# Windycon

Windycon is a science fiction and fantasy literature convention held in Oak Brook, Illinois, on the weekend closest to Veterans Day.
ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon, was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in Chicago or a Chicago suburb. It is a general interest convention.
ISFiC and Windycon were founded to raise the profile of fandom in Chicago in preparation for a Worldcon bid. In 1982, Chicon IV was the result. From its small beginnings, Windycon has grown to have an annual membership hovering around 1300. It is the largest of the two fan-run Chicago conventions.
Annually since 1986, ISFiC has hosted a writers contest, open to unpublished authors. The contest is judged by professional authors and editors. Separately, Windycon has hosted a writers' workshop under the coordination of Richard Chwedyk since 2000. From 2004 to 2015, ISFiC Press, the publishing arm of Windycon's parent organization, published a Guest of Honor book to be released at the convention.
In addition to traditional con activities, Windycon has also run a series of on-line chats during the con, hosting by Cybling.
| Event | Date | Location | Convention chair | Theme | Guests | Notes |
| Windycon I | October 25-27, 1974 | The Blackstone Hotel Chicago, IL | Lynne & Mark Aronson | | Author: Joe Haldeman Author: Lou Tabakow Toastmaster: Bob Tucker | |
| Windycon II | October 3-5, 1975 | The Blackstone Hotel Chicago, IL | Lynne & Mark Aronson | | Author: Bob Tucker Fan: Joni Stopa Toastmaster: Bob Passovoy | |
| Windycon III | October 15-17, 1976 | Sheraton Chicago Chicago, IL | Lynne & Mark Aronson | | Author: Algis Budrys Fan: Bev Swanson Toastmaster: Mike Resnick | |
| Windycon IV | October 7-9, 1977 | Arlington Park Hilton Arlington Heights, IL | Larry Propp | The Latvian Loganberry Festival | Author: Bill Rotsler Fan: Meade Frierson | |
| Windycon V | October 6-8, 1978 | Arlington Park Hilton Arlington Heights, IL | Doug Rice | | Author: Bob Shaw Fan: George H. Scithers Toastmaster: Bob Tucker | |
| Windycon VI | October 5-7, 1979 | Arlington Park Hilton Arlington Heights, IL | Larry Propp | | Author: William Tenn Fan: Tony and Suford Lewis | |
| Windycon VII | October 24-26, 1980 | Hyatt Regency Chicago Chicago, IL | Midge Reitan & Marcy Lyn-Waitsman | | Author: Robert Sheckley Fan: Gardner Dozois Toastmaster: Bob Tucker | |
| Windycon VIII | December 18-20, 1981 | Hyatt Regency Chicago Chicago, IL | Ross Pavlac & Larry Propp | A Holiday Party | Author: Larry Niven Fan: Mike Glyer | |
| Windycon IX | December 10-12, 1982 | Lincolnwood Hyatt Lincolnwood, IL | Dick Spelman | | Author: Frederik Pohl Fan: Jack Williamson | |
| Windycon X | October 7-9, 1983 | Arlington Park Hilton Arlington Heights, IL | Tom Veal | | Author: George R. R. Martin Artist: Victoria Poyser Fan: Ben Yalow | |
| Windycon XI | December 7-9, 1984 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Kathleen Meyer | | Author: Alan Dean Foster Artist/Fan: Joan Hanke-Woods Toastmaster: Algis Budrys | |
| Windycon XII | October 11-13, 1985 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Kathleen Meyer | | Author: C. J. Cherryh Artist/Fan: Todd Cameron Hamilton Toastmaster: Algis Budrys | |
| Windycon XIII | November 14-16, 1986 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Debra A. Wright | | Author: Harry Harrison Artist: Arlin Robins Editor: Donald & Elsie Wollheim Toastmaster: Marta Randall | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Getting Along with Larga" by Richard Chwedyk |
| Windycon XIV | November 6-8, 1987 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Debra A. Wright | | Author: Vernor Vinge Author: Jane Yolen Artist: Darlene P. Coltrain Editor: Beth Meacham Fan: Dick Spelman Toastmaster: Mike Resnick | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "The Library" by Eugenia M. Hayden |
| Windycon XV | November 11-13, 1988 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Kathleen Meyer | | Author: Orson Scott Card Artist: Erin McKee Editor: Lou Aronica Fan: Lynne & Mark Aronson Toastmaster: Bob Tucker | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "A Man Makes a Machine" by Richard Chwedyk |
