56th World Science Fiction Convention

The 56th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as BucConeer, was held on 5–9 August 1998 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor, the Holiday Inn Inner Harbor, the Omni Inner Harbor Baltimore (now the Wyndham), and the Baltimore Hilton and Towers in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

The convention was chaired by Peggy Rae Pavlat.

Guests of Honor

 * C. J. Cherryh, author
 * Milt Rothman, fan
 * Stanley Schmidt, editor
 * Michael Whelan, artist
 * Charles Sheffield, toastmaster

Special Guest

 * J. Michael Straczynski

Site selection
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania won the vote for the 59th World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in 2001.

1998 Hugo Awards
The winners were:


 * Best Novel: ''Forever Peace, by Joe Haldeman
 * Best Novella: "…Where Angels Fear to Tread", by Allen Steele (Asimov's, October/November 1997)
 * Best Novelette: "We Will Drink a Fish Together…", by Bill Johnson (Asimov's, May 1997)
 * Best Short Story: "The 43 Antarean Dynasties", by Mike Resnick (Asimov's, December 1997)
 * Best Related Book: The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, by John Clute and John Grant
 * Best Dramatic Presentation: Contact
 * Best Professional Editor: Gardner Dozois
 * Best Professional Artist: Bob Eggleton
 * Best Semiprozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown
 * Best Fanzine: Mimosa, edited by Nicki Lynch and Richard Lynch
 * Best Fan Writer: Dave Langford
 * Best Fan Artist: Joe Mayhew

Other awards

 * John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Mary Doria Russell

Committee

 * Convention Chair: Peggy Rae Pavlat

Division heads

 * Member Services: Michelle Smith-Moore
 * Facilities: Marty Gear
 * Programming: John Pomeranz
 * Events: Kent Bloom
 * Operations: Tom Veal
 * "Contents of Tables": Kathryn Daugherty
 * Exhibits: Barbara Lynn Higgins
 * Public Relations: Sam Lubell
 * "Strange Fannish Stuff": Marc Gordon

Bid

 * Chair: Hal Haag (1990–1991), Lance Oszko (1991–1993), Covert Beach (1993–1995)

Corporation

 * President: Covert Beach
 * Vice-Presidents: Lance Oszko, Marty Gear
 * Comptroller: Bob Macintosh
 * Treasurer: Thomas Horman
 * Recording Secretary: Thomas McMullan
 * Corresponding Secretary: Jul Owings