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ConFusion

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For the 2021 Eastercon called ConFusion see the 2021 Eastercon
ConFusion
Left to right: John Scalzi, Karl Schroeder, Justine Larbalestier, Scott Westerfeld and James Frenkel on a panel at
ConFusion 2008
StatusActive
GenreScience Fiction, Fantasy, Fandoms
Venue2016 - Present: Novi Sheraton, Michigan
2013–2015: Dearborn Doubletree, Michigan
2003–2012: Troy Marriott, Michigan
Location(s)Michigan Michigan
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1974
Attendance800–1000 attendees annually
Organized byAnn Arbor Science Fiction Association
Websiteconfusionsf.org

ConFusion is an annual science fiction convention founded in 1974 by a University of Michigan science fiction club known as the Stilyagi Air Corps,[1] and is currently run by the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association,[2] a not-for-profit group. Typically, it is held during the third weekend of January. It is one of the oldest science fiction conventions in Michigan.[3] ConFusion is a regional, general science fiction convention similar to Windycon and Lunacon. The programming consists of panels on science fiction and fantasy, literature, media, science, fandom, art, comics, music, costuming, etc. with discussions by authors, scientists, fans, and artists. There is a large music track, board games and roleplaying games, KidFusion — a track of programming specifically for kids —and a masquerade or costume contest.

ConFusion has a consuite, as well as room parties hosted by other conventions, WorldCon bids, and local clubs.

Author A. L. DeLeon in 2024
AI Panel from left to right: John Scalzi, Lynne Sargent, A. L. DeLeon, Jason Sanford in 2024
Masquerade in 2024
Author Kelley Skovron in 2024

History

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The Ann Arbor Relax-i-con was founded in 1974. Based on its success, the Stilyagi Air Corps[4] named the new convention Condom as a takeoff of the word fandom. The chairman, Ro Nagey, was absent for the meeting about the name change and convinced them to use the name ConFusion instead. The name turned out to be prophetic as the first science Guest of Honor was the owner of local technology spin-off company KMS Fusion.

Because the first convention run by the organization was not actually named ConFusion, they are generally counted starting with ConFusion 13 in 1975 or with the A Squared Relax-I-Con (one of many intentionally confusing names voted on by the membership). The 1980 convention was aptly named Confusion 6 &/or 7, and ConFusion XXX in 2004 could be considered the 30th convention of that name, or 31st Stilyagi convention.

The Stilyagi Air Corps, named after a group in Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, is a loose, informal group. Lifetime membership is free for anyone interested in science fiction who attends a single Stilyagi party, meeting, or event. The sponsoring organization, AASFA, is a Michigan nonprofit corporation board elected from Stilyagi who have volunteered to work on running ConFusion.

2024 Event

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The 2024 event, titled Labyrinth of ConFusion was held on January 19 - 21 at the Novi Sheraton in Michigan. The notable panelists included Mark Oshiro, Kurt Erichsen BluRaven C. Houvener. Authors included Kelley Skovron, A. L. DeLeon, Marie Vibbert and Jordan Kurella.

Events included authors and experts in fields such as Dungeons and Dragons, neurodiversity, climate change, and NASA's plans to visit asteroids. A panel on Artificial intelligence was held. There was a screening of a Sci-fi fan created film from 1978 called FAANs. Many authors participated in book readings and book signings. Masquerade (pictured to the right) is always a popular event with judges naming the top three winners in each category. A flash fiction session was held where authors created short fiction stories in a limited time span, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.

Steph C. was the Young Adult Guest of Honor.

2023 Event

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The 2023 event titled Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion featured authors and speakers Chris Barkley, Kathe Koja, Jacob Pauwels, and Kat Malokofsky.

Years of ConFusion

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ConFusion has been active from 1974 until present. The table below lists the year, name and Guests of Honor (GOHs) for each convention. [5][6]

