What we’re about
Hello Richmond Science Fiction and Fantasy book nerds.
Time to blast off into the far future of sci-fi and spelunk into otherworldly realms of fantasy!
The Richmond Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club is a casual group of sff fans who meet once every three weeks at local RVA bars, restaurants and cafés to read a science fiction or fantasy book. (We alternate! And sneak in the occasional horror book under the theory that horror falls under the rubric of “dark fantasy”/the weird.)
Like its sister club, the Hampton Roads Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club, the RVA sff book club is a democracy (at least when it comes to picking the books) where every member is eligible to vote on a poll that launches typically 6 weeks in advance of the event. Each poll is ranked choice and features six options, with an open nomination process and dedicated slots for “Subgenre Spotlight” and “Around the World” picks.
NOTE: Interested in nominating a book? You can send me a DM, mention a book a one of our meetings, or put it in our sci-fi (https://forms.gle/umsVTmpCEC4fwLfm9) and fantasy (https://forms.gle/jLVBtuYHutNGB5ux6) nomination forms.
Our poll winners tend to be a diverse mix of popular bestsellers as well as award-winners, experimental and subgenre sff, and world sff from a variety of countries.
We also run a Discord page where people can nominate and discuss and show off their books in between meetings. (Here a new Discord server created for the Richmond group: https://discord.gg/3BKC65tJ9U ; You are welcome to join, but it is not required and all event information will appear on Meetup.)
A little about me: I am a librarian. I previously taught two classes about the history of science fiction, so I will sometimes play “scholar” and add nerdy historical context to a discussion. Here’s a “LibGuide” I made at a previous employer with a lot of information about the history, subgenres, and reference sources for contemporary and classic sff: https://libguides.gustavus.edu/sff
*New* No-Flake Policy (effective September 26, 2024)
- What’s Flaking? Flaking is when you cancel or don’t show up for something you RSVP’d to with less than 8 hours’ notice. I know things come up, but last-minute cancellations or no-shows can really affect our book discussions and waste my time, effort, and occasionally money—especially if I’ve made a group reservation at a restaurant for our meeting.
- Life Happens: I completely understand—emergencies, illnesses, or unexpected things happen. Just let me know as soon as you can. If it’s not an emergency, please try to cancel at least 8 hours before the meeting so I can adjust accordingly.
- Keeping It Fair: If you flake more than twice in a three-month period without a valid reason, I’ll have to remove you from the group. This ensures that everyone respects each other’s time and commitment.
- Half of Life is Just Showing Up: Your attendance makes our book club vibrant. When you show up, it leads to better discussions, deeper insights, and more enjoyable meetings for everyone. So, if you RSVP, please make it a priority to attend. If something comes up, just let me know at least 8 hours in advance so I can adjust plans.
- You’re Welcome, Even If You Haven’t Read the Book: You don’t have to skip a meeting just because you haven’t finished (or started!) the book. Your presence still matters. Whether it’s helping pick the next book or just keeping the atmosphere lively, your input is valuable, even if you’re not following everything being discussed.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Black Sun (Between Earth & Sky #1) by Rebecca RoanhorseNeeds location
Black Sun (Between Earth & Sky #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse is the winner of our August 23 poll!
Here's some information about the book:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Resistance Reborn comes the “engrossing and vibrant” (Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Riot Baby) first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.
A god will return
When the earth and sky converge
Under the black sunIn the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial even proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.
Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.
Crafted with unforgettable characters, Rebecca Roanhorse has created a “brilliant world that shows the full panoply of human grace and depravity” (Ken Liu, award-winning author of The Grace of Kings). This epic adventure explores the decadence of power amidst the weight of history and the struggle of individuals swimming against the confines of society and their broken pasts in this “absolutely tremendous” (S.A. Chakraborty, nationally bestselling author of The City of Brass) and most original series debut of the decade.
"Stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best fantasy out there. There's Martin, there's Jemisin, and now there's Roanhorse."—Stephen Graham Jones
"Between the political complications in Tova, Serapio’s struggle with a great destiny he never asked for, and Xiala’s discovery of abilities she never knew she had, the pages turn themselves. A beautifully crafted setting with complex character dynamics and layers of political intrigue? Perfection." - Kirkus Reviews
- Voting now open to pick a SCI-FI BOOK for this September 20 event!Needs location
Voting is now open to pick a SCI-FI book for this September 20 event! You can vote at the Google form here: https://forms.gle/EDAebkSQBR3t425Q8
The poll will close Sunday, July 13 at 1pm.
Here are the exciting options for this poll:
👽 RENOMINATED: Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) by Robert A. Heinlein - 608 pages
👽 RENOMINATED: The Female Man (1975) by Joanna Russ - 224 pages
👽 RENOMINATED: Sky Full of Elephants: A Novel (2024) by Cebo Campbell - 304 pages
👽 OPTION #4: Ascension (2023) by Nicholas D. Binge - 352 pages
👽 SUBGENRE SPOTLIGHT (Hard SF): Blindsight (2008) (Firefall #1) by Peter Watts - 384 pages
👽 SUBGENRE SPOTLIGHT (Space Opera): The Player of Games (1988) (Culture #2) by Iain M. Banks - 293 pagesON-DECK LIST in the comments.
