MisCon 39 Home
Trust is hard to come by these days, but at least MisCon 38’s dark forest is finally gone. That cybernetic raccoon’s diabolical plan seems to have worked: between the Empire’s orbital weapons, Howl’s banishment spells, and Van Hohenheim’s alchemy, the fairy portals closed and the trees dwindled into sparkly dust and withered leaves.
We should have learned our lesson about bargaining with strange powers, I suppose, but we had to get rid of the fairies somehow, didn’t we? Our seers, scientists, and sages sent a distress call across the multiverse, never imagining it would draw the interest of so many scavengers.
Word got out that there’s something special about MisCon, and it seems like every pirate, mercenary, and Ravager is showing up to claim it.
Is it literal treasure? Magic? A holocron? Is it just a feeling?
I don’t know, but Deadpool seems to think I do.
Of course the Empire was quick to send in a fleet to try and blockade the convention and secure it for themselves. At least their checkpoints are pretty easy to bypass, or so Andor says.
Just yesterday a fleet of pirate ships docked in the Clark Fork River, and now we’re overrun with salty sea dogs looking for fun.
If you ask me, they’re no worse than the space pirates who landed pretending to be honest traders. That Firefly class ship doesn’t look very solid, but the crew seems nice enough (except for the big guy in the ugly orange hat).
This year let’s take a look at heroes and villains, but let’s focus on the many shades of gray in between. On one hand we’ve got good-hearted criminals with hearts of gold like Han Solo, Korben Dallas, Jack Sparrow, Starlord, Yondu, Aladdin, Madmartigan, and Arya Stark.
On the other hand, let’s also consider more hard-hearted rogues like William Butcher from the Boys, Littlefinger, Jarlaxle, Harley Quinn, Mystique, Jinx, and Catwoman.
What about Loki? Peter Venkman? Mat Cauthon? Robin Hood? Jack Burton?
While you’re working on costumes, panel ideas, and game scenarios, think about scoundrels, rogues, pirates, smugglers, anti-heroes, and international spies. Maybe watch Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Suicide Squad, and read some Song of Ice and Fire to get in the mood. We’re thinking of a gritty place where smugglers and spies have hearts of gold yet might turn you over to Vader if it makes sense to them.
Join us at MisCon 39: Hive of Scum and Villainy. Sip a few drinks in the Dungeon, and dance the night away at the Nerd Prom.
MisCon 39 Guests of Honor
Patrick Swenson is the author of The Ultra Long Goodbye, the 3rd book in the Union of Worlds trilogy. He's the author of the dark fantasy Rain Music, the editor and publisher of Fairwood Press (www.fairwoodpress.com), and a graduate of Clarion West. He's sold short fiction to Unavowed, Unfettered III, Unbound II, Gunfight on Europa Station, Seasons Between Us, and others. He's the director of the Rainforest Writers Village, a retreat in the PNW (rainforestwriters.com). He taught high school for 39 years and now spends his work time on the press and writing.
Fairwood has published over 130 titles of science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, as well as occasional SF mysteries.
About Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press
Andy VanOverberghe (an-dee van o-ver-berg) is a creator focusing in animation arts and fine art illustration on wood and stone. His work provokes imagination through the exploration of science fiction, philosophy, psychology, nature, spirituality, the cosmos, geometry, anatomy, and the world observed.
About Andy VanOverberghe
Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times best-selling author, five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, anthology editor, comic book writer, executive producer, magazine feature writer, playwright, and writing teacher/lecturer.
His works include the V-Wars vampire series (adapted for Netflix), the Rot & Ruin YA series, the Kagan the Damned series, the Joe Ledger thrillers, sf thriller Necrotek, and the Pine Deep horror trilogy among others. He's written for The X-Files and Star Wars, and edited anthologies for Aliens, Predator, The Walking Dead, and more.
