CONvergence (convention)

Infobox Convention
name = CONvergence


caption =
status = Active
genre = Speculative fiction/fan convention
venue = Sheraton Bloomington
location = Bloomington, Minnesota
country = United States
first = 1999
last =
organizer = MISFITS
filing = Non-profit
attendance =
website = http://www.convergence-con.org/

CONvergence is a speculative fiction/fan convention held annually on the first weekend in July in Minnesota, United States. Sponsored by the local fan organization MISFITS, the convention began in 1999 at the Bloomington Radisson South Hotel and continues to be held every year at the same location, now known as the Sheraton Bloomington. This location has been used by local fandom for a variety of conventions, including Minicon and MarsCon. 2008 will be the tenth CONvergence, and the convention theme will be centering around that fact, including adding another day of events (Thursday, July 3, 2008) to the schedule.

Attractions

CONvergence runs many parallel programming tracks, filling several convention rooms simultaneously with panels, speeches, demonstrations, recognitions, and screenings. [cite web| title =CONvergence | publisher =MISFITS| date =2007-06-29| url =http://www.misfit.org/| accessdate =2007-07-09] [Citation| last= Smith| first= Rod| title= Geek Chic| newspaper=City Pages| volume=23| issue=1128| year=2002| date=17 July 2002| url=http://citypages.com/databank/23/1128/article10568.asp ] It is one of the most-attended fan-run conventions in North America, with paid attendance exceeding 2,500.

The convention is also known for several attractions including Cinema Rex, a couch and recliner-filled movie room; Theater Nippon, featuring anime; Connie's Space Lounge, a music and entertainment venue; COF₂E₂, a coffee bar; CONsuite, hospitality and food; Harmonic CONvergence, which features musical acts; and the Dorian Gray Memorial Literary Lounge, a reading/writing setting.

There is also gaming (board, card, and roleplaying), an art show, a dealer's room (where one can buy everything from swords to comics to action figures), all-night bardic music circles, and dozens of room parties of various themes. The walls of the convention are usually plastered with advertisements for different parties.

Mascots

The con's mascot is the gynoid "Connie". She was created by the MISFITS mascot "Professor Misfittle". They are occasionally opposed by Connie's scheming younger sister, "Connie Mk. II". An inflatable tyrannosaur named Rex serves as Cinema Rex's mascot and is often involved in skits during Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Annual themes and guests of honor

The number in parentheses after each guest's name is how many times they have been a CONvergence guest of honor as of the year in question.

1999 - "After All, it's Just a Party"

* Forrest J. Ackerman (1) - SF historian and collector
* Pam Keesey (1) - Author of Vamps! and other fiction
* Harry Knowles (1) - of Ain't It Cool News
* Jay Knowles (1) - of Ain't It Cool News
* Gordon Purcell (1) - Comic book artist
* Gary Russell (1) - Producer of the Doctor Who audio series

2000 - "No one can tell you what CONvergence is... you have to experience it for yourself." ("The Matrix" and similar fiction)

"(this is the only CONvergence not to be held at the Bloomington Radisson/Sheraton. This CONvergence was held at the Radisson in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota)"

* Neil Gaiman (1) - Author of books, comics and film
* Peg Kerr (1) - Award-winning author
* Regina Pancake (1) - Hollywood prop creator
* Ruth Thompson (1) - Fantasy artist
* Keith Topping (1) - Author of "Doctor Who" novels and more
* Cast and crew of "Go To Hell!" (1)

2001 - "Curioser and Curioser" ("Alice in Wonderland" and similar fiction)

* Harry Knowles (2) - Movie critic and web entrepreneur
* Peter Mayhew (1) - Chewbacca in Star Wars
* Michael Sheard† (1) - British SF movie and television actor
* Eleanor Arnason (1) - Award-winning author
* Crist Ballas (1) - Movie makeup artist
* Jay Knowles (1) - Web entrepreneur
* C.H. Morgan (1) - Science fiction and fantasy artist

2002 - "If Adventure Has A Name..." (Adventure themes in speculative fiction)
* Diane Duane (1) - Popular author of books and television
* Peter Morwood (1) - Science fiction and fantasy author
* Mark Altman (1) - Co-creator of "Free Enterprise" and "Trekspert"
* Robert Meyer Burnett (1) - Co-creator of "Free Enterprise" and director
* Nene Thomas (1) - Popular award-winning fantasy artist
* Daren Dochterman (1) - Designer and illustrator for over 35 feature films
* Adam 'Mojo' Lebowitz (1) - author and former lead animation supervisor for Foundation Imaging

2003 - "Time Flies" (Time travel)
* Michael Sheard† (2) - Actor in Star Wars, Last Crusade, and many other projects
* Andrew Probert (1) - Production designer for Star Trek
* Eric Flint (1) - Author and editor of many great books
* John Kovalic (1) - Dork Tower and Dork Storm Press
* Katherine Kurtz (1) - Author of the Deryni trilogies and stories

