Monumental ConFusion 50: A Pictorial Essay by Chris M. Barkley
On January 24-26, Michigan’s longest running sf convention, ConFusion (aptly titled Monumental ConFusion), celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Sheraton Hotel in Novi, Michigan.
The Creative Guest of Honor was Cincinnati, Ohio based author and musician Stephen Leigh, who, under his own name and the non-de-plume S.L. Farrell has published over fifty short stories and thirty-one novels. Bound To A Single Sun (Astra, 2022), was his most recently published novel. And, most notably, he is a frequent contributor to George R.R. Martin’s acclaimed literary superhero fantasy series, Wild Cards.
The Fan Guest of Honor, Brian Decker, has been a past ConFusion convention chair (2011-2012) and a longtime hotel liaison. Since 2012, he has also served as the President of the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association. He has also been known to partake in some professional ballroom dancing on the side.
ConFusion 50 was attended by 330 members on site.
Photo gallery follows the jump.
Photos 2-6: Just as I arrived at the hotel, a regular reader of the Pixel Scroll (whose name I did not record, unfortunately) tipped me off that someone had dropped off a box of fanzines at the Operations Desk for attendees to take.
It turns out that they belonged to a deceased fan, Gregg T. Trend of Detroit, who passed away in July of 2023. From what I heard from fans manning the desk, a member of his family brought them to the convention for other fans to appreciate. These issues (which may look very familiar to Mr. Glyer and other Filers) were the only issues left. I was delighted to take custody of them.
History IS Weirder Than Fiction panel
From l-r, author Michael Cieslak, author Marie Vibbert, ⅙ Con Chair (Treasurer) Anna Carey and Game Room Staff member Lloyd Williams
“Fiction has to make sense and maybe not make the reader wretch. History has no such constraints. Panelists will discuss bits of actual history that are hard to believe, and perhaps mention the stories that stole and modified the events.”
DETCon 2 – To BE Or Not To Be?
A. Should there, could there, can there be another DETCON, Regional, NASFiC, or otherwise?
B. A Discussion of the Future of NASFiC/Worldcon vs. a US National SFF Convention.
A lively discussion of introspection, remembrance and snarking ensued. You had to be there…
Author Signing and Meet & Greet, First Session
ConFusion 50 Con Suite
Murray Moore holding a 1983 issue of the late Bill Bower’s influential fanzine, Outworlds (from the Gregg T. Trend collection).
Windycon 50 Artist Guest of Honor Megan Leigh.
The ConFusion 50 Dealer’s Room.
Announcement of the ConFusion 50 E-fanzine.
ConFusion 50 Mural (outside the Con Suite).
Marie Vibbert AND her Fabulous Shoes!
ConFusion 50 Guest of Honor Stephen Leigh.
Author Signing and Meet & Greet Session 2
Monumental ConFusion Fan Guest of Honor Brian Decker.
The Monumental ConFusion Fan Guest of Honor Induction Ceremony (with actual liquor!)
The Monumental ConFusion Masquerade
SFF authors Zig Zag Claybourne (left) and Maurice Broaddus.
All photos by Chris M. Barkley, except where noted.
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I, not a relative of Gregg Trend, brought Greg’s fanzines to ConFusion 50 (the capital F is correct.)
The photo of myself holding the issue of OUTWORLDS and the following photo of Megan Leigh is appropriate positioning.
I was reading in that issue of OW the article by Stephen Leigh in which Leigh describes the experience of being present at the birth of his daughter. I was intending to introduce myself to Leigh and to give him the issue.
I did give the issue, to a Leigh.
When you stopped and took my photo, Joel Zakem was telling me that the daughter-in-question, too, was attending ConFusion 50; Megan Leigh.
Also taken from the Ops Desk were half-a-dozen issues of Richard E. Geis’s SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW and two thick issues of Marty Cantor’s HOLIER THAN THOU, sporting colour Richard Bergeron covers.
Also, on the freebie table, I left a box with more titles and issues. I expected an interested member would peruse the contents and, maybe, take a few fanzines.
Someone took the box, thereby getting many issues of Brian Earl Brown’s RATS ON FIRE, also Lan Laskowski’s LAN’S LANTERN, etc.
Murray Moore: Thanks for alleviating our ConFusion.
I’ll have to mention Mr. Leigh’s GoH honor to his (iirc) uncle Dave Ferrell if he makes it to choir practice this week.
Thanks for the con report. My favorite words in a long post are “after the jump.” Lots of good portraits in the photos too. But dang, now I’m wishing I’d been there.