There are still places available on the 2015 Science Fiction Foundation Masterclass in Science Fiction Criticism. If you would like to apply, please contact masterclass@sf-foundation.org. Full details of the Masterclass can be found here.
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Frances Hardinge interview and panel now online
Earlier this month Frances Hardinge was the BSFA’s guest at the AGM/Minicon jointly held with the Science Fiction Foundation. Transcripts of her interview with Tom Pollock and a panel item with Frances, Niall Harrison, Farah Mendlesohn and Virginia Preston are now online at Strange Horizons. Thanks to Niall and his SH team for arranging the transcription and hosting these, and thanks of course to Frances for being an excellent guest.
June BSFA London Meeting: Stephanie Saulter Interviewed by Kate Keen
Location: Upstairs, The Artillery Arms, 102 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8ND
On Wednesday 25th of June 2014, Stephanie Saulter (author of Gemsigns and Binary, the first two books of the ®Evolution trilogy) will be interviewed by Kate Keen (SFF Trustee and Head of Fanfic at Nine Worlds)
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The interview will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here.
FUTURE EVENTS:
30th July 2014- Geoff Ryman, interviewed by Graham Sleight
Date and Location TBA August- Ian MacDonald, interviewed by Tony Keen
24th September 2014- Sarah Maitland, interviewed by Farah Mendlesohn
May BSFA London Meeting: Alex Dally MacFarlane and Tori Truslow Hosted by Tony Keen
Location: Upstairs, The Artillery Arms, 102 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8ND
On Wednesday 28th of May 2014, Alex Dally MacFarlane (writer, including a story in The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy: 2014 and more, editor and historian) and Tori Truslow (writer, editor, and the recipient of a special commendation from the James White Award) will be in discussion, hosted by Tony Keen.
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The interview will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here.
FUTURE EVENTS:
Saturday 7th June 2014 – BSFA/SFF AGM, BSFA Guest of Honour Francis Hardinge, interviewed by Tom Pollock
25th June 2014 – Stephanie Saulter, interviewed by Kate Keen
30th July 2014* – Geoff Ryman, interviewed by Graham Sleight
Date and Location TBA August- Ian MacDonald interviewed by Tony Keen
* Please note that this event is taking place on the fifth Wednesday of the month.
April BSFA London Meeting: Anne Perry Interviewed by Lizzie Barrett – 30 April (note change of date)
Location: Upstairs, The Artillery Arms, 102 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8ND
On Wednesday 30th* of April 2014, Anne Perry (Editor at Hodder & Stoughton, founder of Pornokitsch.com and The Kitschies Awards) will be interviewed by Lizzie Barrett (SFF reader, fan and blogger).
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The panel will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here.
FUTURE EVENTS:
28th May 2014- Tori Truslow and Alex Dally MacFarlane, interviewed by Tony Keen
7th June 2014– BSFA/SFF AGM, BSFA Guest of Honour Francis Hardinge, interviewed by Tom Pollock
25th June 2014- Stephanie Saulter, interviewed by Kate Keen
*Note-this is the 5th Wed. and NOT the date originally advertised.
Eighth SFF Criticism Masterclass 2014
The Eighth Science Fiction Foundation Masterclass in Science Fiction Criticism will be held from Monday 11 August 2014 to Wednesday 13 August, immediately before Loncon 3, the 2014 World Science Fiction Convention.
The SFF Masterclass involves three days studying texts supplied by three class leaders. It is a great way to broaden your critical perspectives, sharpen some critical tools, and to make contacts with other people writing on SF and Fantasy. The class leaders are drawn from professional writers, academics and fans, and this is a great opportunity to learn from people experienced in their craft.
Anyone interested in writing seriously about science fiction and/or fantasy, at whatever level they are in their careers, is welcome to attend. This includes not just critics and reviewers, but historians and other scholars. Those who have attended past Masterclasses are also welcome to apply.
Past students have found these events immensely beneficial, and often return.
We are pleased to announce that the venue will be the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, founded by Charles II in 1675, and the home of the Prime Meridian. This is across the Thames from the Excel site where Loncon3 will take place. Price: £200.
