ArmadilloCon is a science fiction convention held annually in Austin, Texas, USA, since 1979. As the second longest running science fiction convention in Texas, it is sponsored by the Fandom Association of Central Texas and is known for its emphasis on literary science fiction. ArmadilloCon was traditionally held in mid-October during the weekend of the Texas-OU football game, but moved to a late-summer/early-fall weekend in 1998. The 34th annual convention was held in the Renaissance Hotel Austin from July 27–29, 2012. ArmadilloCon 35 in 2013 was a "relaxicon" due to the 71st World Science Fiction Convention to be held in San Antonio that year.
ArmadilloCon generally focuses on literary science-fiction, with guests of honor typically being up-and-coming writers. Unique programming includes a "Fannish Feud" which has been held regularly since ArmadilloCon 4 in 1982, frequently hosted by Pat Cadigan, Walter Jon Williams, and Rhonda Eudaly. The convention also often ends with a story reading by Howard Waldrop.
ArmadilloCon 1 (May 11–13, 1979)Chair: Willie SirosGuest of Honor: John VarleyFan Guest: Jeanne GomollToastmaster: Howard WaldropLocation: Villa CapriArmadilloCon 2 (October 3–5, 1980)Chair: Willie SirosGuest of Honor: Gardner DozoisFan Guest: Harry O. MorrisToastmaster: Chad OliverArmadilloCon 3 (October 1981)Chair: Willie SirosGuest of Honor: Chad OliverFan Guest: Bob WayneToastmaster: Ed BryantLocation: Ramada RiversideArmadilloCon 4 (October 1–3, 1982)Chair: Ed ScarbroughGuests of Honor: George Alec Effinger and George R. R. MartinFan Guest: Joe PumiliaToastmaster: Ed BryantArmadilloCon 5 (October 7–9, 1983)Chair: Ed ScarboroughGuest of Honor: Howard WaldropFan Guest: Becky MatthewsToastmaster: Neal Barrett, Jr.Location: Villa Capri Motor HotelArmadilloCon 6 (October 5–7, 1984)Chair: Ed ScarboroughGuest of Honor: John SladekFan Guests: James A. Corrick and Gay Miller CorrickToastmaster: Joe R. LansdaleSpecial Guest: Ellen DatlowArmadilloCon 7 (1985)Relaxacon after the third occasional North American Science Fiction Convention, dubbed "LoneStarCon 1", was held in Austin.ArmadilloCon 8 (October 10–12, 1986)Chair: Robert TaylorGuest of Honor: William GibsonEditor Guest: Ellen DatlowFan Guest: Debbie NotkinToastmaster: Lewis ShinerArmadilloCon 9 (October 9–11, 1987)Chair: Fred Duarte, Jr.Guest of Honor: Bruce SterlingArtist Guest: J. R. DanielsEditor Guest: Beth MeachamFan Guest: Mark OlsonToastmaster: Pat CadiganArmadilloCon 10 (October 7–9, 1988)Chairs: Fred Duarte, Jr. and Karen MeschkeGuest of Honor: K. W. JeterArtist Guest: Brad W. FosterEditor Guest: Ginjer BuchananFan Guests: Jane Dennis and Scott DennisToastmaster: Lewis ShinerLocation: Wyndham SouthparkArmadilloCon 11 (October 13–15, 1989)Chair: Karen MeschkeGuest of Honor: Lewis ShinerArtist Guest: Don Ivan PunchatzEditor Guest: Pat LoBruttoFan Guest: Mike GlyerToastmaster: Connie WillisSpecial Guests: William Gibson and Tom Maddox (sponsored by MCC)Location: Wyndham SouthparkArmadilloCon 12 (October 12–14, 1990)Chair: Ed GrahamGuest of Honor: Pat CadiganArtist Guest: Jean Elizabeth MartinEditor Guest: Susan AllisonFan Guest: Debbie HodgkinsonToastmaster: Melinda M. SnodgrassSpecial Guests: Vernor Vinge and Marc Stiegler (sponsored by MCC)Location: Wyndham SouthparkArmadilloCon 13 (October 11–13, 1991)Chair: Casey HamiltonGuest of Honor: Dan SimmonsArtist Guest: Dell HarrisEditor Guest: Amy StoutFan Guest: Pat MuellerToastmistress: Emma BullLocation: Wyndham SouthparkArmadilloCon 14 (October 9–11, 1992)Chairs: Lori