| Minicon | Dates | Memb Est. | Location (City) | Guests | Theme, slogan, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 6, 1968, 12:30-5pm | 60 | Coffman Union (Men's Lounge), University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) | Guests of Honor: Gordon R. Dickson, Charles DeVet, and Clifford Simak | A Strange New World of Science Fiction |
| 2 | April 4–6, 1969 | 115 | Andrews Hotel (Minneapolis) | Guests of Honor: Gordon R. Dickson, Charles DeVet, and Clifford Simak | — |
| 3 | April 3–5, 1970 | 130 | Dyckman Hotel (Minneapolis) | Guests of Honor: Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, and Clifford Simak | The Minneapolis in '73 Convention! |
| 4 | June 17-19, 1971 | 150 | Curtis Hotel (Minneapolis) | Guest of Honor: Lin Carter | The Minneapolis in '73 Convention! |
| 5 | October 15-17, 1971 | 100 | Andrews Hotel (Minneapolis) | Guest of Honor: Volsted Gridban (this is an oft-repeated joke; in fact, there was no guest) | The Genghiscon! |
| 6 | April 7-9, 1972 | 175 | Hyatt Lodge (Minneapolis) | Guest of Honor: Ruth Berman | The Stereo-opticon! |
| 7 | April 20-22, 1973 | 220 | Hyatt Lodge (Minneapolis) | Larry Niven, Pro Guest of Honor Rusty Hevelin, Fan Guest of Honor |
The Minneapolis in '73 Con! |
| 8 | April 12-14, 1974 | 350 | Dyckman Hotel (Minneapolis) | Kelly Freas, Pro Guest of Honor Bob Tucker, Fan Guest of Honor |
— |
| 9 | October 11–13, 1974 | 190 | Minneapolis Public Library / Dyckman Hotel (Minneapolis) | Guests of Honor: Judy Lynn and Lester del Rey | Made possible by a Grant From Daytons! |
| 10 | April 18–20, 1975 | 510 | Holiday Inn (Minneapolis) | Poul Anderson, Pro Guest of Honor Gordy Dickson, Fan Guest of Honor Lester del Rey, Toastmaster |
— |
| 11 | April 16–18, 1976 | 500 | Leamington Hotel (Minneapolis) | Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett, Pro Guests of Honor Leigh and Norb Couch, Fan Guests of Honor Jackie Franke and Rusty Hevelin, Toastmasters |
— |
| 12 | April 8–10, 1977 | 500 | Leamington Hotel (Minneapolis) | Ben Bova, Pro Guest of Honor Buck and Juanita Coulson, Fan Guests of Honor Joe Haldeman, Toastmaster |
The Dododecacon |
| 13 | March 24–26, 1978 | 800 | Leamington Hotel (Minneapolis) | Samuel R. Delany, Pro Guest of Honor Spider Robinson, Fan Guest of Honor Bob Tucker, Artist Guest of Honor Krissy, Toastmaster |
Nothing is as it seems |
| 15 | April 13–15, 1979 | A little over 1000 | Minneapolis Radisson (Minneapolis) | Theodore Sturgeon, Pro Guest of Honor Tom Digby, Fan Guest of Honor Rick Sternbach, Artist Guest of Honor Bob Vardeman, Honored Guest |
— |
| 16 | April 4-6, 1980 | —?— | Minneapolis Radisson (Minneapolis) | C.J. Cherryh, Pro Guest of Honor Jon Singer, Fan Guest of Honor Ken Fletcher, Artist Guest of Honor Nate Bucklin, Musician Guest of Honor Wilson (Bob) Tucker, Toastmaster |
Déjà Vu |
| 17 | April 17-19, 1981 | —?— | Minneapolis Radisson (Minneapolis) | Jack Vance, Pro Guest of Honor Jerry Boyajian, Fan Guest of Honor Kathy Marschall, Artist Guest of Honor Reed Waller, Musician Guest of Honor |
— |
| 14 | April 4–6, 1982 | —?— | St. Paul Radisson (St. Paul) | John Varley, Pro Guest of Honor Cliff Simak, Fan Guest of Honor Spider Robinson, Musician Guest of Honor |
Forward, Into the Past |
