Through the magic of time travel, and a little creative scripting, the 1941 Retro Hugo Awards were presented in a unique format at MidAmeriCon II.

Taking inspiration from the selected year, 1941, the Retros were presented within the confines of an old time radio show, complete with a big-voiced announcer and a big band for interlude entertainment. While guests spun on the dance floor, fans gathered to honor some of the best science fiction and fantasy work of 1940.

The Retro Hugos are awarded to work from years prior to the inauguration of the Hugos themselves. Each host convention has the option of choosing a year to honor with the award.

1941 Retro Hugo Award

BEST NOVEL (352 ballots)

• Gray Lensman by E.E. “Doc” Smith (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Jan 1940)
• The Ill‐Made Knight by T.H. White (Collins)
• Kallocain by Karin Boye (Bonnier)
• The Reign of Wizardry by Jack Williamson (Unknown, Mar 1940)
• Slan by A.E. Van Vogt (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Dec 1940)

This award was presented at the end of the evening, with co-hosts Marissa Pelot and Kevin Roche being surprised by the appearance of Van Vogt’s granddaughter, who had driven twenty-five hours to attend the ceremony tonight. Getting up on stage to accept the award, the younger Van Vogt was visibly overwhelmed with emotion upon receiving the trophy.

BEST NOVELLA (318 ballots)

• “Coventry” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science‐Fiction, July 1940)
• “If This Goes On…” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Feb 1940)
• “Magic, Inc.” by Robert A. Heinlein (Unknown, Sept 1940)
• “The Mathematics of Magic” by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt (Unknown, Aug 1940)
• “The Roaring Trumpet” by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt (Unknown, May 1940)

BEST NOVELETTE (310 ballots)

• “Blowups Happen” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Sept 1940)
• “Farewell to the Master” by Harry Bates (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Oct 1940)
• “It!” by Theodore Sturgeon (Unknown, Aug 1940)
• “The Roads Must Roll” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science‐Fiction, June 1940)
• “Vault of the Beast” by A. E. Van Vogt (Astounding Science-Fiction, August 1940)

BEST SHORT STORY (324 ballots)

• “Martian Quest” by Leigh Brackett (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Feb 1940)
• “Requiem” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science‐Fiction, Jan 1940)
• “Robbie” by Isaac Asimov (Super Science Stories, Sept 1940)
• “The Stellar Legion” by Leigh Brackett (Planet Stories, Winter 1940)
• “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” by Jorge Luis Borges (Sur, 1940)

BEST GRAPHIC STORY (92 ballots)

• Batman #1 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger (Detective Comics, Spring 1940)
• Captain Marvel: “Introducing Captain Marvel” by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck (Whiz Comics #2, Feb 1940)
• Flash Gordon: “The Ice Kingdom of Mongo” by Alex Raymond and Don Moore (King Features Syndicate, Apr 1940)
• The Origin of the Spirit by Will Eisner (Register and Tribune Syndicate, June 1940)
• The Spectre: “The Spectre”/”The Spectre Strikes!” by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily (More Fun Comics #52/53, Feb/Mar 1940)

Notable for the inclusion of Bill Finger in the credits, Batman #1 as a winner this year was met with enthusiastic response from the audience.

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION (LONG FORM) (250 ballots)

• Dr. Cyclops written by Tom Kilpatrick, directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack (Paramount Pictures)
• Fantasia written by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer, directed by Samuel Armstrong et al. (Walt Disney Productions, RKO Radio Pictures)
• Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe written by George H. Plympton, Basil Dickey, and Barry Shipman, directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor (Universal Pictures)
• One Million B.C. written by Mickell Novack, George Baker, and Joseph Frickert, directed by Hal Roach and Hal Roach, Jr. (United Artists)
• The Thief of Bagdad written by Lajos Bíró and Miles Malleson, directed by Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, and Tim Whelan (London Films, United Artists)

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION (SHORT FORM) (123 ballots)

• The Adventures of Superman: “The Baby from Krypton” written by George Ludlam, produced by Frank Chase (WOR)
• The Invisible Man Returns written by Joe May, Kurt Siodmak, and Lester Cole, directed by Joe May (Universal Pictures)
• Looney Tunes: “You Ought to Be in Pictures” written by Jack Miller, directed by Friz Freleng (Warner Bros.)
• Merrie Melodies: “A Wild Hare” written by Rich Hogan, directed by Tex Avery (Warner Bros.)
• Pinocchio written by Ted Sears et al., directed by Ben Sharpsteen and Hamilton Luske (Walt Disney Productions, RKO Radio Pictures)

BEST EDITOR ‐ SHORT FORM (183 ballots)

• John W. Campbell
• Dorothy McIlwraith
• Raymond A. Palmer
• Frederik Pohl
• Mort Weisinger

BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST (117 ballots)

• Hannes Bok
• Margaret Brundage
• Edd Cartier
• Virgil Finlay
• Frank R. Paul
• Hubert Rogers

Note: Category has 6 finalists due to a tie for 5th place.

BEST FANZINE (63 ballots)

• Futuria Fantasia by Ray Bradbury
• Le Zombie by Bob Tucker
• Novacious by Forrest J Ackerman and Morojo
• Spaceways by Harry Warner, Jr.
• Voice of the Imagi‐Nation by Forrest J Ackerman and Morojo

BEST FAN WRITER (70 ballots)

• Forrest J Ackerman
• Ray Bradbury
• H. P. Lovecraft
• Bob Tucker
• Harry Warner

Also presented at the ceremony: the First Fandom awards. Inducted into the Hall of Fame were Ben Bova and Joseph Ross, both noted for their extensive work in developing new talent and embracing fandom. A posthumous inclusion was also announced for the organizers of Worldcon 3: Olon F. Wiggins, Lew Martin, and Roy V. Hunt.

First Fandom also announced a selection for the Sam Moskowitz Archive Award, presented for excellence in science fiction collecting. This year, the award was given to Steven Korshach and posthumously to Cuyler W. “Ned” Brooks, Jr.

For more coverage on Worldcon, check out this link for articles and interviews.