Arisia Abbreviated History

Arisia was founded as a non-profit in 1989 to hold conventions and to promote science fiction and fantasy in all forms. Arisia '19 will be our 30th annual convention.

Click on the Souvenir Book covers for a larger image. We also have a gallery of Arisia T-shirts.

At-Large:

Date	Venue	Guests of Honor & Special Guests	ConChair & Officers	Theme/Notes	Reg.
Arisia '90 Feb 23-25, 1990	Lafayette Swissôtel Boston, MA	WGoH: Richard Bowker AGoH: A.C. Farley FGoH: Spike McPhee	Chair: Matthew Saroff Pres: Mary Robison VP: Kim Van Auken Treas: Tom Fish Clerk: Adria Crum	1990 was Arisia's second year of existence; officers from the first year were: Pres: Cris Shuldiner, VP: Mary Robison, Treas: Tom Fish, Clerk: Brian Cooper	842
Arisia '91 Feb 1-3, 1991	Vista International Waltham, MA	WGoH: Jack L. Chalker AGoH: Bob Walters FGoH: Richard Hill & Laurel Cunningham Media GoH: Larry Ross	Chair: Matthew Saroff Pres: Mary Robison VP: Robert Bazemore Treas: Marshall Ellis Clerk: A. Joseph Ross	The "Vista International" is now the "Waltham Westin" hotel	~1050 (from memory)
Arisia '92 Jan 3-5, 1992	Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers Boston, MA	WGoH: Craig Shaw Gardner AGoH: Robin Wood Filk Guest: T.J. Burnside Clapp Guest Editor: Ginjer Buchanan, Shoshanna Green Media Guest: Lynne Stephens Tech GoH: Alex Latzko	Chair: Kimberly S. Van Auken Pres: Patrick McCormack VP: Jeffrey Jordan Treas: Marshall Ellis Clerk: A. Joseph Ross	Ginjer and Shoshanna were each listed as "Guest Editor" in different sections of the Program Book. No one (including the chairman) remembers what really happened.	1094
Arisia '93 Jan 15-17, 1993	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Ellen Kushner AGoH: Charles Lang & Wendy Snow-Lang FGoH: Monty Wells Tech GoH: Carl Zwanzig	Chair: Robert "Insanity*3" Bazemore Pres: A. Joseph Ross VP: Heather Coon Treas: Allan Kent Clerk: Mark Dulcey		1670
Arisia '94 Jan 21-23, 1994	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Spider & Jeanne Robinson AGoH: Michael Whelan FGoH: Dave Kyle	Chair: James S. Belfiore, Jr. Pres: A. Joseph Ross VP: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Treas: Allan Kent Clerk: Edward Dooley	The "Park Plaza Castle" (formally the armory for the First Corps of Cadets National Guard Unit) was used for the masquerade and several other events, due to an outside wedding being scheduled in the hotel main ballroom.	1513
Arisia '95 Jan 13-15, 1995	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: C. J. Cherryh AGoH: Jael FGoH: Walter Kahn Filk Guest: Michael Longcor Tech Guest: Deryl Burr	Chair: Sheila Oranch Pres: Joelll Herda VP: Jim Stevenson Treas: Eric Bunce Clerk: Edward Dooley	DIVERSITY--we are not one-dimensional beings!	1810
Arisia '96 Jan 12-14, 1996	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Emma Bull & Will Shetterly AGoH: Lissanne Lake FGoH: Rob Bazemore a.k.a. "Insanity*3" Musical Guest: Boiled In Lead	Chair: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Pres: Cris Shuldiner VP: Walter Kahn Treas: Randall Cohen Clerk: Robert Fairburn IV	Minneapolis Music The Fan Guest of Honor got married in the hotel ballroom as his "GoH Event." Arisia '96 was the last year under the old family owned Park Plaza management. The hotel sale closed the Monday after the convention.	1826
Arisia '97 Jan 10-12, 1997	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: R. A. Salvatore AGoH: Bob Eggleton FGoH: The Gang of Five (Arisia's Founders: Brian Cooper, Tom Fish, Mary Robison, Matthew Saroff, Cris Shuldiner)	Dictator: Pat McCormack Pres: Cris Shuldiner VP: Brendan Quinn Treas: Marshall Ellis Clerk: Glen Goodwin	Exploring Tyranny In Our Literature and In Our Lives a.k.a. "The Iron Boot of Tyranny"	1874
Arisia '98 Jan 16-18, 1998	Westin Hotel Waltham, MA	WGoH: James P. Hogan AGoH: Cortney Skinner FGoH: Marty Gear	Exec Director: Glen R. Goodwin Pres: Jeffrey L. "Hunter" Jordan VP: Brendan Quinn Treas: Skip Morris Clerk: Paul Selkirk	Freedom: Stories of The Revolution! The "Westin Waltham" is the former "Vista International". Arisia '98 had a strict membership cap of 1500 due to hotel function space limitations. The cap was raised to 1550 and no one was turned away.	1538
