_Forrest J. Ackerman, prominent Los Angeles agent and Science Fiction enthusiast, reports on the recent World Convention in New York. Mr. Ackerman, who attended the first World Convention seventeen years ago, has been prominent in SF circles since the early thirties. _ out of this world convention _by FORREST J. ACKERMAN_ An eye-witness account of the 14th World Science Fiction Convention in session. I was a spy for the FBI--the Fantasy Bureau of Investigation! Learningof a monster meeting of science fiction "fen" in New York, I teleportedmyself 3, 000 miles from the Pacificoast to check the facts on themonsters. And it was true--the 14th World SciFi Con was tremonstrous. * * * * * In all seriousness, the _Newyorcon_ was one of the greatest aggregationsof s. F. Enthusiasts I have ever seen. A far cry from the _Nycon_, the_first_ "world" s. F. Con of 17 years before, when the turnout of 125 wasconsidered colossal. Now more than twelve hundred fans, authors, editors, artists, publishers, agents, anthologists, reviewers andreaders of science fiction and fantasy registered for the Labor DayWeekend gathering of the clans, a conclave of the slans. From 37 of the 48 states they came. And from Canada, Cuba, England, Germany, India, Israel and the West Indies. The roll call of celebritiesread like the Who's Who of S. F. Prodom: Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, Fritz Leiber, Willy Ley, Nelson Bond, John W. Campbell Jr. , L. Spraguede Camp, James Blish, Judith Merril, "Ted" Carnell (Editor of NewWorlds), Kelly Freas, Edmond Hamilton, Leigh Brackett, Anthony Boucher, William Tenn, James E. Gunn, Frank Belknap Long Jr. , and numerousothers, including Guest of Honor Arthur C. Clarke. A standing ovation was given Arthur Clarke before and after his speechat the Banquet, a serious address that lasted forty-five minutes andcovered many philosophical facets of the s. F. Field. Especially rousinghands were given two of the real old-timers present, artist Frank R. Paul (Guest of Honor of the first Convention), and--out of the Ark--theman who once was an assistant to Thomas Alva Edison, the pioneernovelist of scientific romances and the man who discovered the GoldenAtom--Ray Cummings. World famous cartoonist Al Capp gave a hilariousspeech at the Banquet Sunday night, other large laughs being garnered onthe occasion by Isaac Asimov and Anthony Boucher, Robert Bloch againproving that he has no peer as a Master of Ceremonies. The Masquerade Ball was filmed for televising, and was a sight forbugging eyes. Extraterrestrial glamour girls came in spectrumaticcolors: one, Ruth Landis of Venus (formerly Nuyok), was a verdantbeauty, fresh as a breath of chlorophyll; while tall Tam Otteson, arecent import from England, had the judges agreeing that just looking ather was an education. Olga Ley won for the Most Beautiful costume, andJos Christoff--a survivor from the first convention of them all--wasanother prize winner. Monsters, mutants, scientists, spacemen, aliens, and assorted "Things" thronged the ballroom floor as the flashbulbspopped. John Campbell lectured on and demonstrated his controversial psionicHieronymus machine, and famous fans sprang from der vood-work out--SamMoskowitz, James Taurasi, Bob Tucker, Julius Unger, Raymond Van Houten, Allen Glasser ... David Kyle, E. E. Evans, James Taurasi, myself and 2 others were electedDirectors of the World Science Fiction Society. No account of the Newyorcon could be complete without a deep bow ofappreciation to the altruistic trio of committeemen (including onecomely woman) who all but destroyed themselves engineering theConvention: David A. Kyle, Ruth Landis and Dick Ellington. By a vote of 3 to 1, London was selected as the site of the 15th Con, tobe held in '57. For an unforgettable experience in the fantasticuniverse of science fiction enthusiasts, plan _now_ to attend theLONCON! Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ January 1957. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.