Category: Critical Mass

Nova Mob: March 5th

Critical Mass News, NovaMob, Snippets

Murray MacLachlan notes:

For March’s meeting our face to face meeting will be in the Creative Hub room at Kensington Town Hall.
The meeting however will be a Zoom meeting, led from the Canberra wing of the Nova Mob – thanks Gillian! – and including a guest speaker from Hamburg or London.

Speakers for April and May also are known, both are Nova Mob members which is great to see the Mob tradition continuing.

Next 3 meetings

5 March – “Germans meet Australian Gothic” – Fifty years after “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and the translation into German of Australian Gothic. Gillian Polack/translation project manager or representative/ Mob discussion.

2 April – Alexandra Pierce on First Contact – Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Shroud” and other great SF novels

7 May – Perry Middlemiss – “The Novels of Robbie Arnott”

💥 💥 💥

Nova Mob meeting 5 March 2025 – Germans meet Australian Gothic

Did you know there’s a project under way to translate Australian Gothic novels and stories and novels into German?

Also that it’s fifty years since the film of Joan Lindsay’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” was released?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/20/picnic-at-hanging-rock-review-peter-weir

A first step would be to define Australian Gothic. I’m sure the borders are porous but that there are core works. Is Lindsay’s one of them? Also the German understanding of Australian Gothic differs from the Australian version. There is nuance!

From Canberra, Gillian will be interviewing the translation program manager or their representative, prior to Mob general discussion of Picnic at Hanging Rock and other Australian Gothic. 

German may be spoken from time to time.

Nova Mob 5 March “Germans meet Australian Gothic”

Face to face 

You are invited to an in-person Nova Mob meeting on Wednesday, 5 March 2025
8.00pm – 9.00 Melbourne time, 7:30-8:30pm Adelaide, first floor Creative Hub room.

Zoom meeting closes about 9.20pm or so.
Kensington Town Hall 30 – 34 Bellair St
Kensington Melbourne VIC 3031

By Zoom – simulcast

Zoom session opened from the Kensington Town Hall.
You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
8.00pm – 9.30 pm Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time
7.30pm – 9.00pm Adelaide time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4177583193?pwd=VjdPL1BhSTBNclN2YnRsejN3Y1hlUT09

Passcode: nova
Meeting ID: 417 758 3193

💥 💥 💥

Pre-Mob dining – at The Quiet Man Irish Pub

Last time for the pre-refurbishment pre-Mob pub meal in Newmarket

The Quiet Man, 271 Racecourse Road, Kensington, VIC 3031.

On the corner of Rankins Rd and Racecourse Rd. Enjoy it, the pub is closing for a swift refurbishment. The new owners perhaps have decided the Mexican tiled floors don’t go with the Irish pub fittings and fixtures.

Table for 8 booked under the name of the Nova Mob Book Discussion group also Murray, 6.00pm for 6.30, through to 8.00pm.

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Melbourne Fannish Drinks

Melbourne SF pub meetup. Second Wednesday of every month

Next meetup: Wednesday 12 March.

It’s an open invitation to all. The Nixon Hotel, 757 Bourke St, Docklands. 

Time: 6pm+. Westwards towards the waters from the north end of Southern Cross Station. 
Nearest train station: Southern Cross (exit the Bourke Street end and turn left)
There is a lift outside to the right of the Channel 9 building at concourse level, which takes you down to Bourke St level. Convenor: Perry Middlemiss

No RSVP required.

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Nova Mob About and Contact Us

Nova Mob on social media: We’re on Mastodon. Click the invite to follow

https://mastodonbooks.net/@NovaMob
https://mastodonbooks.net/invite/YECXVBUk

nova@aussiebb.com.au

Friends, out-of-town guests, and new arrivals – you are always welcome and have an open invitation to the Mob’s face-to-face and Zoom meetings.

First time arrivals – free. Otherwise a $5 donation for expenses please.

Face-to-face meetings are at the Kensington Town Hall:

https://activemelbourne.ymca.org.au/venues/kensington-town-hall

Face to face, the Kensington Town Hall has ample parking and excellent disability access. Newmarket Railway Station is 15 minutes travel from Flinders St Station on the Craigieburn line. By tram it’s via the Route 57 and by bus it’s the #83. Other bus routes via Metlink Journey Planner. 

Please don’t attend if you have symptoms that could be COVID 19 or similar. Our COVID-safe Plan continues to apply and we remain mask-friendly for those who wear them.

