R-SPEC is a group of writers, readers and thinkers in the Rochester NY area, that exists to celebrate and create speculative literature. We hold public meetings once a month to discuss new ideas and critically examine the literature we care about. You can help by joining us at a meeting, or becoming a member.

You're Soaking In It

2034 Is Here! Book Pickup Party on Sunday, January 31, 2010

Submitted by melvin on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 10:13

2034: Writing Rochester's FuturesWe're extremely pleased to announce that 2034: Writing Rochester's Futures has been delivered by our printer and is available for immediate purchase. And we're having a book pick-up party this Sunday (1/31/2010) at 4pm, at the home of Janice Carello & Eric Scoles. Anyone who sees this and would like to come is welcome to do so -- we will have plenty of books for sale and can even facilitate credit/debit card purchases via the web, if you so desire.

No meeting tonight (1 December 2009)

Submitted by eDave on Tue, 12/01/2009 - 14:46

Per B&N's request, we are not having a meeting tonight.

2034: Writing Rochester's Futures - Order Today!

Submitted by eDave on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 11:28

Books have arrived! Order 2034: Writing Rochester's Futures from our online store!

We are pleased to announce that the anthology, 2034: Writing Rochester's Futures, is being published under R-SPEC's own new imprint, R-SPEC Press. The cover price for 2034 is $14.95, and it is a 248-page, "perfect" bound, 6"x9" trade paperback with a nice, glossy, color cover rendered by David Pascal. A launch party is being planned and will be announced.

At this time, we offer you the opportunity to pre-order copies of the book, which makes an excellent gift. Please click the title of this post for complete details and ordering information.

R-SPEC October Meeting Summary

Submitted by eDave on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:27

Our R-SPEC meeting on October 6 at the Pittsford Barnes and Noble went very well. Our guest speaker, Alex White, gave a wonderful talk on the realities of combat, class, and culture in the Middle Ages in Europe. Click the title to read a little more and to access a recording available for those who missed the meeting.

Member Nancy Kress on EscapePod 20090924 - #217

Submitted by eDave on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 14:51

Member and Award Winning Author Nancy Kress has another story on EscapePod. Her short story, The Kindness of Strangers, is featured in 217th episode from September. Click the title for the link.

Hugos and Homework for July's Meeting

Submitted by eDave on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 09:09

Our next meeting is 7 July 2009 at the usual place, the Pittsford Barnes & Noble Community Room, and we'll be doing our own Hugo vote. Thanks to esteemed VP Craig DeLancey for posting the following to the listserv:

The next meeting of R-Spec will be our annual discussion of Hugo
nominated short stories.

What?  Homework!

No, I tell ye.  Here are ALL the Hugo nominated short stories, with
links to podcasts of them being read.  You can listen to them while
ironing or driving or laying on your back being fed grapes by your
slavebots.  Painless!

For all of the links Craig posted, as well as links related to ALL of the nominated works, click the title.

A Raimi ST Reboot? Jack Black as Mudd?

Submitted by eDave on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 13:03

io9 speculates and ruminates a bit on these questions. Click the title for more.

Member Nancy Kress on EscapePod

Submitted by eDave on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 09:24

Member and Award Winning Author Nancy Kress has a story on EscapePod this month. Her short story, Patent Infringement, is featured in the first release of the month as a Flash - a short short. Click the title for the link.

Borders Launches SpecFic Blog

Submitted by eDave on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 09:11

io9 reports that Borders has launched its own blog pitched as a sci-fi blog, but addressing much more as a result of miscategorization of the content creator's works. (Author Kim Harrison is the content creator of the blog.) Click the title for more, including links.

R-SPEC June Meeting

Submitted by eDave on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 06:30

Our next R-SPEC meeting is Tuesday, June 2, at 7pm, at the Pittsford Barnes and Noble. The topic is differences between books and movies based upon them, particularly in the horror genre, but also addressing "weird fiction" and other genre and sub-genre.