History
In the oft’ told story of the birthing of Norwescon, it is noted that Norwescon grew out the desire of the founders to host a Worldcon. The cry of “Seattle in ’81!” was heard through out northwest fandom. A goal was established, but there was just one very major stumbling block: Most of these dreamers had very little experience in con running.
In an effort to remedy this deficiency they put together Norwescon “to get some practice”. Realizing the task was a large one, they also started the Northwest Science Fiction Society, also known as NWSFS (thus sparking the great “NOOS-fuss” vs. “Nizz-Fizz” debates) to help gather a group of people to draw volunteers from. Thus was born Norwescon.
The first Norwescon was held at the Holiday Inn in what was then the unincorporated area known as Sea-Tac. It was a success, featuring Theodore Sturgeon and drawing just over 400 attendees. The next year Norwescon moved to the Hyatt House, the site of the only Seattle-sponsored Worldcon. The Hyatt was the site of Norwescon II through VII. Feeling the pressures of growth, the convention moved to what was then the SeaTac Red Lion Inn.
With growth came problems and after two years at the Red Lion, Norwescon was forced to find new location on rather short notice. The convention moved back to the familiar confines of the Hyatt House for a convention named Alternacon. The next year brought a big move south to Tacoma, where the Sheraton hosted Norwescon for five years. 1993 brought the convention back to the Seattle area–well, Bellevue actually–and in 1994, back to the Red Lion Inn in SeaTac, now known as the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport, where it has stayed to this day.
Norwescon’s list of Guests of Honor has grown over the years. Starting with a list of three (A Guest of Honor, Fan Guest of Honor, and a Toastmaster), we now include artists, scientists, special guests, and spotlighted publishers. Norwescon has always made an effort to invite guests deserving of being honored and has thus had a prestigious parade of guests.
Honors are also bestowed on the winner of the Philip K. Dick Award, given annually to the author of the best original novel appearing in paperback form without prior publication as a hardback. The first time the P. K. Dick Award was presented at Norwescon was at Norwescon VII in 1983, to Tim Powers for Annubis Gate.
While each of the following years links to a public photo collection, many of the earlier years (especially Norwescon 25 and earlier) are currently empty. If you have photos that you would like to share, you can either add them to the appropriate Flickr group, or you can simply contact our Webmonkeys through our contact page and let us know that you have images to share.
Norwescon I: March 25-26, 1978
Holiday Inn, Sea-Tac
Chair: Greg Bennett
Guest of Honor: Thodore Sturgeon
Fan Guest of Honor: John Berry
Toastmaster: Alan E. Nourse
Attendance: 415
Photos
Norwescon II: March 23-25, 1979
Hyatt House, Sea-Tac
Chair: Greg Bennett
Guest of Honor: Philip Jose Farmer
Fan Guest of Honor: Loren Mac Gregor
Toastmaster: Elizabeth A. Lynn
Attendance: 725
Photos
Norwescon III: March 28-30, 1980
Hyatt House, Sea-Tac
Chair: Stephen T. Bard
Guest of Honor: Alfred Bester
Fan Guest of Honor: Fred Pohl
Toastmaster: Theodore Sturgeon
Attendance: 732
Photos
Norwescon IV: March 27-29, 1981
Hyatt House, Sea-Tac
Chair: Stephen T. Bard
Guest of Honor: Samuel R. Delany
Fan Guests of Honor: Jack, Pauline, and Tilda Palmer
Toastmaster: Philip Klass (William Tenn)
Attendance: 1410
Photos
Norwescon V: March 18-21, 1982
Hyatt House, Sea-Tac
Chair: Richard Wright
Guest of Honor: Thomas Disch
Artist Guest of Honor: Michael Whelan
Fan Guest of Honor: Bob Shaw
Toastmaster: Richard A. Lupoff
Attendance: 1371
Photos
Video
Norwescon VI: March 17-20, 1983
Hyatt Hotel, Sea-Tac
Chair: Richard Wright
Guest of Honor: Jack Williamson
Artist Guest of Honor: Richard Powers
Fan Guest of Honor: Art Widner
Toastmaster: Algis Budrys
Attendance: (unrecorded)
Photos
Video
Official
Fan/Media
Masquerade: Sorceress
Norwescon VII: March 22-25, 1984
Hyatt Hotel, Sea-Tac
Chair: Richard Wright
Guests of Honor: L. Sprague and Catherine Crook De Camp
Artist Guest of Honor: Don Maitz
Fan Guest of Honor: Jack Speer