| Windycon XVI | November 10-12, 1989 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Lenny Wenshe | | Author: Barry B. Longyear Artist: David Lee Anderson Editor: Beth Fleischer Fan: Mike Glyer Toastmaster: Bob Tucker ISFIC Guests: Yuri Kagarlitsky, Kathy Tyers, Mitchell Burnside Clapp | |
| Windycon XVII | November 9-11, 1990 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Lenny Wenshe | | Author: Barbara Hambly Artist: Bob Eggleton Publisher: Brian Thomsen Fan: Martha Beck Toastmaster: Mike Resnick ISFiC Guest: Mark E. Rogers | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Ailin's Castle" by Robin Leigh Michaels |
| Windycon XVIII | November 8-10, 1991 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Marie Bartlett-Sloan | | Author: Mike Resnick Artist: P. D. Breeding-Black Editer: Robert Weinberg Fan: Howard DeVore Toastmaster: George Alec Effinger ISFiC Guest: Del Harris | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Soul to Take" by Vanessa Crouther |
| Windycon XIX | November 6-8, 1992 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Marie Bartlett-Sloan | | Author: Robert Shea Super: Julius Schwartz Artist: Todd Cameron Hamilton Fan: Wolf & Rick Foss Toastmaster: Rick & Wolf Foss ISFiC Guests: John Varley and Dean Ing ISFiC Special Guests: Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Make-Up Magic" by Sheila Insley |
| Windycon XX | November 12-14, 1993 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Dina S. Krause | | Author: Joe Haldeman Artist: Kelly Freas & Laura Brodian-Freas Editer: Algis Budrys Fan: Bill Higgins Toastmaster: Barry B. Longyear ISFiC Guest: George Alec Effinger | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Dead Chute" by C. T. Fluhr |
| Windycon XXI | November 11-13, 1994 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Dina S. Krause | | Author: Sharyn McCrumb Artist: Janny Wurts Scholar: Clark E. Wilmarth Fan: Alice Bentley Toastmaster: Barbara Hambly ISFiC Guest: George Alec Effinger | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Packers" by Emmett Gard Pittman |
| Windycon XXII | November 10-12, 1995 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Bill Roper | | Author: Poul Anderson Artist: Heather Bruton Editor: Stanley Schmidt Fan: Dick Smith & Leah Zeldes Smith Toastmaster: Bob & Anne Passovoy ISFiC Guests: Ben Bova & Harry Turtledove | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "In Memoriam" by William McCahon |
| Windycon XXIII | November 8-10, 1996 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Bill Roper | | Author: Lois McMaster Bujold Artist: Randy Asplund-Faith Science: Christian Ready Fan: Tom & Tara Barber Toastmaster: Barry B. Longyear Super: Julius Schwartz ISFiC Guests: George Alec Effinger & Ricia Mainhardt | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "All Through the House" by C. T. Fluhr |
| Windycon XXIV | November 7-9, 1997 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Ross Pavlac | Scots in Space | Author: David M. Weber Artist: Doug Rice Editor: Charles Ryan Fan: Tim Lane & Elizabeth Garrott Toastmaster: Yale Edeiken ISFiC Guests: Christian Ready | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: Little Girl Lost" by David W. Crawford & Carol Johnson |
| Windycon XXV | November 13-15, 1998 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Rick Waterson | | Author: Allen Steele Artist: Phil Foglio Science: Mitchell Burnside Clapp Editor: Martin H. Greenberg Fan: Marcy & Barry Lyn-Waitsman Silver: Frederik Pohl Toastmaster: Christian Ready | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Grandpa" by Susan L. Wachowski |
| Windycon XXVI | November 12-14, 1999 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Rick Waterson | | Author: Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith Artist: Steven Vincent Johnson Science: Mitchell Burnside Clapp Editor: Martin H. Greenberg Fan: Chaz Boston Baden Special: David Lee Anderson Special Filk: T.J. Burnside-Clapp Special Appearance: David Brin Toastmaster: Barry B. Longyear ISFiC Guests: Christian Ready & Peter David | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Passing Through" by Sharon L. Nelson |
| Windycon XXVII | November 10-12, 2000 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Amy Wenshe | | Author: Terry Brooks Artist: Lubov Editor: Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden Fan: Larry & Sally Smith Toastmaster: Phyllis Eisenstein | |
