| ConQuesT | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy, and horror |
| Venue | Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center |
| Location(s) | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Attendance | 518 (for ConQuesT 50) |
| Organized by | The Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society |
| Website | http://www.conquestkc.org/ |
ConQuesT is the annual science fiction and fantasy convention held in the Kansas City, Missouri area over the U. S. Memorial Day weekend. It is sponsored by the long-running (since 1971) Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (KaCSFFS, pronounced kax-fuss). ConQuesT is the oldest such fan convention of its type in Missouri and in the U. S. central states region, first established using the name Mid-America Con in June 1972. After that, the next nine KaCSFFS-sponsored conventions were named BYOB-Cons (the final "B" in the name having additional and alternate science fictional meanings beyond the traditional meanings.) In 1980 KaCSFFS adopted the permanent name ConQuesT (sometimes abbreviated CQT) for the convention.
The convention's purpose is to celebrate science fiction, fantasy, and horror "in all its various forms",[1] but with a nod toward the literary side of these closely related genres. For some years its programming has been built around a different yearly theme.[2]