MidSouthCon
Encyclopedia
MidSouthCon is an American science-fiction convention held each March in Memphis, Tennessee
, since 1982, evolving from similar events in the late 1970s. Focusing mainly on science fiction literature, it provides basic programming geared to other genres: fantasy
, science
, comics
, horror
, and gaming
. It is also the event at which the Darrell Awards Jury presents its annual Darrell Awards
.
) with the formation of the Mid-South Fantasy Association (MSFA). In the late 1970s, they decided to put on a relaxacon
, and after its success, decided to start putting on a yearly science fiction convention. Several different names were used, before choosing MidSouthCon as the permanent name for the convention. It was decided to start the numbering of this new MidSouthCon at 2 since the name had been used before: MidSouthCon 1 was held in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 20–22, 1980, and the very first DeepSouthCon in 1963 was also named MidSouthCon.
Just Imagicon was held May 24–27, 1979, at the (former) Rivermont Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors L. Sprague
and Catherine De Camp, artist Kelly Freas, master of ceremonies Gerald R. Page, and fan Alonzo P. Atkins.
Imaginitzacon was held in September 1980 at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert Asprin
, and fan Steven Carlberg.
Imagicon was held September 25–27, 1981, at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Andrew J. Offutt
, and fan Charlie Williams.
.
MidSouthCon 3 was held March 16–18, 1984, at the (former) Quality Inn Riverview in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Steve Dodd
, fan Margaret Middleton, and toastmaster Dalvan Coger.
MidSouthCon 4 was held March 22–24, 1985, at the (former) Quality Inn Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Fred Pohl, artist Keith Berdak, filker Suzette Haden Elgin
, fan Khen Moore, toastmaster John Steakley
, and special guests Robert Jordan
and Sharon Webb
.
MidSouthCon 5 was held June 6–8, 1986, at the (former) Ramada Inn SW Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Joe Haldeman
, artist David Cherry, toastmaster Andrew J. Offutt
, and fan Judy Offutt.
MidSouthCon 6 was held March 27–29, 1987, at the (former) Wilson World Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Hal Clement
, toastmaster Julius Schwartz
, artist Lucy Swink, toastmaster Wilson "Bob" Tucker, and fan Ricky Sheppard.
MidSouthCon 7 was held March 18–20, 1988, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors Larry Niven
and Jerry Pournelle
, toastmaster Julius Schwartz
, artist Mitch Foust, filker Margaret Middleton, fan Darrell C. Richardson
, and actors Paul Darrow
(had to cancel) and Michael Keating.
MidSouthCon 8 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon
27, a Southern U.S. regional convention, was held June 9–11, 1989, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Orson Scott Card
, toastmaster C.J. Cherryh, artist Mary hanson Roberts, filker Bill Sutton
, fan G. Patrick Malloy, and special guest Wilson "Bob" Tucker.
, toastmaster Robert Asprin
, artists David Martin
and Ellisa Martin, fan P.L. Carruthers-Montgomery, actor Mark Ryan, and filker Gary Hanson
.
MidSouthCon 10 was held March 22–24, 1991, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Harry Turtledove
, artist Randall Spangler, and fans Steve & Sue Francis.
MidSouthCon 11 was held March 27–29, 1992, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Nancy Springer
, artist Beth Willinger, and fan Belinda Anderson.
MidSouthCon 12 was held March 26–28, 1993, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Alan Dean Foster
, artist Carl Lundgren
, and fan Wilson "Bob" Tucker.
MidSouthCon 13 was held March 25–27, 1994, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barbera Hambley, artist Larry Elmore
, actress Robin Curtis
, and fan Khen Moore.
MidSouthCon 14 was held March 24–26, 1995, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Timothy Zahn
, artist Alan Gutierrez, and fan Tim "Uncle Timmy" Bolgeo.
MidSouthCon 15 was held March 22–24, 1996, at the (former) Brownstone Downtown Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barry Longyear, artists Frank Kelly Freas
and Laura Brodian Freas, fan Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 16 was held March 28–30, 1997, at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino in Robinsonville, MS. The Guests of Honor included include author John Dechancie
, artist Mitch Bentley, and fan Cullen Johnson.
