Ilmenau – a nice town with a predilection for fantasy and SF

Last Friday, I read at Phantopia in Ilmenau . “Schlange des Bösen” (=Serpent of Malice) was presented to an interested audience, most of whom went home with a copy of the book sold by the bookshop present. That made me very happy.

Phantopia is an association made up of eager and marvellous fantasy enthusiasts that emerged from the Technical University of Ilmenau= Technische Uni Ilmenau. The association, together with the town and university, manages to organise regular readings with the help of donations. And in this rather small town, there really is a large audience for fantastic literature. So I had the honour of being invited again, and I was absolutely thrilled. The Phantopians are wonderful people.

By the way, a lady in the audience presented me with this nice bookworm (or reading rattie) after the reading, along with some delicious chocolate. Thank you very much, dear listener! The little animal now has a loving new home. The chocolate … er …

It was great again. The reading was held at a very nice café. We used to read in the university library, but for some time now, the events have relocated to Cafe Böcklein . Together with the Café hosts I now smile from a column there!
(I haven’t been in a Polaroid picture for a long time. Reminded me of my father, who used to haunt family events with his bone-coloured giant Polaroid).

The Phantopians have realised that this is the 5th time I’ve read in Ilmenau. Only Christian von Aster has been there the same amount of times. They seem to like me there. That’s great! I really like them, too. They cooked me a delicious meal again after the reading. And they also gave me a present. Thank you very much, Phantopians!

I managed to get through the reading without a coughing fit, which had been a bit precarious given my bronchitis.
Now I’ve carried my bronchitis home again.

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