AggieCon

AggieCon is the oldest and largest student-run science fiction convention in the United States. Held annually since 1969 by Cepheid Variable at Texas A&M University's Memorial Student Center, it has grown to become one of the larger conventions in Texas. AggieCon was the first science fiction convention ever sponsored by a college or a college affiliate student organization.^[1]

The convention is known for its relaxed atmosphere, where guests and attendees can sit and chat on the couches outside the dealers' room and art show. The scope of AggieCon ranges from science fiction to fantasy to horror, and encompasses literature, graphic arts, and general media. Activities and events include panel discussions, costume contest, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, dealer's room, art show, and much gaming, including LARPing.

Some former Cepheid Variable members have gone on to become science fiction/fantasy writers, including Martha Wells,^[2] Jayme Blaschke,^[3] and Steven Gould.^[4]

Cepheid Variable was named the 2006 Registered Student Organization of the Year at Texas A&M. Among the cited reasons for the award were the $1,500 they donate each year to Scotty's House Child Advocacy Center and the creation of "S.O.S.," a tutoring program for Cepheids that aims to increase the club's academic status on campus. Cepheid advisor James "Spanky" Smith won an award for being the advisor of the year during the same ceremony.^[5]

Current Data

The Director for AggieCon 43 is Cameron Harrell. AggieCon 43 will be held at the Hilton Hotel in College Station on March 23–25, 2012.

