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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dd-b (talk | contribs) at 01:24, 28 December 2006 (Fix link to match renamed Nate Bucklin page). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about a convention. For the fictional race from Transformers, see Mini-Con.

Minicon is a science fiction and fantasy convention in Minneapolis usually held on Easter weekend. Started in 1968 and running approximately annually since then, it is one of the oldest science fiction conventions in the midwest United States. It is run by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society, a non-profit organization that is "dedicated to furthering the appreciation of science fiction and fantasy literature".

Minicon has had many interesting guests of honor over the years, including Gordon R. Dickson, Poul Anderson, Clifford D. Simak, Lester del Rey, Frederik Pohl, Octavia E. Butler, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, and Terry Pratchett.

The next Minicon (Minicon 42) will be held April 6-8, 2007 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Guests of honor will be Charles de Lint (author) and Charles Vess (artist). The theme is "And the question was..." (in reference to the number 42).

Features

Staples of modern Minicons are:

  • Several tracks of panel discussions
  • Readings
  • Films
  • Gaming, formal and informal
  • The Bozo Bus Tribune, convention newsletter
  • Art show
  • Dealers room
  • Children's programming
  • Filk and Folk music
  • Consuite
  • Parties

History

The first Minicon was held on 6 January 1968 in Coffman Union at the University of Minnesota and had approximately 60 attendees. In all subsequent years it was held in area hotels. Attendance grew fairly steadily for many years, culminating in a series of conventions that drew over 3000 people and used as many as 4 hotels. However, in 1999, Minicon downscaled dramatically due to a feeling among some organizers that it had strayed too far from its roots and had become unmanageable. Recent Minicons have had between 400 and 700 attendees.

Around the time that Minicon reduced its size, some other conventions sprang up in the area, including CONvergence and MarsCon.

Past Minicons

Minicons are listed in chronological order (which is not the same as numerical order). Location, dates, and guests of honor are noted when known.

Minicon 1

Minicon 2

Minicon 3

Minicon 4

  • Year: 1971
  • Location: Curtis Hotel; Minneapolis, MN
  • Guest of Honor: Lin Carter

Minicon 5

  • Year: 1971
  • Location: Andrews Hotel; Minneapolis, MN
  • Guest of Honor: Volsted Gridban

Minicon 6

  • Year: 1972
  • Location: Hyatt Lodge; Minneapolis, MN
  • Theme: The Stereo-opticon
  • Guest of Honor: Ruth Berman

Minicon 7

  • Year: 1973
  • Location: Hyatt Lodge; Minneapolis, MN
  • Guests of Honor: Larry Niven (pro), Rusty Hevelin (fan)

Minicon 8

Minicon 9

Minicon 10

Minicon 11

  • Year: 1976
  • Location: Leamington Hotel
  • Guests of Honor: Edmond Hamilton (pro), Leigh Brackett (pro), Leigh and Norb Couch (fans), Jackie Franke and Rusty Hevelin (toastmasters)

Minicon 12

Minicon 13

Minicon 15

Minicon 16

Minicon 17

  • Year: 1981
  • Location: Minneapolis Radisson
  • Guests of Honor: Jack Vance (pro), Jerry Boyajian (fan), Reed Waller (musician), Kathy Marschall (artist)

Minicon 14

Minicon 19

Minicon 18

Minicon 20

  • Year: 1985
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Guests of Honor: James P. Hogan (pro), The Permanent Floating Riot Club (fan group), The White Women (musicians), Stu Shiffman (artist), Jerry Stearns and Kara Dalkey (toastmasters)

Minicon 21

Minicon 22

  • Year: 1987
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Still Crazy After All These Years
  • Guests of Honor: David Brin (pro), Fred Haskell (fan), Erin McKee (artist), Jerry Stearns (music), Robert Bloch (toastmaster)
  • Honored guests: Diane Duane, Jane Yolen, Ellen Kushner

Minicon 23

Minicon 24

Minicon 25

  • Year: 1990
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: The Silver Edition
  • Guests of Honor: Jane Yolen, Kim Stanley Robinson (author), Patrick Price ("arthur"), David Thayer a.k.a. Teddy Harvia (artist), DavE Romm (fan), Earl Joseph (science)
  • Honored guests: Dave Clement, P. C. Hodgell, Dr. Joseph Romm, Art Widner

Minicon 26

  • Year: 1991
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Think of it as Evolution in Action
  • Guests of Honor: George Alec Effinger (author), David Cherry (artist), Al Kuhfeld, Ph.D. (science), Suzanne V. Tompkins and Jerry Kaufman (fans), Jon Singer (lunch)

Minicon 27

  • Year: 1992
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Don't Ever Be A Dodo
  • Guests of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold (author), Ctein (artist), Dave Van Ronk (music)

Minicon 28

  • Year: 1993
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Suite, Savage Minicon
  • Guests of Honor: Susan Allison (editor), Diane Duane (author), Peter Morwood (author), Kathy Mar (music), Don Fitch (bless his sweet heart), John M. Ford (interesting person)

Minicon 29

  • Year: 1994
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: It seemed like a good idea at the time
  • Guests of Honor: Tom Doherty (publisher), Jack Williamson (author), Rusty Hevelin (fan), Phil Foglio (artist)

Minicon 30

  • Year: 1995
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Would you like fries with that?
  • Guests of Honor: Vernor Vinge (author), Robert L. Forward (science), Jody Lee (artist), The Bhigg House (fan group)
  • Honored guest: Glen Cook

Minicon 31

  • Date: April 5-7, 1996
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Coming Soon to a Galaxy Near You!
  • Guests of Honor: Suzette Haden Elgin (author), Ed Emshwiller (artist, posthumous), Joe Siclari & Edie Stern (fans), David Ossman (audio)

Minicon 32

Minicon 33

  • Date: April 10-12, 1998
  • Location: Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Heisenberg Probably Slept Here
  • Guests of Honor: Gardner Dozois (publishing), David Langford (fan), John M. Ford (toastmaster)

Minicon 34

  • Date: April 2-4, 1999
  • Location: Minneapolis Hilton & Towers Hotel
  • Guests of Honor: Octavia E. Butler (author), Mark & Priscilla Olson (fans), David Nee (bookseller)

Minicon 35

  • Date: April 21 - 23, 2000
  • Location: Hilton Minneapolis & Towers
  • Guests of Honor: Maureen F. McHugh (author), John Berkey (artist), Lenny Bailes (fan)

Minicon 36

Minicon 37

Minicon 38

  • Date: April 18-20, 2003
  • Location: Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • Guests of Honor: Robert J. Sawyer (author), Carolyn Clink (poet), Sue Mason (fan), Steve Macdonald (musician)

Minicon 39

Minicon 40

  • Date: March 25-27, 2005
  • Location: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Theme: Minicon Fortean
  • Guests of Honor: Terry Pratchett (author), Fastner & Larson (artists), James Young (fan)

Minicon 41

  • Date: April 14-16, 2006
  • Location: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota.
  • Guests of Honor: Harlan Ellison (author), John Picacio (artist), Doug Friauf (fan)

References

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