View source for AggieCon

{{Short description|Student-run convention at Texas A&M University}}
{{Infobox convention
| name       = AggieCon
| image      = 
| caption    = 
| status     = Active
| genre      = Science fiction
| venue      = Texas A&M University
| location   = College Station, Texas
| country    = United States
| first      = 1969
| last       = 
| organizer  = Cepheid Variable
| filing     = Student organization
| attendance = 
| website    = http://cepheid.org/aggiecon
}}

'''AggieCon''' is the oldest student-run [[multigenre convention]] in the [[United States]]. Held annually since 1969 by Cepheid Variable at [[Texas A&M University]]'s Memorial Student Center, it has grown to become one of the larger conventions in [[Texas]]. AggieCon was the first science fiction convention ever sponsored by a college or a college affiliate student organization.<ref name="jophan"/>

The convention is known for its relaxed atmosphere, where guests and attendees can sit and chat on the couches outside the dealers' room and art show. The scope of AggieCon ranges from science fiction to fantasy to horror, and encompasses literature, graphic arts, and general media. Activities and events include panel discussions, costume contest, the ''[[Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'', dealer's room, art show, and much gaming, including [[LARP]]ing.

Some former Cepheid Variable members have gone on to become science fiction/fantasy writers, including [[Martha Wells]],<ref name="cephmw"/> [[Jayme Blaschke]],<ref name="cephjb"/> and [[Steven Gould]].<ref name="cephsg"/>

In 1969, [[Harlan Ellison]] was Guest of Honor at AggieCon I. An outspoken opponent of the [[Vietnam War]], Ellison reportedly referred to Texas A&M's [[Corps of Cadets]] as "America's next generation of Nazis."<ref name="thr_ellison" /> Between Ellison's anti-military remarks and his involvement in a food fight in the Ramada Inn ballroom, Cepheid Variable was temporarily dissolved as a club<ref name="cepharch" /> before reorganizing in 1970. Ellison returned in 1974 as Guest of Honor at AggieCon V.

Cepheid Variable was named the 2006 Registered Student Organization of the Year at Texas A&M. Among the cited reasons for the award were the $1,500 they donate each year to Scotty's House Child Advocacy Center and the creation of "S.O.S.," a tutoring program for Cepheids that aims to increase the club's academic status on campus. Cepheid advisor James "Spanky" Smith won an award for being the advisor of the year during the same ceremony.<ref name="eag060520"/>

== Current data ==
AggieCon 54 will be held February 1-2nd, 2025 at the Memorial Student Center on the [[Texas A&M University]] Campus. The convention will feature videogame and trading card game tournaments, such as Magic the Gathering and Super Smash Bros, a cosplay contest, performances, panels, a variety of guests, board game and role playing game events, and a charity auction benefitting Scotty's House.<ref>aggiecon.net</ref>