(The noted gap here for the year 1998 was due to a last minute contract dispute between the convention and the hotel. With very little time before the event, they were forced to cancel the convention for that year.)
MidSouthCon 17 was held March 26–28, 1999, at the (former) Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author James P. Hogan
, artist Joy Mariw Ledet, and fan Cullen Johnson.
, artist Robert Daniels
, and actress Lisa Getto.
MidSouthCon 19 was held March 23–25, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Laurel K. Hamilton, artist Alan Clark
, toastmaster Cullen Johnson, and special guests Jack McDevitt
and Algis Budrys
.
MidSouthCon 20 was held March 22–24, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Thomas Kidd
, game designer Steve Jackson
,actor Michael Sheard
, and special guests Jane Fancher
and Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 21 was held March 28–30, 2003, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert J. Sawyer
, artists Frank Kelly Freas
and Laura Brodian Freas, NASA's own Les Johnson, game designer Jolly Blackburn
, and actor Michael Sheard
.
MidSouthCon 22 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon
42, a Southern U.S. regional convention, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis on March 26–28, 2004. The Guests of Honor included include author David Brin
, artist Todd Lockwood
game designer David Williams, effects guru Dragon Dronet toastmaster Michael Sheard
, and fan Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 23 was held April 1–3, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Esther Friesner
, artist Steve Hickman, comics illustrator Steve Rude
, game outlet Games Workshop
, filker The grest Luke Ski, actress Brinke Stevens
, astrophysicist Dr. Gregory Benford, and toastmaster Michael Sheard
.
MidSouthCon 24 was held March 26–29, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include authors David Weber
and Glen Cook
, artist Lobov Yegudin, comics writer John Jackson Miller
, game designer Rich Burlew
, filker Tom Smith
, effects guru Regina Pancake, costumer Christopher "Tyger" Roth, and our own Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 25 was held March 23–25, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Terry Pratchett
, artist Don Maitz
, comics writer Mark Waid
, game designer Sean Preston, filker Leslie Fish
, actor Bill Blair and makeup artist Carl Tallaferro, and toastmaster Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 26 was held March 21–23, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Eric Flint
, futurist Ben Bova
, artist Bob Eggleton
, comics writer Len Wein
, game designer Shane Lacy Hensley
, author Candace Havens, musicians The FuMP
featuring Rob Balder
, and toastmaster Selina Rosen.
MidSouthCon 27 was held March 20–22, 2009, at the Whispering Woods Conference Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi
, on March 20–22, 2009. Guests of Honor included author Mike Resnick
, artist Vincent Di Fate
, comics writer John Ostrander
, game designers Jolly Blackburn
and Mark Plemmons, filkers Wild Mercy, fan film creator John Hudgens, nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, editor Ann VanderMeer
, author Jeff VanderMeer
, and toastmaster Jane Fancher
.
. The Guests of Honor included include author Kevin J. Anderson
, author Rebecca Moesta
, artist Billy Tackett, comics writer Gail Simone
, game publisher James Ernest
, editor Lou Anders
, musician and podcaster Marc Gunn
, special guest Sherrilyn Kenyon
, and toastmistress Lee Martindale.
MidSouthCon 29 was held March 25–27, 2011, at the Memphis Hilton in Memphis. Guests of honor included author GoH Mary Robinette Kowal
, artist GoH Nene Thomas, gaming GoH Monte Cook
, comics GoH Kurt Busiek
, costuming GoH Kelldar, science GoH Les Johnson
, editor GoH Jackie Gamber, and toastmaster The Great Luke Ski.
, Science GoH Ethan Siegel, and Media GoH Mark Goddard
.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, since 1982, evolving from similar events in the late 1970s. Focusing mainly on science fiction literature, it provides basic programming geared to other genres: fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, and gaming
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. It is also the event at which the Darrell Awards Jury presents its annual Darrell Awards
Darrell Awards
The Darrell Awards are intended to promote literacy in the Mid-South by recognizing the best published Midsouth regional science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The Awards consider a work Midsouth regional if the author lives in the Mid-South or if the work prominently features the Mid-South. The...
