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, SF Minnesota's science fiction/fantasy reading series (since 1995!) continues monthly at DreamHaven Books, 2301 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis (NEW LOCATION!). Usually held on Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., the readings include a reception with complimentary refreshments and are followed by informal hanging out at a casual restaurant nearby. For further information about Speculations, contact Eric M. Heideman. Our sincere thanks to S.A.S.E. and Intermedia Arts for their long-time sponsorship of the Carol Connolly Readings, of which Speculations was the SF edition.

Upcoming Speculations Reading Series events include . . .


• Friday, March 20: DAVID FINGERMAN has worked in the court system of Hennepin County for over 20 years. Although few of his stories are court-related, most of his characters are the conglomeration of anyone who has ever set foot inside of a courtroom. He has published over 20 short stories in magazines and anthologies and has received the Minneapolis Writers' Workshop Award for works 1998-2003. He has served as its president September 2004-September 2006 and is currently serving as the workshop's VP. His first book, Edging Past Reality, a short story collection, debuted in December 2008. Visit him at davidfingerman.com.
  
  
• Friday, April 17: S. N. ARLY has had fiction published in Fearsmag.com, the Dragon*Con chapbook Do Virgins Taste Better?, and Tales of the Unanticipated #25, #26, and #29. She writes, "I am possibly the world's least graceful black belt. Fortunately, grace is not a requirement for an author of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and young adult fiction. Although I like to write dark tales and find the subject of death full of literary potential, I'm really not that morbid. In keeping with my speculative fiction tendencies, I write with voice recognition software, though I maintain my human side by editing via mundane keyboard." She lives in St. Paul with her husband, two daughters, and two Shelties and is a member of the writers' group Guts and Rocks. Visit her at myspace.com.
  
  
• Friday, May 15: JAYE LAWRENCE's short fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Minnesota Monthly, and Great River Review. Her story "Kissing Frogs" was shortlisted for the 2004 James Tiptree Jr. Award. She was also named runner-up for Minnesota Monthly's prestigious Tamarack Award for her story "Aim." Jaye enjoys networking with other writers through MinnSpec, a Twin Cities-based SF writers' group for which she organizes a monthly writers' workshop. She is currently working on her first novel. Visit her at wordswoman.livejournal.com.