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.
| 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 |
At-Large:
|
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
|
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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
|
|
3,553 (reg'd) 2,707 (attended) |
 |
Arisia '20 Jan 17-20, 2020 |
Westin Boston Waterfront |
WGoH: Cadwell Turnbull
AGoH: Kristina Carroll
FGoH: Arthur Chu
|
Chair: Diana Hsu
Pres: Nicholas "phi" Shectman
Vice Pres: Rachel Silber
Treas: Kris Pelletier
Clerk: Sol Houser
At-Large: Rachel Kadel, Melissa Perreira-Andrews, Kim Riek
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Arisia '21 Jan 15-18, 2021 |
Online |
WGoH: Suzanne Palmer
AGoH: Hannibal King
FGoH: Kat Tanaka Okopnik
|
Chair Team:
etana,
Melissa Perreira-Andrews,
Nicholas "phi" Shectman,
Rachel Silber,
Mike Sprague
Pres: Nicholas "phi" Shectman
Vice Pres: Mike Sprague
Treas: Kris Pelletier
Clerk: etana
At-Large: Jodie Lawhorne, Claudia Mastroianni, Melissa Perreira-Andrews
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Arisia '22 Jan 14-17, 2022 |
Westin Boston Waterfront hotel |
GOHs: TBA
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Chair: Vivian Abraham
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