The "Aelita" Convention" is the
convention, where most famous writers, critics,
publishers and fans of the genre of sc-fi and fantasy
meet. The action has been carried out since 1981,
being the oldest one in Russia. By the decision
of the Mayor of Yekaterinburg this convention is
included in the official list of actions dedicated
to the celebration of the City's Day.
Robert Sheckley - the classic of the world sc-fi
literature, was the guet of honour of the convention
in 2003. In 2004 we expect famous Russian sc-fi
writers as as Vasily Golovatchyov, Vladislav Krapivin
and Sergey Lukianenko to be our guests of honour.
Also we plan to invite such great writers as Stanislav
Lem and Haruki Murakami.
For the present moment in the active of the convention
there are five awards annually presented to new
winners: the main premium of "Aelita",
the award named after A.Efremov (for outstanding
editorial, organizing and educational work in the
field of a sc-fi and fantasy), the "Start"
award (for the best debut book written in Russian
during the year before the con), the award named
after Vitaly Bugrov (for outstanding editorial,
bibliographic, literature, critical and publisher
work in the field of sc-fi and fantasy), and also
"The Award of Knights of sc-fi and fantasy"
(for the contribution to the development of the
native movement of sc-fi and fantasy creators/fans).
All these prizes are made of the Ural stones
(crystal, jasper, malachite, etc.) and valuable
metals. During more than twenty years of the convention
its winners were Strugatsky brothers, Alexander
Kazantsev, Vladislav Krapivin, Kir Bulytchev and
many other interesting authors.
Since 2004 the organizers plan to give to "Aelita"
the status of the Eupopean-Asian convention of
the sc-fi and fantasy (EACSFF). Conventions of
sc-fi and fantasy exist in different countries
- but there are no "intercontinental"
conventions! Such forum will be an unique event
in theb global practice, which will collect on
border of Europe and Asia a certain number of
leading writers, and futurologists, and will ensure
the broadest illumination of events through massmedia,
and great advertising opportunities for sponsors.
Within the framework of the event, press conferences
with visitors and winners of the Convention, autograph-sessions
and meetings with famous writers, critics and
publishers, ТВ and radio interviews with authors,
awardings of winners and other various mass actions
will be held.
The "Aelita" Convention is a historical
event for the city of Yekaterinburg and for the
rest of the country. In the cultural life of Yekaterinburg
city it is difficult to find another similar phenomenon,
which has a comparable age. We wouldn't like to
make too high analogies, but, for example, the
meaning of this festival in the sphere of literature
in scales of Russia is hardly less than the importance
of a world championship in any kind of sports
for the global sport community. So we would be
happy to see as many of sc-fi and fantasy fans
here at our conventions!
The "Aelita" Convention's Organizing
Committee
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