Minicon

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 held around Easter weekend. Started in 1968 and running approximately annually since then, it is one of the older 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 featured many authors over the years, including Octavia Butler, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, Lester del Rey, Frederik Pohl and Terry Pratchett, as well as artists, musicians, and scientists.

Contents

1 Features
2 History

2.1 Recent Minicons

2.1.1 Minicon 38
2.1.2 Minicon 39
2.1.3 Minicon 40
2.1.4 Minicon 41
2.1.5 Minicon 42

3 External links

Features

Staples of modern Minicons are:

Several tracks of panel discussions
Readings
Films
Gaming, formal and informal
The "Bozo Bus Tribune", a twice-daily publication
Art show
Dealers room
Kid's programming
Filking
Consuite
Bar with free alcoholic beverages for convention attendees
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. At its peak attendance, Minicon drew people with a wide variety of interest, and including books, film, music, parties, gaming, costuming and even BDSM. Minicon is now more focused on its literary aspect, but it still includes many of its previous aspects in reduced form.

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

Recent Minicons

Minicon 38

Minicon 38 was held 18–20 April 2003 at the the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Guests of honor were Robert J. Sawyer, author; Carolyn Clink, poet; Sue Mason, fan; and Steve Macdonald, musician.

Minicon 39

Minicon 39 was held 9-11 April 2004 at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota Guests of honor were Walter Jon Williams, author; Sharyn November, editor; and Deb Geisler, fan.

Minicon 40

Minicon 40 was held 25-27 March 2005 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Guests of honor were Terry Pratchett, author; Fastner & Larson, artists, and James Young, fan. The theme was "Minicon Fortean"

Minicon 41

Minicon 41 was held 14-16 April 2006 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Guests of honor were Harlan Ellison, author; John Picacio, artist; and Doug Friauf, fan.

Minicon 42

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

External links

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