World Science Fiction Convention 2020 To Be the First Online WorldCon

Credit: Pixabay.com/Sergei Belozerov

Shut-ins due to the Coronavirus outbreak may be changing the way science fiction and fantasy conventions are being performed not only now but for the future. Since the pandemic began, government orders to shelter in place have caused older pop culture cons to go virtual and for new ones to initiate online such as was the case with last weekend’s QuaranCon. Now the World Science Fiction Convention, more commonly known as WorldCon and which this year was to be held in Wellington, New Zealand, will for the first time in its history go virtual.

Decision to Move World Science Fiction Convention 2020 To Online

It was decided this week to move the World Science Fiction Convention for 2020, also known as the 78th WorldCon or CoNZealand, to online due to New Zealand’s lock-down. The change was announced by CoNZealand Chair Persons Kelly Buehler and Norman Cates in a March 25 press release.  Even though the con is not scheduled to occur until July 29 to August 2, the two chair persons feel that it “would be irresponsible” to hold an in-person event when the health and safety of con members and staff should be considered.

May Be the Best Online Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention 

When a convention cannot be held in person, a virtual con may be the best option. However, because this is a relatively new way of putting on conventions, especially a World Science Fiction Convention, it probably won’t compare very much to the in-person event. Yet, CoNZealand, which is to be interactive, can be the greatest of all online conventions that have occurred before and during the pandemic. Buehler and Cates say that any remaining funds they have will be used to make “this the best online convention ever.” And so they ask attendees who have already paid for memberships to consider not requesting a refund for the difference in the price of the original membership and the new online membership because it can go towards making it the highest quality online convention possible. WorldCon is a charitable organization so, when you think about it, a paid membership at the original price will really not be wasted.

Memberships and Q&A Sessions 

The con committee will try to announce the new online membership price by April 15th. They are also planning to offer question-and-answer sessions through the Zoom communication platform to address people’s questions about the online convention. The dates and times for these sessions will be given as soon as the committee can provide them and so it is a good idea to regularly check the con’s website.

To fully attend the virtual 78th WorldCon, an attending membership will be required. However, until the online membership rates are announced, attending memberships are not being sold. Supporting memberships--which allow a person to vote in site selections, the Hugo Awards and the Retro Hugo Awards--are still available for purchase.

World Science Fiction Convention 2020 promo video from 2018

Guests of Honour

Guests scheduled to attend this year’s WorldCon so far include Author Guests of Honour Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon, with “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin serving as Toastmaster. Lackey is the author of numerous fantasy works, including the novel “Jinx High”, which I had the pleasure to review as a guest blogger at Castle Macabre.

First Virtual WorldCon May Set the Model for All Future Cons

The first virtual WorldCon may lead to a trend in online conventions, especially huge ones, that could continue even after the pandemic lifts. A virtual con would be more affordable for many people who otherwise would not be able to attend. This would increase attendance more than ever. For those who prefer to go to pop culture events in person, a hybrid con which would occur both in an actual location and online is possible. Because a hybrid convention would offer a higher priced in-person attendee membership and a lower priced online attendee membership, in which probably most people would purchase, it would bring in more money for the con committee.

It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has tremendously impacted our world. But, like many disastrous events in history, it may be causing a lasting change in the way that science fiction and fantasy conventions are performed and how people will attend them.
Would you continue attending virtual science fiction and fantasy conventions even when the pandemic lifts and daily life goes back to normal?

Until next time . . .