Home Page
About Our Con
Art Show
Attractions
Babysitting
Committee
Contacting Us
Dealers
FAQ
Gaming
Guests
Hotel
Links
Membership
Programming
Writers' Workshop
|
ArmadilloCon Frequently Asked Questions
- Basic Information
- What is ArmadilloCon?
ArmadilloCon is a science fiction convention held annually in Austin, TX.
The primary focus of the con is literary science fiction, but we also pay
attention to art, media sf, and gaming. Every year dozens of professional
writers, artists and editors attend the convention. Sometimes they come to
make deals but more often they come to have fun.
- When is ArmadilloCon?
Until recently, ArmadilloCon was traditionally held in mid-October during
the weekend of the Texas-OU football game. Starting in 1998, it moved to a
late summer/early fall weekend.
- Why did ArmadilloCon move from its traditional mid-October weekend?
Hotel costs in October in Austin were prohibitive. Moving the date earlier
in the year enabled us to get better hotel room rates, and the convention's
costs for renting the function space were reduced. This enables members to
stay in the hotel for less money, and it gives the convention a better chance
to not lose money.
- Where is ArmadilloCon held?
Starting in 1998 and for the forseeable future, ArmadilloCon will be held
at the Omni Southpark hotel, located at Ben White and IH-35.
- Why did ArmadilloCon move from the Red Lion to the Omni Southpark hotel?
While the Red Lion was a good hotel, the Omni Southpark's layout is
better for our needs. The amphitheater provides an excellent venue for
readings, and the large sitting area near the registration area is particularly
good for conversations.
- Who runs ArmadilloCon?
ArmadilloCon is sponsored by The Fandom Association of Central Texas,
Inc. (FACT), a nonprofit literary organization based in Austin. Each of
ArmadilloCon's chairs or co-chairs is required to be a member of FACT.
Many of the other people who work on the convention are members of FACT,
but that is not a requirement. Most of the convention workers live in the
greater Austin area, but there are also several workers from San Antonio,
Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, and sometimes even from out of state.
- Is ArmadilloCon a "for-profit" convention?
No. When an ArmadilloCon takes in more money than it cost to run the
convention, this money is put into a fund to run future ArmadilloCons. No
individual or organization gains material benefit from ArmadilloCon.
- What is the relationship between ArmadilloCon and LoneStarCon?
ArmadilloCon is run by many of the same people who worked on LoneStarCon 2,
the 1997 World Science Fiction Convention in San Antonio. However, different
organizations sponsored the conventions. LoneStarCon was sponsored by the
Austin Literary Arts Maintenance Organization (ALAMO), while ArmadilloCon is
sponsored by The Fandom Association of Central Texas, Inc. (FACT). LoneStarCon
sponsored bringing Peter F. Hamilton to ArmadilloCon 20 as a Special Guest.
- Attending ArmadilloCon
- Do I need to join FACT to attend ArmadilloCon?
No.
- Do I have to be pregistered to attend ArmadilloCon?
No. Memberships may be purchased at the door, although the cost is higher.
- May I buy a 1-day or 2-day membership at the door?
Certainly. See our membership information page for prices.
- Maybe I preregister for a 1-day or 2-day membership?
No. Only full-con memberships are available in advance. The advance cost
of a 3-day membership is less than the cost of a 2-day at the door membership,
and if bought before April it's the same price as a 1-day at-the-door
membership.
- I just want to attend one event at the convention. Do I still have to
pay?
Yes.
- Is there a lower "dealers room only" membership rate?
No.
- Is there a lower "gaming only" membership rate?
No.
- Events
- Does ArmadilloCon have a Dance?
Yes. On Saturday night.
- Does ArmadilloCon have a Masquerade?
No. We had one in the past, but it died out due to lack of interest.
- Etiquette
- I'm a writer and I'd like to be on programming (panels, readings,
autographings, etc.) at ArmadilloCon. How do I go about it?
Send us a letter stating your qualifications and how you'd like to be
involved in programming. We'll only use writers on programming if they've
published something in a professional market. If your greatest achievement
is having a story or book under consideration at a publisher or magazine,
you aren't ready to be on programming at ArmadilloCon.
