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NESFA

Founded in 1967, we are one of the oldest science fiction clubs in New England. Our largest activities are Boskone, our annual convention, and NESFA Press.

NESFA Press

Silverlock

Silverlock
by John Myers Myers

Wolf's Perils

Wolf's Perils
by Kelley Armstrong

Living in the Future

Living in the Future
by Robert Silverberg

A Lit Fuse

A Lit Fuse
by Nat Segaloff

Believing

Believing
by Zenna Henderson

Call Me Joe

Call Me Joe
by Poul Anderson

Upcoming Events

04/01
Tuesday
Bluesy Tuesy. • 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Weekly blues dance. Lessons from 7:30 to 8:30, dance from 8:30 to 10:30. At the clubhouse.
04/02
Wednesday
Open Library/Clubhouse Hours. • 12:00 Noon to whenever
On Wednesdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open from Noon to 9PM (or later; call first). The Library is open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Library cataloging is usually in progress. After 5 PM, more members start showing up to chat, work on NESFA Business, or, occasionally, play a pickup board game. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
04/02
Wednesday
Library Cataloging Session. • 12:00 Noon to 6:00pm
Please join us for another installment of our ongoing push to get the library cataloged! We need people with laptops (a limited number of computers are available if you can't/don't bring your own) to work on the data entry portion as well as a team to prep the books on the shelves and make sure the laptop folks never run out of books. Generally some sort of snack is provided. At the clubhouse.
04/03
Thursday
GenderFree Scottish Country Dance. • 7:00pm to 9:00pm
This is a chance for people to learn and practice Scottish Country Dancing together using entirely gender-neutral language.

7:00 - Advanced dance for people who already know SCD
7:30 - Lesson and practice for ALL
8:00 - Social dance, cued to the floor level
9:00ish - We're done! Go home, or maybe we grab snacks somewhere down the road?

Cost is pay-what-you-can, $5 - $20 is the recommended donation. This week will be recorded music, but hopefully in the future we will be able to pay live musicians a fair wage to play for us! MCing and teaching will be provided by Kat Dutton! The floor is linoleum, so bring clothing and shoes that you are comfortable dancing in.

COVID PROTOCOLS: If wastewater data is showing levels above 500 copies/mL, we will be MASK REQUIRED for this dance. If so, please wear a well-fitting high-filtration mask over your nose and mouth. Masking is recommended in any case. Please check back closer to the event for final decision on this.

At the clubhouse.
04/04
Friday
NESFA Reading Group. • 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Book: This Case Is Gonna Kill Me by Melinda Snodgrass (writing as Phillipa Bornikova)

This meeting will be held online.

