16th World Science Fiction Convention

{{infobox convention | name = Solacon, the 16th World Science Fiction Convention | image = | caption = | status = | genre = Science fiction | venue = Alexandria Hotel | location = Los Angeles, California | country = United States | dates = 29 August–1 September 1958 | organizer = | filing = | attendance = 322 | website = }}

The '''16th World Science Fiction Convention''' (Worldcon), also known as '''Solacon''', was held on 29 August–1 September 1958 at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles, California, United States.<ref name=lat580827/><ref name=lat580902/><ref name=lat580903/>

Solacon's chair was Anne S. Moffatt.

== Participants ==

Attendance was 322.

=== Guests of honor ===

* Richard Matheson * Anthony Boucher (toastmaster)

== Awards ==

=== 1958 Hugo Awards ===

For the 1958 Hugos, Solacon presented engraved Hugo Award plaques instead of the nickel-plated Hugo rockets mounted on wooden bases, like those presented at the previous Worldcons in 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957 (no awards were given in 1954).

The winners were:<ref name=hugo_1958/>

* Best Novel/Novelette: ''The Big Time'', by Fritz Leiber * Best Short Story: "Or All the Seas with Oysters", by Avram Davidson * Best Professional Magazine: ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'', edited by Anthony Boucher and Robert P. Mills * Outstanding Movie: ''The Incredible Shrinking Man'', directed by Jack Arnold; screenplay by Richard Matheson * Outstanding Artist: Frank Kelly Freas * Outstanding Actifan: Walt Willis

== Notes ==

Solacon was physically in Los Angeles, but (by mayoral proclamation) technically in South Gate, California, to fulfill their longtime bid slogan (since 1948) of "South Gate in '58."<ref name=llnotes/>

Superfan Rick Sneary had a cardboard sign at this convention that read "We'll do it again in 2010" that he carried to numerous future Worldcons. His death in 1990 laid that dream to rest and the 2010 Worldcon took place in Melbourne, Australia.

== References ==

{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=hugo_1958> {{cite web | work=The Hugo Awards | title=1958 Hugo Awards | date=2007-07-26 | publisher=World Science Fiction Society | url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1958-hugo-awards/ | accessdate=2011-03-05 }}</ref>

<ref name=lat580827>{{cite news | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Planetarium's Moon Show Run Extended | page=B2 | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444903862.html?dids=444903862:444903862&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI | date=1958-08-27 | accessdate=2011-03-06 | quote=Paintings and drawings of fantasy subjects will be displayed during the 10th World Science Fiction Convention Friday through Monday in the Alexandria. | archive-date=2012-11-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105214714/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444903862.html?dids=444903862:444903862&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name=lat580902>{{cite news | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Mars-Style Fashions Shown to Space Fans: World Science-Fiction Society Ends Its Convention Here With Apparel Parade | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444919472.html?dids=444919472:444919472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI | date=1958-09-02 | accessdate=2011-03-06 | archive-date=2012-11-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105215054/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444919472.html?dids=444919472:444919472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name=lat580903>{{cite news | first=Art | last=Ryon | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Ham on Ryon | page=B5 | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444923032.html?dids=444923032:444923032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI | date=1958-09-03 | accessdate=2011-03-06 | quote=At the final sessions of the World Science Fiction Society convention here this week the members must have been delighted when Guy Giftord exhibited detailed plans for a Space Hut. | archive-date=2011-06-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629060845/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/444923032.html?dids=444923032:444923032&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name=llnotes> {{cite web | url=http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html#1958 | title=Notes on the Long List of Worldcons | publisher=nesfa.org | accessdate=2007-03-03 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209104936/http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html | archive-date=2007-02-09 }}</ref>

}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html#1958 NESFA.org: 1958 convention notes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209104936/http://www.nesfa.org/data/LL/LongListNotes.html#1958 |date=2007-02-09 }}

{{s-start}} {{succession box | before=15th World Science Fiction Convention<br>Loncon I in London, UK (1957) | title=List of Worldcons | years='''16th World Science Fiction Convention'''<br>Solacon in Los Angeles, California, United States (1958) | after=17th World Science Fiction Convention<br>Detention in Detroit, Michigan, United States (1959) }} {{s-end}} {{World Science Fiction Convention}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Science Fiction Convention 016}} Category:1958 conferences Category:1958 in Los Angeles Category:Science fiction conventions in the United States Category:Worldcon Category:August 1958 in the United States Category:September 1958 in the United States Category:Organized events in Los Angeles