Worldcon/1967
| Science Fiction Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Worldcon (SF Con) |
| Dates: | August 31-September 4, 1967 |
| Frequency: | annually |
| Location: | New York, NY |
| Type: | fan-run |
| Focus: | science fiction |
| Organization: | World Science Fiction Society |
| Founder: | World Science Fiction Society |
| Founding Date: | 1939 |
| URL: | Worldcon.org Fanac.org |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article is a stub. Please help us out by adding more content. |
Con Reports
Before you skip this article because one like it has appeared in every other fanzine, consider this question: What’s it like for a 19 year old girl to attend a New York SF Convention without ever having read an SF book or seeing a SF movie?.........Read on--
My roommate, the editor of this fanzine, not only dragged me to NyCon, but now she has me writing an article for her fanzine, oh well, once upon a time....First of all, my roomy’s sister was originally supposed to go, but when she couldn’t make it, I was swindled into taking her place. And since, according to Linda, it was easier if I just took her name tag, instead of writing for another, I received a nice badge with ’Sunday Eyster’ written on it. Do you know what it’s like explaining that you’re really not Sunday Eyster from Silver Spring, but Dale Steranka from Pittsburgh? I decided not to wear any button and was questioned even more....
Naturally, not knowing a damn thing about SF I was not impressed by all the pros my roomy stood gaping at. I did however, for my own protection, learn to recognize and remove myself from the prescence [sic] of two pros — Harlan Ellison and Isaac Asimov.
...
The next big event at which I made an ass of myself was the Costume Ball. We decided to dress after the Art Show, but Linda failed to mention that she was allowing some of her friends to dress in our small room. (Chuck & Dawn [formerly Vach, formerly Irene] Rein, Pat Kelly, John Habecker, Bill Osten). One Spock, naturally, Sauron, Satyr, etc. People tinged in green and black, small pieces of fur from god knows where or what, suitcases and make-up sprawled all over the room. They left one at a time, Sauron the first to exit. The others decided to pack and move their belongings to another friend’s room, since they planned to stay up all night at the parties, and didn’t want to disturb us to get their things.
I was the last to get ready and proceeded to the ballroom alone. I refused to take the elevator down and have everyone stare at my ridiculous costume, so I proceeded to take the stairs, unfortunately it was 16 flights....
Then I spent the next hour nervously trying to remember who my roommate said I was. Lady Asgard? Of where? Whose story? HUH? Oh, the hell with it! I removed my name button to avoid questioning, and arrived in time to see the last part of the costume parade.
I was approached by a sweet, plump, little-old-lady, with a marking on her hand. She kept telling me about it, but I didn’t know what she was talking about. I kept on smiling, anyway. She commented about my costume, saying I looked Gothic (in a slight English accent). Over and over, "You look Gothic, Gothic.” ”Who do you represent?” she asked, finally. DUH? Its called "BSing". I said I was "Lady...” and she filled in,some name, to which I rapidly agreed. But then she changed her mind. What was I to do? I agreed with her change. And with the next, and with the fourth.... I said that I suited the last character much better than the one before because I looked "Gothic'.’ This kept her happy, and satisfied my ability to BS.
I looked around at the costumes (and was sure that some of these ladies in flouncy costumes were really nuns who got fed up with their own convention).
After being invited twice to attend the parties, and refusing both gentlemen (?)(fear), I decided to return to my room, and watch the late show. Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door slightly and there was a tall guy dressed in a black robe, face darkened, who I recognized as Sauron (Pat Kelly). Remembering that he had left before his friends’ decision to dress in another room, I asked "Are you here to undress?” He looked at me, and said "Well, that’s up to you..."
I decided to take an early train home, and thus missed the banquet. I just happened to get on an elevator that Isaac Asimov was also on. He was talking with a lady who was commenting on his bushy eyebrows. She remarked also that she thought of him as she would her father. At which point he replied something like "So, what’s wrong with incest...?" The elevator arrived at my stop and I ran to my train, POSTHASTE.
Wonder What Baycon will be like? See you there!!!
References
- ^ "My Life at NYCON, or, Confessions of a Shy Young Thing" by Dale Steranka, Granfalloon Issue #2 (1968)