MidSouthCon

MidSouthCon
Status	Active
Genre	Literature, Art, Comics, Gaming, Music, etc...
Venue	Memphis Hilton (Memphis, Tennessee)
Location	Memphis, Tennessee
Country	United States of America
First held	1982
Last held	present
Organizer	Mid-South Science & Fiction Conventions, Inc.
Attendance	>1300[1]
Official website	midsouthcon.org

MidSouthCon is an American science-fiction convention held each March in Memphis, Tennessee, since 1982, evolving from similar events in the late 1970s. Focusing mainly on science fiction literature, it provides basic programming geared to other genres: fantasy, science, comics, horror, and gaming.^[2][3] It is also the event at which the Darrell Awards Jury presents its annual Darrell Awards.

History

Memphis Fandom got restarted in 1970 (after a small group in the early 1940s was dissolved upon being drafted for World War II) with the formation of the Mid-South Fantasy Association (MSFA). In the late 1970s, they decided to put on a relaxacon, and after its success, decided to start putting on a yearly science fiction convention. Several different names were used, before choosing MidSouthCon as the permanent name for the convention. It was decided to start the numbering of this new MidSouthCon at 2 since the name had been used before: MidSouthCon 1 was held in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 20–22, 1980, and the very first DeepSouthCon in 1963 was also named MidSouthCon.

Past conventions

Precursor events

Steve & Don's Memphis Halfacon/Relaxicon was held in December 1977 at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. There were no guests of Honor per se. ConComm included the CoChair-beings Steven Carlberg and Don Markstein, as well as P.L. Caruthers, Claude Saxon, and Greg Bridges.

Just Imagicon was held May 24–27, 1979, at the (former) Rivermont Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors L. Sprague and Catherine De Camp, artist Kelly Freas, master of ceremonies Gerald R. Page, and fan Alonzo P. Atkins.

Imaginitzacon was held in September 1980 at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert Asprin, and fan Steven Carlberg.

Imagicon was held September 25–27, 1981, at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Andrew J. Offutt, and fan Charlie Williams.

1980s

MidSouthCon 2 was held August 20–22, 1982, at the (former) Quality Inn Riverview in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Wilson "Bob" Tucker, fan Arthur Hlavaty, and toastmaster/artist Charlie Williams, and author Darrell C. Richardson.

MidSouthCon 3 was held March 16–18, 1984, at the (former) Quality Inn Riverview in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Steve Dodd, fan Margaret Middleton, and toastmaster Dalvan Coger.

MidSouthCon 4 was held March 22–24, 1985, at the (former) Quality Inn Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Fred Pohl, artist Keith Berdak, filker Suzette Haden Elgin, fan Khen Moore, toastmaster John Steakley, and special guests Robert Jordan and Sharon Webb.

MidSouthCon 5 was held June 6–8, 1986, at the (former) Ramada Inn SW Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Joe Haldeman, artist David Cherry, toastmaster Andrew J. Offutt, and fan Judy Offutt.

MidSouthCon 6 was held March 27–29, 1987, at the (former) Wilson World Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Hal Clement, toastmaster Julius Schwartz, artist Lucy Swink, toastmaster Wilson "Bob" Tucker, and fan Ricky Sheppard.

MidSouthCon 7 was held March 18–20, 1988, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, toastmaster Julius Schwartz, artist Mitch Foust, filker Margaret Middleton, fan Darrell C. Richardson, and actors Paul Darrow (had to cancel) and Michael Keating.

MidSouthCon 8 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon 27, a Southern U.S. regional convention, was held June 9–11, 1989, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Orson Scott Card, toastmaster C.J. Cherryh, artist Mary hanson Roberts, filker Bill Sutton, fan G. Patrick Malloy, and special guest Wilson "Bob" Tucker.

1990s

MidSouthCon 9 was held March 16–18, 1990, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert Jordan, toastmaster Robert Asprin, artists David Martin and Ellisa Martin, fan P.L. Carruthers-Montgomery, actor Mark Ryan, and filker Gary Hanson.

MidSouthCon 10 was held March 22–24, 1991, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Harry Turtledove, artist Randall Spangler, and fans Steve & Sue Francis.

MidSouthCon 11 was held March 27–29, 1992, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Nancy Springer, artist Beth Willinger, and fan Belinda Anderson.

MidSouthCon 12 was held March 26–28, 1993, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Alan Dean Foster, artist Carl Lundgren, and fan Wilson "Bob" Tucker.

MidSouthCon 13 was held March 25–27, 1994, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barbera Hambley, artist Larry Elmore, actress Robin Curtis, and fan Khen Moore.

MidSouthCon 14 was held March 24–26, 1995, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Timothy Zahn, artist Alan Gutierrez, and fan Tim "Uncle Timmy" Bolgeo.

MidSouthCon 15 was held March 22–24, 1996, at the (former) Brownstone Downtown Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barry Longyear, artists Frank Kelly Freas and Laura Brodian Freas, fan Cullen Johnson.

MidSouthCon 16 was held March 28–30, 1997, at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino in Robinsonville, MS. The Guests of Honor included include author John Dechancie, artist Mitch Bentley, and fan Cullen Johnson.

