| Chicon III, the 20th World Science Fiction Convention | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Dates | 31 August–3 September 1962 |
| Venue | Pick-Congress Hotel |
| Location(s) | Chicago, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Attendance | ~730 |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Website | chicon.org |
The20th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known unofficially asChicon III (less frequently,Chicon II), was held on 31 August–3 September 1962 at thePick-Congress Hotel inChicago, Illinois, United States.
Because the secondWorldcon held in Chicago was officially called, in its publications, the 10th Annual World Science Fiction Convention (and once as the "10th Annual Science Fiction Convention") and not Chicon, the next Chicago Worldcon held in 1962 was occasionally referred to as Chicon II, though Chicon III is the generally accepted and preferred nomenclature.
The chairman wasEarl Kemp.
Attendance was approximately 730.[1]
Following the convention,Advent:Publishers publishedThe Proceedings: Chicon III, edited byEarl Kemp.[3] The book includes transcripts of lectures and panels given during the course of the convention and includes numerous photographs as well. Events at the convention included an address byWilly Ley.[4]
The World Science Fiction Society administers and presents theHugo Awards,[5] 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 andfandom activities.[5][6]
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 JapaneseSeiun Awards as part ofNippon 2007,[7] and thePrix Aurora Awards as part ofAnticipation in 2009. TheAstounding Award for Best New Writer and theSidewise Award, though not sponsored by the Worldcon, are usually presented, as well as theChesley Awards, thePrometheus Award, and others.[7]
S. M. Stirling's 2008alternate history novelIn the Courts of the Crimson Kings begins with a prologue set at this convention, in which a group of the science fiction authors in attendance watch a television broadcast of an Americanspace probe as it lands on an inhabited Mars. Those present includeFrederik and Carol Pohl,Poul Anderson,H. Beam Piper, Guest of HonorTheodore Sturgeon,Jack Williamson,Robert andVirginia Heinlein,Arthur C. Clarke,Larry Niven,Isaac Asimov,L. Sprague andCatherine Crook de Camp,John W. Campbell,Frank Herbert, andLeigh Brackett. Heinlein mentions an idea for a novel about Mars he had had but set aside when "the preliminary orbital telescope reports" had come in. (In actual history the completed book,Stranger in a Strange Land, won theHugo Award for Best Novel at the convention.) The authors comment as the broadcast from the probe reveals a Martian canal and wildlife and then, startlingly, the arrival of human-like Martians in a "land ship" who haul the probe off.
During his Guest of Honor speech, Theodore Sturgeon expressed regret that Hugo Award winnerRobert A. Heinlein could not attend. Heinlein, at that moment, walked into the ballroom, in a white tux, saying that Ted's regret for his nonattendance was premature. He went to the podium, and Sturgeon offered him a sip from a water glass, asking Heinlein to share water with him (a reference toStranger in a Strange Land.) Heinlein and Sturgeon shared water.
Before the convention, in 1961, chairmanEarl Kemp wrote toIsaac Asimov relaying that someone had jokingly suggested that Asimov deliver a pseudo-lecture on the theme "The Positive Power of Posterior Pinching" and offered that the convention would "furnish some suitable posteriors for demonstration purposes."[8] At that time Asimov was well known, but not ostracized, for groping female congoers.[9] Asimov responded, "I have no doubt I could give a stimulating talk that would stiffen the manly fiber of every one in the audience." However, he noted, "I will have to ask the permission of various people who are (or would be) concerned in the matter. If they say 'no', it will be 'no.'"[8] The suggested pseudo-lecture did not occur.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)Rocket expert Willy Ley zoomed in and out of town a few days ago [...] to address the 20th annual convention of the World Science Fiction Writers association.
| Preceded by | List of Worldcons 20th World Science Fiction Convention Chicon III inChicago, Illinois, United States (1962) | Succeeded by |
