The Space Cowboys panel, held at Lunacon 50, covered the range of sources from knights-errant to Samurai Films, with Keith R.A. DeCandido, Marvin Kaye, and Ernest Lilley participating. — ed. N.E. Lilly
Space Cowboys
A look at how the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) mixture of the Western and Science Fiction genres has endured since the early days of Science Fiction. What is causing its modern re-emergence (Cowboy Bebop, Firefly/Serenity, Daisy Kutter)? Where did Space Westerns come from and why haven’t they just mosied off into the sunset?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.7MB)
- Introduction by N.E. Lilly (0:00)
- Keith R.A. DeCandido (0:25)
- Marvin Kaye (0:52)
- Ernest Lilley (3:15)
- What is a Cowboy, anyway? (4:26)
- Mixing genres is fun (11:15)
- Stock characters (15:37)
- Why are Space Westerns made? (17:11)
- Necessary Space Western elements (20:51)
- The conflict of morality (24:15)
- Railing against slavery (27:00)
- Space Westerns other than Star Trek and Firefly (29:20)
- Space Western stories and novels (33:07)
- Remade in the Space Western Image (38:52)
- Does the Western in Space have a future? (44:11)
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Other works by Keith R.A. DeCandido
Related articles
- Is Firefly “Out of Gas”? by N.E. Lilly (Dec 12, 2022)
- Space Western Limerick Contest Winners by Jane Espenson (Nov 25, 2007)
- Interview with Keith R.A. DeCandido by N.E. Lilly (Apr 22, 2007)
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I Love Serenity
Men’s Basic T-Shirt that says “I Love Serenity” in Chinese.
Available from the Space Westerns Magazine Store on Zazzle →
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