For all things fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction
For all things fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction
10 January, 2026
10:00 am GMT
What kind of power to words truly have? The answer is nuanced and complex; in short, a lot. Writing can be powerful, even if its broader effects aren’t apparent yet. The right words and a dedicated group of people can change the world – it’s the only thing that ever has. Join the BFS for a day of events focused on writing and social justice.
Introduction & Welcome (10am–10:10am)
Panel 1 (10:10am–11:10am): Mirror Worlds. Fiction has always held up a mirror to reality, but how do you build a secondary world that accurately reflects what you want it to? When you create a new world, you decide what’s normal. Join moderator Lorraine Wilson and panellists Alexandra Beaumont, Georgia Cook, and Ian Green as they discuss how their beliefs and experiences craft the mirror worlds they write. Find out more about our panel here.
Readings (11:15am–11:45am): TBC (11:15am–11:30am), TBC (11:30am–11:45am)
Break (11:45am–12:10pm)
Author Interview (12:15pm–1:15pm): BFS Chair Shona Kinsella and international bestselling author Philip Reeve chat about writing, illustrating and musical comedy. Find out more about our chair and interviewee here.
Readings (1:20pm–1:35pm): TBC
Lunch (1:35pm–2:10pm)
Reading (2:15pm–2:30pm): Ayida Shonibar
Panel 2 (2:30pm–3:30pm): Solarpunk & the Counter-Narrative. Solarpunk is the space where the speculative meets real-world activism from a hopeful perspective, and its utopian tones imagine a better world. But how do you imagine a fairer society when our seems so prejudiced? Are the solutions to our global challenges in the pages of our books? Join moderator Yen Ooi and panellists Renan Bernardo, BrightFlame, Wren James, and Francesco Verso as they discuss the creative and optimistic world of solarpunk. Find out more about our panellists here.
Reading (3:35pm–3:50pm): TBC
Break (3:50pm–4pm)
Panel 3 (4pm–5pm): Writing as Activism. Examining social justice isn’t new for many writers, but what impact does this have? How can SFFH support activist ideals? What is needed for writers to motivate communities and highlight the intersectionality between people across the world? Join moderator Justin Lee Anderson and panellists Joseph Elliott-Coleman, Malka Older, and Stephen Oram for a discussion on writing as activism. Find out more about our panellists here.
Reading (5:05pm–5:20pm): Somto Ihezue
Find more information on our fabulous readers and where to buy their books by clicking here.
Please note: You should receive a confirmation email when you buy your ticket, plus a second email with the Zoom link to join. If you don’t, please contact Pam via email: events@britishfantasysociety.org
NB: We are still awaiting confirmation from some of our reading invitees. In addition, the blogs are still under construction. Please check back for details.
You need a computer or device (phone/tablet) capable of using Zoom and an internet connection.
You will need a Zoom account to participate, but an account is free to create and use. Just go here to make one.
All our online events have closed captioning, enabling those with hearing difficulties to follow everything.
Closed captions run automatically but needs to be enabled by each individual user on their own device. You can find instructions on how to set this up here.
No. Everyone is welcome to attend our online events, although BFS members do get free entry. There are lots of great reasons to join, so we hope you'll consider it. You can join here.
Yes, we do. You can find our policy here.
Yes, the event will be recorded and will be available for ticketholders to view at a later date. You will receive an email with the link.
You should receive a confirmation from the BFS and then a second email from the website with the joining link. If you don't, please email events@britishfantasysociety.org as soon as possible.