Balticon

Balticon is the Maryland Regional science fiction convention, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). It has been held annually since 1966. The name "Balticon" is trademarked by BSFS.

Balticon
StatusActive
GenreScience fiction
Location(s)Maryland
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1966
Organized byBaltimore Science Fiction Society
Websitehttp://www.balticon.org/

Overview

Balticon brings together over 1800 science, science fiction and fantasy professionals, creative amateurs, and fans on Memorial Day weekend each year for a 4-day multi-track event in or around Baltimore.

Balticon can be described as a "General" or "Big Tent" science fiction convention since, while the primary emphasis is literary, programming and activities cover a number of other areas, such as anime, art, costuming, science, Podcasting and new media, gaming, and Filk music.

Balticon is produced by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) literary society. It is run entirely by volunteers, who assume responsibility at many levels, ranging from gofers who sign up and run errands at the convention, to the Con Chair who may spend up to two years on planning and administration.

Activities and program items are developed by the convention staff with suggestions from program participants, and the literary program usually concentrates most heavily on the segment of genre in which the year's Guest of Honor publishes most of his/her work.

Some Balticon activities and tracks run 24 hours a day from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Balticon also usually hosts a Robert Heinlein "Pay It Forward" Blood Drive at some time during the convention.[1]

Awards
"Klingons" attending the 'con.

BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award[2][3] given for the best first novel in the Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror genre, during Balticon. The previous year's winner is invited back to present the award to the new winner.

The winner of the annual Jack L. Chalker Young Writer's Contest[3] is announced at Balticon. BSFS sponsors this short story writing contest for Maryland residents or school attendees between the ages of 14 and 18, in the Fantasy or Science Fiction genres.

Beginning in 2013, the Baltimore Science Fiction Society began presenting the Robert A. Heinlein Award at Balticon Opening Ceremonies. BSFS is the sponsoring organization for the award, which was started in 2003 by Yoji Kondo, and is 50% funded by The Heinlein Society. The recipient is selected by a panel of judges originally chosen from among Robert Heinlein's fellow SF writers.[4][5]

The Balticon Poetry Contest[3] winners are invited to read their winning entries at Balticon, and they are published in the Balticon Convention Program Guide. Cash prizes and convention memberships are awarded.

The Masquerade[3] is usually held on Saturday night, and awards are given for various categories in Costuming, including creativity, construction and presentation.[6]

The Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival (BSNSFF)[7][8] is a no-submission-fee competition traditionally held on Sunday night for short films in the Science Fact, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror genres. Currently, the audience votes to choose winners in animated and live-action categories.

Past Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival winners:

  • 2011 Best Live Action DEAD ON TIME — Kostos Skiftas, Andreas Lambropoulos, directors[9]
  • 2011 Best Animated ZERO — Christopher Kezelos, director[10]
  • 2011 Director's Choice Animated SINTEL — Colin Levy, writer/director
  • 2011 Director's Choice Live Action CORBIN — Brent Weichsel, director[11]
  • 2010 Best Specialty Short THIS TOO SHALL PASS (OK Go)[12]
  • 2010 Best Animated ETA — Henrik Bjerregaard Clausen, Director[13]
  • 2010 Best Live Action (tie) THE LEGACY — Mike Doto, writer/director[14]
  • 2010 Best Live Action (tie) ANDROID LOVE — Lee Citron, writer/director[15]
  • 2010 Director's Choice Animated THE PAINTER OF SKIES — Jorge Morais Valle, writer/director[16]
  • 2010 Director's Choice Live Action MY FRIEND JOSH — Shaun Springer, director[17]
  • 2009 Best Animated BURNING SAFARI[18]
  • 2009 Best Live Action The Hunt for Gollum[19]
  • 2008 THE END IS NIGHT[20]
  • 2007 HIDE AND SEEK — Chris Romano, Creator/Director[21]
  • 2006 THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX[22]

Balticon may also premier an independent feature-length film, and a locally (MD, DC, VA, PA) produced feature film some time during the 4-day convention, as well as several hours of panel discussions in Balticon's Filmmaking Program track.

