Minicon: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Science fiction and fantasy convention in the US}} |
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{{about|a convention|the fictional race from ''[[Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]''|Mini-Con}} |
{{about|a convention|the fictional race from ''[[Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]''|Mini-Con}} |
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{{Infobox Convention |
{{Infobox Convention |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| status = Active |
| status = Active |
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| genre = [[Science fiction]]/[[ |
| genre = [[Science fiction]]/[[fantasy]] |
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| venue = |
| venue = DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington |
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| location = [[ |
| location = [[Bloomington, Minnesota]] |
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| country = United States |
| country = United States |
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| coordinates= {{Coord|44|51|42|N|93|21|10|W|display=inline,title}} |
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| first = 1968 |
| first = 1968 |
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| last = |
| last = |
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| organizer = Minnesota Science Fiction Society |
| organizer = Minnesota Science Fiction Society |
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| filing = Non-profit |
| filing = Non-profit |
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| attendance = |
| attendance = 400–700 |
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| website = http://www.mnstf.org/minicon/ |
| website = {{url|http://www.mnstf.org/minicon/}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Minicon''' is a [[science fiction]] and [[fantasy]] [[Science fiction convention|convention]] in [[Minneapolis]] usually held on [[Easter]] weekend. |
'''Minicon''' is a [[science fiction]] and [[fantasy]] [[Science fiction convention|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]].<ref>{{cite web| last =Sutton| first =Terri| title =Between Planets| publisher =City Pages LLC| date =2004-05-26| url =http://www.citypages.com/2004-05-26/arts/between-planets/| accessdate =2009-01-06| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20110606025150/http://www.citypages.com/2004-05-26/arts/between-planets/| archivedate =2011-06-06}}</ref> 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". |
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Minicon has had many guests of honor over the years, including [[Gordon R. Dickson]], [[Poul Anderson]], [[Clifford D. Simak]], [[Lester del Rey]], [[Frederik Pohl]], [[Octavia E. Butler]], [[Harlan Ellison]], [[Larry Niven]], and [[Terry Pratchett]]. |
Minicon has had many guests of honor over the years, including [[Gordon R. Dickson]], [[Poul Anderson]], [[Clifford D. Simak]], [[Lester del Rey]], [[Frederik Pohl]], [[Octavia E. Butler]], [[Harlan Ellison]], [[Larry Niven]], and [[Terry Pratchett]]. |
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| ⚫ | Minicon should not be confused with '''MinnCon''', a dark fantasy/horror convention founded in 1971 by fans living in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]. MinnCon changed its name to [[Arcana (convention)|Arcana]] in 1988 to avoid confusion but many area fans still refer to the convention by its older name. The term "minicon" is often used informally in science fiction circles for any small convention. |
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== Features == |
== Features == |
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* Dealers room |
* Dealers room |
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* Kids' programming |
* Kids' programming |
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* Science room |
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* [[Filk]] and folk music |
* [[Filk]] and folk music |
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* Consuite and bar |
* Consuite and bar |
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== History == |
== History == |
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{{ |
{{see also|List of past Minicons}} |
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The first Minicon was held on 6 January 1968 in Coffman Union at the [[University of Minnesota]] and had approximately 60 attendees. In all subsequent years it was held in area hotels. Attendance grew fairly steadily for many years, culminating in a series of conventions that drew over 3000 people and used as many as 4 hotels. However, in 1999, Minicon downscaled dramatically due to a feeling among some organizers that it had strayed too far from its roots and had become unmanageable. Recent Minicons have had between 400 and 700 attendees.<ref>{{cite web|last=Walsh |
The first Minicon was held on 6 January 1968 in Coffman Union at the [[University of Minnesota]] and had approximately 60 attendees. In all subsequent years it was held in area hotels. Attendance grew fairly steadily for many years, culminating in a series of conventions that drew over 3000 people and used as many as 4 hotels. However, in 1999, Minicon downscaled dramatically due to a feeling among some organizers that it had strayed too far from its roots and had become unmanageable. Recent Minicons have had between 400 and 700 attendees.<ref>{{cite web| last =Walsh| first =Jim| title =Attention Earthlings:Your Planet Sucks| publisher =City Pages LLC| date =2006-05-03| url =http://www.citypages.com/2006-05-03/columns/there-s-a-place-for-us/| accessdate =2009-01-06| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20091220042347/http://www.citypages.com/2006-05-03/columns/there-s-a-place-for-us/| archivedate =2009-12-20}}</ref> |
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Around the time that Minicon reduced its size, some other conventions sprang up in the area, including [[CONvergence (convention)|CONvergence]] and [[MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)|MarsCon]]. |
Around the time that Minicon reduced its size, some other conventions sprang up in the area, including [[CONvergence (convention)|CONvergence]] and [[MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)|MarsCon]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
