Please send convention information directly to Locus Online at online@locusmag.com. Providing information in our paragraph format, including e-mail and website links, will expedite updates to this page. We will spell out e-mail addresses (e.g. "name at host dot com") instead of building active links if you prefer, to avoid spam. Note we focus on conventions with significant literary interest; we don't list cons primarily devoted to media, comics, etc. Convention goers, note that places and dates may change; check with convention committees before making final plans.

November 2008

IlluXCon (Nov 6-9 '08) Altoona, PA. Dedicated to fantastic illustration. Guests include artists Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, John Jude Palencar, Bob Eggleton, many many others. Info: website: http://www.illuxcon.com/

TusCon 35 (Nov. 7-9, 2008) InnSuites/St. Mary's, Tucson, AZ Smallish regional SF/Fantasy/Horror convention. GoH: Diana Gabaldon, Toastmaster: Ed Bryant. Memberships: $40 thru Sept. 1, '08, after & at the door $45 Details, visit website: http://home.earthlink.net/~basfa/; or email: basfa at earthlink dot net.

New England Fan Experience (November 21-23, 2008) Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Cambridge, MA 02139. Guests include George Takei, Bob Eggleton. Website: http://www.nefe.us/.

Orycon 30 (November 21-23 2008) Waterfront Marriott, Portland Oregon. Writer GOH: Harry Turtledove, Editor GOH: Ginjer Buchanan, Artist GOH: Jrff Fennel, Fan GOH: Cecelia Eng. Website: http://www.orycon.org/orycon30/

Darkovercon 31 (Nov 28-30, 2008) Holiday Inn Timmonium, Timmonium, MD. GoH: Patricia Briggs. Details: see website http://www.darkovercon.org

Loscon 35 (November 28-30, 2008) LAX Marriott, L.A. CA. GoH's: John Scalzi, Gary Lippincott, Michael Siladi, Website http://www.loscon.org/35a/

 

2009

Rustycon (Jan 9-11, 2009) Seattle Airport Marriott, Seattle, WA. GOHs Jay Lake, James Stanley Daugherty. Info http://www.rustycon.com/.

Arisia (Jan 16-19, 2009) Cambridge, MA. GOH Walter H. Hunt, Artist GOH Dave Seeley, Fan GOH Ricky and Karen Dick. Art show, Dealers room, Literature, Film, Anime, Gaming, Filk. Membership: $50 until 12/31, then $60. Info www.arisia.org ; info@arisia.org.

DeCONpression 6 (Jan 16-18, 2009) Doubletree Hotel, Columbus, OH. A Relaxacon in the dead of winter! Seminars, panels, video, gaming, Dealers Room. Details: http://www.deconpression.org/

COSine 2009 (Jan 23-25, 2009) Best Western Academy Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. GoH: George R.R. Martin. $35 thru Oct. 31, 2008, $40 Nov. 1st thru Dec. 31, 2008, $10 Children ages 5-10. Website: http://firstfridayfandom.org/cosine/.

Cryptic Confusion (Jan 23 - 25, 2009) Troy Marriott, Detroit, Michigan. Guests include Cory Doctorow, Cat Rambo, Diana Harlan Stein. Website: http://stilyagi.org/cons/2009/index.php

Boskone 46 (Feb 13-15, 2009) Boston, Mass. GOH Jo Walton, Official Artist Stephan Martiniere, Special Guest Irene Gallo, Featured Filker Dr. Seti, NESFA Press Guests Greg & Astrid Bear. Art show, Dealers room, Gaming, talks, panels, music, whimsey. Membership: $46 in advance, more at the door. Info: www.boskone.org; info-b46@boskone.org; 617.776.3243 (fax); Boskone 46, PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701.

Capricon 29 (Feb 19-22, 2009) Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, IL (Chicago Suburb). This year’s theme is "Camp Capricon". Author GoH: Sharon Shinn. Artist GoH: Gary Lippincott. Fan GoH: Christian McGuire. Special NASA Guest: Bryan Palaszewski. Special Filk Guests: Sally & Barry Childs-Helton (Wild Mercy). Literature, Film, Anime, Gaming, Filk. Capricon also features an Independent Film Festival. Please visit http://www.capricon.org/capricon29/ for full details.

Potlatch 18 (Feb 27 - Mar 1 2009) Domain Hotel, Sunnyvale, California. Small literary s-f convention. Books of Honor: Always Coming Home by Ursula Le Guin and Growing Up Weightless by John M. Ford. Website: http://www.potlatch-sf.org/.

SheVaCon 17 SF&F (Feb 27 - Mar 1 2009) Roanoke Virginia. Writer GOH Larry Niven, Art GOH TBA, Fan GOH Carla Brindle. Multigenre con Art room, Dealers room, Gaming, Anime room, Video room, Computer room, Masquerade/cosplay, Workshops and panels. Check website for registration information and all the new updates as they become available. www.shevacon.org.

Madicon 18 (March 13-15, 2009) James Madison University Festival Center, Harrisonburg, VA. GoH: L.E. Modesitt, Jr. Guests: Jennie Breeden, C.J. Henderson, Shelden Menery, and more. Details, visit website: www.madicon.org.

