Congratulations to Eleanor Arnason, who will be celebrated for 50 years as an award-winning science fiction writer at next weekend’s Mythcon 53 in Minneapolis. This national convention of the Mythopoetic Society returns to Minnesota after 31 years, joining with the local Diversicon 31 convention and Rivendell Discussion Group, an affiliate of Mythcon. The schedule includes panels, readings, book discussions, scholarly papers and addresses focusing on fantasy/science fiction and the genre’s influence and place in our lives.
The other special guest will be Brian Attebery, scholar of fantasy literature. Eleanor Arnason (Courtesy of the Sean Murphy) “This is huge,” Arnason said of the Mythcon honor during a conversation from the apartment in St. Paul’s Lowertown she shares with her life partner, Patrick Arden Wood.
“I’ve known Mythcon and been active in it for decades. These are nice people. I enjoy spending time with them.
” At 82, Arnason is still writing and blogging, although she’s taking it more slowly after a half-century of writing novels and short stories that include gender, feminism, art, anthropology, culture change and conflict. Lyda Morehouse, a Minnesota science fiction author who writes as Tate Halloway, has referred to Arnason as “one of the often-unsung grand dames of feminist science fiction.” Arnason’s first published story, “A Clear Day in the Motor City” (New Worlds magazine, 1973), was inspired by her time in Detroit’s inner city.