== Past conventions ==
(GoH: Guest of Honor)
# Science Fiction Week (retroactively AggieCon I) – April 21–24, 1969; GoH: [[Harlan Ellison]]
# Cepheid Comics and Trade Convention (retroactively AggieCon II) – Spring 1970; no GoH
# AggieCon III – April 7–9, 1972; The first convention to officially use the name AggieCon,<ref name="inventory"/> no GoH
# AggieCon IV – March 2–4, 1973; GoH: [[Jack Williamson]], [[Chad Oliver]], [[Robert E. Vardeman]], Joe Pumilia
# AggieCon V – April 12–14, 1974; GoH: [[Harlan Ellison]], [[Keith Laumer]], [[Howard Waldrop]]
# AggieCon VI – March 28–30, 1975; [[Larry Niven]], Fan GoH: "Fuzzy Pink" Niven
# AggieCon VII – March 26–28, 1976; [[Anne McCaffrey]]
# AggieCon VIII – March 24–27, 1977; [[Fred Pohl]]
# AggieCon IX – March 30 – April 2, 1978; GoH: [[Damon Knight]], [[Wilson Tucker (writer)|Wilson "Bob" Tucker]], [[Alan Dean Foster]], [[Geo. W. Proctor]], [[Robert E. Vardeman|Bob Vardeman]]
# AggieCon X – March 29 – April 1, 1979; GoH: [[Theodore Sturgeon]], [[Boris Vallejo]], [[Wilson Tucker (writer)|Wilson "Bob" Tucker]]
# AggieCon XI – March 27–30, 1980; GoH: [[Poul Anderson]], [[Jack Williamson]], [[Katherine Kurtz]], [[Frank Kelly Freas]]
# AggieCon XII – March 26–29, 1981; GoH: [[Joe Haldeman]], [[Alicia Austin]], [[C. J. Cherryh]]
# AggieCon XIII – March 25–28, 1982; GoH: [[Roger Zelazny]], Artist GoH: [[Vincent Di Fate]], Special GoH: [[Fred Saberhagen]]
# AggieCon XIV – March 24–27, 1983; GoH: [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]], [[Michael Whelan]], [[Stephen R. Donaldson]], [[Chad Oliver]]
# AggieCon XV – March 29 – April 1, 1984; GoH: [[L. Sprague de Camp]], Catherine Crook de Camp, [[Don Maitz]], [[Wilson Tucker (writer)|Wilson "Bob" Tucker]], [[James P. Hogan (writer)|James P. Hogan]]
# AggieCon XVI – March 21–24, 1985; GoH: [[John Varley (author)|John Varley]], [[James Christensen]], [[Ed Bryant]], [[Patricia McKillip]]
# AggieCon XVII – April 3–6, 1986; GoH: [[George R. R. Martin]], [[Frank Kelly Freas]], [[Orson Scott Card]], [[Howard Waldrop]], [[Kerry O'Quinn]].  Convention Chairman was [[Martha Wells]]
# AggieCon XVIII – April 2–5, 1987; GoH: [[Ben Bova]], [[Christopher Stasheff]], [[Rowena Morrill]], [[Steven Gould|Steve Gould]], [[Kerry O'Quinn]]
# AggieCon XIX – March 24–27, 1988; [[Joe Haldeman]], [[Katherine Kurtz]], [[Bob Eggleton]], [[Kerry O'Quinn]]
# AggieCon XX – March 30 - April 2, 1989; GoH: [[George R.R. Martin]], [[Octavia Butler]]
# AggieCon XXI – March 29 – April 1, 1990; GoH: [[Walter Koenig]], [[Spider Robinson]], [[Jeanne Robinson]], [[Richard Pini]]
# AggieCon XXII – March 21–24, 1991; GoH:  [[Fred Saberhagen]], [[Keith Parkinson]], [[Larry Elmore]], [[Marv Wolfman]], [[Elizabeth Ann Scarborough]]
# AggieCon XXIII – March 26–29, 1992; GoH: [[David Drake]], [[Barbara Hambly]], [[Julius Schwartz]], Real Musgrave, [[Kerry O'Quinn]]<ref name="eag920319"/>
# AggieCon XXIV – March 25–28, 1993; GoH: [[Peter David]], [[Michael Moorcock]], [[Wendy Pini]], [[Charles N. Brown]]
# AggieCon XXV – March 24–27, 1994; GoH: [[Greg Bear]], [[Lois McMaster Bujold]], [[Charles de Lint]], [[Julius Schwartz]], [[Frank Kelly Freas]], Laura Brodian Kelly-Freas
# AggieCon XXVI – March 23–26, 1995; GoH: [[Jim Baen]], [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]
# AggieCon XXVII – March 21–24, 1996; GoH: [[Bernie Wrightson]], [[Nancy A. Collins|Nancy Collins]], Joe Christ, [[Dave Wolverton]], Kerry O'Quinn, [[Richard Biggs]], [[Kevin J. Anderson]], [[Rebecca Moesta]], [[Gwar]]
# AggieCon XXVIII – March 20–23, 1997; GoH:  [[Brian Stelfreeze]]
# AggieCon XXIX – March 26–29, 1998; GoH: [[Robert Asprin]], [[Joe R. Lansdale]], [[Tad Williams]], [[Phil Foglio|Phil & Kaja Foglio]], [[Garth Ennis]], [[John McCrea (comics)|John McCrea]]
# AggieCon XXX – March 25–28, 1999; GoH: [[Bruce Sterling]], [[Larry Elmore]], [[Nigel Bennett]], [[Ted Raimi]]
# AggieCon XXXI – March 23–26, 2000; GoH: [[Harlan Ellison]], [[Terry Pratchett]], [[Tim Bradstreet]]
# AggieCon XXXII – March 22–25, 2001; GoH: [[Charles de Lint]], [[Melanie Rawn]], [[Martha Wells]], [[Julie Caitlin Brown]]. Convention director was Yaru Liu.
