The New York Review of Science Fiction Readings at South Street Seaport Museum continue in February by welcoming member-authors of the new Book View Cafe web site (see this article for more on the site). On 3 February 2009, as always, the doors will open at 6:30PM for a 7 o’clock start, but it will be in the Series’s new location, in the South Street Seaport Museum at 12 Fulton Street, on the fourth floor, New York City. Series curator Jim Freund writes “Book View Cafe is a web site and blog that launched in November 2008 with the mission to bring new and favorite works by the best authors in science fiction, fantasy, romance, and mystery directly to readers. With a membership that includes Ursula K. Le Guin, Vonda N. McIntyre, and many more, the group is pushing the envelope of multimedia by extending its presence to a slightly older medium: live and in person! To learn more about this exciting and wonderful venture and celebrate its launch we invite you to come hear three of BVC’s fine writers: Laura Anne Gilman, Sue Lange, and Susan Wright.”
Laura Anne Gilman is the author of the Retrievers novels, and the forthcoming Vineart War: Flesh & Fire, while her short fiction has appeared in major anthologies and magazines, including Realms of Fantasy and Apex & Abyss. Her first short story collection, Dragon Virus & Other Stories, will be out in 2010. Ms. Gilman also writes paranormal romances for Nocturne as Anna Leonard. Some of her short fiction, including material never-before-published, can be found at BookViewCafe.com.
Sue Lange’s two speculative fiction books, Tritcheon Has and We, Robots are available at Amazon.com. Her work, The Textile Planet, and a number of her previously published short stories, are available at BookViewCafe.com.
Susan Wright writes science fiction novels and nonfiction books on art and popular culture. New York City is her home, where she lives with her husband Kelly Beaton. After graduating from Arizona State University in 1986, Susan moved to Manhattan to get her masters in Art History from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. Susan is currently the Spokesperson for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, a national organization committed to protecting freedom of sexual expression among consenting adults.
The NYRSF Reading Series is held the first Tuesday of every month. Admission is free, but $5 donations are encouraged to offset costs and buy dinner for the readers. Following the readings, a nearby pub serves as the site of dinner/drinks/continuing conversation. Radio producer and talk show host Jim Freund is the series producer and executive curator. He also airs most of the readings on his WBAI FM radio program, Hour of the Wolf.
Upcoming NYRSF Reading Series events include:
* members of the Tabula Rasa writers’ group on 3 March 2009
* Gregory Frost and Victoria Janssen (guest curated by Amy Goldschlagger) on 7 April 2009
* members of the Tabula Rasa writers’ group (part 2) on 5 May 2009
* Catherynne M. Valente and SJ Tucker of 2 June 2009
The next entry in the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series will be 18 February 2009. Hosts Ellen Datlow and Matthew Kressel will present James Morrow and Laird Barron at the KGB Bar (85 E 4 St, New York, New York). The event starts, as always, at 7PM.
James Morrow’s two newest publications are the trade paperback of The Philosopher’s Apprentice, described by the author as “Lolita meets Pygmalion on the Island of Dr. Moreau;” and the stand-alone historical novella, Shambling Towards Hiroshima, set in the summer of 1945 and dramatizing the US Navy’s efforts to leverage an unconditional Japanese surrender through giant mutant iguanas that strangely anticipate Godzilla.
Laird Barron is the author of a dark fantasy collection The Imago Sequence & Other Stories. His collection will be released 15 January in trade paperback, and an original novelette “Catch Hell” will appear in Ellen Datlow’s upcoming Lovecraft Unbound anthology.
As with the other events, dinner usually follows (in this case, at a nearby Chinese restaurant). And curator Ellen Datlow usually posts photos of the evenings on her Flickr account (pictures of the Harvey Jacobs and Catherynne M. Valente reading on 21 January are at this link). Upcoming Fantastic Fiction at KGB events include:
* Stewart O’Nan and Paul Tremblay on 18 March 2009
* Marie Rutkoski and Cassandra Clare on 15 April 2009
* F. Brett Cox and Graham Joyce on 20 May 2009
Ellen Datlow also writes to tell us about a book launch party/signing for James P. Blaylock. His new novel, Knights of the Cornerstone, will be feted Thursday evening, 12 February, from 7 to 9PM, at Cha Cha’s In Boca Al Lupo restaurant in Little Italy, 113 Mulberry Street, near the corner of Mulberry and Canal, New York City. Refreshments will be served.
On Sunday 22 February, from 1 to 3PM, Datlow’s anthology Poe: 19 New Tales Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe will be the subject of a reading and signing at Between Books, 2703 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware 19703; (302)798-3378. The event will be hosted by “Philadelphia’s Foremost Poe Scholar” Edward Pettit, and will feature Datlow, along with contributors Laird Barron, Gregory Frost, and John Langan.
Finally, Oz Fontecchio reminds us that the Philadelphia Fantastic Authors and Editors Series happens the fourth Friday of every month at Robins Bookstores, 108 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (at the corner of 13th and Sansom Streets), starting at 7:30PM.
On 27 February, their guest will be Victoria Jannsen, followed by:
Bud Sparhawk (27 March)
James Morrow (24 April)
Jeffrey Ford (22 May)
Lawrence Schoen (26 June)
Philadelphia Fantastic presents a series of readings and informal discussions by and with local and regional writers of speculative fiction on the fourth Friday of the month. The events are free and dinner with the guest afterwards is at a local restaurant on a pay as you go basis.