Chicago is the "holy land" in the minds of European and American sci-fi fans. Since 2012, this city has held two Worldcons, during which Helen Montgomery served as Vice Chairman and Chairman respectively.

Looking ahead to the 2023 Chengdu Worldcon, the veteran introduces that Chengdu has rich cultural resources and hopes that more sci-fi writers can come here and draw inspiration from its long history and splendid culture. She tells Red Star News that she is deeply impressed by the professionalism of the Organizing Committee and the hospitality of Chengdu people.

Helen Montgomery

There Should be More Exchanges Between Western Sci-Fi and China

Helen came to Chengdu to attend an international sci-fi convention in 2019. Visiting Chengdu again gives her both a familiar feeling and a fresh experience. She sees Chengdu as a vibrant metropolis with   modern  high-rise buildings.

The Worldcon has been held in non-English speaking countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, but this year will be the first time it is being held in China. Helen mentions that she sincerely hopes Western readers could get to know the huge community of sci-fi fans in China.

"The focus of the Worldcon is still the word 'World'. The event is held in different parts of the world, which yields different harvests," Helen says. For example, she has attended Worldcons held in London, Dublin, and other places, which provided inspiration for her to host local sci-fi events when she returned to Chicago .

When Helen arrived in Chengdu, she could see the similar love and enthusiasm on the faces of sci-fi fans, even though she cannot speak Chinese. At present, she mentions, not enough Chinese sci-fi works are being translated into English. That's a pity, but it's a problem that needs to be addressed.

Helen also has some suggestions for the development of local sci-fi culture in Chengdu. In Chicago, she has organized a monthly sci-fi reading club, which normalized the exchange of ideas among local sci-fi fans. She believes that Chengdu is home to different universities and colleges and a beautiful venue for the Worldcon, and she hopes that all these could promote the development sci-fi culture in Chengdu.

Modern Sci-Fi Writers CanSeek Inspiration from Ancient Cultures

Chengdu is an historical and cultural city with a history of more than 4,500 years. The long history has given birth to the splendid Ancient Shu Civilization and far-reaching regional culture. In Helen's opinion, the culture can also become the soil for modern sci-fi writers to draw  nourishment from.

"China and even Asia have a splendid cultural tradition. The image of the dragon, for example, is also deeply penetrated in Western culture. Sci-fi and fantasy are originally from the same source. I'm also looking forward to seeing what what kind of inspiration ancient cultures can provide to people today," Helen says. She also mentions that if Western sci-fi writers have the opportunity to visit Chengdu and appreciate the magical and brilliant cultural treasures such as Jinsha and Du Jiangyan, it may be helpful for them to create their works.

"We should foster in our children the habit of reading sci-fi," Helen advises. At her non-profit organization, a special reading section for children has been opened, and a large number of sci-fi books are donated for free. According to Helen, in the reading section, children can freely choose their favorite sci-fi works. She is greatly touched by the fact that many children will happily share their favorite books with the staff.

Helen firmly believes that the 2023 Chengdu Worldcon will help the sci-fi industry develop in Chengdu. She also hopes that the Worldcon will attract more tourists from all over the world to come and enjoy the splendid Chinese culture.