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
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)
Keith R.A. DeCandido
has written several billion novels, short stories, eBooks, essays, and comic books in a huge variety of media universes, as well as editing anthologies, playing percussion, and generally making trouble.
Ernest Lilley
Marvin Kaye
N.E. Lilly
Nathan E. Lilly is the editor-in-chief of SpaceWesterns.com and a man who wears many hats.
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Other works by N.E. Lilly
- Interview with Phil Foglio (Nov 8, 2009)
- 10 Most Influential Space Westerns (Oct 25, 2009)
- Space Western Most Wanted (Jan 25, 2009)
- Interview with John G. Cawelti (Dec 7, 2008)
- Interview with Beth Nelson, 2008 Browncoat Ball Chair (Sep 21, 2008)
- more by N.E. Lilly
Related articles
- Space Western Limerick Contest Winners by N.E. Lilly (Nov 25, 2007)
- Interview with Keith R.A. DeCandido by N.E. Lilly (Apr 22, 2007)
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