04/05
Saturday
Open Library Hours. • 12:00 Noon to 7:00pm
Starting at noon on Saturdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Cataloging the collection is usually also happening during this time. On some Saturday evenings we host a video night at the clubhouse. Please see separate entries. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
04/05
Saturday
Library Cataloging Session. • 12:00 Noon to 6:00pm
Please join us for another installment of our ongoing push to get the library cataloged! We need people with laptops (a limited number of computers are available if you can't/don't bring your own) to work on the data entry portion as well as a team to prep the books on the shelves and make sure the laptop folks never run out of books. Generally some sort of snack is provided. At the clubhouse.
04/05
Saturday
Media Night. • 7:00pm to whenever
SF/Fantasy media, Anime, and ... At the clubhouse.
04/06
Sunday
NESFA Business Meeting. • 2:00pm to whenever
The NESFA business meeting normally takes two or more hours. Over Zoom.
04/08
Tuesday
Bluesy Tuesy. • 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Weekly blues dance. Lessons from 7:30 to 8:30, dance from 8:30 to 10:30. At the clubhouse.
04/09
Wednesday
Open Library/Clubhouse Hours. • 12:00 Noon to whenever
On Wednesdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open from Noon to 9PM (or later; call first). The Library is open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Library cataloging is usually in progress. After 5 PM, more members start showing up to chat, work on NESFA Business, or, occasionally, play a pickup board game. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
04/09
Wednesday
Library Cataloging Session. • 12:00 Noon to 6:00pm
Please join us for another installment of our ongoing push to get the library cataloged! We need people with laptops (a limited number of computers are available if you can't/don't bring your own) to work on the data entry portion as well as a team to prep the books on the shelves and make sure the laptop folks never run out of books. Generally some sort of snack is provided. At the clubhouse.
04/12
Saturday
Open Library Hours. • 12:00 Noon to 7:00pm
Starting at noon on Saturdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Cataloging the collection is usually also happening during this time. On some Saturday evenings we host a video night at the clubhouse. Please see separate entries. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
04/12
Saturday
Library Cataloging Session. • 12:00 Noon to 6:00pm
Please join us for another installment of our ongoing push to get the library cataloged! We need people with laptops (a limited number of computers are available if you can't/don't bring your own) to work on the data entry portion as well as a team to prep the books on the shelves and make sure the laptop folks never run out of books. Generally some sort of snack is provided. At the clubhouse.
04/12
Saturday
Doctor Who Meet up & Social. • 7:00pm to whenever
Join us in viewing classic and new Who, and socializing with fellow fans. (masks optional) At the clubhouse.
04/13
Sunday
Game Day. • 12:00 Noon to 10:00pm
Join us for Board, Card, & Role Playing Games at the NESFA Clubhouse! Bring your own games or play from our collection. We will happily teach games! (Masks optional) At the clubhouse.
04/15
Tuesday
Bluesy Tuesy. • 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Weekly blues dance. Lessons from 7:30 to 8:30, dance from 8:30 to 10:30. At the clubhouse.
04/16
Wednesday
Open Library/Clubhouse Hours. • 12:00 Noon to whenever
On Wednesdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open from Noon to 9PM (or later; call first). The Library is open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Library cataloging is usually in progress. After 5 PM, more members start showing up to chat, work on NESFA Business, or, occasionally, play a pickup board game. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
04/16
Wednesday
Library Cataloging Session. • 12:00 Noon to 6:00pm
Please join us for another installment of our ongoing push to get the library cataloged! We need people with laptops (a limited number of computers are available if you can't/don't bring your own) to work on the data entry portion as well as a team to prep the books on the shelves and make sure the laptop folks never run out of books. Generally some sort of snack is provided. At the clubhouse.
04/17
Thursday
GenderFree Scottish Country Dance. • 7:00pm to 9:00pm
This is a chance for people to learn and practice Scottish Country Dancing together using entirely gender-neutral language.

7:00 - Advanced dance for people who already know SCD
7:30 - Lesson and practice for ALL
8:00 - Social dance, cued to the floor level
9:00ish - We're done! Go home, or maybe we grab snacks somewhere down the road?

Cost is pay-what-you-can, $5 - $20 is the recommended donation. This week will be recorded music, but hopefully in the future we will be able to pay live musicians a fair wage to play for us! MCing and teaching will be provided by Kat Dutton! The floor is linoleum, so bring clothing and shoes that you are comfortable dancing in.

COVID PROTOCOLS: If wastewater data is showing levels above 500 copies/mL, we will be MASK REQUIRED for this dance. If so, please wear a well-fitting high-filtration mask over your nose and mouth. Masking is recommended in any case. Please check back closer to the event for final decision on this.

At the clubhouse.
04/19
Saturday
Open Library Hours. • 12:00 Noon to 7:00pm
Starting at noon on Saturdays, the NESFA Clubhouse and Library are open to all and for members* to borrow (or return) books, magazines, audio books, and DVDs. Drop by and browse through our 20,000+ item collection. Feel free to read one or just chat with others. Cataloging the collection is usually also happening during this time. On some Saturday evenings we host a video night at the clubhouse. Please see separate entries. * Membership is $24 per year and open to all. At the clubhouse.
08/31
Sunday
NESFA Picnic. • 3:00pm to 7:30pm
All fans are welcome! Join us for our Annual Cookout at The Shelter (a covered area with 6 grills & 8 tables) at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline! The Shelter is on the west side of the park and the best parking lot to use is the one at 358 Goddard Ave. Walk south from the parking lot past the restrooms toward the lake and you will find us.

NESFA will provide the basics: hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments, and fire! Please bring something to share.

Note that dogs, hibachis, and alcohol are not allowed in this area or anywhere in the Park.

