A 501(c)(3) organization: It is the mission of Parsec “to promote awareness of the richness of speculative fiction as literature, art and music; further general education in the sciences and arts, support contributions–both scientific and artistic–to society and to espouse the enjoyment of speculative fiction as literature, art and music with others.”
A 501(c)(3) organization: It is the mission of Parsec “to promote awareness of the richness of speculative fiction as literature, art and music; further general education in the sciences and arts, support contributions–both scientific and artistic–to society and to espouse the enjoyment of speculative fiction as literature, art and music with others.”
James Wynn, an associate professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, believes it is important to consider space exploration and settlement from the perspective of colonialism. The potential for conflicts over land and resources between nations are parallel to those in past colonial moments. What does the future hold?
Dr. Wynn’s request: “Given that you are all avid sci-fi readers, I would really love to hear about your experiences with colonial themes in the stories you’ve read and the ways in which you think historical colonial ideas have recirculated or evolved in sci-fi literature.”
In April, we welcome David Hankins. David is an award-winning author who writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dragons disguised as cats.
Date: Saturday, April 19th, 2025 Time: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Location: ZOOM only!
David Hankins writing journey began in the oral tradition of convincing his daughter to Go To Sleep with inventive stories. That usually backfired. After years of Just One More Story, David began transcribing his midnight ramblings in an attempt to keep his storylines straight. Children are ruthless in identifying mistakes in fairy tales. David writes lighthearted speculative fiction because that’s what he loves to read and-this is the important bit-there’s not nearly enough humor in the world. He aims to change that, one story at a time. David devotes his time to his passions of writing, traveling, and finding new ways to pay his mortgage. You can find him at https://davidhankins.com/
During this event we’re going to talk with David about Branding and Social Media can work to an author’s benefit. From his fedora to the micro-duckies that accompany him everywhere. David knows how to present himself consistently with the brand of “David Hankins,” which includes good humor, a welcoming smile, and a modestly dapper appearance. This ‘presentation’ of self may come across as genuine, but it takes focus and dedication to pull off and consistently promote across multiple media channels.
The Parsec Monthly Meeting is now the Parsec Monthly Event!
Please note the venue change for March!
Date: Sat March 15, 2025. Location: ZOOM and IN PERSON at the Mt. Lebanon Library 16 Castle Shannon Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15228. Event is in Room A, lower level. Time: 12:30 to 3:30pm Open to the Public!
Our program this month is to brainstorm about this year’s Confluence Conference, to be held at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel on July 25, 26 & 27 2025. The focus of this months event is to propose and discuss panel topics for the Confluence conference. We welcome input and ideas from all Parsec members and guests of Parsec.
Come and help us plan an outstanding year for Confluence!
Below are some panel ideas just to get you thinking:
Pittsburgh as a Speculative Setting
How can Pittsburgh’s industrial history and modern reinvention inspire unique SFF
narratives?
AI as Co-Creator of Genre Fiction
Discuss the role of artificial intelligence in writing
Cross-Genre Mashups: When Sci-Fi Meets Fantasy Meets Noir
Inspired by Rambo’s eclectic work, discuss the appeal and challenges of blending genres.
Finding Beauty in Broken Worlds
Explore the balance of hope and darkness in SFF narratives.
How Today’s Tech Shapes Tomorrow’s Fiction
Examine how AI, robotics, modern space efforts, and biotechnology influence
speculative storytelling, with a nod to Pittsburgh’s tech hub status.
Please Note: Our venue for the February meeting will be ZOOM Only. See below to register for the meeting.
PARSEC, Pittsburgh’s premier Science Fiction & Fantasy Organization meets on Saturday, February 15th, 2025. Meeting starts at 1:00pm (est). Zoom room opens at 12:30 for social time.
Our guests this month are Mary Soon Lee, Alex Jennings, and Vincent Baverso.
It’s a time for hearing from old friends and hearing new voices. Each guest will present some of their favorite works.
As always, we’ll have time for attending members to read some of their own poems as well.
