Inspired by discussions held in the SFWC (Speculative Fiction Writing Cooperative), a book group focusing on works of Speculative (and Science) Fiction has been born. We convene on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm, like our other in-store book groups, newcomers & drop-ins are always welcome.
Discussion Date June 1, 2022
Ren lives alone on the remote frontier of a country devastated by a coup d'état. High on the forested slopes, she survives by hunting, farming, trading, and forgetting the contours of what was once a normal life. But her quiet stability is disrupted when an army unit, led by a young female soldier, comes to the mountains on government orders in search of a legendary creature called the rain heron--a mythical, dangerous, form-shifting bird with the ability to change the weather. Ren insists that the bird is simply a story, yet the soldier will not be deterred, forcing them both into a gruelling quest.
Spellbinding and immersive, Robbie Arnott's The Rain Heron is an astounding, mythical exploration of human resilience, female friendship, and humankind's precarious relationship to nature. As Ren and the soldier hunt for the heron, a bond between them forms, and the painful details of Ren's former life emerge--a life punctuated by loss, trauma, and a second, equally magical and dangerous creature. Slowly, Ren's and the soldier's lives entwine, unravel, and ultimately erupt in a masterfully crafted ending in which both women are forced to confront their biggest fears--and regrets.
Discussion Date July 6, 2022
The original 1818 text of Mary Shelley's classic novel, with annotations and essays highlighting its scientific, ethical, and cautionary aspects.