Link to Larz Anderson Park Website
02/13
Friday
Boskone 63. Westin Boston Seaport District
Guest of Honor: Greg Cox
Official Artist: TBD
Special Guest: Stefan Rudnicki
Musical Guest: TBD
Hal Clement Science Speaker: TBD
NESFA Press Guest: TBD

Latest News

Welcome to the NESFA website!
Welcome to the NESFA website!
Our website is comprehensive, covering a wide variety of activities, information, and services that NESFA provides to the speculative community and to our members. If you are looking for information that you don't see listed here, please contact us at info[at]nesfa.org. For questions or problems with the website, contact us at web[at]nesfa.org. You can also send news item suggestions to newsworthy[at]nesfa.org, and for events and activities to calendar[at]nesfa.org.
Boskone Book: Wolf's Perils by Kelley Armstrong
Boskone Book: Wolf's Perils by Kelley Armstrong

This year we are pleased to announce our Boskone Book: Wolf's Perils by Kelley Armstrong - one story in two novels from the Otherworld Series together for the first time: Wolf’s Bane and Wolf’s Curse. This is a signed limited edition of 750 copies. This may be purchased at  https://tinyurl.com/NESFAWolfsPerils.

The NESFA Library
The NESFA Library

We are in the process of cataloging our library. We have cataloged our videos, young reader fiction collection, main single-author fiction collection, anthologies, non-fiction, art books, graphic novels, and Ace doubles. We are currently working on finishing cataloging our other doubles and audio books. The list of what we have cataloged so far is available at www.tinyurl.com/NESFALibraryCatalog. People interested in helping with cataloging should check the NESFA Events page, but we are cataloging most Wednesdays and Saturdays from Noon to 6 pm.

"Excess" Books

Looking for something to read? We’ve found lots of duplicate books while cataloging our library. Since we only have space for one copy of each book, the excess books are available for a suggested donation of $1-$5 per book. Stop by the NESFA Clubhouse when we are open which is generally Wednesdays from Noon to 9 PM, Saturdays from Noon to 7 PM, and most Sundays (but usually not the second Sunday of the month) from Noon to 10 PM. (Check the NESFA Events Page for our schedule.) The excess books are in the area by the back door to the clubhouse in two bookcases on the left wall and in boxes on the floor. New books from NESFA Press (on the metal shelves to the right) are also available at 20% off the cover price for non-members and 40% off the cover price for members.

NESFA Reading Group
NESFA Reading Group

The next NESFA Reading Group discussion will meet via Zoom on Friday, April 4th at 7pm to discuss This Case Is Gonna Kill Me by Phillipa Bornikova (pseudonym of Melinda Snodgrass)

We may also vote on the book we plan to read for the September 2025 reading group meeting.

Come join us! To be added to the Reading Group mailing list, send an email to postmaster <at> nesfa.org.

Doctor Who Days
Doctor Who Days

Besides Game and Video Days, NESFA has started having Doctor Who meetups at our Clubhouse. Calling all Whovians, join us for our social & viewings of Doctor Who! We're accessible by MBTA E Green Line Extension at Maguon Station & Buses #'s: 80, 89, and 101. See www.nesfa.org/events or Meetup for more info and future dates.

It's Not Just Science Fiction and Fantasy
It's Not Just Science Fiction and Fantasy

Besides Science Fiction and Fantasy oriented events, NESFA hosts a couple of other community events at our clubhouse in Somerville. Blues Tuesy takes places most Tuesdays and Gender Free Scottish Country Dancing takes place on most "odd" Thursdays (1st, 3rd, and 5th) at the NESFA Clubhouse. Please see http://www.nesfa.org/events for more info and upcoming dates.

The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny Now Available in Ebook Format!
The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny Now Available in Ebook Format!

The 6-volume series, The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, has been available in durable hardcover editions since 2009. The NESFA Press is now delighted to provide these books in ebook format.

This series contains all the short science fiction of Roger Zelazny. Each story is enriched by editors' notes and Zelazny's own words, taken from his many essays, describing why he wrote the stories and what he thought about them in retrospect.

File 770 Magazine has run a series of reviews of these books: V1: Threshold, V2: Power & Light, V3: This Mortal Mountain, V4: Last Exit to Babylon, V5: Nine Black Doves, V6: The Road to Amber

To purchase any of our editions of The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, click on one of the following: For the EPUB versions // For the MOBI versions // For the Hardcover versions

Or you can visit NESFA Press available books to see all of our books.

