Abstract　

In less than a decade, Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) have been transformed from an obscure, seemingly insoluble riddle to a hot item of 21st Century astrophysics. In a way this is astonishing: for over a quarter of a century there was practically no progress in the discipline, and what was regarded by many as the probable nature of GRBs ultimately proved to be way off the mark. But as with other similar quandaries (detection of exoplanets being one recent example), after the first few successes the required techniques were refined and honed until detection and follow-up became, if not routine, then at least governed by certain patterns of expectation. (It should be noted that a significant fraction of GRBs, the short bursts [t < 2 s], may be a different phenomenon.) I will examine the progress which has been made in detecting and studying radio (where most of my own modest contribution has been) and optical transients, and some of the lessons when looking to the future (and past). I will also suggest in which direction(s) future transient surveys might go, and discuss some of the possible roles for planned new instruments, especially future facilities in China.