AggieCon

Last updated
AggieCon
StatusActive
GenreScience fiction
VenueTexas A&M University
Location(s)College Station, Texas
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1969
Organized byCepheid Variable
Filing statusStudent organization
Website http://cepheid.org/aggiecon

AggieCon is the oldest student-run multigenre convention in the United States. Held annually since 1969 by Cepheid Variable at Texas A&M University's Memorial Student Center, it has grown to become one of the larger conventions in Texas. AggieCon was the first science fiction convention ever sponsored by a college or a college affiliate student organization. [1]

Contents

The convention is known for its relaxed atmosphere, where guests and attendees can sit and chat on the couches outside the dealers' room and art show. The scope of AggieCon ranges from science fiction to fantasy to horror, and encompasses literature, graphic arts, and general media. Activities and events include panel discussions, costume contest, the Rocky Horror Picture Show , dealer's room, art show, and much gaming, including LARPing.

Some former Cepheid Variable members have gone on to become science fiction/fantasy writers, including Martha Wells, [2] Jayme Blaschke, [3] and Steven Gould. [4]

In 1969, Harlan Ellison was Guest of Honor at AggieCon I. An outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War, Ellison reportedly referred to Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets as "America's next generation of Nazis." [5] Between Ellison's anti-military remarks and his involvement in a food fight in the Ramada Inn ballroom, Cepheid Variable was temporarily dissolved as a club [6] before reorganizing in 1970. Ellison returned in 1974 as Guest of Honor at AggieCon V.

Cepheid Variable was named the 2006 Registered Student Organization of the Year at Texas A&M. Among the cited reasons for the award were the $1,500 they donate each year to Scotty's House Child Advocacy Center and the creation of "S.O.S.," a tutoring program for Cepheids that aims to increase the club's academic status on campus. Cepheid advisor James "Spanky" Smith won an award for being the advisor of the year during the same ceremony. [7]

Current data

AggieCon 54 will be held February 1-2nd, 2025 at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M University Campus. The convention will feature videogame and trading card game tournaments, such as Magic the Gathering and Super Smash Bros, a cosplay contest, performances, panels, a variety of guests, board game and role playing game events, and a charity auction benefitting Scotty's House. [8]

Past conventions

(GoH: Guest of Honor)

