All events start at 7.30pm unless otherwise specified.
Other events may be added to the programme. Details will be included in the list once when we know them.
| Monday 10 October | Squash | New Hall, Long Room | ||
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| Details to follow. Please note existing members may attend by invitation only. | ||||
| Wednesday 12 October 8.40pm for 9pm showing |
Film trip: Serenity | Vue cinema | ||
|
Joss Whedon - the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated writer/director
responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Angel - now applies his trademark
compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the
future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centres around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family - squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal. When Mal takes on two new passengers - a young doctor and his unstable, telepathic sister - he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew that was once used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself. It is strongly recommended that you book your ticket beforehand; use the Vue website (http://www.myvue.com/) or phoneline (08712 240 240). We will meet in the area just inside the cinema, where the ticket collection posts and food counters are, at 8:40pm (meeting early to improve our chances of getting good seats). Look out for an implausibly long orange scarf. |
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| Sunday 16 October 8.00pm |
Discussion: Arthur C. Clarke | 12 Herbert Road | ||
| Reference links: ISFDb, Wikipedia | ||||
|
Arthur C. Clarke is perhaps the UK's best-known and longest-established
SF author. He is probably most familiar for the book and film 2001:
A Space Odyssey, but, in a career now spanning nearly 70 years, has
published some 20 novels and a vast array of short stories. He is regarded
as the doyen of 'hard' SF, but his work also reveals a considerable interest
in the metaphysical, or even the mystical. Come along, tell us what you think of this classic author, and hear what others have to say. Non-members are welcome. |
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| Wednesday 19 October 9pm for 9.15 showing |
Film trip: Night Watch | Arts Picturehouse, St. Andrew's Street | ||
|
A blockbuster to rock the socks off you, Night Watch is an epic
fantasy thriller set in present-day Moscow where the forces of good
and evil prowl in uneasy truce. The Night Watch patrol the activities
of the darkness, the Day Watch watch over the light. Anton Gordesky is
introduced to this realm of the supernatural when he tries to get
revenge on his departed wife, finding himself dragged into handling
vampires and his own ESP as the quest begins for the 'Great One' who
will change the balance of power forever. Racing through Russian
undergrounds, warehouses and gritty apartment blocks this a
super-smart, visually stunning, action-packed marvel where even the
subtitles are having fun - some coloured crimson which fade like blood
in water, some flown back with their speaker into a wall. Don't miss
it. To join us, e-mail soc-cusfs at lists dot cam dot ac dot uk. by midnight on Sunday 16 October (the Arts allocates specific seats when booking, so we will book for everyone at the same time). Meet in the cafe at the Arts; look for the long orange scarves. |
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| Sunday 23 October | Discussion: Michael Moorcock | New Hall, Video Room | ||
| Reference links: ISFDb, Wikipedia, Moorcock's Miscellany (official site) | ||||
| Michael Moorcock is probably best known for his fantasy cycle The Eternal Champion and particularly for the incarnation that is the doomed anti-hero Elric of Melniboné. However he also writes both science fiction and other more general works. | ||||
| Thursday 27 October | Social evening: noodles | Yippee Noodles Bar, King Street | ||
| Our noble and intrepid Chairbeing will lead an expedition to Yippee Noodle Bar. If you wish to join us, please e-mail soc-cusfs at lists dot cam dot ac dot uk. by lunchtime on Wednesday 26 October so that we can book a table. This is an opportunity for old CUSFS members to catch up after the summer and for freshers to get to know the rest of the society. It should be an enjoyable evening; we hope to see you there! | ||||
| Sunday 30 October | Games evening | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
|
The perfect antidote to Fifth Week Blues. Bring a game, or come and
play someone else's. Games old, new and very very silly will be played. There will also be a chance to look through the library sale books. We have several hundred spare SF and fantasy books for sale, so come prepared to grab yourself a bargain or three... |
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| Tuesday 1 November 6.30pm |
Heffers SF & Fantasy Evening | Heffers, Grafton Centre | ||
|
Sarah Whyley writes: You are recommended to book early. |
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| Saturday 5 November, 7pm for 7.30 | Fireworks | Midsummer Common | ||
| Explosions galore! Come and help CUSFS ooh! and aah! at the annual Cambridge firework display on Midsummer Common. We will meet 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 out for long orange scarves! (It's usually VERY busy and latecomers will be unlikely to find us. You have been warned.) After the display we will probably retire to the Carlton Arms on Carlton Way (10-15 minutes' walk) to warm up again. | ||||
| Sunday 6 November | Discussion: fantasy before Tolkien | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
| Suggested reference links: Wikipedia entries for James Branch Cabell, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison | ||||
|
Once upon a time, The Lord of the Rings had not been printed,
and publishers had never heard of "fantasy". Authors did not have to write
fat trilogies describing quests across the entire map. Instead, they were
free to produce whatever they wanted - any structure, any length - and so,
before it even existed, the fantasy genre was given some of its most
distinctive, enjoyable and enduring works. Come along and explore these authors and books with us; discover what makes them, still, some of the freshest and most lively voices in fantasy. |
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| Sunday 13 November | Discussion: Ken MacLeod | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
| Reference links: ISFDb, Wikipedia, The Early Days of a Better Nation (Ken MacLeod's blog) | ||||
|
Ken MacLeod is probably Britain's most overtly political SF author. His
"Fall Revolution" series (The Star Fraction, The Stone Canal,
The Cassini Division, The Sky Road) explored the politics and
economics of a capitalist / communist / anarchist (in various proportions) future, both
on Earth and in various other places. This was followed by the "Engines of Light" series
(Cosmonaut Keep, Dark Light, Engine City) which
famously introduced the 'squids in space', along with several planetfuls of humans whose
ancestors were kidnapped from Earth, and who provide some further economic laboratories. Come along, discuss and find out more about this interesting author, including (maybe) where, when and why "I hope I will see you again". |
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| Sunday 20 November 8.30pm |
Speaker meeting: Susanna Clarke | New Hall, Video Room | ||
|
Susanna Clarke is the internationally acclaimed and Hugo Award-winning
author of the best-selling Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell; she has also
published various short stories, some set in the same world as "Strange and
Norrell". She will join us to talk about and read from her work. Come along for a unique opportunity to meet a remarkable writer. |
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| Sunday 27 November | Discussion: favourite authors | 155 Gilbert Road | ||
|
A discussion where everyone will have an opinion... Come along and encounter
feuds being born and friendships ended as people reveal their favourite author,
laying their souls open before the weekly CUSFS discussion. Whether you want to
revel in the popularity of the likes of Pratchett or Tolkien or promote a
little known author whom you consider worthy of adoration - then this is the
discussion to do it at! Alternatively it's worth coming along and sitting
quietly at the back, just to hear the advice of others and build up that
reading list into treble figures again... This year the discussion will be fuelled by mince pies and mulled wine. Come along and enjoy! |
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Last recorded update: 19 January 2006, by Mark Waller
Please send comments and queries to
soc-cusfs at lists dot cam dot ac dot uk
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