14th World Science Fiction Convention

The 14th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as NyCon II or NEWYORCON, was held August 31–September 3, 1956, at the Biltmore Hotel in New York, New York, United States.[1]

NyCon II, the 14th World Science Fiction Convention
GenreScience fiction
Dates31 August–3 September 1956
VenueBiltmore Hotel
Location(s)New York City, New York
CountryUnited States
Attendance850
Filing statusnon-profit

The chairman was David A. Kyle. The Guest of Honor was Arthur C. Clarke. The toastmaster was Robert Bloch. Total attendance was approximately 850.

Snapshot from the 14th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as NyCon II or NEWYORCON, held August 31–September 3, 1956, at the Biltmore Hotel in New York, New York, USA.

Awards
Main article: Hugo Award

The World Science Fiction Society administers and presents the Hugo Awards,[2] the oldest and most noteworthy award for science fiction. Selection of the recipients is by vote of the Worldcon members. Categories include novels and short fiction, artwork, dramatic presentations, and various professional and fandom activities.[2][3]

Other awards may be presented at Worldcon at the discretion of the individual convention committee. This has often included the national SF awards of the host country, such as the Japanese Seiun Awards as part of Nippon 2007,[4] and the Prix Aurora Awards as part of Anticipation in 2009. The Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the Sidewise Award, though not sponsored by the Worldcon, are usually presented, as well as the Chesley Awards, the Prometheus Award, and others.[4][5]

Hugo Awards

Fan politics

It was at this Worldcon that a group of fans (including Bob Tucker, Boyd Raeburn, Dick Eney, Ron Ellik and Ted White) who had not paid the $7 fee for the convention banquet chose to sit in the balcony and listen to the Guest of Honor speeches. Convention chair Kyle had a messenger tell the "Balcony Insurgents" that Kyle had said they could not sit there. Since almost every fan who wrote about the convention reported the incident, "Dave Kyle Says You Can't Sit Here" became a fannish catchphrase.[6]

("Balcony Insurgents") 14th World Science Fiction Convention, 1956.

The primary bid for the 15th World Science Fiction Convention was for London. This would be the first Worldcon outside North America, and there was a small but vocal jingoistic faction of Americans who argued for retaining the Worldcon in North America, claiming "If we let them have it they'll never give it back". Their campaign against the London proposal was opposed by other Americans, most audibly Anthony Boucher, and the London bid won by an ample margin, to loud cheers. There were reportedly petty efforts even after the vote was over to sabotage the London bid, but they failed to hinder it.

See also

References
  1. "Invasion From Mars". The New York Times. August 31, 1956. Retrieved 19 January 2011. The Martians are invading New York today. No, that's not quite correct. Rather, it's the men who write about Martians who'll do the invading. Gotham will be the science fiction capital of the world this week-end.
  2. "Article 3: Hugo Awards". WSFS Constitution. World Science Fiction Society. 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  3. Franklin, Jon (October 30, 1977). "Star roars: this year's champs in science fiction". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. p. D5. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  4. "Awards". Nippon2007: 65th World Science Fiction Convention. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  5. "1956 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  6. Brown, Rich (August 1, 2005). "Balcony Insurgents". Dr. Gafia's Fan Terms. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.


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