relaxacon n.

a science fiction convention with few or no fixed program events or organized activities

Fancyclopedia


SF Fandom

  • 1956 Fantasy Times Apr. (No. 245) 1/2 (headline) page image

    First ‘Relaxicon’ Real Gone.

  • 1982 D. Hartwell The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve in Top of News (1982, issue number unknown) 13 David G. Hartwell

    Aside from the World Science Fiction Convention, which is a general gathering of the clans, there is a World Fantasy Convention, numerous Star Trek conventions, a pulp-magazine convention (Pulpcon), Ambercon (devoted to the Amber novels of Roger Zelazny), an SF film convention, numerous ‘relaxicons’ (at which there is no programming—chronics and omnivores gather to party with like minds for a weekend), and literally dozens of localized conventions, ranging from hundreds to thousands of attendees.

  • 1991 R. Rogow Futurespeak 280

    Relax-a-con (fan/conventions), a small local or regional convention, with a limited program; an extended party for less than five hundred members.

  • 1992 Fantasies (front cover)

    The Fourth Annual Relax-a-Con.

  • 1995 Xenofilkia May 832 (title)

    The Relaxacon Anthem.

  • 2001 C. Low Minutes of LFS 9/1

    Grossberg invites any LFS members staying over Sunday night to attend a Sunday night ‘relaxacon’ party at his home. Guests of honor Brad Linaweaver and Victor Milan will be there.

Research requirements

antedating 1957
Earliest cite

in 'The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'
Research History
Jeff Wolfe submitted a 2001 cite from the minutes of the Libertarian Futurist Society.
Keith Stokes submitted a 1992 cite from the cover of the program book for the 1992 convention "Contraception".
Keith Stokes submitted a 1991 cite from Roberta Rogow's "Futurespeak".
John Bunnell submitted a 1995 cite from lyrics by John Bunnell in "Xenofilkia".
Jeff Prucher submitted a cite for the spelling "relaxicon" from a 1984 reprint in "slightly different form" of David Hartwell's 1982 "The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve". We would like to verify this in the first publication.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1957 cite for the spelling "relaxicon" from an editorial blurb in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction which credits Les Cole as the inventor of the term.
Bill Mullins submitted a 1956 cite in the "relaxicon" spelling from Fantasy Times.

(Jack Chalker suggested that the term originated with Midwestcon (1966), though this was later disproved by the 1956 and 1957 citations.)

Last modified 2021-11-06 14:19:16
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.