# ConFusion

    For the 2021 Eastercon called ConFusion see the 2021 Eastercon
ConFusion is an annual science fiction convention founded in 1974 by a University of Michigan science fiction club known as the Stilyagi Air Corps, and is currently run by the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association, a not-for-profit group. Typically, it is held during the third weekend of January. It is one of the oldest science fiction conventions in Michigan. ConFusion is a regional, general science fiction convention similar to Windycon and Lunacon. The programming consists of panels on science fiction and fantasy, literature, media, science, fandom, art, comics, music, costuming, etc. with discussions by authors, scientists, fans, and artists. There is a large music track, board games and roleplaying games, KidFusion — a track of programming specifically for kids —and a masquerade or costume contest.
ConFusion has a consuite, as well as room parties hosted by other conventions, WorldCon bids, and local clubs.

## History

The Ann Arbor Relax-i-con was founded in 1974. Based on its success, the Stilyagi Air Corps named the new convention Condom as a takeoff of the word fandom. The chairman, Ro Nagey, was absent for the meeting about the name change and convinced them to use the name ConFusion instead. The name turned out to be prophetic as the first science Guest of Honor was the owner of local technology spin-off company KMS Fusion.
Because the first convention run by the organization was not actually named ConFusion, they are generally counted starting with ConFusion 13 in 1975 or with the A Squared Relax-I-Con (one of many intentionally confusing names voted on by the membership). The 1980 convention was aptly named Confusion 6 &/or 7, and ConFusion XXX in 2004 could be considered the 30th convention of that name, or 31st Stilyagi convention.
The Stilyagi Air Corps, named after a group in Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, is a loose, informal group. Lifetime membership is free for anyone interested in science fiction who attends a single Stilyagi party, meeting, or event. The sponsoring organization, AASFA, is a Michigan nonprofit corporation board elected from Stilyagi who have volunteered to work on running ConFusion.

## 2024 Event

The 2024 event, titled Labyrinth of ConFusion was held on January 19 - 21 at the Novi Sheraton in Michigan. The notable panelists included Mark Oshiro, Kurt Erichsen BluRaven C. Houvener. Authors included Kelley Skovron, A. L. DeLeon, Marie Vibbert and Jordan Kurella.
Events included authors and experts in fields such as Dungeons and Dragons, neurodiversity, climate change, and NASA's plans to visit asteroids. A panel on Artificial intelligence was held. There was a screening of a Sci-fi fan created film from 1978 called FAANs. Many authors participated in book readings and book signings. Masquerade (pictured to the right) is always a popular event with judges naming the top three winners in each category. A flash fiction session was held where authors created short fiction stories in a limited time span, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.
Steph C. was the Young Adult Guest of Honor.

## 2023 Event

The 2023 event titled Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion featured authors and speakers Chris Barkley, Kathe Koja, Jacob Pauwels, and Kat Malokofsky.
* ConFusion Panel 2023
* Catherine Stein
* Storm Humbert
* Patrick Tomlinson

