Per Matt
Hypericon, Nashville’s premier speculative fiction convention, will be taking place from June 13th to June 15th at the Holiday Inn Express Airport. Vice Chairman Stephania Grimm gives a preview to the convention, looks ahead to the annual Spam Slam and prepares to host a superstitions panel on Friday the 13th.
In your own words, how would you describe Hypericon?
– “Hypericon is a local speculative fiction convention. We offer attendees the chance to meet a favorite author or artists or find some new ones. We also give people a chance to meet with like-minded people to talk and share in their favorite books, movies, TV shows, genres, anime and whatever else they love.”
– What’s the meaning behind the word, Hypericon?
“The name, Hypericon, is based off Plato’s theory, Allegory of the Cave. Plato has Socrates describe a gathering of people who have lived chained to a blank wall of a cave, all of their lives. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire and begin to designate names to these shadows. The shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality, rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners. We kicked around several names over a few platters of hot wings at a local food place when a friend blurted out, ‘What about Hypericon?’ It just seemed to fit.”
How would you define speculative fiction? What does it include? What does it exclude?
– “Speculative fiction generally covers the genres outside of mainstream, such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, Utopian and dystopian. The nice things about speculative fiction is that it really doesn’t limit us, so nothing is really excluded.”
How many years has this convention been held?
– “Hypericon is actually 10 years old. We took a year off to recharge our batteries and refocus on what direction we wanted to go.”
How did you initially get involved with Hypericon?
– “Ten years ago four friends, Darrell LuAllen, Chip Allen, Fred Grimm and I were traveling home from another convention and we stopped to get some food. We sat around the table, discussing the convention and what we loved about it and of course the conversation came around to what we didn’t like. Our original Chairman, Darrell LuAllen, made a joke about when he started his own convention, we would run it differently. We laughed and called it Darrellcon. But the idea began to germinate and I admit that I poked, prodded and generally harassed Darrell about it often. The deciding factor was a fall in the shower that may or may not have resulted in a concussion. Either way, Darrell got us together and Hypericon was born.”
Hypericon Guest of Honor: Jack Ketchum
As the Vice Chairman, what are some of your responsibilities?
– “As Vice Chairman, I usually work with the Dealers Room and liaison with Programming Director Mandi Lynch. The Chairman Bryan Cooksey and I split the con duties down the middle, with some overlap.”
Will you be hosting any panels at Hypericon?
– “Yes. I will be hosting a couple of panels. In the Obligatory Friday 13th Superstitions Panel on Friday night with Tori Mason, we are going to talk about superstitions through the ages, since Friday is not only the 13th, but a full moon, as well.”
What are you looking forward to the most at Hypericon?
– “Co-hosting the Annual Worst Opening Line contest on Friday night, where we kill off your creative muse and bumble our way through the worst opening lines you can come up with. There will even be a prize, whatever that’s worth.”
“At the annual Spam Slam on Saturday night with Mandi Lynch, we ask you to bring your best spam email and read it in your best beatnik style. I usually hurt from laughing so much, which is why we schedule them later in the evening. We need the sleep to recover.”
Hypericon Artist Guest of Honor: Sam Flegal
Will you be cosplaying at the convention?
– “Unfortunately, I don’t get to cosplay much. I wish I could, but I am usually running from end to end of the hotel, making sure that our attendees are happy and comfortable.”
What can I expect at the costume contest?
– “Our costume contest is small, but we are working to build it every year.”
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
– “Hypericon is family, plain and simple and the best thing about family is there is always room for more members.”
For More Information:
– Stephania’s Facebook
– Hypericon’s Twitter
– Hypericon’s Facebook
– Hypericon’s Website
– Hypericon’s Email