Tag: Becky Chambers

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Academic CYMERA Festival New Column Shoreline of Infinity

Newcastle Law School and Shoreline of Infinity

The Shoreline of Infinity Issue 29 logo. Text reads: "Shoreline of Infinity 29: Award-winning Science Fiction."

Just one more thing…

Shoreline of Infinity 29 is now up for pre-order, and features my latest column (deep breath), ‘Beyond UK Black History Month: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of the Fear of Being Awful’. This one tackles the somewhat taboo subject of why many white folks don’t explore the historical contributions of POC outside of the annual celebrations. I’m hoping this will encourage folks to dig into their motivations for doing the work and take a chance on themselves. And if you’re unsure of where to start your own journey, this column also includes some recommended reading.

Issue 29 also includes the first print publication of my GSFWC buddy E.M. Faulds‘ short story ‘A Flight Of Birds’, as well as work by Tim Major, Callum McSorley, Ida Keogh‘s stunning flash fiction piece ‘The Reminder’ and a new interview with Ken MacLeod about Beyond The Hallowed Sky, his latest novel.

Pre-order link: https://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/product/shoreline-of-infinity-29/

The cover of Shoreline of Infinity 29 - scene inside a spaceship cockpit. A zombie pilot called Newton cries in terror as his ship speeds through space.

You can hear some of these stories, along with a brilliant reading by Eris Young and more, as part of Event Horizon’s takeover at Cymera‘s recent mini-festival. Check out the video below:

In other news, last week I had the privilege of dropping in to Newcastle University Law School to talk to students exploring “Emerging Technologies: Emerging Relationships” – part of an independent research module on the future of the Law. Here, I spoke on ‘Science Fiction and the Law of Relationhips’ and how genre can help explore our developing society, highlighting the work of authors such as Aliette de Bodard, Helen Sedgwick and Becky Chambers.

A title slide. The background is black coffee in a mug. The text reads: "Science Fiction and the Law of Relationships, Ruth EJ Booth".

In return, I was delighted to hear the students working on projects exploring the Gender Recognition Act, Domestic Abuse, Social Media, Ghanaian legal approaches following R vs R (1991), and more. To see students even at an undergraduate level exploring the social responsiveness of the Law, especially with such timely topics, was particularly uplifting. I’ve attended courtrooms several times (either as court reporter or visitor) and sometimes come away rather disheartened – and so this research gives me hope for the future of the Law and courtroom decision making.

And that’s it! If I don’t post again before the holidays, here’s wishing you happiness and peace over the festive season, and all the hope and joy this new year deserves.

Categories
Academic Fiction

After Fantastika

The cover of After Fantastika, Volume 4 Issue 1 of Fantastika Journal

In recent months, the New Normal has grown from pandemic lockdown catchphrase to a DysUtopian* ideal, embodying restless anxiety and quiet reflection, the ideals of international cooperation and the nadir of nationalistic isolation, and both a future of terrifying uncertainty and an opportunity for change, as we try to conceive of life alongside this disease.

Many times in recent months, as I’ve exchanged cards and small gifts with struggling friends, or cleared my cupboards for charity donations, I’ve been put in mind of Professor Brian Attebery‘s 2019 lecture at University of Glasgow on the future of YA and Adult Utopian fiction, part of a series sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust. Leading off from the works of Ursula K. Le Guin, Professor Attebery spoke of how the most convincing utopias in fiction may not be the ones at the level of full societal change, but those at smaller scales – even those found embodied in the brief moments of kindness shared between two individuals.

So, this strikes me as an opportune moment to draw your attention to my review of Becky Chambers’ Record Of A Spaceborn Few (Hodder & Stoughton, 2018) in the latest issue of Fantastika journal, After Fantastika.

Continue reading “After Fantastika”
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Events

Becky Chambers interview and Thirty Years of Rain launch

Here’s a quick blog about a couple of upcoming events you might be interested in, if you’re in the Glasgow area…

becky-chambers

TODAY! I’ll be interviewing Becky Chambers at the launch of her new book, A Closed and Common Orbit, sequel to the magnificent The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. I’m incredibly excited about this – the Wayfarers series is one of my favourite SF series of the last few years, and I’m looking forward to a great chat with Becky about AI, fandom, and what it means to be human. So come join us this afternoon from 3pm at Waterstones Sauchiehall St. Click here for the facebook page.

Thirty Years of Rain

Then, this Thursday, the Glasgow SF Writers Circle will be hosting a special line-up of readings to celebrate the recent release of Thirty Years of Rain, their 30th anniversary anthology. While I’m not sure of the reading schedule yet, I’ll definitely be on hand to sign copies of the book, which features my poem ‘Picture, of a Winter Afternoon’. Additionally I’m told the line-up for the night will also feature a rare appearance from Phil Raines, so this is definitely not one to miss. Everything kicks off at the Gilchrist PG Club from 7:30pm. More information here.

Hope to see you then!