Windycon
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[edit] Introduction
Windycon is an annual science fiction convention held in the Chicago, Illinois area. It is sponsored by the ISFiC organization.
[edit] History
This section needs more information. The first Windycon took place October 25 - October 27, 1974 at the Blackstone Hotel.[1]. Windycon was originally founded in order to raise the profile of fandom in Chicago in preparation for a Worldcon bid.[1] In 1982, Chicon IV was the result. From its small beginnings, Windycon has grown to have an annual membership hovering around 1300. It is the largest of the three fan-run Chicago conventions.
- Windycon 35 will take place November 14 - November 16, 2008 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois.
[edit] Associated ventures
Since 1986, ISFiC has sponsored a writing contest in conjunction with Windycon. The first winner of the ISFiC Writers' contest was Richard Chwedyk, who would go on to win the Nebula for his story "Brontë's Egg." The contest provides the winner with publication in the Windycon program book, a gold coin, membership in the convention, and a a room at the convention hotel. In years with fewer than ten submissions the contest may be cancelled with entries held over for the next year with the entrant's permission. Judges for the contest are a mixture of professional authors and editors. Past judges have included Bill Fawcett, Roland Green, Martin H. Greenberg, and Algis Budrys.
Windycon runs a writer's workshop, in which authors can send their manuscript before the convention for critique and discussion by professional authors and editors at the con. This usually has an additional charge to cover copying and postage.
Since 2004, ISFiC has run a small press, ISFiC Press, which publishes hardcover guest of honor books, available both at the convention and through bookstores or mail order. The press's first book, Relativity, by Robert J. Sawyer won the Aurora Award. The company has also published books unrelated the Windycon, one of which Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches, edited by Mike Resnick and Joe Siclari, was nominated for a Hugo Award.
[edit] ISFiC Writers' Contest Winners
- 1986: Richard Chwedyk, "Getting Along with Larga"
- 1987: Eugenia M. Hayden, "The Library"
- 1988: Richard Chwedyk, "A Man Makes a Machine"
- 1989: No winner
- 1990: Robin Leigh Michaels, "Ailin’s Castle"
- 1991: Vanessa Crouther, "Soul to Take"
- 1992: Sheila Insley, "Make-Up Magic"
- 1993: C.T. Fluhr, "Dead Chute"
- 1994: Emmett Gard Pittman, "Packers"
- 1995: William McMahon, "In Memoriam"
- 1996: C.T. Fluhr, "All Through the House"
- 1997: David W. Crawford & Carol Johnson, "Little Girl Lost"
- 1998: Susan L. Wachowski, "Grandpa”
- 1999: Sharon L. Nelson, "Passing Through”
- 2000: No winner
- 2001: No winner
- 2002: No winner
- 2003: John D. Nikitow, "True Worth”
- 2004: Chris Krolczyk, "Orbital One”
- 2005: No winner
- 2006: Francisco Ruiz, "Ad Alienos"
- 2007: Joe McCauley, "Ivan and the Plate of Fried Chicken"
- 2008: No winner
[edit] ISFiC Press Books
- 2004: Relativity, by Robert J. Sawyer
- 2005: Every Inch a King, by Harry Turtledove
- 2005: The Cunning Blood, by Jeff Duntemann
- 2006: Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches, edited by Mike Resnick & Joe Siclari (released at Worldcon)
- 2006: Outbound, by Jack McDevitt
- 2007: Finding Magic, by Tanya Huff
- 2008: When Diplomacy Fails, edited by Eric Flint & Mike Resnick (anthology)
