Unicon (Maryland science fiction convention)
| Unicon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Location(s) | Maryland |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1975 |
| Most recent | 1989 |
Unicon was an annual science fiction convention held in Maryland and at least once in Washington, D.C. from 1975 through 1989.
Unicon was born in the early 1970s on the second floor of the Stamp Student Union building at the University of Maryland, College Park. Unicon stood for University Convention. The University of Maryland Science Fiction Club was the organizing body. The club originally began as an open university course on science fiction with Stephen Rynas, a university junior, as the instructor.
Unicon I was held at the Interstate Inn on Route 1 in College Park. The Guest of Honor was Frederik Pohl.
Unicon outgrew any facilities in College Park and moved to the Silver Spring Sheraton (now a Hilton, where four Capclaves were held) for a successful run into the 1980s.
List of Unicons
| Number | Year-Mo-Days | Site | Featured Guests | Chair(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1975 | College Park Interstate Inn | Frederik Pohl | |
| 2B | 1976 | University of Maryland Student Union | L. Sprague de Camp, Ted White | |
| 3 | 1977 7 8-10 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Clifford D. Simak | |
| 4 | 1978 7 7-9 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Theodore Sturgeon | Theodore L. Manekin, Randy Brunk |
| 5 | 1979 7 20-22 | Shoreham Americana, Washington, D.C. | Robert Bloch | Sue Ruth, Natalie Paymer, Theodore L. Manekin |
| 6 | 1980 7 18-20 | Silver Spring Sheraton | James P. Hogan | Clinton Winchester, Theodore L. Manekin |
| 1981 | none | |||
| 82 | 1982 7 16-18 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Hal Clement, Robert A. Madle, Karl Kofoed | Clinton Winchester, Jim Williams |
| 8 | 1983 7 15-17 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Joan D. Vinge, Michael J. Walsh, Teanna Lee Byerts, Jim Frenkel | Clinton Winchester |
| 84 | 1984 7 20-22 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Gene Wolfe, Dawn Wilson, Peggy Rae Pavlat | Clinton Winchester |
| 10 | 1985 7 19-21 | Silver Spring Sheraton | Michael Shea, Val Lakey Lindahn, Arthur W. Saha | Paul Parsons |
| UniContinuity Party | 1986 7 26 | Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring | ||
| 87 | 1987 7 17-19 | Annapolis Holiday Inn | David Brin, David Mattingly, Marty Gear | Clinton Winchester |
| 12 | 1988 7 22-24 | Annapolis Holiday Inn | Vernor Vinge, Ned Dameron | Clinton Winchester |
| 13 | 1989 7 14-16 | College Park Holiday Inn | Tim Powers, Debbie Hughes, Mark Maxwell | Paul Parsons |
References
- Don Sakers' con reports at
- Various WSFA Journals, all available online at
- Personal communication from Erwin Strauss, Simcha Kuritzky, Don Sakers, and Fred Blonder
- "Science Fiction Topic of Two-Day Conference," "Baltimore Sun", July 5, 1976, p. B2
- "The Falcon, Chewbacca and 1,202 Humanoids", by Joseph McLellan, Washington Post, Monday, July 10, 1978, p. B1, B9