Centre for Exoplanet Science Book Club
The aim of the book club is to read and discuss books that feature thought-provoking portrayals of exoplanet environments (and in a lot of cases also extraterrestrial life). In discussing these works, we can learn from each other as well as from the books – they might even give us some ideas for our own research.
All members are welcome to join at any time! We will be meeting about once every two months in the evening.
If you have questions connected to the Book Club, please contact Emma Puranen.
![]() |
‘Solaris’Our Centre for Exoplanet Science Book Club is back this semester – we start off by reading ‘Solaris’ by Stanisław Lem. ‘Solaris’ follows a crew of human scientists at a research station on an ocean world, and their attempts to communicate with an alien the size of the planet. ‘Solaris’ is an essential read for anyone interested in questions about extraterrestrial intelligence, how one might recognise it and its biosignatures, and how one might communicate with it. Our meeting took place on Tuesday 16 November 2021, 7–8pm on MS Teams. |
![]() |
‘To Be Taught, If Fortunate’ The next book we read was ‘To Be Taught, If Fortunate’ by Becky Chambers (2019). Our meeting took place Tuesday 15 June 2021, 7–8pm on MS Teams. |
![]() |
‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ The third book we were reading was ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ by Ursula K Le Guin (1969). Our meeting took place Tuesday 6 April 2021, 7–8pm on MS Teams. |
![]() |
‘Contact’The second book we were reading was ‘Contact’ by Carl Sagan (1985). Our meeting took place Tuesday 9 February 2021, 7–8pm on MS Teams. |
Book Club Lunchtime Meeting Event – Dr Paul March-Russell
Dr Paul March-Russell, the editor of the journal Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction, joined us on 1 February 2021 to talk about science and science fiction: “Found in Space: Female Space Exploration in Contemporary SF”.
Recording of the lunch talk by Paul March-Russell.
A list of the book titles that were mentioned in the talk:
Iain M. Banks, The Player of Games;
Becky Chambers, A Closed and Common Orbit;
Ann Leckie, Ancillary Justice;
Ursula Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness;
Nnedi Okorafor, Lagoon and Binti;
Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift;
Tade Thompson, Rosewater.
![]() |
‘Aurora’The first book we were reading was ‘Aurora’ by Kim Stanley Robinson (2015). Our first meeting took place on Tuesday 1 December 2020, 7-8pm on MS Teams. |