MileHiCon
Encyclopedia
MileHiCon is an annual science fiction
/fantasy
convention held in Denver, Colorado
in October. It is primarily literary, although it also has an art show, dealers' room, the Critter Crunch (similar to Robot Wars
), the Critter Float-illa (robotic competition in the hotel pool), a video
room, anime
room, masquerade
, gaming, bat'leth tournament, and programming on science, writing, literary, media and fannish topics. It runs its own track of kid-friendly, interactive programming and also hosts the Avistrum Academy of Sorcery. It is run by MileHiCon, Inc., a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, and donates money each year to local literacy programs.
The name of the evening-long event was shortened to Minicon. It was held in the basement meeting room of the Columbia Savings Bank, where DASFA met at that time. DASFA soon discovered that another convention called Minicon had been started the previous year in Minneapolis. Since that name was taken, DASFA decided to rename it Octocon, since (after the first one) it was held in October. After a couple of years holding Octocon, they discovered there was a convention in Ireland
called Octocon
. DASFA then renamed the convention again. Two final proposals for the title were:
"MileHiCon" was chosen, after a close vote.
Around 1980, MileHiCon was incorporated as an entity separate from DASFA (which still meets, but is not incorporated). For the last several years, attendance has generally hovered around a thousand.
MileHiCon 43 was held 21-23 October 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center-Denver. Guests included authors Vernor Vinge and Glen Cook, and editor Gardner Dozois. Denver author Mario Acevedo was the toastmaster.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
convention held in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in October. It is primarily literary, although it also has an art show, dealers' room, the Critter Crunch (similar to Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
), the Critter Float-illa (robotic competition in the hotel pool), a video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
room, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
room, masquerade
Masquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
, gaming, bat'leth tournament, and programming on science, writing, literary, media and fannish topics. It runs its own track of kid-friendly, interactive programming and also hosts the Avistrum Academy of Sorcery. It is run by MileHiCon, Inc., a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, and donates money each year to local literacy programs.
History
MileHiCon was started by the Denver Area Science Fiction Association (DASFA). Following the monthly meeting in September 1969, several DASFAns discussed their recent experiences at the St. Louis WorldCon and it was decided to hold an SF (science fiction) Mini-Convention for the next meeting. However, due to some planning hitches and the inability of some key people to attend, it was postponed until November.The name of the evening-long event was shortened to Minicon. It was held in the basement meeting room of the Columbia Savings Bank, where DASFA met at that time. DASFA soon discovered that another convention called Minicon had been started the previous year in Minneapolis. Since that name was taken, DASFA decided to rename it Octocon, since (after the first one) it was held in October. After a couple of years holding Octocon, they discovered there was a convention in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
called Octocon
Octocon
Octocon is the name given to the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, held annually in October.- History :1989/1990: The convention was initiated by members of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and named by artist Peter McCanney, who created the convention's first logo.1995: Advertised...
. DASFA then renamed the convention again. Two final proposals for the title were:
- "MileHiCon," which plays off Denver being "the Mile-High City," and would be unlikely to be duplicated;
- "LungfishGranolaCon," which refers to an ancient DASFA tradition of lungfishLungfishLungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
jokes, a type of word gameWord gameWord games and puzzles are spoken or board games often designed to test ability with language or to explore its properties.Word games are generally engaged as a source of entertainment, but have been found to serve an educational purpose as well...
.
"MileHiCon" was chosen, after a close vote.
Around 1980, MileHiCon was incorporated as an entity separate from DASFA (which still meets, but is not incorporated). For the last several years, attendance has generally hovered around a thousand.
MileHiCon 43 was held 21-23 October 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center-Denver. Guests included authors Vernor Vinge and Glen Cook, and editor Gardner Dozois. Denver author Mario Acevedo was the toastmaster.