Balticon
Encyclopedia
Balticon is the Maryland Regional science fiction convention
, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society
(BSFS). It has been held annually since 1966. The name "Balticon" is trademarked by BSFS.
and fantasy professionals, creative amateurs, and fans on Memorial Day weekend each year for a 4-day multi-track event in the Baltimore
area.
Balticon can be described as a "General" or "Big Tent" science fiction convention, since it is not exclusively devoted to a specific area, such as literary or media, but includes programming and activities in these areas, as well as such fields as anime, art, costuming, science, new media, gaming, and music. These areas may change from year to year, depending on who is chairing and staffing the convention that year.
Balticon is run entirely by volunteers, who assume responsibility at many levels, ranging from gofers who sign up and run errands at the convention, to the Con Chair who may spend up to two years on planning and administration.
Activities and program items are developed by the volunteers who put on the convention, so they usually concentrate on the areas they are most interested in.
Some Balticon activities and tracks run 24 hours a day from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Balticon also usually hosts a Robert Heinlein "Pay It Forward" Blood Drive at some time during the convention.
BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award
for best first novel of the year in the Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror genre, during Balticon. The previous year's winner is invited back to present the award to the new winner.
The winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest is announced at Balticon. BSFS sponsors this short story writing contest for Maryland residents or school attendees between the ages of 14 and 18, in the Fantasy or Science Fiction genres.
The Balticon Poetry Contest winners are invited to read their winning entries at Balticon, and they are published in the Balticon Program Guide. Cash prizes and convention memberships are awarded.
The Masquerade is usually held on Saturday night, and awards are given for various categories in Costuming, including creativity, construction and presentation.
The Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF) is a no-submission-fee competition traditionally held on (surprise!) Sunday night, and the audience votes on the best independent live action and animated short films in the Science Fact, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror genres.
Past Balticon Film Festival Winners are:
The BSNSFF also sponsors the premier of an independent feature-length film on Friday night, a locally (MD, DC, VA, PA) produced feature film on Sunday after the competitive entry screenings and a third locally produced feature some time during the 4-day convention, as well as several hours of panel discussions in the Balticon Filmmaking program track.
, Maryland
Before 2001, Balticon was held on Easter
weekend to take advantage of lower hotel costs and was three days long; however, in 2001 Balticon moved to Memorial Day
Weekend and expanded to four days.
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society
Baltimore Science Fiction Society
The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on science fiction, fantasy and related genres. A 501c3 literary society based in Baltimore, Maryland, the BSFS sponsors Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention....
(BSFS). It has been held annually since 1966. The name "Balticon" is trademarked by BSFS.
Overview
Balticon brings together over 1500 science and science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy professionals, creative amateurs, and fans on Memorial Day weekend each year for a 4-day multi-track event in the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
area.
Balticon can be described as a "General" or "Big Tent" science fiction convention, since it is not exclusively devoted to a specific area, such as literary or media, but includes programming and activities in these areas, as well as such fields as anime, art, costuming, science, new media, gaming, and music. These areas may change from year to year, depending on who is chairing and staffing the convention that year.
Balticon is run entirely by volunteers, who assume responsibility at many levels, ranging from gofers who sign up and run errands at the convention, to the Con Chair who may spend up to two years on planning and administration.
Activities and program items are developed by the volunteers who put on the convention, so they usually concentrate on the areas they are most interested in.
Some Balticon activities and tracks run 24 hours a day from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Balticon also usually hosts a Robert Heinlein "Pay It Forward" Blood Drive at some time during the convention.
Awards
Compton Crook Award
The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best first novel of the year in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc, at their annual Baltimore-area science fiction convention, Balticon, held on Memorial Day weekend in the...
for best first novel of the year in the Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror genre, during Balticon. The previous year's winner is invited back to present the award to the new winner.
The winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest is announced at Balticon. BSFS sponsors this short story writing contest for Maryland residents or school attendees between the ages of 14 and 18, in the Fantasy or Science Fiction genres.
The Balticon Poetry Contest winners are invited to read their winning entries at Balticon, and they are published in the Balticon Program Guide. Cash prizes and convention memberships are awarded.
The Masquerade is usually held on Saturday night, and awards are given for various categories in Costuming, including creativity, construction and presentation.
The Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF) is a no-submission-fee competition traditionally held on (surprise!) Sunday night, and the audience votes on the best independent live action and animated short films in the Science Fact, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror genres.
Past Balticon Film Festival Winners are:
-
- 2009 Best Animated BURNING SAFARI
- 2009 Best Live Action The Hunt for GollumThe Hunt for GollumThe Hunt for Gollum is a 2009 British fantasy fan film directed by Chris Bouchard and based on the appendices of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The plot of the film is set in Middle-earth, when the wizard Gandalf the Grey fears that Gollum may reveal information about the One Ring to...
