Mission Statement

Founded February 1992, SF Minnesota is a multicultural, multimedia organization. We are dedicated to improving contacts among groups and individuals interested in speculative fiction, both inside and outside of the traditional SF community. We are committed to making our state's SF community more closely reflect the cultural diversity of Minnesota in the third millennium.

We address our mission by

• hosting Diversicon the first weekend of August;
  
• hosting our annual fall "Classic Horror Films" event;
  
• sponsoring the Speculations readings;
  
• making contributions to "antholozine" Tales of the Unanticipated
  and the Gordon R. Dickson Clarion Scholarship Fund; and
  
• hosting Diversicon Parties at CONvergence, MarsCon, Minicon, OdysseyCon, and WisCon.
  

Details about these projects follow below. The Board of Directors welcomes proposals for additional projects.

Projects of SF Minnesota

Diversicon is a multicultural, multimedia speculative fiction convention held each August in the Twin Cities. It prides itself on offering high-quality programming, interesting guests (both living and posthumous), and mellow parties. Diversicon's auction is SF Minnesota's largest fundraiser. For detailed information about this one-of-a-kind convention, click here: Diversicon.

What do Hilary Swank, Angela Bassett, Winona Ryder, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Cameron Diaz have in common with Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson, and Tom Waits? They were all on-screen in six films at our Classic Horror Films Party, along with an international host of vampires, werewolves, ancient relics, and human monsters. "The Classic Horror Films, Part 16: Back to Basics: 1992–1995” was held Saturday, November 3, 2007, from 1:00 p.m. to midnight at the Holiday Inn Select International Airport—Mall of America. As always, the event was free and open to the public. This event was the 16th in our annual fall Classic Horror Films Party series, which surveys the history of the classic tradition in horror films, complete with refreshments and liner notes about films viewed.

Speculations, the science fiction/fantasy edition (since 1995!) of Intermedia Arts’ (formerly SASE’s) Carol Connolly Readings, continues monthly at DreamHaven Books, 912 West Lake Street, Minneapolis. Usually held on Mondays, 6:30–8:00 p.m, the readings include a reception with complimentary refreshments and are followed by informal hanging out at Dulono’s (pizza and pasta) down the street at 607 West Lake. Intermedia Arts maintains a calendar of their literary events here: Literary Events Calendar. For further information about Speculations, contact Eric M. Heideman.

Upcoming Speculations Reading Series events include . . .


• On Monday, May 19, WILLIAM ALEXANDER reads his fiction. Mr. Alexander has published stories in Weird Tales and Zahir and contributes regularly to Rain Taxi. He was a finalist for the Calvino Prize and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart. He attended the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop in 2006. In 2008, his work will appear in Postscripts 14 (Spring) & 16 (Autumn), Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, and Fantasy: The Year's Best 2008.
  
  
• On Monday, June 16, REBECCA MARJESDATTER reads her poetry and fiction. Ms. Marjesdatter is a poet, fiction writer, poetry editor of Tales of the Unanticipated, and member of the poetry performance group Lady Poetesses from Hell. She lives in Minneapolis with two cats and an ever-expanding anime collection.
  
  
• On Thursday, July 31, Diversicon Guest of Honor ANNE FRASIER reads her fiction. Anne Frasier's nineteen novels have spanned the genres of romance, mystery, science fiction, and horror, often combining elements of more than one genre and feature compelling characters across the human spectrum. Garden of Darkness (December 2007), continues the tale started in Pale Immortal (2006) of a spooky Wisconsin town, an ancient vampire mummy, and all-too-human fallibility—and evil. Her work has been recognized with the RITA and Daphne du Maurier awards for romantic suspense. After living in the Twin Cities for eight years, she recently moved into an old, abandoned church in rural Wisconsin.
• On Monday, August 25, HADDAYR COPLEY-WOODS reads her fiction. Ms. Copley-Woods is an ad copywriter living in Minneapolis with work in places such as Strange Horizons, Ideomancer, and Best American Erotica. A fantasy and nonfiction writer, she is working on a book about raising a child with Asperger and Tourette's syndromes. Find more of her stories and essays at www.haddayr.com.
  
  
• On Monday, September 22, MICHAEL MERRIAM reads his work: Bio to come.
• On Monday, October 27, KELLY BARNHILL reads her fiction. Ms. Barnhill is a writer, teacher, and mom, living in Minneapolis. Her work (fiction and nonfiction; speculative, literary, and otherwise) has appeared (or will be appearing shortly) in the Rake, the Sun, Fantasy, Common Ties, Stonewritings, and Nightshade Books. She has received grants and mentorships from the Jerome Foundation, InterMedia Arts, and the Loft.
• On Monday, November 17, JASON D. WITTMAN reads his work: Bio to come.
• On Monday, December 15, LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD reads her work: Bio to come.