PRESS RELEASE #39 - Robert Sheckley Unable to Attend Convention

GLASGOW, Friday 17 June 2005

Guest of Honour unable to attend convention for health reasons - will be honoured in his absence - family to attend and represent him.

Interaction regrets to announce that Guest of Honour Robert Sheckley will be unable to attend the convention in person.

Mr Sheckley experienced severe medical problems during a visit to Ukraine at the end of April and although he is now recovering, the need for further surgery precludes lengthy travel by air for the next several months.

"We are sorry that Robert will be unable to join us in person but he remains a Guest of Honour of the Worldcon and his life and works will continue to be celebrated in our programme, exhibits and publications," said Colin Harris, Co-Chair of Interaction. "This will include a new collection of Robert's short fiction, 'The Masque of Mañana', which will be published by NESFA Press in association with the convention."

His co-chair Vincent Docherty added, "We are also delighted that Robert Sheckley's wife, writer Gail Dana, along with her daughter Robin, will attend the convention and appear on the programme and at major events to represent Robert in his absence. In the meantime everyone at Interaction sends our best wishes to Robert for a speedy recovery."

Further updates on Robert's condition, and on the fund-raising drive designed to pay for his convalescence, can be found on his web site at www.sheckley.com.

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.

Release Date 17^th June 2005