Arcana is a long-running horror convention that bills itself as "a convention of the dark fantastic." Arcana is held annually in late September or early October in St. Paul, Minnesota and typically features a famous author or artist from the dark fantasy genre as its guest of honor. Arcana programming includes a variety of panels, talks, and films, plus an interview and reading with the Guest of Honor. Other programming includes a book and art auction and an "open" reading. The presentation of the Minnesota Fantasy Award is a key feature of each year's convention.

History

Arcana began in 1971, when two fans of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard and other writers of the pulp era discovered each other and began meeting regularly. John J. Koblas and Eric Carlson soon found others with similar interests, and the gatherings became known as MinnCon. By 1988, the group numbered in the dozens. The possibility of featuring professional guests by charging an admission fee was broached. Confusion with the Minneapolis SF convention Minicon

Minicon

Minicon is a science fiction and fantasy convention in Minneapolis usually held on Easter weekend. Started in 1968 and running approximately annually since then, it is one of the oldest science fiction conventions in the midwest United States...

 made it desirable to adopt a different name. Thus, Arcana.

Minnesota Fantasy Award

The Minnesota Fantasy Award is presented annually to a person or persons with ties to Minnesota in recognition of their contributions to the fields of fantasy, science fiction and horror. To be eligible, a nominee must be a Minnesotan by virtue of one of the following: birth; having been a resident of the state for at least five years; or having been a resident of
the state for at least one year during which the nominee made a significant contribution to the fields of fantasy, science fiction or horror. The trophy was designed by artist Mike Odden, based on his metal sculpture "Spectre".

The first recipients of the award were author Carl Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi was an American author. He wrote short stories in the horror, fantasy, science fiction and crime genres for the pulp magazine market.-Biography:...

, writer/poet Donald Wandrei

Donald Wandrei

Donald Albert Wandrei was an American science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction writer, poet and editor. He wrote as Donald Wandrei. He was the older brother of science fiction writer and artist Howard Wandrei...

, writer/editor Howard Wandrei

Howard Wandrei

Howard Elmer Wandrei was a US artist and writer. He wrote over 200 stories that appeared in the magazines Weird Tales. Astounding, Esquire, Black Mask and others. He wrote under his own name and as by Robert Coley and H.W...

, and author Clifford Simak in 1988. Other recipients have included authors, scholars, editors, directors, and poets. Winners from 1988 to the present are listed below with the convention at which the award was announced.

Location

The first conventions were held in members' homes but after a few years MinnCon grew beyond the capacity of these houses and the event moved to a local hotel. Several hotels have been used over the years, including the Sunwood Inn in St. Paul, but the convention's home for many years has been the Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express is a mid-priced hotel chain within the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands. As an "express" hotel, their focus is on offering limited services and a reasonable price. Standard amenities lean toward the convenient and practical which cater to business travelers and...

 at Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

 located at 1010 Bandana Boulevard W, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108-5107. The hotel changed corporate flags in 2007 and now operates as a Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 franchise.http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=24130&group=false&disablenav=false&hideProgressBar=false&photoCategory=HOME

Built inside a historic train repair shop, the Bandana Square hotel features a replica station platform, the actual train tracks, and the ahop's original wood beams. Nearby area attractions include Midway Stadium

Midway Stadium

Midway Stadium is the name of two different minor league baseball parks in Saint Paul, Minnesota, one now demolished and the other still in active use. The name derives from the location of the stadium in St. Paul's Midway area, so named because it's roughly halfway between the downtowns of...

 (the home of the St. Paul Saints

St. Paul Saints

The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...

), the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum, and the Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its slogan is "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." It is the 2nd largest fair in the United States, and the largest state fair in the United States in terms of average daily attendance, though the State Fair of Texas runs...

grounds. The Bandana Square site is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Past conventions

MinnCon 17 was held October 8-10, 1987. Programming included a slide show/talk by Jon Arfstrom, a discussion of copyright law by David Page, several panels, two film screenings, a slide show/talk by Robert Guttke about his artwork, and an improvisatory performance by Paul Dice, Ed Shannon, Mike Odden and Rodger Gerberding.

