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| Readercon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Readercon |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, literature |
| Venue | Varies (Greater Boston area) |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| First | 1987 |
| Organizer | Non-profit volunteer organization |
| Filing | Non-profit |
Readercon
Readercon is an annual literary convention focused on speculative fiction hosted in the Greater Boston area. It emphasizes short fiction, panels, readings, and critical discourse, attracting writers, editors, critics, and fans from across the United States and internationally. The convention has featured a broad array of participants connected to magazines, presses, awards, and academic programs, establishing ties to major venues and institutions in the science fiction and fantasy fields.
Founded in 1987 in the Boston area, the convention grew alongside the post-New Wave and small-press movements associated with publications such as The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Interzone, and Clarkesworld Magazine. Early organizers included figures active in the World Fantasy Convention circuit and regional cons like Boskone and Arisia (convention), while programming reflected scholarship linked to journals such as Science Fiction Studies, Extrapolation, and Foundation (journal). Readercon developed connections with small presses and imprints like Tachyon Publications, Prime Books, Small Beer Press, Night Shade Books, and Subterranean Press, mirroring trends visible at events such as Worldcon and Eurocon. Over time the convention has been shaped by interactions with award institutions including the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, and Philip K. Dick Award, and by critical voices associated with projects at MIT, Harvard University, Boston University, and Northeastern University.
Readercon is run by a volunteer board and committee structure reminiscent of other regional conventions such as Albacon and Penguicon, with logistical partnerships involving hotel chains and local hospitality providers like Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Marriott International. Programming comprises panels, readings, workshops, and roundtables that have included editors from Tor Books, Gollancz, Orbit, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. Panels often feature critics, historians, and scholars associated with entities like University of California Press, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and research centers including SFRA (Science Fiction Research Association). Workshops and readings have been led by authors published by Tor.com Publishing, Orbit, Angry Robot, and literary magazines such as Granta, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic (magazine), reflecting crossovers with mainstream literary culture. Programming has examined intersections involving creators linked to franchises such as Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and writers connected to comic publishers including Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
Readercon has hosted numerous Guests of Honor and notable participants drawn from the ranks of distinguished authors, editors, critics, and scholars. Prominent authors who have appeared include Ursula K. Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, Kelly Link, Pamela Sargent, George R. R. Martin, Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, Connie Willis, Gene Wolfe, Harlan Ellison, Michael Swanwick, Samuel R. Delany, Joanna Russ, Nancy Kress, N. K. Jemisin, Elizabeth Bear, China Miéville, Alastair Reynolds, Catherine M. Valente, Kij Johnson, Jo Walton, Jeff VanderMeer, Martha Wells, Ian McDonald (novelist), Vonda N. McIntyre, Robert Silverberg, Anthony Burgess, Stephen King, John Crowley, R.A. Lafferty, Catherynne M. Valente, James Patrick Kelly, Eileen Gunn, Richard K. Morgan, Mary Rosenblum, Peter S. Beagle, Samuel R. Delany, Gardner Dozois, Jonathan Strahan, Gardner Dozois, Rich Horton, and editors associated with Gardner Dozois’s themed anthologies. Critics and scholars at Readercon have included contributors linked to Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, University of Chicago, and University of Cambridge.
The convention foregrounds short fiction and has been connected to discussions of major awards including the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, World Fantasy Award, Otherwise Award, Locus Award, Philip K. Dick Award, and James Tiptree Jr. Award. Panels and readings often feature nominees and winners from these prizes, as well as contributors to anthologies from The Year's Best Science Fiction series, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, and year’s-best volumes edited by figures like Gardner Dozois, Rich Horton, and Jonathan Strahan. Small-press activity at Readercon has intersected with publications from PS Publishing, Fairwood Press, Lethe Press, Hippocampus Press, and academic presses including Routledge and Springer, while fanzines and semi-pro magazines connected to the convention echo traditions of Fanzine culture and award circuits.
Typically held in July, the convention convenes at hotel venues in Boston and surrounding municipalities, paralleling site choices used by Worldcon bids and regional conventions such as Boskone and Noreascon. Attendance skews toward professionals, scholars, and dedicated readers rather than general fandom, with numbers smaller than mega-cons like San Diego Comic-Con International or Dragon Con but comparable to literary-focused gatherings such as Picocon and Nine Worlds. Venues have included well-known hotels used by conventions, attracting attendees who also participate in events at Boston Public Library, Museum of Science (Boston), and nearby universities.
Readercon occupies a niche within the speculative fiction ecosystem, influencing short-fiction culture and critical discourse in ways resonant with institutions such as Science Fiction Studies, SFRA, and The Center for the Study of Science Fiction (University of Kansas). Its alumni and participants intersect with publishing houses, award committees, academic departments, and media outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Locus (magazine), shaping conversations about genre boundaries, literary quality, and market trends that connect to major franchises and creators across film and television industries. The convention’s emphasis on literary short fiction continues to inform editors, writers, and scholars active in contemporary speculative fiction scenes.
Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States