There's Something Happenin' Round Here...

Colin Harvey by James Owens Studios, Photo by James Owens Studios

Posted by
Colin Harvey
Jul 14, 2009

'Here' being Bristol.

I'm not sure what the title of the Buffalo Springfield track is that opens with that line, but it seems appropriate.

First we had Future Bristol, which was launched at Eastercon. At about the same time, The Cafe of Ideas launched in Bath.

Then someone decided to organize a convention.

And now, there's this remarkable structure under construction at Spike Island in Bristol. The plan is to raise it barn-style in Victoria Park in Bristol a week next Saturday --25th July- and then to hold various events such as this one, which I got an invite to.

It's a discussion forum 'How to Prosper during the Coming Bad Years.' The invite said:

The forum will be held on Saturday 5 September from 1 - 4 pm. The event is intended as a spirited encounter between people of diverse disciplines - artists, writers, scientists, economists, ecologists, survivalists, activists, academics and futurologists – on the subject of conservation versus preparedness. Each participant will be asked speak for ten minutes on the subject, followed by questions and discussion within the shelter structure. Local residents who use the park everyday will also be there to listen and contribute.

There's a feeling that even if the literary establishment don't rate SF, that the rest of the world are ignoring those critics and have accepted that SF is part of the zeitgeist -- and that if they're looking for answers to the issues concerning the world today, the answers more likely lie with SF than with -say- historical or romantic fiction.

I'm still not sure what's happening around here, but be sure that I'll be posting more about this between now and September. So watch this space...