AggieCon

Infobox Convention
name = AggieCon


caption =
status = Active
genre = Science fiction
venue = Texas A&M University
location = College Station, Texas
country = United States
first = 1969
last =
organizer = Cepheid Variable
filing = Student organization
attendance =
website = http://aggiecon.tamu.edu/

AggieCon is the oldest and largest student-run science fiction convention in the United States. Held annually since 1969 by Cepheid Variable at Texas A&M University's Memorial Student Center, it has grown to become one of the larger conventions in Texas. AggieCon was the first science fiction convention ever sponsored by a college or a college affiliate student organization. [ [http://jophan.org/1960s/chapter7.htm Richard Lynch's "Fan History Book of the 1960s", Chapter 7] ]

The convention is known for its relaxed atmosphere, where guests and attendees can sit and chat on the couches outside the dealers' room and art show. The scope of AggieCon ranges from science fiction to fantasy to horror, and encompasses literature, graphic arts, and general media. Activities and events include panel discussions, costume contest, the "Rocky Horror Picture Show", dealer's room, art show, and much gaming, including LARPing.

Cepheid Variable was named the 2006 Registered Student Organization of the Year at Texas A&M. Among the cited reasons for the award were the $1,500 they donate each year to Scotty's House Child Advocacy Center and the creation of "S.O.S.," a tutoring program for Cepheids that aims to increase the club's academic status on campus. Cepheid advisor James "Spanky" Smith won an award for being the advisor of the year during the same ceremony. [cite news | url=http://www.theeagle.com/stories/052006/am_20060520004.php | title=Cepheid Variable builds on unique friendships | publisher=" [http://www.theeagle.com/ Bryan-College Station Eagle] " | author=Josh Baugh | date=2006-05-20 | accessdate=2007-07-27]