The tutors for 2014 will be:
Andy Duncan, Professor of English at Frostburg State University, Frostburg MD, winner of the Theodore Sturgeon Award and two World Fantasy Awards, and winner of the 2012 Nebula Award for Best Novelette.
Neil Easterbrook, Professor of English at the Texas Christian University, and a prolific reviewer and critic, whose monograph on China Miéville is due to be published in 2014.
K.V. Johansen, a Canadian writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children’s fiction, who has also published three books on the history of children’s fantasy. Her adult novel Blackdog was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award in 2012.
Please apply to farah.sf@gmail.com. Send a short piece of critical writing, and a one page cv. Deadline for Applications: February 28th 2014
August BSFA London Meeting: Ian Stewart Interviewed by Stephen Baxter
Location: Upstairs, The Artillery Arms*, 102 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8ND
*Please note that this is a NEW venue for London meetings!
On Wednesday 28th of August 2013, Ian Stewart (Mathematician, author of The Science of Discworld Series and popular science books) will be interviewed by Stephen Baxter (author of Flood, The Time Ships, The Long Earth (with Terry Pratchett) etc.).
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The interview will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here.
FUTURE EVENTS:
25th September 2013- Gareth Powell, interviewed by Jon Oliver
30th October 2013- Mary Robinette Kowal , interviewed by Virginia Preston *
27th November 2013- Dr. Who Magazine, interviewed by Graham Sleight
*Note that this is a month with five Wednesdays. The meeting will be on the last Wed. of the month.
BSFA Lecture 2013 – text online
You can now read Dr Louise Livesey’s 2013 BSFA Lecture, “A Very Political Moment: Speech, Silence, Listening and Sexual Violence”, here:
http://www.academia.edu/3216484/A_Very_Political_Moment_Speech_Silence_Listening_and_Sexual_Violence
May BSFA London Meeting: Janet Edwards Interviewed by Ian Drury
Location: The Cellar Bar, The Argyle Public House, 1 Greville Street (off Leather Lane), London EC1N 8PQ
On Wednesday 22nd May 2013, Janet Edwards (author of the Earth Girl trilogy) will be interviewed by Ian Drury.
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The interview will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here. Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane (Central Line).
FUTURE EVENTS:
26th June 2013**– James Smythe, interviewed by TBC
24th July 2013* – Cory Doctorow, interviewed by Tom Hunter
28th August 2013- Ian Stewart, interviewed by Stephen Baxter
* Note that this is a month with five Wednesdays. The meeting will be on the fourth, not the last, Wednesday of the month.
** Due to personal reasons, Catheyrnne Valente is no longer able to attend.
April BSFA London Meeting: Lavie Tidhar interviewed by Edward James
- Photo (c) 2012 Future Publishing (www.sfx.co.uk)
Location: The Cellar Bar, The Argyle Public House, 1 Greville Street (off Leather Lane), London EC1N 8PQ
On Wednesday 24th April 2013, Lavie Tidhar (author of the BSFA Award shortlisted Osama, and The Bookman Chronicles, and editor-in-chief of the BSFA Award-winning World SF Blog) will be interviewed by Edward James (Chair of the Science Fiction Foundation).
ALL WELCOME – FREE ENTRY (Non-members welcome)
The interview will start at 7 pm. We have the room from 6 pm (and if early, fans are in the ground floor bar from 5ish).
There will be a raffle (£1 for five tickets), with a selection of sf novels as prizes.
Map is here. Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane (Central Line).
FUTURE EVENTS:
22nd May 2013* – Janet Edwards;** interviewer TBC
26th June 2013 – Catherynne M. Valente, interviewed by Farah Mendlesohn
24th July 2013* – Cory Doctorow, interviewed by Tom Hunter
* Note that this is a month with five Wednesdays. The meeting will be on the fourth, not the last, Wednesday of the month.
** Due to personal reasons, Aliette de Bodard is no longer able to attend. We hope to invite her at a future date.
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