FenCon - SCIFIPEDIA

FenCon

<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with filk held each year in September in or around Dallas, Texas. FenCon is a production of the Dallas Future Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that seeks to promote the advancement of science, literature, and music for all mankind.

1 Programming
2 Location
3 Past conventions
4 Upcoming conventions
- 4.1 2008 - FenCon V
- 4.2 2009 - FenCon VI
5 External Links
6 References

Programming

While not a filk convention, FenCon is noted for its quantity and variety of filk programming, performances, and performers. The Texas Filk Page describes FenCon as "the premier filk event in Texas." The Dallas Observer has called FenCon "the region's hottest fan-run literary sci-fi and fantasy convention".

Other notable features of FenCon include science programming, writing panels, fan discussions, gaming, a diverse selection of guests, an art show and auction, a dealers room, a short story contest, a writers workshop, and the FenCon Saturday Night Cabaret.

In addition to the educational and social aspects of FenCon, an external charity of interest to the membership is chosen each year to be the beneficiary of an annual charity auction and limited-edition cover art print sale. FenCon absorbs all the costs associated with creating these art prints so the entire donation goes directly to the designated charity.

In 2007, FenCon IV hosted the Lone Star Shindig, a Texas-wide gathering of Firefly fans. The LSS is a convention within a convention, hosted each year by a different local group each year.

Location

FenCon I through FenCon III were held at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas, in Farmers Branch, Texas, just north of the Dallas city limits. As the membership increased and the programming expanded each year, more and more of the hotel's function space was used. By the end of FenCon III it was clear to the organizers that for the event to continue to grow the convention would have to move. Beginning with FenCon IV, the convention is held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas. The Crowne Plaza North Dallas is located at 14315 Midway Road, between Spring Valley Road and Beltline Road in the northern Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas.

Past conventions

2004 - FenCon

FenCon was held September 24–26, 2004, at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas in Farmers Branch, Texas. Featured guests included Guest of Honor Larry Niven, Filk Guest Michael Longcor, Fen Guest Jim Murray, Toastmaster Elizabeth Moon, plus Special Guests Joe R. Lansdale and Ardath Mayhar. The con chair was Mike Nelson. The theme of the convention, now the event's motto, was "Of the Fen, By the Fen, and For the Fen."

2005 - FenCon II

FenCon II was held September 23-25, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas in Farmers Branch, Texas. Featured guests included Guest of Honor S. M. Stirling, Music Guest Leslie Fish, Artist Guest Larry Dixon, Fen Guest Randy Farran, Toastmaster David Gerrold, and Special Guest Mike Resnick. The con chair was Mike Nelson. The theme of the convention was "What If?" to tie-in to the alternate history works of several of the featured guests.

FenCon had long planned to add a charity auction in its second year with the intent of giving the money to a literacy charity in north Texas. However, because FenCon II took place just after Hurricane Katrina and during Hurricane Rita it was decided to direct any charity efforts to disaster relief. Artist GoH Larry Dixon suggested that a limited-edition print of that year's program book cover art be sold to raise additional funds. FenCon produced prints of the cover art for both FenCon (art by Cat Conrad) and FenCon II (art by Larry Dixon) in a signed and numbered edition of 50 prints each. These prints combined with donation jars and the charity auction to raise $3500 which was donated to the Salvation Army for hurricane disaster relief.

2006 - FenCon III

FenCon III was held September 22-24, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Select North Dallas in Farmers Branch, Texas. Featured guests included Guest of Honor Alan Dean Foster, Music Guest Heather Alexander, Artist Guest Darrell K. Sweet, Toastmaster Jim Butcher, Special Guest Lawrence Watt-Evans, and Fen Guest Judith Ward. Ward passed away on July 3, 2006, due to complications from diabetes but she remained Fen GoH. The con chair was Tim Miller. The theme of the convention "Sci-Fi Camp" with a camping theme given to convention signage and publications plus convention volunteers wearing "Camp Staff" shirts.

FenCon once again held an auction and sold a limited-edition art print to raise funds for a charity. This year the designated charity was the American Diabetes Association, selected to honor the memory of Judith Ward. Artist GoH Darrell K. Sweet supplied the program book cover art for that year's print, again each signed and numbered to 50 prints. $1400 was raised and donated to the American Diabetes Association.

2007 - FenCon IV

FenCon IV was held September 21-23, 2007, at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas. Featured guests included Guest of Honor Connie Willis, Music Guest Tom Smith, Artist Guest David Mattingly, Fen Guest Kathleen Sloan, Toastmaster Steve Perry, Special Guest Toni Weisskopf, and Lone Star Shindig Guest Jarrod Davis of Zoic Studios. The con chair was Tim Miller. The theme of the convention was "Fentastic Four," a play on words in recognition of this being FenCon's fourth year in existence.

As part of the effort to spread the word about the upcoming convention, FenCon volunteers twice manned phone banks in 2007 for Dallas public television station KERA-TV in support of their returning science fiction programming to their regular schedule. FenCon team members also threw room parties or manned fan tables at ConDFW, Aggiecon, the National Space Society's 2007 International Space Development Conference, ApolloCon, Dallas Comic Con, Conestoga, ArmadilloCon, and several other regional events.

FenCon held an auction and sold a limited-edition art print to raise funds for a designated charity. For 2007, this charity was the North Texas Food Bank and a grand total of $2000 was raised and donated at FenCon IV. The NTFB passionately pursues a hunger-free community. Last year, the NTFB distributed 32 million pounds of food to 764 feeding and education programs in 13 North Texas counties. Artist GoH David Mattingly provided the art for this year's signed and numbered limited-edition print.

Upcoming conventions

2008 - FenCon V

FenCon V will be held in September 2008. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the first science fiction convention in Texas: Southwestern Con held in July 1958 in Dallas. Anniversary events, Texas-themed programming, and special guests are scheduled to help commemorate this date. Scheduled featured guests include Guest of Honor Gregory Benford, Music Guest Three Weird Sisters, Artist Guest Real Musgrave the creator of Pocket Dragons, Fen Guest Gerald Burton, Toastmaster Howard Waldrop, and Special Guest Jay Lake who will be running the Writers Workshop. The con chair will be Russ Miller.

2009 - FenCon VI

FenCon VI will be held in September 2009. This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the first manned moon landing. Programming items and special guests are scheduled to help commemorate this date. Scheduled guests already confirmed include Keith R. A. DeCandido, Carla Ulbrich, and Joe Giacoio. Other featured guests will be announced at the closing ceremonies of FenCon V. The con chair will be Russ Miller.