User:KYPark/Over-computing

A Tory wife may cheer or fear resilient liberal Wells

Aliens banned in HG Wells contest

By Daily Telegraph Reporter

The Daily Telegraph, July 22, 2010 [1]

A short story competition to celebrate the life of HG Wells failed to attract a single entry after organisers banned science fiction writing.

The contest challenged fans of the author, considered by many as the father of science fiction, to write stories about contemporary life in his home county of Kent rather than aliens or time travel.

Another condition was that the story had to be handwritten rather than typed in an effort to challenge the modern over-reliance on computers.

The contest, which was due to be judged by Sandra Howard, the wife of the former Conservative leader Michael Howard, offered a L1,000 prize for the winner but failed to attract entrants.

[...]

Ray Potter, 54, a Kent resident, said: "People who love sci-fi want to write about alien invasions.

"Writing about Kent life in 2010 would be the most boring thing in the world for them."