69th World Science Fiction Convention
The 69th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Renovation, was held in Reno, Nevada, August 17–21, 2011, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC).[1][2] The Atlantis Casino Resort served as the headquarters/party hotel, with additional rooms supplied by the Peppermill Hotel Casino and Courtyard by Marriott.[3] The convention committee was chaired by Patty Wells.
Programming
The Guests of Honor were Tim Powers, Ellen Asher, Boris Vallejo, and the late Charles N. Brown, whose contribution was still honored.[4] Special Guests included Tricky Pixie and Bill Willingham. Other notabile guests included author George R. R. Martin, radio legend Dr. Demento, and artist Julie Bell.[2][5] Special events include the Renovation Independent/Fan Film Festival 2011, Music Night on Wednesday, and an Art Night festival celebrating the visual arts in SF on Thursday.[6][7] The Chesley Awards were presented on August 18 as part of Art Night, the Masquerade was held on Friday the 19th, and the 2011 Hugo Awards were presented on Saturday August 20, with the Masquerade and Hugo Awards both held at the Peppermill and most other events happening at the RSCC.[8]
A pair of autographed shooting scripts for the HBO television series Game of Thrones were stolen in transit from Belfast to Reno.[9] The theft of the scripts, donated by author George R. R. Martin whose books are the basis for the series and intended for sale at Renovation's charity auction, made international headlines.[10] Shipped via registered mail, only the cover letter in a "battered" envelope arrived in Reno. The scripts were signed by executive producers Dan Weiss and David Benioff plus director Alan Taylor.[9]
Site selection
Reno's bid to host the Worldcon was formally unopposed and won with 650 out of the 763 cast ballots at Anticipation in Montreal in 2009.[1][4]
Awards presented
Hugo Awards
The Hugo Awards, named after Hugo Gernsback, are given every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year.[11] Results are based on the 2100 valid ballots submitted by current members of the World Science Fiction Society.[5][12] The 2011 Hugo Award statue base was designed by Marina Gelineau.[11][12]
- Best Novel: Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
- Best Novella: The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang
- Best Novelette: "The Emperor of Mars" by Allen Steele
- Best Short Story: "For Want of a Nail" by Mary Robinette Kowal
- Best Related Work: Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O'Shea (Mad Norwegian Press)
- Best Graphic Story: Girl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse, written by Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio, art by Phil Foglio, colors by Cheyenne Wright
- Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Inception, screenplay by Christopher Nolan; story by Christopher Nolan; directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner Bros.)
- Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Who, "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang", screenplay by Steven Moffat, directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Cymru Wales)
- Best Professional Editor, Long Form: Lou Anders
- Best Professional Editor, Short Form: Sheila Williams
- Best Professional Artist: Shaun Tan
- Best Semiprozine: Clarkesworld Magazine, edited by Neil Clarke, Sean Wallace, and Cheryl Morgan; podcast directed by Kate Baker
- Best Fanzine: The Drink Tank, edited by Christopher J. Garcia and James Bacon
- Best Fan Writer: Claire Brialey
- Best Fan Artist: Brad W. Foster
Other awards
Future site selection
In an uncontested election, the members of Renovation selected San Antonio, Texas, as the host city for the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, "LoneStarCon 3", to be held in 2013. With 760 valid ballots cast, Texas received 694 votes, 25 ballots expressed no preference, 14 votes were cast for none of the above, and write-in candidates included Xerpes with 6 votes, Minneapolis with 5, Denton with 5, Boston with 3, plus a number of single-vote entries.[13]
References
- ^ a b "Minutes of the 2009 WSFS Business Meeting". World Science Fiction Society. http://www.wsfs.org/bm/minutes-2009.htm. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Bynum, Brad (August 18, 2011). "Conventional wisdom: A prestigious science fiction convention comes to Reno". Reno News & Review. http://www.newsreview.com/reno/conventional-wisdom/content?oid=3269154. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ Strock, Ian Randall (August 10, 2009). "2011 WorldCon in Reno, Nevada; 2010 NASFiC in Raleigh, North Carolina". SF Scope. http://sfscope.com/2009/08/2011-worldcon-in-reno-nevada-2.html.
- ^ a b Silver, Steven H. (August 11, 2009). "Worldcon 2009, NASFiC 2010, Worldcon 2011". SF Site. http://www.sfsite.com/news/2009/08/11/worldcon-2009-nasfic-2010-worldcon-2011/.
- ^ a b Hartman, Forrest (August 13, 2011). "Renovation". Reno Gazette-Journal. http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108140324. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Reno Worldcon Announces Film Festival". File 770. May 4, 2010. http://file770.com/?p=3732.
- ^ Gray, Anne. "Getting involved in Art @ Renovation" (PDF). Drink Tank (Chris Garcia and James Bacon) (265). http://efanzines.com/DrinkTank/DrinkTank265.pdf. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ Kime, Faun (August 18, 2011). "Worldcon's Sci-Fi Convention Comes to Reno". KOLO-TV. http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/127991268.html. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Porter, Rick (August 16, 2011). "'Game of Thrones' scripts intended for charity auction are stolen". Zap2it. http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/08/game-of-thrones-scripts-intended-for-charity-auction-are-stolen.html. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Huge, Hanna (August 16, 2011). "Game of Thrones: Autor sucht gestohlene Drehbücher" (in German). Serienjunikes.de. http://www.serienjunkies.de/news/game-thrones-autor-sucht-gestohlene-33907.html. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Anders, Charlie Jane (August 20, 2011). "2011 Hugo Awards: A good night for time travel, artificial intelligence, and Asimov’s Magazine". io9. http://io9.com/5832940/2011-hugo-awards-a-good-night-for-time-travel-artificial-intelligence-and-asimovs-magazine/. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ a b "Renovation Announces Record Hugo Awards Voter Turnout" (Press release). Renovation. August 8, 2011. http://www.renovationsf.org/pressrel42.php. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ "LoneStar Con 3 Announces Guests". File 770. August 20, 2011. http://file770.com/?p=6708. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
External links