Canberra Philosophical Fiction Book Club

Hi everyone — this is a placeholder event while I gather interest and find members for a new book club. Once there are enough people for a proper group discussion, I’ll finalise the first real event with a confirmed location, time, and date.

This is a curated book club for people who enjoy thoughtful conversation, good company, and books that stay with you. It is equal parts book club and philosophical discussion.

I choose the books — sometimes with a shortlist and member voting — with a focus on fiction that sparks interesting discussion: philosophical, psychological, atmospheric, idea-rich, or just unusually worth talking about. We might read sci-fi, classics, horror, literary fiction, mystery, or anything else that feels like it could lead to a good conversation.

The goal is a group that feels warm, social, thoughtful, and intellectually engaging — a space where people can share real interpretations without the vibe becoming pretentious or overly academic.

You don’t need to be a “serious reader” or have finished every page to come along. Ideally, you’ve read the assigned section or book, but if you can contribute thoughtfully and respectfully, you’re welcome.

The plan is to meet roughly once a month once the group has enough members.

If you’re looking for a book club with a clear curatorial voice, interesting books, and conversations that go beyond “did you like it?”, this might be for you.

First planned book: Solaris by Stanisław Lem
The first book I’m planning to discuss — and the book that partly inspired me to create this group — is Solaris by Stanisław Lem.

Solaris is a haunting work of philosophical science fiction about humanity’s attempt to understand an alien intelligence that may be completely beyond human categories of thought. Set largely aboard a research station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris, the novel is less concerned with space adventure than with questions of consciousness, memory, grief, love, and the limits of knowledge.

It is atmospheric, strange, and psychologically intense — a book about what happens when the unknown does not simply challenge our science, but exposes the unresolved parts of ourselves. Rather than asking “what is out there?”, Solaris asks whether we are truly capable of encountering something genuinely other without turning it into a reflection of our own desires, fears, and guilt.

It should be a great pick for readers interested in philosophical fiction, existential sci-fi, psychological mystery, and books that linger long after the final page.

Next step

For now, please RSVP or join the group if you’re interested. Once there are enough members for a good discussion, I’ll create the first proper event with the confirmed details.