Arisia '99 Jan 8-10, 1999	Westin Copley Place Boston, MA	WGoH: Roger MacBride Allen AGoH: Gary A. Lippincott FGoH: Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden Science Guest: H. Paul Shuch a.k.a. "Dr. SETI"	Chair: Cris Shuldiner Pres: Elka Tovah Menkes VP: Glen R. Goodwin Treas: Skip Morris Clerk: Rachel Silverman	The 10th Arisia/Party Like It's 1999 There was actually no external theme for this convention, as the Chair does not believe in them. What is listed here is the internal theme designed for the staff to have fun with.	1672
Arisia '00 Jan 14-16, 1900	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Jane Yolen AGoH: Tom Kidd FGoH: Sharon Sbarsky Musical Guest: Echo's Children	Chair: Paul Selkirk Pres: Noel Rosenberg VP: Cris Shuldiner Treas: Skip Morris Clerk: Tom "Merv" Murphy	No official theme, but the "in joke" was that Arisia '00 was officially "Not Y2K Compliant," so the dates were printed as 1900.	1965
Arisia '01 Jan 12-14, 2001	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Lois McMaster Bujold AGoH: Wojtek Siudmak FGoH: jan howard finder a.k.a. "Wombat"	Chair: Elka Tovah Menkes Pres: Brendan Quinn VP: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Treas: Skip Morris Clerk: Tom "Merv" Murphy	Looking Back on the Future	2082
Arisia '02 Jan 18-20, 2002	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Katherine Kurtz AGoH: Tristan Alexander FGoH: Eugene Heller	Chair: Noel Rosenberg Pres: Brendan Quinn VP: Colette Fozard Treas: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Clerk: Paul Selkirk	So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish: A Tribute to the Works of Douglas Adams	2309
Arisia '03 Jan 17-19, 2003	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Harry Turtledove AGoH: Victoria (Poyser) Lisi & Julius Lisi FGoH: Anthony R. Lewis, FN Gaming Guests: Looney Labs (Andrew Looney, Kristin Looney, Alison Frane) Costuming Guests: Pierre & Sandy Pettinger Filk Guest: Gwen Knighton	Chair: Skip Morris Pres: Joel Herda VP: Noel Rosenberg Treas: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Clerk: Paul Selkirk	Exploring Alternate Realities Through Literature	2264
Arisia '04 Jan 16-18, 2004	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Tim Powers Sculptor GoH: Arthur Ganson FGoH: Kim Van Auken Freedom Guests: Eric S. & Catherine Raymond Filk Guest: Tom Smith	Evil Overlord: Carsten Turner Pres: Joel Herda VP: Noel Rosenberg Treas: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Clerk: Alex Latzko	The Future of Freedom Official Con Book: Powers of Two, from NESFA Press	2283
Arisia '05 Jan 21-23, 2005	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Barbara Hambly AGoH: John Picacio FGoH: Victor J. Raymond Media Guest: Harry Knowles Fannish Movie Guests: HiddenFrontier.org Filk Guests: Mary Ellen Wessels & Ed Stauff	Chair: Buzz Harris Pres: Carsten Turner VP: Rick Kovalcik Treas: Alex Latzko Clerk: Claudia Mastroianni	Through Alien Eyes Snowstorm shut down Boston	2086
Arisia '06 Jan 13-15, 2006	Boston Park Plaza	WGoH: Allen Steele AGoH: Frank Wu FGoH: Barb Schofield Musical Guest: Heather Dale	Chair: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Pres: Rick Kovalcik Vice Pres: Lisa Hertel Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rachel Silber	Focus	2437 (reg'd) 2330 (attended)
Arisia '07 Jan 12-14, 2007	Hyatt Regency Cambridge, MA	WGoH: Esther Friesner AGoH: Hilary Scott Filk GoH: Luke Ski	Chair: Joel Herda Pres: Rick Kovalcik Vice Pres: Lisa Holsberg Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rachel Silber	Humor in Science Fiction and Fantasy. A new home for Arisia A'07 had a strict membership cap of 2000 due to hotel space limitations. A few individuals were turned away on Saturday and given discount coupons for Sunday.	2137 (reg'd) 2045 (attended)
Arisia '08 Jan 18-21, 2008	Hyatt Regency Cambridge	WGoH: Laura Anne Gilman AGoH: Marrus Fan Performer GoH: Eric "in the Elevator" Zuckerman	Chair: September Isdell Pres: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Vice Pres: Crystal Huff Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rick Kovalcik	Pirates vs. Ninjas First four day Arisia	2369 (reg'd) 2280 (attended)
