News

Our November 6 meeting will be a presentation and open discussion on "Asteroid Mining," the exciting possibility of exploiting raw materials found in asteroids, spent comets, and near-Earth objects, then bringing the mined materials back to Earth or to use them to construct orbital stations and space vessels for colonizing the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The presentation will focus on the positive and negative effects of such endeavors, recent announcements from NASA and private enterprises about space mining, and some of the dreams of past and present science fiction authors that may soon become reality.

Presenter: Alan Vincent Michaels
Location: Barnes & Noble, Pittsford
Meeting Time: November 6 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

In our October 2 meeting, attendees are invited to read from their current or in-progress works -- older or sold stories and poems are also welcome. Short pieces or a portion of a longer work (up to 2,000 words) are preferred, so everyone has sufficient reading time and attendees, if they desire, may provide their feedback. After the readings conclude and time permitting, attendees can share with the group what they are currently reading.

Moderator: Alan Vincent Michaels
Location: Barnes & Noble, Pittsford
Meeting Time: October 2 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
[Note to readers: Please check in with the moderator before the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.]

TheTuesday, August 8, saw readings from Alan Michaels (who read a short currently under consideration), Frank Glove rand Eric Scoles, as well as discussion of upcoming meeting topics. 

In June, Frank Glover helped us understand why this is such an exciting time for the space program. Frank began with an overview of the vehicles being developed privately as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program (with a natural emphasis on SpaceX's recently completed resupply mission with its Dragon capsule, first ever by a private company). We've added links to resources mentioned during Frank's presentation in the form of his own post-presentation notes. 

This month, I'd like to discuss 2012 Nebula nominees (full text of many of the shorter pieces is available online) -- but I'm particularly interested in one nominee, Jake Kerr's "The Old Equations," a recasting of the old Tom Godwin chestnut "The Cold Equations." As usual, attempts to derail will be entertained (and encouraged in proportion to their enthusiasm).

Also of interest: Microsoft invests heavily in Barnes & Noble. What (if anything) does it mean for publishing -- particularly independent publishing?

This Tuesday, April 3, we're going to once again open the floor for people to read from their own works in progress (hopefully including some from ScriptFrenzy). Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 print pages (about 500 words) or 5-10 script pages of something you're working on, and then receive brief, constructive feedback. Come at 7pm to sign up — we'll get through at least the first 7 people. Reading will start promptly at 7:30. We'll break in the middle to vote on our 2012 R-SPEC Board of Directors.

In Tuesday's meeting, we'll try to do several things. First, we'll spend a few minutes talking about the upcoming elections. The R-SPEC board elections, that is. I anticipate having a deeper discussion of this next meeting, but this will be a warmup, and a way to catch up on business. Next, I'd like to go around the circle reading some particular piece of work -- preferably a very short example, just a few lines or a paragraph -- that you find has influenced you, either for good or ill. Be prepared to describe what it's given you, or what it's inspired you to do. I'll share a passage from Neuromancer that jumped out at me when I picked up the book a few months ago, and possibly something additional. Finally, in the third half of the show, we'll talk about scripts -- stage, screen -- in honor of Script Frenzy, which is coming in April. (Script Frenzy is a month-long challenge from the same people who bring you National Novel-Writing Month [NaNoWriMo], except here the challenge is to produce a 100 page script -- screenplay, teleplay, stage play, radio play, what have you -- in the month of April.) 

This coming Tuesday, February 7 will be a "Thieves' Night" ("what can we steal from [William Gibson / Catherine Moore / insert name here...") discussion of two powerful stories: "The Winter Market" by William Gibson, and "No Woman Born" by Catherine Moore. Craig deLancey & Eric Scoles will facilitate.

Both stories are concerned with the essential questions of what it means to be human, explored through the conceits of mind-uploading (Gibson) and total-body-prosthesis (Moore).

"The Winter Market" is anthologized in Burning Chrome, which collects most of Gibson's short work and readily available at most decent bookstores and libraries and in many used book stores. (I recommend checking Rick's Recycled on Monroe.) You may also be able to find copy online.

"No Woman Born" is widely anthologized, but probably most readily available in print as part of The Best of C. L. Moore. Again, you may also find it online. 

This Tuesday, January 3, we're going to once again open the floor for people to read from their own work. Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 pages or about 500 words of something you're working on, and then receive brief, constructive feedback. Come at 7pm to sign up — we'll get through at least the first 7 people. Reading will start promptly at 7:30.