History

Prior to 1966, BSFS held an annual event for the election of BSFS Board of Directors. After several years, BSFS rented hotel space and invited an author to speak, as a guest of honor, at its election events. From this point forward, the event became an annual convention known as Balticon. Subsequently, BSFS election functions were moved to a different date.

Before 2001, Balticon was held on Easter weekend to take advantage of lower hotel costs and was three days long; however, in 2001 Balticon moved to Memorial Day Weekend and expanded to a full four days.

Past conventions
Event - Number - Date Location Guests (listed GoH)
Balticon 1 February 10–12, 1967 The Emerson Hotel, Baltimore MD no guest of honor
Balticon 2 February 9–11, 1968. Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD Samuel R. Delany
Balticon 3 February 14–15, 1969 Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD L. Sprague de Camp
Balticon 4 February 13–15, 1970 (Washington Birthday Weekend) Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD Damon Knight & Kate Wilhelm
Balticon 5 February 12–14, 1971 Washington's Birthday Weekend Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD Harry Harrison
Balticon 6 February 18–20, 1972 Hopkins Hilton Hotel, Baltimore, MD Gordon R. Dickson
Balticon 7 Washington's Birthday Weekend, February 16–18, 1973 Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD Poul Anderson
Balticon 8 February 15–18, 1974 - Washington's Birthday Weekend Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, MD Frederik Pohl
Balticon 9 Easter Weekend, March 28–30, 1975 (First Year On Easter) Pikesville Hilton Hotel, Pikesville, MD Hal Clement
Balticon 10 April 16–18, 1976 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Isaac Asimov
Balticon 11 April 8–10, 1977 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Philip Jose Farmer
Balticon 12 March 24–26, 1978 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Anne McCaffrey
Balticon 13 April 13–15, 1979 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Poul Anderson
Balticon 14 April 4–6, 1980 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Algis Budrys & Sean Spacher
Balticon 15 Easter Weekend April 17–19, 1981 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD John Varley
Balticon 16 April 9–11, 1982 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD Samuel R. Delany
Balticon 17 April 1–3, 1983 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD L. Sprague de Camp & Catherine Crook de Camp
Balticon 18 April 20–22, 1984 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD Parke Godwin
Balticon 19 Easter Weekend April 7–9, 1985 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD R. A. MacAvoy
Balticon 20 March 28–30, 1986 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD Nancy Springer
Balticon 21 April 17–19, 1987 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Roger Zelazny
Balticon 22 April 1–3, 1988 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Spider Robinson
Balticon 23 March 24–26, 1989 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD C. J. Cherryh
Balticon 24 April 13–15, 1990 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Robin McKinley
Balticon 25 March 29–31, 1991 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Nancy Kress
Balticon 26 April 17–19, 1992 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Donald Kingsbury, Christopher Rowley, David R. Palmer, Sheila Finch, Thomas T. Thomas (Wren), Christopher Hinz, Elizabeth Moon, Josepha Sherman and Michael F. Flynn
Balticon 27 April 9–11, 1993 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Allen Steele
Balticon 28 April 1–3, 1994 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, MD Mercedes Lackey
Balticon 29 April 14–16, 1995 Lord Baltimore & Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD James P. Hogan
Balticon 30 April 5–7, 1996 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Robert Jordan
Balticon 31 March 28–30, 1997 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Glen Cook
Balticon 32 April 10–12, 1998 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Harry Turtledove
Balticon 33 April 2–4, 1999 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD David Weber
Balticon 34 April 22–23, 2000 Omni Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Octavia Butler
Balticon 35 May 25–28, 2001 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Hal Clement
Balticon 36 May 24–27, 2002 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Mark Rogers, Phil Foglio & Kaja Foglio
Balticon 37 May 23–26, 2003 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Steve Miller & Sharon Lee
Balticon 38 May 28–31, 2004 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Lois McMaster Bujold
Balticon 39 May 27–30, 2005 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Baltimore, MD Steven Barnes & Tananarive Due
Balticon 40 May 26–29, 2006 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Neil Gaiman
Balticon 41 May 25–28, 2007 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Joe Bergeron, Jeff & Maya Bohnhoff, Michael R. Mennenga & Evo Terra
Balticon 42 May 23–26, 2008 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Connie Willis, John Jude Palencar & Urban Tapestry
Balticon 43 May 22–25, 2009 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Charles Stross, Kurt Miller, Mary Crowell
Balticon 44 May 28–31, 2010 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Tanya Huff, Howard Tayler, Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Balticon 45 May 27–30, 2011 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Dr Ben Bova, Vincent DiFate, Philippa Ballantine, Bill and Brenda Sutton
Balticon 46 May 25–28, 2012 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Jody Lynn Nye, James Robin Odbert, Heather Dale and Ben Deschamps
Balticon 47 May 24–27, 2013 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Joe Haldeman, Rick Sternbach, Ada Palmer
Balticon 48 May 23–26, 2014 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Brandon Sanderson, Halo Jankowski, Kenneth Anders, Marty Gear
Balticon 49 May 22–25, 2015 Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD Jo Walton, Ruth Sanderson, Erica Neely, Charles E. Gannon, CJ Henderson, Alexandra Duncan, Jack McDevitt
Balticon 50 May 26–30, 2016 Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, MD Guest of Honor George R. R. Martin, Artist Guest of Honor John Picacio, Music Guests of Honor Bill Roper and Gretchen Roper, Fan Guests of Honor Martin Deutsch and B. Shirley Avery
Balticon 51 May 26–29, 2017 Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, MD Guest of Honor Eric Flint (unable to attend due to health issues), Artist Guest of Honor Donato Giancola, Fan Guest of Honor Geri Sullivan, Filk Guest of Honor Amy McNally, Special Guest Stephen Brust, Special Guest SM Stirling.
Balticon 52 May 25–28, 2018 Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, MD Guest of Honor Catherine Asaro, Artist Guest of Honor Galen Dara, Fan Guest of Honor Erwin Strauss (aka Filthy Pierre), Filk Guest of Honor Tim Griffin.
Balticon 53 May 24–27, 2019 Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, MD Guests of Honor Elizabeth Bear and Scott Lynch, Artist Guest of Honor Charles Vess
Balticon 54 May 22–25, 2020 Online,[23] Guest of Honor Wen Spencer, Artist Guest of Honor Lee Moyer, Music Guests of Honor Cheshire Moon

