ConDFW

ConDFW
Status	Active
Genre	Science Fiction/Fantasy
Venue	Crowne Plaza Suites Hotel (since 2009)
Location	Dallas, Texas
Country	United States
First held	2002
Last held	Annually
Organizer	Texas Speculative Fiction Association
Filing status	501(c)(3)
Attendance	550+
Official website	http://www.condfw.org/

ConDFW is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention held annually in the Dallas, Texas area.^[1] As such, attendees can mingle with the author and artist guests, attend panel discussions and readings led by the guests, get books signed, look at and buy SF and fantasy art from artists around the country, shop in a dealer's room with books, art, games, clothing, weapons, and other items, donate used books to charity (and get some others in return), play games (both tabletop and live-action), or just hang out and talk to guests and attendees in the consuite or the hotel bar.^[2] ConDFW is a production of the Texas Speculative Fiction Association.^[3]

Location

From its founding in 2002 through 2008, ConDFW convention was held at the Radisson Hotel Dallas North - Richardson in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas.[1] The hotel is located in the heart of the Telecom Corridor at the intersection of Campbell Road and U.S. 75. The exact address is 1981 North Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080.(32°58′28″N 96°43′06″W / 32.974558°N 96.718290°W / 32.974558; -96.718290) Starting with the 2009 convention, ConDFW relocated to the Crowne Plaza Suites at the intersection of I-635 and Coit Road in Dallas.

Past conventions

ConDFW I was held February 23-24, 2002. The Guest of Honor was John Steakley. Other featured guests included David A. Cherry, Aaron Allston, Lillian Stewart Carl, Bill Crider, P.N. Elrod, Thomas W. Knowles, Julia Blackshear Kosatka, Lee Martindale, Teresa Patterson, Brad Sinor, Bruce Sterling, and Martha Wells.

ConDFW II was held February 21-23, 2003. The Guest of Honor was David Drake. The Artist Guests of Honor were David A. Cherry and Brad W. Foster. Other featured guests included Aaron Allston, Lillian Stewart Carl, Jayme Lynn Blaschke, P.N. Elrod, Lee Martindale, and Martha Wells.

ConDFW III was held February 20-22, 2004.^[3] The Guest of Honor was Lois McMaster Bujold. The Artist Guest of Honor was Alan Gutierrez. The Gaming Guest of Honor was Steve Jackson. Other special guests included Barry N. Malzberg, Robert Sheckley, Robert Asprin, and John Steakley.

ConDFW IV was held February 25-27, 2005. The Guests of Honor were Steven K. Z. Brust, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, and Teresa Nielsen Hayden. The Artist Guest of Honor was David A. Cherry. Other featured guests included Robert Asprin, Bill Fawcett, Jody Lynn Nye, and John Steakley.

ConDFW V was held February 24-26, 2006. The Guests of Honor were Don Maitz, F. Paul Wilson, and Janny Wurts. Featured guests included the Bedlam Bards.

ConDFW VI was held February 23-25, 2007.^[1] The Guests of Honor were Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, and Harry Turtledove. The Artist Guest of Honor was Bob Eggleton. Other featured guests included Robert Asprin, Steven K.Z. Brust, David A. Cherry, and John Steakley.

ConDFW VII was held February 22-24, 2008. The Guest of Honor was author Peter S. Beagle. The Artist Guest of Honor was Donato Giancola. The Special Guest was Tom Monteleone. Other featured guests included Aaron Allston, Rachel Caine, Brad Foster, David Cherry, Carole Nelson Douglas, Katharine Eliska Kimbriel, Lillian Stewart Carl, Martha Wells, Teddy Harvia, and Selina Rosen.

ConDFW VIII was held February 20-22, 2009. The Guests of Honor included authors Jim Butcher and David Weber plus animation studio Janimation, Inc. Other featured guests included Brad W. Foster, Carole Nelson Douglas, John Steakley, Lou Antonelli, Martha Wells, P. N. Elrod, Paul Black, Rachel Caine, Selina Rosen, Shanna Swendson, Steven Brust, and Teddy Harvia.

ConDFW IX was held February 12-14, 2010. The Guest of Honor was scheduled to be Nebula Award-winning author Jack McDevitt but a record-setting snowstorm in North Texas prevented him from flying in for the convention. Thankfully, Guest of Honor Elizabeth Moon was traveling by train and was able to attend.

ConDFW X was held February 18-20, 2011. The Guests of Honor included Nebula Award-winning author Jack McDevitt, author Tim Powers, New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, and Hugo Award-winning artist Brad W. Foster.

Upcoming conventions

ConDFW XI is scheduled to be held February 17-19, 2012. The guests of honor are scheduled to be author Cherie Priest and artist William Stout.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Daniel, Mike (February 23, 2007). "'Con' Artists". Dallas Morning News. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1177DBA61BC35C60&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. 
2. ^ "Today: Quick's Best Bets". Quick. February 23, 2007. "If you love science-fiction literature and still art, head to ConDFW VI today to meet authors and artists and play in live-action and computer gaming areas. There also will be a book swap and specialty dealer booths." 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Community Calendar". Dallas Morning News. February 22, 2004. "The Texas Speculative Fiction Association presents ConDFW III, a literary science fiction and fantasy convention, 10 am to 4 pm today at the Radisson Hotel" 

External links

• ConDFW official website