Richmond Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club

Hello Richmond Science Fiction and Fantasy book nerds.

Time to blast off into the far future of sci-fi and spelunk into otherworldly realms of fantasy!

The Richmond Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club is a casual group of sff fans who meet once every three weeks at local RVA bars, restaurants and cafés to read a science fiction or fantasy book. (We alternate! And sneak in the occasional horror book under the theory that horror falls under the rubric of “dark fantasy”/the weird.)

Like its sister club, the Hampton Roads Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club, the RVA sff book club is a democracy (at least when it comes to picking the books) where every member is eligible to vote on a poll that launches typically 6 weeks in advance of the event. Each poll is ranked choice and features six options, with an open nomination process and dedicated slots for “Subgenre Spotlight” and “Around the World” picks.

NOTE: Interested in nominating a book? You can send me a DM, mention a book a one of our meetings, or put it in our sci-fi (https://forms.gle/umsVTmpCEC4fwLfm9) and fantasy (https://forms.gle/jLVBtuYHutNGB5ux6) nomination forms.

Our poll winners tend to be a diverse mix of popular bestsellers as well as award-winners, experimental and subgenre sff, and world sff from a variety of countries.

We also run a Discord page where people can nominate and discuss and show off their books in between meetings. (Here a new Discord server created for the Richmond group: https://discord.gg/3BKC65tJ9U ; You are welcome to join, but it is not required and all event information will appear on Meetup.)

A little about me: I am a librarian. I previously taught two classes about the history of science fiction, so I will sometimes play “scholar” and add nerdy historical context to a discussion. Here’s a “LibGuide” I made at a previous employer with a lot of information about the history, subgenres, and reference sources for contemporary and classic sff: https://libguides.gustavus.edu/sff

*New* No-Flake Policy (effective September 26, 2024)

1. What’s Flaking? Flaking is when you cancel or don’t show up for something you RSVP’d to with less than 8 hours’ notice. I know things come up, but last-minute cancellations or no-shows can really affect our book discussions and waste my time, effort, and occasionally money—especially if I’ve made a group reservation at a restaurant for our meeting.
2. Life Happens: I completely understand—emergencies, illnesses, or unexpected things happen. Just let me know as soon as you can. If it’s not an emergency, please try to cancel at least 8 hours before the meeting so I can adjust accordingly.
3. Keeping It Fair: If you flake more than twice in a three-month period without a valid reason, I’ll have to remove you from the group. This ensures that everyone respects each other’s time and commitment.
4. Half of Life is Just Showing Up: Your attendance makes our book club vibrant. When you show up, it leads to better discussions, deeper insights, and more enjoyable meetings for everyone. So, if you RSVP, please make it a priority to attend. If something comes up, just let me know at least 8 hours in advance so I can adjust plans.
5. You’re Welcome, Even If You Haven’t Read the Book: You don’t have to skip a meeting just because you haven’t finished (or started!) the book. Your presence still matters. Whether it’s helping pick the next book or just keeping the atmosphere lively, your input is valuable, even if you’re not following everything being discussed.