incidents and accidents, hints and allegations

No, I haven't given up! This is the second-to-last of them. Disclaimers: I'm feeling slightly under the weather, and a result: this is more telegraphic in style than usual (and I've felt free to triage random comments that didn't lead anywhere), and I may be cranky. Also, this panel swung wildly between specific what-ifs and general discussions of alternate history; I thought about trying to reorganize the comments into two sections based on this division, but I don't think it would work.

( What If Nelson Had Captured Napoleon: Missed Turning Points in Alternate History )

Work got hectic, so I've not had time to sit down with panel notes until now. Here's the second-most-demanded panel report. Because my Palm keyboard's batteries died, my notes are handwritten and a bit cryptic in places. I'll do my best to untangle them and welcome corrections or amplifications; in particular, I didn't stop and ask people to spell names, so while I think I have all the women pirates identified properly, I don't guarantee it.

( Pirates in Petticoats: Women Pirates in Fact and Fiction )

Remarks about this year's Boskone, on everything I can think of that wasn't a panel.

( General caveat )

( The new location )

( John M. 'Mike' Ford Memorial Auction & Extravaganza )

( Miscellaneous hanging-out, also food )

( Poll: panel reports )

Links to other people's reports (more to be added):

• marykaykare's report
• veejane's panel reports: on the "rift" between pros and fans; on American fantasy
• nineweaving's report
• drcpunk's report
• John Scalzi's report
• Tobias Buckell's report
• Andrew Wheeler's report
• Chad Orzel's general report and report on the visiting-Japan panel
• alexx_kay's report