| 19 | April 1–3, 1983 | —?— | St. Paul Radisson (St. Paul) | Larry Niven, Pro Guest of Honor Pamela Dean and David Dyer–Bennet, Fan Guests of Honor Dave Sim, Artist Guest of Honor Spider John Koerner, Musician Guest of Honor Steven K. Zoltan Brust, Toastmaster Nostradamus, Proxy Guest of Honor |
Backward, Into the Future |
| 18 | April 20–22, 1984 | 1,450 | Leamington Hotel (Minneapolis) | Chelsea Quinn Yarboro, Pro Guest of Honor Dave Wixon, Fan Guest of Honor Steve Hickman, Artist Guest of Honor Somtow Sucharitkul, Musician Guest of Honor Rusty Hevelin, Toastmaster Bob Tucker, Smooth Guest of Honor |
We know what we're doing and you don't. Trust us. |
| 20 | April 5–7, 1985 | 1,525 | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | James P. Hogan, Pro Guest of Honor Permanent Floating Riot Club, Fan Group Guests of Honor Stu Shiffman, Artist Guest of Honor Bob Berlien & the White Women, Musician Guests of Honor Kara Dalkey and Jerry Stearns, Toastmasters |
Let's you and I get normal for a change |
| 21 | March 28–30, 1986 | 1,600 | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm, Pro Guests of Honor Denny Lien, Fan Guest of Honor Ken Fletcher, Artist Guest of Honor Ann Passovoy, Musician Guest of Honor Diane Duane, Toastmaster Special Guests: Phyllis Eisenstein, Terry Windling, John M. Ford, and P.C. Hodgell |
Now we're just immoral and fattening |
| 22 | April 17–19, 1987 | 1,950 | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | David Brin, Pro Guest of Honor Fred Haskell, Fan Guest of Honor Erin McKee, Artist Guest of Honor Jerry Stearns, Musician Guest of Honor Robert Bloch, Toastmaster Special Guests: Diane Duane, Jane Yolen, and Ellen Kushner |
Still Crazy After All These Years |
| 23 | April 1–3, 1988 | at least 1745 pre-reg, –?– total | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Eleanor Arnason, Author Guest of Honor Eric Heideman, Fan Guest of Honor Frederick Pohl, Editor Guest of Honor Crystal Marvig, Artist Guest of Honor Richard Feynman, Science Guest of Honor Special Guests: Jane Yolen, David Hartwell, and Algis Budrys |
Spring Forward, Fall Over |
| 24 | March 24–26, 1989 | —?— | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Guests of Honor: Harry Harrison, George “Lan” Laskowski, Fritz Leiber, and Barry Longyear Special Guests: Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, P.C. Hodgell, Larry Niven, and John Sladek |
Zen and the Art of Fan Maintenance |
| 25 | April 13–15, 1990 | —?— | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Jane Yolen, Guest of Honor Kim Stanley Robinson, Author Guest of Honor Patrick Price, “Arthur” Guest of Honor David Thayer a.k.a. Teddy Harvia, Artist Guest of Honor David E Romm, Fan Guest of Honor Earl Joseph, Science Guest of Honor Special Guests: Dave Clement, P.C. Hodgell, Dr. Joseph Romm, and Art Widner |
The Silver Edition |
| 26 | March 29–31, 1991 | —?— | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | George Alec Effinger, Author Guest of Honor David Cherry, Artist Guest of Honor Al Kuhfeld, Ph.D., Science Guest of Honor Suzanne V. Tompkins and Jerry Kaufman, Fan Guests of Honor Jon Singer, Lunch Guest of Honor |
Think of it as Evolution in Action |
| 27 | April 17–19, 1992 | —?— | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Lois McMaster Bujold, Writer Guest of Honor Ctein, Artist Guest of Honor Dave Van Ronk, Musician Guest of Honor |
Don't Ever Be A Dodo |
