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28 - 29 March 2009 :: Blacksburg, VA 24060
A Convention Celebrating the Arts of Science Fiction and Fantasy
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Guests of Technicon
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Author Guest of Honor: Kathleen Goonan
Kathleen Ann Goonan planned to be a poet when she graduated from what was then called VPI in 1975 with a degree in English. Astutely realizing that was not economically wise, she got AMI Montessori training, worked at Cecile Keller's school on Eakin Street, and went on to start her on large school in Knoxville. In 1985 she woke from that dream and began writing. Goonan is the author of over thirty short stories and six novels. Her latest novel, IN WAR TIMES, won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, and was the American Library Association's choice for Best Adult Genre Novel of the Year. Her previous novels include QUEEN CITY JAZZ (BSFA Award finalist), THE BONES OF TIME (Clarke Award finalist), MISSISSIPPI BLUES (Darrell Lifetime Achievement Award), CRESCENT CITY RHAPSODY (Nebula finalist), and LIGHT MUSIC (Nebula finalist). She is presently working on THIS SHARED DREAM, and has fond memories of Blacksburg back in the day of building occupations and the National Guard hanging out around town, as well as memories of living in Craig county. She looks forward to this meeting.
Visit her website at: www.goonan.com
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Media Guest of Honor: Dean Jones of American Makeup and Effects
A versatile talent, Dean Jones is a writer, director and makeup artist with two Emmy wins and seven nominations for his makeup effects work on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." He is currently attached to direct and write the horror/thriller sequel to Tobe Hoopers "Toolbox Murders " in 2009. This incredible horror sequel is currently titled "TBK2". Jones was first discovered by director David Lynch while doing makeup effects work on the film "Blue Velvet." It was Lynch who encouraged him to move to Los Angeles, and since then Jones has worked on over seventy films and one hundred episodes of television, including film projects with Michael Figgis, Sam Mendes and Dennis Hopper, Tobe Hooper, and Steve Miner. He continues to be in demand for high-profile films such as "JARHEAD," "POSEIDON," "THE SANTA CLAUSE 3," and "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 & 3", "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 3-D," "DAY OF THE DEAD" and "STREET KINGS" starring Keenu Reeves and Forest Whitaker.
As well as creating effects through his company, American Makeup and FX http://www.amefx.com, Jones has produced and second unit directed several independent films. He also has an ongoing collaboration with Texas Chainsaw director Tobe Hooper. Dean and his brother Starr produce and direct one of the nations largest haunted house attractions in Snow Camp, North Carolina. Now in its 20th season it's a true testament to terror for haunted house fans. www.originalhollywoodhorrorshow.com
Find out more at www.amefx.com!
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Filk Guest of Honor: White Plectrum
White Plectrum is just a guy named Keith playing and singing and having fun. But at the same time, it's more than just that as well. It's the crew keeping everything together, it's the Filking 1001 panels, where musical carnage ensues, and, most of all, it's the fans providing their own input to the performances, just when it's needed (YAY GOO!). As an email signature written by Jerry Conner says, "We are Plectrum of Borg. You will be assimilated. Your musical distinctiveness will be added to our own. Seriousness is futile." Join the fun at www.plectrum.net
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Fan Guest of Honor: Bonnie Bennet
Bonnie Bennett was born in Madison WI. Married in 1972, her daughter Yvonne was born in 1973. Her husband, Warren, was in the Navy and moved around a lot but spent many years in living in Norfolk were Yvonne graduated from high school. Yvonne went on to VA TECH where she (and later I) was involved in the SCI-FI club. Warren and I moved to the Roanoke area in 1998 and I attended the first of many Technicons. |
Gaming Guest: Greg Porter |
Unseen, LLC: Chris Impink and Barb Fischer 
Chris and Barb are the creators of the web comic Fragile Gravity, a strip that features independent comics, conventions, and lately an invasionary force of penguins. Oh, and an extra-bitter stoat. Chris Impink does the artwork for the strip; he has been featured in Antarctic Press and did much of the graphic work for The Babylon Project role-playing game. Additionaly, his work has been feautured at various conventions such as Katsucon, Technicon, and Rising Star.
