Month: November 2025

Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference

Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference from July 21 to 23, 2023. They held the conference at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel, 1160 Thorn Run Road, Coraopolis, PA. I also attended the conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2025. COVID-19 forced the conference to go virtual in 2020, with the event called C’monfluence, which I viewed online. The Parsec organization of Pittsburgh runs this literary science fiction, fantasy, and horror conference. The events included panels, readings, interviews, writing workshops, and filk concerts. I attended the opening ceremonies, 3 panels, and 2 concerts.

The link to the Confluence website.

http://parsec-sff.org/confluence/

They held the Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport.

Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference Program Guide Cover

Picture of my badge from the Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference

Summary

Friday, July 21st at 5 PM

Rewriting the Future: Hopepunk, Solarpunk, and Optimistic SF panel with Ada Palmer, Vera Brook, Scot Noel, and Susan Kaye Quinn.

The panel looked at optimistic SF and how it could change the future SF images and impact our own future. The panel seeks to break the power in the hands of a few AKA the chosen one narrative. The ideal is community banding people together to elevate them. The question is does rapid social change necessarily lead to authoritarianism?

They held the panel in the Commonwealth West Room with 27 attendees. (a Full House)

Friday, July 21st at 7 PM

The Opening Ceremonies with Ada Palmer and Sassafrass

The con chair Kevin M. Hayes was the presenter. He introduced the writer Guest of Honor, Ada Palmer. He also introduced her A Capella band Sassafrass, the musical Guests of Honor. The musical programmer, Randy Hoffman detailed all the musical guests for the con.

They held the ceremonies in Ballroom 1 with 46 attendees.

Friday, July 21st at 7 PM

A Concert by Rhiannon’s Lark featuring Alyssa Yeager.

She sang twelve selections including Not Today (sung from Arya Stark’s perspective from Game of Thrones), More than just the golden bikini, and Job the armored donkey.

They held the concert in Ballroom 1 with 17 attendees.

Friday, July 21st at 7 PM

A Concert by the Triforce Quartet, a traditional string quartet (three violins and a cello) that plays videogame music.

They played ten selections including the Mandalorian Theme, a Zelda Medley, and highlights of the Lord of the Rings.

They held the concert in Ballroom 1 with 30 attendees.

Saturday, July 22nd at 10 AM

The Social Science of Worldbuilding panel with Charles Oberndorf, Mark Tiedeman, Alan Irvinbe, Marie Vibbert, and Frederic Durbin.

This panel explained how writers build economies, histories, and cultures. They talked about being careful with word choice, staying away from tropes, and how to treat dialects.

They held the panel in the Commonwealth West Room with 22 attendees.

Saturday, July 22nd at 11 AM

The Time Travel Then and Now panel with Joshua David Bellin, Stephen C. Fisher, Mihael Swanwick, and Albert Wendland

Time travel has been a staple of science fiction. Has changes in writing been due to literary reasons or evolving scientific knowledge? The issue in time travel writing is the existence of potential paradoxes. Are they parallel universes or alternate world stories? Use diagrams to keep track of your multiple worlds. The audience and the panelists gave their favorite examples of Time Travel stories. Some examples are The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein, Kindred by Octavia Bulter, and How to Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.

They held the panel in the Commonwealth East Room with 34 attendees. (a Full House)

Recommendation – Conclusion

I’m glad I attended the Confluence Pittsburgh 2023 Conference. My star of the con was Ada Palmer. She was the writing Guest of Honor and a member of the musical Guests of Honor. I attended the opening ceremonies, 3 panels, and 2 concerts. My other highlights were the concerts by Rhiannon’s Lark and the Triforce Quartet. I also attended the conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. COVID-19 changed the conference to a virtual con named C’monfluence in 2020 which I viewed. I also attended Confluence in 2022. 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Links

Confluence Pittsburgh 2024 Conference Recap from July 26 to 28, 2024, at the Sheraton Hotel. I also attended Confluence in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. I attended 2 panels, 1 reading, and a concert.