- 2008 THE END IS NIGHT
- 2007 HIDE AND SEEK
- 2006 THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX
The BSNSFF also sponsors the premier of an independent feature-length film on Friday night, a locally (MD, DC, VA, PA) produced feature film on Sunday after the competitive entry screenings and a third locally produced feature some time during the 4-day convention, as well as several hours of panel discussions in the Balticon Filmmaking program track.
Upcoming Convention
Balticon 46 (May 25 - 28, 2012), at the Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt ValleyHunt Valley, Maryland
Hunt Valley is an affluent unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It lies just north of the city of Baltimore, along Highway 145 off Interstate 83. Loch Raven Reservoir...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
- Jody Lynn NyeJody Lynn NyeJody Lynn Nye is an American science fiction writer. She has frequently collaborated as a co-author or the author of a sequel....
will be the Author Guest of Honor - James Odbert (aka Nybor) will be the Artist Guest of Honor
History
Prior to 1966, BSFS held an annual event for the election of BSFS Board of Directors. After several years, BSFS rented hotel space and invited an author to speak, as a guest of honor, at its election events. From this point forward, the event became an annual convention known as Balticon. Subsequently, BSFS election functions were moved to a different date.Before 2001, Balticon was held on Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
weekend to take advantage of lower hotel costs and was three days long; however, in 2001 Balticon moved to Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
Weekend and expanded to four days.
List of Past Balticons
| Event - Number - | Date | Location | Guests (listed GoH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balticon 1 | abt. 1967 | The Emerson Hotel, Baltimore MD. | no guest of honor |
| Balticon 2 | abt. 1968 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Samuel R. Delany Samuel R. Delany Samuel Ray Delany, Jr., also known as "Chip" is an American author, professor and literary critic. His work includes a number of novels, many in the science fiction genre, as well as memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society.His science fiction novels include Babel-17, The Einstein... |
| Balticon 3 | abt. 1969 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | L. Sprague deCamp |
| Balticon 4 | abt. 1970 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Damon Knight Damon Knight Damon Francis Knight was an American science fiction author, editor, critic and fan. His forte was short stories and he is widely acknowledged as having been a master of the genre.-Biography:... & Kate Wilhelm Kate Wilhelm Kate Wilhelm is an American writer whose works include science fiction, mystery, and fantasy.- Career :Wilhelm was born in Toledo, Ohio.... |
| Balticon 5 | abt. 1971 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Harry Harrison Harry Harrison Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green... |
| Balticon 6 | Washington's Birthday Weekend, 1972 | Hopkins Hilton Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | 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... |
| Balticon 7 | Washington's Birthday Weekend, 1973 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | 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... |
| Balticon 8 | Washington's Birthday Weekend, 1974 | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Frederik Pohl Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem... |
| Balticon 9 | Easter Weekend, 1975 | Pikesville Hilton Hotel, Pikesville, MD. | Hal Clement Hal Clement Harry Clement Stubbs better known by the pen name Hal Clement, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre.-Biography:... |
| Balticon 10 | April 16 - 18, 1976 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000... |
| Balticon 11 | 1977 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Philip Jose Farmer Philip José Farmer Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories.... |
| Balticon 12 | March 24 - 26, 1978 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Anne McCaffrey Anne McCaffrey Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award... |
| Balticon 13 | April 13 - 15, 1979 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | 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... |
| Balticon 14 | April 4 - 6, 1980 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Algis Budrys Algis Budrys Algis Budrys was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names "Frank Mason", "Alger Rome", "John A. Sentry", "William Scarff", and "Paul Janvier."-Biography:... & Sean Spacher |
| Balticon 15 | Easter, 1981 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | John Varley John Varley (author) John Herbert Varley is an American science fiction author.-Biography:Varley grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, moved to Port Arthur in 1957, and graduated from Nederland High School. He went to Michigan State University on a National Merit Scholarship because, of the schools that he could afford, it... |
| Balticon 16 | April 9 - 11, 1982 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Samuel R. Delany Samuel R. Delany Samuel Ray Delany, Jr., also known as "Chip" is an American author, professor and literary critic. His work includes a number of novels, many in the science fiction genre, as well as memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society.His science fiction novels include Babel-17, The Einstein... |
| Balticon 17 | April 1 - 3, 1983 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | L. Sprague deCamp & Catherine Crook de Camp Catherine Crook de Camp Catherine Crook de Camp, was an American science fiction and fantasy author and editor. Most of whose work was done in collaboration with her husband L. Sprague de Camp, to whom she was married for sixty years. Her solo work was largely non-fiction.-Life:Catherine Crook was born Catherine Adelaide... |