Year Name Pro Fan Artist Scientist Wild Card Special Guest Chair
1974 A2 Relax-I-Con Lloyd Biggle Jr. Howard DeVore Ro Nagey
1975 ConFusion 13 [7][8] Frederik Pohl Mike Glicksohn Ro Nagey
1976 ConFusion 12 Lloyd Biggle Jr. Bill Bowers Ro Nagey
1977 ConFusion 14 Poul Anderson Ro Nagey
Zita Kutkus
Larry Ward
1978 ConFusion π [9] Kate Wilhelm Jackie Causgrove Larry Tucker
1979
E/c2 ConFusion [10][11]
(Mass ConFusion)
Spider Robinson
Jeanne Robinson
Scott Imes
Dave Innes
Larry Tucker
1980 ConFusion 6 and/or 7 [12][13] Stanley Schmidt Elliott Shorter
Dave Innes
Larry Tucker
1981 Nine Billion Names of ConFusion [14] Barry B. Longyear Dave Innes Nancy Tucker
1982 ConFusion 11 Phyllis Eisenstein Neil Rest Nancy Tucker
1983 ConFusion 101 [15] C. J. Cherryh Bill Cavin Tara Edwards
1984 Genuine ConFusion [16] Mike Resnick Martha Beck Nancy Tucker
1985 Decadent ConFusion Alan Dean Foster Julia Ecklar Michelle Smith-Moore
1986 Perpetual ConFusion Somtow Sucharitkul Bill Roper Frank Kelly Freas Tom Barber
1987 Stark Raving ConFusion [17] Katherine Kurtz Elizabeth 'Liz' Pearce Erin McKee Nancy Farmer
1988 Ambulatory ConFusion Joe Haldeman Larry Tucker David Cherry Nancy Farmer
1989 ConFusion 102 Barbara Hambly Ted Reynolds Linda Michaels Tara Barber
1990 State of ConFusion Hal Clement
Michelle Smith-Moore
Garth Barbour
Kevin Davies Erik Kauppi
1991 Immaculate ConFusion Esther Friesner Somtow Sucharitkul Robin Wood Erik Kauppi
1992 Hardwired ConFusion Walter Jon Williams Rusty Hevelin Rick Lieder
Roberta Kennedy
John Woudstra
1993 Transcendental ConFusion Fred Saberhagen
Pat Sims
Roger Sims
Randy Asplund Greg Cronau
1994 ConFusion XX Joan D. Vinge Leah Zeldes Smith Erin McKee
Barb Daoust
Carolyn Westbrooks
Jeff Westbrook
1995 ConFusion 10101 Pamela Sargent Wilson "Bob" Tucker Laura Butler Geoffrey A. Landis
Karen Roe
Dennis Tabaczewski
1996 Deviant ConFusion Tim Powers Melody Faith Bob Eggleton Geoffrey A. Landis
Barb Daoust
Jeff Westbrook
1997 ConFusion-17 Samuel R. Delany Joey Shoji Susan Van Camp Mark Shappirio Katherine Becker
1998 ConFusion of the Winnebagos Connie Willis Mary Ellen Wessels Jane Irwin Marvin Minsky
Katherine Becker
Dennis Tabaczewski
1999 Vintage ConFusion Lois McMaster Bujold Nancy Tucker Shaw Douglas Chaffee Carl Djerassi Katherine Becker
2000 ConFusion 19100 Maureen F. McHugh Dennis Tabaczewski Frank Hayes Eric S. Raymond Tracy Worcester
2001 Mystery God ConFusion Sarah Zettel Tom Barber Carla Speed McNeil Bruce Schneier Tammy Coxen
2002 Astronomical ConFusion George R. R. Martin Heather Alexander Pete Abrams Br. Guy Consolmagno Tammy Coxen
2003 ConFusion and Her Friends Melissa Scott Roberta Kennedy Alan M. Clark Jack Cohen Tammy Coxen
2004 ConFusion XXX Bruce Sterling Geri Sullivan Julie Bell Ron Westrum Anne Gray
2005 31 Flavors of ConFusion[18]
Emma Bull
Will Shetterly
David G. Hartwell
Kathryn Cramer
Derek Grime Christian Ready
Steven Brust
(Toastmaster)
Anne Gray
2006 Synthetic ConFusion Vernor Vinge Chuck Firment Steven Stiles Mitchell Burnside Clapp Krysta December
2007 MoonBase ConFusion Elizabeth Moon Bill Higgins Steve MacDonald Paul "PZ" Myers Roxanne King
2008 High-Voltage ConFusion
Justine Larbalestier
Scott Westerfeld
The Roving Pirate Party Carl Lundgren Kevin M. Dunn
Throwing Toasters
(Music GoH)
Brendan Durrett
2009 Cryptic ConFusion Cat Rambo Freon Michael Andaluz Diana Harlan Stein
Elizabeth Turtle
Ralph D. Lorenz
Cory Doctorow
(Cryptic GoH)
Anne Gray
2010 I See By My ConFusion
Peter S. Beagle
Catherynne Valente
David Gibbs Matt Busch Steve Collins
S. J. Tucker
(Filk GoH)
Robert R. McCammon Jessica Zerwas
2011 This ConFusion Is Not Yet Rated Cherie Priest Lisa Garrison Aubrey de Grey
Paolo Bacigalupi
(Pro GoH)
Peter V. Brett Brian Decker
2012 Epic ConFusion Patrick Rothfuss Tom Smith Harley Thronson
Roxanne Meida King
(Special GoH)
Peter V. Brett
Joe Abercrombie
Brent Weeks
Robin Hobb
Brian Decker
