ConFusion | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fandoms |
Venue | 2016 - Present: Novi Sheraton, Michigan 2013–2015: Dearborn Doubletree, Michigan 2003–2012: Troy Marriott, Michigan |
Location(s) | Michigan |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | 1974 |
Attendance | 800–1000 attendees annually |
Organized by | Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association |
Website | confusionsf |
ConFusion is an annual science fiction convention founded in 1974 by a University of Michigan science fiction club known as the Stilyagi Air Corps, [1] and is currently run by the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association, [2] a not-for-profit group. Typically, it is held during the third weekend of January. It is one of the oldest science fiction conventions in Michigan. [3] ConFusion is a regional, general science fiction convention similar to Windycon and Lunacon. The programming consists of panels on science fiction and fantasy, literature, media, science, fandom, art, comics, music, costuming, etc. with discussions by authors, scientists, fans, and artists. There is a large music track, board games and roleplaying games, KidFusion— a track of programming specifically for kids —and a masquerade or costume contest.
ConFusion has a consuite, as well as room parties hosted by other conventions, WorldCon bids, and local clubs.
The Ann Arbor Relax-i-con was founded in 1974. Based on its success, the Stilyagi Air Corps [4] named the new convention Condom as a takeoff of the word fandom. The chairman, Ro Nagey, was absent for the meeting about the name change and convinced them to use the name ConFusion instead. The name turned out to be prophetic as the first science Guest of Honor was the owner of local technology spin-off company KMS Fusion.
Because the first convention run by the organization was not actually named ConFusion, they are generally counted starting with ConFusion 13 in 1975 or with the A Squared Relax-I-Con (one of many intentionally confusing names voted on by the membership). The 1980 convention was aptly named Confusion 6 &/or 7, and ConFusion XXX in 2004 could be considered the 30th convention of that name, or 31st Stilyagi convention.
The Stilyagi Air Corps, named after a group in Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress , is a loose, informal group. Lifetime membership is free for anyone interested in science fiction who attends a single Stilyagi party, meeting, or event. The sponsoring organization, AASFA, is a Michigan nonprofit corporation board elected from Stilyagi who have volunteered to work on running ConFusion.
The 2024 event, titled Labyrinth of ConFusion was held on January 19 - 21 at the Novi Sheraton in Michigan. The notable panelists included Mark Oshiro, Kurt Erichsen BluRaven C. Houvener. Authors included Kelley Skovron, A. L. DeLeon, Marie Vibbert and Jordan Kurella.
Events included authors and experts in fields such as Dungeons and Dragons, neurodiversity, climate change, and NASA's plans to visit asteroids. A panel on Artificial intelligence was held. There was a screening of a Sci-fi fan created film from 1978 called FAANs. Many authors participated in book readings and book signings. Masquerade (pictured to the right) is always a popular event with judges naming the top three winners in each category. A flash fiction session was held where authors created short fiction stories in a limited time span, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.
Steph C. was the Young Adult Guest of Honor.
The 2023 event titled Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion featured authors and speakers Chris Barkley, Kathe Koja, Jacob Pauwels, and Kat Malokofsky.
