Gentlefolk, start your sewing machines!
If you were at Glasgow Worldcon, you might have seen the custom tartan that was designed, registered, and woven just for them. We wanted to capture that same creative spirit, so we now have a Spoonflower shop with a selection of fabrics in our colors and with our logos, motifs, and characters. Check out the Seattle Worldcon 2025 fabric selections! Below is an example of one of the patterns available.
These designs are available on many different fabrics, so you can have them printed on cotton, linen, canvas, stretch jersey, and many others. You can even order premade products in the selected fabric design, in case you must have Seattle Worldcon 2025 curtains, or sheets, or throw blankets!
If you are the creative sort, we would love to see how you can incorporate the designs into something awesome.
Hotel Block Report from Facilities Division
Last month we opened reservations in our hotel block, and rooms are still available at all our hotels, but filling fast. Recent reports from our headquarters hotel, the Sheraton Grand, show 70% of the rooms are full. Please note that there may be shortages of rooms available for shoulder nights outside of the core dates of August 13–17. If your booking attempt shows no rooms available, we suggest that you make a booking for these dates and contact the hotel to expand your reservation to additional nights. The hotel contracts specify that the hotels will offer you the convention rate for three days before and after your reservation within the hotel block. Please expect information on requesting suites for parties soon. The facilities division has positions available—please see the currently available roles section of our website.
Seattle Worldcon Will Feature Classic Science Fiction, but Not Retro Hugo Awards
Seattle Worldcon 2025’s vision of “Building Yesterday’s Future—For Everyone” involves looking back at the great themes of classic science fiction and fantasy to bring the best ideas forward, in an inclusive fashion that marries yesterday’s optimism with 21st century ideals. While we are developing a program track to explore genre history in depth, our Worldcon will not include Retro Hugo Awards.
The Retro Hugo Awards were conceived in the 1990s to retroactively select Hugo Award winners for the years between 1939-1954 in which no Hugos were awarded. To award retro Hugos, a Worldcon must be held 50, 75, or 100 years after the year in which the works would have theoretically been eligible. Retro Hugos have been awarded on eight occasions, most recently in 2020, although as noted by the Internet Science Fiction Database, the practice has become controversial, with the four most recent Worldcons declining to award them. An amendment was adopted at the Glasgow Worldcon to eliminate the practice going forward and passed on to Seattle for ratification. While Seattle Worldcon is also declining to award Retro Hugos, we find looking back at the works that have brought us here incredibly valuable. We look forward to discussion of the legacy of past science fiction and fantasy by our fantastic panelists, and hope you will join in the conversation. New engagement casts these works and their creators in new lights, and allows us to reflect on how science fiction and fantasy can be—and has always been—used as an agent for change.
Fan Table, Art Show, and Dealers’ Room Applications Open Soon!
Our teams are hard at work getting ready to open the art show, dealers’ room, and fan table applications, which should happen by early December. In the meantime, contact exhibits@seattlein2025.org to be added to our advance interest email list so you will hear first. We look forward to hosting an exciting and diverse exhibit hall, one only a Worldcon could put on!
Highlighting the Academic Track!
The Academic Track is a multi-disciplinary academic conference held in conjunction with the annual World Science Fiction Convention. It provides a unique opportunity to engage both a diverse group of scholars, and a large, highly educated, and well-informed public audience. All areas of research related to Science Fiction are welcome, and please do not hesitate to use this opportunity to indulge a flight of academic fancy or propose something outside the box.
For more details, please read the Academic Track information page on our website.
The Academic Track is a multi-disciplinary academic conference held in conjunction with the annual World Science Fiction Convention. It provides a unique opportunity to engage both a diverse group of scholars, and a large, highly educated, and well-informed public audience.
See You at These Events in November!
In November we will have tables at GeekGirlCon and the GeekCraft Expo Holiday Market in Seattle. Come say hello! You may even have the opportunity to preview our fabrics and cross stich patterns. Since we’re doing it, why not spread the good news about the Seattle Worldcon yourself? Memberships make great holiday presents.
There are many open volunteer positions! Come and share your talents!
Volunteer positions are currently available and many more will be opening up as the convention approaches. Be sure to peruse the Volunteer page on the website, and check back frequently if something you want to do is not yet available.
Here are a few of the currently open positions:
- Exhibits Layouts Assistant
- Assistant Convention Center/Hotel Liaison
- Green Room Coordinator
- Music Track Lead
- Youth Track Lead
- Prop Contest Coordinator
- Stage / Program AV Support Staff
- Head of Program AV
- Information Technology Support Staff
If you are unsure what position to apply for, you can fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and add your name to the database by selecting one or several areas of interest.