Murray MacLachlan

Convenor

Critical Mass, Feb 19th: Victorian Steampunk

Critical Mass News, Snippets

Our guest this month is Karen J Carlisle, author of Victorian Steampunk & fantasy novels, including stories about the adventures of Viola Stewart, Homesian mysteries featuring Mrs Hudson, and Adelaide’s Aunt Enid, protector extraordinaire.
Karen first fell in love with science fiction when she saw Doctor Who, as a four-year old.
Her short stories have featured in the 2016 Adelaide Fringe exhibition, and the ‘A Trail of Tales’, ‘Where’s Holmes?’, ‘Deadsteam’ and ‘Sherlock is a Girl’s Name’ anthologies.

She writes full-time and can often be found plotting fantastical, piratical or airship adventures, and co-writing the occasional musical ditty.
Karen has always loved dark chocolate and rarely refuses a cup of tea.

This meeting will feature the launch of the brand new Aunt Enid book, Twixtmas

It’s Twixtmas: the odd, dream-like time between Christmas and New Year when time slows, days blur, and the connections between the Otherworlds and ours are at their thinnest.
Anything is possible.
And accidents can happen.
Join Sally as she’s transported to an Otherworld on a rescue mission – where Protectors are forbidden to tread.

Twixtmas is a portal fantasy with characters from The Aunt Enid Mysteries.

Critical Mass will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday, February 19th at the Minor Works Building,
22 Stamford Court, Adelaide.
[If you enter from Sturt Street, there’s an open path between 50 and 52 Sturt Street
leading to the community centre]
For those who can’t make it in person, they’re welcome to join us via zoom

Zoom details: Critical Mass, Adelaide
Time: Feb 19, 2025 6:30pm Adelaide, 7pm Melbourne, 8am London….

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83196030896?pwd=m2ImO2Z7bGfLtmLvJJHeoci1455Vtr.1

Meeting ID: 831 9603 0896
Passcode: 570773

Reactor readers choose iconic SFF books of the 21st century

Critical Mass News, Snippets

A few weeks ago, we asked dozens of authors about the speculative books they considered The Most Iconic SFF Books of the 21st Century. We loved their responses, from modern classics to translated works to graphic novels to hidden gems.

But of course, readers had opinions! What about this book? How could that author not be in the top 10? It’s part of what we love about this community: a group of people who share a love for science fiction, fantasy, and horror from thousands of different angles, and who feel passionate enough about declaring their love for those books to come together to debate them from across the globe. We anticipated that people might want an outlet for these thoughts outside of social media, so we opened a poll asking for your input. And readers, you delivered!

We received well over 500 responses in the short time the poll was open. While the selections below are just a slice of that enthusiasm, we hope they show the diversity and fervor of SFF fans. Maybe you spot some favorites here. Maybe you get a new stack of recommendations for your shelves. Maybe you just take a minute to think about what the word “iconic” means to you. Either way… we hope you enjoy.

— https://reactormag.com/readers-pick-the-most-iconic-speculative-fiction-books-of-the-21st-century/

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

Critical Mass News, Snippets

“The impish demon known as Beetlejuice has been dead for centuries, but he’s enjoyed a pretty long life in popular culture….. Even so, I wasn’t hankering for a sequel to the Burton movie, which might have turned out to be just another fan-servicing, nostalgia-milking cash grab.

Fortunately, there isn’t a whiff of cynicism to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Burton shows real affection for the first film’s characters and genuine curiosity about how they’re doing three decades or so later. Winona Ryder is back as Lydia Deetz, who escaped Beetlejuice’s clutches as a teenager; now she’s a paranormal expert with her own talk show.

Lydia has long since buried the hatchet with her artist stepmother, Delia — the sublime Catherine O’Hara. But she’s having a tougher time with her own teenage daughter, Astrid — that’s Jenna Ortega from the show Wednesday, whose creators, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, wrote this movie.

When Lydia’s father dies suddenly, the family reunites at their old Connecticut home for the funeral. It’s here that Lydia accidentally winds up summoning Beetlejuice, thanks in part to her sleaze of a fiancé, played by Justin Theroux. With a sudden whoosh, Beetlejuice is back — played by Michael Keaton with the same messy green hair, rotting teeth and mischievous streak as before.”
— Justin Chang, from NPRs Fresh Air, writing about the movie in Beetlejuice is back, in a supernatural screwball sequel

The film is currently screening in cinemas.

