Accessible World presents The Science Fiction Discussion Group, August 12, 2010 News Wire: Hi Folks, We had a good turnout last night at the Science Fiction club meeting, with most of us liking the book we read, Coyote by Alan M. Steele.. The next meeting will be on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The book we're reading this month is A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, available from both Bookshare and from the BARD site. You can get the Bookshare version at: http://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/34431?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9rZXl3b3JkPSZxdW90O2EgZmlyZSB1cG9uIHRoZSBkZWVwJnF1b3Q7Jg%3D%3D The link to the book on the BARD site is at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.35758 Here is the synopsis from Bookshare's copy, taken from the book jacket. "Thousands of years hence, many races inhabit the far reaches of space, from the Transcend where dwell superintelligent entities to the Unthinking Depths where only simple creatures and technologies can function. These "regions of thought" are a mystery, but when scientists in the Straumli Realm discover and release an ancient Transcendent artifact, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence. Only a single ship escapes, aboard it a family of scientists with their two children. When they land on a planet in the Slowness the parents are killed and the children taken captive by the Tines: aliens of a medieval society locked in a bitter power struggle. The fate of races, worlds -- interstellar civilization -- depends on a rescue mounted by a crew of humans and aliens that is racing toward Tinesworld -- and a Countermeasure that, if they can trigger in time, may stop the Blight that will otherwise bring a new dark age to the galaxy." This is one of my personal all time favorites, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading it again this summer. It has everything a great Science Fiction novel should have and more: well drawn characters, both human and alien, a very well worked out alien race, vast scope, plenty of action and suspense, a scarier villain would be very hard to imagine, and sense of wonder galore. Hope lots of you can check it out and come to the August meeting to talk about it. Evan J. R. Westmoreland, Group Facilitator Email: jr@xxxxxxx Date: Thursday, August 12, 2009 Time: 6:00 PM PDT, 7:00 PM MDT, 8:00 PM CDT, 9:00 PM EDT, and elsewhere in the world Friday 1:00 GMT. Approximately 15 minutes prior to the event start time; go to The Book Nook at: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs7867a2369e0e Or, alternatively, Select The Book Nook at: www.accessibleworld.org Enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen. If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World rooms. All online interactive programs are free of charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience. To speak to us, hold down the control key and let up to listen. If no microphone is available, you may text chat with the attendees. Accessible World uses News Wires, like this one, to inform people of the topic and times for the many Discussion Groups on Accessible World. The lists are announce only to keep the traffic to a minimum. You can join the Accessible World Announce List, the Tek Talk Announce List or the Sports Talk Announce List by completing the form at: www.accessibleworld.org/mailinglists Accessible World Contacts: Robert Acosta, Chair Accessible World 818-998-0044 Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx Web: www.helpinghands4theblind.org Marcia Moses, Events Coordinator Accessible World 734-495-1496 Email: mgmoses@xxxxxxxxxxx Steve Hoffman, President Talking Communities Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Accessible World, a division of Helping Hands For The Blind, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, seeks to educate the general public, the disabled community and the professionals who serve them by providing highly relevant information about new products, services, and training opportunities designed specifically to eliminate geographic and access barriers that adversely affect them Robert Acosta, President Helping Hands for the Blind Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx Web Site: www.helpinghands4theblind.org You can assist Helping Hands for the Blind by donating your used computers to us. If you have a blind friend in need of a computer, please mail us at the above address.