NASFiC, an abbreviation for North American Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention scheduled in North America during years when a Worldcon is being held outside North America; NASFiCs are held only during such years.[1] Bids for the location of a NASFiC are voted on by the membership of the Worldcon (or NASFiC if it exists), the year after a non-North-American Worldcon site has been selected. As of 2014,[update] this is one year in advance of a potential NASFiC, since Worldcon sites are chosen two years in advance.[2][3]
History
Activities at a NASFiC are similar to those at a Worldcon, but may differ somewhat with each convention committee. The convention may be held as an individual event or in conjunction with another convention. It generally occurs near the time of the Worldcon, but not in direct competition with it. Fifteen NASFiCs have occurred to date with the sixteenth scheduled for July 2024. The name NASFiC is owned by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).
The late Robert Sacks organized an attempt to separate NASFiC from the World Science Fiction Society, similar to Eurocon, but WSFS has chosen to keep control of NASFiC.[4][5]
Conventions
This is a list of the NASFiCs held, or scheduled, to date:
^ abMartin, Jessica (29 August 2005). "Science fiction Canadian style". SF Crowsnest. Retrieved 14 August 2009. Cascadia Con is the 8th North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) in 30 years. A NASFiC is only held when the Worldcon for that year is outside of North America. In 2005 the Worldcon will be in Scotland and Seattle will host the NASFiC.
^Morrison, Patt (7 September 1975). "Sci Fi Confab Draws 'em All". Los Angeles Times. p. CS1. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2009. The acronym sounded OK--but you got the feeling that if any of the guys at the four-day North American Science Fiction Convention at the Marriott Hotel [...]
^Martin, Sue (23 April 1987). "Many Resources for Fans of Fantasy and the 'Far Out'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 July 2014. Phoenix will also host the Cactuscon/North American Science Fiction Convention (Sept. 3-6) at the Phoenix Hilton, Civic Plaza Convention Center and Hyatt Regency.
^Chansanchai, Athima (1 September 2005). "Sex in space? Sci-fi convention aims to please; Cascadia says it has something for every fan". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 14 August 2009. If you have any interest in science fiction at all, you'll find something at Cascadia Con, an official North American Science Fiction Convention held only seven times since 1975. This makes eight, and for the first time, it's in the Seattle area. The five-day event, which begins today, is expected to draw 3,500 fans.
^Schlueter, Roger (2 August 2007). "Archon 31 promises a science fiction bonanza". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved 14 August 2009. This year's Archon simply has to be bigger and better, say the organizers, St. Louis Science Fiction Ltd. Not only is it serving as St. Louis' annual sci-fi-fantasy confab, but it is doubling as the 2007 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC), because the world convention was awarded to a non-North American site (Yokohama, Japan).
