14th World Science Fiction Convention

NyCon II, the 14th World Science Fiction Convention
Genre	Science fiction
Dates	31 August–3 September 1956
Venue	Biltmore Hotel
Location(s)	New York City
Country	United States
Attendance	~850
Filing status	non-profit

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

The chairman was David A. Kyle.

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Participants

Attendance was approximately 850.

Guests of Honor

Arthur C. Clarke
Robert Bloch (toastmaster)

Awards

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]

1956 Hugo Awards

Best Novel: Double Star, by Robert A. Heinlein
Best Novelette: "Exploration Team", by Murray Leinster
Best Short Story: "The Star", by Arthur C. Clarke
Best Professional Artist: Frank Kelly Freas
Best Professional Magazine: Astounding
Best Fanzine: (tie)
- Inside, edited by Ron Smith
- Science Fiction Advertiser, edited by Ron Smith
Best Feature Writer: Willy Ley
Best Book Reviewer: Damon Knight
Most Promising New Author: Robert Silverberg

Future site selection

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.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

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]

References

^ "Invasion From Mars". The New York Times. 1956-08-31. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 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.
^ ^a ^b "Article 3: Hugo Awards". WSFS Constitution. World Science Fiction Society. 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
^ Franklin, Jon (October 30, 1977). "Star roars: this year's champs in science fiction". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. p. D5. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Awards". Nippon2007: 65th World Science Fiction Convention. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
^ "1956 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
^ Brown, Rich (2005-08-01). "Balcony Insurgents". Dr. Gafia's Fan Terms. Archived from the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2011-07-02.

External links

"1956 convention notes". nesfa.org. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-03-03.

Preceded by 13th World Science Fiction Convention Clevention in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (1955)	List of Worldcons 14th World Science Fiction Convention NyCon II in New York City, United States (1956)	Succeeded by 15th World Science Fiction Convention Loncon I in London, UK (1957)