On Wednesday, May 25, ELEANOR ARNASON reads from her work at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Arnason was born in Manhattan and grew up in New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Washington DC, Honolulu, Saint Paul, and Minneapolis. She received a BA in art history from Swarthmore College and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota, before quitting to learn about life outside art museums and institutions of higher learning. She made her first professional sale in 1972 while living in the Detroit inner city. Since then she has published five novels and over 30 novellas, novelettes, short stories, and experimental short forms. Her fourth novel, A Woman of the Iron People (1991), won the James Tiptree Jr Award for gender-bending science fiction and the Mythopoeic Society Award for adult fantasy. Her fifth novel, Ring of Swords (1995), won a Minnesota Book Award. Since 1994 she has devoted herself to short fiction. Her story “Dapple” won the Spectrum Award for GLBT science fiction and was a finalist for the Sturgeon Award. Other stories have been finalists for the World Fantasy, Hugo, and Nebula Awards. She lives in Minnesota, where for several years she made her living as the financial manager for a small arts nonprofit. Aside from accounting and science fiction, her interests include politics, economics, bird-watching, driving down two-lane country highways, and exploring the remains of the Great Lakes industrial belt.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 24th edition of which will be held July 29-31, 2016, at the Best Western Plus—Bandana Square, Saint Paul, with Guest of Honor JESSICA AMANDA SALMONSON and Special Guest NAOMI KRITZER.

Please join us Wednesday evening on June 22nd at 6:30 PM for a reading with Rob Callahan.

Rob Callahan started working as a journalist back in the Twentieth Century. He took a break for a few years to write novels, then came back in 2009 as an arts and culture writer. His work in journalism has garnered a Marconi award, Associated Press awards, and recognition from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Last year, he dialed it back a bit on the journalism to focus on writing fiction again.

His next novel, Duplicity, will tell the story of an underachieving young professional temping for the Devil, who’s accidentally promoted to project manager over the impending apocalypse.

Please join us Wednesday, August 31st, starting at 6:30 PM for a reading with author and musician CONRAD ZERO.

If you take the glow of 70’s psychedelic rock, add the sparkles of 80’s goth glam, inject it with 90’s grunge rock nihilism – then take away the music – you’d end up with something like the writings of dark fiction author, Conrad Zero. Former front man for Minneapolis bands String Union and Jagged Spiral, he converted a recording studio into a writing studio in 2013. The dress code is the same, but no one’s ever called the police to stop him from writing at 2AM. Conrad writes paranormal fiction, urban fantasy, classic horror, monster stories and gothy YA comedy, best summarized as “Dark Fiction.”  He utilizes his BA in Philosophy to add interesting moral situations (without being preachy) and his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science to add a dash of tech-pop geekery (without being too nerdy) to his writing. His published stories include “Big Game,” “Homeward Through Darkness,”and “Invisible Flying Pony vs the Giant Carnivorous, Poisonous, Exploding Spider Leeches.” He is currently working on two novels and seven short stories… all at the same time. His latest work, The Gloom Queen is described as Carrie crossed with “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and will be available later this year.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 25th edition of which will be held July 21-23, 2017, in the Twin Cities, with Guest of Honor ELEANOR ARNASON.

Jon Arfstrom is best know to our eclectic community as one of the artists for Weird Tales. But his career encompassed so much more than that.

Later this year the Anoka County Historical Society will be hosting a grand exhibit of many of Jon’s original paintings, as well as recreating the working corner of his studio.

On October 11th they will have a reception to kick off the exhibit, and it will be a great chance to see Jon Arfstrom’s work up close, and meet up with some of his many other enthusiasts.

On Wednesday, December 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m., there will be a special Speculations memorial edition celebrating the life and work of JOHN CALVIN REZMERSKI (1942-2016).

Also known as Rez. Mr. Rezmerski was born in Pennsylvania, and again in Ohio, then again in Kansas, and at least three times more in Minnesota. He was a member of Lady Poetesses from Hell by virtue of the fact that he channeled Grace Lord Stoke (via email), from whom he learned a great deal. He published over 20 books, chapbooks, and anthologies, including _The Frederick Manfred Reader_, a screenplay, and three plays. He performed his work for schools, libraries, bookstores, science fiction conventions, clubs, professional organizations, senior centers, museums, festivals, fairs, coffee houses, bars, and on television, and on radio, including National Public Radio’s _Wha’d Ya Know?_, and collaborated with painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, dancers, theatrical troupes, and scientists. Over 35 years, he taught creative writing, journalism, linguistics, science fiction, and storytelling at Gustavus Adolphus College. His poetry includes _22 from TOTU_ and _Breaking the Rules: Starting with Ghazals_. He had been planning to do a Speculations Reading this fall, consisting of a single long poem–the complete text of his recently published chapbook, “Cataloging the Flow: Elegy” published by Red Dragonfly Press.

