[Disclaimer: This announcement is being posted to multiple 
mailing lists with overlapping membership. We apologize for any 
inconvenience this may cause.]

INTERACTION, THE 63rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION
http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/

PRESS RELEASE #35 - Interaction Announces Reduced Attending 
  Membership Rates for Selected Countries

GLASGOW, Tuesday 3 May 2005

Attending membership rates halved for countries including Russia, Ukraine, 
Bulgaria and Romania - additional members and interest expected - 
Worldcon membership already spans 34 countries.


Interaction is pleased to announce a reduction in Adult Attending
membership rates for residents of selected Eastern European
countries. This reduction has been made in recognition of the
financial challenges facing potential members from this
region, and reflects the Convention's aspiration to be 
a truly global and inclusive event.

The price of an Attending membership for residents of the selected 
countries will be discounted by 50%, to £55 (rather than £110) 
for a full Adult attending membership of the Convention. The
following countries will be included in the scheme:

 Albania
 Belarus
 Bulgaria
 Moldova
 Romania
 Russian Federation
 Ukraine

Existing members in the eligible countries will be issued with
refunds where they have already paid a higher rate.  Full terms
for the discounted rate are available from Interaction's
web site at www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/joining.htm.

Interaction Co-Chair, Colin Harris, said "Eastern Europe has
a strong science fiction heritage in terms of both professional
work and fan conventions. Writers such as the Strugatskys are
widely known around the World, and there is also a strong
tradition of science fiction and fantasy art that we hope
to see represented in our Art Show in Glasgow. We believe that 
this initiative will enable many more fans from these countries to 
come to the convention, especially since the European Science Fiction
Convention was held in Bulgaria last year and will be going
to Kiev in 2006."

Interaction's membership currently stands at just under 3,900
in total, with representation from 34 countries including 
such widely spread locations as Scandinavia, Israel, Russia,
South Africa, Japan and Australia.


                                                                ENDS

----------------------------------------------------- 

Contacts
General: info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk
Press/Media: David Stewart - press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk

The 2005 World Science Fiction Convention, known as Interaction, will
take place in Glasgow, UK from 4-8 August 2005. More information about
Interaction, including current membership rates, is available from its
web site (http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/) or by writing to
info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

Specific press contacts, or requests to be removed from the
Interaction press release mailing list should be directed to
press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

"WSFS", "Worldcon", "World Science Fiction Convention" and 
"Hugo Award" are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, 
an unincorporated literary society.