Tim Winton has the Juice

Critical Mass News

“Juice … is a work of dystopian fiction, which is a sub-genre of science fiction. You heard that right: Tim Winton has written a science fiction novel. Moreover, he has embraced many of the genre’s conventions. It is exciting to see a writer of Winton’s longevity doing something new. His attempt to break new ground will be reason enough for many readers to pick up this book.

Climate change and the future

The novel is set hundreds of years in the future. Climate change has rendered large parts of the globe uninhabitable. The narrator lives with his mother in a remote outpost halfway up Australia’s west coast, where it is too hot to go outside during the day, so most activities are conducted during the night or early morning. In the summer, they must live underground for months at a time.

Much of what we would regard as modern technology has been erased by the collapse of civilisation, for reasons now mostly forgotten. However, the narrator learns that some of the powerful families from the 21st century have retained this technology and used it to retreat into hidden fortresses. He joins a resistance movement with the mission to wipe these families from the earth.”

— from Per Henningsgaard Tim Winton goes cli-fi – his dystopian novel Juice breaks new ground to face the climate emergency

A new take on a classic Greek myth

Critical Mass News

Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus in this take on Greek Gods in the modern world. There is love, justice and vengence in this story of Riddy (Euridice, played by Aurora Perrineau) and Orpheus (Killian Scott). You’re probably familiar with the story, but this version includes bars, pubs and modern times — Orpheus is a rock star! Not to mention Poseidon, who’s known to turn up unexpectedly in your bathtub!

An entertaining dark comedy, worth watching.

4 Sep 2024 – Nova Mob discussion: Glasgow Worldcon

Critical Mass News, NovaMob

The September Nova Mob meeting will be a shared general discussion about the WorldCon experiences for all members, especially those who travelled to Glasgow and including those who plugged in, to share stories, insights, and highlights from the convention.

 That’ll be on Wednesday, 4 September.

4 Sep 2024 – Nova Mob discussion: Glasgow Worldcon

Mob discussion in person and on Zoom, recapping the Glasgow WorldCon by some who were there and others who followed events from afar.

Hoping some of the Mob members still travelling after WorldCon and Eurocon can dial in too.

Invitation – Nova Mob discussion recapping the 2024 WorldCon

Please share this invitation with like-minded friends and fans

Face to face : You are invited to an in-person Nova Mob meeting at: Wednesday 4 September 2024
8.00pm – 9.15pm Melbopurne or so (7:30pm Adelaide time), first floor Conference Room
Kensington Town Hall 30 – 34 Bellair St, Kensington Melbourne VIC 3031

 By Zoom – simulcast
For those who prefer not to travel or are unable to attend face-to-face.  Zoom session broadcast from the Kensington Town Hall. 
Questions or comments typed into the Zoom chat will be discussed and you’ll have as much airtime as the other Mob members at the venue.
Wednesday 4 September 2024
8.00pm – 9.30 pm Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time
7.30pm – 9.00pm Adelaide time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4177583193?pwd=VjdPL1BhSTBNclN2YnRsejN3Y1hlUT09
Passcode: nova
Meeting ID: 417 758 3193

Pre-Mob dining – at the Doutta Galla Hotel 

The usual pre-Mob location in Newmarket
Doutta Galla Hotel, 339 Racecourse Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3031, Australia

Table for 8 booked under the name of the Nova Mob Book Discussion group also Murray,
6.15pm for 6.30, through to 8.00pm

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Reflections on the August meeting

Terry Frost’s talk on the Marvel Cinematic Universe had 15 people at the discussion, 7 in person and 8 in the Zoom videoconference mode. Terry had full notes because he’s decided to re-use his talk at a forthcoming Terry Talks Movies. For those who missed it or want to re-live the experience, here’s the link to Terry’s Youtube channel at which his talk will appear Real Soon Now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3hwNZQ6FyrJVyE50fUqRQ

With 34 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Terry’s Honourable Mentions included Thor, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and it turns out each of the various phases has a “strongly recommended” movie, and across the MCU are found films of most genres and styles. Thanks again Terry!

On technical matters, we tried a different room layout – which worked well – and the new audio system also worked well, it was a much more pleasant listening experience. 

