The 17th World Science Fiction Convention (

Worldcon Worldcon, or more formally the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, durin ...

), also known as Detention, was held on 4–7 September 1959 at the Pick Fort Shelby Hotel in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

, United States. The chairmen were Roger Sims and Fred Prophet.

Participants

Attendance was 371.

Guests of Honor

Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until the 21st century. Anderson wrote also historical novels. His awards include seven Hugo Awards and ...

(pro) * John Berry (fan) * Isaac Asimov (toastmaster, "...with the assistance of Robert Bloch")

Awards

1959 Hugo Awards

The winners were: * Best Novel: ''

A Case of Conscience ''A Case of Conscience'' is a science fiction novel by American writer James Blish, first published in 1958. It is the story of a Jesuit who investigates an alien race that has no religion yet has a perfect, innate sense of morality, a situation ...

'', by

James Blish James Benjamin Blish () was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is best known for his '' Cities in Flight'' novels and his series of ''Star Trek'' novelizations written with his wife, J. A. Lawrence. His novel '' A Case of Conscie ...

* Best Novelette: "

The Big Front Yard "The Big Front Yard" is a science fiction short story by American writer Clifford D. Simak which won a 1959 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. It was also included in ''The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two'' (1973) after being voted one of the ...

", by

Clifford D. Simak Clifford Donald Simak (; August 3, 1904 – April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. He won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its third SFWA Grand Master, and the Horror W ...

* Best Short Story: "

That Hell-Bound Train "That Hell-Bound Train" is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert Bloch. It was originally published in ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' in September 1958. Plot summary Martin is a young hobo with a fondness for trains. One ...

", by Robert Bloch * Best SF or Fantasy Movie: no winner chosen * Best Professional Magazine: ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher ...

'', edited by

Anthony Boucher William Anthony Parker White (August 21, 1911 – April 29, 1968), better known by his pen name Anthony Boucher (), was an American author, critic, and editor who wrote several classic mystery novels, short stories, science fiction, and radio d ...

and

Robert P. Mills Robert Park Mills (1920−1986) was an American crime- and science fiction magazine editor and literary agent. Mills was the managing editor of ''Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'' beginning in 1948 and ''The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fictio ...

* Best Professional Artist:

Frank Kelly Freas Frank Kelly Freas (August 27, 1922 – January 2, 2005) was an American science fiction and fantasy artist with a career spanning more than 50 years. He was known as the "Dean of Science Fiction Artists" and he was the second artist inducted by ...

* Best Fanzine: ''Fanac'', edited by

Terry Carr Terry Gene Carr (February 19, 1937 – April 7, 1987) was an American science fiction fan, author, editor, and writing instructor. Background and discovery of fandom Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San ...

and Ron Ellik * Best New Author of 1958: no winner chosen

References

External links