## Years of ConFusion

ConFusion has been active from 1974 until present. The table below lists the year, name and Guests of Honor (GOHs) for each convention.
| Year | Name | Pro | Fan | Artist | Scientist | Wild Card | Special Guest | Chair |
| 1974 | A2 Relax-I-Con | Lloyd Biggle Jr. | Howard DeVore | | | | | Ro Nagey |
| 1975 | ConFusion 13 | Frederik Pohl | Mike Glicksohn | | | | | Ro Nagey |
| 1976 | ConFusion 12 | Lloyd Biggle Jr. | Bill Bowers | | | | | Ro Nagey |
| 1977 | ConFusion 14 | Poul Anderson | Ro Nagey | | | | | Zita Kutkus Larry Ward |
| 1978 | ConFusion π | Kate Wilhelm | Jackie Causgrove | | | | | Larry Tucker |
| 1979 | E/c2 ConFusion (Mass ConFusion) | Spider Robinson Jeanne Robinson | Scott Imes | | | | | Dave Innes Larry Tucker |
| 1980 | ConFusion 6 and/or 7 | Stanley Schmidt | Elliott Shorter | | | | | Dave Innes Larry Tucker |
| 1981 | Nine Billion Names of ConFusion | Barry B. Longyear | Dave Innes | | | | | Nancy Tucker |
| 1982 | ConFusion 11 | Phyllis Eisenstein | Neil Rest | | | | | Nancy Tucker |
| 1983 | ConFusion 101 | C. J. Cherryh | Bill Cavin | | | | | Tara Edwards |
| 1984 | Genuine ConFusion | Mike Resnick | Martha Beck | | | | | Nancy Tucker |
| 1985 | Decadent ConFusion | Alan Dean Foster | Julia Ecklar | | | | | Michelle Smith-Moore |
| 1986 | Perpetual ConFusion | Somtow Sucharitkul | Bill Roper | Frank Kelly Freas | | | | Tom Barber |
| 1987 | Stark Raving ConFusion | Katherine Kurtz | Elizabeth 'Liz' Pearce | Erin McKee | | | | Nancy Farmer |
| 1988 | Ambulatory ConFusion | Joe Haldeman | Larry Tucker | David Cherry | | | | Nancy Farmer |
| 1989 | ConFusion 102 | Barbara Hambly | Ted Reynolds | Linda Michaels | | | | Tara Barber |
| 1990 | State of ConFusion | Hal Clement | Michelle Smith-Moore Garth Barbour | Kevin Davies | | | | Erik Kauppi |
| 1991 | Immaculate ConFusion | Esther Friesner | Somtow Sucharitkul | Robin Wood | | | | Erik Kauppi |
| 1992 | Hardwired ConFusion | Walter Jon Williams | Rusty Hevelin | Rick Lieder | | | | Roberta Kennedy John Woudstra |
| 1993 | Transcendental ConFusion | Fred Saberhagen | Pat Sims Roger Sims | Randy Asplund | | | | Greg Cronau |
| 1994 | ConFusion XX | Joan D. Vinge | Leah Zeldes Smith | Erin McKee | | | | Barb Daoust Carolyn Westbrooks Jeff Westbrook |
| 1995 | ConFusion 10101 | Pamela Sargent | Wilson "Bob" Tucker | Laura Butler | Geoffrey A. Landis | | | Karen Roe Dennis Tabaczewski |
| 1996 | Deviant ConFusion | Tim Powers | Melody Faith | Bob Eggleton | Geoffrey A. Landis | | | Barb Daoust Jeff Westbrook |
| 1997 | ConFusion-17 | Samuel R. Delany | Joey Shoji | Susan Van Camp | Mark Shappirio | | | Katherine Becker |
| 1998 | ConFusion of the Winnebagos | Connie Willis | Mary Ellen Wessels | Jane Irwin | Marvin Minsky | | | Katherine Becker Dennis Tabaczewski |
| 1999 | Vintage ConFusion | Lois McMaster Bujold | Nancy Tucker Shaw | Douglas Chaffee | Carl Djerassi | | | Katherine Becker |
| 2000 | ConFusion 19100 | Maureen F. McHugh | Dennis Tabaczewski | Frank Hayes | Eric S. Raymond | | | Tracy Worcester |
| 2001 | Mystery God ConFusion | Sarah Zettel | Tom Barber | Carla Speed McNeil | Bruce Schneier | | | Tammy Coxen |
| 2002 | Astronomical ConFusion | George R. R. Martin | Heather Alexander | Pete Abrams | Br. Guy Consolmagno | | | Tammy Coxen |
| 2003 | ConFusion and Her Friends | Melissa Scott | Roberta Kennedy | Alan M. Clark | Jack Cohen | | | Tammy Coxen |
