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| Ian Watson (and H.G. Wells) in Timisoara |
I've just been a guest at The 2nd International Week of Science Fact
and Fiction at Timisoara, Romania (19th to 25th May), both as myself and
as the Ghost of Honour of H.G. Wells, for which purpose the wardrobe department
of the local opera house provided an ancient suit with tails, but fortunately
no mothballs nor moths. By sheer chance a brass band struck up outside
as Bertie Wells manifested himself.
The week-long event was steered by the Concatenation crowd and by local
fans with what a newspaper described as German punctuality mixed with
British humour - things actually happened when advertised. As well as
Romanians and Hungarians, several British fans attended, not least Vince
Doherty as Fan GoH hot-foot from Nigeria (but looking very cool, perhaps
because of the Fan), there was a Danish Spaniard in the soup, and Italian
Roberto Quaglia presided throughout with splendid surrealism. Searing
sunshine, requiring much resort to the lovely local beers, alternated
with occasional thunder and lightning. Guided tours of Timisoara (gorgeous
architecture in need of much heritage fund restoration before it crumbles
further) disclosed that it was the first city anywhere to have electric
street lightning and that non-Eucildean geometry was first devised there,
not to mention that it was a major shipping port although very far from
the sea. Romanian TV boggled viewers nationwide with its coverage. More
Brit fans should go to events like this. Such fun. So many new friends.
Related links:
Roberto's
essential photo gallery of the event
Roberto's
full photo gallery of the event
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