Confluence Pittsburgh 2024 Conference

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference, Pittsburgh, on July 30, 2022, at the Sheraton. I also attended Confluence in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. I attended 3 panels, two readings, an improv comedy show, a concert, and the guest of honor presentation

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2022

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference, Pittsburgh, held virtually from 10-02-20 to 10-04-20. I attended the opening ceremony, five panels, three readings, one presentation, the guest of honor presentation, and the conference breakdown.

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2020

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh on July 27 & 28, 20, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I also attended Confluence in ‘16, ‘17, and ‘18. I attended five panels, two fiction writing workshops, and the guest of honor presentation

Confluence Conference Pittsburgh 2019

They held the Confluence Conference from July 27, 2018, to July 29, 2018, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended two lectures, two panels, one fiction writing seminar, one author reading, and the guest of honor presentation.

Confluence SF Conference Pittsburgh 2018

They held the Confluence Conference from August 4 to August 6, 2017, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended seven panels, one writing workshop, one author reading, and the guest of honor presentation.

Confluence Conference 2017

Recap for the Confluence SF Conference on July 30 and July 31, 2016, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. I attended 15 panels and the U.S.S. Improvise improv sketch comedy routine.

Confluence 2016 Conference

Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks

Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks, Book #3 of The Culture series.

Introduction

In Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks, Cheradinine Zakalwe is an operative of the Culture’s Special Circumstances group. The Culture is a human-dominated alliance that attempts to advance its position in the galaxy. Diziet Sma is Zakalwe’s handler who sends him on dangerous missions. Will Zakalwe accept a final impossible mission from her, or will he quit The Culture forever?

Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks,

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6305619-use-of-weapons

Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks, Book #1 of The Culture series.

In Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks, Horza is caught in the middle of a war. The Culture is a human-dominated group fighting the Idirans. Horza is from a human-derived group, The Changlings, who are allied with the Idirans. The Culture and the Idirans both want a fugitive advanced computer mind that could tip the balance of the war. Will Horza find the mind before the others and save his people?

Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks

A similar novel, A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, Johanna and Jefri’s parents’ spaceship has crashed on a planet ruled by the Tines. The Tines are a dog-like race that has communal minds. Two rival groups of Tines capture each kid. On the other side of the galaxy, Ravna and her crew race to get to the kids.

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, Book One of the Liveship Traders trilogy.

Introduction

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb is the first book of Liveship Traders trilogy and book four of the Realm of the Elderlings saga. The novel follows six main plot arcs. The groups are the sailors Althea and Brashen; the Vestrit family, owners of the Liveship Vivacia; Wintrow on the Liveship Vivacia; the pirate captain Kennit and his crew; Paragon, a blinded and derelict Liveship; and a group of sea serpents traveling north. These groups interact leading to a confrontation on the Ship of Magic.

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

Summary – Prologue

The prologue has one point-of-view character.

Maulkin is a sea serpent.  Maulkin rallies his group to go to new waters to discover their past.

Summary–Main Plot Arcs

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb has six main plot arcs.

The hot and cold romance of Althea Vestrit and Brashen Trell. They were sailors on the Liveship Vivacia and later The Reaper, a slaughter ship taking cargo from the barrens with a home port of Candletown.

Wintrow Haven (the son of Keffria Vestrit) on the Liveship Vivacia with home port of Bingtown taking on slaves at Jamaillia City. His father is Kyle Haven, the captain of the Liveship Vivacia.

Kennit is a pirate captain who turns slave ships into pirate ships under his control, but he dreams of capturing a Liveship one day. He is supported by his first mate Sorcor and his paramour Etta.

Drama in the Vestrit family in Bingtown; Ronica, daughter Keffria, and granddaughter Malta involving Rain Wild Traders and the running of the family finances. They own the Liveship Vivacia.

