IceCon is a science fiction, fantasy and horror – also known as speculative fiction – fan convention held in Reykjavik every other year since 2016.
Over the last fifteen years there has been an explosion in the writing of speculative fiction, or SF, in Iceland and over twenty new authors have appeared on the scene, which did not really exist until early this century. Among the pioneers of the last century are authors like Heiður Baldursdóttir and Kristmann Guðmundsson, who wrote science fiction under the pen name Ingi Vídalín.
Furðusögur is an Icelandic term a term that covers the entire range of science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, fairy tales and even horror stories. For close to two decades there has been a steady rise in the number of Icelandic authors writing these Furðusögur and of course people reading them as well. IceCon puts the spotlight on Icelandic authors and Furðusögur, but also includes guest speakers and panelists from all over the world.
We are now planning the fourth SF fan convention in Reykjavik late May 2024 and one of our guests of honour are Becky Chambers, the newly announced Hugo prize winner; Emil Hjörvar Petersen, one of the founders of IceCon as well Kirsty Logan, a Lambda award winner. Having them over here is a great honour. It is the hope of authors and readers of SF in Iceland that IceCon will continue, as it strengthens the field of Icelandic speculative fiction, both for authors and readers, and encourages Icelandic SF authors to continue writing.
IceCon 2016
In 2016, an international SF convention was held in Iðnó in Reykjavik, called IceCon 2016, where various aspects of the genre were discussed. These included the ways in which contemporary issues are reflected in stories written today, as well as a special focus on Nordic traditions within the genre. The convention was well received, and we were extremely happy with the outcome. The guests of honour at the conventions were US Hugo award winners Elizabeth Bear and Naomi Novik, and Swedish Crawford award winner Karin Tidbeck.
IceCon 2018
A second IceCon was held in 2018, again at Iðnó. Our guests of honor were Naomi Novik, author of the Temaraire series and Scholomance books as well as Úlfhildur Dagsdóttir, an Icelandic scholar. The 2018 program and a list of members can be found here below:
Æsingur: Furðusagnahátíð
A sister convention to IceCon, named Æsingur: Furðusagnahátíð was held in November 2019, in Icelandic. The convention was held in Norræna Húsið and focused on upcoming works by Icelandic authors
IceCon 2021
Then came Covid and the 2020 IceCon ended up being split into held in 2021. Our guests of honor were Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo-award winning author of the Lady Astronaut Series, Hildur Knútsdóttir, Icelandic literature prize winner of 2016 for Vetrarhörkur and Ted Chiang, Hugo award winning author of The Stories of Your Life And Others.