Past conventions

# Science Fiction Week (retroactively AggieCon I) - April 21-24, 1969; GoH: Harlan Ellison
# Cepheid Comics and Trade Convention (retroactively AggieCon II) - Spring 1970; no GoH
# AggieCon III - April 1972; The first convention to officially use the name AggieCon [ [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tamucush/00230/tamu-00230.html Inventory of the Cepheid Variable-AggieCon Collection, 1969- ] , Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A&M University] , no GoH
# AggieCon IV - 1973
# AggieCon V - 1974
# AggieCon VI - 1975
# AggieCon VII - March 26-28, 1976
# AggieCon VIII - March 24-27, 1977
# AggieCon IX - March 30-April 2, 1978; GoH: George Proctor, Bob Vardeman
# AggieCon X - March 29-April 1, 1979
# AggieCon XI - 1980; GoH: George R.R. Martin
# AggieCon XII - 1981; GoH: Poul Anderson, special guest: Katherine Kurtz, artist: Frank Kelly Freas
# AggieCon XIII - 1982; GoH: Roger Zelazny, Brian Aldiss
# AggieCon XIV - March 24-27, 1983; GoH: Harry Harrison, Michael Whelan, Stephen R. Donaldson, Chad Oliver
# AggieCon XV - 1984
# AggieCon XVI - March 21-24, 1985
# AggieCon XVII - 1986
# AggieCon XVIII - 1987
# AggieCon XIX - 1988
# AggieCon XX - 1989
# AggieCon XXI - 1990; GoH: Walter Koenig, Richard Pini
# AggieCon XXII - 1991; GoH: Fred Saberhagen, Keith Parkinson, Larry Elmore
# AggieCon XXIII - 1992 [cite news | title=Aggiecon XXII Blasting Off | publisher=" [http://www.theeagle.com/ Bryan-College Station Eagle] " | author=Anton Reicher | date=1992-03-19]
# AggieCon XXIV - 1993
# AggieCon XXV - March 24-27, 1994; GoH: Greg Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, Charles de Lint, Julius Schwartz, Frank Kelly Freas, Laura Brodian Kelly-Freas
# AggieCon XXVI - 1995; GoH: John Byrne
# AggieCon XXVII - March 21-24, 1996; GoH: Bernie Wrightson, Nancy Collins, Joe Christ, Dave Wolverton, Kerry O'Quinn, Richard Biggs, Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Gwar
# AggieCon XXVIII - March 20-23, 1997; GoH: Brian Stelfreeze
# AggieCon XXIX - March 26-29, 1998; GoH: Robert Asprin, Joe R. Lansdale, Tad Williams, Phil & Kaja Foglio, Garth Ennis, John McCrea
# AggieCon XXX - March 25-28, 1999; GoH: Bruce Sterling, Larry Elmore, Nigel Bennett, Ted Raimi
# AggieCon XXXI - March 23-26, 2000; GoH: Harlan Ellison, Terry Pratchett, Tim Bradstreet
# AggieCon XXXII - March 22-25, 2001; GoH: Charles de Lint, Melanie Rawn, Martha Wells, Julie Caitlin Brown. Convention director was Yaru Liu.
# AggieCon XXXII - March 21-24, 2002; GoH was Neil Gaiman, Artist GoH was Charles Keegan, and other notable guests included Joe R. Lansdale, John Lucas, Brian Stelfreeze, and Karen Lansdale. [cite news | url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/03/21/FrontPage/SciFi.Descends.On.Am.With.Aggiecon-517387.shtml | title=Sci-Fi descends on A&M with AggieCon | publisher="The Battalion" | author=Marianne Hudson | date=2002-03-21 | accessdate=2007-07-27] Convention director was Yaru Liu. Notable programming included guest panels, a dealer’s room with comics and collectibles, gaming, and a 24-hour anime festival. The convention was held on the second floor of Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center and throughout Rudder Tower. [cite news | url=http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/2002articles/031402aggieconneilgaiman.htm | title=Mr. Sandman; Bestselling author Neil Gaiman is guest of honor at AggieCon 33 | publisher=" [http://www.theeagle.com/ Bryan-College Station Eagle] " | author=Josh Krach | date=2002-03-14 | accessdate=2007-07-27]
# AggieCon XXXIV - March 20-23, 2003; GoH: Virginia Hey, Lani Tupu, Ruth Thompson, Peter David [cite news | url=http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/onstage/2003articles/011603springartsschedule.htm | title=Performing Arts Schedules for Spring 2003 | publisher=" [http://www.theeagle.com/ Bryan-College Station Eagle] " | date=2003-01-16 | accessdate=2007-07-27]
# AggieCon XXXV - March 25-28, 2004; GoH: Jacqueline Carey, Todd McCaffrey [cite news | url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2004/03/23/Aggielife/Boldly.Going-638534.shtml | title=Boldly Going...; AggieCon attracts Klingons, sex robots to campus for science fiction convention | publisher="The Battalion" | author=Robert Saucedo | date=2004-03-23 | accessdate=2007-07-27]
# AggieCon XXXVI - April 21-24, 2005; GoH: Michael Moorcock, Elizabeth Moon, Red vs. Blue
# AggieCon XXXVII - March 23-26, 2006; GoH: Steven Brust, James Charles Leary, Peter Mayhew, Brian Stelfreeze [cite news | url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2006/03/24/Aggielife/Anime.Maniacs-1715695.shtml | title=Anime Maniacs | publisher="The Battalion" | author=Robert Saucedo | date=2006-03-24 | accessdate=2007-07-27]
# AggieCon XXXVIII - March 22-25, 2007; GoH: Gene Wolfe, James O'Barr, Richard Hatch, Ruth Thompson [cite news | url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/03/20/News/Gnome.Masterpiece-2781892.shtml | title=Gnome Masterpiece | publisher="The Battalion" | author=Daniel Bates | date=2007-03-20 | accessdate=2007-07-27]
# AggieCon XXXIX - March 27-30, 2008; GoH: Ellen Muth

See also

* [http://aggiecon.tamu.edu Official AggieCon Website]
* [http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Main_Page Cepheid Variable Wiki ("Cepheidopedia")] - Wiki of the group that puts on AggieCon. Here you can find information about old AggieCons and the program book covers.

References