The Liveship Paragon, who is a derelict on Bingtown beach. Mingsley wants to cut him up for the wizardwood. Davad wants to sell him to New Traders as a working ship. Amber wants to keep him the same.

The sentient sea serpents.

Summary–Best Chapters

Five Chapters stand out in Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb.

Divvytown is Chapter 4 where Kennit brings his crew to divide their spoils, he pays a visit to a bordelo to visit his favored paramour Etta, and he gets a tattoo to remind him of the sacrifices he has made in his quest to become the Pirate King.

Crimpers is Chapter 20 where Althea and Brashen are almost conscripted to another ship. Brashen tends to Althea’s injuries and things happen from there.

Plots and Perils is Chapter 22 where Etta gives Kennit an idea about how to capture a Liveship, Paragon learns of Mingsley’s plans for him, a sea serpent attacks The Reaper, Wintrow leaves the Liveship Vivacia for good, and Etta misunderstands Kennit’s feelings for her.

Candletown is Chapter 25 where the Reaper’s journey is ended at Candletown. Althea and Brashen must decide what to do next, together or apart.

A Day of Reckoning is Chapter 33 where Wintrow’s actions have gotten him to the point of no return, Malta must make a difficult decision, Kyle is put in a bad position, and Kennit is close to gaining his heart’s desire.

Recommendation

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb is a fabulous start to the Liveship Traders trilogy. It is set in the same universe as the Farseer trilogy and there are a few references to those books, but no direct connections. There are many points of view characters. Each chapter has multiple points of view, though there is no head hopping.

I enjoyed the Althea and Brashen romance, Wintrow’s struggle with his past and future, and the mystery of Paragon. The Malta story wasn’t as compelling, but I see how it might be necessary for the rest of the trilogy. The Kennit story was interesting in his horribleness. Is he a protagonist or a villain? The rest of the story will tell. The sea serpents were difficult to read, but I think I know how they relate to the Liveships, so that will be important later. Overall, I loved it and will soon read The Mad Ship, Book #2 of the Liveship Traders.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12479384-ship-of-magic

Link to a similar epic fantasy series as the Liveship Traders. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Book 13 is linked below.

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the thirteenth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows seven main plot arcs. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene, Gawyn, and Aviendha. All seven characters face difficult choices and must grow to get closer to their goals. Will the forces of Light gather before the Last Battle begins?

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson sets up A Memory of Light, the last novel of the series, well. Rand wants everyone to get to the Field of Merrilor to prepare for the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don. We will see Rand and Min, Perrin and Galad, Egwene and Gawyn, Elayne and Mat. The climax of the series is here.

Writing Progress Report November 2025

This is my Writing Progress Report November 2025.

On October 29th, 2025, the family prepared six batches of potica, a Slovenian nut bread. This picture was of the loaves before they were baked.

Writing Progress from October 2025.

I wrote four blog posts for my website, garydavidgillen.com. Including my writing progress report for October 2025, which I linked below.

Writing Progress Report October 2025

In October 2025, I presented Chapters Five and Six of the novelette named Chemithurgy to the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call.

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in October 2025.

In the past, I sent the stories, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I sent out in 2020 and 2021 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submissions for 2022. None for 2023. None for 2024.

Events from October 2025.

None this month

Writing Goals for November 2025.

In November 2025, I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my Writing Progress Report for November 2025.

I plan to work on a story for the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call in November 2025.

Submit the stories Space-Dog Confession, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, Grognard, LARP Film noir, Sleeping Sickness, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, and Caliburnus to other short fiction magazines.

Polish and send the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, I Shall Not Return, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

In November 2025, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

Planned Events for November 2025.

The next conference I plan to attend is the Philcon Conference, held near Philadelphia, PA from November 21, 2025, to November 23, 2025. They will have the conference at the Doubletree by Hilton in Cherry Hill, NY. I have never attended this conference before.

This is a link to more information about Philcon 2025.

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