Difference between revisions of "Worldcon"
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Nycon Program Book heading by Frank R. Paul, courtesy of Thrilling Wonder Stories.
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| − | + | [[File:NyconArt.jpeg|frameless|center|upright=2.6]] | |
| + | <center><small>[[Nycon]] [[Program Book]] heading by [[Frank R. Paul]], courtesy of ''[[Thrilling Wonder Stories]]''.</small></center> | ||
| − | As a service mark, "Worldcon" should always be capitalized. Technically it may not be necessary for Worldcons held before it was made a service mark, but why split hairs? | + | |
| + | '''Worldcon''', the '''World Science Fiction Convention''', is the principal annual gathering of [[science fiction fandom]] — [[fandom]]'s family reunion. The one, the only, annual world [[science fiction]] [[convention]] at which the [[Hugo Awards]] are given out. It is an entirely volunteer-run effort. | ||
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| + | As a service mark, "Worldcon" should always be capitalized. (Technically it may not be necessary for Worldcons held before it was made a service mark, but why split hairs?) It is incorrect to write it as "WorldCon." | ||
Officially sponsored by the the [[World Science Fiction Society]], the [[convention]] is run by a different [[organization]] each year. Each site [[worldcon bid|bids]] to run it and is selected by vote of the [[WSFS membership]] (see [[Site Selection]]). In a custom begun by [[Forrest J Ackerman]] at the first Worldcon, in [[New York]] in 1939, which he dubbed [[Nycon]], every Worldcon has a [[pet name]], often associated with its location, as well as being the Nth Worldcon. | Officially sponsored by the the [[World Science Fiction Society]], the [[convention]] is run by a different [[organization]] each year. Each site [[worldcon bid|bids]] to run it and is selected by vote of the [[WSFS membership]] (see [[Site Selection]]). In a custom begun by [[Forrest J Ackerman]] at the first Worldcon, in [[New York]] in 1939, which he dubbed [[Nycon]], every Worldcon has a [[pet name]], often associated with its location, as well as being the Nth Worldcon. | ||
| − | The Worldcon has been held each year since 1939 (except during | + | The Worldcon has been held each year since 1939 (except during 1942–45, [[World War II]]), and moves to a different city each year. It is the oldest [[sf]] convention with a continuing existence. While most Worldcons have occurred in the [[United States]], the event has been hosted by [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[Finland]], [[Ireland]], [[Germany]], [[Japan]], the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. It would have been held [[New Zealand]] if [[Covid-19]] hadn’t forced it to be online, and will be in [[China]] in 2023. |
| − | Traditionally, the con, when in the US, was held over Labor Day weekend ([[Roscoe]]’s Birthday | + | Traditionally, the [[con]], when in the US, was held over Labor Day weekend ([[Roscoe]]’s Birthday — the first Monday in September), a date chosen not only because most [[fans]] have the holiday off work but also because it was an unpopular weekend for [[mundane]] meetings, giving Worldcon a better position in regard to facilities. However, this is no longer the case, and [[Worldcon bidders]] now chose dates any time from midsummer to early fall.<ref>Indeed, [[Dragoncon]]’s choice to hold its [[gate show]] over Labor Day has caused some Worldcons to deliberately avoid the weekend due to complaints from [[pro]]s about the conflict.</ref> |
===More Reading === | ===More Reading === | ||
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<tab head=top> | <tab head=top> | ||
| − | # || Convention || Dates || Location || [[Chair]] || [[GoHs]] || | + | # || Convention || Dates || Location || [[Chair]] || [[GoHs]] || Members<br>(att./ total) |
1 || [[Nycon]] || July 2–4, 1939 || [[New York]] || [[Sam Moskowitz]] || [[Frank R. Paul]] || 200 | 1 || [[Nycon]] || July 2–4, 1939 || [[New York]] || [[Sam Moskowitz]] || [[Frank R. Paul]] || 200 | ||
2 || [[Chicon]] || September 1–2, 1940 || [[Chicago]] || [[Mark Reinsberg]] || [[E. E. Smith]] || 128 | 2 || [[Chicon]] || September 1–2, 1940 || [[Chicago]] || [[Mark Reinsberg]] || [[E. E. Smith]] || 128 | ||
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62 || [[Noreascon 4]] || September 2–6, 2004 || [[Boston]] || [[Deb Geisler]] || [[Terry Pratchett]], [[William Tenn]], [[Jack Speer]], [[Peter Weston]] || 6,008 / 7,485 | 62 || [[Noreascon 4]] || September 2–6, 2004 || [[Boston]] || [[Deb Geisler]] || [[Terry Pratchett]], [[William Tenn]], [[Jack Speer]], [[Peter Weston]] || 6,008 / 7,485 | ||
