1) INTRODUCTION
Welcome to MonSFFA’s September 14, 2024 meeting! This afternoon’s proceedings will be getting underway shortly. We are meeting live and in person at our meeting hall in Le Nouvel Hotel, downtown! 
For those joining us online, today, see the instructions, below (at the end of this post), to join in and participate on ZOOM.
Our programming agenda begins at 1:00PM; the meeting will conclude at 5:00PM. This opening post has gone up shortly before the meeting’s start time to allow folk to gather online at their leisure.
A closing post will go up at 5:00PM to officially thank today’s presenters/discussion moderators, and to publish the date of our next event.
2) MEETING THEME FOR SEPTEMBER
Cool science fiction and fantasy names! We ask MonSFFen to consider which character name from SF&F literature, or film and television strike them as classic, the most memorable, or the utmost in cool SF&F names?
3) THIS AFTERNOON’S AGENDA
Today’s programming agenda is as follows:
1:00PM – Report on Worldcon 2024
MonSFFen who attended the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, offer a report on the convention, sharing anecdotes and photos with the club.
2:00PM – Montreal’s Bid for Worldcon 2027!
Did you know that Montreal is bidding to host the Worldcon in 2027? We offer an update on the latest bid news.
2:15PM – Tom Swift and his Science Fiction Book Series
Originally slated for last month’s meeting but, regrettably, postponed, we are pleased to bring you, now, this primer on the numerous Tom Swift sci-fi/adventure books, published in various series from the 1910s to the present day. The adventures of the original Tom Swift and later, his descendants, introduced many a young lad to science fiction, and in its nascent years, helped to popularize the science fiction genre.
3:15PM – Break!
Raffle, announcements, brief discussion of club business.
3:30PM – What’s in a Name?— Thoughts on Naming SF&F Characters
Flash Gordon, Honor Harrington, Clark Kent, Sarah Conner, Valentine Michael Smith, Buffy Summers, Bernard Quatermass, Harley Quinn, and Darth Vader—some names simply roll off the tongue with a certain ease, a je ne sais quoi, and just sound so cool, and ideal for a given character! But why are the names of some of our favourite genre characters so much more memorable than others? Is there a psychology at play, a particular trick, method, or talent involved when naming characters? Whether writing a novel, short-story, or screenplay, how do writers come up with a memorable name that so perfectly fits their character? How does a skilled wordsmith evoke a square-jawed hero or plucky heroine, a dark, pitiless villain, or a brilliant scientist type? And what about alliteration: pro or con?
Please Note: While we strive to keep on schedule, we do, sometimes, fall behind a little, or find ourselves having to reshuffle the order of items on the agenda for one reason or another, or reschedule planned presentations/discussions. Therefore, please understand that all programming is subject to change!
4) JOIN THIS AFTERNOON’S VIDEO-CHAT ON ZOOM!
To take part in this afternoon’s meeting online, join our ZOOM video-chat, which will run throughout the next few hours. Simply click here and follow the prompts: This Afternoon’s MonSFFA Meeting on ZOOM
If you’re not fully equipped to ZOOM, you can also take part by phone (voice only); in the Montreal area, the toll-free number to call is: 1-438-809-7799. From out of town? No problem; find your ZOOM call-in number here: Call-In Numbers
Also, have this information on hand as you may be asked to enter it:
Meeting ID: 834 3821 6963
Passcode: 279266
