Minicon

Minicon is an annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans sponsored by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society (Minn-StF). These days the convention is held each year in or near Minneapolis, Minnesota over Easter weekend. Minicon is Minnesota's longest-running science fiction convention; the first Minicon was held in 1968.

Minicon 54

will be held April 19–21, 2019. The guests of honor will be Naomi Kritzer and Dave DeVries.

For further information go to the Minicon 54 website or contact us at:

Minicon
Lake Street Station
PO Box 8297
Minneapolis MN  55408-0297

There is also a semi-official Minn-stf Dreamwidth Community which is a good place to discuss Minicon, though if you need an answer to a question it's usually best to contact the convention directly.

If you post pictures taken at Minicon to Flickr or another photo hosting/sharing website, please tag the photos with "minicon" as well as a tag for whichever Minicon it is ("minicon59" for example).

Minicons farther in the future

Supposing we continue to strictly hold 3-day Minicons annually on Easter weekend, following Minicons will be April 10–12, 2020; April 2–4, 2021; April 15–17, 2022; April 7–9, 2023; March 29–31, 2024 (does not overlap with Passover); April 18–20, 2025; April 3–5, 2026; March 26–28, 2027 (does not overlap with Passover).

A Brief History of Minicon

  Dates Membership Location (City) Guests Theme, slogan, etc. Notes
1 January 6, 1968, 12:30–5pm 60 total Coffman Union (Men's Lounge), University of Minnesota (Mpls) GoHs: Gordon R. Dickson, Charles DeVet, & Clifford Simak A Strange New World of Science Fiction
2 April 4–6, 1969 48 prereg, 115 total Andrews Hotel (Mpls) GoHs: Gordon R. Dickson, Charles DeVet, & Clifford Simak  
3 April 3–5, 1970 130 total Dyckman Hotel (Mpls) GoHs: Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, & Clifford Simak The Minneapolis in '73 Convention!
4 June 17–19, 1971 150 total Curtis Hotel (Mpls) GoH: Lin Carter The Minneapolis in '73 Convention!
5 October 15–17, 1971 100 total Andrews Hotel (Mpls) GoH: Volsted Gridban (this is an oft-repeated joke; in fact, there was no guest) The Genghiscon!  
6 April 7–9, 1972 175 total GoH: Ruth Berman The Stereo-opticon!
7 April 20–22, 1973 220 total Hyatt Lodge (Mpls) Larry Niven, pro GoH
Rusty Hevelin, fan GoH
The Minneapolis in '73 Con!  
8 April 12–14, 1974 350 total Dyckman Hotel (Mpls) Kelly Freas, pro GoH
Bob Tucker, fan GoH
Ben Bova, toastmaster
 
9 October 11–13, 1974 190 total Minneapolis Public Library​/​Dyckman Hotel (Mpls) GoHs: Judy Lynn & Lester del Rey Made possible by a Grant From Daytons!  
10 April 18–20, 1975 510 total Holiday Inn (Mpls) Poul Anderson, pro GoH
Gordy Dickson, fan GoH
Lester del Rey, toastmaster
 
