Asakiyume mita

Four generations
At Readercon I came across this quartet of women. (They were wearing masks, as per Readercon's careful regulations, but they took them off for the photo.) The one holding the book is its author, Terrie M. Scott. The one to her right as you look at the photo is her mother. The one on the far left is her daughter. And the girl between her daughter and her is her granddaughter. Her daughter, granddaughter, and mother all came with her to help her sell her [latest--turns out she's written quite a few] novel.

I was so touched by this display of familial solidarity. You could see that the other three were super proud of their daughter/mother/grandmother. We should all be so lucky in our families!

I'm thinking this novel is not likely to be my cup of tea these days, but I bought it anyway because I was so impressed with the family, and I wanted to support Terrie's efforts. And who knows, maybe I'll be surprised.



Koffee
Did I ever share any of Koffee's music before? I first discovered her when someone I followed on Twitter shared her song Toast. She looks about 12 in that video, and also like she's ready to take on the whole world, with hands and eyes wide open.

Today I'm very in the mood for her song Blazin

Light me up, i'm at di gas station waitin'
We are di ones on fiyah
Got di whole world blazin'

I'm going to be on just one panel at Readercon, but it's a fun one:

Our panelists will discuss the fictional futures they find most appealing and would be happy to live in (maybe with some caveats). Does the work that depicts these futures provide a path or hints as to how humans might get there? What makes these futures worth rooting for and aspiring to?

I have some thoughts on the topic, but what I also have is a question:

What books have you read that are set in appealing futures? What books have you read that are set in unappealing futures? That's the main question: even though I have have thoughts, I want to try to read a few more books so I have more to draw on than my limited stock. Send me titles!

I also have a follow-up question: Are there cases where you'd like to live/wouldn't mind living in an unappealing future? Why? And are there any cases where you wouldn't care to live in an appealing fictional future? Again, why?

In a couple of hours I'm heading to my dad's house, and then on Friday I'm driving with him to Readercon (though, we will not arrive until quite late--in time for his panel, though). Since I have no laptop, I will likely not be posting or responding to comments until sometime on Monday.

I hope your next few days are bright and beautiful--or shady and cool, or thunderous and dramatic, depending on your own preference--and I'll catch up with everyone next week.