Wolf and Fred Duarte, Jr.Guest of Honor: Neal Barrett, Jr.Artist Guest: Darrell K. SweetEditor Guest: Gardner DozoisFan Guest: Allan JacksonToastmaster: Kim Stanley RobinsonLocation: Wyndham SouthparkArmadilloCon 15 (November 5–7, 1993)Chairs: Willie Siros and Lori WolfGuest of Honor: Gwyneth Jones (novelist)Artist Guest: Harry O. MorrisEditor Guest: John DouglasToastmaster: Michael Bishop (author)Location: Red LionArmadilloCon 16 (October 7–9, 1994)Chairs: Ed Graham and Casey HamiltonGuest of Honor: Elizabeth MoonArtist Guest: David A. CherryEditor Guest: Gordon Van GelderFan Guest: Gregory BenfordToastmaster: Bradley DentonSpecial Guest: Guy Gavriel KayLocation: Red LionArmadilloCon 17 (October 6–8, 1995)Chairs: Fred Duarte, Jr. and Dan TolliverGuest of Honor: Alexander JablokovArtist Guest: Vincent Di FateEditor Guest: John SilbersackFan Guests: Dick Smith and Leah Zeldes SmithToastmaster: Terry BissonLocation: Red LionArmadilloCon 18 (October 11–13, 1996)Chair: Dan TolliverGuest of Honor: Jonathan LethemArtist Guest: Bob EggletonEditor Guest: Patrick Nielsen HaydenFan Guests: Spike Parsons and Tom BeckerToastmaster: Mike ResnickLocation: Red LionArmadilloCon 19 (1997)Relaxacon after the 55th World Science Fiction Convention, dubbed "LoneStarCon 2", was held in San Antonio.Chair: John GibbonsGuest of Honor: Mary RosenblumLocation: Hunt, TexasArmadilloCon 20 (August 28–30, 1998)Chairs: A. T. Campbell, III and Lori WolfGuest of Honor: Bradley DentonArtist Guest: Mitchell BentleyEditor Guest: David G. HartwellFan Guest: Peggy RansonToastmaster: Steven GouldSpecial Guest: Peter F. Hamilton (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Omni SouthparkArmadilloCon 21 (September 10–12, 1999)Chairs: Mona Gamboa and John GibbonsGuest of Honor: Sean StewartArtist Guest: Wayne BarloweEditor Guest: Shawna McCarthyFan Guest: Harry StubbsToastmaster: William Browning SpencerSpecial Guest: Neil Gaiman (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Omni SouthparkArmadilloCon 22 (August 18–20, 2000)Chairs: John Gibbons and Dan TolliverGuest of Honor: Catherine AsaroArtist Guest: Adam "Mojo" LebowitzEditor Guest: Betsy MitchellFan Guest: Robert TaylorToastmaster: Mary Doria RussellSpecial Guest: Kathleen Ann Goonan[1] (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Omni SouthparkArmadilloCon 23 (November 16–18, 2001)Chairs: Renee Babcock and Lori WolfGuest of Honor: J. Gregory KeyesArtist Guest: John Jude PalencarEditor Guest: Toni WeisskopfFan Guest: Teddy HarviaToastmaster: Walter Jon WilliamsSpecial Guest: Esther Friesner (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Austin Hilton NorthArmadilloCon 24 (August 16–18, 2002)Chairs: Renee Babcock and Charles SirosGuest of Honor: Martha WellsArtist Guests: Frank Cho and Scott KurtzEditor Guest: Tom DohertyFan Guests: Kurt Baty and Scott BoboToastmaster: Joe R. LansdaleSpecial Guest: Robin Hobb (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Omni SouthparkArmadilloCon 25 (August 8–10, 2003)Chair: John GibbonsGuest of Honor: Kage BakerFan Guest: Willie SirosToastmaster: Aaron AllstonEditor Guest: Anne GroellArtist Guest: John PicacioSpecial Guest: Vernor VingeLocation: Austin Hilton NorthArmadilloCon 26 (August 13–15, 2004)Chairs: Kimm Antell and Chuck SirosGuest of Honor: Sharon ShinnFan Guest: Chaz "Hazel" Boston BadenToastmaster: K. D. WentworthEditor Guest: Stanley SchmidtArtist Guest: Charles VessMystery Guests of Honor: Charlaine Harris & Barbara Hambly (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Austin