A Debut Festival Celebrating ESEA Speculative Fiction and Authors

Sunday 22^nd September, 11:00am–4:30pm BST

Imaginarium will feature some of the most diverse and exciting British and international East and Southeast Asian authors in speculative fiction, in a day of discussions and panels. Join us in exploring the ESEA aesthetic, the trajectory of speculative futures, or how ghosts, mythical beings and the Asian gothic have their roles in decolonising narrative. This unique event debut will also feature an industry panel on the role of ESEA writers in publishing and trends within speculative fiction, and a fireside chat with Lian Connect and event partner, the British Fantasy Society, on how Imaginarium celebrates the ESEA Heritage month.

As part of our collaboration, the British Fantasy Society is offering a discounted digital membership to all attendees of this event. A full year of membership will cost you only £10. Just add it to the cart at checkout. If you want to know more about membership of the BFS, you can find it here.

Welcome & Introduction (10:55am)

Please note that the Zoom platform will open at 10:45am.

Panel 1 (11:00am–12:00pm): Defining an ESEA Aesthetic Within Speculative Fiction

A discussion on whether or how to define an ESEA aesthetic within speculative fiction. What do we mean by an ‘ESEA aesthetic’? What similarities or differences influence the ‘ESEA aesthetic’ when East and Southeast Asia cover such a broad geographical swath? What is silkpunk and can it be more than a marketing convention? Join moderator Elaine Chiew and panellists Victor Fernando Ocampo (International Rubery Book Award shortlisted, The Infinite Library and Other Stories), Xueting Christine Ni (Sinophagia, Sinopticon, and more), P.H. Low (poet and author of These Deathless Shores), and illustrator and designer Sinjin Li, as they chat about why our cultural and personal background, knowledge and orientation make a difference.

Break (12:00–12:15pm)

Brownbag Lunch(12:15–1:15pm): Industry Panel

Grab your lunch and join moderator Eric Huang (author of Guardians of the New Moon and former publisher) with Desola Cooke (publisher/editor from Angry Robot), Michael Rowley (editor/publishing consultant), and Emma Topping (film agent from Viv Loves Film) in discussing trends they are seeing in speculative fiction and how to navigate the submission and publishing process as an ESEA writer.

Break (1:15–1:30pm)

Panel 2 (1:30–2:30pm): Ghosts, Mythical Beings and the Asian Gothic

Ghosts, folkloric and mythical beings pervade the stories from East and Southeast Asia. How do ESEA authors draw upon this rich heritage to world-build their supernatural realms? How does Asian mythology and folklore translate on a global stage? Where do we start with the Asian Gothic? Moderated by Sheyna Zaid Lam, join authors Eliza Chan (Sunday Times bestseller, Fathomfolk), Dina Zaman (King of the Sea), and Salinee Goldenberg (multimedia artist and author of The Last Phi Hunter) as they chat about all beings supernatural and fantastical.

Break (2:30–2:45pm)

Fireside Chat (2:45–3:30pm)

Introduction of Juniper By The Sea Bookshop, the first ESEA online bookshop, followed by a conversation between Lian Connect and British Fantasy Society on their collaboration in celebrating the ESEA Heritage Month.
Book Raffles: The Light Between Us, Fathomfolk and Ab Terra Series collection (3 books)

Panel 3 (3:30pm–4:30pm): The Trajectory of Speculative Futures

Speculative fiction is rife with predictions for the future, whether fantastical, technological, or in ways we cannot begin to imagine. Creators in this realm are seers, prophets and futurists, well-equipped with the ability to consider infinite possibilities. Where would an ESEA-driven future lead us? Join moderator Dr. Yen Ooi (editor of Ab Terra series, author and researcher), and panellists Angela Chan (artist, data engineer and researcher on climate history and co-director of the London Science Fiction Research Community), Dr. Danbee Kim (neuroscientist and author of The First VIRS), and Neon Yang (biologist, journalist, and author of The Tensorate series), and to explore the element of the Imaginarium.

For more information on our fabulous authors and buying their books from Juniper by the Sea, click here.

Any queries, please contact the Lian Connect team at lianconnect121@gmail.com or Pam via onlineevents@britishfantasysociety.org.

Funding information: Partial funding provided by Angry Robot and private donors to Lian Connect.