About Jonathan Maberry
Academy Award winning sound engineer Doug Hemphill's film career has spanned 46 years and over 190 films including standouts like Batman Begins, the Dark Knight, Bladerunner ( and Bladerunner 2049), 7 X-Men films, Star Trek 4 & 5, TMNT, National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation, I Robot, Scent of a Woman, and a few Planet of the Apes films.
He won Academy Awards for Best Sound on "The Last of the Mohicans" and Dune Parts 1 and 2, and was nominated in 8 other films.
He began as a Mix Recordist on "Apocalypse Now (1979), and continued working for Francis Ford Coppola through the release of "Rumble Fish (1983), after which he moved to Southern California, where he did field recordings for
About Doug Hemphill
A PNW native and local “Con-Mom”, Momma Sammu has been attending nerdy conventions their whole life thanks to their Con Staffer parents. After cosplaying for the first time at an anime convention in 2006, they were hooked on the hobby; loving the chance to embody their favorite characters and make friends while doing it. Over the years Sammu has combined cosplay with their love of theater to win over a dozen Master level Performance and Craftsmanship awards at cons across the country and abroad; specializing in corsetry, ballgowns, and being EXTRA.
Photo by Mahou Photo
About Momma Sammu
MisCon 39 Featured Professionals
Diana Pharaoh Francis is the USA Today and Amazon Bestselling writer of fantastical, adventurous, and often romantic fiction. She holds a Ph.D. in Victorian literature and literary theory. She’s owned by a corgi, a mini blue heeler, and a blue-eyed corgi mix. She spends much of her time gardening, airbrush painting, herding children, and avoiding housework. She likes rocks, geocaching, horses, knotting up yarn, and has a thing for 1800s England, especially the Victorians.
For more about her books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.dianapfrancis.com or on her other social media pages
About Diana Pharaoh Francis (Di)
Jeff is a northwest artist known for his beautiful award winning metal paintings usually involving space in one form or another. Jeff is also known for beautiful landscapes.
Jeff paints primarily with acrylics on either textured metal or canvas and his work has appeared on many book and magazine covers. Jeff is a guest and has been an AGOH at numerous cons around the country. Jeff is a member of the IAAA, the International Astronomical Artists Association.
Jeff's work has won numerous awards over the years but he's most proud of his Best of Show at NASFIC 2005, Judges Choice and 2 Childrens Choice awards LAcon4 WorldSF Con 2006 and a Judges Choice and Peoples Choice Best of Show Devent...
About Jeff Sturgeon
Todd Lockwood is an illustrator and author, whose work has appeared on NY Times best-selling novels, magazines, video games, collectible card games, and fantasy role-playing games. It has been honored with multiple appearances in Spectrum and the Communication Arts Illustration Annual, and with numerous industry awards. Always known for the narrative power of his paintings, Todd's debut novel, "The Summer Dragon" was released by DAW Books to rave reviews, named by B&N and Amazon both on their shortlist of "Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels of the Year." View his art at http://www.toddlockwood.com or get chummy at https://www.facebook.com/artoftoddlockwood
About Todd Lockwood
Jim Wright is a retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer and freelance writer. He lives in Florida where he watches American politics in a perpetual state of amused disgust. He's been called the Tool of Satan, but he prefers the title: Satan's Designated Driver. He is the mind behind Stonekettle Station. You can follow him on Twitter @stonekettle, or you can join the boisterous bunch he hosts on Facebook at Facebook/Stonekettle. Remember to bring brownies and mind the white cat, he bites. Hard.
About Jim Wright (Stonekettle)
Steven K. Smith, also known online as SKS Props, is an award-winning artist, fabricator, and owner of SKS Prop and Costume Supply. While he makes and sells professional-grade cosplay props and replica costumes, his goal is to teach people the techniques and fundamentals they need to create their own props and costumes.
Steve has uploaded over 200 instructional cosplay and prop videos to his Youtube channel, SKS Props, and is active in various Facebook cosplay communities.
About Steven K Smith (SKS Props)
Check out all the speakers coming to MisCon 39.