11 April 16–18, 1976 325 pre-reg, 525 total Leamington Hotel (Mpls) Edmond Hamilton & Leigh Brackett, pro GoHs
Leigh & Norb Couch, fan GoHs
Jackie Franke & Rusty Hevelin, toastmasters
The Mimeo Man performed. Archival material updated in the last year
12 April 8–10, 1977 500 Ben Bova, pro GoH
Buck & Juanita Coulson, fan GoHs
Joe Haldeman, toastmaster
The Dododecacon Midwestside Story performed. Archival material updated in the last year
13 March 24–26, 1978 800 Samuel R. Delany, pro GoH
Spider Robinson, fan GoH
Bob Tucker, artist GoH
Krissy, toastmaster
Nothing is as it seems
15 April 13–15, 1979 A little over 1000 (at least 1015) Minneapolis Radisson (Mpls) Theodore Sturgeon, pro GoH
Tom Digby, fan GoH
Rick Sternbach, artist GoH
Bob Vardeman, honored guest
The other 10%
16 April 4–6, 1980 773 pre-reg, 1127 total C.J. Cherryh, pro GoH
Jon Singer, fan GoH
Ken Fletcher, artist GoH
Nate Bucklin, musician GoH
Wilson (Bob) Tucker, toastmaster
Déjà Vu Archival material updated in the last year
17 April 17–19, 1981 —?— Jack Vance, pro GoH
Jerry Boyajian, fan GoH
Kathy Marschall, artist GoH
Reed Waller, musician GoH
Archival material updated in the last year
14 April 9–11, 1982 874 pre-reg, 1065 total St. Paul Radisson (St. Paul) John Varley, pro GoH
Cliff Simak, fan GoH
Spider Robinson, musician GoH
Forward, Into the Past
19 April 1–3, 1983 881 pre-reg, 1173 total Larry Niven, pro GoH
Pamela Dean & David Dyer–Bennet, fan GoHs
Dave Sim, artist GoH
Spider John Koerner, musician GoH
Steven K. Zoltan Brust, toastmaster
Nostradamus, proxy GoH
Backward, Into the Future
18 April 20–22, 1984 1052 pre-reg, 1450 total, 1385 warm Leamington Hotel (Mpls) Chelsea Quinn Yarboro, pro GoH
Dave Wixon, fan GoH
Steve Hickman, artist GoH
Somtow Sucharitkul, musician GoH
Rusty Hevelin, toastmaster
Bob Tucker, smooth GoH
We know what we're doing and you don't. Trust us.
20 April 5–7, 1985 1072 pre-reg, 1434 total, 1378 warm Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington), now commonly known in fannish circles as the RadishTree. Additionally there were overflow hotels for the largest Minicons (but all programming was in the Radisson): for Minicons 28–30 and 33 the Wyndham Garden, for Minicons 29–33 L'Hotel Sofitel, and for Minicons 31–33 the Holiday Inn Airport 2. James P. Hogan, pro GoH
Permanent Floating Riot Club, fan group GoH
Stu Shiffman, artist GoH
Bob Berlien & the White Women, musician GoHs
Kara Dalkey & Jerry Stearns, toastmasters
Somtow Sucharitkul, Sucker-It-Kul GoH (who didn't make it to the con)
Let's you and I get normal for a change Archival material updated in the last year
21 March 28–30, 1986 1109 pre-reg, 1533 total, 1475 warm Damon Knight & Kate Wilhelm, pro GoHs
Denny Lien, fan GoH
Ken Fletcher, artist GoH
Ann Passovoy, musician GoH
Diane Duane, toastmaster
special guests: Phyllis Eisenstein, Terri Windling, John M. Ford, & P.C. Hodgell
Now we're just immoral and fattening Archival material updated in the last year
22 April 17–19, 1987 1561 pre-reg, 1950 total David Brin, pro GoH
Fred Haskell, fan GoH
Erin McKee, artist GoH
Jerry Stearns, musician GoH
Robert Bloch, toastmaster
special guests: Diane Duane, Jane Yolen, & Ellen Kushner
Still Crazy After All These Years
23 April 1–3, 1988 At least 1745 pre-reg, –?– total Eleanor Arnason, author GoH
Eric Heideman, fan GoH
Frederik Pohl, editor GoH
Crystal Marvig, artist GoH
Richard Feynman, science GoH
special guests: Jane Yolen, David Hartwell, & Algis Budrys
Spring Forward, Fall Over
24 March 24–26, 1989 2025 pre-reg, –?– total GoHs: Harry Harrison, George “Lan” Laskowski, Fritz Leiber, & Barry Longyear
special guests: Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, P.C. Hodgell, Larry Niven, & John Sladek
Zen and the Art of Fan Maintenance
25 April 13–15, 1990 2425 pre-reg, over 3000 total Jane Yolen, GoH
Kim Stanley Robinson, author GoH
Patrick Price, “Arthur” GoH
David Thayer a.k.a. Teddy Harvia, artist GoH
David E Romm, fan GoH
Earl Joseph, science GoH
special guests: Dave Clement, P.C. Hodgell, Dr. Joseph Romm, & Art Widner
The Silver Edition Archival material updated in the last year
26 March 29–31, 1991 2080 pre-reg, 2299 total, 2150 warm George Alec Effinger, author GoH
David Cherry, artist GoH
Al Kuhfeld, Ph.D., science GoH
Suzanne V. Tompkins & Jerry Kaufman, fan GoHs
Jon Singer, lunch GoH
Think of it as Evolution in Action
27 April 17–19, 1992 2648 total, 2502 warm Lois McMaster Bujold, writer GoH
Ctein, artist GoH
Dave Van Ronk, musician GoH
Don't Ever Be A Dodo
28 April 9–11, 1993 2860 pre-reg, 3100 total, 2846 warm Susan Allison, editor GoH
Diane Duane & Peter Morwood, author GoHs
Kathy Mar, musician GoH
Don Fitch, bless his sweet heart GoH
John M. Ford, Interesting Person GoH
Suite, Savage Minicon
29 April 1–3, 1994 3075 pre-reg, 3300 total, 3180±175 warm Tom Doherty, publisher GoH
Jack Williamson, author GoH
Rusty Hevelin, fan GoH
Phil Foglio, artist GoH
It seemed like a good idea at the time
30 April 14–16, 1995 3100+ pre-reg, 3715 total, 3450 warm Vernor Vinge, author GoH
Dr. Robert Forward, science GoH
Jody Lee, artist GoH
The Bhigg House, fan group GoH
Glen Cook, honored guest
Some Assembly Required or “Would You Like Fries With That?” First Minicon to have a web page.
31 April 5–7, 1996 2957 prereg, 3619 total, 3564 warm Suzette Haden Elgin, GoH
Ed Emshwiller, memorial artist GoH
Joe Siclari & Edie Stern, fan GoHs
David Ossman, audio GoH
James P. Hogan, science GoH
L.A. Taylor, honored guest
Coming to a Galaxy Near You
32 March 28–30, 1997 2957 pre-reg, 3500+ total Algis Budrys, author GoH
C.J. Cherryh, author GoH
Tom Doherty, publisher GoH
Tom Lopez, audio GoH
Patrick Nielsen Hayden, editor GoH
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, editor GoH
Michael Swanwick, author GoH
Even Chaos has a Pattern
33 April 10–12, 1998 3100 pre-reg, 3431 total, 3350 warm Gardner Dozois, pro GoH
Dave Langford, fan GoH
John M. Ford, toastmaster
Phil Proctor, Mark Time Award presenter
Heisenberg Probably Slept Here Last "big Minicon". See also concom meeting minutes, the accepted bid, and opening ceremonies radio shows photos & audio. Midwestside Story reprised.
34 April 2–4, 1999 ~1360 prereg, 1525 total Hilton Minneapolis and Towers (Mpls) Octavia E. Butler, writer GoH
Mark and Priscilla Olson, fan GoHs
Dave Nee, bookseller GoH
See also proposals for Minicon 34.
35 April 21–23, 2000 736 prereg, 844 total Maureen F. McHugh, writer GoH
Lenny Bailes, fan GoH
John Berkey, artist GoH
Orson & David Ossman, Mark Time Award presenters
36 April 13–15, 2001 457 prereg, 548 total Ken MacLeod, writer GoH
Jo Walton, fan GoH
Leslie Fish, musician GoH
37 March 29–31, 2002 643 total, 565 warm Will Shetterly, writer GoH
Emma Bull, writer GoH
Arthur Hlavaty, fan GoH
Rick Berry, artist GoH
 