| Balticon 18 | April 20 - 22, 1984 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Parke Godwin |
| Balticon 19 | Easter Weekend April 7-9, 1985 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | R. A. MacAvoy R. A. MacAvoy Roberta Ann MacAvoy is a fantasy and science fiction author in the United States. Several of her books draw on Celtic or Zen themes. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1984.-Biography:... |
| Balticon 20 | March 28 - 30, 1986 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Nancy Springer Nancy Springer Nancy Connor Springer is an American author of fantasy, young adult literature, mystery, and science fiction. Her novel Larque on the Wing won the Tiptree Award, and she has also received the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.-Series:Book of the Isle* 1. The White Hart * 2... |
| Balticon 21 | April 17 - 19, 1987 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series... |
| Balticon 22 | April 1 - 3, 1988 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Spider Robinson Spider Robinson Spider Robinson is an American-born Canadian Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author.- Biography :Born in the Bronx, New York City, Robinson attended Catholic high school, spending his junior year in a seminary, followed by two years in a Catholic college, and five years at the State... |
| Balticon 23 | March 24 - 26, 1989 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | C. J. Cherryh C. J. Cherryh Carolyn Janice Cherry , better known by the pen name C. J. Cherryh, is a United States science fiction and fantasy author... |
| Balticon 24 | April 13 - 15, 1990 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Robin McKinley Robin McKinley Robin McKinley is a distinguished author of fantasy and children's books who has written sixteen books to date. Her latest book Pegasus was published in 2010... |
| Balticon 25 | March 29 - 31, 1991 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Nancy Kress Nancy Kress Nancy Kress is an American science fiction writer. She began writing in 1976 but has achieved her greatest notice since the publication of her Hugo and Nebula-winning 1991 novella "Beggars in Spain" which was later expanded into a novel with the same title... |
| Balticon 26 | April 17 - 19, 1992 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Donald Kingsbury Donald Kingsbury Donald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :... , Christopher Rowley Christopher Rowley Christopher Rowley is an American writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels.Rowley was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s... , David R. Palmer David R. Palmer David R. Palmer , Highland Park High School , is a science fiction author who has been nominated three times for Hugo Awards. He is married and lives in Florida , where he works as a court reporter.-Published works:... , Sheila Finch Sheila Finch Sheila Finch is a science fiction author. She has won the Nebula Award for her 1998 novella “Reading the Bones,” which was later expanded into a novel... , Thomas T. Thomas Thomas Thurston Thomas Thomas Thurston Thomas, also writing as Thomas T. Thomas and Thomas Wren, is a science fiction author.-Books:*The Doomsday Effect Winner of the Compton Crook Award in 1987.*First Citizen... (Wren), Christopher Hinz Christopher Hinz Christopher Hinz is an American writer best known for the Paratwa science fiction trilogy. Hinz has also written comic book for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He won the Compton Crook Award in 1988 for his novel Liege-Killer.... , Elizabeth Moon Elizabeth Moon Elizabeth Moon is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novel The Speed of Dark won the 2003 Nebula Award.-Biography:... , Josepha Sherman Josepha Sherman Josepha Sherman is an American author. In 1990 she won the Compton Crook Award for the novel The Shining Falcon.-Buffyverse:*Visitors *Deep Water ... and Michael F. Flynn |
| Balticon 27 | April 9 - 11, 1993 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Allen Steele Allen Steele Allen Mulherin Steele, Jr. is an American science fiction author.Steele began publishing short stories in 1988. His early novels formed a future history beginning with Orbital Decay and continuing through Labyrinth of Night... |
| Balticon 28 | April 1 - 3, 1994 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Lackey Mercedes "Misty" Lackey is a best-selling American author of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar... |
| Balticon 29 | April 14 - 16, 1995 | Lord Baltimore & Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | James P. Hogan James P. Hogan (writer) James Patrick Hogan was a British science fiction author.-Biography:Hogan was born in London, England. He was raised in the Portobello Road area on the west side of London... |
| Balticon 30 | April 5 - 7, 1996 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Robert Jordan Robert Jordan Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina... |
| Balticon 31 | March 28 - 30, 1997 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Glen Cook Glen Cook Glen Cook is a contemporary American science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his fantasy series, The Black Company. Cook currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.-Biography:... |
| Balticon 32 | April 10 - 12, 1998 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Harry Turtledove Harry Turtledove Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.- Life :... |
| Balticon 33 | April 2 - 4, 1999 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | David Weber David Weber David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs".... |
| Balticon 34 | April 22 - 23, 2000 | Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Octavia Butler |
| Balticon 35 | May 25 - 28, 2001 | Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Hal Clement Hal Clement Harry Clement Stubbs better known by the pen name Hal Clement, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre.-Biography:... |
