Darrell Schweitzer released the program for the 2016 World Fantasy Convention and promptly came under a hail of criticism from writers.
Much of it was directed at a program title found to be offensive – “Spicy Oriental Zeppelin Stories.” During the afternoon the item was renamed “Outrageous Aviation Stories, Flying Pulp Oddities.”
Other Twitter users complained that women are underrepresented in the overall count of writers mentioned by name in panel topics, as are fantasy works written less than 20 years ago.
Sarah Pinsker discussed her concerns in a series of tweets, now collected on Storify.
Here are some of the highlights of the conversation.
SARAH PINSKER
He also said he'd get rid of "perversely alluring" freaks, and attribute Victor LaValle's book to him.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
He wouldn't listen at all when I pointed out there were more mentions of Lovecraft in the program than all women or works by women COMBINED.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
He explained that "Spicy Oriental Zeppelins" was a fan in-joke, and I obviously didn't get it. I said it was racist & insulting to nominees.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
+ @kijjohnson and @UrsulaV have written amazing award winning animal fantasy in the last few years. +
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
+ he said "Watership Down is recent compared to Aesop and Chaucer." AESOP AND CHAUCER. The modern field doesn't stand a chance.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
I tried giving him a chance. I wrote to him privately when I saw the programming draft and said "please change this." He agreed to some but+
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
+he also said "nobody has complained." WITH ME IN FRONT OF HIM COMPLAINING. I tried. I'd rather work with than rant on Twitter.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
But not one of the changes he promised is on the new list, so I'm not going to be quiet. It's an awful list, and WFC should be ashamed.
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
But how much slack do you cut a con when they do this? The private FB group is full of excitement over this program. Nobody said "wait."
— Sarah Pinsker (@SarahPinsker) August 1, 2016
KEN LIU
https://twitter.com/kyliu99/status/760221655532732417
CARL ENGLE-LAIRD
World Fantasy Convention less interested in women than in Flying Beasts That Aren't Dragons.
— Carl Engle-Laird (@EngleLaird) August 1, 2016
LIZ BOURKE
I have seen the World Fantasy Con 2016 programming. It is a flaming rubbish heap of profound, profound ignorance and disrespect.
— Liz Bourke (@hawkwing_lb) August 1, 2016
HEATHER CLITHEROE
Wow. The World Fantasy con program is shockingly offensive and filled with outdated references.
— Heather Clitheroe (@lectio) August 1, 2016
JAYM GATES
World Fantasy Con San Diego was one of the worst weekends of my life. Sounds like they're committed to keeping the problems alive and well.
— Jaym Gates (@jaymgates) August 1, 2016
GREG VAN EEKHOUT
"Spicy Oriental Zeppelin Stories"?That we even have to point this out… #wfc2016
— Greg van Eekhout (@gregvaneekhout) August 1, 2016
JOHN SCALZI
Oh, World Fantasy Convention. I'm sure giving a panel the title "Spicy Oriental Zeppelins" seemed a fine idea at the time, didn't it.
— John Scalzi (@scalzi) August 1, 2016
So the fellow who named the panel "Spicy Oriental Zeppelins" said it was a fannish joke? There's one google ref to it ever. By him. In 1998.
— John Scalzi (@scalzi) August 1, 2016
DAVE PROBERT
Play the World Fantasy Con programme drinking game. Down your drink at every mention of HP Lovecraft. You'll be dead drunk before in no time
— Dave Probert (@GeekPlanetDave) August 1, 2016
ANN LECKIE
The Offensive Prize goes to the "Spicy" panel, but "Atheist Fantasy" gets the coveted Are They Smoking Something trophy.
— Ann Leckie ? (@ann_leckie) August 1, 2016
Oh, no, you know what? I think there's a more offensive one than the Spicy one. The judges may have to re-award that.
— Ann Leckie ? (@ann_leckie) August 1, 2016
DAVID MACK
So … the #wfc2016 program. JFC, why can't the F/SF community seem to make it through a week without lighting a new dumpster fire? *sigh*
— David Mack (@DavidAlanMack) August 1, 2016
DONGWON SONG
@anniebellet haha come hang! We can sit in the bar and play games and eat spicy oriental zeppelins.
— dongwon (@dongwon) August 1, 2016
WESLEY CHU
So. There was a WFC panel called Spicy Oriental Zepplins? Shoot, who outed my stripper name?
— Wesley Chu (@wes_chu) August 1, 2016
KAMERON HURLEY
Zeppelins clearly taste like chicken. Spicy chicken. Zeppelin chicken. I WILL BROOK NO ARGUMENT FROM THE YOUTHS https://t.co/Maw9JYR8NR
— Kameron Hurley (@KameronHurley) August 1, 2016
WHY ARE YOU ALL AGAINST DUNE NOW KIDS THESE DAYS MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS https://t.co/SDuWCwE9yX
— Kameron Hurley (@KameronHurley) August 1, 2016
ANDREA PHILLIPS
And when I say "like me," I mean: people interested in works by women, works by people of color, works written in the last, oh, 20 years.
— Andrea Phillips (@andrhia) August 1, 2016
And in the meantime Justin Landon has been tweeting suggested revisions to make the problematic items workable – or snarkier, depending on how they struck him….
JUSTIN LANDON
Instead of FREAKS, how about we do this instead? Number 7 WFC panel.. pic.twitter.com/EI8OnsNb8O
— Justin (@jdiddyesquire) August 1, 2016
If we can’t say the n-word, we have to eliminate the word “pillow” from all conversations.
*nods and walks away*
Imaginary 2-4 month old straw men, at that. I believe this is where we get to call him a sweet summer child, because he’s still back in summer.
Hampus, I can’t tell you what I’m going to go put my head down on to sleep. It’s too offensive.
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