use for very controversial topics, thus it seems more than a safe choice when dealing with wizards, goblins and aliens: they are not going to sue, or so I hope).
My pick of the day have been The Voyager Programme in Argyll 2 (Robert Law) on outer solar system exploration (an obvious choice); Diverse styles of fantasy writing, in Castle 1, a panel discussing old favourites and new trends. I found quite interesting – and certainly correct – the linkage of Game of Thrones with soap opera, not only for some of the themes, but also for its pace. And to end it in style, a session called Grand Designs, addressing the complex problem of worldbulding in speculative fiction. (Considering my special interest in this one, I am going to dedicate a separate post to it – not today. Rapidity and accuracy don’t sleep well together, let alone relevance).
Between one session and another, I’ve also decided to have a go with Mediavel Dragons, a great solo talk by Edward James. Not my cup of tea, for sure, but who can resist somebody explaining the symbology of the Lord of the Ring? I will never look at it with the same eyes again…