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  • 15/10/2021 11:50 | Anonymous

    Terminal Boredom cover

    Terminal Boredom by Izumi Suzuki

    (Verso, 2021)

    Reviewed by Nick Hubble

    Verso are best known for publishing fairly weighty tomes of left-wing politics, history and theory, but in September 2019 they launched Verso Fiction: ‘a new series of uncompromisingly intelligent and beautiful books with an international focus.’ Terminal Boredom ticks all these boxes but more importantly it has an authentic edgy feel to it that is a welcome reminder of the days when spikiness and attitude were not just marketing categories but a genuine challenge to post-war consumerist complacency. While this period feel is not surprising given that the seven short stories collected here were first published in the 1970s and 1980s, it is a shock that it has taken over 35 years to translate the work of Izumi Suzuki (1949-1986) into English. I suspect that any Anglosphere publishers who might have contemplated it found the complete lack of sentiment too bleak. The overall themes are suggested by the title of the recent review of this edition in the New York Times: ‘Where Every Coupling Depends on Lies, and Men Are Aliens’. However, such themes are now commercially attractive and, more fundamentally, the context of reception has changed now. For example, while themes revolving around androgyny were countercultural in the 1970s and 1980s, the existence of nonbinary genders is now widely accepted within society and I suspect that this is the context in which Suzuki would be understood today.

    Continue reading…

    Review from BSFA Review 14 - Download your copy here.


  • 14/10/2021 08:41 | Anonymous

    The Road to Woop Woop cover

    The Road to Woop Woop and Other Stories by Eugen Bacon

    (Meercat Press, 2021)

    Reviewed by Ivy Roberts

    Eugen Bacon’s The Road to Woop Woop and Other Stories invites readers into an eclectic world of Gods, demons, shape shifters, bounty hunters, and spirits. This loosely connected web of tales weaves together themes of death, memory, and relationships. Beneath stories of ancient beasts and heroes lie profoundly modern problems: how to deal with breakup, struggles to overcome trauma, surviving the death of a loved one… Bacon’s fantasies blend effortlessly with modern day contexts ala American Gods.

    Continue reading…

    Review from BSFA Review 14 - Download your copy here.

  • 13/10/2021 09:03 | Anonymous

    The Wall cover

    The Wall by Gautam Bhatia

    (HarperCollins, 2020)

    Reviewed by Dan Hartland

    If Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel has a governing geometry, it is circular. This adjective is often used pejoratively by reviewers, and so it’s worth foregrounding the unusual annularity of The Wall before proceeding any further into—or rather, around—it.

    Continue reading…

    Review from BSFA Review 14 - Download your copy here.

  • 26/06/2021 16:29 | Anonymous member

    Alison Scott, one of the Guests of Honour from this year's mini-convention, co-hosted with the Science Fiction Foundation.


    Here are some of the links Alison mentioned:

    Café Moose - you need to be my pal, on FB, Discord, or so on - if this sounds like something you want to do then get in touch

    Buy my badges: https://stowshirts.etsy.com

    and t-shirts:  https://fannish-clothing-emporium.creator-spring.com/

    London First Thursday meetings - https://news.ansible.uk/london.html

    Octothorpe - https://octothorpe.podbean.com (or your favourite browser)

    GUFF - https://taff.org.uk/guff.html

    Punctuation - https://punctuationcon.uk

    Alison doing a barbershop quartet: https://youtu.be/YT7Ga_zGiXQ

    Alison singing a barbershop quartet in the style of William Shatner: https://youtu.be/yyWn4OvOasM

    DisCon III has a virtual membership - https://discon3.org

  • 25/06/2021 19:42 | Anonymous member

    We've got some fun stuff happening online tomorrow, including panels, writing sessions, and interviews. If you're a member, you will have already got your invites. If you're not a member, you can still attend most of these sessions for free: there's more info here.

    10.00 // 50 Years of the SFF

    Join eminent panellists Edward James, Roz Kaveney, Farah Mendlesohn, and Andy Sawyer, to reflect on the history of science fiction criticism, and in the particular role of the Science Fiction Foundation. Moderated by Maureen Kincaid-Speller, facilitated by Ali Baker.

    10.00 // Shhh ... Just Write! Co-Writing Session 1

    We’ll chat briefly at the beginning and spend most of the session writing. You can bring your own work-in-progress, or respond to one of the writing prompts or exercises provided. Co-hosted by Jo Lindsay Walton and Yen Ooi.