- When may I approach an author about getting a book signed?
It's easiest during a scheduled autographing, but most authors will
also sign books after they're on a program item such as a reading or panel.
It's inappropriate to corner an author at a meal or in the bathroom.
- Maybe I distribute flyers for another con here?
Certainly.
- Gaming
- Is there a lower gaming-only membership rate?
No.
- Is there a separate charge for each gaming tournament?
No. Purchasing a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day membership entitles you to
participate in any tournaments played on a day covered by your membership.
- Does ArmadilloCon have Live Action Role Playing?
No. Our hotel's function space is too limited for us to have LARPs.
- Guests
- Why do you only have new and relatively obscure authors as Guest of
Honor at ArmadilloCon?
Since its very beginning, ArmadilloCon has bestowed the Guest of Honor
position on innovative authors of cutting edge SF. We try to be the first
to notice the rising stars of tomorrow. Our record has been fairly successful,
since several past Guests of Honor have gone on to become popular and
respected writers.
- Who has been Guest of Honor at ArmadilloCon?
Neal Barrett Jr., Pat Cadigan, Bradley Denton, Gardner Dozois,
George Alec Effinger, William Gibson, Alexander Jablokov, K. W. Jeter,
Gwyneth Jones, Jonathan Lethem, George R. R. Martin, Elizabeth Moon,
Chad Oliver, Mary Rosenblum, Lewis Shiner, Dan Simmons, John Sladek,
Bruce Sterling, John Varley, and Howard Waldrop
- History
- When and where was the first ArmadilloCon?
Spring of 1979 at the Villa Capri hotel. The Guest of Honor was John Varley.
- Who started ArmadilloCon?
Willie Siros and Robert Taylor
- Where has ArmadilloCon been held?
It's been held in the following hotels, many of which have since changed names or no longer exist: the Villa Capri, the Ramada Riverside, the Driskell, the Wyndham Southpark, the Red Lion, and the Omni Southpark
- I never saw or heard anything about ArmadilloCon 19.
What happened in 1997?
Most of the folks who usually run ArmadilloCon were working hard on
LoneStarCon 2, the WorldCon in San Antonio. Since we didn't have the time
and energy to run a full-scale ArmadilloCon just a couple of months after
LoneStarCon, 1997's ArmadilloCon was simply a relaxed retreat at a resort
near Hunt, TX. We had a guest of Honor (Mary Rosenblum), a dealers' room
(Willie Siros's hotel room), a hospitality suite, and minimal programming.
- What have been the guest lineups and chairs for all ArmadilloCons to
date?
ArmadilloCon 1 (1979) Chair: Willie Siros
Guest of Honor: John Varley
Fan Guest: Jeanne Gomoll
Toastmaster: Howard Waldrop
ArmadilloCon 2 (1980) Chair: Willie Siros
Guest of Honor: Gardner Dozois
Fan Guest: Harry O. Morris
Toastmaster: Chad Oliver
ArmadilloCon 3 (1981) Chair: Willie Siros
Guest of Honor: Chad Oliver
Fan Guest: Bob Wayne
Toastmaster: Ed Bryant
ArmadilloCon 4 (1982) Chair: Ed Scarborough
Guests of Honor: George Alec Effinger and George R. R. Martin
Fan Guest: Joe Pumilia
Toastmaster: Ed Bryant
ArmadilloCon 5 (1983) Chair: Ed Scarborough
Guest of Honor: Howard Waldrop
Fan Guest: Becky Matthews
Toastmaster: Neal Barrett, Jr.
ArmadilloCon 6 (1984) Chair: Ed Scarborough
Guest of Honor: John Sladek
Fans Guests: James Corrick and Gay Miller Corrick
Toastmaster: Joe R. Lansdale
Special Guest: Ellen Datlow
ArmadilloCon 7 (1985)
(relaxacon)
ArmadilloCon 8 (1986) Chair: Robert Taylor
Guest of Honor: William Gibson
Editor Guest: Ellen Datlow
Fan Guest: Debbie Notkin
Toastmaster: Lewis Shiner
ArmadilloCon 9 (1987) Chair: Fred Duarte, Jr.
