Russia seems to become a different country every time I visit.
It had been two years since I last visited Russia, and it gave me a different impression from my last visit. The purpose of my visit was to attend a SF writers' congress, The Strannik(Wanderer), named after character from novels by Strugatsuky Brothers.
The following is a report on the congress.
The Strannik was held from September 25 to 28, 1997, at the Hotel Russ in St.Petersburg. This was the second congress following last year.
The Strannik is a congress for professionals such as writers, editors, translators and agents. Among the participants were Russia's leading SF writers such as Boris Strugatsuky, Andrei Stolarov, Vyacheslav Rybakov, Andrei Lazarchuk, and from overseas were Robert Sheckley, Bruce Sterling, Charles N.Brown from America, and two others from Japan.
This kind of events are met with high interest in Russia, a country of literature. During the congress, people from TV shows, radio shows, new papers and magazines came to do a cover on the congress and to do interviews on the Russian/American writers. It seemed like Robert Sheckley and Bruce Sterling were constantly doing interviews.
The most popular American SF writers in Russia are Robert Sheckley and Ray Bradbury. The congress received much interest owing to Robert Sheckley's attendance. From what I had heard, when Robert Sheckley was stopped by the police on his way to the hotel from the air port, when the police was told that this was Robert Sheckley , they exclaimed "Oh! You are the Sheckley?" and let him through.
Russian writers told me that this high interest do not lessen after the congress ends, for they receive many requests for interviews and articles even after the congress.
This is the third time that I have attended this sort of meeting in Russia, but this meeting received the most media coverage and as is to respond to the number of coverage, this was the most satisfying event.

25 Sept.
The opening ceremony began with a speech from the host, Nikolai Yutanov, the president of the SF publisher, Terra Fantastica, who himself is a SF writer, and is also the sponsor of the Strannik.
Strugatsuky, Brown, Oono, Sterling, Sheckley did their speeches, followed by presentations from various publishers. In the evening, a mini-party serving vodka and champaign was held.
Russian congress, different from American convention, do not schedule more than one event at a time. The time table is set with sufficient time. Thus, often much waiting time occurs between events.
During these free time and after events, many drinking bouts were held. I myself was invited to many such bouts, and we discussed many things into the early hours, drinking vodka and brandy. There are not much opportunities for the writers to meet, for they are normally spread about the large country side, and so when they do get together, they make full use of this opportunity.
As for my opinion, I believe that this is how a congress should be like. Thanks to this congress, I was able to achieve many answers to the questions I had on Russian SFs.
I have heard during these discussions that SF is currently not so popular in Russia. The current Russian people tend read entertaining, lowbrow literature. Russian SF is not aimed for the general public, and is written with high literacy. Therefore, SF is not receiving much interest presently.

26 Sept.
A day spent attending lectures.
In the morning lectures were done by Boris Strugatsuky, Sergei Pereslegin, Andrei Chertkov, and in the afternoon by Robert Sheckley. Also, a press conference by Robert Sheckley, Bruce Sterling, Charles N.Brown was held. Below is a summary of Boris Strugatsuky's lecture.

"The history of the future"
About 30 years ago, Mr.Alkadi and Mr.Boris Strugatsuky thought that the total communism was going to be constructed in 21-22th century. Their dream had been end. But "construction of the future" was very interesting. This speech had three points.
Point 1.
Mr.Alkadi and Mr.Boris Strugatsuky tried to work for "construction of communism". It was in 1961-63.
Point 2.
Many person had big hope to Soviet. When they were children, one or two men developed their hope. Communism was dream of Russian. Brothers hoped, too. It was not only dream, it was their wish. One or two men who could became goodmen and they began to develop of their hope. But it would be all over of development.
Point 3.
Brothers tried to describe about development of brilliant ideas and ideals. They dreamed to grow up to man as soon as possible.
Comment:
This speech is a piece of Strugatsuky Brothers' motivations. Mr.Boris Strugatsuky said only "We needed dream of our future". Certainly, in 1960-64, they wrote stories about future (for example "Stajyoli"). But after this age, they wrote about only problems of present day. For example, our society, our humanity and so on. And we know Mr.Boris Strugatsuky is not a communist. But he talked about communism. So, I think that he told us their mistakes. In this speech, it seemed that he wanted writers future stories, but he told writers importance of stories about present days. This is a his paradoxical ask.