.
History
Memphis Fandom got restarted in 1970 (after a small group in the early 1940s was dissolved upon being drafted for World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) with the formation of the Mid-South Fantasy Association (MSFA). In the late 1970s, they decided to put on a relaxacon
Relaxacon
A relaxacon is a science fiction convention which has little programming, and is unlikely to have a dealer's room, as the point of a relaxacon is the organizers can relax during the convention...
, and after its success, decided to start putting on a yearly science fiction convention. Several different names were used, before choosing MidSouthCon as the permanent name for the convention. It was decided to start the numbering of this new MidSouthCon at 2 since the name had been used before: MidSouthCon 1 was held in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 20–22, 1980, and the very first DeepSouthCon in 1963 was also named MidSouthCon.
Precursor events
Steve & Don's Memphis Halfacon/Relaxicon was held in December 1977 at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. There were no guests of Honor per se. ConComm included the CoChair-beings Steven Carlberg and Don Markstein, as well as P.L. Caruthers, Claude Saxon, and Greg Bridges.Just Imagicon was held May 24–27, 1979, at the (former) Rivermont Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors L. Sprague
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
and Catherine De Camp, artist Kelly Freas, master of ceremonies Gerald R. Page, and fan Alonzo P. Atkins.
Imaginitzacon was held in September 1980 at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert Asprin
Robert Asprin
Robert Lynn Asprin was an American science fiction and fantasy author and active fan, best known for his humorous MythAdventures and Phule's Company series.- Background :...
, and fan Steven Carlberg.
Imagicon was held September 25–27, 1981, at the (former) Holiday Inn Overton Square in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author 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...
, and fan Charlie Williams.
1980s
MidSouthCon 2 was held August 20–22, 1982, at the (former) Quality Inn Riverview in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Wilson "Bob" Tucker, fan Arthur Hlavaty, and toastmaster/artist Charlie Williams, and author Darrell C. RichardsonDarrell C. Richardson
Dr. Darrell Coleman Richardson was an American Baptist minister, bibliographer and author of 44 books. He served as Director of the National Fantasy Fan Federation and was involved in the Cincinnati Fantasy Group and the Memphis Science Fiction Association. Richardson was a noted authority on...
.
MidSouthCon 3 was held March 16–18, 1984, at the (former) Quality Inn Riverview in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Steve Dodd
Steve Dodd
Steve Dodd , is an Indigenous Australian actor, notable for playing indigenous characters across seven decades of Australian film. After beginning his working life as a stockman and rodeo rider, Dodd was given his first film roles by prominent Australian actor Chips Rafferty...
, fan Margaret Middleton, and toastmaster Dalvan Coger.
MidSouthCon 4 was held March 22–24, 1985, at the (former) Quality Inn Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Fred Pohl, artist Keith Berdak, filker Suzette Haden Elgin
Suzette Haden Elgin
Suzette Haden Elgin is an American science fiction author. She founded the Science Fiction Poetry Association, and is considered an important figure in the field of science fiction constructed languages...
, fan Khen Moore, toastmaster John Steakley
John Steakley
John William Steakley, Jr. was an American author, best known for his science fiction writing. He published two major novels, Armor and Vampire$ ; the latter was the basis for John Carpenter's Vampires movie...
, and special guests 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...
and Sharon Webb
Sharon Webb
Sharon Lynn Webb was a science fiction writer and nurse....
.
MidSouthCon 5 was held June 6–8, 1986, at the (former) Ramada Inn SW Airport in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Joe Haldeman
Joe Haldeman
Joe 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...
, artist David Cherry, toastmaster 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...
, and fan Judy Offutt.
MidSouthCon 6 was held March 27–29, 1987, at the (former) Wilson World Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author 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:...
, toastmaster Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
, artist Lucy Swink, toastmaster Wilson "Bob" Tucker, and fan Ricky Sheppard.
MidSouthCon 7 was held March 18–20, 1988, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include authors 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...
and 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....
