Meet Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Authors and Artists
Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) September 24, 2016 -- More than 100 science fiction/fantasy/horror authors will participate, speak and autograph books at the 48th annual MileHiCon science fiction/fantasy literary convention at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center October 28, 29 and 30, 2016. For SF/F and speculative fiction lovers, it’s an weekend not to be missed. The convention will feature authors, artists, speakers and programming on every aspect of the science fiction and fantasy genres. including:
the largest SF/fantasy art show and auction in Colorado, round-the-clock gaming, vendors room full of science fiction, fantasy and horror-related items, cosPlay contest, critter Crunch (robotic sumo wrestling), writing panels, artist demonstrations and hands-on workshops, science presentations, autograph sessions, kids’ programming, literacy auction, and much more.
This year, MileHiCon’s guests of honor include authors John Varley and Kelley Armstrong, artist Julie Dillon, and special guest author L. Neil Smith. Colorado artist Chaz Kemp will preside as toastmaster. In addition to the guests of honor, MileHiCon attendees will include more than 100 other SF, fantasy and horror authors and artists from across the nation. They will read from works in progress and discuss various aspects of writing, publishing, SF/F themes, and just plain fun subjects. They and other special guests will give presentations and participate in panels on various science, literary and media topics.
John Varley has written several novels and numerous short stories. His detailed speculations on the ways humans might use advances in biological science were revolutionary in the 1970s. His story collection, The Persistence of Vision, won the Hugo and Nebula awards. “Overdrawn at the Memory Bank,” a story from the Persistence of Vision collection, was adapted and televised for PBS in 1983. Two of his short stories —"Options" and "Blue Champagne" —were adapted into episodes of the 1998 Sci-Fi Channel TV series Welcome to Paradox. His novel, Millennium, was turned into a film. Other well-known novels by Varley include Titan, Steel Beach, The Golden Globe and Charon.
Canadian writer Kelley Armstrong has published 21 fantasy novels since her first novel, Bitten, was published in 2001, many of them in her Women of the Otherworld, Cainsville, Darkest Powers and Age of Legends series. She has also written several novellas and short stories for the Otherworld series, some of which are offered free on her website. She co-wrote the young adult fantasy novels in the Blackwell Pages Trilogy with Melissa Marr. Armstrong also wrote three crime novels, the Nadia Stafford trilogy. Her novel, No Humans Involved, was a New York Times bestseller in 2007.
Julie Dillon is a freelance illustrator from California, specializing in science fiction and fantasy art for games, books, magazines and album covers. She has won the prestigious Chesley Award four times: in 2010 for Best Unpublished Color for "Planetary Alignment" (later published as a cover for Clarkesworld Magazine), in 2011 for Best Interior Illustration for "The Dala Horse," and twice in 2015 for "Diver's Haul" in Best Magazine Illustration (published in Analog Magazine, April 2014) and for "Beneath the Surface" in Best Hardcover Illustration (published in Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology, 2014). Nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Artist in 2012, Dillon received the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Colorado artist Chaz Kemp, who will preside over this year’s MileHiCon as toastmaster, is a freelance illustrator, specializing in fantasy, steampunk, faeries, ancient legends and heroes drawn in an art nouveau style. In 2013 he was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for the graphic novel Behind These Eyes. He is also a musician and has performed with the group Pandora Celtica.
Special guest L. Neil Smith, a Colorado-based libertarian SF writer, will receive a special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Libertarian Futurist Society at opening ceremonies. Smith’s novels have won four Prometheus Awards: in 1982 for The Probability Broach, in 1994 for Pallas, in 2001 for The Forge of the Elders, and in 2005 for The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel (with illustrator Scott Bieser).
Numerous other authors, artists, scientists, game designers and podcasters will be participating at MileHiCon, including Mario Acevedo, Hilari Bell, Edward Bryant, Michael Carroll, David Dvorkin, Jeanne Stein/S.J. Harper, Carrie Vaughn and Connie Willis. Other authors and artists in attendance include Rachael Acks, C.R. Asay, Chris Barili, Boom Baumgartner, Dr. Doug Beason, Scott Beckman, Dana Bell, Lou Berger, Jane Bigelow, M.H. Boroson, Jonathan Brazee, Ian Brazee-Cannon, J.A. Campbell, W.J. Cherf, Sue Duff, Daniel Dvorkin, J Alan Erwine, J.T. Evans, Sean Patrick Fannon, Cynthia Felice, Rod Ford, Laura Givens, Dr. Jim Gunderson, Dr. Louise Gunderson, Warren Hammond, Doug Hawk, Travis Heermann, Jason Heller, Kristi Helvig, Patrick Hester, Carol Hightshoe, Amalie Howard, Thea Hutcheson, Stace Johnson, Layman Kingsford, Dr. Steve Lee, Paul Lell, Stant Litore, Nathan Lowell, Rebecca Lyons, Emily Mah, Robin Owens, Dan Peak, Fred Poutre, Rob S. Rice, David B. Riley, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Ronnie Seagren, David Skipper, Dr. Tim Slater, John Stith, Eric James Stone, Patrick Swenson, N.J. Tanger, Rebecca Taylor, Wendy Terrien, Melanie Unruh, James Van Pelt, Josh Viola, Ross Watson and Stan Yan. There will be many opportunities to meet and get autographs from authors and artists throughout the weekend.
All MileHiCon activities will take place at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, located at 7800 E. Tufts Ave., Denver, CO 80237. A three-day membership will be $46 at the door. Full weekend memberships can also be purchased in advance at https://www.picatic.com/milehicon48. Daily memberships will be available at the door; prices are Friday $20, Saturday $22 and Sunday $20. Parking is $5 for the weekend. Registration will open Friday at noon, and Saturday and Sunday at 9 am.
Background
MileHiCon has been run and staffed entirely by volunteers since its beginning in 1969 organized by the Denver Area Science Fiction Association (DASFA). Its purpose is to promote interest in reading and writing science fiction and related genres, although it has long since branched out to embrace science and technology, television, film, anime, gaming, costuming/cosplay and other areas of fannish interest.
For more information, visit the convention website: http://www.milehicon.org or call 720-234-7829. Web images are available for media use; hi-res images available on request.
Linda Nelson, MileHiCon, http://www.milehicon.org, +1 (720) 234-7829, [email protected]
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