TechSmart and Gigabyte want your South African Sci-Fi short story!

All aspiring writers, if you have a science-fiction short story in you, it’s time to put fingers to keyboard and send it to us. Why? Well you could have the opportunity to have your story published in TechSmart. Good enough some might say, but more importantly, there’s an amazing Gigabyte U2440N notebook up for grabs for our overall winner, worth R10 000! 

There’s a little twist though; all sci-fi stories must have a South African angle. Whether it’s Jabraltians invading Jozi, Cape Town stuck in a Cerebral Time Vortex, or Durban doppelgangers poisoning prime-ministers – get Mzanzi in there! 

So, if you think you are the next Asimov, Clarke, Dick, Herbert or Heinlein, start writing today!

The PRIZE: Gigabyte U2440N Notebook:

• All Gigabyte notebooks come with a two year guarantee

Terms and Conditions

• Stories must be no longer than 700 words (excluding title) or they will not be accepted. 

• Send your entry to michael@techsmart.co.za.

• Entries close 31 October 2014 at midnight. 

• No revised submissions will be accepted after original entry.

• Submissions must be in English.

• Only one story per entrant allowed. 

• Entries must be the original work of the writer. 

• Stories must be originals that have not been published before either online or in print (stories may have been published on a personal blog). Stories must not previously have won or been shortlisted in another writing competition.

• Copyright of any story remains with the author, but Smart Publishing has the unrestricted right to without further compensation being payable, publish the winning stories in TechSmart magazine and on its website (www.techsmart.co.za), and in any related material for PR purposes.

• The winner will be announced in our December 2014 issue. 

• Participants must live in South Africa, since we’re not shipping the prize overseas or across borders.

• The judges’ verdict is final and no further correspondence will be entered into. 

• The competition is not open to employees or family members of Smart Publishing, our advertisers or suppliers of goods (including employees of Rectron) in connection with the competition. 

• The prize is non-transferable and can also not be exchanged for cash.

• If any prize offered becomes unavailable for reasons outside of Smart Publishing’s control, Smart Publishing reserves the right to select an alternative prize of equivalent type and value.

• Smart Publishing reserves the right to vary, postpone, suspend, or cancel the competition and any prizes, or any aspect thereof, without notice at any time, for any reason which we deem necessary. In the event of such variation, postponement, suspension or cancellation, you agree to waive any rights, interests and expectations that you may have in terms of this competition and acknowledge that you will have no recourse against us, our affiliates and third party suppliers.

• Smart Publishing and its associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors do not make any representations or give any warranties, whether expressly or implicitly, as to a prize, and in particular, but without limitation, make no representations and give no warranty that your entry or participation in the competition will necessarily result in you winning a prize or that a prize, or any aspect thereof, will meet your, or, if applicable, your partner’s, requirements, preferences, standards or expectations.

• If Smart Publishing is unable to contact the winner within 7 days, the winner will forfeit the prize and Smart Publishing reserves the right to choose a new winner under the same conditions.

• Smart Publishing, its associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors assume no liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect loss, injury or damage arising from your participation in the competition, nor for any prize winner in his fulfilment of the prize, howsoever arising.