When September Belonged to Science Fiction
Discover how Worldcon’s late summer tradition shaped science fiction history with a spotlight on the 1971 Boston gathering Noreascon I.
This Week in Classic Science Fiction
Early September has always carried a special meaning for fans of science fiction. The World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, often took place during Labor Day weekend. Since 1939, this week has become the high point of the year for readers and writers who wanted to meet and share their love of the genre.
One of the most memorable gatherings was the 29th World Science Fiction Convention held in Boston from September 2 to 6 in 1971. Known as Noreascon I, it welcomed more than 1,600 fans to the Sheraton-Boston Hotel. The Hugo Awards that year were historic, with Larry Niven winning Best Novel for "Ringworld," Theodore Sturgeon honored for "Slow Sculpture," and "Locus" magazine earning its first Hugo.
By settling into the late summer calendar, Worldcon gave fans a rhythm they could count on. It marked the moment when vacation ended and the season of science fiction began. Year after year, this week meant new stories, bright ideas, and a community that kept the spirit of the genre alive.
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How Labor Day Became Science Fiction’s High Holiday
Science fiction fandom has always had its rituals. For many years, one of the most reliable was the annual journey to the World Science Fiction Convention.
Hotels across America filled with fans carrying books under their arms and dreams in their heads. Labor Day weekend offered a long holiday that made travel easier for working people and students alike. What began as practical scheduling soon became a tradition that defined the end of summer.
The placement on the calendar gave the event a sense of permanence. Fans knew when to expect it. Organizers knew they could draw large crowds. And year after year, the first days of September became linked in memory with the sound of typewriters clicking out fanzines, the smell of mimeograph ink, and the thrill of seeing one’s favorite author across a hotel lobby.
The Convention Experience
Inside the convention halls, there was always more to do than time to do it. Fans debated the future of space travel in one room while across the hall, a slide show displayed illustrations of alien worlds.
Dealers filled tables with used magazines and rare hardcovers, while costume parades grew into masquerades that mixed pageantry with humor. The Hugo Awards became the highlight of the weekend, a ceremony where fans applauded the writers and editors who shaped the field.
The conventions were not only about the official program. Much of the real business of science fiction happened in casual meetings. A young fan might strike up a conversation with an editor in the bar and later find himself selling a story.
Friendships were built over long conversations that stretched into the early morning hours. For many attendees, the weekend offered a chance to step out of everyday life and into a world where science fiction was taken seriously.
Boston in 1971
One of the best remembered gatherings took place in Boston in 1971. The 29th World Science Fiction Convention, known as Noreascon I, drew more than 1,600 fans to the Sheraton-Boston Hotel.
It was the first time the convention had been held in New England, and the city welcomed a mix of veterans and newcomers who had traveled from across the country.
The Hugo Awards that year reflected a turning point. Larry Niven’s "Ringworld" won Best Novel, a recognition that helped establish him as one of the leading voices of the decade.
Theodore Sturgeon’s story "Slow Sculpture" won for Best Short Story, proving that one of the old masters still had new wonders to share. "Locus," which began as a small newsletter to promote Boston’s bid to host the convention, won its first Hugo as Best Fanzine. In the years ahead, "Locus" would grow into the most important magazine of record in the field. The Boston gathering showed how both old traditions and new ventures could thrive together under the banner of Worldcon.
A Season of Milestones
The rhythm of early September gave the genre its milestones. Fans remembered not only the winners of each year but also the cities they visited and the friends they met in hotel corridors.
Each convention became a marker in personal histories. Some remembered buying their first rare pulp in the dealers’ room. Others recalled standing in line to shake hands with Isaac Asimov or Robert Heinlein. The dates tied those memories together, turning them into an annual cycle of discovery.
The late summer timing also encouraged international participation. With the schedule predictable, fans from Canada and Britain could plan travel with greater ease. By 1971, the organizers even arranged to print the Hugo ballot in French and Russian, a gesture that showed how far the influence of the convention had spread. Early September became the season when science fiction spoke not just to America but to the wider world.
Publishers also began to plan around convention season. A writer hoping for recognition often timed the release of a novel the year before a Worldcon, giving it time to build momentum with fans. Editors announced new projects during the gathering, knowing the news would spread quickly through the fan networks. The convention was not only a reunion of readers but also a stage for the business of science fiction.
The Echo of September
Today, Worldcon sometimes meets earlier in August or later in September, depending on the host city. The dates may shift, but the old tradition of early September still carries weight.
It recalls a time when fans planned their entire year around a single trip, packed their bags for a hotel ballroom, and stepped into a community that felt like family.
The season lingers in memory because it gave fans more than books to read. It gave them places to go, people to meet, and stories to tell long after they returned home.
For classic fans, the first week of September still echoes with the voices of panels, the rustle of programs being folded, and the applause as the Hugo winners are called to the stage. It was more than a weekend. It was the heartbeat of science fiction.
Worldcon Trivia
- The Boston bid that won the right to host Noreascon I in 1971 was the first time a Worldcon site was chosen two years in advance, setting a new precedent for planning future conventions.
- The fanzine "Locus" began as a small newsletter to support Boston’s Worldcon bid, and at Noreascon I, it won its first Hugo Award. It would go on to dominate the category for decades.
- At the 1971 convention, the Hugo ballot was printed in French and Russian, a rare gesture at the time that showed how science fiction fandom was already becoming an international community.