2013 Immortal ConFusion Charles Stross James Davis Nicoll
Scott Edelman
(Editor GoH)
Jennifer Ouellette
Mary Robinette Kowal
(Special GoH)
Alastair Reynolds
Kat Howard
Maria Dahvana Headley
Lucy Kennedy
2014 Legendary ConFusion Mike Carey Mark Bernstien Rich Morris Ian Tregillis
Adam Matianazzi
(S2 Games)
Jacqueline Carey Ryan Carey
2015 Back to the ConFusion Karen Lord Aaron Thul
Heather Dale
(Music GoH)
Cynthia Chestek
Monte Cook
Shanna Germain
(Gaming GoHs)
Steven Erikson
Ted Chiang
Joe Abercrombie
Dave Klecha
2016 Life, the Universe, and ConFusion Alaya Dawn Johnson Jessica Drummer
Gordon Smith
(Media GoH)
Kentaro Toyama
Ann Leckie
Kelley Armstrong
Cameron McClure
Anna Carey
2017 Friendship is ConFusion Gail Carriger Mark Oshiro Jeffrey Alan Love Karen Burnham
Mallory O'Meara
(Media GoH)
James S. A. Corey
Joe Hill
Gillian Redfern
Anna Carey
2018 ConFusion Through the Looking Glass [19] Kate Elliott Nisi Shawl
Luke Ski
(Comedy GoH)
Annalee Newitz
James Breakwell
(Media GoH)
Jim Butcher
Gail Cross
Amy Sexsmith
2019 Storming the Confusion Ada Palmer David Stein Dr. Jennifer Piatek
Joe Lansdale
Lewis Shiner
Amy Sexsmith
2020 How to Train Your ConFusion Kameron Hurley Bogi Takacs
Brandon O'Brien
(Creative GoH)
Dr. Julie Lesnik
Seanan McGuire
Gwenda Bond
Lithie Dubois
2021 Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Rising Confusion Jim C. Hines Anna Carey Rachel Quinlan (Artist) Dr. Jordan Steckloff
Doselle Young
(Comics/Creative Arts)
Lithie Dubois
2023 Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion Chris Barkley Kathe Koja (Creative) Jacob Pauwels (Media) Kat Malokofsky
2024 Labyrinth of ConFusion Mark Oshiro Kurt Erichsen BluRaven C. Houvener
Steph C
(Young Adult Guest of Honor)
Chelle Green
2025 Monumental ConFusion AASFA Board
Year Name Pro Fan Artist Scientist Wild Card Special Guest Chair

References

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  1. ^ "Stilyagi Air Corps". www.stilyagi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  2. ^ About AASFA
  3. ^ "1974 Michigan Sci-Fi Convention Schedule". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  4. ^ "Stilyagi Air Corps History | Stilyagi Air Corps". www.stilyagi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  5. ^ "ConFusion Over the Years". archive.stilyagi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  6. ^ "ConFusion Guest of Honor". Airtable. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  7. ^ "The Michigan Daily: Sci fi Marathon". books.google.com. Front Cover. Jan 24, 1975. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 26, 1975, Front page Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  9. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 17, 1978 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  10. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 20, 1979 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  11. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 24, 1979, page 4 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  12. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 17, 1980 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  13. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 25, 1980 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  14. ^ The Michigan Daily Sep 26, 1981, page 4 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  15. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 28, 1983 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  16. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 27, 1984, Etc Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  17. ^ The Michigan Daily Jan 23, 1987, page 8 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  18. ^ Metrotimes article on ConFusion 31 Retrieved 2/24/2024.
  19. ^ 2018 confusionsf guests of honor Retrieved 2/24/2024.
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