Not of This World:
An Evening for Dragon-Riders, Wizards
and Defenders of Humanity at the National Library
Tuesday | April 2nd | the 26th of Adar II | 19:00
The National Library building
Ptolemy, active 2nd century, 1584
Tabula Islandiae; Auctore Georgio Carolo Flandro;
Guiljelmus Blaeuw excudit, 1635
The Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, the National Library
19:00-20:00 Opening Session:
Welcome remarks - Dr. Stefan Litt, the National Library
Welcome remarks - Dr. Roni Shtarkshall, donor of a collection of science fiction magazines to the National Library
Opening lecture:
From the Shire to Cyberspace: J.R.R. Tolkien and Today's Hacking Culture
Ran Bar-Zik – computer programmer and cybersecurity analyst, a founder of the Israeli Tolkien Society
20:15-21:15 Simultaneous Events (choose one of two panels)
Panel One: Science Fiction Literature for Children and Young Adults
Michal Paz-Klep, translator, scholar and editor of young-adult and comic books for Kinneret Publishing, including The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, The Trials of Apollo, The Lunar Chronicles, Bone and more.
Nadav Almog, website manager, editor, translator and writer on literature and culture in different frameworks in Israel and abroad. Holder of an M.A. degree in English Literature with a focus on fantasy and young-adult and children's literature. Spends his evenings managing the Fantastic Library website.
Dr. Shirley Graetz, PhD in Assyriology. An employee of the National Library as well as a tour guide and author of children's books. Her series Young Gilgamesh is based on Mesopotamian mythology.
Nevet Tachnai, a die-hard fan of science fiction and fantasy literature. Holder of an M.A. degree in English Literature and director of content for the Getbooks digital books website.
Panel Two: Original Creative Output in Israel
Dr. Keren Landsman, a mother, writer and medical doctor who specializes in epidemiology and public health. A Geffen Award winner and the author of The Heart of the Circle and Broken Skies.
Ehud Maimon, editor of Hayo Ihiyeh (היה יהיה), an annual anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories. Ehud also edits the website of the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy and has lectured on these subjects for many years.
Roni Gelbfish, author.
Yoav Avni, author of the bestseller Three Things for a Desert Island and the books Crossing a River Twice, To Be and What If. For the last two he was given the Geffen Award by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Nimrod Eisenberg, a computer engineer in his past who today deals with industrial acquisitions. Nimrod has always been an avid reader of speculative literature. Married to a beauty queen with whom he has fathered two evil dwarves - all three are smarter than him. His stories have been published in Hayo Ihiyeh (היה יהיה) and in the Meorot (מאורות) conference's story project.
Motifs in Works of Science Fiction – A Series of Lectures
Getting Lost in Infinite Knowledge – Science Fiction Libraries
Damian Hoffman - A hi-tech engineer and a lecturer on science fiction, science and society
Journeys in Space: Reality and Imagination, Space Travel Technology in Science Fiction and Space Initiatives of the "Real World"
Tal Inbar - An international expert on flight, space, and rocketry. A science fiction enthusiast.
Fantasy and Strategy: What Lies Behind the Wars of Legend?
Dr. Danny Orbach - A military historian from the Asian Studies and General History departments at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A Screening of the Film: "The Last Shepherd", and a conversation with the director, Daniel Dar
Entry is free of charge. Please register on the National Library website.
Entry to the simultaneous sessions is on the basis of availability.