He is also mildy notorious for co-founding Katsucon, though his team of spin doctors has kept that under wraps for many years. Barb Fischer does the writing for the strip; her latest endeavor is exploring parts of her dwarven heritage by quaffing and mining in the backyard. As she has no love for ale or gold, these parts have proven to be a bit difficult. Axes, on the other hand, she's taken to like a duck to water. Find out more at www.fragilegravity.com
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GCG Studios: Garth Graham 
GCG Studios is the sum collection of the works of Garth Cameron Graham, hence the GCG. Clever, no? Garth.s various works include the pseudo-autobiographical Comedity (www.comedity.com) full of surreal adventures and penguins, as well as the dark urban fantasy comic Finder.s Keepers (www.finderskeepers.gcgstudios.com). Well known for his exquisite colors and pleasing blend of traditional western comic art and manga-inspired styling, Garth brings something new and refreshingly different to the page.
Find out more at www.gcgstudios.com!
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Virginia Tech Fencing Club The Virginia Tech Fencing Club is a student-run Recreational Sports Club that was established in 1979. Our purpose is to promote the popular international sport of fencing. VTFC members are enrolled students, faculty, staff, and other members from the community not affiliated with Virginia Tech. We field both men's and women's teams in the 3 separate conferences in all three Olympic weapons (foil, epee, and sabre). In addition, a large majority of VTFC members participate in United State Fencing Association events both state and nation wide. The club has passed its 30th year at Tech, and therefore VTFC has an extensive list of alumni and senior members. As a result, new members to the club receive the benefit of many years of experience passed down through the ranks. Newcomers are always welcome.
Find out more at http://www.fencing.org.vt.edu
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Rick Mattioni's broadcast career started in educational TV where he held a number of technical positions while still attending college. Then, when in the US Army, Rick worked for the American Armed Forces Radio and Television service Europe as producer. Rick joined the newsroom of a small market NBC TV affiliate in Maryland performing various jobs: assignment editor, producer, reporter and anchor. After several news positions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Rick left commercial broadcasting for public radio. In addition to being the news director for WVTF and program director for Radio IQ, Rick is the manager of Virginia Public Radio which produces and distributes news content to other public stations in Virginia and is also adjunct faculty at Roanoke College where he trains and advises students who work at the school.s Low-Power FM station WRKE.
www.wvtf.org
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James "Not Matt" Roberts was born in 1809, the son of a wealthy textile worker and a penniless diplomat. He invented the electromagnet while on a hunting trip in the Berkshires, but Michael Faraday knifed him and stole the prototype. Somehow, Not Matt made his way back to civilization, crawling his way down the mountain, but his strength left him just outside Boston. A passing mad scientist took Not Matt back to his lab. This scientist had the technology. He could make Not Matt better, faster, stronger. The scientist did none of these things, so Not Matt became a part-time vampire. That didn't work out, so he decided to become a scientist himself. Not Matt has published several articles about planetary geophysics, but his attempts at fiction are limited to this biography. He was foolish enough to serve as Chair for Technicon 18 and Fan GOH for Technicon 22. Not Matt lives with his wife and baby boy in Columbia, MD.
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Almost 19 years ago, shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech and right after being con chair of Technicon 7, Scott entered the computer game industry. He has worked for MicroProse, Electronic Arts, Atari and BreakAway creating games for the arcade, PC and Xbox. He has 12 published titles including .Fleet Defender., .Jane.s F-15., .Jane.s F/A-18., .Dungeons and Dragons Heroes. and .Battle for Middle-Earth II . The Rise of the Witch-King.
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A deep love of fabrics led him to play with twill, wool, and leather, studying his mother.s expert techniques. Winning many awards in such places as Technicon, Rising Star, Rock of Ages, and Dragon Con isn.t enough; he also does educational outreach at public schools and sells fine wares at the Wilderness Trail Festival. After recruiting for the Scottish Mercenaries of Washington.s Southern Army, what could challenge him? Hail Iron Costumer Historical.
