arebyte presents Science Fiction Squared, a one-day convention organised by former New Scientist and Arc editor-in-chief Sumit Paul-Choudhury inviting established and emerging science fiction creators and critics to discuss how social and technological trends are likely to change the form and function of science fiction.

What new challenges and eternal questions will tomorrow's SF address? Will it advocate for a better world, or warn against a worse one? Who will create it, and why?

Since its invention, science fiction has taken many forms - from its beginnings in the gothic horror of Frankenstein, through the globe-trotting adventures of Jules Verne, the techno-utopianism of its Golden Age, the trippy fantasies of New Wave and the slick, corporate dystopias of cyberpunk. But what will it evolve into next?

The event culminates with the ground-breaking performance ℧R by acclaimed collective Fronte Vacuo. ℧R is a performance for a faceless body, AI algorithms, lights and the vibrational force of sound.

The performance contains nudity and strobe lighting that may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. (18+)

To book tickets for the performance only please visit here

Symposium Programme:

13:30 - 13:55 - Opening Notes by Sumit Paul-Choudhury and Nimrod Vardi

14:00 - 15:30 - The Mythology of the Future with Adam Roberts, Beth Singler, Yen Ooi

15:45 - 17:15 - Utopian Dreams, Dystopian Visions with with Caroline Edwards, Jo Walton, Sumit Paul-Choudhury, Glyn Morgan, Sally Adee

17:30 - 19:00 - A Mirror of Society with Stewart Hotston, Lavie Tidhar, Neon Yang, Modupe Ayinde, Aliette de Bodard,

30’ break with refreshments at arebyte Gallery

19:30 - 20:00 - Humane Methods | ℧R - performance by Fronte Vacuo

20:15 - 21:00 - Talk by Fronte Vacuo