Icon (Iowa science fiction convention)
| ICON | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active | 
| Genre | Science fiction | 
| Location(s) | Iowa City, Iowa | 
| Country | United States | 
| Inaugurated | 1975 | 
| Attendance | 400-500 | 
| Organized by | The Mindbridge Foundation | 
| Website | Iowa ICON home page | 
ICON is an annual science fiction convention held in the Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City area of Iowa since 1975, usually in late October or early November, under the auspices of the Mindbridge Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation also responsible for AnimeIowa and Gamicon.[1] The organization was a branching off of the Science Fiction League of Iowa Students, which was founded by author Joe Haldeman.[2] It is the oldest and largest science fiction convention in Iowa.[3][4][5]
History
1 - 1975 October 31-November 2 -SkinnyCon - Iowa City, Iowa
- Roger Zelazny - author guest of honor
 - Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre - guest of honor
 
2 - 1976 November 5–7 -Destructocon - Coralville, Iowa
- Frank Herbert - author guest of honor
 - Mike Glicksohn - guest of honor
 
3 - 1977 October 28–30 - - Coralville, Iowa
- Joe Haldeman - author guest of honor and ICON founder
 - Gay Haldeman - guest of honor
 
4 - 1979 November 9–11 -DisasterCon - Coralville, Iowa
- Gene Wolfe - author guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - guest of honor
 - Moebius Theatre - guest of honor
 
5 - 1980 November 7–9 - - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Gordon R. Dickson - author guest of honor
 - Bob and Anne Passavoy - guest of honor
 
6 - 1981 October 30-November 1 -first appearance of Trans Iowa Canal Company - Coralville, Iowa
- Phyllis Eisenstein - author guest of honor
 - Dave Martin - guest of honor
 
7 - 1982 November 5–7 - - Coralville, Iowa
- Poul Anderson - author guest of honor
 - Gregory Frost - author guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - guest of honor
 - Mark Moore - guest of honor
 
8 - 1983 October 21–23 -L-Con - Coralville, Iowa
- C. J. Cherryh - author guest of honor
 - Rob Chilson - author guest of honor
 
9 - 1984 October 26–28 - - Coralville, Iowa
- Dean Ing - author guest of honor
 - Robin Bailey - author guest of honor
 - Bob Tucker - guest of honor
 
10 - 1985 October 25–27 -SFLIS Family Reunion - Coralville, Iowa
- George R. R. Martin - author guest of honor
 - Joe Haldeman - author guest of honor
 
11 - 1986 October 24–26 -Habittrail Con - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Robert Asprin - author guest of honor
 - Phil Foglio - artist guest of honor
 
12 - 1987 October 16–18 -Money-Grubbing Capitalist Con - Coralville, Iowa
- Glen Cook - author guest of honor
 - Dick Spelman - guest of honor
 
13 - 1989 January 20–22 -Beauty and the Beast Con-within-a-Con - Coralville, Iowa
- Joel Rosenberg - author guest of honor
 - Algis Budrys - author guest of honor
 - Mickey Zucker Reichert - author guest of honor
 - Darlene Coltrain - guest of honor
 - Roy Dotrice - media guest of honor
 
14 - 1989 October 13–15 - - Coralville, Iowa
- Frederik Pohl - author guest of honor
 - P. D. Breeding-Black - artist guest of honor
 - Lucy Synk - artist guest of honor
 - Elizabeth Anne Hull - guest of honor
 
15 - 1990 September 28–30 - - Coralville, Iowa
- Philip José Farmer - author guest of honor
 - Erin McKee - artist guest of honor
 
16 - 1991 October 12–14 -GinCon aka BlondeCon - Coralville, Iowa
- Steven Brust - author guest of honor
 - Bob and Nonie Quinlan - fan guests of honor
 
17 - 1992 October 7–9 -Escape the Mundane CruiseCon, StressCon - Coralville, Iowa
- Mercedes Lackey - author guest of honor
 - Larry Dixon - artist guest of honor
 - Rex Bryant - fan guest of honor
 
18 - 1993 October 8–10 -Pirats of Phenzance, BarneyCon - Coralville, Iowa
- Suzette Haden Elgin - author guest of honor
 - Jody Lee - artist guest of honor
 - Nancy and Martin McClure - fan guest of honor
 
