Unicon (Maryland science fiction convention)

Infobox Convention
name = Unicon


caption =
status = Defunct
genre = Science fiction
venue =
location = Maryland
country = United States
first = 1974
last = 1989
organizer =
filing =
attendance =
website =

This article is about the science fiction convention in Maryland. For the science fiction convention in Britain, see Unicon (British science fiction convention). (There have also been other science fiction conventions called Uncicon various places in the world over the years.)

Unicon was an annual science fiction convention held in Maryland and at least once in Washington, D.C. from 1974 through 1989.

Unicon was born in the early 1970s on the second floor of the Student Union Building at the University of Maryland, College Park. Unicon stood for University Convention. The University of Maryland Science Fiction Club was the organizing body. The club originally began as an open university course on science fiction with Stephen Rynas, a university junior, as the instructor.

Unicon I was held at the Interstate Inn on Route 1 in College Park. The Guest of Honor was Fred Pohl.

Unicon outgrew any facilities in College Park and moved to the Silver Spring Sheraton (now a Hilton, where four Capclaves were held) for a successful run into the 1980s.

List of Unicons

References

* Don Sakers' con reports at [http://www.readersadvice.com/cons/con00.html]
* Various WSFA Journals, all available online at [http://wsfa.org/journal/]
* Personal communication from Erwin Strauss, Simcha Kuritzky, Don Sakers, and Fred Blonder
* "The Falcon, Chewbacca and 1,202 Humanoids", by Joseph McLellan, "Washington Post", Monday, July 10, 1978, p. B1, B9