LoneStarCon
The First Occasional Lone Star Science Fiction Convention & Chili Cook-off (aka LoneStarCon 1, LSC and ChiliCon), the third NASFiC, was held August 30 - September 2, 1985, at the Hyatt Regency Austin, Sheraton Crest, and Palmer Auditorium in Austin, Texas. Since 1975, the World Science Fiction Society has held a North American Science Fiction Convention in years when Worldcon is outside North America; in this case, Aussiecon II in Melbourne, Australia.
The Pro GoHs were Jack Vance (writer), and Richard Powers (artist). The FGoH was Joanne Burger.
Chad Oliver was toastmaster, Willie Siros was Chairman, Robert Taylor, Vice Chairman, and there were about 2,800 attendees. It did feature a chili cook-off. Texas chili was also served at many of the bidding parties leading up to the con. It was sponsored by FACT.
LSC is generally considered to be the most successful Texas WSFS convention as well as one of the few really successful NASFiCs. Besides being a generally well-run convention, LSC featured the nightly eruption of millions of bats from under the bridges between the convention center and the hotels. On the less attractive side, locals hurled verbal abuse — and more than a few eggs — at fans walking between the venues.
A team sponsored by MCFI ran the Art Show, nicknamed B'Austin Art Show, it was headed by Leslie Turek, with Ellen Franklin, Ann Broomhead, and Suford Lewis.
The convention newsletter was the Armadillo Times*Star Picayune, edited by Dick Smith and Leah Zeldes Smith.
- File 770 55, p. 7 et seq (many reports including a long one by J. R. Madden)
Austin in '85 beat Detroit in '85 and Columbus in '85 at the 1983 Worldcon, Constellation in the 1985 NASFiC Site Selection.
LoneStarCon was the first time that NASFiC site selection was conducted at a NASFiC. (The site selection rules require that site selection for NASFiCs be held at a WSFS convention with the appropriate lead time. In the ’80s, the lead time was two years. It is presently one year. If there is a NASFiC the appropriate year, site selection is held there. Otherwise, it is held at the Worldcon that year.) Phoenix in 1987 was unopposed in the 1987 NASFiC Site Selection.
The two subsequent conventions named LoneStarCon, LoneStarCon 2 and LoneStarCon 3, were Worldcons.
| NorthAmericon '79 | NASFiC | CactusCon |
| first | LoneStarCon | LoneStarCon 2 |
| 1985 |
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