19 - 1994 October 14–16 -One Last Teen Fling - Coralville, Iowa
- Gregory Frost - author guest of honor
 - Robert Daniels Jr. - artist guest of honor
 - Joe Haldeman - guest of honor
 
20 - 1995 October 6–8 -ICON Goes Platinum - Coralville, Iowa
- Steven Barnes - author guest of honor
 - Phil Hester - author/artist guest of honor
 - Myrna Logan - fan guest of honor
 
21 - 1996 October 11–13 -ICON Comes of Age - Coralville, Iowa
- Emma Bull - author guest of honor
 - Will Shetterly - author guest of honor
 - Tadao Tomomatsu - fan guest of honor
 
22 - 1997 October 10–12 -Catch 22 - Coralville, Iowa
- John M. Ford - author guest of honor
 - Kaja Foglio - artist guest of honor
 - William "Bear" Reed - fan guest of honor
 
23 - 1998 October 16–18 -"Working Today For A Better Tomorrow, Fnord" - Coralville, Iowa
- Charles de Lint - author guest of honor
 - Forrest Ackerman - author guest of honor
 - Ed Heil - artist guest of honor
 
24 - 1999 October 29–31 -efiL fO gninaeM ehT, The Return of HabitrailCon, Seat of Our Pants Con - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Peter Beagle - author guest of honor
 - Bill Johnson - guest of honor
 - Charles Piehl - guest of honor
 - Tyler Walpole - artist guest of honor
 
25 - 2000 October 13–15 -Prodigal Son - Coralville, Iowa
- Harry Turtledove - author guest of honor
 - "Orange Mike" Lowrey - fan guest of honor
 
26 - 2001 October 12–14 -Hey, nice hotel! - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- L. E. Modesitt, Jr. - author guest of honor
 - Denise Garner - artist guest of honor
 - Dennis Lynch - fan guest of honor
 
27 - 2002 October 18–20 -Carrot Juice - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Jennifer Roberson - author guest of honor
 - John Garner - artist guest of honor
 - Les & Jeannette Roth - fan guests of honor
 
28 - 2003 October 10–12 -Cheesy Poofs - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- David Drake - author guest of honor
 - Lee Seed - artist guest of honor
 - Gregg Parmentier - fan guest of honor
 
29 - 2004 October 8–10 - - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Joe Haldeman - author guest of honor
 - Beth Hansen - artist guest of honor
 - Gay Haldeman - guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - toastmaster
 
30 - 2005 October 28–30 - - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Sarah Zettel - author guest of honor
 - Jael - artist guest of honor
 - Arlene Martel - media guest of honor
 
31 - 2006 October 13–15 -Gallium: The Other Soft Metal - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- C. S. Friedman - author guest of honor
 - Larry Price - artist guest of honor
 
32 - 2007 November 2–4 -Rise of the Phoenix - Coralville, Iowa
- Jack McDevitt - author guest of honor
 - Ralph J. Ryan - artist guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - toastmaster
 
33 - 2008 October 31-November 2 -Horror/Halloween - Coralville, Iowa
- Tanya Huff - author guest of honor
 - Alan M. Clark - artist guest of honor
 - Richard Klemensen - guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - toastmaster
 
34 - 2009 October 23–25 -Adventures in the Secret Kingdom of Fandom - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Jim C. Hines - author guest of honor
 - Heather Bruton - artist guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - toastmaster
 
35 - 2010 November 5–7 -A Steam-Powered Convention of the Future - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Cory Doctorow - author guest of honor
 - Daniel Dociu - artist guest of honor
 - Susan Leabhart - guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin - toastmaster
 
36 - 2011 October 28–30 -Genre Fusion: When Worlds Collide - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Jane Yolen - author guest of honor
 - Steve Thomas - artist guest of honor
 - Rusty Hevelin (in absentia), Denny Lynch - toastmaster
 
37 - 2012 November 2–4 -The Convention at the End of the Universe - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Steven Erikson - author guest of honor
 - Mike Cole - artist guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - co-toastmaster and author
 - Dennis Lynch - co-toastmaster
 
38 - 2013 November 15–17 -Recalling 1013 - The Year When Nothing Happened - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Nancy Kress - author guest of honor
 - Ellen Datlow - editor guest of honor
 - Jack Skillingstead - writer guest of honor
 - Joe Haldeman - author/artist guest of honor and ICON founder
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and Mommy of ICON guest of honor
 - Gregory Frost - author and Co-Founder of ICON
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Steven Keith Tait - fan guest of honor
 
