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TusCon

Overview

TusCon (tusconscificon.com) is a science fiction/fantasy convention that's been held annually in Tucson since 1974. Social Media | Most Recent Program Book Covers | History | Notes | Other Documents | All Program Book Covers Background TusCon is the oldest active convention in Arizona, though it's only been that since 2019 when Flying Buffalo Con, a Phoenix area gaming convention that had been running since 1973, held its last event. It was founded by Carol de Priest and Jim Corrick. Otherwise, it's only predated as a fandom event in Tucson by Desert Con, a film convention which ended in 1978, and in Arizona by Phoenix Con, a comic book convention which was already over by the time TusCon began. It's been run annually in Tucson by the Baja Arizona Science Fiction Association (BASFA) since 1974 with a highly consistent committee and approach. Excepting only 1985 and 1993, Sue Thing has been the chair or co-chair since 1981.

Most Recent Program Book Covers

Click on the images below to open larger versions.

Cover art (left to right) by Alan M. Clark, Jill Bauman and Chaz Kemp.

History

Chronology of Arizona Conventions | Index of Program Books

#	Date	Location	Chair	GoHs	Book	Web	Notes
1	1974 25 Oct 27 Oct	Tucson Inn Tucson	Jim Corrick Carol De Priest
2	1975 4 Apr 6 Apr	Executive Inn Tucson	Jim Corrick Carol De Priest	Author: Evangeline Walton
3	1975 7 Nov 10 Nov	Tucson Inn Tucson	Jim Corrick Carol De Priest	Author: Gordon Eklund Bobbie Armbruster Ron Bounds
4	1976 5 Nov 7 Nov	Sands Motel Tucson	Jim Corrick Carol De Priest	Author: Theodore Sturgeon Thea Alexander Dr. Bradford Smith Carolyn Henson
5	1977						1
6	1979 16 Nov 18 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sharon Alban Maples	Author: Ed Bryant Author: Suzy McKee Charnas Toastmaster: Bob Vardeman	15 MB
7	1980 7 Nov 9 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sharon Alban Maples	Author: George R. R. Martin Fan: Bobbie Armbruster Fan: Ron Bounds Toastmaster: James A. Corrick	25 MB
8	1981 13 Nov 15 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing Deb Dedon Cristi Simila	Author: Elizabeth A. Lynn Fan: Curt Stubbs Fan: Mahala Steiner Toastmaster: Jim Corrick	22 MB
9	1982 12 Nov 14 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Robert Bloch Fan: David J. Schow	31 MB
10	1983 18 Nov 20 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Karl Edward Wagner Fan: Marty Massoglia Toastmaster: Jim Corrick	39 MB
11	1984 9 Nov 11 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: John Varley Fan: Bruce & Kim Farr Toastmaster: Jim Corrick	32 MB
12	1985 8 Nov 10 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila	Author: Vernor Vinge Fan: Bruce D. Arthurs Fan: M. R. Hildebrand Toastmaster: Jim Corrick	26 MB
13	1986 3 Oct 5 Oct	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing	Author: Terry Carr Fan: Robert Bloch Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	35 MB
14	1987 2 Oct 4 Oct	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing	Author: Tim Powers Fan: Somtow Sucharitkul	27 MB
15	1988 7 Oct 9 Oct	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing	Author: Stephen R. Donaldson Fan: Jim & Doreen Webbert Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	25 MB
16	1989 6 Oct 8 Oct	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing	Author: Jack Williamson Fan: Sam Stubbs Fan: Eric Hanson Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	26 MB
17	1990 16 Nov 18 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing	Author: G. Harry Stine Fantasy: Jennifer Roberson Fan: Michael R. Stackpole Fan: Liz Danforth Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	34 MB
18	1991 15 Nov 17 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Sue Thing				2
19	1992 13 Nov 15 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson					3
20	1993 12 Nov 14 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Cristi Simila Bruce Wiley	Author: Simon Hawke Fan: Kate Daniel Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	25 MB
21	1994 11 Nov 13 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Judith Tarr Fan: John Theisen Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	21 MB
22	1995 3 Nov 5 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Ed Bryant Fan: Wolf Forrest Toastmaster: Simon Hawke	22 MB
23	1996 15 Nov 17 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Dennis L. McKiernan Fan: Barry Bard Special: Buzz Aldrin Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	20 MB
24	1997 7 Nov 9 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: John Vornholt Fantasy: Melanie Rawn Artist: Alan Gutierrez Fan: David Foster Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	23 MB
25	1998 6 Nov 8 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Fred Saberhagen Artist: Ellisa Mitchell Fan: Julie Hamann Toastmaster: Michael R. Stackpole	39 MB
26	1999 22 Oct 24 Oct	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Laurell K. Hamilton Artist: Lee Seed Fan: Bobbie Seaman Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	28 MB
27	2000 10 Nov 12 Nov	Executive Inn Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Catherine Wells Artist: Liz Danforth Fan: Stephanie Bannon Fan: Craig Dyer Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	38 MB
28	2001 9 Nov 11 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Artist: Newton Ewell Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	23 MB
29	2002 15 Nov 17 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Timothy Zahn Artist: Vicky Visconti Tilley Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	27 MB
30	2003 14 Nov 16 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Yvonne Navarro Music: Maya Kaathryn & Jeff Bohnhoff Artist: Leslie D'Allesandro Hawes Fan: Cristi Simila Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	18 MB
31	2004 5 Nov 7 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Fantasy: Barbara Hambly SF/Science Author/Artist: William K. Hartmann Fan: Carol De Priest Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	20 MB
32	2005 18 Nov 20 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: David Brin Artist: Theresa Mather Fan/Gaming: Bill Winski Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	28 MB
33	2006 10 Nov 12 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Emma Bull Author: Will Shetterly Fan: Bruce & Peggy Wiley Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	29 MB
34	2007 9 Nov 11 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: John Ringo Toastmaster: Weston Ochse	34 MB
35	2008 7 Nov 9 Nov	InnSuites Hotel Tucson	Sue Thing	Pro: Diana Gabaldon Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	14 MB
36	2009 13 Nov 15 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Pro: Weston Ochse Fan: Liz Hanson Special: Dr. Paul A. Carter Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	21 MB
37	2010 12 Nov 14 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Pros: Jim & Shannon K. Butcher Fans: Bjo & John Trimble Special: Noel Neill Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	17 MB
38	2011 11 Nov 13 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Pro: Patricia Briggs Fan: Dr. David A. Williams Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	32 MB
39	2012 9 Nov 11 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Pro: S. M. Stirling Fan: David Lee Summers Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	15 MB
40	2013 8 Nov 10 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Juliet Blackwell Artist: Jessica C. Feinberg Music: The Bedlam Bards Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	17 MB
41	2014 31 Oct 2 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Janni Lee Simner Artist: Sarah Clemens Fan: Curt Booth Music: The Whiskey Bards Special: Geoff Notkin Toastmaster: Weston Ochse	18 MB
42	2015 30 Oct 1 Nov	Hotel Tucson City Center Tucson	Sue Thing	Author: Seanan McGuire Artist: Bridget E. Wilde Anime: Autumn Ivy Special: Geoff Notkin Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	17 MB
43	2016 11 Nov 13 Nov	Radisson Hotel Tucson Airport Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: George R. R. Martin Artist: Peri Charlifu Media: William Malone Special: Geoff Notkin Toastmaster: Ed Bryant	26 MB		4
44	2017 10 Nov 12 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Timothy Zahn Artist: Theresa Mather Media: Melinda M. Snodgrass Fans: Hal & Dee Astell Toastmaster: Geoff Notkin Special Anime: Yuhki Kaneta Mistress of Chaos: Madame Askew	51 MB
45	2018 9 Nov 11 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Joe R. Lansdale Artist: Dr. William K. Hartmann Toastmaster: Weston Ochse Mistress of Chaos: Madame Askew	22 MB		5
46	2019 8 Nov 10 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Jonathan Maberry Artist: Chaz Kemp Toastmaster: Weston Ochse	34 MB
47	2020 13 Nov 15 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Jennifer Ashley Artist: Lubov Toastmaster: Weston Ochse			6
48	2021 12 Nov 14 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Jennifer Ashley Artist: Jill Bauman Fan: Doreen Webbert Toastmaster: Weston Ochse	19 MB
49	2022 11 Nov 13 Nov	Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Author: Mary Tan Artist: Alan M. Clark Toastmaster: Weston Ochse	24 MB
50	2023 10 Nov 12 Nov	Ramada by Wyndham Viscount Suites Tucson East Tucson	Sue Thing James Kosky	Artist: Peri Charlifu Toastmaster: Weston Ochse