Arcana 18 was held October 7-9, 1988. This was the first convention after the name change from "MinnCon" to "Arcana" but consistent numbering was maintained. The Guests of Honor were Robert Weinberg

Robert Weinberg

Robert Allan Weinberg is a Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at MIT and American Cancer Society Research Professor; his research is in the area of oncogenes and the genetic basis of human cancer. Weinberg is also affiliated with the Broad Institute and is a founding member of the...

 and Don Herron. Programming included talks by the guests of honor, a slide show/talk by Rodger Gerberding, several panels, an open reading, and three hours of gaming. The first Minnesota Fantasy Awards were given to author Carl Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi was an American author. He wrote short stories in the horror, fantasy, science fiction and crime genres for the pulp magazine market.-Biography:...

, writer/poet Donald Wandrei

Donald Wandrei

Donald Albert Wandrei was an American science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction writer, poet and editor. He wrote as Donald Wandrei. He was the older brother of science fiction writer and artist Howard Wandrei...

, writer/editor Howard Wandrei

Howard Wandrei

Howard Elmer Wandrei was a US artist and writer. He wrote over 200 stories that appeared in the magazines Weird Tales. Astounding, Esquire, Black Mask and others. He wrote under his own name and as by Robert Coley and H.W...

, and author Clifford Simak.

Arcana 19 was held October 6-8, 1989. The Guest of Honor was Charles DeVet. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Charles DeVet, open reading, a session of "Call of Cthulhu" gaming, and a Saturday night performance of "Gotterdamerung". The convention also featured several slide show/talks including "Carnivorous Plants" by Michael Waltz, "A Sherlock Holmes Tour" by R. Dixon Smith, and "The Art of Mike Odden" by Mike Odden. The 1989 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to author Gordon R. Dickson

Gordon R. Dickson

Gordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author.- Biography :Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1937...

.

Arcana 20 was held October 5-7, 1990. The Guest of Honor was Richard Lupoff. Programming included an interview with the guest of honor, two slide show/talk presentations by Rodger Gerberding, several panels, an open reading, several film screenings, and a session of "Call of Cthulhu" gaming. The 1990 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to writer Poul Anderson

Poul Anderson

Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories...

.

Arcana 21 was held October 4-6, 1991. The Guest of Honor was Harry O. Morris. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Harry O. Morris, an auction, open reading, and screenings of the 1984 movie Street of Crocodiles

Street Of Crocodiles

Street of Crocodiles is a 21-minute-long stop-motion animation short subject directed and produced by the Brothers Quay and released in 1986....

and the 1964 movie Kwaidan

Kwaidan (film)

is a 1964 Japanese portmanteau film directed by Masaki Kobayashi; the title means 'ghost story'. It is based on stories from Lafcadio Hearn's collections of Japanese folk tales. The film consists of four separate and unrelated stories. Kwaidan is the archaic transliteration of Kaidan, meaning...

. Notable slide show/talk presentations included "Clarence Laughlin: Visionary Photographer" by Rodger Gerberding and "Twenty Years of MinnCon" by Eric Carlson. Also featured was the Artists Intermedia Repertory Ensemble, an improvisatory performance by Paul Dice, Ed Shannon, Mike Odden and Rodger Gerberding. The 1991 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to Charles DeVet.

Arcana 22 was held October 9-11, 1992, at the Sunwood Inn in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Guest of Honor was writer Robert Bloch

Robert Bloch

Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...

. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Robert Bloch, an auction, open reading, and a tribute to author Fritz Leiber

Fritz Leiber

Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. was an American writer of fantasy, horror and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theatre and films, playwright, expert chess player and a champion fencer. Possibly his greatest chess accomplishment was winning clear first in the 1958 Santa Monica Open.. With...

. (Leiber was scheduled to have been another GoH before his death.) There was a parallel programming track featuring the film and television work of Robert Bloch. A notable addition to the convention was a "Cthulhu in '92" Presidential Rally. The 1992 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to writer John Sladek

John Sladek

John Thomas Sladek was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels.- Life and work :...

.

Arcana 23 was held October 10-12, 1993. The Guest of Honor was Denis Etchison. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Dennis Etchison, an auction, open reading, and screenings of the 1942 movie The Seventh Victim

The Seventh Victim

The Seventh Victim is a 1943 horror and film noir starring Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Isabel Jewell, Kim Hunter , and Hugh Beaumont, directed by Mark Robson, and produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures...

and the 1963 movie The Haunting

The Haunting (1963 film)

The Haunting is a 1963 British psychological horror film by American director Robert Wise and adapted by Nelson Gidding from the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It stars Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn. The film centers around the conflict between...

