This has to be the quietest global crisis so far, because the past couple months have mostly centred around reading old science fiction magazines, watching documentaries about murderers on Netflix, and playing Disco Elysium (genuinely the most well-written game I’ve ever encountered). I’ve also been experimenting with different lipsticks, because changing the colour of my lips on a whim is a superpower I’ve been denied long enough.
Not only that, but the ever-lovely Alex Goldberg and I stumbled to Kreuzberg’s Bethanien amid ice and snow in order to take my new author photo, which can see seen on the main page of my site. Here’s an unused shot which reveals that I’m actually wearing a thin shirt with the sleeves rolled up, in the middle of winter. Like a genius.
There’s also exciting news: this Friday I’ll be part of a panel discussion on queerness and Star Trek organised with the Schwules Museum (Gay Museum) Berlin, along with Eleanor Tremeer, David Greven, and Heather Rae:
“Star Trek has been one of TV’s groundbreaking series, representing a utopian future, breaking down racial barriers, inspiring countless kids and adults. Taking one of the most well-known Sci-fi franchises into focus this panel wants to discuss the role and representation of queer people and subjects in Star Trek, and the role Star Trek can play for transcending 20th century gender and sexual norms. It wants to look critically on queerness in Star Trek and questions if Star Trek’s failure to represent queerness undermines its utopian future.
The panel brings together a group of Star Trek aficionados with their own perspectives on the franchise: Eleanor Tremeer is an editor and journalist and has written extensively on gender and queer issues in Star Trek. Redfern Jon Barrett is a British-German Sci-fi writer and polyamorous role model. David Greven is professor of English Language and Literature at the University of South Carolina, author of “Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek: Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films“. Also joining will be Heather Rae, podcaster and longtime Star Trek fan. Heather is also co-creator of the #WomenMakeTrek project.”
As is probably to be expected, I have a lot of thoughts. The event can be streamed on Facebook (ugh) at this link.
But that’s not all — I’m pleased to announce that my writing will be published in a new magazine from PS Publishing, tentatively titled ParSec. When it comes to speculative fiction, PS Publishing have made a significant name for themselves in the 22 years they’ve been operating, and I’m more than a little excited to be included.
Other than that, I currently have quite a few things sliding along the Conveyor Belt of Overwork, and I’ll be sure to announce them here. Until then I’ll be hiding indoors, glaring at strangers through my window.
Happy spring!
- Redfern