# AggieCon XXXIII – March 21–24, 2002; GoH was [[Neil Gaiman]], Artist GoH was Charles Keegan, and other notable guests included [[Joe R. Lansdale]], [[John Lucas (comics)|John Lucas]], [[Brian Stelfreeze]], and Karen Lansdale.<ref name="bat020321"/> Convention director was Yaru Liu.<ref name="eag020314"/>
# AggieCon XXXIV – March 20–23, 2003; GoH: [[Virginia Hey]], [[Lani Tupu]], Ruth Thompson, [[Peter David]]<ref name="eag030116"/>
# AggieCon XXXV – March 25–28, 2004; GoH: [[Jacqueline Carey]], [[Todd McCaffrey]]<ref name="bat040323"/>
# AggieCon XXXVI – April 21–24, 2005; GoH: [[Michael Moorcock]], [[Elizabeth Moon]], [[Red vs. Blue]]
# AggieCon XXXVII – March 23–26, 2006; GoH: [[Steven Brust]], James Charles Leary, [[Peter Mayhew (actor)|Peter Mayhew]], [[Brian Stelfreeze]]<ref name="bat060324"/>
# AggieCon XXXVIII – March 22–25, 2007; GoH: [[Gene Wolfe]] (Wolfe cancelled at the last minute and did not attend), [[James O'Barr]], [[Richard Hatch (actor)|Richard Hatch]], Ruth Thompson<ref name="bat070320"/>
# AggieCon XXXIX – March 27–30, 2008; GoH: [[Ellen Muth]]
# AggieCon XL – March 26–29, 2009; GoH: [[Todd McCaffrey]],　Kristen Perry, [[Jennifer Rhodes]]
# AggieCon XLI (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – February 5–7, 2010; GoH: [[Steven Gould]],　AGoH: David Lee Anderson, SG: [[Martha Wells]], Editor GoH: [[Ellen Datlow]], Toastmaster: [[Selina Rosen]], Media GoH: [[Marv Wolfman]], SG: Noel Wolfman
# AggieCon XLII (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – 2011
# AggieCon XLIII (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – March 23–25, 2012
# AggieCon XLIV (held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) – March 22–24, 2013; GOH: [[George R. R. Martin]],<ref name="chr121213"/> [[Ernest Cline]], Sam De La Rosa, Dante Shepherd, Barbara Ann Wright, Erin Ewer, Holden Shearer, [[David Liss]], Keri Bean, and Area of Defect
# AggieCon XLV (Held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) - April 4–6, 2014 GOH: [[Jeffrey Cranor]], [[Aaron Dismuke]], Airship Nikolai, Ed Wetterman, and [[Marc Gunn]].
# AggieCon XLVI (Held at the College Station Hilton Hotel) - March 27–29, 2015 GOH: Mark Stefanowicz, Ed Wetterman, Lewis "Linkara" Lovhaug, Kathryn Friesen, Kimberley Hix Trant.
# AggieCon XLVII (Held at the Brazos Valley Expo Center) - April 1-3, 2016
# AggieCon XLVIII (Held at the Brazos Valley Expo Center) - March 24-26, 2017
# AggieCon LI (Held at Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M campus) - March 25-27, 2022 Guests: [[Aaron Dismuke]], [[John Swasey]]
# AggieCon LII (Held at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M Campus) - March 3-5, 2023
# AggieCon LIII (Held at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M Campus) - February 2-4. 2024 GOH: [[Bryson Baugus]], Drew Breedlove, [[Alex Hom]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="thr_ellison">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/harlan-ellison-dead-volatile-legend-science-fiction-was-84-1062923/ |title=Harlan Ellison, Volatile Legend of Science Fiction, Dies at 84 |last=Koseluk |first=Chris |date=June 28, 2018 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Penske Media |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="cepharch">{{cite web |url=https://findingaids.library.tamu.edu/index.php/cepheid-variable-aggiecon-collection |title=Cepheid Variable - AggieCon Collection |website=Texas A&M University Library |access-date=August 13, 2024 |quote="His visit was culminated by a meal function at the Ramada Inn, recalled by many for a 'food fight' among other things. Cepheid was dissolved as a club, in part due to issues with the hotel."}}</ref>