. The convention also featured several slide show/talks including "Songs and Dances of Death: Modest Mussorgsky" by John Brower, "Carnivorous Plants" by Mike Waltz, "The Art or Something-Or-Other of Harry E. Fassl" by Harry E. Fassl, "Return to Derleth" by James P. Roberts, and "Mystical Places of the United Kingdom" by Lisa Freitag. The 1993 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to writer and scholar Richard Tierney.

Arcana 24 was held September 30-October 2, 1994. The Guests of Honor were authors Melanie Tem

Melanie Tem

Melanie Tem is an American Horror/Dark fantasy author. She is married to author Steve Rasnic Tem. The couple have three kids and live in a large house in Colorado.-Novels:* Prodigal * Blood Moon * Wilding...

 and Steve Rasnic Tem

Steve Rasnic Tem

Steve Rasnic Tem was born in Jonesville, Virginia, which is in the heart of Appalachia. He went to college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and also at Virginia Commonwealth University. He got a B.A. in English education. In 1974, he moved to Colorado and studied creative...

. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Melanie and Steve Rasnic Tem, a slide show/talk by Mike Waltz, an auction, an open reading, and a memorial for actors Vincent Price

Vincent Price

Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...

 and Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing

Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...

. The convention also included Friday night screenings of the Tod Browning films Freaks

Freaks

Freaks is a 1932 American Pre-Code horror film about sideshow performers, directed and produced by Tod Browning and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with a cast mostly composed of actual carnival performers. The film was based on Tod Robbins' 1923 short story "Spurs"...

(1932) and The Devil Doll (1936). The 1994 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to author Eleanor Arnason

Eleanor Arnason

Eleanor Atwood Arnason is an American author of science fiction novels and short stories.Arnason is the daughter of H. Harvard Arnason, who became the director of the Walker Art Center in 1951, and Elizabeth Yard Arnason, a social worker by profession who has spent her childhood in China...

.

Arcana 25 was held September 22-24, 1995, at the Holiday Inn Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

-Biography:She was born in Berkeley, California. She attended Berkeley schools through high school followed by three years at San Francisco State College .In November 1969 she married Donald Simpson and divorced in February 1982...

. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, a slide show/talk by Eric Carlson "Crimson in Silver: 25 Years of MinnCon," an auction, an open reading, and a memorial for Robert Bloch

Robert Bloch

Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...

 and Karl Edward Wagner

Karl Edward Wagner

Karl Edward Wagner was an American writer, editor and publisher of horror, science fiction, and heroic fantasy, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and originally trained as a psychiatrist. His disillusionment with the medical profession can be seen in the stories "The Fourth Seal" and "Into...

. The convention also included screenings of the James Whale films Frankenstein

Frankenstein (1931 film)

Frankenstein is a 1931 Pre-Code Horror Monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff, and features...

(1931), The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man (1933 film)

The Invisible Man is a 1933 science fiction film based on H. G. Wells' science fiction novel The Invisible Man, published in 1897, as adapted by R. C. Sherriff, Philip Wylie and Preston Sturges, whose work was considered unsatisfactory and who was taken off the project...

(1933), and Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American horror film, the first sequel to Frankenstein...

(1935). The 1995 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to Jon Arfstrom.

Arcana 26 was held October 4-6, 1996, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guests of Honor were David J. Skal

David J. Skal

David J. Skal is an American cultural historian known for his writings on horror films and horror literature.-Early life:...

, Richard A. Lupoff

Richard A. Lupoff

Richard Allen Lupoff is an American science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy anthologies. He is an expert on the writing of Edgar Rice...

, and publishers Fedogan & Bremer. Programming included panels, readings, several Rod Serling

Rod Serling

Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...

 themed programming items, interviews with David Skal, Fedogan & Bremer, and Richard Lupoff, plus an auction, open reading, and screenings of the Tod Browning films Dracula

Dracula (1931 film)

Dracula is a 1931 vampire-horror film directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi as the title character. The film was produced by Universal and is based on the stage play of the same name by Hamilton Deane and John L...