Hilton NorthArmadilloCon 27 (August 19–21, 2005)Chairs: Renee Babcock and John GibbonsGuest of Honor: Charles StrossFan Guests: Jim & Laurie MannToastmaster: Charles de LintEditor Guest: Jim MinzArtist Guest: CteinSpecial Guest: Sean McMullen (sponsored by ALAMO)Location: Doubletree Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 28 (August 11–13, 2006)Chair: Kimm AntellGuest of Honor: Julie E. CzernedaFan Guest: Grant KrugerToastmaster: Esther FriesnerEditor Guest: Diana GillArtist Guest: Ellisa MitchellSpecial Guest: James P. HoganLocation: Doubletree Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 29 (August 10–12, 2007)Chair: Renee BabcockGuest of Honor: Louise MarleyFan Guest: Patty WellsToastmaster: Howard WaldropEditor Guest: Sharyn NovemberArtist Guest: Gary LippincottLocation: Doubletree Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 30 (August 15–17, 2008)Chairs: Kurt Baty and Chuck SirosGuest of Honor: John ScalziArtist Guest: David Lee AndersonFan Guest: Kelly PersonsToastmaster: Bill CriderEditor Guest: Sheila WilliamsSpecial Guests: Gay Haldeman and Joe HaldemanLocation: Doubletree Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 31 (August 14–16, 2009)Chair: Kimm AntellGuest of Honor: Scott LynchArtist Guest: Stephan Martinière (cancelled)Editor Guest: Chris RobersonFan Guest: Karen MeschkeToastmaster: Scott A. CuppSpecial Guest: Joan D. VingeLocation: Doubletree Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 32 (August 27–29, 2010)Chairs: Elizabeth Burton and Dan TolliverGuest of Honor: Rachel CaineArtist Guest: Cat ConradEditor Guest: Anne SowardsFan Guest: Elspeth BloodgoodToastmaster: Nancy KressUrban Fantasy Special Guest: Ilona AndrewsSteampunk Special Guest: Michael BishopLocation: Renaissance Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 33 (August 26–28, 2011)Chairs: Jennifer Juday and Charles SirosGuest of Honor: Paolo BacigalupiArtist Guest: Vincent VillafrancaEditor Guest: Lou AndersFan Guest: Fred Duarte, Jr.Toastmaster: Mark FinnSpecial Guests: Emma Bull and Will ShetterlyLocation: Renaissance Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 34 (July 27–29, 2012)Chair: Sara FelixGuest of Honor: Anne BishopFan Guest: Bill ParkerEditor Guest: Liz GorinskySpecial Guest: Chloe NeillArtist Guest: Julie DillonToastmaster: A. Lee MartinezLocation: Renaissance Hotel AustinArmadilloCon 35 / GlyptoCon 3 (October 25–27, 2013)Relaxacon after the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, dubbed "LoneStarCon 3", was held in San Antonio.Chair: Willie SirosLocation: Canyon Lake, TexasArmadilloCon 36 (July 25–27, 2014)Chair: Kimm AntellGuest of Honor: Ted ChiangFan Guest: Michael WalshEditor Guest: Jacob WeismanArtist Guest: Stephanie Pui-Mun LawScience Guest: Sigrid CloseSpecial Guest: Ian McDonaldToastmaster: Mario AcevedoLocation: Omni Southpark HotelArmadilloCon 37 (July 24–26, 2015)Chairs: Jennifer Juday & Charles SirosGuest of Honor: Ken LiuSpecial Guest: James MorrowFan Guest: John DeNardo (SF Signal)Editor Guest: Timmel DuchampArtist Guest: Rocky KelleyToastmaster: Stina LeichtLocation: Omni Southpark HotelArmadilloCon 38 (July 29-31, 2016)Chairs: Charles SirosGuest of Honor: Wesley ChuFan Guest: Ken KellerEditor Guest: Joe MontiArtist Guest: Christina HessSpecial Guest: Dominick SaponaroToastmaster: Joe McKinney (author)Location: Omni Southpark HotelArmadilloCon 39 (August 4-6, 2017)Chair: John GibbonsGuest of Honor: Nisi ShawlFan Guest: A.T. Campbell, IIIToastmaster: Don WebbLocation: Omni Southpark Hotel