- Minicon
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This article is about a convention. For the fictional race from Transformers, see Mini-Con.
Minicon Status Active Genre Science fiction/Fantasy Venue Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Location Minneapolis, Minnesota Country United States First held 1968 Organizer Minnesota Science Fiction Society Filing status Non-profit Attendance 400-700 Official website http://www.mnstf.org/minicon/ 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.[1] 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 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.
Contents
Features
Staples of modern Minicons are:
- Several tracks of panel discussions
- Readings
- Gaming, formal and informal
- The Bozo Bus Tribune, convention newsletter
- Art show
- Dealers room
- Kids' programming
- Filk and folk music
- Consuite and bar
- Parties
History
See also: List of past MiniconsThe 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.[2]
Around the time that Minicon reduced its size, some other conventions sprang up in the area, including CONvergence and MarsCon.
Minicon should not be confused with MinnCon, a dark fantasy/horror convention founded in 1971 by fans living in St. Paul, Minnesota. MinnCon changed its name to Arcana in 1988 to avoid confusion but many area fans still refer to the convention by its older name.
Latest convention
Minicon 45 was held April 2–4, 2010 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. The guests of honor scheduled were author Brandon Sanderson and artist Daniel Dos Santos. Additionally, Tor editor Moshe Feder was a special guest.
Minicon 46 will be held on Easter Weekend 2011 (April 22-24), and will feature guests of honor author John Scalzi (who is filling in for Charles Stross, who had to cancel due to a family medical emergency) and folk musician Chas Somdahl.
External links
References
- ^ Sutton, Terri (2004-05-26). "Between Planets". City Pages LLC. http://www.citypages.com/2004-05-26/arts/between-planets/. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Walsh, Jim (2006-05-03). "Attention Earthlings:Your Planet Sucks". City Pages LLC. http://www.citypages.com/2006-05-03/columns/there-s-a-place-for-us/. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
External links
Categories:- American science fiction conventions
- Conventions in Minnesota
- Culture of Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Fantasy conventions
- Visitor attractions in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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