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The convention circuit....that self-replicating phenomenon of science fiction and fantasy conventions...is part of my annual schedule and has been for years. I also do autographings now and again, and I'll list them as I know about them. I'm always glad to meet my readers and don't believe in spending conventions in my hotel room...see me in the dealers' room!

RUSTYCON: We're going to try RUSTYCON this year. Seattle area, somewhere near Seatac. This longtime convention is in mid-January. I'll put up a link.

INCON: We're going to be at Incon, in Spokane, around the 17th of October, at the Doubletree on Sullivan Ave is the usual spot----be careful: there are two Doubletrees in town. We haven't done filk in years, and a small group has convinced us to meet there, a gathering of friends, no smoffing. (SMOF---Secret Masters of Fandom/Filkdom: pretending to be---to smof, etc. We hates them, yesss.)

MISCON: in Missoula, MT. This one is in the late spring, and we had so much fun we're going back.

MIDSOUTHCON in Memphis, Tenn. Details to come. Jane Fancher will also attend. It's gotten to be one of the best conventions on my list for meeting old friends in the business: myself, Fancher, Selina Rosen, and Michael Sheard, who played Admiral Ozzel in Star Wars, and who is an absolute dear madman. When the lot of us get together, the furniture is not safe. We're trying to talk our old roomie Lynn Abbey into coming.

CONS I ATTEND WHENEVER I CAN:

INCON: in Spokane WA, which is our local convention, tiny, but earnest.

MISCON: in Missoula MT, very much fun.

MOSCON: in Moscow ID, which is our second local convention, likewise tiny.

Conquest, Kansas City MO, an honorable old convention, which has elected to keep its small size: successor to storied BYOBcon, and a meeting place for the whole region. I attend when possible.

Chattacon, Chattanooga, TN, a long-running convention with a lot of old friends.

MIDSOUTHCON, which is a regional convention and a lot of fun.

And just added, MISCON, which is in Missoula MT, and full of very nice people.

Other Conventions and Resources: I'm not scheduled to be at these conventions this year, but they've given me their addresses and I'm adding these URLs so you, visitor, can find cons in your own area. Make contact with whatever life is out there. Many of these conventions have been running for decades, true names to conjure with.

And if you're running a convention and have a website, tell me by e-mail and I'll try to add your URL to my list.

Tips on going to cons:

Contact the convention and buy a membership: they'll give you hotel information. With the convention membership, you get convention rate at the hotel, and don't forget to mention the convention when booking your room. Once you are a member many larger conventions send you progress reports answering most basic questions, and smaller conventions at least provide location information,. You are expected to to secure your own hotel room. Meals are not provided, except for some munchies in the con suite, but conventions do often provide information on cheap local sources of food, local eateries, etc. Sharing rooms: frequently, once you get onto the convention circuit, you can hook up with potential roommates---hotels are often quite liberal with the sharing of rooms. Dress is very  informal: t-shirts and jeans are the uniform of the day: you'll rarely go wrong with that.

North Central USA

Des Moines, IA. DEMICON

Southfield, MI CONTRAPTION, and Name That Contraption. One of the older ones.

Madison WI, WISCON [Tiptree Award]

Columbus OH,   MARCON.  in May, One of the oldest sf conventions in continual existence.

2000 worldcon, CHICON, Chicago IL

Southeastern USA

St. Louis, MO, ARCHON,

Chattanooga TN, CHATTACON. One of the good, small, old ones with a lot of tradition.

West Ridge TN, LIBERTYCON

East Coast USA

Providence RI, NECRONOMICON.

Boston, MA, ARISIA

Boston, MA, BOSKONE:  go to fanlink: www.nesfa.org/home.html gets you to the New England Science Fiction Association's homepage, and Boskone is available from there. This is an old and honorable fannish association. If you're in their region and looking for intelligent discourse, look them up.

Waltham, MA, readercon 11, July 9-11. This convention covers only science fiction and fantasy literature. It's very different from most sf conventions, and emphasis is on writers and books, period. I've not attended this one, but it has been there for years and has a very solid reputation.

WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION , http://world.std.com/~sbarsky/mcfi/wfc/

This URL is subject to change year by year. THE 25th WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION  has Guests of Honor
CHARLES de LINT; artists LEO & DIANE DILLON; writers PATRICIA A. McKILLIP, ROBERT SILVERBERG, Special Guest SAMUEL R. DELANY, Toastmaster JOHN M. FORD. It is a gathering-place for writers, artists, publishers, and is more formal in dress than other conventions. One may want to pack a dress outfit or two, but don't leave your casuals out altogether.

Westborough MA CONCERTINO, a filk convention: filk: science fiction folk music: a weekend of playing, singing, and listening, also song-writing, amateur performance. Guests: Bill & Brenda Sutton, Ed Hutnik, Mike Brown, Alan Thiesen.

Southwestern  and Central USA

Tulsa OK, Conestoga, May 1999

Kansas City, MO, Conquest.

Austin TX, ARMADILLOCON, September 10-12;

also contact: Fandom Association of  Central Texas: FACT and http://www.crimeandspace.com/reading.com for an Austin-based sf/fantasy reading group.

New Mexico, BUBONICON, May

CONUCOPIA, a Texas, probably Dallas convention: www.pegasuspublishing.com


Rocky Mountains USA

Salt Lake City UT, CONDUIT

Northwestern USA 

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