For the past 27 years, Stony Brook University has hosted I-CON, a three-day science fiction festival attended by over 6,000 each year, according to the I-CON website. This year, the festival was held from Apr. 4-6.
According to the I-CON website, it is “designed to encourage literacy, creativity and interest in science and technology through science fiction and its related genres.”
Some of these genres include science fiction, fantasy, Japanese animation, medieval reenactments, martial arts, comic books, computer/console gaming, and role-playing and trading card games.
I-CON hosts these activities, and platforms are also set up for dealers to sell their related products and advertise.
Starting in 1982, I-CON was originally held entirely within Stony Brook’s Student Union building. Since then, it has grown considerably, becoming the “Northeast’s Largest Sci-fi convention.”
This year, the convention was based within the Sports Complex, but related events took over buildings across the campus such as Harriman Hall, Psychology, the Student Activities Center, Javits Lecture Center, Computer Science, and the Earth and Space Sciences buildings.
Each year, media guests come to sign autographs and host panel discussions, and question and answer sessions.
This year, some guests included Billy West, voice actor from “Futurama” and other shows; Jeffery Combs, actor from the “Star Trek” TV series; Tracy Scoggins, actress from TV’s “Babylon 5;” and, via teleconference, Ray Bradbury, prolific science fiction author.
Three-day access to the convention cost $55 for adults, $48 for students and $17 for children, though single day memberships were also available.
I-CON is hosted by ICON Science Fiction, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation staffed mostly by volunteers. The convention itself is helped run by volunteers who receive free access to the convention by volunteering for eight hours either over the course of the convention, or during setup and takedown.
Next year’s I-CON 28 will mark a major change in the convention’s history, as it will move from Stony Brook University to Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood campus. According to I-CON officials, the move is happening because of “construction” on Stony Brook’s West campus.
