Dragon*Con

Dragon*Con (now known legally as Dragon Con) is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the world. This massive media convention is held yearly over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. 
==History==
Dragon*Con began in 1987 as an organization of fans who wanted to continue an Atlanta convention after their city hosted WorldCon in 1986. The original co-founders were John BunnellNot to be confused with John C. Bunnell, the Oregon-based writer, filker and fan who (among other activities) served as book columnist for TSR's Dragon Magazine from 1984 through 1996 and was for some years a member of the OryCon convention committee., David Cody, Robert Dennis, Mike Helba, Pat Henry, and Ed Kramer. The name "Dragon*Con" or "DragonCon" was chosen in honor of Kramer's home computer which was a Dragon 64, and his BBS community "The Dragon" which served as a organizing/planning committee forum. 
In 1989, the convention became much bigger with 2,400 members, thanks to hosting Anne McCaffrey. Until 2013Fantasy Literature Track, (Accessed September 30, 2013). the convention maintained a Pern-track (the "tracks" are specialized subjects or areas of interest, each with their own space at the convention) called 'Weyrfest'- making it one of the only conventions to do Dragonriders of Pern programming. In 1990 the con doubled in size, having Tom Clancy as guest and also adding the Atlanta Comic Expo to its attractions. Dragon*Con eventually dropped the Expo from its name, but it's still part of the convention.Dragon*Con History, (Accessed September 30, 2013). From there, the con kept growing year by year, with the organizers planning for a 15% increase in membership each year. Now it's one of the bigger media conventions in America, frequently mentioned in the same breath as San Diego Comic-Con. Attendance in 2012 was over 52,000Dragon*Con History, (Accessed September 30, 2013), and hit a record 85,000+ in 2019Dragon Con Breaks Attendance Record, (Accessed February 15, 2024) immediately prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. 
In August 2000, Kramer was arrested and charged with multiple counts of pedophilia. "Kramer was arrested on August 25, 2000 following an anonymous tip, and charged with inappropriately touching and performing oral sex on three young boys." -- Ed Kramer at Fancyclopedia As reported in Locus (http://www.locusmag.com/2000/News/News09Log.html): "On Sept. 15 HWA President S.P. Somtow distributed an e-mail letter to fellow members urging calm and presumption of innocence, especially considering the potential for the horror or gothic communities to be put on trial, misunderstood and blamed for various societal ills. A principal piece of evidence is apparently a low-budget, straight-to-Internet horror video (directed by Kramer, co-written with Brad Linaweaver, and with music by Somtow) called Terror at Tate Manor, "in which a kid, in underwear, flees in terror from a nude woman for fear of being seduced" (Somtow); the film can be viewed online." -- Somtow has left for Thailand, from rec.arts.sf.fandom (September 22, 2000) During that time, Kramer engaged in numerous procedural delays to avoid standing trial; meanwhile continuing to sexually abuse teenage boys in his home while supposedly under house arrest. "Kramer's tried to serve his pre-trial detention in house arrest, but he was put in prison after a week, reportedly because of a visit by a teenage boy. Kramer suffered a spinal injury in jail, and was allowed to go back to house arrest in January 2001; he stated at home til 2008, when his travel ban was lifted, although he was not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18." -- Ed Kramer at Fancyclopedia He was found to have used profits from Dragon*Con to fund his legal defense. Rich Johnston, "Edward Kramer, Dragon Con And The Apologies Due To Nancy A Collins." Bleeding Cool, media review online magazine, December 3, 2013. It was then, that original convention founders were finally able to break all connections with Kramer and start fresh with a new name (Dragon Con instead of Dragon*Con or DragonCon), ensuring that profits would no longer go to Kramer. Aja Romano, Dragon Con finally severs connection to alleged pedophile. Daily Dot, July 8, 2013.
 In this merger, Dragon Con, Inc., replaces the old company, Dragon*Con/ACE Inc. Pat Henry and four other shareholders exchanged their shares in the old company for 100 percent of the shares in the new company. Ed Kramer, the remaining minority shareholder in the old company, was cashed out. Dragon*Con/ACE Inc. no longer exists.
As a consequence of this merger, Mr. Kramer no longer has any interest, financial or otherwise, in Dragon Con.Jill Pantozzi, UPDATED: Dragon*Con Officially Separates From Founder, Accused Molester, Ed Kramer. The Mary Sue, July 8, 2013.