ConFusion has been active from 1974 until present. The table below lists the year, name and Guests of Honor (GOHs) for each convention. [5] [6]
Year | Name | Pro | Fan | Artist | Scientist | Wild Card | Special Guest | Chair | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | A2 Relax-I-Con | Lloyd Biggle Jr. | Howard DeVore | Ro Nagey | ||||||||||||
1975 | ConFusion 13 [7] [8] | Frederik Pohl | Mike Glicksohn | Ro Nagey | ||||||||||||
1976 | ConFusion 12 | Lloyd Biggle Jr. | Bill Bowers | Ro Nagey | ||||||||||||
1977 | ConFusion 14 | Poul Anderson | Ro Nagey |
| ||||||||||||
1978 | ConFusion π [9] | Kate Wilhelm | Jackie Causgrove | Larry Tucker | ||||||||||||
1979 |
|
| Scott Imes |
| ||||||||||||
1980 | ConFusion 6 and/or 7 [12] [13] | Stanley Schmidt | Elliott Shorter |
| ||||||||||||
1981 | Nine Billion Names of ConFusion [14] | Barry B. Longyear | Dave Innes | Nancy Tucker | ||||||||||||
1982 | ConFusion 11 | Phyllis Eisenstein | Neil Rest | Nancy Tucker | ||||||||||||
1983 | ConFusion 101 [15] | C. J. Cherryh | Bill Cavin | Tara Edwards | ||||||||||||
1984 | Genuine ConFusion [16] | Mike Resnick | Martha Beck | Nancy Tucker | ||||||||||||
1985 | Decadent ConFusion | Alan Dean Foster | Julia Ecklar | Michelle Smith-Moore | ||||||||||||
1986 | Perpetual ConFusion | Somtow Sucharitkul | Bill Roper | Frank Kelly Freas | Tom Barber | |||||||||||
1987 | Stark Raving ConFusion [17] | Katherine Kurtz | Elizabeth 'Liz' Pearce | Erin McKee | Nancy Farmer | |||||||||||
1988 | Ambulatory ConFusion | Joe Haldeman | Larry Tucker | David Cherry | Nancy Farmer | |||||||||||
1989 | ConFusion 102 | Barbara Hambly | Ted Reynolds | Linda Michaels | Tara Barber | |||||||||||
1990 | State of ConFusion | Hal Clement |
| Kevin Davies | Erik Kauppi | |||||||||||
1991 | Immaculate ConFusion | Esther Friesner | Somtow Sucharitkul | Robin Wood | Erik Kauppi | |||||||||||
1992 | Hardwired ConFusion | Walter Jon Williams | Rusty Hevelin | Rick Lieder |
| |||||||||||
1993 | Transcendental ConFusion | Fred Saberhagen |
| Randy Asplund | Greg Cronau | |||||||||||
1994 | ConFusion XX | Joan D. Vinge | Leah Zeldes Smith | Erin McKee |
| |||||||||||
1995 | ConFusion 10101 | Pamela Sargent | Wilson "Bob" Tucker | Laura Butler | Geoffrey A. Landis |
| ||||||||||
1996 | Deviant ConFusion | Tim Powers | Melody Faith | Bob Eggleton | Geoffrey A. Landis |
| ||||||||||
1997 | ConFusion-17 | Samuel R. Delany | Joey Shoji | Susan Van Camp | Mark Shappirio | Katherine Becker | ||||||||||
1998 | ConFusion of the Winnebagos | Connie Willis | Mary Ellen Wessels | Jane Irwin | Marvin Minsky |
| ||||||||||
1999 | Vintage ConFusion | Lois McMaster Bujold | Nancy Tucker Shaw | Douglas Chaffee | Carl Djerassi | Katherine Becker | ||||||||||
2000 | ConFusion 19100 | Maureen F. McHugh | Dennis Tabaczewski | Frank Hayes | Eric S. Raymond | Tracy Worcester | ||||||||||
2001 | Mystery God ConFusion | Sarah Zettel | Tom Barber | Carla Speed McNeil | Bruce Schneier | Tammy Coxen | ||||||||||
2002 | Astronomical ConFusion | George R. R. Martin | Heather Alexander | Pete Abrams | Br. Guy Consolmagno | Tammy Coxen | ||||||||||
2003 | ConFusion and Her Friends | Melissa Scott | Roberta Kennedy | Alan M. Clark | Jack Cohen | Tammy Coxen | ||||||||||
2004 | ConFusion XXX | Bruce Sterling | Geri Sullivan | Julie Bell | Ron Westrum | Anne Gray | ||||||||||
2005 | 31 Flavors of ConFusion [18] |
|
| Derek Grime | Christian Ready |
| Anne Gray | |||||||||
2006 | Synthetic ConFusion | Vernor Vinge | Chuck Firment | Steven Stiles | Mitchell Burnside Clapp | Krysta December | ||||||||||