(1931) and The Unknown (1927). A notable addition to the convention was a "Cthulhu in '96" Presidential Rally. The 1996 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to Kirby McCauley.

Arcana 27 was held September 26-28, 1997, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman

Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...

. Programming included panels, readings, an interview with Neil Gaiman, a slide show/talk by Michael Waltz, an auction, an open reading, and a memorial for Carl Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi

Carl Richard Jacobi was an American author. He wrote short stories in the horror, fantasy, science fiction and crime genres for the pulp magazine market.-Biography:...

. The convention also included screenings of the 1932 film The Mummy

The Mummy (1932 film)

The Mummy is a 1932 horror film from Universal Studios directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff as a revived ancient Egyptian priest. The movie also features Zita Johann, David Manners and Edward Van Sloan...

, the 1940 film The Mummy's Hand

The Mummy's Hand

The Mummy's Hand is a black-and-white horror film, produced by Ben Pivar for Universal Studios. Although it is sometimes claimed by fans as a sequel or follow-up to the 1932 film The Mummy, it does not continue the 1932 film's storyline, or feature any of the same characters, and its plot...

, and the 1959 film The Mummy

The Mummy (1959 film)

The Mummy is a 1959 Technicolor British Hammer Horror film starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.Though the title suggests Universal Pictures' 1932 film of the same name, the film actually derives its plot and characters entirely from two later Universal films, The Mummy's Hand and The Mummy's...

. The 1997 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to actor/director Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam

Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...

.

Arcana 28 was held September 25-27, 1998, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale is an American author and martial-arts expert. He has written novels and stories in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense...

. The 1998 Minnesota Fantasy Award was given posthumously to illustrator and writer of fantasy fiction Hannes Bok

Hannes Bok

Hannes Bok, pseudonym for Wayne Francis Woodard , was an American artist and illustrator, as well as an amateur astrologer and writer of fantasy fiction and poetry. He painted nearly 150 covers for various science fiction, fantasy, and detective fiction magazines, as well as contributing hundreds...

.

Arcana 29 was held October 22-24, 1999, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was writer Ramsey Campbell

Ramsey Campbell

John Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction author.Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field: T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today", while S. T...

. The 1999 Minnesota Fantasy Award was given to both publisher Philip J. Rahman and to author Gertrude Barrows Bennett

Gertrude Barrows Bennett

Gertrude Barrows Bennett was the first major female writer of fantasy and science fiction in the United States, publishing her stories under the pseudonym Francis Stevens. Bennett wrote a number of highly acclaimed fantasies between 1917 and 1923 and has been called "the woman who invented dark...

, the first major female writer of fantasy and science fiction in the United States. A notable feature of the convention was a poll of the membership for the "top ten" horror authors and movies of the 20th century. Convention organizers admit the poll was "a bit premature" but that nonetheless "it's a pretty good list of good stuff for horror fans to savor".

Arcana 30 was held September 15-17, 2000, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was David Drake

David Drake

David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...

, author of horror and science fiction in many forms, editor of numerous anthologies, and one-third owner of the award-winning publisher Carcosa.

Arcana 31 was held September 28-30, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guests of Honor were Eleanor Arnason

Eleanor Arnason

Eleanor Atwood Arnason is an American author of science fiction novels and short stories.Arnason is the daughter of H. Harvard Arnason, who became the director of the Walker Art Center in 1951, and Elizabeth Yard Arnason, a social worker by profession who has spent her childhood in China...

 and writer/editor Robert M. Price

Robert M. Price

Robert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...

. Price edited the Lovecraftian magazine "Crypt of Cthulhu" for many years. His essays on Lovecraftian themes and his horror fiction have appeared in many magazines.

Arcana 32 was held September 27-29, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs

Joe Bob Briggs

John Irving Bloom , who uses the pseudonym Joe Bob Briggs, is a syndicated American film critic, writer and comic performer.-Early years:...

 (aka writer and actor John Bloom

Joe Bob Briggs

John Irving Bloom , who uses the pseudonym Joe Bob Briggs, is a syndicated American film critic, writer and comic performer.-Early years:...

).

Arcana 33 was held September 26-28, 2003, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was cartoonist Gahan Wilson

Gahan Wilson

Gahan Wilson is an American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations...

