ConGlomeration (convention)
Encyclopedia
ConGlomeration is an annual multigenre convention held in or around Louisville, Kentucky
. ConGlomeration 2012 will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Louisville on April 13–15, 2012. ConGlomeration is an all-volunteer non-profit organization which, as part of its convention programming, conducts charitable fundraising activities on behalf of the American Cancer Society
. With the unexpected closure of the convention's hotel in 2008, the operation of the convention was disrupted, but resumed in 2010.
, Gaming Guest of Honor Andy Chambers
and Artist Guest of Honor Kristin Kest.
In 2010, author Michael Z. Williamson
and artist Steven Belledin headlined ConGlomeration. In 2008, Conglomeration hosted Walter Koenig
as a featured guest. In 2007, author Ben Bova
appeared alongside artist Daniel Dos Santos. Author Allen Steele
had also been scheduled to attend but had to withdraw for health reasons.
Past author guests have included Harry Turtledove
(2006), Eric Flint
(2003), Peter Watts (2003), Andrew J. Offutt
(2002), David Drake
(2002) and Mike Resnick
(2001). Past artist guests have included Boris Vallejo
(2001), Julie Bell
(2001), Tom Kidd (2004) and Mark Zug
(2005).
, science fiction convention
and, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, a writing workshop
run by Apex Magazine. A 24-hour staffed game room, a LARP, tracked author programming, a costume masquerade, a dealer's room, and a genre art auction are regular components of ConGlomeration's official activities.
that dons various disguises —- including a giant mecha
robot, a homage to Gandalf
, and King Kong
-- for his appearance on the official con t-shirt, which is given to staff and volunteers.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. ConGlomeration 2012 will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Louisville on April 13–15, 2012. ConGlomeration is an all-volunteer non-profit organization which, as part of its convention programming, conducts charitable fundraising activities on behalf of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. With the unexpected closure of the convention's hotel in 2008, the operation of the convention was disrupted, but resumed in 2010.
Guests
Featured ConGlomeration guests typically include at least one science fiction or fantasy author, and one sci-fi/fantasy artist. ConGlomeration 2011 featured Author Guest of Honor Peter DavidPeter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
, Gaming Guest of Honor Andy Chambers
Andy Chambers
Andy Chambers is a British author and game designer, best known for his work for Games Workshop. He worked extensively on various Warhammer 40,000 rulebooks and sourcebooks, and also authored at least one fiction novel set in the same universe....
and Artist Guest of Honor Kristin Kest.
In 2010, author Michael Z. Williamson
Michael Z. Williamson
Michael Z. Williamson is a science fiction and military fiction author. Born in Birkenhead, England, he and his family emigrated to Canada, then the United States in 1978. Williamson frequently utilizes the pen names "Mad Mike", and "Crazy Einar". He is retired from the United States...
and artist Steven Belledin headlined ConGlomeration. In 2008, Conglomeration hosted Walter Koenig
Walter Koenig
Walter Marvin Koenig is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. He wrote the script for the 2008 science fiction legal thriller InAlienable.-Early life:...
as a featured guest. In 2007, author 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:...
appeared alongside artist Daniel Dos Santos. Author 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...
had also been scheduled to attend but had to withdraw for health reasons.
Past author guests have included 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 :...
(2006), Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
(2003), Peter Watts (2003), Andrew J. Offutt
Andrew J. Offutt
Andrew Jefferson Offutt is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He has written as Andrew J. Offutt, A. J. Offutt, and Andy Offutt. His normal byline, andrew j. offutt, has all his name in lower-case letters.-Life and family:Offutt has been married for over 50 years to Jodie McCabe...
(2002), 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:...
(2002) and Mike Resnick
Mike Resnick
Michael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
(2001). Past artist guests have included Boris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo is a Peruvian-born American painter. He immigrated to the United States in 1964, and he currently resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He frequently works with Julie Bell, his wife, painter, and model....
(2001), Julie Bell
Julie Bell
Julie Bell is an American painter. A fantasy artist and wildlife artist, she is a former bodybuilder and fantasy model for her husband, painter Boris Vallejo.-Career:...
(2001), Tom Kidd (2004) and Mark Zug
Mark Zug
Mark Zug is an artist and illustrator who is known for his work with the Septimus Heap series and Harlan Ellison's adaption of I, Robot. He has illustrated many collectible card games, including Magic: The Gathering and Dune, as well as books and magazines. He lives in Pennsylvania.- Biography...
(2005).
Activities
ConGlomeration is a broad-based fan convention, incorporating aspects of a gaming conventionGaming convention
A gaming convention is a gathering that centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel...
, science fiction convention
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...
and, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, a writing workshop
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop is a method of writing instruction developed by Lucy Calkins and educators involved in the Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University in New York City, New York. . This method of instruction focuses on the goal of fostering lifelong writers...
run by Apex Magazine. A 24-hour staffed game room, a LARP, tracked author programming, a costume masquerade, a dealer's room, and a genre art auction are regular components of ConGlomeration's official activities.
Mascot
The convention mascot is a platypusPlatypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
that dons various disguises —- including a giant mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
robot, a homage to Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
, and King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
-- for his appearance on the official con t-shirt, which is given to staff and volunteers.