Science Fiction

Sci-fi convention

Join us in-person or virtually to discuss standalone and firsts of a series in both the fantasy and science fiction realm! Upcoming Discussions: March: "Year of the Reaper" by Makiia Lucier April: "Some Desperate Glory" by Emily Tesh May: "The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett Registration required. RSVPing on Meetup does not register you for the program. To register, please [click here](https://pwcgov.libnet.info/events?term=among+the+stars&r=range&start=today&end=2030-12-31). [Click here](https://pwc-doit.webex.com/pwc-doit/j.php?MTID=ma2b1573e7bf4a4ac640389b9f0b5f1ae) for the meeting link to join virtually.

**NEW DETAILS! SEE BELOW FOR LUNCH PLANS AND MOVIE TIME!** **Monday, March 24** Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – One Loudoun 20575 East Hampton Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 Can’t make the **March 16 early screening**? No worries — the universe has provided a **second launch window**. Join Liane and your DTs friends for another opportunity to see *Project Hail Mary*, this time at **Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in One Loudoun** — with lunch beforehand! ### Lunch **Matchbox – One Loudoun** 44720 Thorndike Street, Ashburn **12:30 PM** [https://www.matchboxrestaurants.com/one-loudoun](https://www.matchboxrestaurants.com/one-loudoun) We’ll gather for lunch before heading over to the theater. Matchbox offers wood-fired pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more — a perfect place to fuel up before our mission. ### Movie **Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – One Loudoun** 20575 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn **2:10 PM showing** [https://drafthouse.com/theater/one-loudoun](https://drafthouse.com/theater/one-loudoun) Tickets are **discounted on Tuesdays — just $7**. You may purchase tickets in advance or buy them at the theater to avoid the online convenience fee. Participants are welcome to join us for **lunch, the movie, or both**. Whether you missed the first launch or just want another trip into deep space, here’s your chance to gather with your tribe and help save the universe.

We will be reading "We Are Legion (We Are Bob)" by Dennis E. Taylor. We will update our meeting space shortly but expect somewhere in the U street neighborhood. [We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse, #1) by Dennis E. Taylor | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32109569-we-are-legion-we-are-bob) As per usual we are crowd sourcing book ideas and voting on the top books. We encourage you to add votes to the books [DC Science Fiction Book Club Suggestions - Google Sheets](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mprXaa6bcEW5EL_uprN16-RBcetO6pbqA4vHDTjtowI/edit?gid=0#gid=0)

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

\*We do have registered guests for this meeting via Facebook. Hello! This book club gathering is a guided discussion of *The Untethered Soul* by Michael A. Singer. The conversation will center on awareness, the inner voice, emotional attachment, and what it actually means to let go in everyday life. **What we will cover** * The difference between you and the voice in your head * Why resisting emotions keeps them stuck * How personal stories and identity create unnecessary suffering * Letting go as an active practice, not a mindset * Openness versus control and why control fuels anxiety * What real inner freedom looks like, independent of circumstances **Agenda** * Casual arrival and drinks * Brief framing of the book and its main themes * Open discussion guided by core questions Come even if you did not finish every chapter. The value comes from the discussion, not perfection. ### Sample Discussion Questions We will use a short set of guiding questions to keep the conversation grounded and practical. No preparation is required. —Which parts of your identity feel most tied to competence, reliability, or being the one who holds things together? How might those identities limit rest, spontaneity, or openness without you noticing? —What would “letting go” look like if it did not mean lowering standards or disengaging from life? —How often do you try to improve an experience instead of fully experiencing it? —What happens when you allow discomfort without mentally preparing for the next step? —What would shift if awareness replaced self correction in one small area of your life? —What does the book mean by “the voice in your head,” and when do you notice it running your day? —Which emotions are hardest for you to let pass without resisting or fixing them? —How do personal stories about the past quietly shape current reactions? —What does control look like in everyday life, and where does it create tension instead of safety? —What would it mean to stay open during discomfort rather than closing down? —In what areas of life does “letting go” feel most threatening or unrealistic? —How might awareness alone change a habit without force or self-criticism? ### Key Takeaways from *The Untethered Soul* * You are the observer of your thoughts, not the thoughts themselves * Emotional pain lingers because of resistance, not because of the event * Identity built on memory keeps the mind reactive and guarded * Control is a major source of anxiety and inner tension * Openness is a skill that can be practiced moment by moment * Awareness dissolves patterns more effectively than self-fixing * Inner freedom is independent of circumstances or outcomes **Book Summary:** https://www.sloww.co/untethered-soul/