Toastmaster: Marta Randall
Attendance: ~1700
Photos
Video
Official
Fan/Media
Masquerade: Funny Science Fiction Convention Singer, Tamera, Sirius the Dog Star
Norwescon VIII: March 14-17, 1985
Red Lion Inn, Sea-Tac
Chair: Richard Wright
Guest of Honor: Brian Aldiss
Artist Guest of Honor: Jack Gaughan (Did Not Attend)
Fan Guest of Honor: Rich Brown
Toastmaster: Robert Silverberg
Science Guest of Honor: Gregory Benford
Attendance: (unrecorded)
Photos
Video
Official
Fan/Media
Media Coverage from KOMO4 News
Norwescon IX: March 20-23, 1986
Red Lion Inn, Sea-Tac
Chair: Robert Suryan
Guest of Honor: Anne McCaffrey
Artist Guest of Honor: Kelly Freas
Fan Guest of Honor: Greg Bennett
Toastmaster: Spider Robinson
Science Guest of Honor: James Oberg
Attendance: (unrecorded but “HUGE”, unofficial estimates at ~3,000)
Photos
Video
Alternacon: March 26-29, 1987
Hyatt Hotel, Sea-Tac
Chair: Robert Suryan
Guest of Honor: Orson Scott Card
Artist Guest of Honor: Dan Reeder
Fan Guests of Honor: Marty and Robbie Cantor
Toastmaster: David Hartwell
Attendance: <1700
Photos
Video
Norwescon X: March 24-27, 1988
Sheraton, Tacoma
Chair: Robert P. Suryan
Guest of Honor: Marion Zimmer Bradley
Artist Guest of Honor: Rick Sternbach
Fan Guest of Honor: Jon Gustafson
Toastmaster: David Gerrold
Special Guest of Honor: Avram Davidson
Attendance: 2032
Photos
Video
Masquerade: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 or as a single video.
Norwescon XI: March 23-26, 1989
Sheraton, Tacoma
Chair: Elizabeth Warren
Guest of Honor: Algis J. Budrys
Artist Guest of Honor: David Mattingly
Fan Guest of Honor: Mike Glyer
Toastmaster: Steve Barnes
Science Guest of Honor: Dr. Alan E. Nourse
Special Guest of Honor: Avram Davidson
Attendance: 2292
Photos
Video
Norwescon XII: March 29-April 1, 1990
Sheraton, Tacoma
Chair: Elizabeth Warren
Guest of Honor: Roger Zelazny
Artist Guest of Honor: David Cherry
Fan Guest of Honor: Pat Mueller
Toastmaster: Dan Reeder
Science Guest of Honor: Dr. John G. Cramer
Attendance: 2274
Photos
Norwescon XIV: March 28-31, 1991
Sheraton, Tacoma
Chair: Elizabeth Warren
Guest of Honor: Stanley Schmidt
Artist Guest of Honor: James Warhola
Fan Guest of Honor: Becky Thomson
Toastmaster: Ed Bryant
Special Guest of Honor: Forrest J. Ackerman
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Joe Laybourn
Attendance: 2320
Photos
Norwescon XV: March 26-29, 1992
Sheraton, Tacoma
Chair: Judy Suryan
Guest of Honor: Poul Anderson
Artist Guest of Honor: Alan Gutierrez
Fan Guest of Honor: Willie Siros
Toastmaster: J. Steven York
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Celia Smith
Attendance: ~2400
Photos
Video
Guest of Honor Interviews:
Norwescon XVI: March 25-28, 1993
Red Lion Inn, Bellevue
Chair: Judy Suryan
Guest of Honor: Betty Ballantine (Did Not Attend)
Artist Guest of Honor: Janny Wurts
Fan Guest of Honor: Pat Mueller
Toastmaster: Bonnie Baker
Science Guest of Honor: Chris Jonientz-Trisler(Sunday Only)
Special Guest of Honor: Anne McCaffrey (Did Not Attend)
Surprise Guest of Honor: Mike Jittelov
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Teresa Janssen
Attendance: ~2430
Photos
Video
Norwescon XVII: March 31-April 3, 1994
Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport
Chair: Michael Citrak (Replaced Judy Suryan mid year)
Guests of Honor: Katherine Kurtz and Scott MacMillan
Artist Guest of Honor: Darrell K. Sweet
Fan Guest of Honor: Peggy Rae Pavlat
Toastmaster: Janna Silverstein
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Deborah A. Wood
Attendance: ~2680
Photos
Norwescon XVIII: April 6-9, 1995
Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport
Chair: Michael Citrak
Guest of Honor: Robert Silverberg
Artist Guest of Honor: James Gurney
Science Guest of Honor: Dr. Jane Robinson
Toastmaster: Dragon Dronet
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Danny Rudesill
Attendance: ~2675
Photos
Video
Norwescon XIX: April 4-7, 1996
Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport
Chair: Michael Citrak
Guest of Honor: A.C. Crispin
Artist Guest of Honor: Tom Kidd
Fan Guest of Honor: Kitty Canterbury
Toastmaster: Janna Silverstein
Volunteer Guest of Honor: David Valentine
Attendance: ~2590
Photos
Video
Official
Masquerade: The Gift and The Awakening or the entire Masquerade.
