“No Visitors Beyond This Point” is the common title that will be used in a science fiction writing contest announced during the day-long Sci-Fi Saturday event held at The York Emporium used book and curiosity shop. Budding authors of original science fiction are invited to submit entries to the contest.

“All sentient species of the known universe” are eligible to submit entries, according to the official rules, but organizers expect most entries will originate on Earth.

This is the 2nd annual contest sponsored by the downtown York book shop. During Fall 2008, the contest carried the common theme, Yesterday I Will.

“This is an exercise in imagination because No Visitors Beyond This Point can mean any number of things,” said shop owner Pam Lewin. “The idea is to have fun with the title, and to use it as a jumping off point.”

“We’re waiting for the writers to tell us what it means and where it leads them,” she said.

Entries may be original works of poetry, one act plays or short stories of up to 5,000 words. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2008.

A panel of professional science fiction writers and editors has been recruited to undertake the judging and will select a single Grand Master of the contest. The winning selection as well as those of the finalists will be included in an anthology. Fortress Publishing, Inc. of Lemoyne, PA will publish the anthology as an ebook this fall.

Contest rules, entry forms and details can be found on The York Emporium’s web site: www.theyorkemporium.com.