30th World Science Fiction Convention
| L.A.con I, the 30th World Science Fiction Convention | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Venue | International Hotel |
| Location | Anaheim, California |
| Country | United States |
| First held | September 1–4, 1972 |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Attendance | 2,007 |
The 30th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) was L.A.con I, which was held in Anaheim, California, US from September 1 to September 4, 1972.[1] The venue for 30th Worldcon was the International Hotel. The organising committee was co-chaired by Charles Crayne and Bruce Pelz.
The convention had 2,007 members, breaking the previous record of 1,600 set only one year earlier. The record was broken again a year later.
Contents |
[edit] Program and events
[edit] Guests of honor
The guests of honor were:
- Frederik Pohl (pro)
- Buck Coulson and Juanita Coulson (fan)
- Robert Bloch (toastmaster)
[edit] Worldcon site selection
The 33rd World Science Fiction Convention was awarded to Aussiecon I in Melbourne, Australia. This was the first time a Worldcon was awarded to a site outside North America or Europe.
[edit] Awards
The Hugo Awards, named after Hugo Gernsback, are presented every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. Results are based on the ballots submitted by members of the World Science Fiction Society. Other awards are also presented each year at Worldcon.[2]
[edit] Hugo Awards
- Best novel: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer
- Best novella: "The Queen of Air and Darkness" by Poul Anderson
- Best short story: "Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven
- Best dramatic presentation: A Clockwork Orange
- Best professional magazine: Fantasy & Science Fiction
- Best professional artist: Frank Kelly Freas
- Best amateur magazine: Locus (editors: Charles and Dena Brown)
- Best fan writer: Harry Warner, Jr.
- Best fan artist: Tim Kirk
[edit] Other awards
- Special Award: Harlan Ellison for excellence in anthologizing
- Special Award: Club du Livre d'Anticipation (France) for excellence in book production
- Special Award: Nueva Dimension (Spain) for excellence in magazine production
[edit] Notable events
At the L.A. Con I masquerade, one of the contestants, a moderately stout individual of medium height, came on stage totally in the nude with his body completely covered with crunchy peanut butter. The name of his costume was "The Turd". Since some of the peanut butter tended to drip off of him and land on the floor, making the floor sticky for other contestants, a rule was passed that forever after at science fiction convention masquerades, no peanut butter costumes would be allowed. This masquerade rule is universally known among science fiction fans as the "no peanut butter rule".[3]
The first video game competition at a science fiction convention was held, and a science fiction fan named Kevan Pritchard from Lawndale, California won the world championship contest in the game Spacewar!.
[edit] References
- ^ Cartnal, Alan (September 10, 1972). "Science Fiction Fans Touch Down in L.A.". Los Angeles Times: p. J1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/684536662.html?dids=684536662:684536662&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ "Hugo Award FAQ". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-faq/. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ The origin of the "No Peanut Butter" rule
[edit] See also
| Preceded by 29th World Science Fiction Convention Noreascon I in Boston, US (1971) |
List of Worldcons 30th World Science Fiction Convention L.A.con I in Anaheim, US (1972) |
Succeeded by 31st World Science Fiction Convention Torcon II in Toronto, Canada (1973) |
