What we’re about
The Surry Hills Sci-fi and Fantasy Book Club is a social group that is brought together by our love of sci-fi and fantasy novels! We alternate every month between the sci-fi and fantasy genres to read both new and classic books, and come together to have friendly discussions. We meet in-person on Saturdays and Sundays over food and drink. We also have social events during the month which can vary from going out to the movies, visiting galleries, drinks in bars and reading events.
The first time you come to the book club, there is no requirement to read the book! Amazing, right? Just introduce yourself, join in the conversation if you want. We usually have relaxed conversation following our discussion of the month's book, where we catch up on events in our lives.
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Please apply to join the group and register for events before attending. Some events are for paid members only.
We have a waiting list to join the group, and we like to keep this a safe and engaging space to interact with others. Our apologies if you have been on there for a while, and remember to check in every now and again to let us know you're still interested.
We like to give people a trial before they sign up with us to see whether you like the kinds of events we run. After you attend 2 events and would like to continue, we charge a membership fee of $24 / year ($2 / month). This goes towards Meetup costs and the book club for event planning. After you have attended your first event, you will be given access to our Discord server.
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We are pretty laid back, but we do have a few rules:
- Please register for the events you are going to be attending. If you can't make it remember to change your RSVP sooner rather than later as someone else may be waitlisted. Likewise, please register for either the Saturday OR Sunday book club each month so that others can have the opportunity to attend.
- We want to create a group where we have people who are active participants, which means attending events. While we can appreciate it may be difficult to motivate yourself, or you are hesitant to talk to strangers, we are a pretty friendly bunch and we can find some shared interests together. If you are not active, don't make contact / don't reply to messages, you will be removed from the group.
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If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez | Sat 8th JuneThe Beacham, Darlinghurst, NS
"Two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family in this epic fantasy from the author of The Vanished Birds.
The people suffer under the centuries-long rule of the Moon Throne. The royal family—the despotic emperor and his monstrous sons, the Three Terrors—hold the countryside in their choking grip. They bleed the land and oppress the citizens with the frightful powers they inherited from the god locked under their palace.
But that god cannot be contained forever.
With the aid of Jun, a guard broken by his guilt-stricken past, and Keema, an outcast fighting for his future, the god escapes from her royal captivity and flees from her own children, the triplet Terrors who would drag her back to her unholy prison. And so it is that she embarks with her young companions on a five-day pilgrimage in search of freedom—and a way to end the Moon Throne forever. The journey ahead will be more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.
Both a sweeping adventure story and an intimate exploration of identity, legacy, and belonging, The Spear Cuts Through Water is an ambitious and profound saga that will transport and transform you—and is like nothing you’ve ever read before."
- From "The Spear Cuts Through Water" (Penguin Random House)
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Welcome to our new members! There is no pressure to have read the book in order to attend (if you don't mind the spoilers). Please be sure to register for either the Saturday or the Sunday Book Club events (not both), in order to let everyone have a chance to RSVP. If you would like to attend both sessions, please send us a message!
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Book list: https://tinyurl.com/book-read-list
Discussion prompts: https://sites.google.com/view/sydney-book-club/prompts
Discord chat download: Discord app download
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Would you like to be a little more involved with the club's activities?
Let us know via message or on Discord if you have any ideas for meetups that people would enjoy, or would like to help with organising the Book Club.
- Supanova Sydney 2024: Comic Con and Gaming | Sunday 23rd JuneSydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, NS
Sydney Supanova 2024 is set to be an exciting celebration of pop culture, with something for everyone. From celebrity interactions to creative workshops and vibrant cosplay, it’s an event that brings fans together in a shared passion for all things geek. From celebrity guests, artists and authors, there's a wide array of attractions for fans of pop culture, comics, movies, TV shows, anime, and gaming.
PLEASE NOTE: You are required to purchase your own ticket online prior to the date ($42.50) or at the door ($50).
Purchase tickets from Moshtix, via the Supanova website.
Information:
- When: Sunday, 23rd of June
- Meeting Point: Olympic Park Train Station - meet outside the ticket gate marked Door A (closest corner Murray Rose Avenue and Showground Road)
- Transport: Closest train station is Olympic Park, with multiple bus lines
- The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi | Sun 7th JulyThe Beacham, Darlinghurst, NS
The Kaiju Preservation Society is John Scalzi's first standalone adventure since the conclusion of his New York Times bestselling Interdependency trilogy.
When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization.” Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.
What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm, human-free world. They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda and they're in trouble.
It's not just the Kaiju Preservation Society who have found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.
- From "The Kaiju Preservation Society" (Macmillan Publishers)
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Welcome to our new members! There is no pressure to have read the book in order to attend (if you don't mind the spoilers). Please be sure to register for either the Saturday or the Sunday Book Club events (not both), in order to let everyone have a chance to RSVP. If you would like to attend both sessions, please send us a message!
.
Book list: https://tinyurl.com/book-read-list
Discussion prompts: https://sites.google.com/view/sydney-book-club/prompts
Discord chat download (for members): Discord app download
.
Would you like to be a little more involved with the club's activities?
Let us know via message or on Discord if you have any ideas for meetups that people would enjoy, or would like to help with organising the Book Club.