William Campbell's Fantasticon

Convention
Name:	William Campbell's Fantasticon
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Founder:	Joe Motes
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William Campbell's Fantasticon was a series of for-profit conventions.

There appear to be both US and UK versions.

1996 - US

Fantasticon was held at the LA Airport Hilton, Aug. 2-4, 1996.

Star Trek and Babylon 5 were some of the fandoms

FantastiCon, Airport Hilton and Towers, Los Angeles. Guest: Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell, Colm Meaney, Michael Dorn, Max Grodenchik. Seating: Reserved-$175, $150, or $120 (depending on closeness to stage); $ 90 general admission for 3 days, $70 general admission for weekend. Hotel: $93 single or double, $108 triple, $123 quad, reservations 1-800-445-8667. For more information, send SASE to: FantastiCon, P. O. Box 821673, South Florida, FL 33082-1673.

1996 - US: Con Report

This was the weirdest con I've ever been to. (Well, except slash or Robin's not-a-con's.) Shelley and Alice and I went. We of course had great fun just being together, and the dealer's room was particularly good, but we ended up basically using our $150 seats only for eating lunch. Then, we'd all sit there starting to almost nod off, and look at each other at the same time and say, you wanna go? And we went. And had more fun going home and watching episodes together.

The ad and flyer back in April or so promised the best con ever not Creation; for a good cause (the Motion Picture Fund, like the old actors home, etc.); with almost every single star from all four ST shows and Babylon 5 too, and more. So there I was, geared up for Messrs. Shatner and Nimoy (really the only reason I absolutely wanted to go), but all we got just about were Walter Koenig and Herb Solow's wife.

It was a nicely laid-back con, but so laid back that the schedule was in constant flux; it was impossible to know who was where when, not that anyone was really there anyway.

Since there was nothing better to do when we weren't seeking treasures in the dealer's room, the weekend degenerated into Shelley's obsessive search for Gary Mitchell around the guest/autograph table areas. She'll tell you about that I'm sure.

Actually, the best group was Babylon 5; most of the promised guests showed up, and they were the most spirited, too. That part was pleasure.

Let's see, my treasures.... Of course I like the older the better. A very pretty 10th anniversary commemorative coin. The (STTMP) Kirk "cleansing towelette" to match the Spock one I have. 20th anniversary "The Only Logical Books to Read" sticker and button. Some curious "Star Trek Lives/Save Star Trek" stamps (like postage stamps) with lovely etched-type drawings of Kirk and Spock (from 1968 perhaps?). A set of Canadian stamps, color shots (some outtakes) from the series.

And now I'm a neophyte comics lover; Shelley, too. I had a couple Golden Press 70's ones I found someplace long ago nice collectibles but they didn't turn me on all that much or anything but I basically have never really even looked at ST comics. But we discovered at this con that the more recent ones (DC, these were, 90's) are often really excellent lots of them with quite fine art and character depictions, and such dramatic stories by good writers. Better than the pro novels. Do we have any "cartoonists" out there so we can have some K/S comics?

Anyway, no zines at this con, but I got lots and lots of good stuff and little oddities. As if, after Shore Leave, I didn't already have so much I don't exactly have room for. Time for more major redoing of my house; make more room for ST and K/S, and you've heard that story before.

1997 - US

August 8-10, 1997

1997 - UK

1997 - UK: Con Reports

Well, I've just come back from Fantasticon U.K., apathetically smaller version of the one you guys have. Although in fairness this wasn't by any means the fault of the committee. And it was still great fun. Especially the DS9 slide show by Richard Arnold. The upcoming episodes look wonderful! My only complaint was that most of the slides for DBIP were of Leeta, Rom, and Zimmerman. Richard also shared that it is extremely unlikely that DS9 will continue after its 6th season, due to them having completed their contract. Still, the mood was much lightened by talk of a Voyager episode where Harry Kim returns to his homeworld. He is in fact an alien from the Delta Quadrant who was placed on Earth! Clutching at vague, way-out storylines here or what? Oh, for those of you who are interested, Leonard Nimoy was given a "Fannie Award" for his awful rendition of Bilbo Baggins!

1999 - US

July 23-25, 1999: Fantasticon, Los Angeles Airport Hilton and Towers.