, toastmaster Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
, artist Mitch Foust, filker Margaret Middleton, fan Darrell C. Richardson
Darrell C. Richardson
Dr. Darrell Coleman Richardson was an American Baptist minister, bibliographer and author of 44 books. He served as Director of the National Fantasy Fan Federation and was involved in the Cincinnati Fantasy Group and the Memphis Science Fiction Association. Richardson was a noted authority on...
, and actors Paul Darrow
Paul Darrow
Paul Darrow is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Kerr Avon in the BBC science fiction television series Blake's 7...
(had to cancel) and Michael Keating.
MidSouthCon 8 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon
DeepSouthCon
The DeepSouthCon is an annual science fiction convention, which is hosted in different cities in the Southern United States. Site selection is by vote of the membership of a given DSC, for the convention to be held 2 years in the future. DSC is often, but not always, held in conjunction with an...
27, a Southern U.S. regional convention, was held June 9–11, 1989, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
, toastmaster C.J. Cherryh, artist Mary hanson Roberts, filker Bill Sutton
Bill Sutton
William David "Bill" Sutton is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Hawkes Bay electorate in Parliament from 1984, when he defeated Richard Harrison, to 1990, when he was defeated by Michael Laws....
, fan G. Patrick Malloy, and special guest Wilson "Bob" Tucker.
1990s
MidSouthCon 9 was held March 16–18, 1990, at the (former) Memphis Marriott Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert JordanRobert 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...
, toastmaster Robert Asprin
Robert Asprin
Robert Lynn Asprin was an American science fiction and fantasy author and active fan, best known for his humorous MythAdventures and Phule's Company series.- Background :...
, artists David Martin
David Martin
-Politicians:*David Martin , Republican party U.S. Representative from Nebraska *David Martin , Australian admiral and Governor of New South Wales...
and Ellisa Martin, fan P.L. Carruthers-Montgomery, actor Mark Ryan, and filker Gary Hanson
Gary Hanson
Gary D. Hanson is a Democratic member of the South Dakota Senate, representing the 1st district since 2004. Previously he was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1998 through 2004.-External links:* official SD Senate website...
.
MidSouthCon 10 was held March 22–24, 1991, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author 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 :...
, artist Randall Spangler, and fans Steve & Sue Francis.
MidSouthCon 11 was held March 27–29, 1992, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author 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...
, artist Beth Willinger, and fan Belinda Anderson.
MidSouthCon 12 was held March 26–28, 1993, at the (former) Memphis Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona, with his wife, and is also known for his novelizations of film scripts...
, artist Carl Lundgren
Carl Lundgren
Carl Leonard "Lundy" Lundgren was an American baseball and football player and coach.Lundgren played football and baseball for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and played eight seasons of Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. In eight years with the Cubs, he compiled...
, and fan Wilson "Bob" Tucker.
MidSouthCon 13 was held March 25–27, 1994, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barbera Hambley, artist Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and the comic strip series SnarfQuest...
, actress Robin Curtis
Robin Curtis
Robin Curtis is an American actress, most notable for playing Vulcan Lieutenant Saavik in the Star Trek films.-Film & television work:...
, and fan Khen Moore.
MidSouthCon 14 was held March 24–26, 1995, at the (former) Best Western Airport Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn is a writer of science fiction short stories and novels. His novella Cascade Point won the 1984 Hugo award. He is the author of nine Star Wars Expanded Universe novels, including seven novels featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn: the Thrawn Trilogy, the Hand of Thrawn duology, Outbound...
, artist Alan Gutierrez, and fan Tim "Uncle Timmy" Bolgeo.
MidSouthCon 15 was held March 22–24, 1996, at the (former) Brownstone Downtown Hotel in Memphis, TN. The Guests of Honor included include author Barry Longyear, artists Frank Kelly Freas
Frank Kelly Freas
Frank Kelly Freas , called the "Dean of Science Fiction Artists", was a science fiction and fantasy artist with a career spanning more than 50 years.-Early life, education, and personal life:...
and Laura Brodian Freas, fan Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 16 was held March 28–30, 1997, at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino in Robinsonville, MS. The Guests of Honor included include author John Dechancie
John DeChancie
John DeChancie is an American author. A Pittsburgh native, he is most famous for his comic fantasy Castle series, and his science fiction Skyway series...
