R-SPEC is a group of writers, readers and thinkers in the Rochester NY area, that exists to celebrate and create speculative literature. We hold public meetings once a month to discuss new ideas and critically examine the literature we care about. You can help by joining us at a meeting, or becoming a member.

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May 2012: Discuss the 2011 Nebula Nominees

Teaser: 

This month, I'd like to discuss 2012 Nebula nominees (full text of many of the shorter pieces is available online) -- but I'm particularly interested in one nominee, Jake Kerr's "The Old Equations," a recasting of the old Tom Godwin chestnut "The Cold Equations." As usual, attempts to derail will be entertained (and encouraged in proportion to their enthusiasm).

Also of interest: Microsoft invests heavily in Barnes & Noble. What (if anything) does it mean for publishing -- particularly independent publishing?

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Recent Posts on R-SPEC's Google Group

Re: [R-SPEC] pigs in space
queencarcin...@mac.com (Alicia Henn)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
Evolution could be cool, and probably inevitable, but once you got to your destination, you'd have animals well-adapted to life on a ship (...
French or Spanish Neo-Slave Narratives in the genre of Butler's Kindred
ldnola...@gmail.com (LDNMisBanderas)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
Greetings to all:

I am going to take part in a panel in the fall on the subject of
translating humor in speculative fiction....
Re: [R-SPEC] pigs in space
dwes...@gmail.com (Donald McCarthy)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
The evolution of miles long generation ship could be manipulated to match
conditions on the target world. If it takes thousands of...
Re: [R-SPEC] pigs in space
dwes...@gmail.com (Donald McCarthy)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
I would suggest embryos would be a more viable options. A LOT more of them
could be kept alive in some kind of stasis (Step back I'm...
pigs in space
queencarcin...@gmail.com (Alicia Henn)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
*The New York Times invited readers to write them a paragraph about whether
eating meat was ethical. Interestingly, an argument was...
Re: [R-SPEC] pigs in space
ericsco...@gmail.com (Eric Scoles)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
Also, the title reminds me of a McSweeney's story from a few years back --
can't remember the author -- but the POV character is the...
Re: [R-SPEC] pigs in space
ericsco...@gmail.com (Eric Scoles)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
Living right now, it's hard to imagine anyone having the degree of vision
required to put something like this into action. The best we...
Re: [R-SPEC] R-SPEC May Meeting: Nebula & "The Old Equations"
dwes...@gmail.com (Donald McCarthy)
(retrieved 05/18/2012 - 06:17)
Well, missed that one then. Oh, well. Since I've lost my job my schedule
has opened up a LOT.
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Low-IQ types worry that the movie 2012 really will happen.
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Get a Han Solo forzen in carbonite desk... every government tax office should have one to cheer up visitors victims.
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