26th World Science Fiction Convention

The 26th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Baycon, was held August 29-September 2, 1968, at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California, United States.

Baycon, the 26th World Science Fiction Convention
GenreScience fiction
Dates29 August–2 September 1968
VenueClaremont Hotel
Location(s)Berkeley, California
CountryUnited States
Attendance1,430
Organized byWorld Science Fiction Society
Filing statusnon-profit

In 1968, Worldcon, annual World Science Fiction Convention, was combined with Westercon, the annual West Coast Science Fantasy Conference, sharing guests of honor and chairmen. The chairmen were Bill Donaho, Alva Rogers, and J. Ben Stark. Author Philip José Farmer was the professional guest of honor, and Walter J. Daugherty the fan guest of honor.. The toastmaster was Robert Silverberg. Total attendance was approximately 1,430.[1]

Awards

The Hugo Awards, named after Hugo Gernsback, are presented every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The results are based on the ballots submitted by members of the World Science Fiction Society. Other awards, including the Astounding Award for Best New Writer (since 1973; named "John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer" until 2019), are also presented at each year's Worldcon.[2]

Hugo Awards

Other awards

Notable events

This Worldcon was the first one that was attended by large numbers of people in the hippie subculture. A psychedelic light show was presented in the main ballroom of the hotel. Robert Silverberg gave a speech about using LSD to attain a mystical experience. Harlan Ellison read a story he had written about a hippie commune.

Poul Anderson emceed a presentation by the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Long-time president of DAW Books, Betsy Wollheim (whose father, author and publisher Donald A. Wollheim, was a leader in the development of science fiction as a popular genre) remembers:

The high point of my childhood experience at conventions was Baycon 1968 in Oakland. I remember the excitement of it all – sliding down the fire slides, the big eucalyptus forest behind the Claremont Hotel...the tournaments on the lawn.... And I remember at the age of 16 thinking, "No convention can ever be this wonderful again, so I should never go to another." Famous last words![3]

See also

References
  1. Lynch, Richard (March 29, 1996). "Chapter Eight: Worldcons of the 1960s". Fan History of the 1960s. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  2. "Hugo Award FAQ". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  3. (June 2006), Betsy Wollheim: The Family Trade: interview excerpts, Locus Magazine. Retrieved 12 September 2017
Preceded by
25th World Science Fiction Convention
Nycon 3 in New York, USA (1967)		 List of Worldcons
26th World Science Fiction Convention
Baycon in Oakland, USA (1968)		 Succeeded by
27th World Science Fiction Convention
St. Louiscon in St. Louis, USA (1969)
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