Virtual convention

Balticon 54 had been scheduled for May 22–25, 2020, but the in-person convention was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] The event was reorganized to be a free online convention on the same dates. It took place over Zoom, Discord, and Second Life[25][23]

References
  1. "Balticon Blood Drive - IrishOrb". Sites.google.com. 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  2. "The Locus Index to SF Awards: About the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Memorial Award". Locusmag.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  3. "Baltimore Science Fiction Society [Version HH/DA-252]". Bsfs.org. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  4. "Kim Stanley Robinson Wins 2016 Robert A. Heinlein Award". SFWA.org. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. "Robert A. Heinlein Award". bsfs.org. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  6. http://www.costumegallery.com/Balticon/2009/
  7. BSFS Website Film Festival Page: http://www.bsfs.org/bsfsfilmfest.htm
  8. "Balticon Sunday Night Short Film Festival". Short Film Central. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  9. "Dead On Time". YouTube. 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  10. "Zero - Stop Motion Animation by Christopher Kezelos". Zeroshortfilm.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  11. "Corbin Trailer on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. "OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  13. Archived October 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. "The Legacy - Trailer [HD] - Winner Comic-Con Film Fest 2010". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  15. "Android Love". Milkmanfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  16. "The Painter Of Skies Jorge Morais". YouTube. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  17. Archived July 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Burning Safari Animation Clip". YouTube. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  19. "The Hunt For Gollum Movie Website". Thehuntforgollum.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  20. "The End Is Night". YouTube. 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  21. ":: Hide And Seek ::". Toonlets.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  22. Archived October 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. Rafferty, Michael. https://www.balticon.org/wp54/original-home/. Retrieved 17 May 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. Rafferty, Michael. "Covid-19 Message". Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  25. https://www.balticon.org/wp54/
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