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.

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.

Release Date 3^rd May 2005