The Birmingham Science Fiction Group was founded in 1971 to enable local and not so local fans to get together to discuss science fiction and related topics.

This month the Birmingham Science Fiction Group are proud to present Brian Aldiss OBE our honorary president and well known SF author. Brian Wilson Aldiss, OBE (born 18 August 1925) is an English author of both general fiction and science fiction. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss is a vice-president of the international H. G. Wells Society. His writings have been compared to those of Isaac Asimov, Greg Bear and Arthur C. Clarke. His influential works include the short story “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long”, the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg film A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Brian returns to the BSFG (his last visit having been our 40th birthday party) to once again entertain us with his unique brand of vision and whit. This is an opportunity that no SF fans will want to miss!

This meeting is on 12th April at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please:
Email: BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK
Also visit the group website at: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group was founded in 1971 to enable local and not so local fans to get together to discuss science fiction and related topics.

In May 2013 the BSFG is proud to host a talk by Freda Warrington, noted author of dark fantasy novels. Freda was born in Leicestershire, UK, and grew up in the beautiful Charnwood Forest area which inspired an early feeling for landscape, atmosphere and the mystical side of life. Inspired by writers such as CS Lewis, Tolkien, Tanith Lee, Michael Moorcock, Joy Chant, Anne McCaffrey, JS Lefanu she was soon drawn to trying her hand at fantasy. A Blackbird in Silver, begun when she was sixteen, was the first novel she finished.

She now lives in a small town in Leicestershire and enjoys travelling to Canada and the USA, where she has friends. She still goes to SF/ fantasy conventions whenever she can.

She currently has novels published by various publishers including Tor US (Elfland, Midsummer Night, Grail of the Summer Stars), Immanion Press (A Blackbird in Silver Darkness, A Blackbird in Amber Twilight) and Titan Books (A Taste of Blood Wine, to be followed by A Dance in Blood Velvet, The Dark Blood of Poppies, and her current work-in-progress, The Dark Arts of Blood).

Freda’s work has won awards for Dracula the Undead (Dracula Society Award for Best Gothic Novel in 1997) and Elfland won the Romantic Times 2009 Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

This meeting is on 10^th May at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please:
Email: BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK
Also visit the group website at: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group was founded in 1971 to enable local and not so local fans to get together to discuss science fiction and related topics.

In June 2013 the BSFG is hosting a talk by Ian Drury, noted literary agent for Sheil Land Associates, he is best known for historical fiction, Fantasy/SF, action/adventure, as well as popular history. He will be talking of his experiences in the field and some of the pleasures and problems with getting published. Anyone interested in being published should not miss this meeting, as Ian is sure to give great insight into the process and tips for success!

Ian read modern history at New College, Oxford before going into publishing: editing partworks and magazines before joining HarperCollins in 1994. He became Publishing Director at Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2003. Ian published the Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers REAL BRAVO TWO ZERO (Michael Asher), BLENHEIM (Charles Spencer) and LAST POST (Max Arthur) as well as the landmark history of France in IndoChina, THE LAST VALLEY (Martin Windrow).

Ian joined Sheil Land Associates in 2007. Of the authors he has worked with as an agent, Angus Donald was the first to break into the mass market fiction top 20. Robert Fabbri, James Wilde and Mark Lawrence all made the 2011 Top 20 UK hardback debut fiction list.

This meeting is on 14^th June at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please:
Email: BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK
Also visit the group website at: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group was founded in 1971 to enable local and not so local fans to get together to discuss science fiction and related topics.

Their always popular annual SF Quiz takes place on 8th February, where the BSFG plays host to Birmingham University SF group and everyone tries their knowledge against SF classics old and new!

The Quiz is on 8th February at the Briar Rose Hotel on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venues is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. Why not come and meet us? The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m.

From March normal meetings resume, starting the evening with a guest speaker, often a professional of in the field such as Brian Aldiss, Justina Robson or Peter Hamilton. Recent guests include authors Graham Joyce, Eric Brown and Simon Green. As advance notice the BSFG are happy to confirm that the March meeting hosts a talk by local urban horror author James Brogden (author of The Narrows which is set in Birmingham).

The group itself has many members of all ages, and between them the membership has an enormous wealth of knowledge of literary SF, as well as films, television, etc. If you want to know about a particular author or book, the BSFG is unlikely not to be able to help you! Just let them know you are a first timer when you turn up and any member will be happy to introduce you to the committee and make you feel as welcome as they can.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of their monthly newsletter, please email BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK or check out their website: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group was founded in 1971 to enable local and not so local fans to get together to discuss science fiction and related topics.

Eric Brown was born in Haworth, Yorkshire, in May 1960, and began writing in 1975. In the 1980s he travelled extensively throughout Greece and Asia (some of his novels are set in India). His first publication was in 1982, when his play for children, Noel’s Ark, appeared.

His career took off in the late eighties with a succession of short stories in Interzone and other publications. His story The Time-Lapsed Man won the Interzone readers’ poll for the most admired story of 1988, and an Eastercon short text award in 1995. He was voted the Best New European SF writer of the Year in the early nineties and has subsequently won the British Science Fiction Award twice (for the short stories Hunting the Slarque in 1999 and Children of Winter in 2001). He should not be confused with Eric J. Brown, the co-author of The Effective CIO, a technical book on Information Technology.

Eric has authored four series of novels; Virex, Helix, Bengal Station and his new series Weirdspace, as well as numerous single novels and many collections.

