[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 #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 Maņana', 
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.