Philcon
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Philcon, also known as the "Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference", is an annual science fiction convention, held in or near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, every year starting in 1936 (except during World War II). It is usually held in November. It is run by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS). The convention features a mixture of literary, science, gaming, film, anime, and costuming programming. There is usually an open Meet the Authors/Artists Party on Friday and a Masquerade on Saturday, as well as the usual programming mixture of literature, art, costuming, and gaming panels, an art show, a dealers' room, and movies.
The 2007 Philcon will be held at the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel on November 16–18, 2007. The Principal Speaker will be Eric Flint, author of alternate history novels, including the 1632 series. The Artist Guest of Honor is Sue Dawe, and the Costuming Guests of Honor are Kevin Roche and Andrew Trembly.
[edit] History
In 1936, a half dozen fans came down from New York by train for the first intercity meeting of fans ever held. A picture taken of the group at Independence Hall has appeared in a number of the histories of science fiction fandom. They held a business meeting at the house of Philadelphia fan Milton A. Rothman, electing Rothman as chair and New Yorker Frederik Pohl as Secretary. Since Philadelphia had been the site of the 1936 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, they declared themselves the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention. Part of the group went to John Baltadonis' home to examine his art collection and the printing press used to publish the PSFS newsletter. At Rothman's house, the group talked about science fiction and played craps. On the way back to the train station, some of the attendees sang early filk songs. One of the attendees, John B. Michel published an account of the day, the first convention report, in a New York fanzine.
Many fan historians, as well as the PSFS, claim that the first Philcon was the first science fiction convention ever held. Others make this claim for a 1937 event in Leeds, England. attendees at this event bought tickets to sit in a hall and listen to several speakers and to a few telegrams. They also voted to create the British SF Society.
Trivia: Philcon has a "principal speaker" instead of a "guest of honor".
[edit] Worldcons
The World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, has been held in Philadelphia three times:
- The 5th World Science Fiction Convention, called Philcon I, was held in 1947.
- The 11th World Science Fiction Convention, called Philcon II, was held in 1953.
- The 59th World Science Fiction Convention, called the Millennium Philcon, was held in 2001.