    11.00 // John Clute

    An interview with our first Guest of Honor, the prolific, polemic, and perspicacious SF critic John Clute. Moderated by Paul March-Russell, facilitated by Farah Mendlesohn.

    12.00 // BSFA AGM

    Members only. The Annual General Meeting of the British Science Fiction Association. Chaired by Allen Stroud. The agenda can be found here. All members should have received your Zoom link on 21 June, and in two earlier emails. If you're missing the link, or if you can't attend but would like to vote, please get in touch with membership@bsfa.co.uk at least 48 prior to the AGM.

    12.00 // Glasgow in 2024 Presents Roll for Armadillo: Diverse Possibilities within TRPGs

    Join panellists Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Paul Anthony Shortt, and Grace Worm for a lively exploration of the world of tabletop roleplaying. Moderated by Emma French.

    13.30 // SF Foundation AGM

    Members only. The Annual General Meeting of the Science Fiction Association. Chaired by Graham Sleight. SFF members, please RSVP to ensure you get your invite.

    13.30 // Shhhhhh ... Just Write Some More! Co-Writing Session 2

    We’ll say hello briefly at the beginning and spend most of the session writing. You can bring your own work-in-progress, continue something from the morning session, or start something new in response to the writing prompts we’ll provide. Co-hosted by Yen Ooi and Francis Gene-Rowe.

    14.30 // SF on Trial: SF and the Law

    Join our panellists Gautam Bhatia, Ida Keogh, Caroline Mersey, and Adrian Tchaikovsky, as we talk about law and justice in science fiction, and maybe even put science fiction itself in the dock. Moderated by Jo Lindsay Walton, facilitated by Francis Gene-Rowe.

    14.30 // Lasers & Feelings

    Join SF authors, publishers and critics as they explore strange new worlds … and maybe some strange new feelings too. With Eryn Levine, David Moore, Trip Galey, Russell Smith, and Emma Newman. Moderated by Eryn Levine, facilitated by Allen Stroud.

    15.30 // Alison Scott

    Our Guest of Honour, the incomparable Alison Scott, will talk about ‘My Year in Virtual Fandom,’ followed by Q&A. Moderated by Farah Mendlesohn, facilitated by Jo Lindsay Walton.

    16.30 // Tade Thompson

    Join our Guest of Honour, Tade Thompson, author of the Wormwood Trilogy and many more brilliant and twisted tales, in conversation with Caroline Mersey. Moderated by Caroline Mersey, facilitated by Jo Lindsay Walton.

  • 07/06/2021 16:48 | Anonymous member

    If you're a BSFA member, just save the date! No need to register in advance. You'll receive your invitation, including Zoom links, in an email on 21 June.

    SFF members, please register by emailing your Chair.

    Featuring:

    And:
    • 10:00am // 50 Year Anniversary of the Science Fiction Foundation
    • 10:00am // Shhhh ... just write!
    • 11:00am // Guest of Honour: John Clute
    • 12:00am // Glasgow in 2024 presents ... Roll for Armadillo: Diverse Possibilities in TRPGs
    • 1:00pm // Lunch
    • 1:30pm // Shhhhh ... just write some more!
    • 2:30pm // SF on Trial
    • 2:30pm // Lasers & Feelings
    • 3:30pm // Guest of Honour: Alison Scott
    • 4:30pm // Guest of Honour: Tade Thompson

    More details here, including what to do if you want to attend but you're not a BSFA or SFF member.

    Need help?

    BSFA members, if you can't see your invite links by 21 June, please get in touch with Luke at membership@bsfa.co.uk. You can also contact Luke (at least 48 hours prior) if you won't be able to attend but would like to vote on one of the motions (as per the new Constitution).

  • 18/05/2021 21:32 | Anonymous member

    Save the date: the BSFA Annual General Meeting with take place on 26 June at noon UK time, as part of a mini-convention jointly organised with Science Fiction Foundation.

    More information will be arriving in your regular email newsletter later this month.

    If you're not currently a member, why not join now?

  • 04/04/2021 21:40 | Anonymous member

    The BSFA is delighted to announce the winners of the 2020 BSFA Awards.

    Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. The BSFA Awards are annual awards voted for by the memberships of the BSFA and Eastercon. This year's awards ceremony was livestreamed at Eastercon (Confusion) and on YouTube, and will soon be available on the BSFA Chair YouTube channel.

Address:

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Bedfordshire

LU6 1EB


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