Apr 4, 2008 - Barry Malzberg Cancellation - We regret to announce that Barry Malzberg will not be appearing at I-CON 27.

Apr 4, 2008 - Jon Rosenberg and Steven Cloud will not be appearing - Due to circumstances beyond our control, Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Cloud are unable to appear at I-CON 27.

Mar 28, 2008 - Conrad Brooks Cancellation - Due to circumstances beyond our control, Conrad "The Gielgud of Bad Movies" Brooks will not be appearing at I-CON.

Mar 27, 2008 - Rocky Horror Picture Show! - It's a contest! You can be a mad scientist, biker zombie, or suburban housewife losing her inhibitions. Win fabulous prizes!

Mar 18, 2008 - RepRap Demo Cancelled - We regret to announce that RepRap.org's Zach Smith will be unable to attend I-CON. The RepRap demonstration has been canceled.

Mar 16, 2008 - BattleStar Galactica Season Premiere! - Come see the season premiere of the hit series on a big screen, with 700 of your closest friends. Win BSG DVD sets!

Mar 9, 2008 - GM Signup - Interested in running an RPG? Sign up to be a GM.

Mar 9, 2008 - Awards Banquet - Tickets are now available online for the Awards Banquet. This event is held each year honoring guests for outstanding achievements in their field or genre. This year, the Awards Banquet will be held at the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma on Saturday April 5, 2008 starting at 5:30pm. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit the Awards Banquet page

Mar 9, 2008 - Cosplay Competition - This I-CON 27 Cosplay Competition is now open to all types of cosplay, not just anime! Registration closes March 28, so hurry over to the Anime page to register online!

News Archive

Ray Bradbury (2008)

Raymond Douglas Bradbury was born August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois.  During the Great Depression his family moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1938. He discovered science fiction fandom in 1937 and befriended Harryhausen and Ackerman. In 1939, Ray attended the first Worldcon and visited the New York World’s Fair.

With Julius Schwartz as his agent, Ray’s stories began appearing in the pulp magazines in the early 1940s, and following the success of The Martian Chronicles, he transitioned to the slick magazines such as Saturday Evening Post.

In 1947, he married Marguerite Susan McClure, and they raised four daughters.

He is primarily a writer of short stories, although he has written novels, screenplays, television scripts, poetry and non-fiction. His stories have appeared in hundreds of anthologies, and have been adapted for television, comic books, and the theater.

In the early 1950s, Ray published several important books: The Martian Chronicles (1950); The Illustrated Man (1951); and, Fahrenheit 451 (1953). Working with his life-long friend Ray Harryhausen, two of Bradbury’s stories were made into major motion pictures in 1953: It Came From Outer Space and The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

In 1956, he wrote the screenplay for John Huston’s film Moby Dick.  Ray’s stories have been adapted for early television appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone.  In 1964, he wrote American Journey for the American Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair.  Several books have been made into major motion pictures: Fahrenheit 451 (1966) and The Illustrated Man (1969).

Bradbury served as President of the Science Fantasy Writers of America, 1951-53.  He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Screen Writers Guild of America, 1957-61.  He received the O. Henry Prize, 1947 and 1948; Benjamin Franklin Award, 1954; American Academy Award, 1954; Golden Eagle Award, 1957; Ann Radcliffe Award, 1965, 1971; Writers Guild Award, 1974; World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award (1977); Aviation Space Writer’s Award, 1979; Gandalf Award, 1980; Nebula Grand Master Lifetime Achievement Award, 1989; and, Dragon*Con’s Julie Award, 1998.

In 1980, The Martian Chronicles was adapted as a TV mini-series.  Disney filmed Something Wicked This Way Comes (1981).  Ray authored the narrative for EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth (1982).  In 1985, the Ray Bradbury Theater television series began.  Ray was Guest of Honor at the 1986 Worldcon. 

In 1989, he received the Brom Stoker Award from the Horror Writers of America.  In 1992, the Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited him to present the Gordon E. Sawyer Award to Ray Harryhausen.  Bradbury has received an Emmy Award (1993), been named Citizen of the Year by the City of Los Angeles (1995) and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2002).  He was presented in 2003 with an Honorary Doctorate from Woodbury University.  In 2007, Bradbury received a special citation from the Pulitzer Board

Ray Bradbury maintains a futuristic perspective and is an avid supporter of space exploration.

He is someone who has transcended the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres to become a major cultural influence and his important body of work will endure for generations to come.

(Prepared by John L. Coker, III)