About us
The Sci Fi Book Club was founded in 2014 as a way to formally explore the genre of Science Fiction. With books ranging from classics to new releases and from novels to short stories, we aim for diversity in our selections.
Club members have one month to read the book the group has agreed on. We meet via Zoom on the third Sunday of each month to talk about our reading and all things Sci Fi. Our hope is that members will come ready to contribute to the conversation both in their thoughts on the given book and with any insight into related media that might inform our discussion.
Occassionally we will all decide to take some extra time on a book, but members should plan on four weeks to complete the reading. You do not have to have finished the book to come to the meeting. We hope to see you either way, there's always plenty to talk about.
Find out more at thescifibookclub.com and join the Discord community here.
Upcoming events
6
Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse
·OnlineOnlineHi everyone,
With a surprise landslide win in our survey, Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun will be our first contemporary novel of 2026. It’s a great way to kick off our lead-up to the Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025 collection in April. For many of us, BASFF was our first introduction to Roanhorse’s work, so I’m excited to dive into my first novel by this Hugo and Nebula Award winner.
It’s said to be more fantasy than we usually read for this club, but the story seems interesting and in line with some of our recent selections. It also reportedly has strong sci-fi themes, so it felt reasonable to include it in our survey.
Book of the Month
Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse (2020)According to Grimdark Magazine, Black Sun is "Nearly impossible to put down", and Roanhorse "...deftly weaves a sweeping tale of vengeance, power, and loneliness in a fascinating fantasy world inspired by the pre-Columbian Americas." The Library Ladies report that is has "strong world-building, excellent mythology, and relatable characters." Again, seems like an interesting enough read to be a little flexible.
To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.
Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.
20 attendees
A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge
·OnlineOnlineHi everyone,
Widely regarded among science fiction readers and critics as one of the standout space opera novels of its era, A Fire Upon the Deep has been on my radar for a while but hasn't made it to our survey. I was glad to see it immediately selected by membership. It's especially touted in hard sci-fi circles, so it will be a good follow-up after a more fantasy-leaning novel in Black Sun.
Book of the Month
A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge (1992)Much of A Fire Upon the Deep's reputation comes from its innovative worldbuilding and unique alien culture. Vinge is generally praised for his writing chops and being able to balance the concept and the details. As reported in this interesting Wired article, the novel "...juggles dozens of characters and plotlines without ever becoming confusing. Science fiction author Abby Goldsmith [says] '...plotwise it’s stunning...the work shows. The amount of time and effort he put into thinking it through, I really admire that.'" All this said, I've heard that it can be a slow start for some readers and a hill to climb at the beginning. But once it gets going, it's hard to put down. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one!
To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.
Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.
21 attendees
"Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2025" Editor: John Joseph Adams
·OnlineOnlineBook of the Month:
“The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025”
Editors: John Joseph Adams, Nnedi OkoraforThis month we are keeping a beloved Sci Fi Book Club tradition alive. For the eleventh year in a row (wow, still can't believe that's right), we will be reading the newest edition of a short story collection called The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. It has been a Club favorite each year and takes a look at the current state of science fiction by highlighting some new and established writers in the genre. Each story has to meet certain criteria that you can read up on at the editor’s website, and is chosen without the author’s name attached.
Stories are selected by John Joseph Adams and this year's guest editor, Nnedi Okorafor. Okorafor has appeared in this collection before and is best known for novels like Who Fears Death, Binti, and Lagoon (a Book Club selection back in 2018). She is celebrated for imaginative storytelling that is deeply rooted in African cultures, myths, and histories. Her work often blends Africanfuturism with speculative fiction, highlighting marginalized perspectives and exploring futures where myth and science coexist.
It's always interesting to see what themes and premonitions make their way into the writing zeitgeist in a given year. From Adams' website "The twenty stories in this collection simultaneously fulfill and defy expectations of genre, showcasing boundary-pushing authors at their best..From the joyous, to the terrifying, to the heart-wrenching and the absurd, these stories encourage you to open your mind and, as Okorafor promises, 'Watch your world expand.'"
Per usual, I recommend coming back around to the Introduction by Okorafor once you've read the stories, as it sometimes contains spoilers. The Preface is worth it, for sure! It describes the selection process.
Let us know in the Comments below which stories you like, and feel free to skip one if you’re not digging it. There are always plenty of perspectives and approaches to the format in this collection.
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025 is available in paperback and audiobook via Amazon and other online booksellers, and is also available via the New York Public Library.
To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF! If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.
13 attendees
Her Smoke Rose Up Forever - James Tiptree Jr.
·OnlineOnlineHi all,
For May, we will be reading another short story collection. Following April’s selection, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025, we’ll turn to an older anthology. This collection features stories by a science fiction writer who remained cloaked in mystery for years.
Book of the Month
Her Smoke Rose Up Forever - James Tiptree Jr. (1990)Direct from this amazing Portalist article:
"James Tiptree Jr. left an enduring mark on modern speculative fiction — but she’s perhaps more mysterious and enigmatic today than ever before.Tiptree was one of the pen names used by female sci-fi author Alice Bradley Sheldon (née Alice Hastings Bradley). The daughter of prolific fiction writer Mary Hastings Bradley, Sheldon may have been born with the gift of words, but her path to literary success wasn’t clear-cut.
Although Sheldon is best known for her sci-fi writing, she had an eclectic and accomplished career. At various times in her life, Sheldon was a research psychologist, painter, art critic, imagery intelligence operative, CIA operative, and more. In many of these fields, she was one of the few women in an industry dominated by men. "
Given this and Tiptree's well-known stories included in this collection, I don't think we can pass up this opportunity. As with any other collection we read for Book Club, if a story isn't speaking to you, go ahead and skip it! There are 18 selections in here, I'm sure we'll have plenty to discuss.
Below, you'll find a few notables and a brief description:
- “The Women Men Don’t See” – A classic feminist sci-fi story exploring gender, invisibility, and societal expectations.
- “Houston, Houston, Do You Read?” – A Hugo Award–winning story about time travel, gender, and post-apocalyptic society.
- “Love Is the Plan the Plan Is Death” – A highly acclaimed story told from the perspective of an alien species, exploring instinct, love, and survival.
- “The Girl Who Was Plugged In” – A groundbreaking cyberpunk-like story about identity, media, and corporate control of bodies.
- “And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side” – A dark, unsettling exploration of obsession and desire for alien contact.
There are a few printings of this collections. I think I'm going to pick up this one, as it includes some revisions from the author’s original notes.
To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.
Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.
2 attendees
Past events
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