.

Arcana 34 was held October 1-3, 2004, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Timothy Thomas "Tim" Powers is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Powers has won the World Fantasy Award twice for his critically acclaimed novels Last Call and Declare...

. The chair of the convention was Eric M. Heideman. The 2004 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to writer and active fan Ruth Berman

Ruth Berman

Ruth Berman is a writer of short science fiction and speculative poetry. In 2003, she won the Rhysling Award for Best Short Poem. She was also the winner of the 2006 Dwarf Stars Award for her poem Knowledge Of.-External links:*...

.

Arcana 35 was held October 7-9, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Stephen Jones

Stephen Jones

Stephen Jones may refer to:In the arts:*Stephen Jones , English magazine editor*Stephen Jones , Australian music and video artist*Stephen Jones , British editor and author...

. Programming included panels, an interview with Stephen Jones, readings, and an auction.The auction raised more than $1100 towards convention expenses. The chair of the convention was Eric M. Heideman.

Arcana 36 was held September 29-October 1, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square. The Guest of Honor was Tor books editorDavid G. Hartwell

David G. Hartwell

David Geddes Hartwell is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet , Berkley Putnam , Pocket , and Tor Books David Geddes Hartwell (b. July 10, 1941) is an American editor of science fiction and fantasy. He has worked for Signet (1971–1973), Berkley Putnam...

. The 2006 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to artist team Steve Fastner and Rich Larson.

Arcana 37 was held October 12-14, 2007, at the Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 Hotel Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (This is the same hotel as in recent years operating under a new corporate flag.) The Guest of Honor was writer George Clayton Johnson

George Clayton Johnson

George Clayton Johnson is an American science fiction writer most famous for co-writing the novel Logan's Run with William F. Nolan...

, best known for his work on The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)

The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...

, Star Trek

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...

, Ocean's 11

Ocean's Eleven (1960 film)

Ocean's 11 is a 1960 heist film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring five Rat Packers: Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop....

, Kung Fu

Kung Fu (TV series)

Kung Fu is an American television series that starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series...

, Logan's Run

Logan's Run

Logan's Run is a novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. Published in 1967, it depicts a dystopic ageist future society in which both population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by requiring the death of everyone reaching a particular age...

, and his 1998 story collection "All of Us Are Dying." The 2007 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to David Lenander.

Arcana 38 was held October 17-19, 2008, at the Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 Hotel Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Guest of Honor was writer F. Paul Wilson

F. Paul Wilson

Francis Paul Wilson is an American author, primarily in the science fiction and horror genres. His debut novel was Healer . Wilson is also a part-time practicing family physician. He made his first sales in 1970 to Analog while still in medical school , and continued to write science fiction...

, Award-winning, best-selling author of horror, thrillers, fantasy & more... including the Repairman Jack

Repairman Jack

This series of novels uses realistic, thriller-like situations to tell a story with a broad supernatural theme. It is technically a spin-off branch of the aforementioned larger, overarching supernatural horror series, The Adversary Cycle.- Introduction :...

 series. The 2008 Minnesota Fantasy Award was presented to P.C. Hodgell. The posthumous award was awarded to Wilford Fawcett (aka Captain Billy), 1885-1940.

Arcana 39 was held October 16-18, 2009, at the Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 Hotel Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The scheduled Guest of Honor was writer Kim Harrison

Kim Harrison

Kim Harrison is a nom de plume of American author Dawn Cook. Under the name of Harrison, she is best known for her Rachel Morgan urban fantasy series set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's...

, best-selling author of The Hollows series featuring Rachel Morgan including For a Few Demonds More & The Outlaw Demon Wails. "

Arcana 40 was be held October 15-17, 2010, at the Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 Hotel Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Guest of Honor was author P.C. Hodgell. The 2010 Minnesota Fantasy Award was awarded to Norman Saunders

Norman Saunders

Norman Blaine Saunders was a prolific commercial artist who produced paintings for pulp magazines, paperbacks, men's adventure magazines, comic books and trading cards...

.

Upcoming conventions

Arcana 41 will be held October 21-23, 2011, at the Best Western

Best Western

Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...

 Hotel Bandana Square

Bandana Square

Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in Energy Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

in St. Paul, Minnesota.