ConQuesT
Encyclopedia
ConQuesT is an annual science fiction convention
held in the Kansas City, Missouri
area; it is sponsored by the long-running Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (KaCSFFS) and is the oldest such convention in Missouri
, having first been established under a different name back in the summer of 1972. The convention is held to celebrate science fiction, fantasy, and horror "in all its various forms" , but with a nod to the literary side of these related genres. Each year the convention's programming is built around a different theme; it is always hosted over the U. S. Memorial Day weekend at the end of May.
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...
held in the Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
area; it is sponsored by the long-running Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (KaCSFFS) and is the oldest such convention in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, having first been established under a different name back in the summer of 1972. The convention is held to celebrate science fiction, fantasy, and horror "in all its various forms" , but with a nod to the literary side of these related genres. Each year the convention's programming is built around a different theme; it is always hosted over the U. S. Memorial Day weekend at the end of May.
Previous
- ConQuest 26 - Held May 26–28, 1995, at the Park Place Hotel in Kansas City, featured author guest of honor Octavia Butler and toastmaster Mike ResnickMike ResnickMichael 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:...
.
- ConQuesT 33 - Held May 24–26, 2002, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured guest of honor Connie WillisConnie WillisConstance 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...
.
- ConQuesT 35 - Held May 28–30, 2004, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured author guest of honor Jennifer RobersonJennifer RobersonJennifer Mitchell Roberson is an author of fantasy and historical literature.Roberson has lived in Arizona since 1957. She grew up in Phoenix, but in 1999 relocated to Flagstaff. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northern Arizona University in 1982 as an adult student...
and artist guest of honor Jody A. LeeJody LeeJody A. Lee is a professional fantasy artist from San Francisco known best for her book cover illustrations. Authors she has worked with include Mercedes Lackey, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Lloyd Alexander, Madeleine L'Engle, and many others...
.
- ConQuesT 36 - Held May 27–29, 2005, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured author guest of honor Joe HaldemanJoe HaldemanJoe William Haldeman is an American science fiction author.-Life :Haldeman was born June 9, 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His family traveled and he lived in Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland and Anchorage, Alaska as a child. Haldeman married Mary Gay Potter, known...
, toastmaster George R.R. Martin, fan guests Les and Jeanette Roth, and artist guest Theresa Mather.
- ConQuesT 37 - Held May 26–28, 2006, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured author guest of honor Kage BakerKage BakerKage Baker was an American science fiction and fantasy writer.- Biography :Baker was born in Hollywood, California and lived there and in Pismo Beach most of her life. Before becoming a professional writer she spent many years in theater, including teaching Elizabethan English as a second language...
, toastmaster Howard WaldropHoward WaldropHoward Waldrop is a science fiction author who works primarily in short fiction.Waldrop's stories combine elements such as alternate history, American popular culture, the American South, old movies , classical mythology, and rock 'n' roll music. His style is sometimes obscure or elliptical...
, fan guest Charles Piehl, and artist guest Mitch Bentley.
- ConQuesT 38 - Held May 25–27, 2007, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured author guest of honor Phyllis EisensteinPhyllis EisensteinPhyllis Eisenstein is an American author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and has lived there most of her life. While attending college at the University of Chicago, she met her future husband Alex at a weekly gathering of Chicago's science...
, toastmistress Teresa Nielsen HaydenTeresa Nielsen HaydenTeresa Nielsen Hayden is an American science fiction editor, fanzine writer, essayist, and teacher. She is a consulting editor for Tor Books. She has also worked for Federated Media Publishing, where in 2007 she revived the comment section for the blog Boing Boing...
, fan guest Deb Geisler, and artist guest Teddy HarviaTeddy HarviaTeddy Harvia is the nom de plume of David Thayer, an American science fiction fan artist. "Teddy Harvia" is an anagram of "David Thayer". He was born in Oklahoma but grew up in and resides in Dallas, Texas....
.
- ConQuesT 39 - Held May 23–25, 2008, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, featured author guest of honor Joe R. LansdaleJoe R. LansdaleJoe 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...
, toastmaster William Mark Simmons, fan guests Chris and Laurie Felknor, media guests Jeff EastJeff EastJeff East is an American actor. His best-known role is in the 1978 hit film Superman as the teenage Clark Kent.-Film and television credits:...
and Ellen MuthEllen MuthEllen Anna Muth is an American actress, known for her role as George Lass in Showtime's series Dead Like Me. Muth is a member of Intertel and Mensa.-Career:...
, and artist guest David Lee Anderson.
- ConQuesT 40 - Held May 22–24, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Crown CenterHyatt Regency Crown CenterThe Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is a , 45-story hotel in the Crown Center complex in Kansas City, Missouri.The hotel opened on July 1, 1980 as the Hyatt Regency Kansas City and was Missouri's tallest building from 1980 to 1986...
, featured author guest of honor John ScalziJohn ScalziJohn Michael Scalzi II is an American author and online writer, and president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He is best known for his Hugo Award-nominated science fiction novel Old Man's War, released by Tor Books in January 2005, and for his blog , at which he has written...
, toastmistress Ellen DatlowEllen DatlowEllen Datlow is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist.-Biography:Datlow was the fiction editor of Omni magazine and Omni Online from 1981 through 1998, and edited the ten associated Omni anthologies...
, fan guest Ed DeGruy, media guest Jerry GelbJerry Gelb-Anime roles:* .hack//Legend of the Twilight - Katsuyuki* Digimon Frontier - Toucanmon* Magic Knight Rayearth - Eagle Vision* Witch Hunter Robin - Master * Gestalt - Soushi* Fist of the North Star - Snake...
, and artist guest Oberon Zell.
- ConQuesT 41 - Held May 28–30, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, featured author guest of honor Michael SwanwickMichael SwanwickMichael Swanwick is an American science fiction author. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he began publishing in the early 1980s.-Biography:...
, toastmistress Toni WeisskopfToni WeisskopfToni Weisskopf is a science fiction editor and the publisher of Baen Books.Weisskopf is an alumna of Oberlin College, from which she graduated in 1987. She was immediately employed by Baen Books, where she served as executive editor up until the death of founder Jim Baen in 2006, at which point...
, fan guest Geri Sullivan, artist guest Peri Charlifu, special guest Pete Abrams, and fantasy guest George R.R. Martin. The theme for the weekend was "Steampunk and Evil Geniuses".
- ConQuesT 42 - Held May 27–29, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, featured author guest of honor Tamora PierceTamora PierceTamora Pierce is an author of fantasy literature for young adults. She is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania. Best known for writing stories involving young heroines, she made a name for herself with her first quartet The Song of the Lioness, which followed the main character Alanna...
, toastmistress Rachel CaineRachel CaineRachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and horror novels. She also publishes media tie-in novels as Julie Fortune.-Personal life:...
, fan guest Tadao TomomatsuTadao TomomatsuTadao Tomomatsu is an actor living in the Los Angeles, California area. His biggest role to date was as "Mr. Shake Hands Man 2" on the British TV show Banzai when it was recreated for US television Tadao Tomomatsu is an actor living in the Los Angeles, California area. His biggest role to date was...
, media guest The Great Luke Ski, and artist guest Erin McKee. The theme for the weekend was "Life, the Universe, and ... you know the drill ... bring your own towel!".
Upcoming
- ConQuesT 43 - Scheduled to be held May 25–27, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.