SF Commentary 

Bruce Gillespie reports – “The response to SF Commentaries 115 to 117 has been so satisfactory that I’ve received five new articles in the last two weeks, with another promised (but probably not for a while). With incoming letters of comment and a packed reviews column from Colin and Anna Steele, I really should produce the next issue right now. I had been hoping for a fan-editor’s holiday!”

https://efanzines.com/SFC/

F&SF back issues

The Internet Archive has several collections of pulp and other magazines. Here is a link to their collection of F&SF, which has almost 600 items. Why is 1959’s Vol 17 No 2 the most-read issue?

https://archive.org/details/fantasyandsciencefiction?tab=collection

Nova Mob About and Contact Us
Email address is: nova@aussiebb.com.au
Nova Mob on social media
We’re on Mastodon and I must make more than one post.
https://mastodonbooks.net/@NovaMob
https://mastodonbooks.net/invite/YECXVBUk

Friends, out-of-town guests, and new arrivals – you are always welcome and have an open invitation to the Mob’s face-to-face and Zoom meetings. First time arrivals – free. Otherwise a $5 donation for expenses please.
Face-to-face meetings are at the Kensington Town Hall:
https://activemelbourne.ymca.org.au/venues/kensington-town-hall
Face to face, the Kensington Town Hall has ample parking and excellent disability access. Newmarket Railway Station is 15 minutes travel from Flinders St Station on the Craigieburn line. By tram it’s via the Route 57 and by bus it’s the #83. Other bus routes via Metlink Journey Planner. 
Please don’t attend if you have symptoms that could be SARS-2 COVID 19. Our COVID-safe Plan is available, please email me for a copy.

Murray MacLachlan
Convenor

September 18th Critical Mass: the work of P Djèlí Clark

Critical Mass News

We invite you to read one of Clark’s novels, or read some of his short stories (https://pdjeliclark.com/short-stories/ or https://pdjeliclark.com/magazines/), and perhaps look at some of his reviews and essays (https://pdjeliclark.com/reviews-and-essays/).

In Person: Community room, Christie Walk, 101 Sturt St.
6:15 for a 6:30 start.

Topic: Critical Mass
Time: Sep 18, 2024 6:30pm Adelaide, 7pm Melbourne/Sydney, 5pm Perth

Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87224309964?pwd=pTIhAuiceNiJRIEKbikVJSAKmNQa1j.1

Meeting ID: 872 2430 9964
Passcode: 356300

Old Favourites

Critical Mass News, Snippets

At the August Critical Mass, we chose an old favourite worthy of a re-read.

Gerald chose Cordwainer Smith’s Scanners Live in Vain, which can be found in the collected works, The Rediscovery of Man

The SF Masterworks edition has 30+ short stories, including The lady Who sailed the Soul, The Game of Rat and Dragon, Mother Hitton’s Littul Kittons, Alpha Ralpha Boulevard and The Dead Lady of Clown Town.

Kate suggested two children’s books, both by Robert C. O’Brien:
The Secret of NIMH (originally Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH) and Z for Zachariah (published post-humously)

Beata selected Ostatnie życzenie (The Last Wish) by Andrzej Sapkowski (author of the Witcher series, originally written in Polish). This is a collection of short stories about The Witcher.
The title story is the one where Geralt meets Yennifer, seeking her help to capture a genie.

Adam chose Simon R Green’s Blue Moon Rising , the opening novel in the Forest Kingdom series.

Prince Rupert, a second son, was sent out to slay a dragon. The task became more complicated when he spared the dragon, which collected butterflies…

Roman selected Lisa Goldstein’s second novel, The Dream Years, about a surrealist Robert St Onge, in Paris, 1924, who argues with André Breton and eventually finds himself in 1968 at the Paris riots, helping surrealist anarchists fighting for the power of the imagination.

Jeff selected Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. A fantasy set in Imperial China (subtitled “A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was”), it follows Master Li and Number Ten Ox as they search for a cure for a plague caused by a poison. He also mentioned William Gibson’s Burning Chrome (short story collection) and George Turner’s Beloved Son.

He also mentioned

  • Captain WE Johns’ series of space books. (A total of ten.)
  • EV Olde’s The Clockwork Man
  • Donald Suddaby, Village Fanfare or The Man from the Future
  • Brian Stableford, the David Lyddyard trilogy because the third volume took years to appear.
  • Brian Stableford, the six volume Emortality series in internal chronological order. [Originally published out of order which was how Jeff read them…]

Andrew suggested Martha Wells’ Witch King