, artist Mitch Bentley, and fan Cullen Johnson.
(The noted gap here for the year 1998 was due to a last minute contract dispute between the convention and the hotel. With very little time before the event, they were forced to cancel the convention for that year.)
MidSouthCon 17 was held March 26–28, 1999, at the (former) Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author 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...
, artist Joy Mariw Ledet, and fan Cullen Johnson.
2000s
MidSouthCon 18 was held March 24–26, 2000, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Fred SaberhagenFred Saberhagen
Fred Thomas Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his Berserker series of science fiction short stories and S.F...
, artist Robert Daniels
Robert Daniels
Robert Daniels , is a professional boxer in the Cruiserweight division.Daniels, known as "Preacherman," turned pro in 1984 and in 1989 he captured the vacant World Boxing Association cruiserweight title by defeating a badly faded 36-year old Dwight Muhammad Qawi...
, and actress Lisa Getto.
MidSouthCon 19 was held March 23–25, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Laurel K. Hamilton, artist Alan Clark
Alan Clark
Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark was a British Conservative MP and diarist. He served as a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher's governments at the Departments of Employment, Trade, and Defence, and became a privy counsellor in 1991...
, toastmaster Cullen Johnson, and special guests Jack McDevitt
Jack McDevitt
Jack McDevitt is an American science fiction author whose novels frequently deal with attempts to make contact with alien races, and with archaeology or xenoarchaeology....
and 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:...
.
MidSouthCon 20 was held March 22–24, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author C.J. Cherryh, artist Thomas Kidd
Thomas Kidd
Thomas Kidd was an English classical scholar and schoolmaster.He was born in Yorkshire, and educated at Giggleswick School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was the father of John Tyrwhitt Davy Kidd who served in India for many years and Richard Bentley Porson Kidd, who was rector of Potter...
, game designer Steve Jackson
Steve Jackson
Steve Jackson may refer to:* Steve Jackson , set theorist at University of North Texas* Steve Jackson , co-founder, with Ian Livingstone, of Games Workshop...
,actor Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
, and special guests Jane Fancher
Jane Fancher
Jane S. Fancher is a science fiction and fantasy author and artist.She currently lives in Spokane, Washington with fellow science fiction writer C. J. Cherryh...
and Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 21 was held March 28–30, 2003, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Robert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, artists Frank Kelly Freas
Frank Kelly Freas
Frank Kelly Freas , called the "Dean of Science Fiction Artists", was a science fiction and fantasy artist with a career spanning more than 50 years.-Early life, education, and personal life:...
and Laura Brodian Freas, NASA's own Les Johnson, game designer Jolly Blackburn
Jolly Blackburn
Jolly Randall Blackburn is best known as the creator of the comic strip, Knights of the Dinner Table.-Biography:Jolly Blackburn majored in anthropology, history, and classical cultures in college...
, and actor Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
.
MidSouthCon 22 was held in conjunction with DeepSouthCon
DeepSouthCon
The DeepSouthCon is an annual science fiction convention, which is hosted in different cities in the Southern United States. Site selection is by vote of the membership of a given DSC, for the convention to be held 2 years in the future. DSC is often, but not always, held in conjunction with an...
42, a Southern U.S. regional convention, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis on March 26–28, 2004. The Guests of Honor included include author David Brin
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
, artist Todd Lockwood
Todd Lockwood
Todd Wills Lockwood, born in Boulder, Colorado, is an American artist specializing in fantasy and science fiction illustration. He is best known for his work on the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, and for his covers for the books of R.A. Salvatore...
game designer David Williams, effects guru Dragon Dronet toastmaster Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
, and fan Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 23 was held April 1–3, 2005, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Esther Mona Friesner-Stutzman, née Friesner is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for her humorous pieces.- Life :...
, artist Steve Hickman, comics illustrator Steve Rude
Steve Rude
-Career:In 1981, Rude became widely known in the comics world when he and writer Mike Baron created Nexus, an independent science fiction comic book with a large supporting cast. For the series, Rude designed a dozen or so distinctive alien races, including the Thunes, the Amphibs, the Quattros,...
