Press release - Wednesday May 22nd:       http://www.xcom2002.com/ 

     EXTREME COMPUTING FESTIVAL TO FEATURE AUTHOR OF "CHUCKIE EGG",
                      PLUS PHYSICIST FREEMAN DYSON


   Acclaimed theoretical physicist FREEMAN DYSON, inventor of the
   "Dyson Sphere", will be joining an unprecedented lineup of guests -
   which also includes NIGEL ALDERTON, the creator of "Chuckie Egg" -
   at this year's FESTIVAL OF EXTREME COMPUTING, taking place at the
   Camden Centre in London, from 11am-7pm Sunday 9th June 2002.

   Dyson and his son, George, will be discussing and signing copies of
   George's latest book, "Project Orion: The Atomic Spaceship 1957-
   1965", as part of a panel discussion entitled "When Science Fiction
   Becomes Science Fact - And Then Becomes Science Fiction Again". 

   Other presentations will include a debate on whether it's possible
   to make money out of online comedy (featuring CHARLIE BROOKER of
   notorious listings spoof site TV GO HOME), plus A Salute To 20
   Years Of The ZX Spectrum, with reminiscences from NIGEL ALDERTON,
   author of pioneering platform game "Chuckie Egg", which also went
   on to be a big hit on the BBC Micro.

   The event has been described as "a technology trade fair with a
   difference", "a medieval version of eBay" and "a summer festival
   for those of us whose idea of a good time is sitting indoors
   hunched over a PC with the curtains drawn". It has been organised
   by the UK's leading digital arts magazine MUTE in conjunction with
   award-winning news site NTK, who have survived for 5 years in the
   ever-perilous dot-com arena, as much to their own surprise as
   anyone else's. 

   Other attractions will include speakers, demonstrations, musical
   interludes, live weblogging, wireless networking workshops and
   robot building. And, of course, plenty of stalls where you can buy
   all kinds of weird stuff, from retro video games to cyberpunk
   fanzines, commemorative internet tea-towels and Japanese junk food.
   

   It's what a folk arts and crafts market would be like, had it been
   organised by the Daleks. It's...


                        EXTREME COMPUTING 
          The NTK/Mute Festival Of Inappropriate Technology

                  11am-7pm, Sunday June 9th 2002
      The Camden Centre, London (opposite Kings Cross station)
                     http://www.xcom2002.com/

             and it's all only THREE POUNDS to get in.


   Further updates and illustrations are available on the official
   website: 
                     http://www.xcom2002.com/ 

   (click on "media" to go to special press area).

   PRESS INQUIRIES: please call Dave Green on 07719 907136 - or email
   press@extremecomputing2002.com - for further information,
   interviews, or potentially inflammatory comments on a wide range of
   subjects. 

   Notes for editors:
   NEED TO KNOW ( http://www.ntk.net/ ) is the UK's longest running
   independent technology newsletter, and the winner of last year's
   Net-media award for "Internet Journalist(s) of The Year". 

   MUTE MAGAZINE ( http://www.metamute.com/ ) is the UK's leading
   magazine on network culture, and describe themselves as "purveyors
   of critical/information/services since 1994". 

   Final programme may be subject to alteration. Thanks for reading!