Penguicon

Infobox Convention
name = Penguicon


caption = Tux visits the Penguicon Consuite
status = Active
genre = Science fiction/Linux User Group
venue = Crowne Plaza, Romulus, MI
location = Southeastern Michigan
country = United States
first = 2003
last =
organizer = Penguicon Staff
filing =
attendance = 1000+
website = http://www.penguicon.org

Penguicon is a convention in the United States that deliberately brings together the often-overlapping communities of science fiction fandom and Linux User Groups. In addition to educational panels on areas of interest to science fiction fans and both professional and beginner-level panels on Linux and Open-source software, Penguicon participants can enjoy an anime room, filk (the folk music of science fiction fandom), swordfighting demonstrations by Aegis Consulting (a local martial arts school), dancing, OpenCola, gaming — live action role-playing game, computer, board and cards — and more.

Over a thousand participants have attended past conventions, which have featured Guests of Honor from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett to Jon "maddog" Hall and Eric S. Raymond.

The 2007 Penguicon, "Penguicon 5.0", was held April 20-22 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Hilton.

The 2008 Penguicon, "Penguicon 6.0", was held April 18-20 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Hilton.

Penguicon 2009, "Penguicon 7.0" (also known as "Penguicon BING!"), will be held May 1-3 in Romulus, Michigan at the Crowne Plaza Romulus.

Past guests of honor

2003

* Eric S. Raymond
* Terry Pratchett
* Rob Malda
* J.D. Frazer
* Pete Abrams

2004

* Neil Gaiman
* Jeff Bates (see Slashdot)
* Steve Jackson (US)
* Jon "maddog" Hall

2005

* Cory Doctorow
* Rod Roddenberry
* Kevin Siembieda
* Joan D. Vinge
* Nat Torkington
* Dr. Peter H. Salus

2006

* Chris DiBona
* Frank Hayes
* Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
* Andrew Looney, Kristin Looney, Alison Frane, of Looney Labs

2007

* Bruce Schneier
* Christine Peterson Foresight Institute
* Randy Milholland
* Charlie Stross
* Elizabeth Bear

2008

* Jono Bacon
* Benjamin Mako Hill
* Vernor Vinge
* Tamora Pierce
* Randall Munroe
* Keith Baker
* Singing Tesla Coils (also known as Zeusaphone) as Hack of Honor

Recurring Almost guest of honor

Wil Wheaton

"Nifty Guests"

"Nifty Guest" is a level of invitation status that Penguicon confers on those who are not full guests of honor but who are celebrities in their own right. Examples includeprevious Guests of Honor returning to attend the convention.

Nifties 2003

* Eric Flint
* Clif Flynt
* Jeff Bates

Nifties 2004

* Howard Tayler
* Eric S. Raymond
* Fred Gallagher
* Sandra Brewer
* Luke Ski
* Tom Smith
* Pete Abrams
* John Ringo
* Vincent Locke

Nifties 2005

* Rob Malda
* Jeff Bates
* Eric Raymond
* Cathy Raymond
* Joey "accordionguy" DeVilla (unable to attend due to illness)
* Kathe Koja
* Howard Tayler
* Luke Ski
* Tom Smith

Nifties 2006

* John Scalzi
* Karl Schroeder
* Luke Ski
* Tom Smith
* Eric S. Raymond
* Cathy Raymond
* William Neibling
* Will Neibling
* Clif Flynt
* Howard Tayler

Niftys 2007

* Steve Jackson (US)
* Nick Sagan
* Rob Balder (PartiallyClips)
* [http://www.sarahmonette.com/ Sarah Monette]
* Luke Ski
* Tom Smith
* Eric S Raymond
* Cathy Raymond
* Sarah Zettel
* John Scalzi
* [http://www.msen.com/~clif/ Clif Flynt]
* Karl Schroeder
* [http://theferrett.livejournal.com/profile The Ferrett]
* [http://zoethe.livejournal.com/profile Gini Judd]

Niftys 2008

* John Scalzi
* Jorge Castro
* [http://www.sarahmonette.com/ Sarah Monette]
* Kyle Rankin
* Cherie Priest
* Joe Brockmeier
* Lucy Snyder
* Eliezer Yudkowsky
* Rob Balder (PartiallyClips)
* Ben Best
* Aaron Diaz (Dresden Codak)
* Luke Ski
* Tom Smith (filker)
* Jennie Breeden of [http://www.thedevilspanties.com/ The Devil's Panties]
* Dawn Kuczwara
* Greg Williams
* [http://theferrett.livejournal.com/profile The Ferrett]
* Katherine Kline
* Elizabeth Bear
* Andy Looney
* Frank Hayes (musician)
* Dr. Peter H. Salus
* Eric S. Raymond

See also

* Science fiction convention
* Science fiction fandom
* ConFusion (convention)

Mailing Lists, etc.

* [mailto://[e-mail] General email list]

External links

* [http://www.penguicon.org Penguicon Website]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/penguicon LJ Community]
* [http://wiki.penguicon.org EncycloPenguicon]