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An Imp by any other name... is a Kender? Short, perky, mischievous, having an odd sense of property and enough acquisitiveness to be a Ferrengi - OK, yep it fits. She credits A Wrinkle In Time and being part of The Moving Company, a backstage crew supporting small theater, as the real start of her life. Kender is currently an ARAMCO alum, Carnivore Preservation Trust volunteer, Computer Support Tech, fun food fanatic, certified Reflexologist and Mom.
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Sue Hagedorn has been an SF fan since she was 9 years old and read her first Ace Double novel. Vacationing during school breaks up on 82 Eridani didn't hurt either. She has taught writing at several major universities, is the founding editor of an international science journal dealing with water quality (The Journal of Environmental Detection), and is lucky enough to teach an Intro to SF class here at VT.
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Anya completed an MS in arachnology (that's spiders) at VA Tech, and then went on to finish vet school. Deciding this was not enough time in school, she then began a residency program in anatomic pathology and is a PhD candidate studying the immune response to hepatitis E virus. She greatly enjoys both hard science fiction and utterly fantastical fiction.
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Nick is an MFA student at Virginia Tech, with short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Web Conjunctions (http://www.conjunctions.com/webcon/kocz07.htm), Gargoyle, Red Rock Review, The Portland Review, NorthPoint (now, sadly, defunct), and Pindeldyboz (http://www.pindeldyboz.com/nkearth.htm). I am also the fiction editor of Sotto Voce, a new internet journal, and will be the co-managing editor of New River, Virginia Tech's hypertext journal.
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Michael O'Brien has been attending Technicon since 1987 or thereabouts, originally as part of USS Pathfinder and McKay, once as Fan Guest of Honor, and the rest of the time as a sometimes-official staff member. He has presented the con's Mature Attendees track for the last few years, and works to erase the cliche that a Starfleet uniform in the closet has to mean an dull or empty sex life. Michael now lives in Chesapeake, near Virginia's coast, with his fiancee Starr and more cats than he meant to live with.
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Born in South Carolina and raised in many east-coast states. She started college at Virginia Tech in Fall 1991. Technicon 9 was the first one that she attended, and was staff the next year. Tcon 10 was also the first con she costumed at. In early 1997, she married Eric and moved to the Seattle area. She now works with Norwescon, and attends many other Seattle area cons when she can.
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Beth is a native of Roanoke, and has been active in fandom generally and costuming specifically for around twenty years. She is a long-time member of USS Yeager and the Society for Creative Anachronism. Her mother sold her to a tailor when she was twelve, and she's been sewing ever since.
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Keath Marx, from Mount Tabor Services of Blacksburg, provides computer help, corrects computer problems and prevents computer security breaches in homes, offices, and dorms across the New River Valley. He has been teaching and fielding questions for 15 years locally and has a variety of computer experience.
http://mounttaborservices.com/
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Since his entry into costumery 7 years ago he has outfitted the Roanoke City STARS as Resident Evil and now follows his destiny to be a creator of great things. He says 'bring the challenge and watch when the dust settles.' Andy Simmons follows his dark destiny to become Darth Andy Skywalker.
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Dancer. Mom. Iron Costumer.
Bambi has danced in one form or another almost her entire life, and loves to dance for the appreciative crowds at conventions. She was also the winner of the Technicon 24 Iron Costumer contest, making an "Honor Harrington Universe" uniform in a little more than three hours.
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Paul is a Massachusetts native and has been on the furry scene for a number of years. He has only recently started fursuiting in the past year. In his spare time, he likes to collect shiny objects and wads of fluff.
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Megan's undergraduate degree was in Animal Science with a minor in Poultry and Avian Science. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Poultry Medicine.
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Lori has a long-standing interest in the science fiction and fantasy genres. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in molecular virology.
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VT Police, Community Outreach, Crime Prevention Specialist
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