Notes TusCon 5 was cancelled to concentrate on Arizona's hosting of the Worldcon, as many TusCon key players were involved. TusCon 18 was a relaxacon with no guests or programming, because it came two weeks after Tucson had hosted the World Fantasy Convention. TusCon 19 was a fan gathering only with no guests or programming. Attendance was capped for TusCon 43 at 500. It sold out months before the event. Dr. Hartmann was unable to attend TusCon 45. TusCon 47 was cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. Other Documents Index of Ephemera TusCon 22 Flyer (2 MB) TusCon 24 Pocket Program (5 MB) TusCon 25 Pocket Program (3 MB) TusCon 26 Pocket Program (10 MB) TusCon 27 Pocket Program (3 MB) TusCon 32 Tucson Space Society Flyer (1 MB) TusCon 33 Fan GOHs Insert (1 MB) TusCon 34 The Brain Eaters Flyer (1 MB) Pocket Program (2 MB) TusCon 39 Flyer (1 MB) TusCon 40 FAQ (2 MB) TusCon 48 Badge Art (232k) Pocket Program (4 MB) Program Book Covers Click on the images below to open larger versions. Cover art by Wolf Forrest (6-12, 17), Deb Dedon (13-16, 21, 26, 33, 39), Liz Danforth (20, 27), Gary Hayes (22-25, 28, 35-38), Vicky Visconti Tilly (29), Earl Billick (30, 34), William Hartmann (31), Theresa Mather (32, 44), Jessica C. Feinberg (40), Sarah Clemens (41), Bridget E. Wilde (42), Peri Charlifu (43), Natalia Lopez (45), Chaz Kemp (46), Jill Bauman (48) and Alan M. Clark (49), otherwise unknown. Credits Many thanks to Carol De Priest, co-founder of TusCon and co-chair of the first four conventions, for putting together TusCon's Illustrated History Pages (archive.org). Without that site, this page would be a shadow of itself. It's where I got most of this information, as well as most of the older program book covers (TusCon 37 and earlier), though I've been gradually scanning higher definition copies from TusCon 20 onwards. Thanks also to Stephanie Bannon, who kindly provided copies of many of these program books from the nineties and oughties for me to scan, and Wolf Forrest, who kindly brought most of the first couple of decades worth with him to TusCon 49 so I could scan those.

Last update: 1st December, 2022