Retrospectives:
Looks Back at Past Diversicons

Wondering what a "Diversicon" is? Take a look at the Diversicon 15 Program Book (PDF file): D15 Program Book.

Diversicons 1 - 16: Our Guests

Below are the many luminous guest authors, artists, editors, and fans who have brought their light to our convention over the years:

Diversicon 16 (2008)

Anne Frasier—feminist author of 19 published novels in romance, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres. Winner of RITA and Daphne du Maurier awards for romantic suspense.

Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, PhD— Nigerian-American novelist, playwright, journalist, and teacher. Winner of and short-listed for numerous awards, including winning Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa.

Diversicon 15 (2007)

Andrea Hairston—African American author, dramatist, and professor of theater and Afro-American studies at Smith College; first novel short-listed for James Tiptree, Jr. and Philip K. Dick Award.

Christopher Jones— Nearly 20 years professional work in comics includes Justice League Adventures, The Batman Strikes, and Dr. Blink! Superhero Shrink; cofounder of Twin Cities regional convention CONvergence.

Melissa S. Kaercher— artist for Dr. Blink! Superhero Shrink, colors educational comics for Capstone Press, holds BS in biology and most of a BA in fine arts, originator of the Cthulhu Coffee Web site.

Diversicon 14 (2006)

Kelly Link—feminist author of slipstream/interstitial work, editor, and teacher; winner of the World Fantasy, Nebula, and James Tiptree Jr. Awards among other honors

Bryan Thao Worra—Laotian-American author and journalist and community activist

Diversicon 13 (2005)

Sheree R. Thomas—African-American author and journalist, editor, artist, and teacher; winner of two World Fantasy Awards among other honors

Minister Faust (aka Malcolm Azania)—Black Canadian author whose work includes a novel making in-depth use of African mythology, broadcaster, actor, teacher, and community activist

Diversicon 12 (2004)

S. P. Somtow (aka Somtow Sucharitkul)—Thai author, filmmaker, composer, and artistic director of the Bangkok Opera and the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra; past president of the World Horror Association

Mark Rich—Asian-American author, journalist, artist, and musician; numerous Rhysling Award nominations for speculative poetry

Diversicon 11 (2003)

Melissa Scott—lesbian, feminist author and teacher; winner of the John W. Campbell and several Lambda Literary Awards

Martha A. Hood—feminist author and longtime Diversicon panel participant

Diversicon 10 (2002)

Steven Barnes—African-American bestselling novelist and TV writer, martial artist, and Lifewriting teacher

Tananarive Due—African-American novelist and teacher; musician and a member of Stephen King's author band; winner of the American Book Award and New Voice in Literature Award among other honors

Diversicon 9 (2001)

Stephen Pagel—founder and editor of Meisha Merlin Publishing and co-editor of the GLBT Bending the Landscape anthology series with Nicola Griffith; winner of Lambda Literary and World Fantasy Awards among other honors

Keith Hartman—author of fiction and nonfiction exploring GLBT themes including "gay, multi-species SF-horror- detective novels," choreographer, and actor; winner of two Gaylactic Spectrum Awards among other honors

Diversicon 8 (2000)

Lois McMaster Bujold—bestselling author; winner of the Locus, Nebula, Hugo, and Mythopoeic Awards among other honors

Laurel Winter—feminist author, speaker, and energy medicine practitioner; winner of the World Fantasy and Rhysling Awards and recipient of a McKnight Artist Fellowship among other honors

Suzy McKee Charnas—feminist author and teacher; winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and James Tiptree Jr. Awards and a James Tiptree Jr. Retrospective Award among other honors; inducted into the Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame

Diversicon 7 (1999)

L. A. Graf (aka Julia Ecklar and Karen Rose Cercone)—Julia Ecklar is an author and musician and winner of the John W. Campbell Award; Karen Rose Cercone is an author and a professor of geoscience.

Nalo Hopkinson—queer Caribbean-Canadian author, editor, and teacher; winner of the Aurora, Sunburst, John W. Campbell, Locus, and Gaylactic Spectrum Awards among other honors

Diversicon 6 (1998)

Karen Joy Fowler—feminist author and teacher; winner of the Nebula, World Fantasy, John W. Campbell, and Commonwealth Awards among other honors; co-founder with Pat Murphy of the James Tiptree Jr. Award

Pat Murphy— feminist author and teacher; winner of the Nebula, World Fantasy, Philip K. Dick Memorial, and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Awards; co-founder with Karen Joy Fowler of the James Tiptree Jr. Award

Diversicon 5 (1997)

Tanya Huff—prolific lesbian, feminist Canadian author, some of whose novels are the basis for the TV series Blood Ties

Pam Keesey—lesbian, feminist author, editor, technical writer, and horror scholar and founder of MonsterZine.com

Diversicon 4 (1996)

Maureen F. McHugh—author and teacher; winner of the Hugo, James Tiptree Jr., Lambda Literary, and Locus Awards

Doug Friauf (July 8, 1955–April 25, 2007)—A longtime avid SF fan, film and book reviewer, Shockwave Radio Theater performer, and "Minneapolis fandom's rolling ambassador" to the international SF community, Doug Friauf passed away due to complications of muscular dystrophy.

Rodger Gerberding—artist, longtime art director for Tales of the Unanticipated, and disabled artists activist

Diversicon 3 (1995)

L. A. Taylor (aka Laurie Aylama Taylor Sparer; September 3, 1939–May 29, 1996)—Canadian author and world traveler

Joan Slonczewski—author and professor of biology

Earl C. Joseph—technical computing expert, coiner of terms computer architecture and smart machines, holder of three patents, and professional futurist

Diversicon 2 (1994)

Paul Park—trailblazing author of "humanist" SF and teacher

Bruce Hyde—actor, including role of Lt. Kevin Riley in Star Trek, and chair of the Theater, Film Studies, and Dance department at St. Cloud State University

Sybil M. Smith—African-American fan with a special interest in slash; current president of SF Minnesota

Diversicon 1 (1993)

Eleanor Arnason—feminist author; winner of the James Tiptree Jr., Mythopoeic Fantasy, and Minnesota Book Awards

A. C. Crispin—bestselling author, teacher, and past vice president of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and founder of SFWA's Committee on Writing Scams; recipient of the 2004 Service to SFWA Award

Ruth Berman—author, editor, teacher, and translator and founding member of The Rivendell Group and the Minnesota Science