All events start at 7.30pm unless otherwise specified.
| Sunday 12 October | Squash | Selwyn, Borradaile Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A chance for interested parties to meet the society and find out more about what we do. | ||||
| Thursday 16 October | Video showing: eXistenZ | Newnham, Peile Hall, room 304 | ||
|
(I read from the back of the box...) David Cronenberg presents the near future: eXistenZ is the ultimate game, brianchild of the hip, hyper and sexually alluring Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Once downloaded via a bioport implanted into the players' spine, eXistenZ promises an experience that will shatter forever the line between fantasy and reality. At its launch armed fanatics burst in, determined to destroy the game and its creator. Forced to run for her life, Allegra's sole ally is a young security guard (Jude Law). Together they seek refuge in the only place the gaming goddess feels safe - the world where existence ands and eXistenZ begins. |
||||
| Sunday 19 October | Discussion: Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm | Newnham, Peile Hall, room 304 | ||
|
With nine books published under the name Robin Hobb, and nine books under
the name of Megan Lindholm, this is an author with a fast growing
reputation. The Robin Hobb books are divided into three trilogies and can be
described as epic fantasy. Megan Lindholm is harder to pin down with novels
ranging from urban/contempory fantasy (Wizard of the Pigeons)
to science fiction (Alien Earth). If you wish to know "whence
comes the Fool and why?" (and also why you should care), come along and
discuss her work. Short story by Megan Lindholm available online: http://www.asimovs.com/Nebulas03/cut.shtml |
||||
| Thursday 23 October, 6.30pm | Author event: Kevin Crossley-Holland | Heffers, 20 Trinity Street | ||
| Kevin Crossley-Holland will be talking about the final volume in his Arthur Trilogy, Arthur: King of the Middle March. This is event is free but if you wish to attend you must obtain a ticket from the Children's Department at Heffers, 20 Trinity Street, or by telephoning Kate Johnson on 01223 568525. | ||||
| Friday 24 October 6.30pm - 8pm |
Signing: Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm | Borders, Oxford Street, London | ||
| Robin Hobb is making an appearance at Borders to sign copies of her latest book, Fool's Fate. The events is free and not ticketed so Borders suggest coming early. If you wish to travel with CUSFS members, turn up at the station at 4:30pm and look for the person clutching Fool's Fate. | ||||
| Sunday 26 October | Discussion: Peter F Hamilton | Selwyn, Cripps Court, room J1 | ||
| His novels have only been on book shelves for ten years but he's made a big impact on science fiction. Hamilton has revitalised the space-opera with his action sequences and multi-layered characters, and his alien races have won him much praise. Come and discuss this British star whether you love him, hate him or just want to know more. | ||||
| Thursday 30 October | CUSFS Curry Evening | The Gulshan, 106 Regent Street | ||
|
The Curry Evening is a great opportunity to get to know the CUSFS members -
Join us for a curry and a good evening with inane banter. We will be booking a table, so if you want to come along, please email soc-cusfs at lists dot cam dot ac dot uk. before Tuesday the 28th. |
||||
| Sunday 2 November | Discussion - Favourite Author | Jesus, Chapel Court, staircase 4, room 4 | ||
|
So who is your favourite author? Be they old favourites, young up-and-comers
or unfairly neglected, come and evangelise - and hear what other members
would recommend. Suggested authors may well be featured in discussions later in the year. |
||||
| Wednesday 5 November 7pm |
Fireworks! | Fort St. George, Midsummer Common | ||
|
"A staggering 500kg of explosives will be set off as crowds of
spectators are warmed up by a five-ton bonfire." It's that time of year again, and CUSFS will be meeting outside the Fort St. George pub at 7:00 prompt in time to find a good firework-viewing location before the fireworks start at 7:30. Look for the orange scarves! (Latecomers will be unlikely to find us. You have been warned.) Afterwards we will head to the Chairbeing's house to enjoy mulled wine, other hot beverages and toffee apples. |
||||
| Sunday 9 November | Games evening | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
| The perfect antidote to Fifth Week Blues. Bring a game or three, or come and play someone else's. Games old, new and very very silly will be played. | ||||
| Wednesday 12 November 7pm (until 10pm) |
Video showing: Firefly part 1 | Darwin, TV room | ||
|
Forget Angel and Buffy: Firefly is
the show Joss Whedon always wanted to make. Inspired by the Battle of
Gettysburg and the Reconstruction Era of the American Civil War,
Firefly is the story of Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his
