Part 7/12:
The host and Christie delve into the shifting landscape of contemporary entertainment, especially in speculative fiction, gaming, and publishing. A prominent story discussed is Gen Con’s decision to fire its entire Writer’s Symposium staff, after years of boasting about showcasing top sci-fi and fantasy authors. The move comes amidst accusations of the symposium devolving into political activism and identity politics, rather than focusing on storytelling and fandom. Christie opines that this shift from genuine creative exploration back to divisiveness is a positive change, a swing toward sanity in an increasingly fragmented industry.