In a tent at the far end of the park, and in sharp contrast, was a trans-Atlantic interaction. Hundreds craned their necks to watch Margaret Atwood appear via videoconference from Scotland. Using a sophisticated machine she conceived and had built called the LongPen — a real-time, pen and ink autographing device — she was able to talk to her readers and remotely sign their books with a personalized message.

The first to have Atwood's new book Moral Disorder signed by the robotic arm (which precisely reproduced the author's handwriting) was a very pleased 80-year-old named Mona Jaspan.

"It was unbelievable," she said. "It's like being in the 25th century — and the excitement of the folks all around is electric." (She planned to head straight home and start reading.)