<ref name="jophan">[http://jophan.org/1960s/chapter7.htm Richard Lynch's ''Fan History Book of the 1960s'', Chapter 7]</ref>
<ref name="cephmw">[http://cepheids.org/main.php?g2_itemId=1872 AggieCon 17 Program Book Excerpt]</ref>
<ref name="cephjb">[http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Jayme_Lynn_Blaschke ''Cepheidopedia'' – Jayme Lynn Blaschke] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720071225/http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Jayme_Lynn_Blaschke |date=2008-07-20 }}</ref>
<ref name="cephsg">[http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Steven_Gould ''Cepheidopedia'' – Steven Gould] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813134057/http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Steven_Gould |date=2007-08-13 }}</ref>
<ref name="inventory">[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tamucush/00230/tamu-00230.html Inventory of the Cepheid Variable-AggieCon Collection, 1969– ], Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A&M University</ref>

<ref name="eag920319">{{cite news |first=Anton |last=Reicher |newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle|The Eagle]] |location=[[Bryan-College Station, TX]] |title=Aggiecon XXIII Blasting Off |date=March 19, 1992}}</ref>
<ref name="bat020321">{{cite news|first=Marianne |last=Hudson |newspaper=[[The Battalion]] |title=Sci-Fi descends on A&M with AggieCon |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/03/21/FrontPage/SciFi.Descends.On.Am.With.Aggiecon-517387.shtml |date=March 21, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110511/http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/03/21/FrontPage/SciFi.Descends.On.Am.With.Aggiecon-517387.shtml |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="eag020314">{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Krach |newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle|The Eagle]] |location=[[Bryan-College Station, TX]] |title=Mr. Sandman; Bestselling author Neil Gaiman is guest of honor at AggieCon 33 |url=http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/2002articles/031402aggieconneilgaiman.htm |date=March 14, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070930184527/http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/2002articles/031402aggieconneilgaiman.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="eag030116">{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle|The Eagle]] |location=[[Bryan-College Station, TX]] |title=Performing Arts Schedules for Spring 2003 |url=http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/onstage/2003articles/011603springartsschedule.htm |date=January 16, 2003 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070930200835/http://www.theeagle.com/spotlight/onstage/2003articles/011603springartsschedule.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="bat040323">{{cite news|first=Robert |last=Saucedo |newspaper=[[The Battalion]] |title=Boldly Going...; AggieCon attracts Klingons, sex robots to campus for science fiction convention |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2004/03/23/Aggielife/Boldly.Going-638534.shtml |date=March 23, 2004 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225942/http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2004/03/23/Aggielife/Boldly.Going-638534.shtml |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="bat060324">{{cite news|first=Robert |last=Saucedo |newspaper=[[The Battalion]] |title=Anime Maniacs |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2006/03/24/Aggielife/Anime.Maniacs-1715695.shtml |date=March 24, 2006 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095515/http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2006/03/24/Aggielife/Anime.Maniacs-1715695.shtml |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="eag060520">{{cite news|first=Josh |last=Baugh |newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle|The Eagle]] |location=[[Bryan-College Station, TX]] |title=Cepheid Variable builds on unique friendships |url=http://www.theeagle.com/stories/052006/am_20060520004.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927234242/http://www.theeagle.com/stories/052006/am_20060520004.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |date=May 20, 2006 |access-date=July 27, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="bat070320">{{cite news|first=Daniel |last=Bates |newspaper=[[The Battalion]] |title=Gnome Masterpiece |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/03/20/News/Gnome.Masterpiece-2781892.shtml |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=July 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225923/http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/03/20/News/Gnome.Masterpiece-2781892.shtml |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref>
<ref name="chr121213">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Dansby |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |location=[[Houston, TX]] |title='Game of Thrones' writer headed to Aggieland |url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Game-of-Thrones-writer-headed-to-Aggieland-4116306.php |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
*[http://aggiecon.net AggieCon official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070615042602/http://wiki.cepheid.org/index.php/Main_Page Cepheid Variable Wiki ("Cepheidopedia")] – Wiki of the group that puts on AggieCon.  Here you can find information about old AggieCons and the program book covers.
*[http://cushing.library.tamu.edu/collecting/index.html Texas A&M University Cushing Memorial Library and Archives] AggieCon-related recordings and other items stored in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection.

{{Multigenre conventions in North America}}
{{Texas A&M University}}
{{Texas SF Conventions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aggiecon}}
[[Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States]]
[[Category:Texas A&M University student organizations]]
[[Category:Conventions in Texas]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1969]]