Mary Soon Lee was born and raised in London, but has lived in Pittsburgh for thirty years. She is a Grand Master of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, and a three-time winner of both the AnLab Readers’ Award and the Rhysling Award. Her latest books are from opposite shores of the poetry ocean: How to Navigate Our Universe, containing how-to astronomy poems, and The Sign of the Dragon, novel-length epic fantasy, winner of the Elgin Award. https://marysoonlee.com/
Alex Jennings is a writer/editor/teacher/poet living in Baton Rouge. He was born in Wiesbaden (Germany) and raised in Gaborone (Botswana), Tunis (Tunisia), Paramaribo (Surinam) and the United States. e is the Program Director of DreamFoundry’s Con or Bust and pens a regular speculative poetry review column in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction called “Chapter and Verse.” In 2022, he was the inaugural recipient of the Imagination Unbound Fellowship at Under the Volcano, a guided writing retreat held annually in Tepoztlan, Mexico. https://www.alexjennings.net
Vincent Baverso earned a degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. He’s seen publication in several journals and anthologies for both poetry and fiction, including Triangulation: Lost Voices, Scifaikuest, Devolution Z, Slink Chunk, and most recently in Polis from Air and Nothingness Press. His most recent publication is “The 49 Stalks” a book of Haiku inspired by the ancient wisdom of the I Ching featuring 132 carefully crafted haiku along with 15 striking haiga paintings. https://vbaverso.com/
PARSEC, Pittsburgh’s premier SF/F/H Organization meets on Saturday, January 18th , 2025 via ZOOM (see registration link below) and IN PERSON at the Mt. Lebanon Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Meeting time: 1:00 – 3:30 pm. (room opens at 12:30 for social time)
In January, our guest is Maren Cooke of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Salon. A planetary scientist by training, today she works in environmental education and activism around climate, air quality, plastics, food, labor, and justice.
Maren Cooke is a planetary scientist by training, but now works mainly on environmental education and activism around climate, air quality, plastics, food, labor, and justice.
She serves in leadership roles at the Group Against Smog & Pollution, 350 Pittsburgh, ReImagine Food Systems, Pittsburghers Against Single-Use Plastic, Pittsburgh Green New Deal, and the Climate Action Plan Justice Coalition, and works closely with many other local organizations and government officials; she co-founded Putting Down Roots, Ohio Valley Environmental Resistance, the Pittsburgh Labor Choir, a school garden at a local K-8, and a nature education program in Frick Park. https://marenslist.blogspot.com/
Maren volunteers as an Urban Ecosteward, a Tree Tender, a Master Gardener, a Master Composter, and a Master Naturalist. Maren often creates banners and signage for local movements, and organizes and hosts Sustainability Salons, a monthly environmental education forum now 13 years running.
There will be NO Zoom option this month. Come on out and enjoy great conversations, food, fun, frivolity and maybe even some gaming with other like-minded people!
Parsec Ink’s Triangulation anthology, Dark Hearts, is open for submissions!
Dark Hearts opened for submissions on Nov 1, and the Triangulation team has been hard at work reading the stories and poems in the queue.
So far, we’ve been receiving a good number of fantasy and horror pieces. We want science fiction, too. Send us leading ladies who are space captains, cyborgs, scientists, hackers, eco-warriors. Send us near futures and far-flung worlds. We’ll read anything that’s speculative, but right now sci-fi is a less competitive genre.
That said, don’t self-reject. If you have a great speculative story of any genre featuring a shady lady, we’d love to read it.
PARSEC, Pittsburgh’s premier SF/F/H Organization meets on Saturday, November 16th , 2024 via ZOOM (see registration link below) and IN PERSON at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Squirrel Hill. 5801 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Meeting time: 1:00 – 3:30 pm. (room opens at 12:30 for social time)
Our guests will be the Parsec Ink editors working to bring to life “Dark Hearts,” the 22nd iteration of the Triangulation anthology. Guest speakers include the current anthology editor Jessica Carver and editor emeritus Greg Clumpner (Triangulation: Seven-Day Weekend and Hospitium).
