Scheduled Meetings

Our meetings are open to the public at no charge, although donations to help cover the costs are appreciated.

---- 2009 ----

June 24, 2009

• Guest/program: Chris Butler, artist, lecturer, media producer
  
  Chris Butler is first class artist who shares our interests in space and space travel creating many works of astronomical art. He has made significant contributions to the renovation of the Griffith Observatory and space museum. His entertaining lectures have been an attraction of the Orange County Astronomers. The selection of Chris as lecturer and planetarium presenter on voyages of the Queen Mary II.
  
  Dr. Krupp Director of the Griffith Observatory says of Chris:
  
  "Chris Butler's speaking performances combine rich personal knowledge of whatever subject has engaged his attention with showmanship and professionalism that satisfies crowds with substance and style. He leverages his information with humor, and his personality on stage persuades his audiences they can't afford to miss what he has to say."
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is "We" 225 pages.
  by Yevgeny Zamayatin
  
  This novel, first published in 1922, is a dystopian classic that left its mark on the twentieth century from films like Terry Giliam's "Brazil" to books such as "1984" and "Brave New World.
  
  In a glass-enclosed city of absolute straight lines, ruled over by the all-powerful 'Benefactor,' the citizens of the totalitarian society of OneState live out lives devoid of passion and creativity - until D-503, a mathematician who dreams in numbers, makes a discovery: he has an individual soul.
  
  Cheap at Amazon; may be difficult to get elsewhere.

July 29, 2009

• Guest/program: Sheila Finch, author.
  
  Sheila has published eight science fiction novels, more than thirty short stories, and a number of articles about science fiction and writing.
  
  Her novel, Infinity's Web, received the Compton Crook award and her YA book, Tiger in the Sky, won the 1999 San Diego Book award for best juvenile fiction.
  
  In 1998, she won the coveted Nebula Award for her novella, Reading The Bones.
  
  Her years of experience teaching creative writing at El Camino College have spread her influence through new writers as did her stint at Clarion West in 2006.
  
  This is her second time as our guest and those who missed last time will easily appreciate why we asked her back.
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is "Charisma," 464 pages
  by Steven_Barnes
  
  Charisma: In an attempt to empower low-income youth, more than a thousand children are raised to become miniature copies of popular rags-to-riches politician Alexander Marcus, but they end up acquiring his bloodthirsty depravities as well as the brilliance and cunning he used to hide them.
  
  Cheap st Amazon. May have trouble finding it in libraries.

August 26, 2009

• Guest/program: To Be Announced.
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is "Lord of Light" 300 pages
  by Roger Zelazny
  
  Lord of Light, his third novel, is his finest book: a science fantasy in which the intricate, colorful mechanisms of Hindu religion, capricious gods, and repeated reincarnations are wittily underpinned by technology. On a colony planet, a band of men has gained control of technology, made themselves immortal, and now rules their world as the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Only one dares oppose them: he who was once Siddhartha and is now Mahasamatman Binder of Demons. Lord of Light.
  
  

Septenber 30, 2009

• Guest/program: Author Laurel Anne Hill
  
  Laurel Anne Hill is a Bay Area writer who grew up in San Francisco. Her book Heroes Arise (Oct.2007) caused one reviewer to say, "There's definitely a highly unusual talent at work here with regards to the world-building and the unusual ecology and biology elements." and "...this is good; the unusual biology elements, for example, can be pretty fascinating."
  
  Heroes Arise received a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award for 2007 (bronze award, science fiction category) and was a finalist in the young adult category.
  
  Her shorter fiction and creative non-fiction has appeared a number of publications. and she has received numerous writing awards.
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is

October 28, 2009

• Guest/program: To Be Announced.
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is

November 25, 2009

• Guest/program: To Be Announced.
  
  
• READING ORBIT- OCSFC Book Club:
  This month's book is
  
  
• LOSCON 36 November 27-29

Where we meet..

See you at a meeting soon!