2007 | MoonBase ConFusion | Elizabeth Moon | Bill Higgins | Steve MacDonald | Paul "PZ" Myers | Roxanne King | ||||||||||
2008 | High-Voltage ConFusion |
| The Roving Pirate Party | Carl Lundgren | Kevin M. Dunn |
| Brendan Durrett | |||||||||
2009 | Cryptic ConFusion | Cat Rambo | Freon Michael Andaluz | Diana Harlan Stein |
|
| Anne Gray | |||||||||
2010 | I See By My ConFusion |
| David Gibbs | Matt Busch | Steve Collins |
| Robert R. McCammon | Jessica Zerwas | ||||||||
2011 | This ConFusion Is Not Yet Rated | Cherie Priest | Lisa Garrison | Aubrey de Grey |
| Peter V. Brett | Brian Decker | |||||||||
2012 | Epic ConFusion | Patrick Rothfuss | Tom Smith | Harley Thronson |
|
| Brian Decker | |||||||||
2013 | Immortal ConFusion | Charles Stross | James Davis Nicoll |
| Jennifer Ouellette |
|
| Lucy Kennedy | ||||||||
2014 | Legendary ConFusion | Mike Carey | Mark Bernstien | Rich Morris | Ian Tregillis |
| Jacqueline Carey | Ryan Carey | ||||||||
2015 | Back to the ConFusion | Karen Lord | Aaron Thul |
| Cynthia Chestek |
|
| Dave Klecha | ||||||||
2016 | Life, the Universe, and ConFusion | Alaya Dawn Johnson | Jessica Drummer |
| Kentaro Toyama |
| Anna Carey | |||||||||
2017 | Friendship is ConFusion | Gail Carriger | Mark Oshiro | Jeffrey Alan Love | Karen Burnham |
|
| Anna Carey | ||||||||
2018 | ConFusion Through the Looking Glass [19] | Kate Elliott | Nisi Shawl |
| Annalee Newitz |
|
| Amy Sexsmith | ||||||||
2019 | Storming the Confusion | Ada Palmer | David Stein | Dr. Jennifer Piatek |
| Amy Sexsmith | ||||||||||
2020 | How to Train Your ConFusion | Kameron Hurley | Bogi Takacs |
| Dr. Julie Lesnik |
| Lithie Dubois | |||||||||
2021 | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||||||||
2022 | Rising Confusion | Jim C. Hines | Anna Carey | Rachel Quinlan (Artist) | Dr. Jordan Steckloff |
| Lithie Dubois | |||||||||
2023 | Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion | Chris Barkley | Kathe Koja (Creative) | Jacob Pauwels (Media) | Kat Malokofsky | |||||||||||
2024 | Labyrinth of ConFusion | Mark Oshiro | Kurt Erichsen | BluRaven C. Houvener |
| Chelle Green | ||||||||||
2025 | Monumental ConFusion | AASFA Board | ||||||||||||||
Year | Name | Pro | Fan | Artist | Scientist | Wild Card | Special Guest | Chair |
Howard Waldrop was an American science fiction author who worked primarily in short fiction. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2021.
Erwin S. Strauss is an American author, science fiction fan, noted member of the MITSFS, and filk musician, born in Washington, D.C. He frequently is known by the nickname "Filthy Pierre". He was injured descending a stairway at SMOFcon 41in December 2023, and in January 2024 announced his retirement.
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.
NASFiC, an abbreviation for North American Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention scheduled in North America during years when a Worldcon is being held outside North America; NASFiCs are held only during such years. Bids for the location of a NASFiC are voted on by the membership of the Worldcon, the year after a non-North-American Worldcon site has been selected. As of 2014, this is one year in advance of a potential NASFiC, since Worldcon sites are chosen two years in advance.
Eastercon is the common name for the annual British national science fiction convention. The convention is organised by voluntary self-organising committees, rather than a permanent entity.
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.
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.