, game outlet Games Workshop
Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
, filker The grest Luke Ski, actress Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens is an American actress, model and writer.-Life and career:Born in San Diego, California, Stevens has studied several foreign languages, including Esperanto, and gained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in Marine...
, astrophysicist Dr. Gregory Benford, and toastmaster Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
.
MidSouthCon 24 was held March 26–29, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include authors 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"....
and 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:...
, artist Lobov Yegudin, comics writer John Jackson Miller
John Jackson Miller
John Jackson Miller is an American comic book writer and commentator, known for his work on the Star Wars franchise as well as his research into comic book circulation history, as presented in the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.-Biography:...
, game designer Rich Burlew
Rich Burlew
Rich Burlew is an author, game designer, and graphic designer best known for The Order of the Stick webcomic. He has written several works for Wizards of the Coast's game Dungeons and Dragons...
, filker Tom Smith
Tom Smith (filker)
Tom Smith is a singer-songwriter from , who got his start in the filk music community. He is a fourteen-time winner of the Pegasus Award for excellence in filking, including awards for his "A Boy and His Frog", "307 Ale", and "The Return of the King ", and was inducted into the Filk Hall of Fame in...
, effects guru Regina Pancake, costumer Christopher "Tyger" Roth, and our own Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 25 was held March 23–25, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
, artist Don Maitz
Don Maitz
Don Maitz is an American science fiction, fantasy, and commercial artist. His most widely-known creation is the "Captain" character of the Captain Morgan brand of rum, although he is perhaps most notable for twice winning the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, science fiction's highest honor...
, comics writer Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
, game designer Sean Preston, filker Leslie Fish
Leslie Fish
Leslie Fish is a filk musician, author, and anarchist political activist.-Music:Along with The DeHorn Crew, in 1976 she created the first commercial filk recording, Folk Songs for Folk Who Ain't Even Been Yet...
, actor Bill Blair and makeup artist Carl Tallaferro, and toastmaster Cullen Johnson.
MidSouthCon 26 was held March 21–23, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Select Airport in Memphis. The Guests of Honor included include author 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 :...
, futurist 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:...
, artist Bob Eggleton
Bob Eggleton
Bob Eggleton is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror artist. Eggleton has been honored with the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist eight times, first winning in 1994. He also won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2001 for his art book "Greetings From Earth"...
, comics writer Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
, game designer Shane Lacy Hensley
Shane Lacy Hensley
Shane Lacy Hensley is an author, game designer, and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Group and is currently a resident of Gilbert, Arizona.-Career:...
, author Candace Havens, musicians The FuMP
The FuMP
The FuMP, or the Funny Music Project, is a website founded in 2007 which releases at least two new comedy songs every week under a Creative Commons license. Visitors are given a choice of downloading the songs for free, or purchasing a high quality mp3 for 99 cents...
featuring Rob Balder
Rob Balder
Robert T. Balder is a professional cartoonist, singer/songwriter, game designer and web entrepreneur. He graduated from Roanoke College with a major in English in 1993, and after a variety of jobs, entered a seven year career in IT, starting as a Manager of Database Development, which he left for...
, and toastmaster Selina Rosen.
MidSouthCon 27 was held March 20–22, 2009, at the Whispering Woods Conference Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,054 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 31,830, making it the ninth-largest city in the state of Mississippi...
, on March 20–22, 2009. Guests of Honor included author 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:...
, artist Vincent Di Fate
Vincent Di Fate
Vincent Di Fate is an American artist specializing in science fiction and fantasy illustration.Di Fate studied at the Phoenix School of Design in New York City and received his MA in Illustration at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.He is the winner for the Hugo Award for Best Professional...
, comics writer John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
, game designers Jolly Blackburn
Jolly Blackburn
Jolly Randall Blackburn is best known as the creator of the comic strip, Knights of the Dinner Table.-Biography:Jolly Blackburn majored in anthropology, history, and classical cultures in college...
and Mark Plemmons, filkers Wild Mercy, fan film creator John Hudgens, nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, editor Ann VanderMeer
Ann VanderMeer
Ann VanderMeer is an American publisher and editor, and the second female editor of the venerable horror magazine Weird Tales. She is the founder of Buzzcity Press.Her work as Fiction Editor of Weird Tales won a Hugo Award...