In the evening, video recording of the first Strannik was played, followed by the preview of the movie "Starship troopers", and the movie "MIB".

27 Sept.
Everybody got into a bus and headed for the bookfair held in the city. A autographing party named "The glory and poverty of Russian SF" was held, and writers' autographs were sold. Before this event, the Strannik Awards for each genres was announced to those concerned and to the press. A women dressed up read aloud the nominees, and writers presented each award. The winners are as follows.

The Strannik Awards for each genres
Adventure---Sergei Luk'yanenko "Imperatori Illyuzii"--"Emperors of Illusions"
Alternate history---Leb Vershinin "Pervii god Respubliki"--"First year of Republic"
Fantasy---Mariya Semenova "Volkodav"--"Volkodav"
Horror---Genri Laion Oldi "Pasinki Vosmoi zapovedi"--"The orphans of the Eighth rule"

After the ceremony, the autographing party began. Writers were besieged by people. The people lined up before their favorite writers, and the writers with the longest lines before them were Boris Strugatsuky, Robert Sheckley, Bruce Sterling.
It was not long before the writers sold out the books they had prepared. The party was scheduled to last for an hour, but some writers sold out within 20 minutes. The remaining time was spent chatting with a bottle of beer in their hands.
We got back to the hotel by bus for lunch, then headed for the concert hall for chamber music. There, the awarding ceremony for the Strannik Award, the biggest event of this congress was held. The number of people from TV shows and news papers increased.
The Strannik Awards is a Russian SF award which began in 1994. It resembles the Nebula Award of America, for the winner of the award is selected by a nomination committee consisting of professional writers. The members of the nomination committee are:Yuri Braider, Mikhail Weller, Eduard Gevorkyan, Andrei Lazarchuk, Evgenii Lukin, Sergei Ruk'yanenko, Vladimir Mikhailov, Vyacheslav Rybakov, Andrei Stolyarov, Boris Strugatsuky, Mikhail Uspensky, Nikolai Chadvich.
This ceremony used be held as an event for the Interpresscon but, since one years ago this has been held as an event for the Strannik. The form of the ceremony has not changed tough. A show by models are held, followed by attractions by live Jazz bands. The winners are as follows.

The Strannik Awards
Paladin--Robert Sheckley
Novel--Victor Pelevin "Chapaev i Pustota"--"Chapaev and Emptiness"
Novelette--Lev Bershinin "Pervii god Respybliki"--"First year of Republic"
Novella--Evgenii Lukin "Slovesvniki"--"Slovesvniki"(People whose words become reality)
Translation--Aleksandra Petrova--M.Swanwick "The Iron Dragon's Daughter"
Criticism/Study/Essay--Eduard Gevorkyan "Boitsi terrakotovoj gvardii"--"Fighters of terra-cotta Guards"
Editor--Vadim Khazarov "Russian fantasy" Series(Terra-Azbuka)
Publisher--AST
Illustrator--Yana Ashmarina

The winner of the novel category, Pelevin, has already has his masterpieces "Omon Ra" and "The Yellow Arrow" translated and published in English, and "The Blue Lantern" and "The Life of Insects" are scheduled to be published soon. Pelevin is now living in London, and did not attend this congress.
After the ceremony, we had toasts on the upper floor of the concert hall. Another feast was held back at the hotel. Congratulations and toast were repeated, and the party went on until the early hours.

27 Sept. Final day.
The only event scheduled was a conference by the winners. This was done with simple speeches from the winners. Everybody drifted apart afterwords.

Time seemed to run slower during the congress held. The contents of this time spent were satisfying, and comfortable. While enjoying countless shots of vodka, I was able to have a heart to heart talk with kind and intellectual Russian writers. What I was able to achieve most from this congress was not the number of books I had collected, but rather the meaningful time well spent and the information I had gathered. I wish from my heart that I will be able to attend another such congress.