ragtag crew on the rogue Firefly class starship, Serenity, and their
struggle to stay alive in the wake of a galactic civil war 500 years in
the future. Sadly only fifteen episodes were made, but CUSFS has them
and we'll be showing them on Wednesdays until the end of term. See TTBA for a full review! |
||||
| Friday 14 November 7pm |
Interview/signing: Neil Gaiman | Foyles, Charing Cross Road, London | ||
| Neil Gaiman will be talking about his recent books The Wolves in the Walls and Coraline. Tickets for this interview/signing cost £5 (£4 for students) and are available from http://www.foyles.co.uk/foyles/events.asp or by phoning 0870 4202777. Book your ticket early if you want to attend or they might run out! | ||||
| Sunday 16 November | Discussion: Ursula K. le Guin | Jesus, Chapel Court, staircase 4, room 4 | ||
|
Ursula le Guin is probably best known for the fantasy classic
A Wizard of Earthsea. On the other hand, her soft,
sociologically-centred science fiction has won many awards, including
for notable works such as The Left Hand of Darkness and
The Dispossessed. More recently le Guin has developed
a more anthropological style. If you haven't discovered Ursula le Guin, come and find out why you should. If you have, come and help answer: is Earthsea really her best work? Do we prefer the earlier or later SF? Is she primarily feminist, anthropologist, or something else? What really makes her writing stand out? |
||||
| Wednesday 19 November 7pm (until 10pm) |
Video showing: Firefly part 2 | Darwin, TV room | ||
|
The second instalment (of four) of Joss Whedon's SF series. If you missed last week's dose of Firefly do not despair - you will pick up on the plot, characters and humour in no time. This week we plan to watch episodes Shindig, Safe, Our Mrs Reynolds and Jaynestown. |
||||
| Thursday 20 November | Reading evening | New Hall bar | ||
| Bring along a short piece of Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature (either a (very!) short story, or an extract from something longer - no more than 4 or 5 pages is a good rule of thumb) to scare, impress, edify or entertain the company. Introduce us to someone new, or convert us to an old favourite. Alternatively, come to listen to what others have brought to read, and be enlightened, amused, horrified, or just confused. | ||||
| Sunday 23 November | Discussion: SF and technology | Selwyn, Cripps Court, room J1 | ||
| Science fiction and technology have always been closely linked. From the earliest days, SF has tried to extrapolate from the science and the technology of its time, authors' invention untrammeled by mere practicality. But yesterday's SF is often tomorrow's technology, perhaps no more so than now with the appearance of genetics, nanotechnology, computing and even commercial space travel. How much has SF influenced science and technology in the real world, and how much is SF a literary child of the scientific age? Come along to Cripps Court at 7:30pm. Or at a pinch you could take the space elevator. | ||||
| Wednesday 26 November | Video showing: Firefly part 3 | Darwin, TV room | ||
|
The third instalment (of four) of Joss Whedon's SF series. If you missed last week's dose of Firefly do not despair - you will pick up on the plot, characters and humour in no time. This week we plan to watch episodes Out Of Gas, Ariel, War Stories and Trash. Your Friendly Neighbourhood CUSFS Secretary says that if you can only come to one Firefly showing, let this be the one! |
||||
| Sunday 30 November | Discussion: Fairy Tales | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
| Far from being kids' stuff, work based around fairy stories and traditional folklore themes forms a very active sub-genre of fantasy. Many of today's great fantasy writers have turned their hands to retellings of tradional stories, often working them into more modern settings, or revealing hidden depths and motivations in their characters. So what is it that brings writers and readers alike back to the stories that everyone knows? Come and join CUSFS as we discuss the best way to keep an old tale fresh. We will be celebrating the last discussion of term with mince pies and mulled wine and (in keeping with the theme) fairy cakes. There may be an expedition to the bottom of the garden if weather permits. | ||||
| Wednesday 3 December 7pm (until 10pm) |
Video showing - Firefly part 4 | 11 Atherton Close | ||
|
The final instalment (of four) of Joss Whedon's SF series. This is your last chance to catch Firefly. If you haven't attended any showings so far this term, do not despair - you will pick up on the plot, characters and humour in no time. This week we plan to watch episodes The Message, Heart of Gold and Objects in Space. |
||||
Last recorded update: 24 June 2004, by Mark Waller
Status: up to date with all available missives
Back to: CUSFS archive index | CUSFS home page