H.G. Wells International Conference
- Dates
- 8–10 July 2016 Show all
- Friday 8 July 2016
- Saturday 9 July 2016
- Sunday 10 July 2016
- Venue
- H.G. Wells Conference Centre
- Admission
- Member and Non Member rates apply
- Contact email
- [email protected]
Anticipations: H.G. Wells, Science Fiction and Radical Visions
Venue : H.G. Wells Conference and Events Centre, Church Street East, Woking, GU21 6HJ
Founded in 1960, The H.G. Wells Society aims to promote widespread interest in the life, work and thoughts of H.G Wells. Each year the Society’s annual conference brings members together to discuss aspects of Wells’ life and debate ideas brought to the fore through his work.
In 2016, the 150th anniversary of H.G. Wells’ birth, the Society has chosen Woking, the birth place of The War of the Worlds, as the venue for its annual conference.
Anticipations invites members to explore the radical visions and ideas behind Wells’ science fiction and utopian work, in particular, the work of his successors in this genre and Wells’ continuing influence.
A founding father of science fiction, he wrote his most notable scientific romances in Woking. Whilst riveting and exciting, these early works contained Wells’ hopes and fears for the future and were a laser-like critique of the follies of western civilization.
These were themes he developed fully in later life in the role of educator, social commentator and promoter of a new and better world. To set the tone for what will be a vibrant forum for ideas, the Society is privileged to welcome two prominent keynote speakers at this year’s conference:
Stephen Baxter
The well regarded and prolific science fiction writer who has written a sequel to The Time Machine entitled The Time Ships and is about to publish a sequel to The War of the Worlds called The Massacre of Mankind.
Lesley A Hall FRHistS
Wellcome Library Research Fellow and Honorary Lecturer at University College London. Lesley has published extensively including the much used textbook Sex, Gender and Social Change in Britain since 1880. She has recently been researching Wells’ correspondence in connection with investigating inter war progressive individuals and movements.
For more information and registration please click here. Please note that member and non-member rates apply.
The programme for the weekend can also be found on this page. The public is welcome to attend on the Saturday and Sunday at a rate of £30, excluding the 3 course dinner. Email to register.