This list of past Minicons is in chronological order (which is not the same as numerical order). Location, dates, and guests of honor are noted when known.
Date/YearLocationThemeGuests of HonorSpecial Guest1January 6, 1968Coffman Union at the University of MinnesotaA Strange New World of Science FictionGordon R. Dickson, Charles De Vet, Clifford Simak2April 4-6, 1969Andrews Hotel; Minneapolis, MN3April 3-5, 1970Dyckman Hotel; Minneapolis, MNThe Minneapolis in '73 Convention!Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, Clifford Simak4June 18-20, 1971Curtis Hotel; Minneapolis, MNLin Carter5October 15-17, 1971Andrews Hotel; Minneapolis, MNThe Genghiscon!—6April 7-9, 1972The Stereo-opticon!Ruth Berman7April 20-22, 1973Hyatt Lodge; Minneapolis, MNThe Minneapolis in '73 Con!Larry Niven (pro), Rusty Hevelin (fan)8April 12-14, 1974Dyckman Hotel; Minneapolis, MNKelly Freas (pro), Bob Tucker (fan)9October 11-13, 1974Judy-Lynn del Rey and Lester del Rey10April 18-20, 1975Holiday Inn; Minneapolis, MNPoul Anderson (pro), Gordon Dickson (fan), Lester del Rey (toastmaster)11April 16-18, 1976Leamington Hotel; Minneapolis, MNEdmond Hamilton (pro), Leigh Brackett (pro), Leigh and Norb Couch (fans), Jackie Franke and Rusty Hevelin (toastmasters)12April 8-10, 1977The DododecaconBen Bova (pro), Buck Coulson and Juanita Coulson (fans), Joe Haldeman (toastmaster)13March 24-26, 1978Nothing is as it seemsSamuel R. Delany (pro), Spider Robinson (fan), Bob Tucker (artist), Krissy (toastmaster)15April 13-15, 1979Radisson; Minneapolis, MNThe other 10%Theodore Sturgeon (pro), Tom Digby (fan), Rick Sternbach (artist), Robert E. Vardeman (toastmaster)16April 4-6, 1980Déjà VuC. J. Cherryh (pro), Jon Singer (fan), Ken Fletcher (artist), Nate Bucklin (musician), Bob Tucker (toastmaster)17April 17-19, 1981Jack Vance (pro), Jerry Boyajian (fan), Reed Waller (musician), Kathy Marschall (artist)14April 9-11, 1982Radisson; St. Paul, MNForward, Into the PastJohn Varley (pro), Clifford D. Simak (fan), Spider Robinson (musician)19April 1-3, 1983Backward, Into the FutureLarry Niven (pro), Pamela Dean and David Dyer-Bennet (fans), Dave Sim (artist), Spider John Koerner (music), Steven Brust (toastmaster), Nostradamus (proxy)18April 20-22, 1984Leamington Hotel; Minneapolis, MNWe know what we're doing and you don't. Trust us.Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (pro), Dave Wixon (fan), Stephen Hickman (artist), S.P. Somtow (musician), Rusty Hevelin (toastmaster), Bob Tucker ("smooth")20April 5-7, 1985Radisson South; Bloomington, MNLet's you and I get normal for a changeJames P. Hogan (pro), The Permanent Floating Riot Club (fan group, the name is a tribute to Larry Niven), The White Women (musicians), Stu Shiffman (artist), Jerry Stearns and Kara Dalkey (toastmasters)21March 28-30, 1986Now we're just immoral and fatteningDamon Knight and Kate Wilhelm (pro), Denny Lien (fan), Ken Fletcher (artist), Anne Passovoy (musician), Diane Duane (toastmaster)22April 17-19, 1987Still Crazy After All These YearsDavid Brin (pro), Fred Haskell (fan), Erin McKee (artist), Jerry Stearns (music), Robert Bloch (toastmaster)23April 1-3, 1988Spring Forward, Fall OverEleanor Arnason (author), Eric Heideman (fan), Frederik Pohl (editor), Crystal Marvig (artist), Richard Feynman (science, posthumous)24March 24-26, 1989Zen and the Art of Fan MaintenanceHarry Harrison, George "Lan" Laskowski, Fritz Leiber, Barry B. Longyear25April 13-15, 1990The Silver EditionJane Yolen, Kim Stanley Robinson (author), Patrick Price ("arthur"), David Thayer a.k.a. Teddy Harvia (artist), DavE Romm (fan), Earl Joseph (science)26March 29-31, 1991Think of it as Evolution in ActionGeorge Alec Effinger (author), David Cherry (artist), Al Kuhfeld, Ph.D. (science), Suzanne V. Tompkins and Jerry Kaufman (fans), Jon Singer (lunch)27April 17-19, 1992Don't Ever Be A DodoLois McMaster Bujold (author), Ctein (artist), Dave Van Ronk (music)28April 9-11, 1993Suite, Savage MiniconSusan