MarsCon in Virginia Beach, Virginia is a mid-sized regional science fiction convention founded in 1990. The convention provides a relaxed environment for people who enjoy science fiction to meet new friends and talk about their interests. The convention has been described as "the largest and longest-running science fiction/fantasy convention in the Tidewater area."
Howard DeVore was an American archivist, science fiction collector, dealer, expert on pulp magazines, APA and fanzine writer, convention organizer, and active volunteer in science fiction fandom.
Readercon is an annual science fiction convention, typically held every July in the Boston, Massachusetts area, currently taking place in Quincy, Massachusetts. It was founded by Bob Colby and Eric Van in 1987 with the goal of focusing almost exclusively on science fiction, fantasy, slipstream and speculative fiction in the written form. On the rare occasion that there is a discussion held about non-written science fiction, it will have a tongue-in-cheek title such as "Our biannual media panel".
ArmadilloCon is a science fiction convention held annually in Austin, Texas, USA, since 1979. As the second longest running science fiction convention in Texas, it is sponsored by the Fandom Association of Central Texas and is known for its emphasis on literary science fiction. ArmadilloCon was traditionally held in mid-October during the weekend of the Texas-OU football game, but moved to a late-summer/early-fall weekend in 1998.
ConClave was an annual, weekend-long science fiction convention in southeastern/central Michigan, which drew approximately 600 people. ConClave attendees shared an interest in science, science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. The ConClave convention was held each year from 1976 to 2016, with the exception of 2012. In 2017, the convention was rebranded as The Continuum.
Jan Howard Finder was an American academic administrator, career counselor, science fiction writer, filker, hostelling tour guide, cosplayer, and fan. He was a guest of honor at the 1993 Worldcon, ConFrancisco. As a personal affectation, he often spelled his name in all lower case letters, jan howard finder.
Lazy Dragon Con was a three-day relaxacon held in McKinney, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas in both 2007 and 2008. Lazy Dragon Con was sponsored by Lazy Dragon LLC, dealers of blades "From Pocketknives to Broadswords," and was not related to the Atlanta-based Dragon Con in any way.
BabelCon was a science fiction and multigenre convention, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Established in 2006, the convention took place at the Cook Hotel and Lod & Carole Cook Alumni Center on the campus of Louisiana State University. Formerly a project of the non-profit Science & Engineering Education Foundation (SEEF), it was last managed by Babelcon LLC. After a split between the organizers in late 2010, the upcoming convention was postponed then ultimately cancelled.
Created as the brain child of Edgar Lincoln and his wife Norma Barret-Lincoln with the help of friends, some of whom are still involved today, RadCon is a not-for-profit organization that promotes education in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Every February during President's Day weekend, RadCon hosts a weekend long convention at the Red Lion Hotel in Pasco, Washington.
DemiCon is an annual volunteer-run science fiction, fantasy, and gaming convention held in Des Moines, Iowa, in late April/early May. The convention was first held in 1990.
MystiCon is an American science fiction convention held in Roanoke, Virginia. The name "MystiCon" was chosen by the membership as a tribute to an earlier series of Virginia conventions with that name. The organizers include members that left SheVaCon, another Virginia-based science fiction convention, citing concerns with management and operations. The convention was held annually from 2011 through 2020, but has not been held since.
ConCoction is a full-spectrum multi-genre fantasy and science fiction convention based in Cleveland, Ohio, and is held annually in March. It is a not-for-profit endeavor run by the local and regional community of fans to promote Community Service, Education, and the Arts in Northeastern, Ohio.
The Atlanta Fantasy Fair (AFF) was a multigenre convention which took place once each summer in Atlanta, Georgia from 1975 to 1995. Organized by A.C.F.F., Ltd., the convention was a nonprofit entity designed to promote the fantasy genre in the American Southeast. Over its two-decade run, the AFF featured hundreds of guests, encompassed hotels in downtown Atlanta and ran thousands of hours of programming for fans of science fiction, fantasy, comic books, and other elements of fandom.