Fan/Media
Masquerade: A Klingon Wedding
Norwescon XX: March 27-30, 1997
Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport
Chair: Michael Citrak
Guest of Honor: Larry Niven
Guest of Honor: A.E. Van Vogt
Artist Guest of Honor: Vincent Di Fate
Fan Guest of Honor: Brad Foster
Science Guest of Honor: Dr. Robert L. Forward
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Glenda Hedden
Attendance: (unrecorded)
Photos
Norwescon XXI: April 9-12, 1998
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Willam Sadorus
Guest of Honor: Neil Gaiman
Artist Guest of Honor: Brian Froud
Fan Guests of Honor: John Lorentz and Ruth Sachter
Science Guest of Honor: Patricia MacEwen
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Anthony Ward
Attendance: (unrecorded)
Photos
Video
Norwescon XXII: April 1-4, 1999
Norwescon 22 Post-Con Report (1.4MB .pdf)
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Willam Sadorus
Guest of Honor: Harry Turtledove
Artist Guest of Honor: Richard Hescox
Fan Guests of Honor: Jack Chalker and Eva Whitley
Science Guest of Honor: Jack Horner
Volunteer Guest of Honor: Susan Allen
Spotlighted Publisher: Ministry of Whimsy
Attendance: (unrecorded)
Photos
Norwescon XXIII: April 20-23, 2000
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Pat Booze
Guest of Honor: David Brin
Guest of Honor: Gregory Benford
Artist Guest of Honor: Barclay Shaw
Fan Guest of Honor: Bjo and John Trimble
Spotlighted Publisher: Harper Collins and Eos (Jennifer Brehl, representative)
Attendance: 2765
Photos
Video
Masquerade: Spring Rain
Norwescon XXIV: April 12-15, 2001
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Pat Booze
Guest of Honor: Connie Willis
Artist Guest of Honor: Bob Eggleton
Fan Guest of Honor: Charles N. Brown
Special Guest of Honor: James P. Hogan
Special Guest of Honor: Dragon Dronet
Spotlighted Publisher: Bantam Dell Publishing Group (Anne Lesley Groell, representative)
Attendance: 3054
Photos
Video
Masquerade: Yadra, the Protector
Norwescon XXV: March 28-31, 2002
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Pat Booze
Guest of Honor: Jack Vance
Artist Guest of Honor: Brom
Fan Guest of Honor: Andrew I. Porter
Spotlighted Publisher: WOTC Publishing
Attendance: 2787
Photos
Norwescon XXVI: April 17-20, 2003
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Pat Booze
Guest of Honor: Jane Yolen
Artist Guest of Honor: Jim Burns
Science Guest of Honor: Geoffrey Landis
Special Guest of Honor: Michael Whelan
Spotlighted Publisher: Del Ray
Attendance: 2718
Photos
Norwescon XXVII: April 8-11, 2004
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Shawn Marier
Guest of Honor: Mike Resnick
Artist Guest of Honor: Don Dixon
Special Guest of Honor: Joe Haldeman
Science Guest of Honor: Ben Bova
Spotlighted Publisher: Baen Books (Jim Baen, representative)
Attendance: 2610
Photos
Norwescon XXVIII: March 24-27, 2005
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Shawn Marier
Guest of Honor: Michael Bishop
Artist Guest of Honor: John Howe
Special Guest of Honor: Alan Dean Foster
Science Guest of Honor: Suzette Haden Elgin
Spotlighted Publisher: TOR Books (Tom Doherty, representative)
Attendance: 2603
Photos
Norwescon XXIX: April 13-16, 2006
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Shawn Marier
Guest of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold
Artist Guest of Honor: Donato Giancola
Toastmaster: Robert J. Sawyer
Spotlighted Publisher: DAW Books (Betsy Wollheim and Sheila Gilbert, representatives)
Attendance: 2758
Photos
Norwescon XXX: April 5-8, 2007
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Tracy Knoedler
Guest of Honor: Kim Stanley Robinson
Artist Guest of Honor: Luis Royo
Science Guest of Honor: Donna Shirley
Spotlighted Publisher: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (Gordon Van Gelder, representative)
Attendance: 3024
Photos
Video
Guest of Honor Interviews:
Norwescon XXXI: March 20-24, 2008
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Tracy Knoedler
Guest of Honor: Dan Simmons
Artist Guest of Honor: Ciruelo
