Is Your Utopia My Dystopia?
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church – free event
Is Your Utopia My Dystopia?
What may be paradise for some may be others’ worst nightmare. The panel will open with definition of the styles of utopia/dystopia genre-writing and then explore how the concept may be ideal for some and a horror show for others.
Traditionally, in times of great social unrest or a world crisis, or great change — the Black Death, war, pandemics like the “Spanish Flu” outbreak post WWI, Transcendentalism, the Industrial Revolution – artists and authors have provided either an escape from the events or operated as a magnifying glass to look introspectively at society. The goal was to show that society will prevail, and that we can imagine better times ahead.
Audience: Science fiction and horror lovers and anyone curious about what our near future might look like.
Patrick R. Field
After 25 years in higher education, Patrick R. Field traded in teaching and textbooks to pursue his passion of spine-chilling fiction writing. Holding a Ph.D. in Anatomical Sciences and Neuroscience, his experience informs his writing, a unique blend of scientific knowledge with supernatural storytelling.
Patrick’s novels are inspired by his favorite authors: Anne Rice, Edgar Allen Poe, and Joe Hill. His first, The Malevolent, and two latest novels, The Bedfordshire Warlock and Servant, were written throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Up next, Bloodstone, a paranormal gay romance set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina involving pirate lore and blood magic.
Alex Shvartsman
Alex Shvartsman (Brooklyn, NY) is the author of Kakistocracy (2023), The Middling Affliction (2022), and Eridani’s Crown (2019) fantasy novels. Over 120 of his stories have appeared in Analog, Nature, Strange Horizons, etc. He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction and was a three-time finalist for the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Fiction.
His translations from Russian have appeared in F&SF, Clarkesworld, Tor.com, Analog, Asimov’s, etc. Alex has edited over a dozen anthologies, including the long-running Unidentified Funny Objects series.
Alex’s story “Whom He May Devour” is currently in development as a live action TV series.
His website is https://www.alexshvartsman.com.
Photo by Lori Ryan
Sally Weiner Grotta
Sally Wiener Grotta (she/her) is an award-winning writer, photographer and speaker whose numerous books include: Of Being Woman, a collection of feminist science fiction (Noble Fusion Press) and Daughters of Eve, an essay-based discussion workbook and journaling guide that mines the tales of biblical female archetypes to explore modern life, concerns, and crises (Bayit Publishing). Her experience as a globetrotting journalist covering a wide diversity of cultures flavors her stories, art, and presentations with a sense of wonder, appreciation for human potential and a healthy dose of common sense. Sally a member of The Authors Guild and SFWA. (SallyWienerGrotta.com)
Christine M. Cohen
Christine M. Cohen has belonged to the Virginia Kidd Agency since the day her dear friend and mentor, James Allen, told her she’d work with him. She continues on in this, the 65th year of the agency, Her love of dark fantasy, horror, and mystery thrives at the grounds of Arrowhead, bought by Virginia Kidd in 1955. You’ve probably passed by and seen her on the porch of the old house, reading a work by Kage Baker, Alan Dean Foster, Gene Wolfe, or some terrific new author in the roster. Be sure to wave to her and admire the gardens.
