Vincent Docherty, chairman of the 1995 and 2005 World Science Fiction Conventions and chairman of the 2024 World Science Fiction Convention.Photo/Li Menglin (NBD)

On October 18, the 81st World Science Fiction Convention kicked off in Chengdu. Renowned science fiction writers such as Liu Cixin and Robert Sawyer, and experts from the film and technology industries gathered to celebrate this event.

In 1991, Chengdu successfully hosted the annual meeting of the World Science Fiction Association, laying a solid foundation for the city's subsequent science fiction cultural development. 32 years later, Chengdu became the first city in China to host the World Science Fiction Convention, and the second city in Asia to host the convention. This year's science fiction convention has reached a new level in terms of scale and influence. What will it leave for the host city?

Vincent Docherty, from Glasgow, should be one of the best people to answer this question. He has served as the chairman of the science fiction conventions held in Glasgow in 1995 and 2005, and will serve as chairman of the 2024 Glasgow Science Fiction Convention.

In an interview with NBD, Docherty said that the two science fiction conventions held in Glasgow led to the upgrading of old factories, but more importantly, they planted the seed of science fiction in the hearts of young people, inspiring them to participate more deeply in science fiction. In addition, as the organizer of the next convention, he also "spoiled" many planning details to NBD. 

Plant sci-fi seeds into the young

In the sci-fi movie " Journey to the west ", which was a big hit this year, a mysterious man wearing a "Meteorite Hunter" red hat introduces himself to the protagonist Tang Zhijun by saying, "We met in the Chengdu Science Association Conference in 1991."

A decades-old event that still resonates with sci-fi fans is a testament to the power of sci-fi convention.

"The impact of sci-fi conventions is huge, because they inspire many ideas," Docherty told NBD at the sci-fi convention. "This includes not only the attendees, but also the residents of the host city."

Recalling his experience of hosting a sci-fi convention in Glasgow, Docherty said that the organizers of the convention were not just government officials, but also artists, university and secondary school students. "They will remember the experience of the convention, which will inspire them to participate more deeply in the sci-fi industry."

Doherty's personal experience has allowed him to better understand how a convention can plant a seed in the hearts of young people.

In 1978, when he was just 16 years old, he first participated in the sci-fi event "Faircon" in his hometown and immediately fell in love with it. Today, Docherty has a full-time job in the energy industry, but he still frequently travels around the world to assist with event organization.

Doherty was also pleased to see students actively visiting the various exhibition halls at the Chengdu venue, learning about the history of the Nebula Award, the highest award in science fiction literature, and visiting the booths of science fiction cultural projects such as "Three-Body Universe" and "The Wandering Earth". "There is a lot of interaction on site, which is great. Seeing all the different exhibitions. I am very happy to be involved," Doherty said.

The event brings not only cultural development but also new vitality to urban renewal. Doherty recalled the scene of the first sci-fi convention in Glasgow in 1995. The venue was located in a shipyard area that was over 100 years old, but had been abandoned for many years. The success of the sci-fi convention brought a new wave of construction to the area, and after the convention, the "Clyde Hall" was built, which resembles the Sydney Opera House and became the venue for the 2005 sci-fi convention.

The entrance to the first floor of the theme exhibition hall, Chengdu Science Fiction Museum.

Photo/Li Menglin (NBD)

Spoilers Alert! 2024 Glasgow Science Fiction Convention 

Doherty was already impressed by the enthusiasm of the current sci-fi convention after just one day of the event. As one of the leaders of the next sci-fi convention, he is also full of expectations for next year's event.

“We expect the sci-fi convention next year to be as large as this one, with many writers, publishers, and filmmakers participating,” Doherty said. “The 2005 Glasgow sci-fi convention saw people from 40 to 50 countries and we hope that will be the case next year as well.”

As the head of the 2024 sci-fi convention, Doherty also disclosed next year's event planning: “Of course, we will invite heavyweight guests and hold the Hugo Awards ceremony, but we also have unique activities.”

According to Doherty, Scotland has a long and rich musical culture tradition, so there will be many unique musical activities on next year's convention.

Next year's convention will review the past 75 years and look forward to the next 75 years.

“Going back 75 years, that was the late 1940s, which was a very important period in the history of science fiction literature. Looking forward 75 years, that's 2099, and no one knows what the scene will be like at that time, so we hope to explore 2099,” Doherty said. He stressed that this idea is still in the planning stage, but it will definitely be one of the central themes of the 2024 convention.