59th World Science Fiction Convention

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

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.[2]

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][6]

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

The pocket program for the 2001 World Science Fiction Convention

Many commentators spoke of the outsize the Philadelphia Convention Center. Despite the convention being sizable, "attendees seemed to rattle around the oversize room."[8] 115 individual dealers sold goods at 258 tables in the dealers' room. Dealers reported good sales, but there was some confusion about tax laws and last-minute license charges which upset some dealers.[9] Darrell Schweitzer said: "Imagine a convention held in a zeppelin hangar—designed for multiple zeppelins—and you will begin to get the idea... [There was] enough airspace to fly a small plane indoors."[10]

A large exhibit of historical Worldcon artifacts was spread across the exhibit hall. There were photographs and clippings from NyCon I, held in New York City in 1939, as well as Hugo Awards, mugs, medallions, program books, t-shirts and the like from more recent conventions.

A nearby Christian convention, "For His Glory", was held simultaneously. Several attendees of that convention were disturbed by fans dressed up as demons and the like. They disrupted several panels and convention registration by singing hymns until Security was called to escort them away.[11]

Philadelphia's Chinatown is immediately outside the convention center, and many a budget-conscious attendee ate delicious Chinese food and dim sum rather than expensive hotel fare that weekend.[12]

On Saturday "The Junkyard Wars" were held in some of the spare space in the exhibit hall. Ten teams of six people tried to build mechanisms from whatever they could find to propel a raw egg over a barrier as far as they could without it breaking. The winning team received "a rosette and a trophy made from junk found in the hotel basement that morning."[11]

• Hugo Award
• Science fiction
• Speculative fiction
• World Science Fiction Society
• Worldcon