  1. Science Fiction Week (retroactively AggieCon I) – April 21–24, 1969; GoH: Harlan Ellison
  2. Cepheid Comics and Trade Convention (retroactively AggieCon II) – Spring 1970; no GoH
  3. AggieCon III – April 7–9, 1972; The first convention to officially use the name AggieCon, [9] no GoH
  4. AggieCon IV – March 2–4, 1973; GoH: Jack Williamson, Chad Oliver, Robert E. Vardeman, Joe Pumilia
  5. AggieCon V – April 12–14, 1974; GoH: Harlan Ellison, Keith Laumer, Howard Waldrop
  6. AggieCon VI – March 28–30, 1975; Larry Niven, Fan GoH: "Fuzzy Pink" Niven
  7. AggieCon VII – March 26–28, 1976; Anne McCaffrey
  8. AggieCon VIII – March 24–27, 1977; Fred Pohl
  9. AggieCon IX – March 30 – April 2, 1978; GoH: Damon Knight, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, Alan Dean Foster, Geo. W. Proctor, Bob Vardeman
  10. AggieCon X – March 29 – April 1, 1979; GoH: Theodore Sturgeon, Boris Vallejo, Wilson "Bob" Tucker
  11. AggieCon XI – March 27–30, 1980; GoH: Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, Katherine Kurtz, Frank Kelly Freas
  12. AggieCon XII – March 26–29, 1981; GoH: Joe Haldeman, Alicia Austin, C. J. Cherryh
  13. AggieCon XIII – March 25–28, 1982; GoH: Roger Zelazny, Artist GoH: Vincent Di Fate, Special GoH: Fred Saberhagen
  14. AggieCon XIV – March 24–27, 1983; GoH: Harry Harrison, Michael Whelan, Stephen R. Donaldson, Chad Oliver
  15. AggieCon XV – March 29 – April 1, 1984; GoH: L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp, Don Maitz, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, James P. Hogan
  16. AggieCon XVI – March 21–24, 1985; GoH: John Varley, James Christensen, Ed Bryant, Patricia McKillip
  17. AggieCon XVII – April 3–6, 1986; GoH: George R. R. Martin, Frank Kelly Freas, Orson Scott Card, Howard Waldrop, Kerry O'Quinn. Convention Chairman was Martha Wells
  18. AggieCon XVIII – April 2–5, 1987; GoH: Ben Bova, Christopher Stasheff, Rowena Morrill, Steve Gould, Kerry O'Quinn
  19. AggieCon XIX – March 24–27, 1988; Joe Haldeman, Katherine Kurtz, Bob Eggleton, Kerry O'Quinn
  20. AggieCon XX – March 30 - April 2, 1989; GoH: George R.R. Martin, Octavia Butler
  21. AggieCon XXI – March 29 – April 1, 1990; GoH: Walter Koenig, Spider Robinson, Jeanne Robinson, Richard Pini
  22. AggieCon XXII – March 21–24, 1991; GoH: Fred Saberhagen, Keith Parkinson, Larry Elmore, Marv Wolfman, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
  23. AggieCon XXIII – March 26–29, 1992; GoH: David Drake, Barbara Hambly, Julius Schwartz, Real Musgrave, Kerry O'Quinn [10]
  24. AggieCon XXIV – March 25–28, 1993; GoH: Peter David, Michael Moorcock, Wendy Pini, Charles N. Brown
  25. AggieCon XXV – March 24–27, 1994; GoH: Greg Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, Charles de Lint, Julius Schwartz, Frank Kelly Freas, Laura Brodian Kelly-Freas
  26. AggieCon XXVI – March 23–26, 1995; GoH: Jim Baen, John Byrne
  27. AggieCon XXVII – March 21–24, 1996; GoH: Bernie Wrightson, Nancy Collins, Joe Christ, Dave Wolverton, Kerry O'Quinn, Richard Biggs, Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Gwar
  28. AggieCon XXVIII – March 20–23, 1997; GoH: Brian Stelfreeze
  29. AggieCon XXIX – March 26–29, 1998; GoH: Robert Asprin, Joe R. Lansdale, Tad Williams, Phil & Kaja Foglio, Garth Ennis, John McCrea
  30. AggieCon XXX – March 25–28, 1999; GoH: Bruce Sterling, Larry Elmore, Nigel Bennett, Ted Raimi
  31. AggieCon XXXI – March 23–26, 2000; GoH: Harlan Ellison, Terry Pratchett, Tim Bradstreet
  32. AggieCon XXXII – March 22–25, 2001; GoH: Charles de Lint, Melanie Rawn, Martha Wells, Julie Caitlin Brown. Convention director was Yaru Liu.
  33. AggieCon XXXIII – March 21–24, 2002; GoH was Neil Gaiman, Artist GoH was Charles Keegan, and other notable guests included Joe R. Lansdale, John Lucas, Brian Stelfreeze, and Karen Lansdale. [11] Convention director was Yaru Liu. [12]
  34. AggieCon XXXIV – March 20–23, 2003; GoH: Virginia Hey, Lani Tupu, Ruth Thompson, Peter David [13]
  35. AggieCon XXXV – March 25–28, 2004; GoH: Jacqueline Carey, Todd McCaffrey [14]
  36. AggieCon XXXVI – April 21–24, 2005; GoH: Michael Moorcock, Elizabeth Moon, Red vs. Blue
  37. AggieCon XXXVII – March 23–26, 2006; GoH: Steven Brust, James Charles Leary, Peter Mayhew, Brian Stelfreeze [15]
  38. AggieCon XXXVIII – March 22–25, 2007; GoH: Gene Wolfe (Wolfe cancelled at the last minute and did not attend), James O'Barr, Richard Hatch, Ruth Thompson [16]
  39. AggieCon XXXIX – March 27–30, 2008; GoH: Ellen Muth
  40. AggieCon XL – March 26–29, 2009; GoH: Todd McCaffrey,　Kristen Perry, Jennifer Rhodes
  41. AggieCon XLI (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – February 5–7, 2010; GoH: Steven Gould,　AGoH: David Lee Anderson, SG: Martha Wells, Editor GoH: Ellen Datlow, Toastmaster: Selina Rosen, Media GoH: Marv Wolfman, SG: Noel Wolfman
  42. AggieCon XLII (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – 2011
  43. AggieCon XLIII (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – March 23–25, 2012
  44. AggieCon XLIV (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – March 22–24, 2013; GOH: George R. R. Martin, [17] Ernest Cline, Sam De La Rosa, Dante Shepherd, Barbara Ann Wright, Erin Ewer, Holden Shearer, David Liss, Keri Bean, and Area of Defect
  45. AggieCon XLV (Held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) - April 4–6, 2014 GOH: Jeffrey Cranor, Aaron Dismuke, Airship Nikolai, Ed Wetterman, and Marc Gunn.
  46. AggieCon XLVI (Held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) - March 27–29, 2015 GOH: Mark Stefanowicz, Ed Wetterman, Lewis "Linkara" Lovhaug, Kathryn Friesen, Kimberley Hix Trant.
  47. AggieCon XLVII (Held at the Brazos Valley Expo Center) - April 1-3, 2016
  48. AggieCon XLVIII (Held at the Brazos Valley Expo Center) - March 24-26, 2017
  49. AggieCon LI (Held at Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M campus) - March 25-27, 2022 Guests: Aaron Dismuke, John Swasey
  50. AggieCon LII (Held at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M Campus) - March 3-5, 2023
  51. AggieCon LIII (Held at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M Campus) - February 2-4. 2024 GOH: Bryson Baugus, Drew Breedlove, Alex Hom