Guest of Honor: Bruce Sterling
Artist Guest: J. R. Daniels
Editor Guest: Beth Meacham
Fan Guest: Mark Olson
Toastmaster: Pat Cadigan
ArmadilloCon 10 (1988) Chairs: Fred Duarte, Jr. and Karen Meschke
Guest of Honor: K. W. Jeter
Artist Guest: Brad W. Foster
Editor Guest: Ginjer Buchanan
Fan Guests: Jane Dennis and Scott Dennis
Toastmaster: Lewis Shiner
ArmadilloCon 11 (1989) Chair: Karen Meschke
Guest of Honor: Lewis Shiner
Artist Guest: Don Ivan Punchatz
Editor Guest: Pat LoBrutto
Fan Guest: Mike Glyer
Toastmaster: Connie Willis
Special Guests: William Gibson and Tom Maddox (sponsored by MCC)
ArmadilloCon 12 (1990) Chair: Ed Graham
Guest of Honor: Pat Cadigan
Artist Guest: Jean Elizabeth Martin
Editor Guest: Susan Allison
Fan Guest: Debbie Hodgkinson
Toastmaster: Melinda M. Snodgrass
Special Guests: Vernor Vinge and Mark Stiegler (sponsored by MCC)
ArmadilloCon 13 (1991) Chair: Casey Hamilton
Guest of Honor: Dan Simmons
Artist Guest: Dell Harris
Editor Guest: Amy Stout
Fan Guest: Pat Mueller
Toastmistress: Emma Bull
ArmadilloCon 14 (1992) Chairs: Lori Wolf and Fred Duarte, Jr.
Guest of Honor: Neal Barrett, Jr.
Artist Guest: Darrell K. Sweet
Editor Guest: Gardner Dozois
Fan Guest: Al Jackson
Toastmaster: Kim Stanley Robinson
ArmadilloCon 15 (1993) Chairs: Willie Siros and Lori Wolf
Guest of Honor: Gwyneth Jones
Artist Guest: Harry O. Morris
Editor Guest: John Douglas
Toastmaster: Michael Bishop
ArmadilloCon 16 (1994) Chairs: Ed Graham and Casey Hamilton
Guest of Honor: Elizabeth Moon
Artist Guest: David Cherry
Editor Guest: Gordon Van Gelder
Fan Guest: Gregory Benford
Toastmaster: Bradley Denton
Special Guest: Guy Gavriel Kay
ArmadilloCon 17 (1995) Chairs: Fred Duarte, Jr. and Dan Tolliver
Guest of Honor: Alexander Jablokov
Artist Guest: Vincent Di Fate
Editor Guest: John Silbersack
Fan Guests: Dick Smith and Leah Zeldes Smith
Toastmaster: Terry Bisson
ArmadilloCon 18 (1996) Chair: Dan Tolliver
Guest of Honor: Jonathan Lethem
Artist Guest: Bob Eggleton
Editor Guest: Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Fan Guests: Spike Parsons and Tom Becker
Toastmaster: Mike Resnick
ArmadilloCon 19 (1997) Chair: John Gibbons
Guest of Honor: Mary Rosenblum
ArmadilloCon 20 (1998) Chairs: A. T. Campbell, III and Lori Wolf
Guest of Honor: Bradley Denton
Artist Guest: Mitchell Bentley
Editor Guest: David Hartwell
Fan Guest: Peggy Ranson
Toastmaster: Steven Gould
Special Guest: Peter F. Hamilton (sponsored by LoneStarCon 2)
- Writers' Workshop
- Is the Writers' Workshop a competition?
No. Each person who submits to the workshop will get an
individualized critique. There is no competetion with the other
participants, and there is no "winner".
- Who does the critiquing?
All critiquing is done by published SF/F writers with professional
credentials.
- When may I submit a manuscript?
All entries must be received by the posted deadline, which is several
weeks before the con. No at-the-door submissions will be accepted.
- Can I still get a submission into the Writers' Workshop after the deadline
has passed?
No. The deadline was set to allow appropriate time to evaluate each submission.
|