For the December 7 memorial, people are invited to bring a favorite poem or poems by Rez to read, and/or an anecdote about him to share.

Batman Authors at DreamHaven Books Saturday, December 10th at 2:00pm

Bob Garcia and Joe Desris, authors of the new coffee-table book from Titan Books, Batman : A Celebration of The Classic TV Series, will be at DreamHaven Books (2301 E. 38th St. in Minneapolis) on Saturday, December 10th at 2:00pm. They will talk about and sign this detailed look at the still-popular television series which aired 50 years ago.

Oversized, hardcover, packed with high quality photos, 255 pages for $50.00.

Please join us for what’s sure to be a fun afternoon!

Our distributor says:

Batman: A Celebration of the Classic TV Series is the definitive book for all fans of the popular Sixties show. Presented in a lavish hardcover edition, the book features classic images, rare stills, photography and production art and serves as the ultimate tribute for fans of the series.
Now at long last, collectors and Bat-fans alike can indulge in a detailed and in-depth look at the show that inspired generations.

Titan Books adds:

KA-POW! This is the book Batman Fans have been waiting for! For the first time, the classic 1960s TV series, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, gets the lavish, in-depth coffee table book tribute it so richly deserves. From the Rogues Gallery of Villains, including the Penguin, the Joker and Catwoman, to the car every kid wanted – the Batmobile – it’s all here! Holy History Batman!

The book will provide an in-depth and highly visual overview of the show, and the cultural impact it had, defining the Dynamic Duo for a generation, and bringing Pop Art to Primetime.

From the creation of the show, through the production of its 120 episodes over 3 seasons, to its legacy and afterlife in continual syndication around the world, the book will relive favorite moments, uncover behind the scenes secrets, and celebrate the people both in front of and behind the camera who brought Batman to the screen.

Filled with classic images, and rare and previously unseen photos and production art from archives and the private collections of Adam West, among many others, this will be the definitive companion to the series, both for long-standing fans, and newcomers discovering the show’s charms for the first time.

BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (c) DC Comics.

DreamHaven plans to exhibit at the upcoming Fat Albert Toy Show on Sunday December 18th!

Greg has recently acquired a vast and diverse assemblage of antique and vintage toys – not just rockets and robots this time. While he’s put together some very nice displays here in the bookstore, this toy show provides the structure to bring everything out of the basement at one time. And perhaps attract the the attentions of people who aren’t familiar with the bookstore yet.

It’s a short window – the regular entry fee is $1.00, which gets you in between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Or you could pop for the early access fee of $5.00 and get in at 8:00 AM, and scoop all those best deals for yourself.

So, bundle up for what looks to be one of our coldest days on record, and check out a Toy Show!

On Wednesday, January 18th 2017, Speculations will sponsor its third annual ROUND ROBIN READINGS.

Readers bring three selections from their poetry and/or prose, each about five minutes’ worth, and we’ll keep reading till 7:30 or until we run out of selections, whichever comes first.

Then we’ll go hang out at a bistro.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 25th edition of which will be held July 21-23, 2017, in the Twin Cities, with Guests of Honor ELEANOR ARNASON and  MELISSA SCOTT.

On Wednesday, February 22 at 6:30 MICHAEL MERRIAM reads from his work. Michael Merriam is an author, actor, poet, playwright, and professional storyteller. His debut novel, Last Car to Annwyn Station, was named a Top Book in 2011 by Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction and his novella, Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep, was long-listed for the Nebula Award. His scripts have been produced for stage and radio and he has appeared on stage in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Tellebration!, StoryFest Minnesota and over the air on KFAI and Minnesota Public Radio. Michael is the co-organizer of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers and a member of the Artists with Disabilities Alliance, the Steampunk Artists and Writers Guild, and Story Arts Minnesota. Visit his homepage at www.michaelmerriam.com .