Past conventions

1. Science Fiction Week (retroactively AggieCon I) - April 21–24, 1969; GoH: Harlan Ellison
2. Cepheid Comics and Trade Convention (retroactively AggieCon II) - Spring 1970; no GoH
3. AggieCon III - April 7–9, 1972; The first convention to officially use the name AggieCon,^[6] no GoH
4. AggieCon IV - March 2–4, 1973; GoH: Jack Williamson, Chad Oliver, Robert E. Vardeman, Joe Pumilia
5. AggieCon V - April 12–14, 1974; GoH: Harlan Ellison, Keith Laumer, Howard Waldrop
6. AggieCon VI - March 28–30, 1975; Larry Niven, Fan GoH: "Fuzzy Pink" Niven
7. AggieCon VII - March 26–28, 1976; Anne McCaffrey
8. AggieCon VIII - March 24–27, 1977; Fred Pohl
9. AggieCon IX - March 30-April 2, 1978; GoH: Damon Knight, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, Alan Dean Foster, Geo. W. Proctor, Bob Vardeman
10. AggieCon X - March 29-April 1, 1979; GoH: Theodore Sturgeon, Boris Vallejo, Wilson "Bob" Tucker
11. AggieCon XI - March 27–30, 1980; GoH: Poul Anderson, Jack Williamson, Katherine Kurtz, Frank Kelly Freas
12. AggieCon XII - March 26–29, 1981; GoH: Joe Haldeman, Alicia Austin, C.J. Cherryh
13. AggieCon XIII - 1982; GoH: Roger Zelazny, Brian Aldiss, Vincent Di Fate, Fred Saberhagen
14. AggieCon XIV - March 24–27, 1983; GoH: Harry Harrison, Michael Whelan, Stephen R. Donaldson, Chad Oliver
15. AggieCon XV - March 29-April 1, 1984; GoH: L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp, Don Maitz, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, James P. Hogan
16. AggieCon XVI - March 21–24, 1985; GoH: John Varley, James Christensen, Ed Bryant, Patricia McKillip
17. AggieCon XVII - April 3–6, 1986; GoH: George R. R. Martin, Frank Kelly Freas, Orson Scott Card, Howard Waldrop, Kerry O'Quinn. Convention Chairman was Martha Wells
18. AggieCon XVIII - April 2–5, 1987; GoH: Ben Bova, Christopher Stasheff, Rowena Morrill, Steve Gould, Kerry O'Quinn
19. AggieCon XIX - March 24–27, 1988; Joe Haldeman, Katherine Kurtz, Bob Eggleton, Kerry O'Quinn
20. AggieCon XX - March 29-April 1, 1989; GoH: Walter Koenig, Spider Robinson, Jeanne Robinson, Octavia Butler
21. AggieCon XXI - 1990; GoH: Walter Koenig, Richard Pini
22. AggieCon XXII - 1991; GoH: Fred Saberhagen, Keith Parkinson, Larry Elmore, Marv Wolfman, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
23. AggieCon XXIII - March 26–29, 1992; GoH: David Drake, Barbara Hambly, Julius Schwartz, Real Musgrave, Kerry O'Quinn ^[7]
24. AggieCon XXIV - 1993; GoH: Peter David, Michael Moorcock, Wendy Pini, Charles M. Brown
25. AggieCon XXV - March 24–27, 1994; GoH: Greg Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, Charles de Lint, Julius Schwartz, Frank Kelly Freas, Laura Brodian Kelly-Freas
26. AggieCon XXVI - 1995; GoH: John Byrne
27. AggieCon XXVII - March 21–24, 1996; GoH: Bernie Wrightson, Nancy Collins, Joe Christ, Dave Wolverton, Kerry O'Quinn, Richard Biggs, Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Gwar
28. AggieCon XXVIII - March 20–23, 1997; GoH: Brian Stelfreeze
29. AggieCon XXIX - March 26–29, 1998; GoH: Robert Asprin, Joe R. Lansdale, Tad Williams, Phil & Kaja Foglio, Garth Ennis, John McCrea
30. AggieCon XXX - March 25–28, 1999; GoH: Bruce Sterling, Larry Elmore, Nigel Bennett, Ted Raimi
31. AggieCon XXXI - March 23–26, 2000; GoH: Harlan Ellison, Terry Pratchett, Tim Bradstreet
32. AggieCon XXXII - March 22–25, 2001; GoH: Charles de Lint, Melanie Rawn, Martha Wells, Julie Caitlin Brown. Convention director was Yaru Liu.
33. AggieCon XXXIII - March 21–24, 2002; GoH was Neil Gaiman, Artist GoH was Charles Keegan, and other notable guests included Joe R. Lansdale, John Lucas, Brian Stelfreeze, and Karen Lansdale.^[8] Convention director was Yaru Liu.^[9]
34. AggieCon XXXIV - March 20–23, 2003; GoH: Virginia Hey, Lani Tupu, Ruth Thompson, Peter David^[10]
35. AggieCon XXXV - March 25–28, 2004; GoH: Jacqueline Carey, Todd McCaffrey^[11]
36. AggieCon XXXVI - April 21–24, 2005; GoH: Michael Moorcock, Elizabeth Moon, Red vs. Blue
37. AggieCon XXXVII - March 23–26, 2006; GoH: Steven Brust, James Charles Leary, Peter Mayhew, Brian Stelfreeze^[12]
38. AggieCon XXXVIII - March 22–25, 2007; GoH: Gene Wolfe, James O'Barr, Richard Hatch, Ruth Thompson^[13]
39. AggieCon XXXIX - March 27–30, 2008; GoH: Ellen Muth
40. AggieCon XL - March 26–29, 2009; GoH: Todd McCaffrey,　Kristen Perry, Jennifer Rhodes
41. AggieCon XLI - February 5–7, 2010; GoH: Steven Gould,　AGoH: David Lee Anderson, SG: Martha Wells, Editor GoH: Ellen Datlow, Toastmaster: Selina Rosen, Media GoH: Marv Wolfman, SG: Noel Wolfman

References

External links

• AggieCon official website
• Cepheid Variable Wiki ("Cepheidopedia") - Wiki of the group that puts on AggieCon. Here you can find information about old AggieCons and the program book covers.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection at the Texas A&M University Cushing Library AggieCon-related recordings and other items stored in the collection.