Octocon is presenting a mini-convention called Concise this coming May 10th at 7pm in Exchange Dublin, wherein one can experience a whole convention over the course of a couple of hours! It’ll be epic fun. We hope.
Currently, and tentatively of course, we’ve got some cool stuff a-happening. We’ll have a panel discussion on 2012’s speculative fiction offerings with C.E. Murphy, Peadar Ó Guilín, and Michael Carroll (I’ll be moderating! - Dani), a reading from a classic Lovecraft story, a Golden Blasters screening, a raffle, and more!
So come along and let us know if you can make if you’re on The Facebook or The Twitter! :)
Here’s the poster for Concise, happening on May 10th! Yay! :D
Hello Octonauts, and happy holidays!
This time of year can be great for catching up on your reading, and whether you’re looking for ideas for what to read next, or for what to get that special someone, Octocon has a few book ideas for you! :D
(For some movie recommendations, see our last post.)
Of Blood and Honey by Steina Leicht
A book set in the middle of the Northern Irish Troubles. About a young boy growing up in a community at war, and discovering his true heritage as a Half-Fey Child! Excellently plotted and written. The second book in the series is due out in March, and I am looking forward to it. [Recommended by Gar]
The Name of the Wind/Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
While the Name of the Wind has been out for awhile, I only read it for the first time this year, and I immediately went and found the sequel. The story of how a boy became a legend! Wonderful world building and characters. Truly a series worth reading. [Recommended by Gar]
Superhuman/The Ascension by Michael Carroll
Some of you may know Michael from Octocon and never read his novels. If this i the case, his current trilogy is a perfect place to start. Superhuman was released in 2010, and The Ascension this year. I read the latest back in the summer and had a genuine emotional reaction to it. Both are about the lives and adventures of superhumans, but that doesn’t really do them justice. Just read them. [Recommended by Dani]
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
At the same time as being a beautiful story of impossible odds, friendship, and growing up, this novel is also full of passion for geekery. Throughout the story, you’re given lots of side notes on why the protagonists find programming cool, and LARPing, and maths. If you’re the type who finds almost everything potentially interesting, this is the book for you. [Recommended by Dani]
Hello Octonauts! Danielle here.
I thought it would be nice to share a few of my favourite science fiction films for a rainy day, seeing as we’ve had a few here in Ireland lately!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - A really sweet romance movie, set in a world in which you can have your memories of someone removed as a matter of course. It might just warm you up inside if you get caught outside. ;)
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (AKA Toki o kakeru shôjo) - A beautiful Japanese animated film about a teenage girl who finds she has the ability to leap through time. If I recall, this is an updated version of an older story, and you’ll see the woman from the original story pop up at some point in the movie.
District 9 - A great allegorical sci-fi movie about extra-terrestrial refugees being kept in a South African slum. Really powerful, but it doesn’t shy away from the alien science. Love it.
The Truman Show - A man is raised by a television studio, with his life on view for all to see, and he has no idea that anything’s amiss…until now. One of those great Utopian/Dystopian society movies. A lot of fun.
Children of Men - When there are no more children, a society falls apart. This one is a bit weepy, but who doesn’t need one of those from time to time? ;)
Anyways, let us know what your rainy day science fiction picks are, and stay safe out there! We’ll have lots of news in the coming weeks, so stay tuned, etc.
Dani
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