The aftermath of disaster

Sadly, the Christchurch Writers' Festival -- the largest literary event in the South Island of New Zealand -- has been cancelled, because of the many severe aftershocks that have followed the weekend's big earthquake.

For more details, see Graham Beattie's blog and Craig Sisterson's "Crimewatch" in the righthand column.

It is a great disappointment to the publishers, writers, sponsors, and, most profoundly, the hardworking organizers, but not unexpected, considering the grave damage to the infrastructure of New Zealand's second-largest city.  My sympathies to them all.