14th World Science Fiction Convention

14th Worldcon (1956) NyCon II, the 14th World Science Fiction Convention Science fiction Biltmore Hotel New York City United States 31 August–3 September 1956 non-profit ~850 right|thumb|Snapshot from the 14th World Science Fiction Convention 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, New York. The chairman was David A. Kyle. Participants Attendance was approximately 850. Guests of honor Arthur C. Clarke Robert Bloch (toastmaster) Awards Awards 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.January 2022 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. thumb|("Balcony Insurgents") 14th World Science Fiction Convention, 1956. See also Hugo Award Science fiction Speculative fiction World Science Fiction Society Worldcon References 30em http://fanac.org/Fannish_Reference_Works/Fan_terms/Fan_terms-00.html Rich Brown Balcony Insurgents 2005-08-01 Dr. Gafia's Fan Terms 2011-07-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20110608074612/http://fanac.org/Fannish_Reference_Works/Fan_terms/Fan_terms-00.html 2011-06-08 The Hugo Awards 1956 Hugo Awards World Science Fiction Society http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1956-hugo-awards/ 2011-03-07 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164531/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1956-hugo-awards/ 2011-05-07 The New York Times Invasion From Mars https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/01/archives/topics-of-the-times-invasion-from-mars.html 1956-08-31 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. 2011-01-19 External links http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html#1956 nesfa.org 1956 convention notes 2007-03-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20070209104936/http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html 2007-02-09 13th World Science Fiction ConventionClevention in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (1955) List of Worldcons 14th World Science Fiction ConventionNyCon II in New York City, United States (1956) 15th World Science Fiction ConventionLoncon I in London, UK (1957) Speculative fiction Novels Category:1956 conferences Category:1956 in New York City Category:August 1956 in the United States Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States Category:Worldcon Category:September 1956 in the United States Category:Organized events in New York City