| Windycon XXVIII | November 9-11, 2001 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Amy Wenshe | | Author: Kevin J. Anderson Artist: David Egge Fan: Dave McCarthy Toastmaster: Jody Lynn Nye & Bill Fawcett ISFiC Guest: David Brin | |
| Windycon XXIX | November 8-10, 2002 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Steven H Silver | A Visit to Newford | Author: Charles de Lint Artist: Lisa Snellings Editor: Shawna McCarthy Fan: Mark & Evelyn C. Leeper Toastmaster: Bob Eggleton | ISFiC Press release: A Walk on the Windy Side CD |
| Windycon XXX | November 7-9, 2003 | Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg, IL | Steven H Silver | Space Station Windycon | Author: Gregory Benford Artist: Vincent Di Fate Science: John G. Cramer Publisher: Tom Doherty Fan: Mark & Lynne Aronson 30th Anniversary: Phyllis Eisenstein | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "True Worth" by John D. Nikitow |
| Windycon 31 | November 12-14, 2004 | Wyndham O'Hare Rosemont, IL | Bonnie Jones | Innerspace | Author: Robert J. Sawyer Artist: Jael Science: Gil Pearson Filk: Barry and Sally Childs-Helton Fan: Dermot Dobson Toastmaster: Christian Ready | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Orbital One" by Chris Krolczyk ISFiC Press release: Relativity by Robert J. Sawyer |
| Windycon 32 | November 11-13, 2005 | Wyndham O'Hare Rosemont, IL | Bonnie Jones | Alternate History | Author: Harry Turtledove Artist: Bill Holbrook Science: Mark Osier Media: Erin Gray & Gil Gerard (Gerard was unable to attend) Filk: Nate & Louie Bucklin Fan: Jim Rittenhouse Toastmaster: Esther Friesner | ISFiC Press release: Every Inch a King by Harry Turtledove |
| Windycon 33 | November 10-12, 2006 | Wyndham O'Hare Rosemont, IL | Pat Sayre McCoy | First Contact | Author: Jack McDevitt Artist: Stephan Martinière Science: Seth Shostak Editor: Jacob Weisman Fan: Mark & Priscilla Olson Toastmaster: Tom Smith | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Ad Alienos" by P. R. Gomez ISFiC Press release: Outbound by Jack McDevitt |
| Windycon 34 | November 9-11, 2007 | Wyndham O'Hare Rosemont, IL | Pat Sayre McCoy | The Worlds of the Others | Author: Tanya Huff Artist: Jody A. Lee Editor: Toni Weisskopf (unable to attend) Media: Richard Hatch Fan: George W. Price Toastmaster: Richard Chwedyk | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Ivan and the Plate of Fried Chicken" by Joe McCauley ISFiC Press release: Finding Magic by Tanya Huff |
| Windycon 35 | November 14-16, 2008 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Rick Waterson | Military SF | Author: John Ringo Artist: David B. Mattingly Military: Ryan Yantis Media: Walter Koenig Fan: Kim Williams Toastmaster: Eric Flint | ISFiC Press release: When Diplomacy Fails edited by Eric Flint & Mike Resnick |
| Windycon 36 | November 13-15, 2009 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Joseph Stockman | Steampunk | Author: James P. Blaylock Artist: Phil & Kaja Foglio Filk: Tom Smith Fan: Christopher J. Garcia Toastmaster: Christian Ready | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Oracle" by John M. Cowan ISFiC Press release: The Shadow on the Doorstep by James P. Blaylock |
| Windycon 37 | November 12-14, 2010 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Joseph Stockman | The Lands of Fae and Back Again | Author: Steven Barnes Artist: Nene Thomas Costuming: Animal X Filk: Tricky Pixie Fan: Jason Schachat Toastmaster: Eric Flint | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Lost and Found" by Mary Mascari ISFiC Press release: Assassin and Other Stories by Steven Barnes |
| Windycon 38 | November 11-13, 2011 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Richard France | The Periodic Table of the Science Fiction Elements | Author: Catherine Asaro Artist: Joe Bergeron Music: Frank Hayes Science: Mike Brotherton Fan: Hugh Daniel Special: Greg Adams Toastmaster: Christian Ready | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "The Pod" by Mary Mascari ISFiC Press release: Aurora in Four Voices by Catherine Asaro |