38 April 18–20, 2003 526 total, ~480 warm Millennium Hotel Minneapolis (Mpls) Robert J. Sawyer, author GoH
Carolyn Clink, poet GoH
Sue Mason, fan GoH
Steve Macdonald, musician GoH
39 April 9–11, 2004 417 pre-reg, 458 total, 396 warm Walter John Williams, writer GoH
Sharyn November, editor GoH
Deb Geisler, fan GoH
Archival material updated in the last year
40 March 25–27, 2005 460 prereg, 630 total The hotel in Bloomington fondly known as the RadishTree, formerly the Radisson South, calling itself the Sheraton for Minicons 40–46 and the DoubleTree for Minicons 47–52 Terry Pratchett, writer GoH
James Young, fan GoH
Fastner & Larson, artist GoHs
Minicon Fortean
41 April 14–16, 2006 381 prereg, 527±10 total Harlan Ellison, writer GoH
John Picacio, artist GoH
Doug Friauf, fan GoH
XLi, Robot
42 April 6–8, 2007 310 prereg, 430 total, 402 warm Charles de Lint, writer GoH
Charles Vess, artist GoH
And the question was...?
43 March 21–23, 2008 321 prereg, 432±3 total, 385±3 warm Alastair Reynolds, author GoH
Shawna McCarthy, editor GoH
Nate Bucklin, fan GoH
Wayne Barlowe, artist GoH (who didn't make it to the con)
Digging up the future Archival material updated in the last year
44 April 10–12, 2009 317 prereg, 422 total, 395 warm Karl Schroeder, author GoH
Seth Shostak, scientist GoH
Stephen Martiniere, artist GoH (who didn't make it to the con)
45 April 2–4, 2010 366 prereg, 450 total, 434 warm Brandon Sanderson, author GoH
Dan Dos Santos, artist GoH
Moshe Feder, special guest
 