63 || [[Interaction]] || August 4–8, 2005 || [[Glasgow]] || [[Vincent Docherty]], [[Colin Harris]] || [[Christopher Priest]], [[Robert Sheckley]], [[Jane Yolen]], [[Greg Pickersgill]], [[Lars-Olov Strandberg]] || 4,115 / 5,202 | 63 || [[Interaction]] || August 4–8, 2005 || [[Glasgow]] || [[Vincent Docherty]], [[Colin Harris]] || [[Christopher Priest]], [[Robert Sheckley]], [[Jane Yolen]], [[Greg Pickersgill]], [[Lars-Olov Strandberg]] || 4,115 / 5,202 | ||
| − | 64 || [[L.A.con IV]] || August 23–27, 2006 || [[Los Angeles]] || [[Christian B. McGuire]] || [[Connie Willis]], [[James Gurney]], [[Howard DeVore]], | + | 64 || [[L.A.con IV]] || August 23–27, 2006 || [[Los Angeles]] || [[Christian B. McGuire]] || [[Connie Willis]], [[James Gurney]], [[Howard DeVore]], Frankie Thomas || 5,738 / 6,291 |
65 || [[Nippon 2007]] || August 30–September 3, 2007 || Yokohama, [[Japan]] || [[Hiroaki Inoue]] || [[Sakyo Komatsu]], [[David Brin]], [[Yoshitaka Amano]], [[Michael Whelan]], [[Takumi Shibano]] || 3,348 / 5,149 | 65 || [[Nippon 2007]] || August 30–September 3, 2007 || Yokohama, [[Japan]] || [[Hiroaki Inoue]] || [[Sakyo Komatsu]], [[David Brin]], [[Yoshitaka Amano]], [[Michael Whelan]], [[Takumi Shibano]] || 3,348 / 5,149 | ||
66 || [[Denvention 3]] || August 6–10, 2008 || [[Denver]] || [[Kent Bloom]] || [[Lois McMaster Bujold]], [[Rick Sternbach]], [[Kathy Mar]], [[Robert A. Heinlein]], [[Tom Whitmore]] || 3,752 / 4,854 | 66 || [[Denvention 3]] || August 6–10, 2008 || [[Denver]] || [[Kent Bloom]] || [[Lois McMaster Bujold]], [[Rick Sternbach]], [[Kathy Mar]], [[Robert A. Heinlein]], [[Tom Whitmore]] || 3,752 / 4,854 | ||
Revision as of 23:18, 22 October 2022
Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention, is the principal annual gathering of science fiction fandom — fandom's family reunion. The one, the only, annual world science fiction convention at which the Hugo Awards are given out. It is an entirely volunteer-run effort.
As a service mark, "Worldcon" should always be capitalized. (Technically it may not be necessary for Worldcons held before it was made a service mark, but why split hairs?) It is incorrect to write it as "WorldCon."
Officially sponsored by the the World Science Fiction Society, the convention is run by a different organization each year. Each site bids to run it and is selected by vote of the WSFS membership (see Site Selection). In a custom begun by Forrest J Ackerman at the first Worldcon, in New York in 1939, which he dubbed Nycon, every Worldcon has a pet name, often associated with its location, as well as being the Nth Worldcon.
The Worldcon has been held each year since 1939 (except during 1942–45, World War II), and moves to a different city each year. It is the oldest sf convention with a continuing existence. While most Worldcons have occurred in the United States, the event has been hosted by Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It would have been held New Zealand if Covid-19 hadn’t forced it to be online, and will be in China in 2023.
Traditionally, the con, when in the US, was held over Labor Day weekend (Roscoe’s Birthday — the first Monday in September), a date chosen not only because most fans have the holiday off work but also because it was an unpopular weekend for mundane meetings, giving Worldcon a better position in regard to facilities. However, this is no longer the case, and Worldcon bidders now chose dates any time from midsummer to early fall.[1]
More Reading[edit]
- The SmofInfo Long List of Worldcons.
- Worldcon pages at Fanac.org, with progress reports and souvenir book scans.
- Schedule pages.
- Official website.
See also: Worldcon proceedings, Worldcons by Area, Convention, WSFS.
- ↑ Indeed, Dragoncon’s choice to hold its gate show over Labor Day has caused some Worldcons to deliberately avoid the weekend due to complaints from pros about the conflict.
- ↑ Discon III membership figures from The Long List; however, Locus reported 2,359 + 1,197 virtual / 9,293.
- ↑ Korshak died beforehand.
| From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959 |
| The chief annual gathering of fans is usually designated as an "International Convention."
See Convention. |
____
| Convention | |
| 1939— |
| This is a convention page. Please extend it by adding information about the convention, including dates, GoHs, convention chairman, locale, sponsoring organization, external links to convention pages, awards given, the program, notable events, anecdotes, pictures, scans of publications, pictures of T-shirts, con reports, etc. |
If applicable, please include category Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, NZ, UK, US, ROW or World.