| 28 | April 9–11, 1993 | 3,100 | Radisson Hotel South (Bloomington) | Susan Allison, Editor Guest of Honor Diane Duane and Peter Morwood, Author Guests of Honor Kathy Mar, Musician Guest of Honor Don Fitch, Bless His Sweet Heart Guest of Honor John M. Ford, Interesting Person Guest of Honor |
Suite, Savage Minicon |
| 29 | April 1–3, 1994 | 3,300 | Radisson Hotel South and Wyndham Garden Hotel (Bloomington) | Tom Doherty, Publisher Guest of Honor Jack Williamson, Author Guest of Honor Rusty Hevelin, Fan Guest of Honor Phil Foglio, Artist Guest of Honor |
It seemed like a good idea at the time |
| 30 | April 14–16, 1995 | 3,500 | Radisson Hotel South, Wyndham Garden Hotel, and L'Hotel Sofitel (Bloomington) | Vernor Vinge, Author Guest of Honor Dr. Robert Forward, Science Guest of Honor Jody Lee, Artist Guest of Honor The Bhigg House, Fan Group Guest of Honor Glen Cook, Honored Guest |
Some Assembly Required or “Would You Like Fries With That?” |
| 31 | April 5–7, 1996 | 3,564 warm(?) 3,619 total | Radisson Hotel South, Wyndham Garden Hotel, and L'Hotel Sofitel (Bloomington) | Suzette Haden Elgin, Guest of Honor Ed Emshwiller, Memorial Artist Guest of Honor Joe Siclari and Edie Stern, Fan Guests of Honor David Ossman, Audio Guest of Honor James P. Hogan, Science Guest of Honor L.A. Taylor, Honored Guest |
Coming to a Galaxy Near You |
| 32 | March 28–30, 1997 | "Over 3500" | Radisson Hotel South, L'Hotel Sofitel, and Holiday Inn Airport 2 (Bloomington) | Algis Budrys, Author Guest of Honor C.J. Cherryh, Author Guest of Honor Tom Doherty, Publisher Guest of Honor Tom Lopez, Audio Guest of Honor Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Editor Guest of Honor Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Editor Guest of Honor Michael Swanwick, Author Guest of Honor |
Even Chaos has a Pattern |
| 33 | April 10–12, 1998 | 3,431 total | Radisson Hotel South, L'Hotel Sofitel, Holiday Inn Airport 2, and Wyndham Garden Hotel (Bloomington) | Gardner Dozois, Professional Guest of Honor Dave Langford, Fan Guest of Honour John M. Ford, Toastmaster Phil Proctor, Mark Time Award Presenter |
Heisenberg Probably Slept Here |
| 34 | April 2–4, 1999 | 1,500 | Hilton Minneapolis and Towers (Minneapolis) | Octavia E. Butler, Writer Guest of Honor Mark and Priscilla Olson, Fan Guests of Honor Dave Nee, Bookseller Guest of Honor |
— |
| 35 | April 21–23, 2000 | 850 | Hilton Minneapolis and Towers (Minneapolis) | Maureen F. McHugh, Writer Guest of Honor Lenny Bailes, Fan Guest of Honor John Berkey, Artist Guest of Honor Orson and David Ossman, Mark Time Award Presenters |
— |
| 36 | April 13–15, 2001 | 604 | Hilton Minneapolis and Towers (Minneapolis) | Ken MacLeod, Writer Guest of Honour Jo Walton, Fan Guest of Honour Leslie Fish, Musician Guest of Honor |
— |
| 37 | March 29–31, 2002 | 637 | Hilton Minneapolis and Towers (Minneapolis) | Will Shetterly, Writer Guest of Honor Emma Bull, Writer Guest of Honor Arthur Hlavaty, Fan Guest of Honor Rick Berry, Artist Guest of Honor |
— |
| 38 | April 18–20, 2003 | 519 | The Millennium Hotel Minneapolis (Minneapolis) | Robert J. Sawyer, Author Guest of Honor Carolyn Clink, Poet Guest of Honor Sue Mason, Fan Guest of Honour Steve Macdonald, Musician Guest of Honor |
— |
