Wiscon facts for kids

WisCon is a special kind of science fiction convention held in Wisconsin. It's known as the oldest and a leading event focused on feminist science fiction. This means it explores science fiction and fantasy stories through the lens of feminism.

The first WisCon happened in Madison, Wisconsin, in February 1977. It was started by a group of fans who wanted a convention like WorldCon, but with a strong focus on feminist ideas. WisCon happens every year in May, during the four-day weekend of Memorial Day. It's organized by a group called (SF)³. People who love science fiction and fantasy, including writers, artists, and scholars, come together to talk about these genres. They especially discuss topics like gender, race, and social class within these stories.

What Happens at WisCon?

WisCon is a place where fans can meet their favorite authors and artists. It's also a chance to learn new things. The convention has many different activities. These include panel discussions, workshops, and readings. People share ideas and talk about how science fiction can explore important social topics.

Special Guests at WisCon

Every year, WisCon invites one or more special guests, called "Guests of Honor." These guests are usually famous writers, artists, or thinkers in science fiction and fantasy. They guide discussions and give speeches. It's a big honor to be a Guest of Honor at WisCon.

For example, at WisCon 30 in 2006, many past Guests of Honor came back for the anniversary. For WisCon 40, they even invited three Guests of Honor, including Nalo Hopkinson, who had been a guest before. In 2020, WisCon XLIV was held online as a virtual event.

Awards and Groups Started at WisCon

Many important awards and organizations have grown out of discussions at WisCon. These groups focus on different issues within science fiction and fantasy. They often stay connected to WisCon, holding events or discussions there.

The Otherwise Award

The James Tiptree, Jr. Award (now called the Otherwise Award) is a special literary prize. It's given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories that explore or expand our understanding of gender. The idea for this award came from a discussion at WisCon in 1991. It was partly created because most science fiction awards were named after men. The award was named after James Tiptree, Jr., who was actually a woman named Alice B. Sheldon. The award ceremony is often held at WisCon.

The Carl Brandon Society

The Carl Brandon Society was started in 1999. This happened after talks at WisCon 23 about race and racism in science fiction and fantasy. The group works to improve how people of color are shown in these stories. In 2005, they created two awards:

• The Parallax Award is for speculative fiction written by a person of color.
• The Kindred Award is for any speculative fiction story that deals with themes of race and ethnicity.

Broad Universe

Broad Universe is an organization that helps promote science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. The idea for this group first came up at a panel discussion at WisCon 24 in 2000. Since then, it has grown into a non-profit organization. It has an online newsletter, a podcast, and often attends other conventions. They help support women who write, edit, and publish in speculative fiction.

Images for kids

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  Beaders at Wiscon 2006. Lisa Freitag (far left), Kate Yule (next left), and Amy Thompson (far right).

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  Emma Bull at Wiscon, 2006.

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  Avedon Carol, Beth Meacham, and Lois McMaster Bujold at Wiscon 30, 2006