Special Guest of Honor: Naomi Novik
Attendance: 3048
Photos
Video
Guest of Honor Interviews:
Norwescon XXXII: April 9-12, 2009
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Becky Citrak
Guest of Honor: R.A. Salvatore
Artist Guest of Honor: Todd Lockwood
Special Guest of Honor: Geno Salvatore
Spotlight Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Attendance: 3115
Photos
Video
Official
From the Philip K. Dick Awards:
- Reading from Plague War by Jeff Carlson
- Reading from Terminal Mind by David Walton
- Philip K. Dick Award Presentation
Guest of Honor Interviews: Geno Salvatore and Todd Lockwood
Fan/Media
Around the con: Stardance (and more, and more, and more), Steampunk group photo
Norwescon XXXIII: April 1-4, 2010
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Tracy Knoedler
Guest of Honor: Vernor Vinge
Artist Guest of Honor: John Jude Palencar
Science Guest: John G. Cramer
Special Guest of Honor: Cory Doctorow
Spotlight Publisher: Tor Books (David Hartwell and Jim Frenkel, representatives)
Attendance: 3349
Photos
Video
Official
From the Philip K. Dick Awards:
- Carlos J. Cortes reading from The Prisoner
- Ian McDonald reads from Cyberabad Days
- Daryl Gregory reads from The Devil’s Alphabet
Guest of Honor interviews:
- David Hartwell at the opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies
- Cory Doctorow at the opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies
- John G. Cramer at the opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies
- Vernor Vinge
- John Jude Palencar
- Jim Frenkel
Fan/Media
Around the con: Zombie Walk (and more, and more, and more), Thriller
Norwescon XXXIV: April 21-24, 2011
DoubleTree Hotel SeaTac
Chair: Shawn Marier
Guest of Honor: Patricia McKillip
Artist Guest of Honor: Kinuko A. Craft
PSIence Guest of Honor: Marie D. Jones (Did Not Attend)
Special Guests of Honor: Jim and Shannon Butcher
Spotlight Publisher: PYR (Lou Anders, representative)
Attendance: ~3500
Photos
Video
Official
From the Philip K. Dick Awards:
- James Knapp reads from State of Decay
- Masumi Washington and Nick Mamatas Read from Harmony
- Lou Anders reads from The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack
- Alden Bell reads from The Reapers are the Angels
- Kristen Nelson reads from Song of Scarabaeus
- PK Dick Award Announcement
Guest of Honor Interviews:
Fan/Media
- Around the con: Video Arcade, Wotan and Lolly being photographed, Saturday Night Dance
- Fannish Fetish Fashion Show: Modular Diva Designs (may be mildly NSFW)
- Masquerade: Wotan vs. Princess Lolly, She-Ra
Norwescon XXXV: April 5-8, 2012
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
Chair: Shawn Marier
Writer Guest of Honor: Stephen Baxter
Artist Guest of Honor: John Picacio
Science Guest of Honor: Bridget Landry
Spotlight Publisher: DAW (Betsey Wollheim and Sheila Gilbert, representatives)
Attendance: ~3100
Photos
Video
Official
From the Philip K. Dick Awards:
Fan/Media
- Fannish Fetish Fashion Show: Winter Fetish (may be mildly NSFW), Winter Coture, Wreckless Freeks (may be mildly NSFW)
- Masquerade: Senator Padmé Amidala (here’s another view), Jesus Heals the Leopard, Welcome to the Future
- Music: Vixy and Tony, The DoubleClicks
- Panels: Women in Gaming
Norwescon XXXVI: March 28-31, 2013
Chair: Peggy Stewart
Writer Guest of Honor: Catherine Asaro
Artist Guest of Honor: Lee Moyer
Science Guest of Honor: Edward Tenner
Spotlight Publisher: Baen (Tony Daniel, representative)
Norwescon Grand Master: Terry Brooks
Attendance: TBA
Photos
- Official Photos (To be uploaded soon…)
- Public Group
Video
This page was adapted from the Northwest Convention History Wikispaces page, maintained by Don Glover. Our thanks to Don for his original page tracking Norwescon’s history, upon which both the Wikispaces page and this page are based.
If you have anything to contribute to the above list–details, memories, pictures, memorabilia, or anything else–feel free to sign up and help add to the Wikispaces page, or send us a note through our contact page. We’d love to know what you have to share!