| 2004 | ConFusion XXX | Bruce Sterling | Geri Sullivan | Julie Bell | Ron Westrum | | | Anne Gray |
| 2005 | 31 Flavors of ConFusion | Emma Bull Will Shetterly | David G. Hartwell Kathryn Cramer | Derek Grime | Christian Ready | Steven Brust (Toastmaster) | | Anne Gray |
| 2006 | Synthetic ConFusion | Vernor Vinge | Chuck Firment | Steven Stiles | Mitchell Burnside Clapp | | | Krysta December |
| 2007 | MoonBase ConFusion | Elizabeth Moon | Bill Higgins | Steve MacDonald | Paul "PZ" Myers | | | Roxanne King |
| 2008 | High-Voltage ConFusion | Justine Larbalestier Scott Westerfeld | The Roving Pirate Party | Carl Lundgren | Kevin M. Dunn | Throwing Toasters (Music GoH) | | Brendan Durrett |
| 2009 | Cryptic ConFusion | Cat Rambo | Freon Michael Andaluz | Diana Harlan Stein | Elizabeth Turtle Ralph D. Lorenz | Cory Doctorow (Cryptic GoH) | | Anne Gray |
| 2010 | I See By My ConFusion | Peter S. Beagle Catherynne Valente | David Gibbs | Matt Busch | Steve Collins | S. J. Tucker (Filk GoH) | Robert R. McCammon | Jessica Zerwas |
| 2011 | This ConFusion Is Not Yet Rated | Cherie Priest | Lisa Garrison | | Aubrey de Grey | Paolo Bacigalupi (Pro GoH) | Peter V. Brett | Brian Decker |
| 2012 | Epic ConFusion | Patrick Rothfuss | Tom Smith | | Harley Thronson | Roxanne Meida King (Special GoH) | Peter V. Brett Joe Abercrombie Brent Weeks Robin Hobb | Brian Decker |
| 2013 | Immortal ConFusion | Charles Stross | James Davis Nicoll | Scott Edelman (Editor GoH) | Jennifer Ouellette | Mary Robinette Kowal (Special GoH) | Alastair Reynolds Kat Howard Maria Dahvana Headley | Lucy Kennedy |
| 2014 | Legendary ConFusion | Mike Carey | Mark Bernstien | Rich Morris | Ian Tregillis | Adam Matianazzi (S2 Games) | Jacqueline Carey | Ryan Carey |
| 2015 | Back to the ConFusion | Karen Lord | Aaron Thul | Heather Dale (Music GoH) | Cynthia Chestek | Monte Cook Shanna Germain (Gaming GoHs) | Steven Erikson Ted Chiang Joe Abercrombie | Dave Klecha |
| 2016 | Life, the Universe, and ConFusion | Alaya Dawn Johnson | Jessica Drummer | Gordon Smith (Media GoH) | Kentaro Toyama | | Ann Leckie Kelley Armstrong Cameron McClure | Anna Carey |
| 2017 | Friendship is ConFusion | Gail Carriger | Mark Oshiro | Jeffrey Alan Love | Karen Burnham | Mallory O'Meara (Media GoH) | James S. A. Corey Joe Hill Gillian Redfern | Anna Carey |
| 2018 | ConFusion Through the Looking Glass | Kate Elliott | Nisi Shawl | Luke Ski (Comedy GoH) | Annalee Newitz | James Breakwell (Media GoH) | Jim Butcher Gail Cross | Amy Sexsmith |
| 2019 | Storming the Confusion | Ada Palmer | David Stein | | Dr. Jennifer Piatek | | Joe Lansdale Lewis Shiner | Amy Sexsmith |
| 2020 | How to Train Your ConFusion | Kameron Hurley | Bogi Takacs | Brandon O'Brien (Creative GoH) | Dr. Julie Lesnik | | Seanan McGuire Gwenda Bond | Lithie Dubois |
| 2021 | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | Rising Confusion | Jim C. Hines | Anna Carey | Rachel Quinlan (Artist) | Dr. Jordan Steckloff | Doselle Young (Comics/Creative Arts) | | Lithie Dubois |
| 2023 | Avatar: The Legend of ConFusion | | Chris Barkley | Kathe Koja (Creative) | | Jacob Pauwels (Media) | | Kat Malokofsky |
| 2024 | Labyrinth of ConFusion | Mark Oshiro | Kurt Erichsen | BluRaven C. Houvener | | | Steph C (Young Adult Guest of Honor) | Chelle Green |
| 2025 | Monumental ConFusion | Jim C. Hines | Kurt Erichsen | Stephen Leigh | | | | AASFA Board |
| Year | Name | Pro | Fan | Artist | Scientist | Wild Card | Special Guest | Chair |