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.

illustration of a black circle with rays shining out of its centre to depict a total eclipse of the sun

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

  • August Reading Group Session: Walkaway

    Monday 12th August from 7 till 8.30pm. Room 106, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD In August’s session of our reading group we will be discussing Walkaway (2017) by Cory Doctorow. […]


  • Call for Papers: Stage the Future III

    LSFRC is proud to announce the first of what we hope will be many associated events, “Stage the Future III: Third International Academic Conference on Science Fiction Theatre.” The conference […]


  • The Strange Ecologies of Science Fiction Film

    As part of the CHASE-funded “Organic Systems: Science Fiction and Ecology Today” workshop series, LSFRC directors Katie Stone and Francis Gene-Rowe participated in a panel called “SF and Ecology on […]


  • Reading Group Report for Herland

    On the 1st July, the LSFRC reading group convened to discuss Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short novel Herland (1915). The book follows a sociology student,  Vandyck (Van) Jennings, and his two […]


  • July Reading Group Event: Herland

    Monday 1st of July from 7 till 8.30pm Room 106, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD In July’s session of our reading group we will be discussing Herland (1915) by […]


  • Reading Group Report for Brightness Falls From The Air

    On Monday 3rd of June, the LSFRC reading group met at Birkbeck to discuss James Tiptree Jr.’s novel Brightness Falls from the Air (1985). The novel follows a large cast […]


  • June Reading Group Event: Brightness Falls from the Air

    Monday 3rd of June from 7:00 pm till 8:30 pm. Room 106, 43 Gordon Square, LONDON, WC1H 0PD In June’s reading group event we will be discussing James Tiptree Jr.’s […]


  • Reading Group Report for The Parable of the Talents

    In our latest reading group meeting, held on the 29th April at Gordon Square, Birkbeck, we discussed The Parable of the Talents (1998) by Octavia Butler.  The novel continues the story of Lauren Oya Olamina’s struggle, […]


  • Poster for Productive Futures

    We can now release the poster for our call for papers for the 2019 LSFRC three day conference, Productive Futures, held from the 12th to the 14th of September at […]


  • Call for papers: Productive Futures

    Productive Futures: The Political Economy of Science Fiction Bloomsbury, London, 12-14 September Keynote speakers: Dr. Caroline Edwards, Dr. Joan Haran Guests of honour: Aliette de Bodard, Zen Cho, Tade Thompson […]


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