Penguicon
Penguicon | |
---|---|
Tux visits the Penguicon Consuite | |
Status | Active |
Genre | Science fiction/Linux User Group |
Venue | Westin Southfield Hotel, Southfield, MI (2014) |
Location(s) | Southeastern Michigan |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | 2003 |
Attendance | 1,200+ |
Organized by | Penguicon Staff |
Website | |
http://penguicon.org |
Penguicon is a convention in the United States that deliberately brings together the often overlapping communities of science fiction fandom and Linux User Groups. In addition to educational panels on areas of interest to science fiction fans and both professional and beginner-level panels on Linux and Open-source software, Penguicon participants can enjoy an anime room, filk (the folk music of science fiction fandom), swordfighting demonstrations, dancing, OpenCola, gaming—live action role-playing game, computer, board and cards. Over the past few years they have also featured hackerspaces, open hardware, and other DIY events.
Over a thousand participants have attended past conventions, which have featured Guests of Honor from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett to Jon "maddog" Hall and Eric S. Raymond.
Venues
Penguicon is held in the spring in the Detroit Michigan area. The venue is not always the same from year to year.
The 2007 Penguicon, "Penguicon 5.0", was held April 20–22 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Hilton.
The 2008 Penguicon, "Penguicon 6.0", was held April 18–20 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Hilton.
The 2009 Penguicon, "Penguicon 7.0" (also known as "Penguicon BING!"), was held May 1–3 in Romulus, Michigan at the Crowne Plaza Romulus.
Penguicon 2010 (coincidentally held in 2010) was held April 30-May 2 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Marriott.
Penguicon 2011 was held April 29-May 1 in Troy, Michigan at the Troy Marriott.
Penguicon 2012 was held April 27-April 29 in Dearborn, Michigan at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
Penguicon 2013 was held April 26-April 28 in Pontiac, Michigan at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint.
Penguicon 2014 will be held May 2-May 4 in Southfield, Michigan at the Westin Southfield Hotel.
Guests of Honor (2014)
- Ernest Cline
- YTCracker
- Eva Galperin
Past Guests of Honor
2003
- Eric S. Raymond
- Terry Pratchett
- Rob Malda
- J.D. Frazer
- Pete Abrams
2004
- Neil Gaiman
- Jeff Bates (see Slashdot)
- Steve Jackson (US)
- Jon "maddog" Hall
2005
- Cory Doctorow
- Rod Roddenberry
- Kevin Siembieda
- Joan D. Vinge
- Nat Torkington
- Dr. Peter H. Salus
2006
- Chris DiBona
- Frank Hayes
- Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
- Andrew Looney, Kristin Looney, Alison Frane, of Looney Labs
2007
- Bruce Schneier
- Christine Peterson Foresight Institute
- Randy Milholland
- Charlie Stross
- Elizabeth Bear
2008
- Jono Bacon
- Benjamin Mako Hill
- Vernor Vinge
- Tamora Pierce
- Randall Munroe
- Keith Baker
- Singing Tesla Coils (also known as Zeusaphone) as Hack of Honor
2009
- Rasmus Lerdorf
- Wil Wheaton (ish)
- Jane McGonigal
- Jon "maddog" Hall
- Sarah Hoyt
- Spider Robinson (cancelled due to extenuating circumstances)
- CandyFab (and ultimately, Toast Printer) as Hack of Honor
2010
- Joe Brockmeier
- Marcel Gagné
- Karl Schroeder
- Spider Robinson
- Jeanie Robinson
- Howard Tayler
- i3 Detroit
2011
- Brandon Sanderson
- MC Frontalot
- Howard Tayler (as Toastmaster)
- Jimmie P. Rodgers
2012
- John Scalzi
- Jim Gettys
- Scrub Club Records
- OpenSoda as Hack of Honor
2013
- Jim C. Hines
- Jeff Potter
- Jason Denzel
- Michael W. Lucas
- Nick Farr
- Maik Schmidt
Recurring almost guest of honor
"Nifty Guests"
"Nifty Guest" is a level of invitation status that Penguicon confers on those who are not full guests of honor but who are celebrities in their own right. Examples include previous Guests of Honor returning to attend the convention.
Nifties 2003
- Eric Flint
- Clif Flynt
- Jeff Bates
Nifties 2004
- Howard Tayler
- Eric S. Raymond
- Fred Gallagher
- Sandra Brewer
- Luke Ski
- Tom Smith
- Pete Abrams
- John Ringo
- Vincent Locke
Nifties 2005
- Rob Malda
- Jeff Bates
- Eric Raymond
- Cathy Raymond
- Joey "accordionguy" deVilla (unable to attend due to illness)
- Kathe Koja
- Howard Tayler
- Luke Ski
- Tom Smith
Nifties 2006
- John Scalzi
- Karl Schroeder
- Luke Ski
- Tom Smith
- Eric S. Raymond
- Cathy Raymond
- William Neibling
- Will Neibling
- Clif Flynt
- Howard Tayler
Nifties 2007
- Steve Jackson (U.S.)
- Nick Sagan
- Rob Balder
- Sarah Monette
- Luke Ski
- Tom Smith
- Eric S. Raymond
- Cathy Raymond
- Sarah Zettel
- John Scalzi
- Clif Flynt
- Karl Schroeder
- The Ferrett
- Gini Judd
Nifties 2008
- John Scalzi
- Jorge Castro
- Sarah Monette
- Kyle Rankin
- Cherie Priest
- Joe Brockmeier
- Lucy Snyder
- Eliezer Yudkowsky
- Rob Balder
- Ben Best
- Aaron Diaz (Dresden Codak)
- Luke Ski
- Tom Smith (filker)
- Jennie Breeden of The Devil's Panties
- Dawn Kuczwara
- Greg Williams
- The Ferrett
- Katherine Kline
- Elizabeth Bear
- Andy Looney
- Frank Hayes (musician)
- Dr. Peter H. Salus
- Eric S. Raymond
Nifties 2009
- Steve Eley
- Elizabeth Bear
- Cherie Priest
- John Scalzi
- Megan Rose Gedris
- Jason Dunstan
- Mark Savary
- Tom Smith (filker)
- Luke Ski
- Dual Core
- Catherine Devlin
- Kyle Rankin
- Jorge Castro
- Bill Childers
- Eric Raymond
- Jim Hall