LSFRC is a research community, a place for people to share research ideas, explore new texts and perspectives on Science Fiction in a friendly and welcoming environment, regardless of background, institutional affiliation or educational status.
We actively support and encourage diversity in Science Fiction studies and fandom, not only in the range of approaches to the genre (including looking at the genre through the lenses of race, class, gender, sexuality, disability etc), but also in our commitment to providing a welcoming space for the intellectual engagement with Science Fiction for people of all backgrounds and experience.
Our Activities
Monthly Reading Group
Regular sessions bringing the community together
- Informal discussions about the month’s selected SF texts (short stories, novels, articles, essays, films)
- No prior experience or knowledge required – welcome to all
- Online via Zoom, usually 7-8:30pm UK time
- Video link delivered by our newsletter and Facebook group
Events
Sharing new perspectives in SF through participatory activities throughout the year
- Events beyond our Monthly Reading Group and Annual Conference offer activities to think more expansively about the annual theme and dive deeper into its subtopics
- Interdisciplinary and in multiple formats, we organise workshops and work-in-progress seminars for researchers, creatives and more
Annual Conference
A celebration of global and intersectional SF responding to our annual theme
- Culminating our year’s projects and collaborations, the LSFRC Annual Conference is a 2-day virtual, global event that demonstrates the plurality of critical and inspiring work being shaped with SF for more just futures. With contributions from fans, scholars, activist organisers, artists and more through:
- Keynote speakers
- Panel presentations
- Workshops
- Performances / screenings
LSFRC News
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22/09/24: A Debut Virtual Festival Celebrating ESEA Speculative Fiction & Authors
Event Date: 22 September, 2024 Event Time: 11:00 am BST to 4:30 pm BST Join our co-directors Angela YT Chan and Dr Yen Ooi for the first edition of a […]
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The Seep Reading Group + Andor Event
For the first time since 2020 LSFRC will be hosting in-person reading group sessions. In an effort to manage our collective capacity, these will occur every 2-3 months, and will […]
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In & Out of Time: Framing the 2022-2023 LSFRC Theme & November Reading Group Announcement
In her unfinished manuscript of Parable of the Trickster, the final in the Parable series, Octavia Butler wrote: “There’s nothing new under the sun but there are new suns.” Whether […]
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2022 Directors Recruitment
The LSFRC (London Science Fiction Research Community) is recruiting new directors for its 2022-2023 cycle, with a view to starting mid-November. Directors are expected to join the team for a […]
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SF + Extraction: Keynote Cancelled, Screening Replacement
It is our regret to announce that Kathryn Yusoff’s keynote has had to be cancelled for health reasons. We wish Kathryn the absolute best and hope that she recovers soon, […]
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SF + Extraction Conference Documents
This post will be updated with new document links as and when we have them. Conference Programme Booklet (designed by Angela YT Chan) Conference Schedule Conference Abstracts Document Additionally, for […]
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SF & Extraction Conference Registration + Draft Schedule
Registration for our SF & Extraction conference is now live! You can find the event page here. Please note that you do not need to ‘prove’ eligibility for whichever ticket type your purchase. […]
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Pinned Post
This year’s LSFRC theme for our monthly reading group and annual conference is SF & Extraction. For more information about the theme and our events, visit the SF & Extraction […]
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‘Sowing and Trekking Through Time: Science Fiction Imagines a Revolutionary 2024’
A roundtable discussion between creatives, theorists and activists, and will include readings from Octavia Butler’s ‘Parable of the Sower’ and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Date: Monday, 24th June 204Time: […]
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August 2023 Reading Group – Re-Trace / Re-Wire
Dinesh Valke, Tunnel Sheet Spider’s Web (2012) Join our co-directors Cristina Diamant and Francis Gene-Rowe for the August 2023 reading group, taking place Monday 28 August, at 19:00 (London time) […]
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Reading Group Bibliography: Smart Cities in/as Science Fiction
With many thanks to Zoë Mantas for assistance provided in compiling references from the July 2023 LSFRC reading group session. Ornament and Crime by Adolf Loos (1913) Trouble on Triton: […]
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20 July 2023 Reading Group – Smart Cities in/as Science Fiction
Join us for our next installment on Thursday, 20 July 2023, from 19:00 (London time) for a session moderated by our co-directors Yen Ooi and Kim Clarke. Contact us for […]
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7 June 2023 Reading Group – Crip Time as/and Time Travel
For the June installment of the LSFRC reading group moderated by our co-director Cristina Diamant, we will be looking at the following short texts: – Decomp: Field Notes (preface)– Charlie […]
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12 December 2022 Reading Group
For our December installment, we will be screening the following films:FUTURESTATES: PROMISED LAND (2014, dir. by Joe Turner Lin & Justin Marshall)ROBOTS OF BRIXTON (2011, dir. by Kibwe Tavares)LA JETÉE […]