So why not go along and meet him? Eric is sure to give a fascinating talk and insight into his work and writings, and maybe sneak previews of forthcoming work…

This meeting is on 2nd November at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m. Please note that this date is the first Friday of November, which is an exception to our regular schedule which meets on the 2nd Friday of each month. This is to avoid clashing with the Novacon convention.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of their monthly newsletter, please email BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK or check out their website: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group are meeting on October 12th at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham.

Special guest at this event is Adam Nevill who was born in Birmingham in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. Adam’s biography paints a vivid picture of macabre influences, ranging from children’s television in the 1970s, through formative wanderings in the New Zealand bush and seminal horror movies on VHS in the 1980s. His history also shows his extensive devouring of notable horror novels. Amongst all of this is noted the way concepts and imagery lodged themselves firmly in Adam’s mind, giving him an abiding interest in the concepts of fear and horror.

Adam has subsequently authored four supernatural horror novels; Banquet for the Damned (nominated for the British Fantasy Society best novel), Apartment 16, The Ritual and Last Days, as well as contributing to the horror collection Dark Currents.

Adam is sure to give a fascinating talk and insight into his work and writings, and maybe sneak previews of forthcoming work…

The venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 p.m.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of their monthly newsletter, please email BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK or check out their website: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The prolific fantasy and SF author, Simon R. Green, will be visiting the BSFG in September.  Simon has authored more than 40 books since 1988 spread over numerous well-received series (including Hawk & Fisher, Deathstalker, Nightside, and Secret Histories) as well as several stand alone novels.

Simon holds an MA in Modern English and American Literature from Leicester University, as well as holding a combined humanities degree. His career includes the novelisation of the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which has sold some 370,000 copies. Currently he has several manuscripts awaiting publication, and a number of work-in-progress books underway.

So why not come and meet him at the BSFG meeting? Simon is sure to give a fascinating talk and insight into his work and writings, and maybe sneak previews of those forthcoming books…

This meeting is on 14 September 2012 at the Briar Rose Hotel (on the first floor) on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham The venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7.30 pm.

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG may be the group for you! For further information please see the website HERE

The July meeting of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group is proud to host publisher Jo Fletcher. Jo has been one of the most popular guests at the BSFG in times past when she was a senior editor for Gollancz’s lines of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Since her last visit Jo has set up her own independent publisher business and we expect Jo to give another fascinating talk on this new subject.

Jo Fletcher Books specialises in publishing a wide range of fantastic fiction and publishes a variety of authors, including Charlaine Harris, creator of the Sookie Stackhouse books.

So why not come and meet her at our meeting? Jo is sure to give a fascinating talk and insight into editing and publishing fantastic fiction.

The meeting is on 13 July at the Briar Rose Hotel on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 pm.

The group itself has many members of all ages, and between them the membership has an enormous wealth of knowledge of literary SF, as well as films, television, etc. If you want to know about a particular author or book, the BSFG is unlikely not to be able to help you! Just let us know you are a first timer when you turn up and any member will be happy to introduce you to the committee and make you feel as welcome as we can…

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please email:
BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK

Visit our website at:
www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

The Birmingham Science Fiction Group’s May meeting is proud to host a visit from Stephen Hunt, SF and Steampunk author. Stephen is recognised for his fantasy Steampunk Jackalian series and has recently been writing a continuing series of SF novellas (Sliding Void, Transference Station). Stephen is also the publisher of the on-line magazine SF Crowsnest. Stephen is a recognised innovator of on-line technology.

So why not come and meet him at our meeting? Stephen is sure to give a fascinating talk and insight into his work and on-line publishing.

The meeting is on 11 May 2012 at the Briar Rose Hotel on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 pm.

The group itself has many members of all ages, and between them the membership has an enormous wealth of knowledge of literary SF, as well as films, television, etc. If you want to know about a particular author or book, the BSFG is unlikely not to be able to help you! Just let us know you are a first timer when you turn up and any member will be happy to introduce to the committee and make you feel as welcome as we can…

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please:

Email:
BHAMSFGROUP@YAHOO.CO.UK

ALSO, DO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:
www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk

For its April meeting this year the Birmingham Science Fiction Group is proud to welcome Robert Blackham, noted Tolkien expert, who will be showing his new presentation about Tolkien’s experiences in the World War. Bob returns to the BSFG following his successful and popular presentation in 2009.

Bob is the author of several books about J.R.R.Tolkien, including The Roots of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, Tolkien’s Oxford, The Pitkin Guide to Tolkien and Tolkien and the Peril of War. Bob’s presentations always give a fascinating insight into Tolkien’s experiences, as well as suggesting possible inspirations that would later turn up in Middle-Earth.

The meeting is on 13 April 2012 at the Briar Rose Hotel on Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham; this venue is just 5 minutes walk from New Street Station and handy for all bus routes. The meeting opens its doors at 7:30 pm.

The group itself has many members of all ages, and between them the membership has an enormous wealth of knowledge of literary SF, as well as film, television, etc. If you want to know about a particular author or book, the BSFG may be able to help you! Just let them know you are a first timer when you turn up and any member will be happy to introduce you to the committee and make you feel as welcome as we can…

If you live anywhere in or around the West Midlands, the BSFG is the group for you! For further information, and a copy of our monthly newsletter, please email: bhamsfgroup@yahoo.co.uk

Website at: www.birminghamsfgroup.org.uk