Allison (editor), Diane Duane (author), Peter Morwood (author), Kathy Mar (music), Don Fitch (bless his sweet heart), John M. Ford (interesting person)29April 1-3, 1994It seemed like a good idea at the timeTom Doherty (publisher), Jack Williamson (author), Rusty Hevelin (fan), Phil Foglio (artist)30April 13-16, 1995Some Assembly Required or "Would You Like Fries With That?"Vernor Vinge (author), Robert L. Forward (science), Jody Lee (artist), The Bhigg House (fan group)31April 5–7, 1996Coming to a Galaxy Near YouSuzette Haden Elgin (author), Ed Emshwiller (artist, posthumous), Joe Siclari & Edie Stern (fans), David Ossman (audio)32March 28–30, 1997Even Chaos has a PatternAlgis Budrys (author), C. J. Cherryh (author), Tom Doherty (publisher), Tom Lopez (audio), Patrick Nielsen Hayden (fan), Teresa Nielsen Hayden (fan), Michael Swanwick33April 10–12, 1998Heisenberg Probably Slept HereGardner Dozois (publishing), David Langford (fan), John M. Ford (toastmaster)34April 2–4, 1999Hilton & Towers; Minneapolis, MNOctavia E. Butler (author), Mark & Priscilla Olson (fans), David Nee (bookseller)35April 21–23, 2000Maureen F. McHugh (author), John Berkey (artist), Lenny Bailes (fan)36April 13–15, 2001Ken MacLeod (author), Jo Walton (fan), Leslie Fish (musician)37March 29–31, 2002Emma Bull (author), Will Shetterly (author), Arthur Hlavaty (fan), Rick Berry (artist)38April 18–20, 2003Millennium Hotel; Minneapolis, MNRobert J. Sawyer (author), Carolyn Clink (poet), Sue Mason (fan), Steve Macdonald (musician)39April 9–11, 2004Walter Jon Williams (author), Sharyn November (editor), Deb Geisler (fan)40March 25–27, 2005Sheraton; Bloomington, MNMinicon ForteanTerry Pratchett (author), Fastner & Larson (artists), James Young (fan)41April 14–16, 2006XLi, RobotHarlan Ellison (author), John Picacio (artist), Doug Friauf (fan)42April 6–8, 2007And the question was...? (in reference to the number 42)Charles de Lint (author), Charles Vess (artist)43March 21–23, 2008Digging up the FutureAlastair Reynolds (author), Wayne Barlowe (artist, in absentia), Shawna McCarthy (editor), Nate Bucklin (fan)44April 10–12, 2009Karl Schroeder (author), Stephan Martinere (artist, in absentia), Seth Shostak (scientist)45April 2–4, 2010Brandon Sanderson (author), Daniel Dos Santos (artist)Moshe Feder (editor)46April 22–24, 2011Not yet dead from the neck upCharles Stross, (author in absentia), John Scalzi, (author), Chas Somdahl, (musician)47April 6–8, 2012DoubleTree Minneapolis South; Bloomington, MNThe minions are coming...Ted Chiang (author), Christopher J Garcia (fanzine), Frank Wu (artist),Brianna "Spacekat" Wu (game developer)48March 29–31, 2013The Game of LifeJulie Czerneda (author), Richard Tatge (fan)49April 17–20, 2014Pirates and AirshipsCatherynne Valente (author), Janny Wurts (author), Don Maitz (artist)50April 2–5, 2015The Gold EditionJane Yolen (author), Larry Niven author, Brandon Sanderson (author), Tom Doherty (publisher), Adam Stemple (musician), Michael Whelan (artist)51March 25–27, 2016Zombies and Fairies and Mermaids, Oh My!Seanan McGuire (author), Sara Butcher Burrier (artist)52April 14–16, 2017Brother Guy Consolmagno (scientist)Moshe Feder (editor)53March 30-April 1, 2018Double Tree Park Place; St. Louis Park, MNThe Pedantic OneRachel Swirsky (author), Lyda Morehouse (author)Jon Arfstrom (artist, posthumous)54April 19-21, 2019PurpleNaomi Kritzer (author), David de Vries (illustrator)Tom Fleming (artist)55April 15-17, 2022GreenJo Walton (author), Elise Matthesen (artist)56April 7-9, 2023Martha Wells (author), Sara Felix (artist), Greg Ketter (fan)57March 29-31, 2024Ursula Vernon (author & illustrator), Jeremy Brett (archivist), Tim Griffin (music)Jeffery Angles (Japanese scholar)58April 18-20, 2025DoubleTree Minneapolis South; Bloomington, MNWesley Chu (author), The Faithful Sidekicks (music)Michael Busch (astronomer)59April 3-5, 2026Patricia Wrede (author), Matt Leacock (gaming)60March 25-28, 2027Geri Sullivan (fan)
Notes
References