Leprecon
Encyclopedia
LepreCon is an annual science fiction convention
with an emphasis on art held in and around Phoenix
, Arizona
usually in May around Mother's Day
weekend. It is the second oldest science fiction convention in Arizona. It is sponsored by Leprecon, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation. Leprecon 37 will be held from May 6-8, 2011, at the Tempe Mission Palms in Tempe, Arizona
.
. As the tourist season expanded in Arizona
, the normal dates for the convention moved into the May time frame with an occasional foray into June. Leprecon, Inc. is an Arizona non-profit corporation that sponsors the annual LepreCon conventions. Leprecon, Inc. has also sponsored the 2004 World Horror Convention
, the 2004 World Fantasy Convention
, the 2006 Nebula Awards, the 62nd annual Westercon
in 2009 (also called FiestaCon) and held the first ever North American Discworld Convention in 2009. Because of these special events LepreCon 35 (2009) was a fan gathering, or relaxacon
. LepreCon 36 (2010) returned as a traditional LepreCon.
Leprecon, Inc. decided to make the convention have an emphasis on art, with the artist guest being given top billing as well as featuring a local artist guest. Starting in 2005 with LepreCon 31, the LepreCon film festival
was started to provide an additional focus on filmmaking.
Leprecon Guests of Honor read like a Who's Who of science fiction
and fantasy artists and authors
. Past artist guests include Frank Kelly Freas
, Michael Whelan
, Phil Foglio
, Donato Giancola
, Janny Wurts
, Don Maitz
, Liz Danforth
, Stephen Hickman
, Bob Eggleton
, Larry Elmore
, Alan A. Clark, Dave Dorman
, Jael, Howard Tayler, Monte M Moore, Lubov, Kevin Ward, Laura Brodian Freas, Sue Dawe, Rowena Morrill, Jim Fitzpatrick, Richard Hescox, Alan Gutierrez, Kim Poor, Lela Dowling, Real Musgrave, George Barr, Alicia Austin. Author guests have included Marion Zimmer Bradley
, Roger Zelazny
, Gordon R. Dickson
, Ray Feist, Larry Niven
, Robert Silverberg
, Poul Anderson
, Jack Williamson
, Chelsea Quinn Yabro, Tim Powers
, David Drake
, and Kevin J. Anderson
.
declared LepreCon "Best Sci-Fi Convention" in its annual Best of Phoenix awards.
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...
with an emphasis on art held in and around Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
usually in May around Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
weekend. It is the second oldest science fiction convention in Arizona. It is sponsored by Leprecon, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation. Leprecon 37 will be held from May 6-8, 2011, at the Tempe Mission Palms in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
.
History
The early LepreCon conventions were held around St. Patrick's Day weekend, thus giving birth to the name of the convention, a pun on leprechaunLeprechaun
A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology...
. As the tourist season expanded in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, the normal dates for the convention moved into the May time frame with an occasional foray into June. Leprecon, Inc. is an Arizona non-profit corporation that sponsors the annual LepreCon conventions. Leprecon, Inc. has also sponsored the 2004 World Horror Convention
World Horror Convention
The World Horror Convention is an annual professional gathering of the World Horror Society and other interested parties.-Site selection:Historically, all World Horror Conventions have been held in the United States or Canada, usually alternating between east and west sides of the country...
, the 2004 World Fantasy Convention
World Fantasy Convention
The World Fantasy Convention is an annual convention of professionals, collectors, and others interested in the field of fantasy. It places emphasis on literature and art, while de-emphasizing dramatic presentation, gaming, masquerade, and the like. The World Fantasy Awards are presented at the...
, the 2006 Nebula Awards, the 62nd annual Westercon
Westercon
Westercon is a regional science fiction and fantasy convention founded in September 1948 by Walter J. "Doc" Dougherty of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society...
in 2009 (also called FiestaCon) and held the first ever North American Discworld Convention in 2009. Because of these special events LepreCon 35 (2009) was a fan gathering, or 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...
. LepreCon 36 (2010) returned as a traditional LepreCon.
Leprecon, Inc. decided to make the convention have an emphasis on art, with the artist guest being given top billing as well as featuring a local artist guest. Starting in 2005 with LepreCon 31, the LepreCon film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
was started to provide an additional focus on filmmaking.
Leprecon Guests of Honor read like a Who's Who of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy artists and authors
Fantasy author
The definition of a fantasy author is somewhat diffuse, and a matter of opinion – Jules Verne considered H. G. Wells to be a fantasy author – and there is considerable overlap with science fiction authors and horror fiction authors...
. Past artist guests include 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:...
, Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan is an American artist of imaginative realism. For more than 30 years he worked as an illustrator specializing in science fiction and fantasy cover art...
, Phil Foglio
Phil Foglio
Philip "Phil" Foglio is an American cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy work.-Early life and career:...
, Donato Giancola
Donato Giancola
Donato Giancola is an American artist specializing in science fiction and fantasy illustration.-Biography:Donato Giancola was born in 1967 and raised in Colchester, Vermont, near Burlington, Vermont...
, Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts is an American fantasy novelist and illustrator. She has written several series, including the Wars of Light and Shadow, The Cycle of Fire trilogy, several stand-alone novels, a short story collection and the internationally best selling Empire Trilogy that she co-authored with Raymond...
, 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...
, Liz Danforth
Liz Danforth
Elizabeth T. Danforth is a figure of note in the game industry. Although primarily recognized as an illustrator, she is an editor, writer, game scenario designer, and game developer.-Creative works:...
, Stephen Hickman
Stephen Hickman
Stephen Hickman is an award-winning American artist, illustrator, sculptor and author. He is best known for his work in science fiction and fantasy with over 350 book and magazine covers to his credit. His efforts have brought an extra dimension to the stories of Robert A. Heinlein, H. P....
, 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"...
, 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...
, Alan A. Clark, Dave Dorman
Dave Dorman
Dave Dorman is a science fiction, horror and fantasy illustrator.-Background:Dorman's parents are Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jack N. Dorman and Phyllis Dorman. Both parents are deceased. Dorman is married to award-winning TV/video producer, writer and publicist Denise Dorman of WriteBrain Media...
, Jael, Howard Tayler, Monte M Moore, Lubov, Kevin Ward, Laura Brodian Freas, Sue Dawe, Rowena Morrill, Jim Fitzpatrick, Richard Hescox, Alan Gutierrez, Kim Poor, Lela Dowling, Real Musgrave, George Barr, Alicia Austin. Author guests have included Marion Zimmer Bradley
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series. Many critics have noted a feminist perspective in her writing. Her first child, David R...
, Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
, Gordon R. Dickson
Gordon R. Dickson
Gordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author.- Biography :Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1937...
, Ray Feist, 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...
, Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
, Poul Anderson
Poul Anderson
Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories...
, Jack Williamson
Jack Williamson
John Stewart Williamson , who wrote as Jack Williamson was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction" following the death in 1988 of Robert A...
, Chelsea Quinn Yabro, Tim Powers
Tim Powers
Timothy Thomas "Tim" Powers is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Powers has won the World Fantasy Award twice for his critically acclaimed novels Last Call and Declare...
, David Drake
David Drake
David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
, and 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...
.
Awards and honors
In 2010, Phoenix New TimesPhoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
declared LepreCon "Best Sci-Fi Convention" in its annual Best of Phoenix awards.