(The noted gap here for the year 1998 was due to a last minute contract dispute between the convention and the hotel. With very little time before the event, they were forced to cancel the convention for that year.)

MidSouthCon 17 was held March 26–28, 1999, at the (former) Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author James P. Hogan, artist Joy Mariw Ledet, and fan Cullen Johnson.

2000s

MidSouthCon 18 was held March 24–26, 2000, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Fred Saberhagen, artist Robert Daniels, and actress Lisa Getto.

MidSouthCon 19 was held March 23–25, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Laurel K. Hamilton, artist Alan Clark, toastmaster Cullen Johnson, and special guests Jack McDevitt and Algis Budrys.

MidSouthCon 20 was held March 22–24, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Thomas Kidd, game designer Steve Jackson,actor Michael Sheard, and special guests Jane Fancher and Cullen Johnson.

MidSouthCon 21 was held March 28–30, 2003, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert J. Sawyer, artists Frank Kelly Freas and Laura Brodian Freas, NASA's own Les Johnson, game designer Jolly Blackburn, and actor Michael Sheard.

MidSouthCon 22 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon 42, a Southern U.S. regional convention, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis on March 26–28, 2004. The Guests of Honor included include author David Brin, artist Todd Lockwood game designer David Williams, effects guru Dragon Dronet toastmaster Michael Sheard, and fan Cullen Johnson.^[4]

MidSouthCon 23 was held April 1–3, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Esther Friesner, artist Steve Hickman, comics illustrator Steve Rude, game outlet Games Workshop, filker The grest Luke Ski, actress Brinke Stevens, astrophysicist Dr. Gregory Benford, and toastmaster Michael Sheard.

MidSouthCon 24 was held March 26–29, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include authors David Weber and Glen Cook, artist Lobov Yegudin, comics writer John Jackson Miller, game designer Rich Burlew, filker Tom Smith, effects guru Regina Pancake, costumer Christopher "Tyger" Roth, and our own Cullen Johnson.

MidSouthCon 25 was held March 23–25, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Terry Pratchett, artist Don Maitz, comics writer Mark Waid, game designer Sean Preston, filker Leslie Fish, actor Bill Blair and makeup artist Carl Tallaferro, and toastmaster Cullen Johnson.^[3][5]

MidSouthCon 26 was held March 21–23, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Eric Flint, futurist Ben Bova, artist Bob Eggleton, comics writer Len Wein, game designer Shane Lacy Hensley, author Candace Havens, musicians The FuMP featuring Rob Balder, and toastmaster Selina Rosen.

MidSouthCon 27 was held March 20–22, 2009, at the Whispering Woods Conference Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, on March 20–22, 2009. Guests of Honor included author Mike Resnick, artist Vincent Di Fate,^[6] comics writer John Ostrander, game designers Jolly Blackburn and Mark Plemmons, filkers Wild Mercy, fan film creator John Hudgens, nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, editor Ann VanderMeer, author Jeff VanderMeer, and toastmaster Jane Fancher.

2010s

MidSouthCon 28 was held March 12–14, 2010, at the Whispering Woods Conference Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi.^[2] The Guests of Honor included include author Kevin J. Anderson, author Rebecca Moesta, artist Billy Tackett, comics writer Gail Simone, game publisher James Ernest, editor Lou Anders, musician and podcaster Marc Gunn, special guest Sherrilyn Kenyon, and toastmistress Lee Martindale.

MidSouthCon 29 was held March 25–27, 2011, at the Memphis Hilton in Memphis. Guests of honor included author GoH Mary Robinette Kowal, artist GoH Nene Thomas, gaming GoH Monte Cook, comics GoH Kurt Busiek, costuming GoH Kelldar, science GoH Les Johnson, editor GoH Jackie Gamber, and toastmaster The Great Luke Ski.^[1]

Upcoming conventions

MidSouthCon 30 will be held March 23-25, 2012, at the Memphis Hilton in Memphis, Tennessee. Scheduled guests of honor include Artist GoH Steven C. Gilberts, Comic GoH Joe Corroney, Editor GoH Cat Rambo, Science GoH Ethan Siegel, and Media GoH Mark Goddard.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Meek, Andy (March 25, 2011). "MidSouthCon 29 to Unite Sci-Fi Fans". The Daily News (Memphis, TN). http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=57311. Retrieved March 29, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "MidSouthCon Comic & Science Fiction Event". Memphis, TN: Fox 13 News. February 11, 2010. http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/good_morning/021110-midsouthcon-comic-science-fiction-event. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Itzikoff, Dave (May 4, 2007). "Welcome, Interstate Satyrs". The New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/travel/escapes/04science.html?pagewanted=print. 
4. ^ "More Con News". TheOneRing.net. March 23, 2004. http://archives.theonering.net/perl/newsview/1/1080083835. 
5. ^ "Events fot March 22, 2007". Memphis Daily News. March 22, 2007. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?type=events&date=3/22/2007. 
6. ^ Van Tuyl, Chris (March 21, 2009). "Fans in sci-fi heaven at annual MidSouthCon in Olive Branch". Memphis, TN: The Commercial Appeal. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/mar/21/sci-fi-02/. 

External links

• Official website