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European Space Agency

Press Release

Sci-fi competition about to be judged

17 April 2003
 
Altogether 120 entries from all over the globe have been received for
the science fiction story-writing competition announced by ESA last
November. The Clarke-Bradbury International Science Fiction
Competition is named after two writers whose stranger-than-fiction
ideas sometimes become fact. 
 
David Raitt, of ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, says
"ESA launched this competition to try and attract younger people to
science and technology. Besides being fun and encouraging people to
contribute creative ideas, the competition also raises awareness
about Europe's space programme".

Entries have been received from 36 countries in Africa, Asia,
Australasia, South America, North America and, of course, Europe. An
international jury is now at work judging the entries using four
criteria:

    * imagination - innovative ideas and the ability to think
      'outside the box'
    * technology - convincing use of technology in the story
    * structure - development of storyline, plot and characters
    * skills - style, clarity of expression and degree of realism

Raitt is one of the jurors and reports: "it is amazing the
imagination shown by the writers, who are often very young. I have
just started reading the stories and am really enjoying them." 

The winning entry will be presented at the 54th International
Astronautical Federation Congress, to be held in Bremen, Germany in
October. All finalists will also receive autographed copies of books
written by Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury, whose work has inspired
writers and scientists alike.

After the competition ESA is hoping to publish a book containing the
best and most interesting stories, illustrated with material from its
own archives as well as that of the Maison d'Ailleurs, the museum of
science fiction, utopia and extraordinary journeys, and one of the
competition's organisers.

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