Arisia '09 Jan 16-19, 2009	Hyatt Regency Cambridge	WGoH: Walter H. Hunt AGoH: Dave Seeley FGoH: Ricky and Karen Dick	Chair: Jill Eastlake Pres: September Isdell Vice Pres: Crystal Huff Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Nicholas "phi" Shectman	Fabric of Science Fiction	2523 (reg'd) 2410 (attended)
Arisia '10 Jan 15-18, 2010	Hyatt Regency Cambridge	Writer / Editor GoH: Gardner Dozois AGoH: Sarah Clemens FGoHs: Kevin Roche and Andy Trembley Musical GoH: SJ Tucker - Skinny White Chick	Chair: Rick Kovalcik Pres: Samantha Dings Vice Pres: Glenn MacWilliams Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Nicholas "phi" Shectman	SF - Old and New	2416 (reg'd) 2307 (attended)
Arisia '11 Jan 14-17, 2011	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: Kelley Armstrong AGoH: Josh Simpson FGoH: René Walling Webcomic GoH: Shaenon Garrity Special Guest: Seanan McGuire	Chair: Crystal Huff Pres: Rick Kovalcik Vice Pres: Noel Rosenberg Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Nicholas "phi" Shectman	Mad Science	3050 (reg'd) 2912 (attended)
Arisia '12 Jan 13-16, 2012	Westin Boston Waterfront	GoHs: Phil and Kaja Foglio, Gareth Hinds	Chair: Cris Shuldiner Pres: Rick Kovalcik Vice Pres: Crystal Huff Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Nicholas "phi" Shectman	Where Science and Adventure Come Together!	3,442 (reg'd) 3,284 (attended)
Arisia '13 Jan 18-21, 2013	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoHs: Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes AGoH: Roger Dean MGoH: Emerald Rose	Chair: Rachel Silber Pres: Rick Kovalcik Vice Pres: Conor Walsh Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Nicholas "phi" Shectman		3,869 (reg'd) 3,629 (attended)
Arisia '14 Jan 17-20, 2014	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: Tanya Huff AGoH: Lubov FGoH: James Nicoll	Chair: Lisa Hertel Pres: Conor Walsh Vice Pres: David D'Antonio Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rick Kovalcik At-Large: Anna Bradley, Kathryn Kun, & Tanya Washburn	Cross-culturalism A'14 did not sell memberships (including day memberships) on Saturday or Sunday, resulting in fewer unique visitors (counted here) even though each day had more attendees.	3,785 (reg'd) 3,560 (attended)
Arisia '15 Jan 16-19, 2015	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: N.K. Jemisin AGoH: Lee Moyer FGoH: Colette H. Fozard	Chair: Mike Sprague Pres: Conor Walsh Vice Pres: Anna Bradley Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Noel Rosenberg At-Large: Jaime Garmendia, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, & Tom Traina		4,287 (reg'd) 4,010 (attended)
Arisia '16 Jan 15-18, 2016	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: John Scalzi AGoH: Johnna Y. Klukas FGoH: Pablo Miguel Alberto Vasquez III	Chair: Kris "Nchanter" Snyder Pres: Conor Walsh Vice Pres: Jaime Garmendia Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rick Katze At-Large: Daniel Eareckson, Abby Noyce & Jaelen Rachlin	Arisia 2016 -- now with 32% more whimsy! Arisia was awarded the title of "Best of Boston® 2016 - Best Geek Gathering" by Boston magazine.	4,335 (reg'd) 4,014 (attended)
Arisia '17 Jan 13-16, 2017	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: Ursula Vernon AGoH: Stephanie Law Radio GoH: Krypton Radio FGoH: Greykell Dutton	Chair: Anna Bradley Pres: Kris "Nchanter" Snyder Vice Pres: Cody Mattes Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rick Kovalcik At-Large: Diana Hsu, Abby Noyce, & Peter Olszowka		4,563 (reg'd) 4,299 (attended)
Arisia '18 Jan 12-15, 2018	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: V. E. Schwab AGoH: Ashe Samuels Comics Industry Guest of Honor: Shannon Watters FGoH: Mikki Kendall	Chair: Jaime Garmendia Pres: Noel Rosenberg Vice Pres: Anna Bradley Treas: Benjamin Levy Clerk: Rick Kovalcik At-Large: Jaelen Hartwin, Kris "Nchanter" Snyder, & Sharon Sbarsky		4,372 (reg'd) 3,930 (attended)
Arisia '19 Jan 18-21, 2019	Boston Park Plaza	AGoH:Elizabeth Leggett FGoH: Bjo & John Griffin Trimble	Chair: Daniel Eareckson Pres: Nicholas "phi" Shectman Vice Pres: Alan Wexelblat Treas: Kris Pelletier Clerk: Sol Houser At-Large: Cassandra Lease, Andy Rosequist, & RaShawn Seams
Arisia '20 Jan 17-20, 2020	Westin Boston Waterfront	WGoH: AGoH: FGoH:	Chair: Diana Hsu