For more information, please visit the NESFA Press website or send email to sales@nesfa.org.

New Ebooks by Zenna Henderson
New Ebooks by Zenna Henderson

Ingathering: The Complete People Stories of Zenna Henderson, one of our best-selling hardcover books is now available in ebook format. And we now have its eagerly awaited companion book Believing: The Other Stories of Zenna Henderson in both hardcover and ebook format.

The 2025 Skylark Award
The 2025 Skylark Award

The 2025 Skylark Award was given to Ian Randal Strock writer, editor, publisher, historian, lecturer, and serial entrepreneur. (and also, according to his website): teacher, trivia nut, erstwhile stock trader, occasional space development advocate, serial volunteer, and one-time tour guide.

The 2026 Skylark Award will open for Nominations after our Annual meeting in May, and they will close at 23:59 on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The 2026 Skylark recipient will be announced at the Boskone 63 awards ceremony on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Regular members may place nominations in the Skylark Award mail box in the clubhouse, or email them to skylark@nesfa.org. Learn more here about the E. E. Smith Memorial Award.

The 2025 Gaughan Award
The 2025 Gaughan Award

The recipient of the 2025 Gaughan Award is Eleonor Piteira.

The Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist honors the memory of Jack Gaughan, a long-time friend of fandom and one of the finest SF artists of the 20th century. Because Jack felt it was important to encourage and recognize new blood in the field, The New England Science Fiction Association, Inc., presents the Gaughan Award annually to an emerging artist (an artist who has become a professional within the past five years) chosen by a panel of judges.

The winner of the 2026 Gaughan Award will be announced in February, 2026 during Boskone 63, NESFA’s annual convention.

2024–2025 Short Story Contest
2024–2025 Short Story Contest

The NESFA Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Story Contest for 2024-2025 is now closed. The contest closed on September 30, 2024. The winners were announced at Boskone 62, February 14–16, 2025, at the Westin Boston Seaport District hotel, with some portion of it broadcast virtually. Boskone usually includes a program item where Story Contest authors read their stories. Past winners are posted here.

Tony & Suford Lewis served as GoHs at the 2024 NASFiC
Tony & Suford Lewis served as GoHs at the 2024 NASFiC

NESFA luminaries Tony Lewis and Suford Lewis were appointed the Fan Guests of Honor for the 2024 NASFiC held in Buffalo, NY on July 18-21, 2024. https://buffalonasfic2024.org/ Sadly, Tony passed away on February 12, 2025 after a long illness. See https://file770.com/tony-lewis-1941-2025/ for more details.

Public Transportation
Public Transportation

Now that the weekend closures of the Medford Branch of the MBTA Green Line have ended for a while, it is worth mentioning that the NESFA Clubhouse is accessible by Green Line as well as by various bus routes.

GREEN LINE INFORMATION

The NESFA clubhouse is about 1/4 mile from the Magoun Square station on the MBTA Green Line. When exiting the station, turn left and walk north on Lowell St toward Medford St. The back door of the clubhouse is accessed via the driveway at 359 Lowell St which is on the opposite side of the street from the MBTA station. You may wish to walk around to the front of the building especially in cold weather as that driveway can get icy.

BUS INFORMATION

The NESFA clubhouse is served by MBTA bus routes 80, 89, and 101 which pass through or near Magoun Square (the intersection of Medford Street & Broadway)—just over a block from the clubhouse.

The NESFA Clubhouse & Library Open
The NESFA Clubhouse & Library Open

NESFA is open. Club members are welcome again to browse the NESFA Library collection and check out books, movies, and other circulating items. Video and Game days at the Clubhouse have resumed on many Saturdays and Sundays. For now, NESFA and Boskone Business Meetings will remain via Zoom. On most Wednesdays & Saturdays, we catalog our Library. Non-NESFA members are welcome to help or just stop by to read a book. For more information, please see our calendar on the left side of this web page.

NESFA® Useful Links
NESFA® Useful Links

We’ve updated our links page with some of the latest convention and publisher information. Let us know if there are links you feel should be added.