66th World Science Fiction Convention

66th Worldcon (2008)

Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention

Genre	Science fiction
Dates	6–10 August 2008
Venue	Colorado Convention Center
Location(s)	Denver, Colorado
Country	United States
Attendance	3,751
Filing status	non-profit
Website	fanac.org/Denvention3

The 66th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Denvention 3, was held on 6–10 August 2008 at the Colorado Convention Center and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado, United States.

The organizing committee was chaired by Kent Bloom.^[1]

Participants

Attendance was 3,751.^[2]

Guests of Honor

^[1]

Lois McMaster Bujold
Rick Sternbach (artist)
Tom Whitmore (fan)
Kathy Mar (music)
Robert A. Heinlein (ghost of honor)
Wil McCarthy (toastmaster)

Other participants

In addition to the Guests of Honor, the convention has announced the names of the people participating in the convention program.

Awards

The World Science Fiction Society administers and presents the Hugo Awards,^[3] the oldest and most noteworthy award for science fiction. Selection of the recipients is by vote of the Worldcon members. Categories include novels and short fiction, artwork, dramatic presentations, and various professional and fandom activities.^[3]^[4]

Other awards may be presented at Worldcon at the discretion of the individual convention committee. This has often included the national SF awards of the host country, such as the Japanese Seiun Awards as part of Nippon 2007,^[5] and the Prix Aurora Awards as part of Anticipation in 2009. The Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the Sidewise Award, though not sponsored by the Worldcon, are usually presented, as well as the Chesley Awards, the Prometheus Award, and others.^[5]

2008 Hugo Awards

^[6]

Best Novel: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Best Novella: "All Seated on the Ground" by Connie Willis
Best Novelette: "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang
Best Short Story: "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear
Best Related Book: Brave New Words by Jeff Prucher
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Stardust, written by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, directed by Matthew Vaughn.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Who: Blink, written by Steven Moffat, directed by Hettie MacDonald.
Best Professional Editor, Long Form: David G. Hartwell
Best Professional Editor, Short Form: Gordon Van Gelder
Best Professional Artist: Stephan Martinière
Best Semiprozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong & Liza Groen Trombi
Best Fanzine: File 770, edited by Mike Glyer
Best Fan Writer: John Scalzi
Best Fan Artist: Brad Foster

Other awards

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Mary Robinette Kowal
Special Committee Awards (not a Hugo Award): NASA, NESFA Press

Worldcon site selection

At L.A.con IV, Denver won the right to host the 66th Worldcon, on the third ballot by 12 votes in one of the closest races in Worldcon site selection history.

The members of Denvention 3 selected Melbourne as the hosting city for the 68th World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in 2010.

References

^ ^a ^b Radford, Bill (2008-07-26). "Sci-fi writers, fans gear up for Worldcon". Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
^ "Denvention 3: The 66th World Science Fiction Convention". Locus. 61 (4). Oakland, CA: Locus Publications: 8. October 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Article 3: Hugo Awards". WSFS Constitution. World Science Fiction Society. 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
^ Franklin, Jon (October 30, 1977). "Star roars: this year's champs in science fiction". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. p. D5. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Awards". Nippon2007: 65th World Science Fiction Convention. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
^ "2008 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-03-04.