2004 - "Out of the Shadows" (The dark side of speculative fiction)

* Denise Garner (1) - Romantic fantasy artist
* David Gerrold (1) - Science fiction/fantasy author of many books
* Larry Niven (1) - Author of many science fiction books, including the Ringworld series
* Vincent Truitner (1) - Animation and CGI artist
* Christian Colquhoun (1) - Physical effects artist
* Crist Ballas (2) - Physical effects artist

2005 - "Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!" (Super-heroes and comic books)

* Len Wein (1) - Writer for comics and animation, creator of Swamp Thing, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine
* Dr. Jim Kakalios (1) - University of Minnesota physics professor, author of The Science of Superheros
* Mercedes Lackey (1) - Author of many popular novels, including the Valdemar and Bardic Voices series and folk music lyricist
* Larry Dixon (1) - Co-author of Mage Wars and Dariens Tale series, author of many short stories and game material and fantasy artist
* Marv Wolfman (1) - Writer for comics and animation, creator of Blade, Bullseye, and The New Teen Titans
* Harry and Jay Knowles (3) - Ain't It Cool News

2006 - "Boldly Go." (space exploration)

* Eric Flint (2) - Author and editor of many great books
* J.G. Hertzler (1) - actor on Star Trek as General Martok
* Ken Hite (1) - role-playing game author and designer
* Bridget Landry (1) - astronomer and engineer on the Cassini probe mission
* Robert O'Reilly (1) - Actor in many well-known science fiction TV series including Star Trek as Chancellor Gowron
* Miles Teves (1) - set designer
* David Weber (1) - author of military science-fiction
* Greg Weisman (1) - TV and comic book writer(Originally, Gary Russell had been scheduled to attend but had to decline due to conflicting obligations)

2007 - "Creature Feature" (horror and monsters)
* Emily Hagins (1) - Writer and director of the zombie movie "Pathogen"
* Brian Keene (1) - Author
* Bernie Wrightson (1) - Comic book artist, co-creator of Swamp Thing
* Lois McMaster Bujold (1) - Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
* Wally Wingert (1) - Voice Actor
* John Kovalic (2) - Dork Tower, Out of the Box Games

2008 - "Ten Years 1999-2008" (10th CONvergence)
* Crist Ballas (3) - make-up artist, Previous Guest of Honor
* Trace Beaulieu (1) - Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Doctor Clayton Forrester and Crow T. Robot) and Cinematic Titanic [cite web|url=http://www.convergence-con.org/news/20080318a.php|title=CONvergence 2008 News|date=2008-03-18|accessdate=2008-03-19]
* Robert Meyer Burnett (2) - Co-creator of "Free Enterprise" and director, Previous Guest of Honor
* Christian Colquhoun (2) - Physical effects artist, Previous Guest of Honor
* Larry Dixon (2) - Co-author of Mage Wars and Dariens Tale series, author of many short stories and game material and fantasy artist, Previous Guest of Honor
* Daren Dochterman (2) - Designer and illustrator for over 35 feature films
* Mark Evanier (1) - writer of comics and television shows
* Eric Flint (3) - author
* Ken Hite (2) - role-playing game author and designer
* Dr. Jim Kakalios (2) - University of Minnesota physics professor, author of The Science of Superheros, Previous Guest of Honor
* Harry Knowles (4) - aintitcoolnews.com, Previous Guest of Honor
* Jay Knowles (4) - aintitcoolnews.com, Previous Guest of Honor
* John Kovalic (3) - Dork Tower, Previous Guest of Honor
* Mercedes Lackey (2) - Author of many popular novels, including the Valdemar and Bardic Voices series and folk music lyricist, Previous Guest of Honor
* Bridget Landry (2) - astronomer and engineer on the Cassini probe mission), Previous Guest of Honor
* Peter Mayhew (2) - Chewbacca in Star Wars, Previous Guest of Honor
* Andrew Probert (2) - Production designer for Star Trek
* Vincent Truitner (1) - animator
* David Weber (2) - author
* Len Wein (2) - Writer for comics and animation, creator of Swamp Thing, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine, Previous Guest of Honor
* Greg Weisman (2) - producer and writer, Previous Guest of Honor
* Wally Wingert (2) - voice actor, Previous Guest of Honor
* Marv Wolfman (2) - Writer for comics and animation, creator of Blade, Bullseye, and The New Teen Titans, Previous Guest of Honor

(Originally, Bernie Wrightson had been scheduled to attend as one of the many returning guests of honor for year ten, but was unable to do so at the last minute.)

2009 - "This Con Goes to 11" (Humor in Science-Fiction and Fantasy, also the 11th CONvergence)
* Brian Keene (2) - Author of "The Rising"
* Kelly McCullough (1) - Author of "WebMage" (ISBN 0441014259)
* Dwayne McDuffie (1) - Creator of "Static Shock"
* Patrick Rothfuss (1) - Author of "The Name of the Wind"

References

External links

* [http://www.convergence-con.org CONvergence website]