Conjecture Suggestions

[kiltcheck]

I'm planning on volunteering to do a reading for Conjecture as part of programming. I haven't been to one of their readings before, and I'm not sure how long they usually make them. I'm assuming they usually aren't too long (maybe 30 mins - 50 mins or so?) -- any of you who know are welcome to chime in

Comments

[caprine]

Does the reading specify fiction? I'm thinking that Catherynne Valente's steampunk essay "Blowing Off Steam" might be interesting. And it's short; you could fit in another piece as well.

[kiltcheck]

It didn't specify whether fiction or non-fiction, and I find your suggestion a propos, and very funny, and it's indeed a short read that I think would be fun and enlightening along with a more serious story. I know I'd definitely have fun reading it. Somehow I have a filk starting in my head of "Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be Steampunks..."

[whswhs]

May I suggest one of "McAndrew's Hymn" or "The Mary Gloster". Both dramatic monologues in verse form, with rich characterization; both authentic Age of Steam and full of technological imagery; both well known in fannish circles, at least some fannish circles.'

They're all awa! True beat, full power, the clangin' chorus goes
Clear to the tunnel where they sit, my purrin' dynamoes.
Interdependence absolute, foreseen, ordained, decreed,
To work, Ye'll note, at any tilt an' every rate o' speed.
Fra skylight-lift to furnace-bars, backed, bolted, braced an' stayed,
An' singin' like the Mornin' Stars for joy that they are made.

[kiltcheck]

Great suggestions. I hadn't considered verse, but they certainly lend themselves well to the venue and theme. Definitely up for consideration. My sole concern with "McAndrew's Hymn" is that many people might have difficulty following McAndrew's with the Scots accent that would be most appropriate for it -- then again, we do have a very specialized audience who might be just fine and eager to hear it that way! I wasn't familiar with "The Mary Gloster", but it is indeed a power piece. Thanks for introducing me to it. It's got a lot of depth and many different shifts of tone, some great emotional "change-ups". Whether I read it at the show or not, it's definitely one to keep in my hip-pocket -- perhaps even as a period audition piece -- hard to find ones that people haven't heard/seen before.