==Programming==
The largest single section of Dragon*Con programming consists of the fan tracks, each of which has a dedicated room and is organized by a separate team of volunteers. Some tracks are devoted to single shows or franchises, such as the Trek track and the Stargate: Multiverse track. Other tracks cover broader genres, for instance American Sci-Fi Classics, Horror, or Video Games. There are sometimes more specialized tracks with topics that pertain to that year's particular guests. There are also tracks geared towards professionals, including writers, artists, and film-makers. Many of the artist and writer guests are on panels that give advice to budding professionals, and a lot of the artists have hours in the Artist's Alley where they make themselves available to con members. Because of the way the tracks are organized, each track is almost like a mini-convention in itself, with continuous programming from morning to evening.
Another big focus of the convention is gaming. There are organized tournaments for card games, and a huge open gaming area. The convention's Exhibition Hall, where companies display or debut new products, can be heavily skewed toward new gaming products. Several popular games, such as Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, have given away special Dragon*Con cards, made for and distributed exclusively to con members. The gaming tournaments and panels have grown to the point that gaming now has its own program guide.
Apart from all the usual fannish attractions, the night life at Dragon*Con is extensive and goes on, quite literally, all night. In the bigger venues, panels start giving way to bands in the evening hours, and there are dozens of room parties of varying sizes every night. The 2013 version of the website states that "We will again offer late-night DJ'd dances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, beginning after the last concert and lasting until dawn."Live Performances and DJs, (Accessed September 30, 2013).. There's also all-night filking.Live Performances and DJs, (Accessed September 30, 2013).
At the annual Dragon Awards, which began in 2016,[Wikipedia:Dragon Awards|Dragon Awards] on Wikipedia fans can nominate and vote to "recognize excellence in all things Science Fiction and Fantasy."The Dragon Award Nominations, retrieved May 2019
==Notable Events==
Beginning in 2002, the convention began to host a yearly parade down Peachtree Street. In recent years--with 1,800 participants in 2011 and 3,000 in 2012--it's grown to become the largest parade in the city of Atlanta.Dragon*Con History, (Accessed September 30, 2013).
In 2009, the cast and crew of Battlestar Galactica (2003) were presented with So Say We All, collection of fan essays and thank you notes. "So Say We All" @ DragonCon '09 by Grant Gould, 2009-09-07
==Controversies==
One of Dragon*Con's six original board of directors, Ed Kramer, was indicted for sexual child abuse at cons and in the science fiction community.
==Con Reports==
===1992===
===1995===
 
===1997===
"If it had been left up to Ed Kramer and DragonCon, odds are we'd have been hurt or dead before Sunday." - Mercedes Lackey, "The Dragoncon Report"
* (June 30, 1997)
* , (June 24, 1997)
* Thoughts on the whole Mercedes Lackey thing (June 1997)
* Mercedes Lackey - "The Dragoncon Report" (July 1997)
* by Ray Radlein (July 1997)
* Pushy Pros and Plush Ones, comment by Laura Burchard (October 9, 1999)
* The Last Straw, a rant by Mercedes Lackey (1997)
===1998 ===
A 1998 con report: 
===1999 ===
* Dragon*Con 1999 Report by Mike Helba
* Dragon*Con 1999 by Peter David
===2000 ===
The convention was cancelled in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic. A virtual event was organized in its place on the original dates.
* Dragon*Con 2000 Report by Mike Helba
===2001 ===
The convention re-opened in 2021 but was limited to only 40,000 attendees. Badges were sold only online and not on-site. Indoor masks were mandatory and the Dragon Con parade was limited to badge-holders. Proof of vaccination or a negative test from within the past 72 hours was required.
* Dragon*Con 2001 Report by Jack Bennett
* by Peter David
===2002 ===
* Day One: 
* Day Two: 
* Day Three: 
* Finale: 
* Photos: 
* Dragon*Con 2002 Report by Jack Bennett
===2003===
* Dragon*Con 2003 Report by Jack Bennett
* 
==Program Books==
Image:dragoncon2001.jpg|2001 Program Book
Image:dragoncon2010.jpg|2010 Program Book
Image:dragoncon2011.jpg|2011 Program Book
==Notes & References==
===Notes===
===References===
Category:Science Fiction Conventions
Category:1980s ConventionsCategory:1990s ConventionsCategory:2000s ConventionsCategory:2010s ConventionsCategory:Conventions in United States