Seattle WorldCon - Sara Light Waller

Sara Light-Waller to speak at Seattle WorldCon 2025 on pulp-era sci-fi and the Great Depression

Dates of Convention: August 13–17, 2025

Location: Seattle Convention Center–Summit

The Seattle 2025 Worldcon will be held in the brand new Summit expansion to the Seattle Convention Center, in the heart of downtown Seattle, surrounded by amazing views of the city, mountains, and water. The Summit is a fully accessible building with extra-wide corridors and many elevators and escalators. The facilities include about 150,000 square feet of exhibit space and 100,000 square feet of carpeted meeting space, divisible into up to 62 meeting rooms, with extensive ballrooms and lobby/pre-function space, a flex hall, and lovely third-floor garden terrace.

Address:
900 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101

It’s super exciting that Seattle is hosting the World Science Fiction Convention this year! Join Sara at Seattle WorldCon’s fab events:

Wednesday, August 13

9:00–10:00 a.m.

Editors of the Golden Age — Room 345–346

Panel discussion on the powerful magazine editors who shaped 1930s–40s sci-fi and fantasy.

12:00–1:00 p.m.

Book Cover Art in the Age of the E-Book — Room 343–344

Exploring what cover art means in the digital realm. Sara Light-Waller moderating.

1:30–2:30 p.m.

SF&F Short Stories from the Mists of Time — Room 347-348

Panel discussion on the first modern science fiction and fantasy tales published in short story form.

Thursday, August 14

12:00–1:00 p.m.

Autograph Session — Garden Lounge (3F)

Meet-and-greet with fans, signings alongside other attending authors.

Friday, August 15

Depression’s Sci Fi: Igniting Today’s Epic Space Operas Solo Talk

9:00–9:30 a.m.

Room 320

This solo academic talk explores how the Great Depression helped launch sci-fi’s bold spirit in pulp magazines, building the foundation for modern space opera’s heart-pounding drama.

Sara Light-Waller

Table Talks

1:30–2:30 p.m.

Room 430

Intimate discussion with creators. Advance signup required.

“Event” Panel: Life in a Universe Full of Planets

6:00 p.m.

TBD (Sponsored by Lowell Observatory)

Launch panel and podcast debut, streamed live. Informal academic gathering afterward.

Saturday, August 16

9:00–10:00 a.m.

Dystopias: Science Fiction as a Warning — Room 435–436

Panel on classic dystopias and their relevance in our current age. Also streamed virtually.

3:00–4:00 p.m.

Beyond the Frame; Past the Page — Room 423–424

A dynamic discussion on art and storytelling, featuring Sara Light-Waller and noted artists.

See you at WorldCon!

Space Opera academic poster image. Seattle WorldCon 2025