Novacon


Novacon is an annual science fiction convention, usually held each November in the English Midlands. Launched in 1971, it has been hosted by the Birmingham Science Fiction Group since 1972.

History

The first Novacon was organised by the University of Aston Science Fiction Group in November 1971, at a time when the Eastercon was the only regular annual sf convention in the UK. The first Novacon was judged a success and its members voted to make it an annual event. The organisation was passed to the recently formed Birmingham Science Fiction Group to ensure continuity from year to year. Since then, Novacon has developed into a fan-centred rather than academic convention, based around a single-stream, structured programme and intended to let its members network and socialise, as well as attend programme items; there are usually also several science-oriented items.

Nova Awards

The annual Nova Awards are presented at Novacon. These are given in the categories of Best Fanzine, Best Fan Writer and Best Fan Artist. In addition, the Novacon committee occasionally presents its own Nova, for Best Fan; historically, recipients have a history of service to Novacon and/or the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

List of Novacons

NoYearNameLocationGuests of HonourAttendance*
11971NOVACONImperial Centre, BirminghamJames White144
21972NOVACON 2Imperial Centre, BirminghamDoreen Rogers144
31973NOVACON 3Imperial Centre, BirminghamKen Bulmer146
41974NOVACON 4Imperial Centre, BirminghamKen Slater211
51975NOVACON 5Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamDan Morgan272
61976NOVACON 6Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamDavid Kyle317
71977NOVACON 7Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamJohn Brunner278
81978NOVACON 8Holiday Inn, BirminghamAnne McCaffrey309
91979NOVACON 9Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamChristopher Priest290
101980NOVACON 10Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamBrian W. Aldiss495
111981NOVACON 11Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamBob Shaw362
121982NOVACON 12Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamHarry Harrison373
131983NOVACON 13Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamLisa Tuttle339
141984NOVACON 14Grand Hotel, BirminghamRobert Holdstock333
151985NOVACON 15De Vere Hotel, CoventryJames White, David Langford340
161986NOVACON 16De Vere Hotel, CoventryE. C. Tubb, Chris Evans257
171987NOVACON 17Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamIain M. Banks315
181988NOVACON 18Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamGarry Kilworth336
191989NOVACON 19Excelsior, SolihullGeoff Ryman303
201990NOVACON 20Excelsior, SolihullJack Cohen330
211991NOVACON 21Forte Poste House, SolihullColin Greenland200
221992NOVACON 22Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamStorm Constantine300
231993NOVACON 23Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamStephen Baxter243
241994NOVACON 24Royal Angus Hotel, BirminghamGraham Joyce214
251995NOVACON 25Chamberlain Hotel, BirminghamBrian Aldiss, Bob Shaw, Harry Harrison; Iain Banks 338
261996NOVACON 26Hotel Ibis, BirminghamDavid Gemmell281
271997NOVACON 27Abbey Hotel, Great MalvernPeter F. Hamilton277
281998NOVACON 28Britannia Hotel, BirminghamPaul J. McAuley265
291999NOVACON 29Britannia Hotel, BirminghamIan Stewart239
302000NOVACON 30Britannia Hotel, BirminghamChristopher Priest; Rog Peyton ; David A. Hardy 224
312001NOVACON 31Quality Hotel, BentleyGwyneth Jones219
322002NOVACON 32Quality Hotel, BentleyIan McDonald252
332003NOVACON 33Quality Hotel, BentleyJon Courtenay Grimwood203
342004NOVACON 34Quality Hotel, BentleyIan Watson217
352005NOVACON 35Quality Hotel, BentleyAlastair Reynolds216
362006NOVACON 36Quality Hotel, BentleyKen MacLeod212
372007NOVACON 37Quality Hotel, BentleyCharles Stross208
382008NOVACON 38Quality Hotel, BentleyIan R MacLeod; Vernon Brown 177
392009NOVACON 39Park Inn, NottinghamJustina Robson210
402010NOVACON 40Park Inn, NottinghamIain M Banks; Brian W. Aldiss 262
412011NOVACON 41Park Inn, NottinghamJohn Meaneytbc
422012NOVACON 42Park Inn, NottinghamJaine Fenntbc
432013NOVACON 43Park Inn, NottinghamJo Waltontbc
442014NOVACON 44Park Inn, Nottingham; John Gribbin tbc
452015NOVACON 45Park Inn, NottinghamAnne and Stan Nicholstbc
462016NOVACON 46Park Inn, NottinghamJuliet McKennatbc
472017NOVACON 47Park Inn, NottinghamAdrian Tchaikovskytbc
482018NOVACON 48Park Inn, NottinghamChris Becketttbc
492019NOVACON 49Nottingham Sherwood Hotel, NottinghamMike Careytbc
502020NOVACON 50Nottingham Sherwood Hotel, Nottinghamtbc