Kilted Sci-Fi Writers

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 9th July 12, 05:04 PM

Yes, there all all sorts of folks at DragonCon who show up in kilts-- but these are, by and large, fans, not professional writers.

**Red Stag** · 9th July 12, 07:44 PM

Did Douglas Adams ever wear a kilt?

**Deirachel** · 9th July 12, 08:17 PM

MacMillan is quite correct about D*C

There are a few kilts, and A LOT of M.U.G.s. The vast majority of the "kilts" at DragonCon are specifically Utilikilts as they have a rather large booth in the Dealer's Room. In the three years I directed in the Guest Services (Guest Transportation to be exact), I never once saw a Guest (i.e. a celebrity/author/artist) in a kilt. Twice I saw guests in M.U.G.s, both of them comic artist, no authors. Of the members (i.e. fans), I only remember seeing three or four "proper" kilts (I'm not including the obvious costumes, Halloween or RennFaire, nor the Great kilts made by using any plaid cloth {usually fleece} found at the local cloth store and a full 9 yards and some strange woman's purse-sporran concoction. I am including the Great Kilts using a reasonable material {wool, PV, duck cloth type cotton, even acrylic} and a decent number of yards for the person.) But, all us kilted were well received (a close Con-friend of mine wears/wore the Loud MacLeod w/ PC to the Awards Banquet.)

The exceptions I am not counting in the wearing of the "proper" kilt are the two or three pipers whom are dressed for the job, but you will usually not find them kilted once they are done piping and the few guys of the 501st Legion who combine the StormTrooper upper armor/helmets and acrylic kilts and sashes for their "formal". Because in a way, they are using the kilt as costume, not clothing.

**Joe I** · 17th July 12, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by fcgeil

I haven't been able to find anything saying whether or not he ever wore a kilt, but Robert A. Heinlein certainly was a proponent of them! I agree with X, too, that the kilt is the garment of the future.

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too.

Starr, Bill - The Treasure Of Wonderwhat

The author was using a nom de plume so I don't know HE wore a kilt, but his character Dawn-boy in this book wore one.

**fcgeil** · 17th July 12, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Joe I

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too...

That would explain your signature.

**Gryphon57** · 17th July 12, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Joe I

I'm a big Heinlein fan, too.

I don't think it is possible to take part in this discussion without acknowledging Heinlein. Of course, I also don't think you can be a true Scifi fan and not appreciate the works of the three masters of of the genre: Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke.

**Deirachel** · 18th July 12, 10:30 PM

[Threadjack]

Originally Posted by Gryphon57

I don't think it is possible to take part in this discussion without acknowledging Heinlein. Of course, I also don't think you can be a true Scifi fan and not appreciate the works of the three masters of of the genre: Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke.

Why does everyone say Clarke is one of the masters, but "Doc" Smith isn't? Smith almost single-handedly created the Space Opera subgenre. Without his works, we wouldn't have Star Wars, Star Trek, Bab5, or Lost in Space just to name the visual media alone.

Or, Jules Verne who pretty much invented the genre? Or, Frank Herbert?

Heinlien and Asimov I've always agreed with, but Clarke is an acquired taste (bluntly, I think he's boring as grass growing).

[/Threadjack]

**fcgeil** · 19th July 12, 03:28 AM

I think a good part of it is that Heinlein was such a huge Clarke fan (he adored Smith, too) , but I certainly think "Doc" Smith should be included as one of the masters. I also agree that Clarke is boring, but what do I know?

**crboltz** · 19th July 12, 07:52 PM

I attended Bay-Con a few months ago with my husband (who under various names is a published sci-fi author). He was invited to speak under his penname Kyle Aisteach. He was not the only invited male author to be sporting a kilt. He took his traditional kilts. I took two traditional kilts, and my Alt-Kilt. There was a nice mix of traditional kilts with more contemporary variations. My love of the kilt seems to be an inspiration for one of his forth coming novellas (under a different pen-name and currently seeking a publisher). I'm not sure what the connection was, but there were lots and lots of kilts. It was my first sci-fi convention (and considering he has been asked to speak at two next year already, I suspect it won't be my last).
Cheers
Chris

**Dani Mac** · 19th July 12, 08:25 PM

I was just at Convergence in Minneapolis. There were lots of Alt kilts, but I only saw one traditional. I'll see if I can get that number higher next year by making kilts for the men in my life. I have had SF short stories published and this post has gotten me thinking about creating kilted charcacters.