The Speculative Fiction Reading Group is led by Aurora Hurd and is open to all - those brand new to the speculative fiction umbrella of genres and those who are long-time readers/writers. While there will be an exploration of craft elements, the goal first and foremost is to enjoy these stories.
Stories will be chosen in a rotation between works by authors who identify in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, authors of color, and women authors. The group will explore classics of speculative fiction as well as the current boom in works by diverse authors.
To prepare for each meeting:
Read the book of the month.
Keep the following question in mind: Was there a particular piece of writing craft (character building, description, pacing, etc) that stood out to you as you were reading?
Be ready to discuss the story! Bring any questions that came up for you while you were reading.
Let’s start with some foundational classics of the genre:
Sat 6/18: Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany, 1966
Sat 7/16: Wild Seed by Octavia Butler, 1980
Sat 8/20: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. le Guin, 1968
If you miss a workshop, don’t worry! You are welcome to join the reading group at any point.