Reading Between the Lines: The Terraformers, presented by Atul Joshi.

This monthly event is a chance to hear an expert speak about a book they have chosen and offer a greater depth and understanding of the book.

We have copies of the book so you can read ahead of the session but it's not essential. Writers and lovers of literature will especially enjoy the unpacking of this work.

You can take part in the discussion or simply sit back and learn.

This month, the featured book for discussion is The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Annalee Newitz's The Terraformers and building Queer Futures

Queer futurism is the idea that we can question, reimagine and transform the existing foundations of how we live together to create a better, inclusive world, not just for queer and marginalized peoples, but for all of us. It's found anatural home in speculative fiction, both fantasy and science-fiction, but has never been more fun than on Annalee Newitz's imaginary world Sask-E. With a cast of humanoids, bots, cats, cows, mole rats, moose, beavers and a sentient self-governing Flying Train fleet that puts Sydney Trains and Metro to shame, come visit a world where queer is the norm and our notion of binaries relegated to the dustbin of interstellar history.

Borrow The Terraformers and other suggested reading here with an Inner West Library card.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

ATUL JOSHI Born in Myanmar to Indian parents, Atul's writing has been shortlisted for the Saturday Paper’s Donald Horne Prize, the Newcastle Writers’ Festival’s Fresh Ink Prize, and the Portside Review Human Rights Essay Prize. He has read at Queerstories and been published in Debris, Peril, Sydney Review of Books, Growing up Queer in Australia, The Big Issue, Westerly, Island, Seizure, Ricepaper and the ACE IV anthology. He was a 2024 Visiting Scholar at the State Library of NSW and is currently completing the Doctor of Philosophy program at UTS with a thesis focused on queer life writing.

Photo credit: Joy Lai

About the Venue

LEICHHARDT LIBRARY is accessible from street level and via lift from the car park.

If you have any access or support requirements in order to participate fully, please let us know in the booking order form to ensure that we can arrange any reasonable adjustments. Please note: the venue is accessible for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

We may take photographs of the speakers and the audience at this event. Read here for more details.