, author Jeff VanderMeer
Jeff VanderMeer
Jeffrey Scott VanderMeer is an American writer, editor and publisher.He is best known for his contributions to the New Weird and his stories about the city of Ambergris, in books like City of Saints and Madmen.-Biography:...
, and toastmaster Jane Fancher
Jane Fancher
Jane S. Fancher is a science fiction and fantasy author and artist.She currently lives in Spokane, Washington with fellow science fiction writer C. J. Cherryh...
.
2010s
MidSouthCon 28 was held March 12–14, 2010, at the Whispering Woods Conference Center in Olive Branch, MississippiOlive Branch, Mississippi
Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,054 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 31,830, making it the ninth-largest city in the state of Mississippi...
. The Guests of Honor included include author Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author with over forty bestsellers. He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the Dune prequels...
, author Rebecca Moesta
Rebecca Moesta
Rebecca Moesta Anderson is the author of several science fiction books. Although born in Germany, Rebecca was born to American parents and raised in Pasadena, California, where she lived until her early twenties. Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Cal State L.A....
, artist Billy Tackett, comics writer Gail Simone
Gail Simone
Gail Simone is an American writer of comic books. Best known for penning DC's Birds of Prey, her other notable works include Secret Six, Welcome to Tranquility, The All-New Atom, and Deadpool. In 2007, she took over Wonder Woman...
, game publisher James Ernest
James Ernest
James Ernest is an American game designer and juggler. He is best known as the owner and lead designer of Cheapass Games. Prior to founding Cheapass, he worked as a juggler at various venues, including Camlann Medieval Village, and as a freelancer with Wizards of the Coast. He also worked for...
, editor Lou Anders
Lou Anders
Lou Anders is an American editor, author and journalist, primarily of science fiction/fantasy novels, articles and short stories.-Biography and journalism:...
, musician and podcaster Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn is a musician and podcaster. As the autoharp-playing half of the Brobdingnagian Bards, Gunn and partner Andrew McKee developed a following with weekly performances on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. This led to gigs at renaissance faires, science fiction conventions, and...
, special guest Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sherrilyn Kenyon is a bestselling US writer. Under her own name she writes Urban Fantasy, but is best known for her Dark-Hunter vampire series. Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor she wrote historicals also with paranormal elements...
, and toastmistress Lee Martindale.
MidSouthCon 29 was held March 25–27, 2011, at the Memphis Hilton in Memphis. Guests of honor included author GoH Mary Robinette Kowal
Mary Robinette Kowal
Mary Robinette Kowal is an American author and puppeteer. She also served as art director for Shimmer Magazine and in 2010 was named art director for Weird Tales...
, artist GoH Nene Thomas, gaming GoH Monte Cook
Monte Cook
Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...
, comics GoH Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
, costuming GoH Kelldar, science GoH Les Johnson
Les Johnson
The Honourable Leslie Royston "Les" Johnson AM is a former Australian politician, minister and High Commissioner.In his mid-twenties, Les Johnson was elected as a Councillor for Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, where he served for five years.Johnson was elected for the Australian Labor Party as...
, editor GoH Jackie Gamber, and toastmaster The Great Luke Ski.
Upcoming conventions
MidSouthCon 30 will be held March 23-25, 2012, at the Memphis Hilton in Memphis, Tennessee. Scheduled guests of honor include Artist GoH Steven C. Gilberts, Comic GoH Joe Corroney, Editor GoH Cat RamboCat Rambo
Cat Rambo is a science fiction and fantasy writer and editor who lives in the Pacific Northwest. She has been the co-editor of Fantasy Magazine since 2007. She collaborated with Jeff VanderMeer on The Surgeon's Tale and Other Stories, published in 2007...
, Science GoH Ethan Siegel, and Media GoH Mark Goddard
Mark Goddard
Mark Goddard is an American film actor who has starred in a number of television programs. He portrayed Major Don West, the space adversary of Dr. Zachary Smith in the cult 1960s CBS series, Lost in Space, and Detective Sgt...
.