59th World Science Fiction Convention

The 59th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as The Millennium Philcon, was held on 30 August–3 September 2001 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

Participants
Attendance was 4,592, out of 6,288 paid memberships. Of those, 933 were supporting memberships and 6 were kids-in-tow.

Guests of Honor

 * Greg Bear (author)
 * Stephen Youll (artist)
 * Gardner Dozois (editor)
 * George Scithers (fan)
 * Esther Friesner (toastmaster)

Greg Bear talked about how common many of the tropes of science fiction have become, and how this is an encouraging sign of the mainstream acceptance of science fiction. He also spoke of his father-in-law, the late Poul Anderson.

Gardner Dozois said the science fiction field had endured many boom and bust cycles before, and pointed out that historically, science fiction of today was freed from many of the unfortunate prejudices and restraints that it has had in the past.

Programming and events
440 people participated in 530 panel discussions, dialogues, slide shows, autograph session, and readings. The panel on "The State of Science Fiction Publishing Today" took a troubling look at the publishing industry as a whole. There was much concern about mass market paperbacks, the catastrophic reduction in the number of book distributors from about 300 to three, and the high percentage of books returned unsold. On the panel "The Science Fiction Short Story Today" it was noted that even famous short story magazines are seeing declining circulation.

Art show
The art show had a great variety of science fiction and fantasy oriented art. Free docent tours were led by professional artists. The Art Show Award for Best in Show was awarded to Bob Eggleton's "Quimeartha's Dream 1 & 2".

Masquerade
The Masquerade was held Saturday evening. There were 31 competitors. Several very large dragons impressed the audience. The winning entry for Best In Show was "Fridays at Ten," a skit of several Twilight Zone episodes done in black, white, and grey costumes. "The H-Mercs" won Best Workmanship for their spectacular mechanical dragon. Intermission entertainment was supplied by Harmonytryx, a female a cappella group.

Naturally, there were many "hall costumes" as well worn throughout the con, including Centauri, Klingons, and a young Princess Ozma.

2001 Hugo Awards

 * Best Novel: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
 * Best Novella: "The Ultimate Earth" by Jack Williamson (Analog, December 2000)
 * Best Novelette: "Millennium Babies" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Asimov's, January 2000)
 * Best Short Story: "Different Kinds of Darkness" by David Langford (F & SF, January 2000)
 * Best Related Book: Greetings from Earth: The Art of Bob Eggleton by Bob Eggleton and Nigel Suckling (Paper Tiger)
 * Best Dramatic Presentation: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
 * Best Professional Editor: Gardner Dozois
 * Best Professional Artist: Bob Eggleton
 * Best Semiprozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown
 * Best Fanzine: File 770, edited by Mike Glyer
 * Best Fan Writer: Dave Langford
 * Best Fan Artist: Teddy Harvia

Other awards

 * John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Kristine Smith

1951 Retro Hugo Awards

 * Best Novel: Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein
 * Best Novella: The Man Who Sold the Moon by Robert A. Heinlein (The Man Who Sold the Moon, Shasta Publishers)
 * Best Novelette: "The Little Black Bag" by C. M. Kornbluth (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1950)
 * Best Short Story: "To Serve Man" by Damon Knight (Galaxy, November 1950)
 * Best Dramatic Presentation: Destination Moon
 * Best Professional Editor: John W. Campbell, Jr.
 * Best Professional Artist: Frank Kelly Freas
 * Best Fanzine: Science Fiction Newsletter
 * Best Fan Writer: Bob Silverberg
 * Best Fan Artist: Jack Gaughan

Future site selection
Boston, Massachusetts won the bid for the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention to be held in 2004.