46 April 22–24, 2011 372 prereg, 448 total, 425 warm Charles Stross, author GoH in absentia
John Scalzi, author GoH
Chas Somdahl, musician GoH
Not yet dead from the neck up
47 April 6–8, 2012 363 prereg, 463 total, 452 warm Ted Chiang, author GoH
Christopher J Garcia, fanzine GoH
Frank Wu, artist GoH
Brianna "Spacekat" Wu, special guest
The minions are coming...  
48 March 29–31, 2013 382 prereg, 515 total, 503 warm Julie Czerneda, author GoH
Richard Tatge, fan GoH
The Game of Life
49 April 17½–20, 2014 418 prereg, 561 total, 538 warm Catherynne Valente, author GoH
Janny Wurts, author GoH
Don Maitz, artist GoH
Pirates and Airships*  
50 April 2–5, 2015 826 prereg, 1135 total, 1114 warm Jane Yolen, author GoH
Larry Niven, author GoH
Brandon Sanderson, author GoH
Tom Doherty, publisher GoH
Adam Stemple, music GoH
Michael Whelan, artist GoH
The Gold Edition
51 March 25–27, 2016 492 prereg, 647 total, 622 warm Seanan McGuire, author GoH
Sara Butcher Burrier, artist GoH
Lojo Russo, musician GoH
Zombies and Fairies and Mermaids, Oh My!
52 April 14–16, 2017 510 prereg, 601 total, 574 warm Jim C. Hines, author GoH
Brother Guy Consolmagno, science GoH
Mark Oshiro, fan GoH
Jeff Lee Johnson, featured artist
 
53 March 30–April 1, 2018 502 prereg, 568 total, 547 warm DoubleTree Saint Louis Park Rachel Swirsky, GoH
Lyda Morehouse, GoH
Jon Arfstrom, featured artist (posthumous)
The Pedantic One  
54 April 19–21, 2019   Naomi Kritzer, GoH
Dave DeVries, GoH
Purple  

Notes:

Finding publications: There's an index page for web-era Minicon publication which might help you finding pocket programs and such which are sometimes a bit hidden in crannies of various years' sites.

Dates: Yes, there were two years we had two Minicons — 1971 and 1974. Even on years with only one Minicon, it hasn't always been on Easter. Minicons 2, 7 and 8 were on Easter, then all of them starting with 11 (well, as of this writing, up to 54, at least). So there were 5 Minicons that, you might say, could have been on Easter, but weren't.

Minicon Numbering: Yes, we know the numbering was just a tiny, wee-bit non-sequential between 1978 and 1985. It's a long story, and really not that shaggy.

Credits: This list originally by Fred A Levy Haskell, Official Happy Deadwood, Minn-StF. At last report it is being kept up by the Minnstf arDONOTTYPETHISchivist, Matt Strait. Documented additions or corrections will be warmly welcomed. Send to [arDONOTTYPETHISchivist at mnstf dot org].

More Data

The recipe for blog

Audio from some radio plays from various Minicon Opening Ceremonies over the years and there are also CDs available which include audio plays from Minicons past.

Many of the documents from the Long Range Convention Task-Force are online. This was a task-force chartered in 1991 to consider the problems and concerns we had about Minicon and consider what we should do for the next 5 years.

We Need Your Help!

We are working on building as complete a digital archive of Minicon's history as we can!

For all these items, please contact: [arDONOTTYPETHISchivist at# mnstf dot org]

Physical materials wanted: If you have badges, program books, pocket programs, photos, progress reports, convention reports, or other stuff from or relating to past Minicons we're interested in putting that sort of thing online. Photos and audio or video recordings too. If it's something we don't have in our own archives, we might be interested in borrowing items from you or making other arrangements to scan stuff for use on the website.

Digital materials wanted: If you have items in digital format or are willing to put things in digital format, you can send that stuff to us. Please check with us before sending any large files (over 50MB) as email attachments. If you know where we can find stuff about Minicon or Minn-StF online that we haven't yet linked to, please pass those links along to us.

Transcriptions wanted: We would like our archives to be searchable and accessible. This means that we'd like to make plain text versions of everything that's just an image now. Would you like to help? Find something that needs transcription and let us know you're going to work on it.

Requests wanted: If you're looking for something that isn't here, please let us know. We may already have it on paper and can prioritize it for scanning.
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