The 30th 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 L.A.con I, was held on 1–4 September 1972 at the International Hotel in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, United States. The organising committee was co-chaired by Charles Crayne and

Bruce Pelz Bruce Edward Pelz (August 11, 1936 – May 9, 2002) was a US science fiction fan. He was highly active in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) and a major SMOF, co-chairing the 30th World Science Fiction Convention. He also wrot ...

Participants

Attendance was approximately 2,007.

Guests of Honor

* Frederik Pohl (pro) * Buck Coulson and Juanita Coulson (fan) * Robert Bloch (toastmaster)

Awards

1972 Hugo Awards

* Best Novel: '' To Your Scattered Bodies Go'' by

Philip José Farmer Philip José Farmer (January 26, 1918 – February 25, 2009) was an American author known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. Obituary. Farmer is best known for his sequences of novels, especially the ''World of Tiers ...

* Best Novella: ''The Queen of Air and Darkness'' by

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 ...

* Best Short Story: "Inconstant Moon" by

Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His best-known works are '' Ringworld'' (1970), which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards, and, with Jerry Pournelle, '' The Mote in God's E ...

* Best Dramatic Presentation: '' A Clockwork Orange'' * 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 Professional Magazine: ''Fantasy & Science Fiction'' * Best Amateur Magazine: ''

Locus Locus (plural loci) is Latin for "place". It may refer to: Entertainment * Locus (comics), a Marvel Comics mutant villainess, a member of the Mutant Liberation Front * ''Locus'' (magazine), science fiction and fantasy magazine ** ''Locus Award' ...

'' (editors: Charles and Dena Brown)

Other awards

* Special Award: Harlan Ellison for excellence in anthologizing * Special Award: Club du Livre d'Anticipation (France) for excellence in book production * Special Award: Nueva Dimension (Spain) for excellence in magazine production

Future site selection

The 33rd World Science Fiction Convention was awarded to Aussiecon I in Melbourne, Australia. This was the first time a

was awarded to a site outside North America or Europe.

Notes

At the L.A.Con I masquerade, one of the contestants, artist Scott Shaw!, came on stage wearing only a bathing suit, with his body completely covered with crunchy peanut butter. The name of his costume was "The Turd." from an underground comic story Shaw wrote and illustrated. Since some of the peanut butter tended to drip off of him, making the floor sticky for other contestants, a rule was passed that forever after at science fiction convention masquerades, no peanut butter costumes would be allowed. This masquerade rule is universally known among

science fiction fans Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or fandom of people interested in science fiction in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization (although ...

as the "no peanut butter rule." The first video game competition at a science fiction convention was held, and a science fiction fan named Kevan Pritchard from

Lawndale, California Lawndale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 32,769 at the 2010 census, up from 31,712 according to the 2000 census.United States Census Bureau. �” The city is in the South Bay (Los Angeles County ...

, won the world championship contest in the game '' Spacewar!''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Science Fiction Convention 030 1972 conferences 1972 in California 1972 in the United States Culture of Los Angeles Science fiction conventions in the United States Worldcon