International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (March 18-22, '09) 30th annual. Orlando Airport Marriott, Orlando, Florida. Guests: Robert Charles Wilson, Guy Gavriel Kay, Maria Nikolajeva, Brian Aldiss. Website: http://www.iafa.org/

LunaCon (March 20-22, 2009) Hilton Rye Town, NY. Author GoH: Dave Freer, Artist GoH; Larry Dixon, Special Guest; Mercedes Lackey, Toast Master; Eric Flint, Fan Guest; Leigh Grossman. Membership $45 until 2/14/2009, $55 at the door; child membership $15 til 2/14/2009, $25 at the door. Group discount available, see website for details: http://www.lunacon.org/

WASFEn Con 3 (March 28, 2009) The Plaza, Wausau, WI. Sci-Fi, Comics, Gaming, and More. "Fun and Fantasy for the Whole Family!" Website: http://www.myspace.com/wasfen

WillyCon XI (April 3-5, 2009) Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska. GoHs: Artist Maria J. William, Author M.R. Sellars, Fan Rod Vasek. Website: http://www.willycon.com/.

Minicon 44 (April 10-12, 2009) Sheraton Bloomington, Bloomington, MN (Minneapolis suburb). Panel discussions, readings, signings, costuming, films, gaming, art show, dealers, kids' programming, music, parties, various special events. Author GoH: Karl Schroeder, Artist GoH: Stephan Martiniere, Scientist GoH: Seth Shostak. Memberships $40 until Nov 15, $50 until March 15 ($25/$30 for students). Website: http://minicon44.mnstf.org.

JordanCon (April 17-19, 2009) First fan convention devoted exclusively to the late Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. Guest of Honor: Harriet McDougal, Fan Guest of Honor: Wilson Grooms. Website: http://www.ageoflegends.net/

Odyssey Con 9: Year of the Cow (April 24-26, 2009) Radisson Hotel, Madison WI. Guests of Honor: Emma Bull and Tobias Buckell; Fan Guest of Honor: Georgie Schnobrich; For online registration and updates, please see website -- www.oddcon.com.

2009 Eaton Science Fiction Conference (Apr 30 - May 3 '09) University of California, Riverside. Includes presentation of the Second Eaton Lifetime Achievement Award to Frederik Pohl. Website: http://eatonconference.ucr.edu/

ConQuesT 40 (May 22-24, 2009) Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, MO. Guest of Honor, John Scalzi; Artist Guest, Oberon Zell; Anime/Media Guest, Jerry Gelb; Fan Guest, Ed deGruy; Toastmaster, Ellen Datlow. Website: http://www.conquestkc.org/.

OASIS 22 (May 22-24, 2009) Sheraton Orlando Downtown, Orlando FL. Writer GoH: Peter David, Special Guest Writer: John Ringo, Editor GoH: TOni Weisskopf Artist GoH:Johnny Atomic. Website: www.oasfis.org/oasis.

SoonerCon 2009 (Jun 5-7, 2009) Oklahoma City, OK. Guests: Eric Flint, Tom Kidd. Website: www.soonercon.info

Aetherica 2009 (June 19-21, 2009) Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, UK. Fantasy-themed programming, ranging from presentations and panels to craft workshops and team building activities. GoHs: Peter Beagle, Joe Abercrombie and more. Adult 3-day Memb: £35 until 16/11/08; £45 until 14/05/09. Website: http://www.aetherica.org/.

FiestaCon / Westercon 62 (July 2-5, 2009) Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, Tempe AZ. Guests: Todd Lockwood, Alan Dean Foster, Stanley Schmidt, Jim & Doreen Webbert; Toastmasters Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden. Website: http://www.fiestacon.org/.

Pulpfest 2009 (July 31 - Aug 2 2009) Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio. The Summer's Leading Pulp Convention with thousands of your favorite Pulp Magazines. Website: http://www.pulpfest.com/

AnticipationSF: the 67th World Science Fiction Convention (August 6-10, 2009) Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. GoHs: Neil Gaiman, Elisabeth Vonarburg, Ralph Bakshi, Taral Wayne, David G. Hartwell, Tom Doherty; master of ceremonies: Julie Czerneda. Website: http://www.anticipationsf.ca/English/Home.

North American Discworld Convention 2009 (Sep 4-7 2009) Tempe, Arizona. Guest of Honor: Terry Pratchett; other guests: Esther Friesner, Diane Duane, Peter Morwood. Info: http://www.nadwcon.org/.

FenCon VI (Sep 18-20 2009) Crowne Plaza North Dallas, Addison TX. Details: see website: http://www.fencon.org/.

Capclave (Oct 16-18, 2009) Hilton Washington DC/Rockville, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Author Guest of Honor Harry Turtledove; Editor Guest of Honor Sheila Williams. A production of the Washington Science Fiction Association. A literary science fiction convention with panels, autographing, readings, filking, gaming, a hospitality suite and a full set of workshops including writing, reviewing, contracts, publicity, and how to get an agent. Memberships are $35 through December 2008; $45 January through June 2009; $55 July through September 2009; and $60 thereafter. Website - http://www.capclave.org.

World Fantasy Convention (Oct 29 - Nov 1 '09) The Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA. Guests to be announced. Website: http://www.worldfantasy2009.org/