
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: We meet the first Thursday of the month, bimonthly.
Next Meeting: November 5th
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: 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 Starter Villain, by John Scalzi

Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.
Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.
Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.
But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.
It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.
In a dog-eat-dog world…be a cat. — Macmillan
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:
- September 2026 – Translation State, by Ann Leckie
- May 2026 – The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers
- April 2026 – The Price of Everything, by Jon McGoran
- March 2026 – Womb City, by Tlotlo Tsamaase
- February 2026 – Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
- January 2026 – Casual, by Koji A. Dae
- December 2025 – Mickey7, by Edward Ashton
- 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