Dark Hearts is a women-centered theme for which anyone can submit stories. The anthology will feature speculative stories and poems about women who are anti-heroes. Submissions open November 1st and close January 31st.
The Parsec Holiday Party will be held on Saturday Dec 21, 2024 at the home of Greg Armstrong on Voelkel Ave in Dormont, PA
Would you like to receive updates about upcoming meetings but don’t want to subscribe to our newsletter? Sign up for the ParsecAnnounce Groups.io announcement list. This list is moderated–only group moderators may post to this list. No one can see your membership info, email address or other personal information.
About 40 people gathered for spooky stories and drinks on Tuesday Oct 24, 2024 at Hop Farm Brewing Company in Lawrenceville. Special guest author Jamie Lackey read her short stories “Mischief Night,” “Joining the Flock,” and the opening from her book, Moving Forward: A Novella of Life After Zombies, as well as the prologue to her new novel, Toil and Trouble: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling.
Nine other authors and members of the Write or Die (WorD) critique group shared stories at the mic, telling tales of crossing the veil, gruesome dates, the bonds we share with our pets, and life lessons on the importance of caltrops. A huge shout-out to all our author readers: Greg Clumpner, John Muth, Jessica Carver, Randall Brock (aka BS Prophet), Joyce Bevc, Shannon Cross, Laine Wilson, Brandon Ketchum, and Matt Snyder. We also salute our Emcee/Grand Inquisitor Vincent Baverso, who kept the event flowing with characteristic humor and chocolate crosses.
Many hands and minds made the event possible, so additional shout-outs to: John Muth, for helping organize; Karen Yun-Lutz, for making the advertisements; Laine Wilson, for arranging the prize baskets; all those who donated to the door prize baskets; all those who contributed ideas and suggestions; and all those who came before and made this event happen in the past. It was truly a group effort. Thank you!
Come on out for a great evening of spooky, Halloween readings by members of the Write or Die writing and critique group and the special guest author, Jamie Lackey!
Dress up if you like but costumes are optional.
Door prizes!
Date: Tuesday Oct 22, 2024 Time: 7-9 pm Location: Hop Farm Brewing Company. 5601 Butler St. Pittsburgh
Write or Die (WorD) recently became part of the workshop program under the Parsec 501(c)(3) organization. Show your support for this important Parsec program by attending!
Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cats. She has had over 200 short stories published in places like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, and Escape Pod. In addition to writing, she spends her time reading, playing tabletop RPGs, and hiking. Jamie is also an attending member of the Write or Die, writing and critique group.
The Saturday, October 19thParsec meeting will be held via ZOOM and IN PERSON at the Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Rooms open at 12:30pm for social time. Meeting starts at 1pm. Parsec Monthly Meetings are open to the public.
Our guest will be Day Al-Mohamed, author, filmmaker, and disability policy advisor.
Day Al-Mohamed is an author, filmmaker, and disability policy advisor. Day has written two novels, “Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn” and more recently, “The Labyrinth’s Archivist” as well as multiple short stories and articles.
She is a regular host on Idobi Radio’s Geek Girl Riot with a weekly audience of 100k+ listeners and a Founding Member of FWD-Doc (Documentary Filmmakers with Disabilities).
Her documentary, THE INVALID CORPS, about disabled Civil War soldiers, was licensed to Alaska Airlines and had its broadcast premiere on public television in 2020.
Day is currently working on a docu-series, RENEGADES, of role-breaking disabled leaders in history for American Masters/PBS digital (October 2024) and is a proud producer of feature documentary UNSEEN (POV, 2024).
Day was named a DOC NYC 2021 Documentary New Leader, was part of the NBC 2022 Original Voices Fellowship class, and awarded a Disability Futures Fellow grant in 2024.
Outside of her creative work, Day is a policy expert with over 15 years of experience. The former White House Director of Disability Policy, she is a proven leader in inclusion and accessibility, policy development, organizational transformation, and innovative program design. Day lives in Washington DC with her wife, N.R. Brown, daughter Octavia, and guide dog, Gamma.
