Tag: Fantastika

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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.

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2019 Roundup: Passions, Portals, and Very Good Dogs

Ruth Booth at the Global Seed Bank, Svalbard

The cards have been sent, the gifts are all wrapped, and this afternoon I go into Newcastle for my annual Christmas whiskey-drinking session with a local pal. In other words, this is the perfect moment to reflect on the past year.

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Worldcon 2019 Schedule and British Fantasy Awards

Dublin Worldcon kicks off in a little over two weeks – and I can’t wait to see you there! I’ll be appearing on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on the main and academic tracks (details below). I’m looking forward to chatting about musicals, gods and superheroes, and building better online environments with you – or simply having a nice natter over a seasonally-appropriate beverage.

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Academic Academic Events Events Shoreline of Infinity

Ludic Literature, Embodying Fantastika, Shoreline of Infinity – UPDATED

Fantastika Journal Logo

Before Worldcon, I’ll be wearing author and academic hats at a couple of events in Glasgow and Lancaster. You can also find my latest Shoreline of Infinity column in the new CYMERA special issue, featuring Louise Welsh and Gareth L. Powell. *Update* Plus news of my first published essay in the new anthology from Galli Books!

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Academic

Fantastika Review and GIFCon Keynotes

I’m back, somewhat windburnt from the Island Dynamics: Darkness conference in Svalbard, as those on my Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram will have seen in many, many photos over the last few days. So here are a couple of quick academic updates:

Just before I left, Fantastika published Volume 3, Issue 1 of their journal, which includes my first ever conference report from 2018’s GIFCon event. I’m very grateful to Head Editor Chuckie Palmer-Patel for giving me this opportunity to contribute, and to Francis Gene-Rowe for his steady editorial hand. I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish Dr Palmer-Patel all the best with her upcoming maternity leave.

This issue also features fantastic contributions from my fellow GIFCon committee members Marita Arvaniti and Katarina O’Dette – and you can download it for free! Find it online at https://fantastikajournal.com/publications/.

Additionally, here’s some very exciting news from GIFCon:

Brian Attebery, Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow, and GIFCon 2019 keynote speaker.

GIFCon has now announced three keynote speakers: world-leading Fantasy scholar Prof. Brian Attebery, who is the author of Strategies of Fantasy, Stories About Stories, and originator of the ‘Fuzzy Set’ theory of genre; celebrated graphic novel theorist Dr. Mel Gibson, known for her work with diversity representation in comics; and multi-award-winning, bestselling YA author and poet Catherine Fisher. As you may have gathered, this will be a wonderful opportunity for Fantasy scholars outside the US to hear one of genre’s most influential academics, as well as some fascinating insights from Dr Gibson and Catherine Fisher. As it happens, the call for papers on ‘Mapping the Mythosphere’ has also been extended to 28th January, so you still have time to get your abstracts in if you’d like the chance to appear alongside them.

GIFCon 2019 takes place over 23rd – 24th May. For more details of this year’s event, and how to submit your abstract to GIFCon, see www.gifcon.org.