keeping up apearances

I am doing this panel at the British Library next Friday 20 May.  This summer at the BL is going to be big in terms of science fiction.  'Out of this World' is a major exhibition to run throughout the summer.  Many cool events, and I'll be doing this one at the very beginning:

Out of this world?:  Why Science Fiction speaks to us all

Friday 20 May 18.30 -20.00

The British Library Conference Centre

Throughout history, people have asked ‘what if?’. We have always allowed our imaginations to create other worlds as expressions of our wildest dreams, hopes and fears, and so better to understand our own. ‘Science Fiction’ expresses this human need in potent ways, but so does the work of Swift, Lewis Carroll and George Orwell. The story and present state of our speculations are explored by Erik Davis, China Miéville, Adam Roberts and Tricia Sullivan. Chaired by Sam Leith.

Tickets £7.50 / £5  available at http://boxoffice.bl.uk, by calling 01937 546546 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or in person at The British Library.

This will make the third time this spring I've been off the farm and out in the world in an SF context!  Very exciting.  I'll also be the BSFA's guest at the AGM a week later.  For me, this is a social whirlwind. 

I need to cut out fairly soon after this is over to catch my train, but I'll be wandering the exhibition beforehand if anybody is going to be there and wants to say hi....