The 15th World Science Fiction Convention (

Worldcon Worldcon, officially the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during Wor ...

), also known as Loncon I, was held on 6–9 September 1957 at the King's Court Hotel in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, United Kingdom. It was the first Worldcon held outside

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. The chairman was Ted Carnell.

Participants

Attendance was 268.

Guests of Honour

* John W. Campbell, Jr.

Programming and events

Events included a "fancy dress ball" on the evening of Friday, 6 September.

Awards

1957 Hugo Awards

The winners were: * Best American Professional Magazine: ''

Astounding Science Fiction ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'', edited by John W. Campbell, Jr. * Best British Professional Magazine: '' New Worlds'', edited by

John Carnell Edward John Carnell (8 April 1912 – 23 March 1972) was a British science fiction editor known for editing '' New Worlds'' in 1946 then from 1949 to 1963. He also edited ''Science Fantasy'' from the 1950s. After the magazines were sold to anoth ...

* Best Fanzine: ''Science Fiction Times'', edited by James V. Taurasi, Sr., Ray Van Houten, and Frank R. Prieto, Jr. Because the 1957

International Fantasy Award The International Fantasy Award was an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy book and, in 1951-1953, the best non-fiction book of interest to science fiction and fantasy readers. The IFA was given by an international panel ...

was being given out in London at the same time, Loncon I chose not to compete with this similar literary award, which was given to

J.R.R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...

's ''

The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an Epic (genre), epic high fantasy novel written by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's book ''The Hobbit'' but eventually d ...

''. As a result, only the three Hugo Awards for Best Professional Magazine and Best Fanzine were given out at the 1957 Worldcon. Both the International Fantasy Award and the Hugo Award shared the very same

Chesley Bonestell Chesley Knight Bonestell Jr. (January 1, 1888 – June 11, 1986) was an American painter, designer, and illustrator. His paintings inspired the American space program, and they have been (and remain) influential in science fiction art and illust ...

-influenced finned rocketship design that year, the only time this has happened.

References

External links

nesfa.org - 1957 convention notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Science Fiction Convention 015 1957 conferences 1957 in London September 1957 in the United Kingdom English science fiction Science fiction conventions in the United Kingdom Worldcon Events in London