36th World Science Fiction Convention

The 36th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as IguanaCon II, was held on 30 August–4 September 1978 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Adams House, Phoenix Convention Center, and Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Despite the name, this was the first "IguanaCon".

The original committee chairman was Greg Brown, who served for the first eighteen months of the convention committee's existence; he was replaced for the final six months prior to the convention and during the convention itself by Tim Kyger. Gary Farber was the de facto vice-chairman as well as director of operations during the convention.

Participants
Attendance was approximately 4,700.

Guests of Honor

 * Harlan Ellison (pro)
 * Bill Bowers (fan)
 * F. M. Busby (toastmaster)

Josef Nesvadba had been announced as the European guest of honor, but he could not get travel papers and so did not attend.

1978 Hugo Awards

 * Best Novel: Gateway by Frederik Pohl
 * Best Novella: "Stardance" by Spider and Jeanne Robinson
 * Best Novelette: "Eyes of Amber" by Joan D. Vinge
 * Best Short Story: "Jeffty Is Five" by Harlan Ellison
 * Best Dramatic Presentation: Star Wars
 * Best Professional Editor: George H. Scithers
 * Best Professional Artist: Rick Sternbach
 * Best Amateur Magazine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown and Dena Brown
 * Best Fan Writer: Richard E. Geis
 * Best Fan Artist: Phil Foglio

Other awards

 * Gandalf Awards
 * Gandalf Grand Master Award: Poul Anderson
 * Gandalf Award for Book-Length Fantasy: The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien (edited by Christopher Tolkien)
 * John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Orson Scott Card