39 - 2014 October 31 - November 2 -League of Extraordinary Gentlefen - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Elizabeth Bear - author guest of honor
 - Scott Lynch - editor guest of honor
 - Lar deSouza - artist guest of honor
 - Megan Lara - artist guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 
40 - 2015 October 16–18 -Con of Futures Past - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- David Gerrold - author guest of honor
 - Sarah Clemens - artist guest of honor
 - Ann Leckie - author guest of honor
 - Kalli McCandless - fan guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Joe Haldeman - author and ICON founder
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and Mommy of ICON
 
41 - 2016 October 28–30 -Back to the ICON - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Seanan McGuire - author guest of honor
 - Arden Ellen Nixon - artist guest of honor
 - Laura J. Mixon - special guest of honor
 - Steven Gould - special guest of honor
 - Inger Myers - fan guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 
42 - 2017 September 29 - October 1, 2017 - Hitchhikers Guide to ICON42 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Wesley Chu - author guest of honor
 - H. Russ Brown - artist guest of honor
 - Sheril Harper - fan guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Joe Haldeman - author and ICON founder
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and Mommy of ICON
 
43 - 2018 October 5–7, 2018 - Eruption! - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Mike Mullin - author guest of honor
 - Daniel Mohr - artist guest of honor
 - Mike Miller - fan guest of honor
 - Wolfie B. Bad - actor guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Joe Haldeman - author and ICON founder
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and Mommy of ICON
 
44 - 2019 November 1–3, 2019 - Unpacking Non-Binary Reality - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Pat Murphy - author guest of honor
 - Shawn Palek - Artist guest of honor
 - Misty Palek - Artist guest of honor
 - Kat Pepmiller - costumer/cosplay artist guest of honor
 - Mystie Hollaman - fan guest of honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 
45 - 2020 October 9–10, 2020 - V-ICON: The Year ICON Went Virtual - Online only
- Joe Haldeman - author and founder of ICON
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and founder of ICON
 - Catrina Taylor - author
 - Alex Penland - author
 - Erin Casey - author
 - Tambo Jones - author
 - Beth Hudson - author
 
46 - 2021 October 15–17, 2021 - Seeking Further Horizons - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Eric Flint - Author Guest of Honor
 - Jeff Lee Johnson - Artist Guest of Honor
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Joe Haldeman - author and founder of ICON
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and founder of ICON
 - Beth Hudson - fan guest of honor
 - Cheshire Moon - Music guest of honor
 
47 - 2022 October 14–16, 2022 - The Prime Universe - Celebrating How Alternate Universes Intersect With Ours - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Nicholas Meyer, author
 - Mitch Bentley, artist
 - Steve & Jenny Todd, fans
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 
48 - 2023 October 13-15 - We only work in outer space! - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Lynne M. Thomas
 - Michael Damian Thomas
 - Chelsea Eldeen
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 - Joe Haldeman - author and founder of ICON
 - Gay Haldeman - editor and founder of ICON
 
49 - 2024 October 18-20 - New Horizons - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Megan Mackie - author
 - Clara Meath - artist
 - Zach Howard - artist
 - Jim C. Hines - Toastmaster and author
 
49.5 - 2025 October 10-11 - The Half Season - Iowa City, Iowa, one day and planning for 50 in 2026
- Darby Harn
 - Gay Haldeman
 - Joe Haldeman
 
50 - Fall 2026, exact dates TBD
References
- ^ "Projects – Mindbridge Foundation". Mindbridge Foundation. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
 - ^ "Michael Swanwick Online: Profile of Gregory Frost". Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
 - ^ "Science fiction fans plan convention: Novelists, fans to mingle in Coralville" Cedar Rapids Gazette October 6, 1996; p. 30
 - ^ "ICON, one of the nation's oldest, longest-running science fiction conferences is Friday to Sunday at the Clarion Hotel, 525 33rd Ave. S.W. in Cedar Rapids." Iowa City Press-Citizen October 7, 2004; p. D12
 - ^ Scattarelli, Justine (November 5, 2010). "Cedar Rapids hosts Iowa's largest science fiction and fantasy convention". Eastern Iowa Life. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.