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlan Ellison</span> American writer (1934–2018)

Harlan Jay Ellison was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. His published works include more than 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, comic book scripts, teleplays, essays, and a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BayCon</span>

BayCon is the San Francisco Bay Area's longest-running fan-run speculative fiction convention. It was held over Memorial Day weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, California but moved to July 4th, Independence Day. BayCon draws many attendees from throughout California and also as far away as Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. The most recent BayCon was held from Saturday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Santa Clara, California. The next BayCon is scheduled for July 4-7, 2025.

Lunacon was an annual science fiction and fantasy convention organized by the New York Science Fiction Society - The Lunarians, Inc. Held from 1957 to 2017, it was the oldest science fiction convention in (usually) New York State, and was generally held on the third weekend of March.

<i>Starlog</i> American science fiction magazine (1976–2009)

Starlog was an American monthly science fiction magazine that was created in 1976 and focused primarily on Star Trek at its inception. Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs were its creators and it was published by Starlog Group, Inc. in August 1976. Starlog was one of the first publications to report on the development of the first Star Wars movie, and it followed the development of what was to eventually become Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">64th World Science Fiction Convention</span> 64th Worldcon (2006)

The 64th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as L.A.con IV, was held on 23–27 August 2006 at the Anaheim Convention Center and the nearby Hilton and Marriott hotels in Anaheim, California, United States.

The 30th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as L.A.con I, was held on 1–4 September 1972 at the International Hotel in Los Angeles, California, United States.

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FenCon</span> Convention

FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with filk held each year in or around Dallas, Texas. The name is derived from "fen", the fannish plural of "fan", and "con", an abbreviation for "convention".

LepreCon is an annual science fiction convention with an emphasis on art held in and around Phoenix, Arizona usually in May around Mother's Day weekend. It is the second oldest science fiction convention in Arizona. It is sponsored by LepreCon, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation. LepreCon 43 was held July 1–4, 2017; in November, 2017, LepreCon, Inc. chose to cancel LepreCon 44 in the previously announced format as the Phoenix Sci-Fi & Fantasy Art Expo, which had been scheduled for March 2018 at the Unexpected Art Gallery.

MidSouthCon is an annual multi-day fan convention in the Mid-Southern United States.

The 33rd World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Aussiecon, or Aussiecon One, was held on 14–17 August 1975 at the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, Australia.

The 25th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as NyCon 3 or Nycon 3, was held on 31 August–4 September 1967 at the Statler Hilton Hotel in New York City, United States.

The 26th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Baycon, was held on 29 August–2 September 1968 at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California, United States.