| Balticon 36 | May 24 - 27, 2002 | Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Mark Rogers Mark Rogers Mark Rogers may refer to:*Mark E. Rogers, American author-illustrator*Mark Rogers , baseball player*Mark Rogers , former Canadian soccer player... , Phil Foglio Phil Foglio Philip "Phil" Foglio is an American cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy work.-Early life and career:... & Kaja Foglio Kaja Foglio Kaja Foglio is a Seattle-based writer, artist, and publisher. Foglio co-won the first Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2009 for Girl Genius, Volume 8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones, and has continued to co-win two Hugo Awards the following years.-Early life and education:Born in... |
| Balticon 37 | May 23 - 26, 2003 | Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Steve Miller Steve Miller (writer) Steve Miller is the grandson of poet and WBAL radio personality Dorothea Neale. He graduated from Reisterstown, Maryland's Franklin Senior High School in 1968 after learning how to make chapbooks as editor of the school’s literary magazine, Junto.- Biography :Steve attended University of Maryland,... & Sharon Lee Sharon Lee (writer) Sharon Lee is an American writer. She is the co-author of the Liaden universe novels and stories, as well as other works, and individually the author of two mystery novels.... |
| Balticon 38 | May 28 - 31, 2004 | Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Lois McMaster Bujold Lois McMaster Bujold Lois McMaster Bujold is an American author of science fiction and fantasy works. Bujold is one of the most acclaimed writers in her field, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, matching Robert A. Heinlein's record. Her novella The Mountains of Mourning won both the Hugo... |
| Balticon 39 | May 27 - 30, 2005 | Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD. | Steven Barnes Steven Barnes Steven Barnes is an African American science fiction writer, lecturer, creative consultant, and human performance technician.... & Tananarive Due Tananarive Due Tananarive Due is an American author.-Biography:Tananarive Priscilla Due was born in Tallahassee, Florida, the oldest of three daughters of civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due and civil rights lawyer John D. Due Jr... |
| Balticon 40 | May 26 - 29, 2006 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | 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... |
| Balticon 41 | May 25 - 28, 2007 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Larry Niven Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics... , Jerry Pournelle Jerry Pournelle Jerry Eugene Pournelle is an American science fiction writer, essayist and journalist who contributed for many years to the computer magazine Byte and has since 1998 been maintaining his own website/blog.... , Joe Bergeron, Jeff & Maya Bohnhoff, Michael R. Mennenga Michael R. Mennenga Michael R. Mennenga founded FarPoint Media in early 2006 and currently serves as its President, COO, and primary audio engineer. In addition, Michael is a co-host of the “Slice of SciFi” and “The Dragon Page Cover to Cover” podcasts, and contributor to many other Farpoint Programs.Michael’s... & Evo Terra Evo Terra Evo Terra is an American podcaster, writer and businessman based in Arizona.Evo Terra founded Podiobooks.com in 2004, an audiobook service that uses podcasting technology to distribute serialized versions of novels, non-fiction books, anthologies and short story collections.In 2005, Terra was a... |
| Balticon 42 | May 23 - 26,2008 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Connie Willis Connie Willis Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear... , John Jude Palencar John Jude Palencar John Jude Palencar is a fantasy, science fiction, and horror artist. Over 100 book covers have been adorned by his art, including all four covers of the Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini... & Urban Tapestry Urban Tapestry Urban Tapestry is a three-woman band that performs filk music, composed by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Allison Durno, and Jodi Krangle. As a group, they won the 'Best Performer' Pegasus Award in both 1997 and 2004.-----Discography:... |
| Balticon 43 | May 22 - 25, 2009 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Charles Stross Charles Stross Charles David George "Charlie" Stross is a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. He was born in Leeds.Stross specialises in hard science fiction and space opera... , Kurt Miller Kurt Miller Kurt Everett Miller is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1994 and 1999, for the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins... , Mary Crowell, Scott Sigler Scott Sigler Scott Carl Sigler is a contemporary American author of science fiction and horror as well as an avid podcaster. Originally from Michigan he now resides in San Francisco, California with his wife and their dog, Emma.-Biography:... , Mark Van Name, Paul Melko Paul Melko Paul Melko is an American science fiction writer whose work has appeared in Realms of Fantasy, Asimov's Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Live Without a Net.... |
| Balticon 44 | May 28 - 31, 2010 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Tanya Huff Tanya Huff Tanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science-fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood... , Howard Tayler Howard Tayler Howard V. Tayler is the award-winning creator of the hugely successful webcomic Schlock Mercenary. He worked as a volunteer missionary for the LDS Church, then graduated from Brigham Young University... , Thomas R. Holtz, Jr., Paolo Bacigalupi Paolo Bacigalupi Paolo Tadini Bacigalupi is an American science fiction and fantasy writer.He has won the Hugo, Nebula, Compton Crook, Theodore Sturgeon, and Michael L. Printz awards, and was nominated for the National Book Award... |
| Balticon 45 | May 27 - 30, 2011 | Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. | Dr Ben Bova Ben Bova Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:... , Vincent DiFate |