| 39 | April 9–11, 2004 | at least 453† | The Millennium Hotel Minneapolis (Minneapolis) | Walter John Williams, Writer Guest of Honor Sharyn November, Editor Guest of Honor Deb Geisler, Fan Guest of Honor |
— |
| 40 | March 25–27, 2005 | 460 prereg, 630 total | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel (formerly the Radison South) | Terry Pratchett, Writer Guest of Honor James Young, Fan Guest of Honor Fastner and Larson, Artist Guests of Honor |
Minicon Fortean |
| 41 | April 14–16, 2006 | at least 381† | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Harlan Ellison, Writer Guest of Honor John Picacio, Artist Guest of Honor Doug Friauf, Fan Guest of Honor |
XLi, Robot |
| 42 | April 6–8, 2007 | at least 308† | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Charles de Lint, Writer Guest of Honor Charles Vess, Artist Guest of Honor |
And the question was...? |
| 43 | March 21–23, 2008 | 432±3 total, 385±3 warm | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Alastair Reynolds, Author Guest of Honor Shawna McCarthy, Editor Guest of Honor Nate Bucklin, Fan Guest of Honor Wayne Barlowe, Artist Guest of Honor (who didn't make it to the con) |
Digging up the future |
| 44 | April 10&ndash–12, 2009 | 422 total, 395 warm | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Karl Schroeder, Author Guest of Honor Seth Shostak, Scientist Guest of Honor Stephen Martiniere, Artist Guest of Honor (who didn't make it to the con) |
— |
| 45 | April 2–4, 2010 | 366 prereg ??? warm |
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Brandon Sanderson, Author Guest of Honor Dan Dos Santos, Artist Guest of Honor |
— |
| 46 | April 22–24, 2011 | pending... | Sheraton Bloomington Hotel | Charles Stross, Author Guest of Honor in absentia John Scalzi, Author Guest of Honor Chas Somdahl, Musician Guest of Honor |
Not yet dead from the neck up |
| 47 | April 6–8, 2012 | DoubleTree Bloomington Hotel (formerly the Sheraton Bloomington, formerly the Radison South) | Ted Chiang, Author Guest of Honor Christopher J Garcia, Fanzine Guest of Honor Frank Wu, Artist Guest of Honor Brianna "Spacekat" Wu, special guest |
The minions are coming... (provisional) |
† For Minicons 39–42, I got the membership numbers out of the database, into which we are notoriously bad at ever entering the at-the-door registrations. Thus at least some of these are only the pre-registration memberships. In particular, I'm 99% sure that Minicon 42 was about the same size as 43 and 44, not 100 people smaller.
Dates: Yes, there were two years we had two Minicons — 1971 and 1974. Even on years with only one Minicon, it hasn't always been on Easter, just mostly.
Minicon Numbering: Yes, we know the numbering was just a tiny, wee-bit non-sequential between 1978 and 1985. It's a long story, and really not that shaggy.
This list originally by Fred A Levy Haskell, Official Happy Deadwood, Minn-StF, since updated several times, at last report being kept up by the Minnstf archivist, Matt Strait. The information about Minicons 40–45 and additional information on earlier Minicons was added in Jan 2010, the information about Minicons 37–39 was added on May 3, 2003, the information about Minicons 34–36 was added on March 14, 2001. Documented additions or corrections will be warmly welcomed. Send to [archivist at mnstf dot org].
Info about recent and current Minicons, plus more historical info, can be found via the main Minicon page.