MantiCon
MantiCon is a science fiction convention hosted by The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. (TRMN). The first four annual events were held 2015-2018 on Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota. Each year featured David Weber as the principal Guest of Honor. Additional guests varied by year, and often included David Weber's Honorverse co-authors.
MantiCon has since become the designation for TRMN-hosted conventions in other cities and at other times of the year, with a 2019 convention held in Utah.
MantiCon was conceived by TRMN founder and First Lord of the Admiralty Martin Lessem as a convention centered on Honorverse fandom and related military science fiction, drawing on the talent and experience of TRMN members to operate the event. He selected the Minneapolis area as the location because it is centrally located for US members, and because it had the largest concentration of local TRMN members.
The convention featured evening parties, a dealers' room, and multiple tracks of programming including discussion panels, author interviews, and childrens' programming. Gaming was a major component, with immersive Battletech pods and immersive spaceship bridges running Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator. Live entertainment included Harisen Daiko, a taiko drumming group.
TRMN's annual general meeting was held at MantiCon each year of the event, and the TRMN awards ceremony was a major event each year.
To date, MantiCon has been the largest gathering of TRMN members in one place, with members attending from at least six countries.
2015
29-31 May, 2015 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hilton. Featuring David and Sharon Weber, Timothy Zahn, and Marko Kloos. A catered banquet was held on Saturday night, with entertainment provided by professional ballroom dancers, as well as a performance by FLA Martin Lessem.
Operational Awards
2016
28-30 May, 2016 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hilton. Featuring David and Sharon Weber, Manu Intiraymi.
2017
26-28 May, 2017 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hilton. Featuring David and Sharon Weber, Captain Dale Dye, USMC.
Awards
- TRMN Forum Announcement of awards issued at MantiCon 2017
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Flag Promotions at MantiCon 2017
- MantiCon 2017 Operational Awards: Second Fleet Order 1706-A
2018
25-27 May, 2018 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hilton. Featuring David and Sharon Weber, Timothy Zahn, Eric Flint, and Marko Kloos. This was the Webers' 25th wedding anniversary, and an elaborate vow renewal ceremony was held on the main stage.
Awards
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Peerages awarded at MantiCon 2018
- TRMN Forum Announcement of awards issued at MantiCon 2018
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Flag Promotions at MantiCon 2018
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Operational Awards for MantiCon 2018 participation
2019
4-7 July 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn & Dayton Conference Center in Layton, Utah, hosted by NASFIC 13 (Spikecon). Featured guests were David Weber, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher, Vincent Villafranca, Bjo & John Trimble.
Awards
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Awards issued at MantiCon 2019
- TRMN Forum Announcement of Operational Awards for MantiCon 2019 participation
2023
1-4 July, 2023 at the Santa Clara Marriott in Santa Clara, California, hosted by BayCon.
Awards
TBA