Les is a physicist, award-winning science and science fiction author, former Chief Technologist at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, and CEO of Infinite Frontiers Consulting. His science fiction books include Pluto (Tor 2025), Crisis at Proxima (Baen 2024), The Ross 248 Project (Baen 2023), and Monster Hunter International – The Alien Files (forthcoming, Baen). Les’s popular science books include A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars (Princeton Press 2022) – now translated into 7 languages, Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World (2018), Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel, and others. In his day job at NASA, Les served as the Principal Investigator for flight demonstrations of advanced space technology systems, including solar sails, deployable solar panels and antennas, and most recently, space based solar power. Les is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the British Interplanetary Society, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and MENSA – and is the Program Chair of the Interstellar Research Group. He was a technical consultant for the movies Europa Report, Lost in Space, and Solis. NPR, CNN, Fox News, The Science Channel and The Discovery Channel have all interviewed Les about space and space exploration. He was the featured Interstellar Explorer in the January 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine and appeared there again in March 2019.
Shami Stovall
Lit RPG Guest of Honor
Shami Stovall was born in Utah, lived in California, and now resides in the wonderful state of Kansas. After graduating high school, she went on to earn his BA in History from Stanislaus State, and then her Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.
Stovall’s favorite novel as a child was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. It opened her imagination to possibilities she had never considered, and to this day she can still remember the impact it had on her.
As an adult (albeit still a kid at heart), her favorite novel is Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Heinlein’s take on a perfect world again opened her mind to possibilities she had never considered, and Jubal Harshaw is the fictional character she most aspires to be.
Stovall loves telling stories, playing video games, John 3, John 4, and writing about herself in the third person
Ben Wallace
P-Con 2026 Artist Guest of Honor
Benjamin and Patty Wallace are the creative team behind Danger Bear Industries, producing books, merchandise, and more through illustration, design, and storytelling.
Ben is an author and illustrator best known for his humorous science fiction series, including the Duck & Cover Adventures, the Shattered Alliance Saga, Dads vs Zombies and more. He uses illustration and design to create characters and worlds that extend naturally into merchandise and visual products.
Patty is a designer who shapes the look and structure of everything they create. Her work focuses on layout, presentation, and cohesion, ensuring that each product—whether a book, print, or piece of merchandise—feels intentional and well executed.
Together, they develop the art, design, product concepts, and marketing behind Ben’s books, related merchandise, and other nonsense like their Twisted Spirit Animals.
Patty Wallace
P-Con 2026 Artist Guest of Honor
Benjamin and Patty Wallace are the creative team behind Danger Bear Industries, producing books, merchandise, and more through illustration, design, and storytelling.
Ben is an author and illustrator best known for his humorous science fiction series, including the Duck & Cover Adventures, the Shattered Alliance Saga, Dads vs Zombies and more. He uses illustration and design to create characters and worlds that extend naturally into merchandise and visual products.
Patty is a designer who shapes the look and structure of everything they create. Her work focuses on layout, presentation, and cohesion, ensuring that each product—whether a book, print, or piece of merchandise—feels intentional and well executed.
Together, they develop the art, design, product concepts, and marketing behind Ben’s books, related merchandise, and other nonsense like their Twisted Spirit Animals.
William J. Roberts aka Hillbilly
Publisher Guest of Honor
Since his enlistment as an F-15 mechanic ended, William Joseph Roberts has pursued careers as an industrial and architectural designer, design engineer, and is now an award-winning author, editor, and publisher with Three Ravens Publishing.
William Joseph Roberts currently resides in the quaint southern town of Chickamauga, Georgia, with his loving wife, three freaky-smart nerd children, and a small pack of fur babies.
Fred Hughes
Waffle Master
The International Bestselling Amazon Author of ‘The Prince of Britannia’ series, and it’s follow on series ‘Heros of Britannia,’ Fred writes in the various sub-genres of science fiction. He also wrote the ‘First Solar War’ series.
Fred believes characters are the most important part of a story. So important that he starts with developing his characters and then writes the story through their eyes. “I’m basically a ghost writer for my characters,” Fred once said in an interview.
Having served 20 years in the US Navy, most of it on submarines, Fred developed a great appreciation for the written word. Naval service also gave him an appreciation for organization, processes, and the comraderies serving together brings. It’s also helped in writing space combat.
Taylor Anderson
Texas Author Guest of Honor
New York times Best Selling author
Taylor Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of the 15 novel Destroyermen series, 4 novel Artillerymen Series, the upcoming Destroyermen novel “Fleet of Ghosts,” and a number of short stories and anthology contributions. He was a roofer, welder, machinist, builder, mechanic, and general laborer before earning a Master’s degree in history and becoming a university instructor for a while. Always a “traditional” gunmaker, he made a living building and restoring fine weapons for collectors, serious marksmen, museums and movies. All this led to him becoming a forensic ballistic archaeologist, technical and dialogue consultant for movies and documentaries, in which he often served as an armorer and even an actor on occasion. (His scenes usually involve shooting flintlocks and cannons and his most common speaking role is to shout “Fire!”) He was inducted into the National Historical Honor Society and remains a member of the United States Field Artillery Association, which awarded him the Honorable Order of St. Barbara. His first book, “Destroyermen: Into the Storm,” was published in 2008 and he’s been busy writing ever since.
He lives near Granbury, Texas, with his family and dogs.
Ken Ruffin
Space Communicator GoH
Ken Ruffin, member of the National Space Society (NSS) Board of Strategic Advisors and NSS Space Ambassadors, as well as president of the National Space Society of North Texas (NSS-NT), has transitioned from an engineering career to a space industry career by leveraging his aerospace engineering education and public speaking experience. Ken has presented to nearly 250 audiences in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex, Texas, and beyond, and he has been interviewed dozens of times by DFW television news stations, all regarding present and planned space travel. Through his business, “Didymos Consulting LLC, dba Ruff-in-Space”, Ken conducts public outreach regarding space and connects potential employees with commercial space employers.
A Scientist, Communicator, and a Marine walk into a…
Windsor
SAT 10 am
Space Party w/ GOH Ken Ruffin
Con Suite
SAT 10 pm
Space ship design
Manchester
SAT 3 pm
Red Alert! Starfleet’s Worst Decisions
Manchester
SUN 2 pm
Music Talent
Triskelion – Triskelion, inspired by a love of Celtic music, brings a variety of musical talent to the stage. Floyd Brigdon’s background playing guitar in rock bands (and a begrudging country band or two) and as a singer/songwriter, Sarah Brigdon’s as a vocalist, and Leah Tharp’s rhythm 12-string guitar and vocals blend together to bring a joyful and diverse blend of harmonies. Together, the trio plays a blend of Celtic, folk, filk, and Renaissance faire music of contemporary, traditional, and original songs.
