Reports from a Reading in the Virtual World

Last Saturday, I participated in a virtual reading in the virtual world of Second Life. It was a cafe reading, in which five different SF authors from five different continents read from their writings. I was one of the authors.

The experience was pure 90’s science fiction, not least of which because of the 3D nature of Second Life along with the fact that there are facsimiles for everything.

When I ‘entered’ the cafe, by popping in out of nowhere, I was asked by Kueperpunk Korhonen, one of the event’s supervisors, if I wanted to be teleported to a nearby warm-up concert.

Of course I wanted to teleport. Doesn’t everyone?

During the warm-up concert, the editor Michael Iwoleit, who was one of the authors, noticed I wasn’t wearing any clothes. “Looking a bit naked, aren’t you, Guy?” he said.

“Do I?” I said, not aware of what my avatar looks like or that clothing issues were a ‘thing’. “I hope I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“You look quite well,” he answered.

“Ah, well. No need to change, then.”

And to my knowledge, if no one else dressed me before the reading, I read from my book completely naked. Didn’t bother me a bit. Didn’t even feel a breeze.

Our Futuristic Present

Listeners Respond

Reading Event in the Virtual World: 5 SF Authors from 5 Continents

There’s going to be a special SF reading in the virtual world: five SF authors (including myself) from five continents will meet in Second Life on May 5th to read from their works.

I’m going to read from my new novel, Tickling Butterflies.

Here is the news item from Michael Iwoleit’s blog:

“As we say in Germany: Great events throw their shadows ahead. On May 5th an event will take place in Thorsten Küper’s and Kirsten Riehl’s steampunk location Kafé Kruemelkram that may be unique in the history of Second Life: Five science fiction writers from five continents, all writing in English, will read from their works live. I’ll be honoured to take the part of Europe and read one of my English stories. The other invited writers are:

For Asia: Guy Hasson (Israel)

For Africa: Jonathan Elorm Dotse (Ghana)

For South America: Gustavo Bondoni (Argentina)

For North America: Ahmed A. Khan (Canada)

Please refer to my hompage or to Thorsten Küper’s blog for further information which will follow soon.”

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The future is here.