# 56th World Science Fiction Convention

The 56th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as BucConeer, was held on 5–9 August 1998 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor, the Holiday Inn Inner Harbor, the Omni Inner Harbor Baltimore (now the Wyndham), and the Baltimore Hilton and Towers in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
The convention was chaired by Peggy Rae Pavlat.

## Participants
### Guests of Honor

* C. J. Cherryh, author
* Milt Rothman, fan
* Stanley Schmidt, editor
* Michael Whelan, artist
* Charles Sheffield, toastmaster

### Special Guest

* J. Michael Straczynski

### Program participants

| Forrest J. Ackerman Roger MacBride Allen Kevin J. Anderson Rebecca Moesta Anderson Catherine Asaro Pierce Askegren Wayne Barlowe William Barton Stephen Baxter Greg Bear Stephanie Bedwell-Grime eluki bes shahar Kent Brewster David Brin Charles N. Brown Edward Bryant Jim Burns Pat Cadigan Jack L. Chalker David Cherry Richard Chwedyk Hal Clement Brenda Clough John Clute Glen Cook John G. Cramer Julie E. Czerneda Jack Dann Ellen Datlow Colleen Doran Gardner Dozois Andy Duncan Julia Ecklar Scott Edelman Laurie Toby Edison | George Alec Effinger Bob Eggleton Jane Fancher David Feintuch Leslie Fish Michael Flynn Frank Kelly Freas Esther Friesner Craig Shaw Gardner James Alan Gardner Richard Garfinkle Mike Glyer Alexis Gilliland Lee Gold Kathleen Ann Goonan Joe Haldeman Elizabeth Hand David G. Hartwell Teddy Harvia (David Thayer) Peter Heck Howard V. Hendrix P. C. Hodgell Peter Jackson Steve Jackson Kij Johnson Robert Jordan James Patrick Kelly John Kessel Thomas Kidd Lee Killough Edward Kramer Nancy Kress David Kyle Geoffrey A. Landis Paul Levinson Shariann Lewitt | Jacqueline Lichtenberg Barry B. Longyear Don Maitz Barry N. Malzberg George R. R. Martin Shawna McCarthy Wil McCarthy Maureen F. McHugh Ron Miller Steve Miller Mary Anne Mohanraj Elizabeth Moon Chris Moore James Morrow Patrick Nielsen Hayden Teresa Nielsen Hayden Larry Niven Jody Lynn Nye Kevin O'Donnell Jerry Oltion Fred Patten Frederik Pohl Andrew I. Porter Jerry Pournelle Melanie Rawn Robert Reed Laura Resnick Mike Resnick Jennifer Roberson John Maddox Roberts Kim Stanley Robinson Kristine Kathryn Rusch Robert J. Sawyer Darrell Schweitzer Melissa Scott Mark Shepherd | Josepha Sherman Sharon Shinn Susan Shwartz Steven H Silver Robert Silverberg Joan Slonczewski Dean Wesley Smith Kristine Smith Henry Spencer Mary Stanton Allen Steele Sean Stewart S. M. Stirling Michael Swanwick Cecilia Tan Karen E. Taylor Bjo Trimble Harry Turtledove Mary A. Turzillo Gordon Van Gelder James Van Pelt Vernor Vinge Lawrence Watt-Evans Len Wein Toni Weisskopf Peter Weston Ted White (author) Sheila Williams Walter Jon Williams Jack Williamson Connie Willis John C. Wright Janny Wurts J. Steven York Sarah Zettel |

## Site selection

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania won the vote for the 59th World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in 2001.

## Awards

The World Science Fiction Society administers and presents the Hugo Awards, 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.
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, 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.

### 1998 Hugo Awards

The winners were:
* Best Novel: Forever Peace, by Joe Haldeman
* Best Novella: "…Where Angels Fear to Tread", by Allen Steele (Asimov's, October/November 1997)
* Best Novelette: "We Will Drink a Fish Together…", by Bill Johnson (Asimov's, May 1997)
* Best Short Story: "The 43 Antarean Dynasties", by Mike Resnick (Asimov's, December 1997)
* Best Related Book: The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, by John Clute and John Grant
* Best Dramatic Presentation: Contact
* Best Professional Editor: Gardner Dozois
* Best Professional Artist: Bob Eggleton
* Best Semiprozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown
* Best Fanzine: Mimosa, edited by Nicki Lynch and Richard Lynch
* Best Fan Writer: Dave Langford
* Best Fan Artist: Joe Mayhew

### Other awards

* John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer: Mary Doria Russell

## Committee

* Convention Chair: Peggy Rae Pavlat

### Division heads

* Member Services: Michelle Smith-Moore
* Facilities: Marty Gear
* Programming: John Pomeranz
* Events: Kent Bloom
* Operations: Tom Veal
* "Contents of Tables": Kathryn Daugherty
* Exhibits: Barbara Lynn Higgins
* Public Relations: Sam Lubell
* "Strange Fannish Stuff": Marc Gordon

### Bid

* Chair: Hal Haag (1990–1991), Lance Oszko (1991–1993), Covert Beach (1993–1995)

### Corporation

* President: Covert Beach
* Vice-Presidents: Lance Oszko, Marty Gear
* Comptroller: Bob Macintosh
* Treasurer: Thomas Horman
* Recording Secretary: Thomas McMullan
* Corresponding Secretary: Jul Owings