Cape Town’s vibrant literary scene is set to welcome back Otherworld, the city’s premier celebration of science fiction and fantasy, on Saturday, July 25.
Held at Exclusive Books at the V&A Waterfront, the event offers a full day of programming from 10am to 4pm, inviting readers and aspiring authors alike to immerse themselves in all things otherworldly.
Since its inception, Otherworld has spotlighted the growing appetite for local speculative fiction.
Following the success of previous years, including the expansion to four panels in 2025, this year promises to be a significant gathering for the local creative community.
The event aims to strengthen the Western Cape’s spec-fic community, providing a space for enthusiasts to connect, learn from published authors, and engage with publishing experts.
Creator of Otherworld and author of The Witch of Benbar’s Cross, Tanya Meeson, said that they were delighted by the enthusiastic response to this event
"The spec-fic community is strong in the Western Cape, and this is one way we hope to make it a little stronger," she said.
Attendees can look forward to a diverse range of topics throughout the day.
The programme includes four distinct hour-long panels: 10am - Stories from the South - An exploration of how living in South Africa influences an SFF author’s characters, worlds, and narrative voice;11.30am - Eye of Newt, Ear of Bat - A deep dive into the research and influences that shape story creation; 1.30pm - A Dagger is not a Sword - A look at the craft of short stories and skills for writing award-winning pieces; and 3pm - DIY SFF - A practical guide on navigating self-publishing.
The event has received strong support from the local bookselling community.
Exclusive Books Waterfront manager Alan Commaille said that they have been told for years that there was little desire for a local brew of speculative fiction.
"However, South Africans are finally picking up their pens and committing their creativity to paper, and Otherworld has shone a light on the real demand for it," he said.
Otherworld features an impressive list of panellists, including Shameez Patel, Sam Wilson, Nerine Dorman, and many others.
Attendance is free.
Interested readers can secure their spots via the Exclusive Books events or by contacting @Otherworldgathering on Instagram.
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