“In 2019 science fiction had the largest decline among the adult fiction genres, with units down 19.7%. The smaller westerns segment saw units fall 17.2%, and unit sales of romance novels declined 12.4%. While print sales of science fiction and romance continue to endure annual double digit declines since the advent of e-books, mystery/detective, another segment that has suffered, had a relatively mild 3.5% decline in unit sales. Other positive trends in adult fiction were the continued strength of graphic novels, where units rose 16.1%, and the rebound in horror/occult/psychological segment, where units increased 16.6%.” – US Print Unit Sales Fell 1.3% in 2019 (https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/82152-print-unit-sales-fell-1-3-in-2019.html)
The SFWA Nebula Conference, scheduled for May 28-31, 2020 in Woodland Hills CA is becoming “an entirely virtual conference, which will be live and interactive from May 29th-31st 2020.”
CoNZealand, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention in Wellington, New Zealand, scheduled for July 29 – August 2, 2020, is becoming the first ever “virtual Worldcon.”
“Numerous upcoming conventions and literary events have been postponed or canceled as part of efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes respiratory illness COVID-19. The situation remains in flux as the full extent of the pandemic remains to be seen. We will update this story and our convention listing with further information about cancellations and postponements as it becomes available.
- Emerald City Comic Con, scheduled for March 14-20, 2020 in Seattle WA, is attempting to secure new dates for the summer.
- The 41st International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, scheduled to run March 18–21, 2020 in Orlando FL, has been canceled. The theme and guests of honor will be retained for ICFA 42, scheduled for March 17–20, 2021.
- The Spectrum Awards ceremony was to be held at Planet Comicon Kansas City, March 20-22, 2020 in Kansas City MO, which has now been canceled.
- MidSouthCon 38, scheduled for March 20-22, 2020 in Memphis TN, has been postponed to 2021.
- Fantastika 2020, Sweden’s national sf/fantasy literature con (the Swecon), scheduled for March 20-22 in Stockholm, has been canceled. Organizers hope to find a date in the autumn.
- The Texas Library Association Annual Conference, planned for March 24-27, 2020 in Houston TX, has been canceled.
- The Outer Dark Symposium, originally to be held March 27-28, 2020 in Conley GA, has been postponed until August 14-15, 2020.
- The Bologna Book Fair, first scheduled for March 30 – April 2, 2020 in Bologna, Italy, later announced a postponement to May 4-7, 2020, and then canceled entirely. The next event will be held April 12-15, 2021.
- The annual Williamson Lectureship, planned for April 2-4, 2020 in Portales NM, has been postponed, likely to September 2020.
- Norwescon 43 in Seattle WA, scheduled April 9-12, 2020 has been canceled.
- Minicon 55 in Minneapolis MN, to be held April 10-12, 2020, has been postponed to April 2-4, 2021.
- The 36th L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future workshops, and the gala event scheduled for April 3, 2020 in Hollywood CA, will be postponed until later this year.
- StokerCon 2020 in Scarborough, UK, planned for April 16-19, 2020, is “exploring all options to postpone the convention until later in the year,” and has a tentative date of August 6-9, 2020 in mind.
- ConStellation 11, originally scheduled for April 17-20, 2020 in Lincoln NE has been canceled. Organizers hope to reschedule for July or August.
- Swancon, scheduled for April 25-27, 2020 in Perth, Australia, has been canceled.
- Ravencon 15, scheduled for April 24-26, 2020 in Williamsburg VA, has been postponed to April 16-18, 2021 and will take place in Glen Allen VA.
- The Edgar Awards banquet and symposium, planned for April 30, 2020 in New York, has been canceled.
- Malice Domestic, scheduled May 1-3, 2020 in North Bethesda MD, has been postponed, with new dates TBD.
- The Bay Area Book Festival, scheduled for May 2-3, 2020 in Berkeley CA, is skipping this year, and will next be held May 1-2, 2021.
- Creative Ink, to be held May 15-17, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, has been canceled.
- The British Book Awards, planned for May 18, 2020 in London, will now take place June 29, 2020.
- LitFest Pasadena, scheduled for May 16-17, 2020 in Pasadena CA, has been canceled.
- Baycon, scheduled for May 22-25, 2020 in San Mateo CA, has been postponed until November 6-8, 2020.
- Balticon 54, planned for May 22-25, 2020 in Baltiimore MD, has been canceled.
- Wiscon 44, scheduled for May 22-25, 2020 in Madison WI, has been canceled.
- Book Expo in New York scheduled for May 27-29 has been pushed back to July 22-24, 2020.
- The SFWA Nebula Conference, scheduled for May 28-31, 2020 in Woodland Hills CA is becoming “an entirely virtual conference, which will be live and interactive from May 29th-31st,” and will include “panels, solo presentations, conference mentorships, workshops, forums, chats, and virtual room parties (including a dance party hosted by John Scalzi). A portion of the funds we raise will go to assist SFWA members financially affected by COVID-19… the Nebula Awards ceremony will stream live at 8 pm Eastern on May 30th.”
- The 32nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards Ceremony, to be held June 8, 2020 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York, has been canceled.
- The ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for June 25-30, 2020 in Chicago IL has been canceled.
- CoNZealand, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention in Wellington, New Zealand, scheduled for July 29 – August 2, 2020, is becoming the first ever “virtual Worldcon.”
- “Doctor Who” fans unite with an online viewing : Doctor Who fans from across the world have come together online for a mass viewing of the first episode of the show’s return, on the fifteenth anniversary of its first broadcast. A series of ”watch-alongs” have been organised, with fans watching specific episodes at the same time as the show’s creatives.
Smaller events have also been canceled, like the March and April “SF by the Bay” programs at the San Francisco Public Library, the March Writers with Drinks reading in San Francisco, the March Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading in New York (though the latter provided a livestream of readings by Daniel Braum and Robert Levy on March 18, 2020), and the April meeting of Charm City Spec in Baltimore MD. The Horror Writers Association Librarian’s Day at the Naperville IL public library has been postponed from May 7, 2020 to November 12, 2020. The televised Canada Reads competition, planned for March 16-19, has been postponed.
Some events (mostly those planned for later in the year) are still scheduled, pending further information, including the Locus Awards Weekend in Seattle WA (June 26-28, 2020), which has suspended ticket sales for now.”
via Locus Online (https://locusmag.com/2020/03/covid-19-sf-event-cancellations/)
