Difference between revisions of "1959 Hugos"
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| − | Awarded September 7, 1959 by [[Detention]]. Another year, another change of categories! The [[Detention]] committee retained some of [[Solacon]]'s changes, and rolled back others and managed to come up with a set of [[Hugo]] categories which looked more like the set used starting in the late 60s than any other of the pre-1967 [[Worldcons]]. | + | Awarded September 7, 1959, by [[Detention]]. Another year, another change of categories! The [[Detention]] committee retained some of [[Solacon]]'s changes, and rolled back others and managed to come up with a set of [[Hugo]] categories which looked more like the set used starting in the late 60s than any other of the pre-1967 [[Worldcons]]. |
| − | For the first time, there was a nomination ballot. It was circulated widely through [[fandom]], anyone was allowed to nominate, and then the [[final ballot]] was distributed as usual in a [[PR]]. (See [[Early Hugo voting]].) | + | For the first time, there was a nomination ballot. It was circulated widely through [[fandom]], anyone was allowed to nominate, and then the [[final ballot]] was distributed as usual in a [[PR]]. (See [[Early Hugo voting]].) [[Howard DeVore]] reported in [[Lynn Hickman]]’s [[fanzine]] ''[[JD-Argassy]]'' 41 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/JD-Argassy/JD-Argassy41.pdf January 31, 1959, p. 8]): |
| + | The [[Detention]] [[Committee]] have announced a new system for awarding the “HUGO’S” for ’59. ALL of fandom will be allowed to make nominations and to vote on the nominations. Probably the first time that fandom as a whole has had a voice in naming the people who are considered for the awards. A copy of the initial ballott will appear here shortly and all readers are urged to vote whether they have joined the convention proper or not. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO JOIN THE CONVENTION TO VOTE *** but, it takes money to pay for the trophys and your two dollars to [[Jim Broderick|JAMES BRODERICK]], 12011 KILBOURNE ST./DETROIT 13, MICHIGAN will buy you a membership and help pay for the trophies. | ||
(Note that the modern rules were not yet in places, so categories had as many as ten nominees plus No Award on the final ballot. The [[committee]] noted that when the [[nomination ballot]] showed there was no clearly preferred nominee, they added No Award as a choice. Additionally, the category titles had not yet been standardized, so one category was "Best [[STF]] or [[Fantasy]] Movie" on the nomination ballot, but was "Best Hollywood Movie of 1958" on the final ballot.)) | (Note that the modern rules were not yet in places, so categories had as many as ten nominees plus No Award on the final ballot. The [[committee]] noted that when the [[nomination ballot]] showed there was no clearly preferred nominee, they added No Award as a choice. Additionally, the category titles had not yet been standardized, so one category was "Best [[STF]] or [[Fantasy]] Movie" on the nomination ballot, but was "Best Hollywood Movie of 1958" on the final ballot.)) | ||
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There was also an attempted ballot-stuffing: Seventy nominations (a huge number for this period) for [[R. Lionel Fanthorpe]] came in from one town in [[England]] and none of the voters' names were recognized by [[British fans]]. The nominations were ignored and the following year the rule was made that nominators had to be members of the [[Worldcon]]. (There was no evidence that [[Fanthorpe]] had anything to do with the ballot stuffing.) | There was also an attempted ballot-stuffing: Seventy nominations (a huge number for this period) for [[R. Lionel Fanthorpe]] came in from one town in [[England]] and none of the voters' names were recognized by [[British fans]]. The nominations were ignored and the following year the rule was made that nominators had to be members of the [[Worldcon]]. (There was no evidence that [[Fanthorpe]] had anything to do with the ballot stuffing.) | ||
| − | [[Isaac Asimov]] was the toastmaster at the Hugo Ceremony and was joined by [[Robert Bloch]]. According to Asimov, Bloch opened the envelope with the name of the winner of the Short Story Hugo and was so surprised, Asimov had to read over Bloch's shoulder that Bloch had won. | + | [[Isaac Asimov]] was the [[toastmaster]] at the Hugo Ceremony and was joined by [[Robert Bloch]]. According to Asimov, Bloch opened the envelope with the name of the winner of the Short Story Hugo and was so surprised, Asimov had to read over Bloch's shoulder that Bloch had won. |
Winners: | Winners: | ||
Revision as of 20:04, 24 October 2021
Awarded September 7, 1959, by Detention. Another year, another change of categories! The Detention committee retained some of Solacon's changes, and rolled back others and managed to come up with a set of Hugo categories which looked more like the set used starting in the late 60s than any other of the pre-1967 Worldcons.
For the first time, there was a nomination ballot. It was circulated widely through fandom, anyone was allowed to nominate, and then the final ballot was distributed as usual in a PR. (See Early Hugo voting.) Howard DeVore reported in Lynn Hickman’s fanzine JD-Argassy 41 (January 31, 1959, p. 8):
The Detention Committee have announced a new system for awarding the “HUGO’S” for ’59. ALL of fandom will be allowed to make nominations and to vote on the nominations. Probably the first time that fandom as a whole has had a voice in naming the people who are considered for the awards. A copy of the initial ballott will appear here shortly and all readers are urged to vote whether they have joined the convention proper or not. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO JOIN THE CONVENTION TO VOTE *** but, it takes money to pay for the trophys and your two dollars to JAMES BRODERICK, 12011 KILBOURNE ST./DETROIT 13, MICHIGAN will buy you a membership and help pay for the trophies.
(Note that the modern rules were not yet in places, so categories had as many as ten nominees plus No Award on the final ballot. The committee noted that when the nomination ballot showed there was no clearly preferred nominee, they added No Award as a choice. Additionally, the category titles had not yet been standardized, so one category was "Best STF or Fantasy Movie" on the nomination ballot, but was "Best Hollywood Movie of 1958" on the final ballot.))
There was also an attempted ballot-stuffing: Seventy nominations (a huge number for this period) for R. Lionel Fanthorpe came in from one town in England and none of the voters' names were recognized by British fans. The nominations were ignored and the following year the rule was made that nominators had to be members of the Worldcon. (There was no evidence that Fanthorpe had anything to do with the ballot stuffing.)
Isaac Asimov was the toastmaster at the Hugo Ceremony and was joined by Robert Bloch. According to Asimov, Bloch opened the envelope with the name of the winner of the Short Story Hugo and was so surprised, Asimov had to read over Bloch's shoulder that Bloch had won.
Winners:
- Best Novel: A Case of Conscience by James Blish
- Best Professional Magazine: The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ed. by Anthony Boucher and Robert P. Mills
- Best New Author of 1958: No Award
- Best Novelette: "The Big Front Yard" by Clifford D. Simak
- Best Short Story: "That Hell-Bound Train" by Robert Bloch
- Best Fanzine: Fanac ed. by Terry Carr and Ron Ellik
- Best Professional Artist: Frank Kelly Freas
- Best SF or Fantasy Movie: No Award
| 1958 | Hugos | 1960 | 1959 |
| This is an award page. If you know something about it, such as who awarded it, who the winners were, what the criteria were, and when it was awarded, please add it! See Standards for Awards. |