== Latest convention == |
== Latest convention == |
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Minicon |
Minicon 50 was held April 2–5, 2015 at the DoubleTree Bloomington Hotel in [[Bloomington, Minnesota]]. The guests of honor scheduled were authors [[Jane Yolen]], [[Larry Niven]] and [[Brandon Sanderson]]; publisher [[Tom Doherty]]; musician [[Adam Stemple]] and artist [[Michael Whelan]]. |
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Minicon 51 was held on Easter Weekend 2016 (March 25–27), and featured guests of honor author [[Seanan McGuire]] and artist [[Sara Butcher Burrier]]. |
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== External links == |
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Minicon 52 was held on Easter Weekend 2017 (April 14–16), and featured guests of honor [[Jim C. Hines]], Brother [[Guy Consolmagno]], Mark Oshiro, and Jeff Lee Johnson |
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Minicon 53 was held on Easter Weekend 2018 (March 30 – April 1) and feature guests of honor [[Lyda Morehouse]] and [[Rachel Swirsky]] and feature the art of [[Jon Arfstrom]]. |
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Minicon 56 was held on Easter Weekend 2023 (April 7–9); it featured guests of honor [[Martha Wells]], [[Sara Felix]] and [[Greg Ketter]].<ref>[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 website]</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{Commonscat}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
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| ⚫ | *[http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers1.html Transcript of 1977 discussion of early Minneapolis SF fan history, part one] [http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers2.html Part two] [http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers3.html 3] [http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers4.html 4] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032359/http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers1.html Transcript of 1977 discussion of early Minneapolis SF fan history, part one] [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032507/http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers2.html Part two] [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032453/http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers3.html 3] [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032500/http://www.smithway.org/history/fathers4.html 4] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Conventions in Minnesota]] |
[[Category:Conventions in Minnesota]] |
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[[Category:Culture of Minneapolis |
[[Category:Culture of Minneapolis]] |
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[[Category:Fantasy conventions]] |
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Minneapolis]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:51, 12 March 2024
| Minicon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Science fiction/fantasy |
| Venue | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington |
| Location(s) | Bloomington, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°51′42″N 93°21′10″W / 44.86167°N 93.35278°W |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1968 |
| Attendance | 400–700 |
| Organized by | Minnesota Science Fiction Society |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Website | www |
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.[1] 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".
Minicon has had many guests of honor over the years, including Gordon R. Dickson, Poul Anderson, Clifford D. Simak, Lester del Rey, Frederik Pohl, Octavia E. Butler, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, and Terry Pratchett.
Minicon should not be confused with MinnCon, a dark fantasy/horror convention founded in 1971 by fans living in St. Paul, Minnesota. MinnCon changed its name to Arcana in 1988 to avoid confusion but many area fans still refer to the convention by its older name. The term "minicon" is often used informally in science fiction circles for any small convention.
Features
[edit]Staples of modern Minicons are:
- Several tracks of panel discussions
- Readings
- Gaming, formal and informal
- The Bozo Bus Tribune, convention newsletter
- Art show
- Dealers room
- Kids' programming
- Science room
- Filk and folk music
- Consuite and bar
- Parties
History
[edit]The first Minicon was held on 6 January 1968 in Coffman Union at the University of Minnesota and had approximately 60 attendees. In all subsequent years it was held in area hotels. Attendance grew fairly steadily for many years, culminating in a series of conventions that drew over 3000 people and used as many as 4 hotels. However, in 1999, Minicon downscaled dramatically due to a feeling among some organizers that it had strayed too far from its roots and had become unmanageable. Recent Minicons have had between 400 and 700 attendees.[2]
Around the time that Minicon reduced its size, some other conventions sprang up in the area, including CONvergence and MarsCon.
Latest convention
[edit]Minicon 50 was held April 2–5, 2015 at the DoubleTree Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. The guests of honor scheduled were authors Jane Yolen, Larry Niven and Brandon Sanderson; publisher Tom Doherty; musician Adam Stemple and artist Michael Whelan.
Minicon 51 was held on Easter Weekend 2016 (March 25–27), and featured guests of honor author Seanan McGuire and artist Sara Butcher Burrier.
Minicon 52 was held on Easter Weekend 2017 (April 14–16), and featured guests of honor Jim C. Hines, Brother Guy Consolmagno, Mark Oshiro, and Jeff Lee Johnson
Minicon 53 was held on Easter Weekend 2018 (March 30 – April 1) and feature guests of honor Lyda Morehouse and Rachel Swirsky and feature the art of Jon Arfstrom.
Minicon 56 was held on Easter Weekend 2023 (April 7–9); it featured guests of honor Martha Wells, Sara Felix and Greg Ketter.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Sutton, Terri (2004-05-26). "Between Planets". City Pages LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Walsh, Jim (2006-05-03). "Attention Earthlings:Your Planet Sucks". City Pages LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Minicon 56 website
External links
[edit]