The 36th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as IguanaCon II, was held on 30 August–4 September 1978 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Adams House, Phoenix Convention Center, and Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Despite the name, this was the first "IguanaCon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creation Entertainment</span> American entertainment company

Creation Entertainment is an American for-profit entertainment company located in Glendale, California, which produces fan conventions for fans of various films and television series, mainly in the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres. Creation Entertainment hosts about 20 conventions annually in various locations such as Chicago, Illinois; and Burbank, California. Creation was founded in 1971 by comic book fans Gary Berman and Adam Malin in New York City. Since then, it has organized over 2,300 conventions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ConDFW</span> Dallas area sci-fi convention

ConDFW was a literary science fiction and fantasy convention held annually in the Dallas, Texas, area from 2002-2019. Attendees mingled with author and artist guests, attended panel discussions and readings led by guests, got books signed, looked at and bought sci-fi and fantasy art from artists around the country, shopped in a dealer's room with books, art, games, clothing, weapons, and other items, donated used books to charity, played games, or just hung out and talked to guests and attendees in the consuite or the hotel bar. ConDFW is a production of the Texas Speculative Fiction Association.

Stellar Occasion was a three-day science fiction convention held in the Dallas, Texas area in the mid to late 1990s. It blended science fiction literary and media guests with space science in an unusual, fan-oriented cross between the traditional science fiction convention and a commercial media event. Stellar Occasion is notable for being an early proponent of the television series Babylon 5 and featuring both writers and actors from the show each year.

ConQuesT is the annual science fiction and fantasy convention held in the Kansas City, Missouri area over the U. S. Memorial Day weekend. It is sponsored by the long-running Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society. ConQuesT is the oldest such fan convention of its type in Missouri and in the U. S. central states region, first established using the name Mid-America Con in June 1972. After that, the next nine KaCSFFS-sponsored conventions were named BYOB-Cons In 1980 KaCSFFS adopted the permanent name ConQuesT for the convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Triple Fan Fair</span> Defunct multigenre convention; one of the first U.S. comic book conventions

The Detroit Triple Fan Fair (DTFF) was a multigenre convention generally held annually in Detroit from 1965 to 1977. It is credited for being one of the first comic book conventions in the United States. The Triple Fan Fair also gave balanced coverage to historic film showings and science fiction literature, in a manner that provided a template for many future convention organizers — most of which have yet to attain the same level of equal service to this sort of linked fan base.

Southwesterncon was a series of regional multi-genre fan conventions held annually in Texas and Oklahoma between 1966 and 1971. On a rotating basis, conventions were held in Dallas ("D-Con"), Houston ("Houstoncon"), and Oklahoma City ("Multicon"). Most Southwesterncons took place over three days in June. Southwesterncon is credited with being one of the earliest ongoing comic book conventions in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ Richard Lynch's Fan History Book of the 1960s, Chapter 7
  2. ↑ AggieCon 17 Program Book Excerpt
  3. ↑ Cepheidopedia – Jayme Lynn Blaschke Archived 2008-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Cepheidopedia – Steven Gould Archived 2007-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Koseluk, Chris (June 28, 2018). "Harlan Ellison, Volatile Legend of Science Fiction, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Cepheid Variable - AggieCon Collection". Texas A&M University Library. Retrieved August 13, 2024. His visit was culminated by a meal function at the Ramada Inn, recalled by many for a 'food fight' among other things. Cepheid was dissolved as a club, in part due to issues with the hotel.
  7. ↑ Baugh, Josh (May 20, 2006). "Cepheid Variable builds on unique friendships". The Eagle . Bryan-College Station, TX. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  8. ↑ aggiecon.net
  9. ↑ Inventory of the Cepheid Variable-AggieCon Collection, 1969– , Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A&M University
  10. ↑ Reicher, Anton (March 19, 1992). "Aggiecon XXIII Blasting Off". The Eagle . Bryan-College Station, TX.
  11. ↑ Hudson, Marianne (March 21, 2002). "Sci-Fi descends on A&M with AggieCon". The Battalion . Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  12. ↑ Krach, Josh (March 14, 2002). "Mr. Sandman; Bestselling author Neil Gaiman is guest of honor at AggieCon 33". The Eagle . Bryan-College Station, TX. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Performing Arts Schedules for Spring 2003". The Eagle . Bryan-College Station, TX. January 16, 2003. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  14. ↑ Saucedo, Robert (March 23, 2004). "Boldly Going...; AggieCon attracts Klingons, sex robots to campus for science fiction convention". The Battalion . Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  15. ↑ Saucedo, Robert (March 24, 2006). "Anime Maniacs". The Battalion . Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  16. ↑ Bates, Daniel (March 20, 2007). "Gnome Masterpiece". The Battalion . Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  17. ↑ Dansby, Andrew (December 13, 2012). "'Game of Thrones' writer headed to Aggieland". Houston Chronicle . Houston, TX . Retrieved December 14, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.