| Windycon 39 | November 9-11, 2012 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Richard France & Bill Roper | Zombies | Author: Seanan McGuire Artist: Pete Abrams (unable to attend) Music: Amy McNally Gaming: Steve Jackson Fan: Eric S. Raymond | ISFiC Press release: Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire |
| Windycon 40 | November 8-10, 2013 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Bill Roper | The Big Tent | Author: Jim C. Hines Artist: Pete Abrams Music: Michael "Moonwulf" Longcor Costuming: Fyberdyne Laboratories Science: Steve Collins Fan: Bruce Schneier & Karen Cooper | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Windy van Hooten's Was Never Like This" by Liz A. Vogel ISFiC Press release: The Goblin Master's Grimoire by Jim C. Hines |
| Windycon 41 | November 14-16, 2014 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Deb Kosiba | Grimm Tales | Author: A. Lee Martinez Artist: Peri Charlifu Editor: Lou Anders Social Media: SF Squeecast Music: Bill & Brenda Sutton Costuming: Matrices Fan: Lauren Faits Toastmaster: Ursula Vernon | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Under the Hill" by Siobhan Duffy ISFiC Press release: Harvest Season by SF Squeecast |
| Windycon 42 | November 13-15, 2015 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Steven H Silver | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Windycon | Author: Christopher Moore Artist: Chris Moore Gaming: Andy & Kristin Looney Music: Jeff & Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Fan: Maurine Starkey Toastmaster: Mark Oshiro | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Catamount" by M. Arguete ISFiC Press release: Bimbo on the Cover by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff |
| Windycon 43 | November 11-13, 2016 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Daniel Gunderson | King of the Nerds | Author: Adam Selzer Artist: Art Baltazar Costuming: Nerd Circus Music: Ookla the Mok Fan: Bob & Anne Passovoy Toastmaster: Tanya Huff | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "The Furrier" by Siobhan Duffy |
| Windycon 44 | November 10-12, 2017 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Daniel Gunderson | Dystopia | Author: Rudy Rucker Artist: Paul Taylor Science: Holly Wilper Costuming: Tawny Letts Music: Erica Neely Video Game: David Abzug Fan: Judi Miller Toastmaster: Adam English | |
| Windycon 45 | November 9-11, 2018 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Daniel Gunderson & Kerry Kuhn | Unlikely Heroes | Author: Faith Hunter Artist: Galen Dara Costuming: Kevin Roche Music: Jen Midkiff Fan: Bobbi Armbruster Toastmaster: Andrew Trembley | |
| Windycon 46 | November 15-17, 2019 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Kerry Kuhn | Space Opera | Author: Elizabeth Moon Artist: Mitchell Bentley Science/Maker: Geoffrey Landis Gaming: Kenneth Hite Music: The Harp Twins Fan: Chris M. Barkley Toastmaster: Lee Martindale | |
| Breezycon | November 13-15, 2020 | Online | Evan Reeves | | | Online replacement due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| Windycon 47 | November 12-14, 2021 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | Evan Reeves | Urban Fantastic | Author: Carlos Hernandez Artist: Ray van Tilburg Science/Maker: Elizabeth Koprucki Gaming: Kenneth Hite Poetry:C. S. E. Cooney Cosplay: Alex "Galactic Elephant" DeMichael Music: Seanan McGuire Toastmaster: Ada Palmer | |
| Windycon 48 | November 11-13, 2022 | Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lombard, IL | John Donat | Shattering the Glass Ceiling | Author: A. M. Dellamonica Author: Kelly Robson Artist: Lauren Raye Snow Cosplay: Spinneret Music: Lauren Oxford Science: Bill Higgins Toastmaster: Mary Anne Mohanraj | |
| Windycon 49 | November 10-12, 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL | Dana "Star" DeMichael | Adventure Is Out There | Science: April Choi Gaming: Rick Heinz Comic: Trevor Mueller Artist: Logan Rocha Cosplay: Jess Stary Music: Laser Webber Toastmaster: Sean Daeley | ISFiC Writers Contest Winner: "Boxed" by David L. Wyatt Jr. |
| Windycon 50 | November 8-10, 2024 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL | Joseph "Vlad" Stockman & Daniel Gunderson | Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations | |