
Embark on a journey through the cosmos of imagination with our monthly science fiction book group! Join us every 3rd Thursday of the month for an exploration of distant worlds, futuristic technologies, and mind-bending concepts. Whether you’re a seasoned sci-fi enthusiast or a curious newcomer, all are welcome to dive into the vast universe of speculative fiction.
Meetings
Date: 3rd Thursday of each month
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: Aldrich Room, Howe Library
This book discussion program is HYBRID. We will meet in the Aldrich Room, but you may also attend via Zoom. Email Tessa at tessa.johnson@thehowe.org for an invitation or more information.

This Month’s Book is Mickey7, by Edward Ashton
Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.
Mickey Barnes is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.
On a routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, his fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties, and there can only be one Expendable. If Mickey7 reports his survival to Command, one of them is going into the recycler. If he doesn’t and they’re caught, they both are.
Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.
That is, if he can just keep from dying for good. – Macmillan Publishers
What to Expect:
- Engaging Discussions: Share your thoughts, theories, and questions with fellow spacefarers as we dissect the chosen book.
- Diverse Perspectives: Our group welcomes readers of all backgrounds and experiences, ensuring a rich tapestry of viewpoints.
- Community Building: Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the extraordinary realms of science fiction.
Who Can Attend:
This Science Fiction Book Group is open to everyone! Whether you’re a library regular, a casual reader, or someone who just discovered the wonders of sci-fi, you’re invited to join our cosmic rendezvous.
Books can be checked out by any Upper Valley resident, regardless of library membership.
Mark your calendars, set your coordinates, and prepare for an odyssey of literary discovery! The future awaits, and we can’t wait to explore it together in the pages of captivating science fiction. See you at the next meeting!
Books we’ve read so far:
- November 2025 – You Sexy Thing, by Cat Rambo
- October 2025 – 1984, by George Orwell
- September 2025 – Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- May 2025 – Some Desperate Glory, by Emily Tesh
- April 2025 – Ascension, by Nicholas Binge
- March 2025 – Tomorrow’s Children, by Daniel Polansky
- February 2025 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
- January 2025 – Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel
- December 2024 – How to Mars, by David Ebenbach
- November 2024 – Noor, by Nnedi Okorafor
- October 2024 – Semiosis, by Sue Burke
- September 2024 – How High We Go in the Dark, by Sequoia Nagamatsu
- June 2024 – Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
- May 2024 – Fractal Noise, by Christopher Paolini
- April 2024 – The Ferryman, by Justin Cronin
- March 2024 – The Deep Sky, by Yume Kitasei
