What if instead of a post-apocalyptic future where AI overlords, climate wars, and techno-fascists ruin everything– we could imagine something else? Something better! At Clarion West’s upcoming Speculative Fiction Write-A-Thon, the chances of imagining something different and better are high. So this week, we’re not hitting the books–we’re writing them with Marnee Chua, the executive director at Clarion West– Seattle’s hub for speculative fiction.

And… if you need some help filling that sci-fi void. Here’s Marnee and Katie’s Recommended If You Liked (RIYL):
For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll 
The Stream Team Battle Squad by  Eugene Myers  
Gamers Attempting Connection by Nick Eh 30 and E.C. Myers
The Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
 No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnwell
African Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction edited by Sheree Renée Thomas
Clarion West Discord 
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer

Other event recommendations from this week’s episode: 
Queer Silent Book Club  June 27th, 2025
Indigiqueer at Pier 62 June 27th, 2025
The Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival at Volunteer Park July 12 & 13, 2025!

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Leave us a message at 206-221-6100. Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org. 

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here! 

Become a KUOW member today. 

What if instead of a post-apocalyptic future where AI overlords, climate wars, and techno-fascists ruin everything&ndash; we could imagine something else? Something better! At Clarion West&rsquo;s upcoming Speculative Fiction Write-A-Thon, the chances of imagining something different and better are high. So this week, we&rsquo;re not hitting the books&ndash;we&rsquo;re writing them with Marnee Chua, the executive director at Clarion West&ndash; Seattle&rsquo;s hub for speculative fiction.
And&hellip; if you need some help filling that sci-fi void. Here&rsquo;s Marnee and Katie&rsquo;s Recommended If You Liked (RIYL):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80174608">For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/the-stream-team/">The Stream Team Battle Squad by&nbsp; Eugene Myers&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768759/gamers-1-attempting-connection-by-ec-myers/">Gamers Attempting Connection by Nick Eh 30 and E.C. Myers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676677/vampires-of-el-norte-by-isabel-canas/">The Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Ca&ntilde;as</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-cw38">&nbsp;No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnwell</a></li>
<li><a href="https://brownbabiesbooks.com/products/africa-risen-a-new-era-of-speculative-fiction">African Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction edited by Sheree Ren&eacute;e Thomas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://discord.com/invite/NpwxzTBsuC">Clarion West Discord</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/MEgaIBq6_d95p0zWzRaFCw">How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/f10yIDkbWsuEpbI60H59rQ">Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer</a></li>
</ul>
Other event recommendations from this week&rsquo;s episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://charliesqueerbooks.com/events/2652920250627">Queer Silent Book Club </a>&nbsp;June 27th, 2025</li>
<li><a href="https://waterfrontparkseattle.org/blog/event/indigiqueer-festival/">Indigiqueer at Pier 62 </a>June 27th, 2025</li>
<li><a href="https://greenstage.org/sotf/">The Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival at Volunteer Park</a> July 12 &amp; 13, 2025!</li>
</ul>
Where&rsquo;s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Leave us a message at 206-221-6100. Drop us a line at <a href="mailto:meetmehere@kuow.org">meetmehere@kuow.org</a>.&nbsp;
Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate">Become a KUOW member today</a>.&nbsp;

Meet Me Here is your podcast guide to the most exciting arts and culture events in Seattle. In each episode, we’re fighting the freeze and meeting you around the region for art shows, concerts, author talks, geeky get-togethers, and more. There’s a lot to do in this region, so let’s make some plans and go experience it together.

HOSTS
Jeannie Yandel covers arts and culture events. Jeannie's goal is to get you out and about in the city's arts and culture scenes, especially stuff that's free or inexpensive or doesn't make your typical critic's list.
Katie Campbell covers Seattle’s literary scene, including visiting authors on tour, local writers, and maybe even cozy places to read in and around Seattle. Katie is your book club bestie, here to help you build community around reading.
Dyer Oxley covers pop culture and how it intersects with life in the Puget Sound region. We’re a geeky place, and Dyer will dig into the conversations and debates overheard at local comic-cons, movie theaters, and happy hours with your friends

Meet Me Here&nbsp;is your podcast guide to the most exciting arts and culture events in Seattle. In each episode, we&rsquo;re fighting the freeze and meeting you around the region for art shows, concerts, author talks, geeky get-togethers, and more. There&rsquo;s a lot to do in this region, so let&rsquo;s make some plans and go experience it together.
HOSTS
<ul>
<li>Jeannie Yandel covers arts and culture events. Jeannie's goal is to get you out and about in the city's arts and culture scenes, especially stuff that's free or inexpensive or doesn't make your typical critic's list.</li>
<li>Katie Campbell covers Seattle&rsquo;s literary scene, including visiting authors on tour, local writers, and maybe even cozy places to read in and around Seattle. Katie is your book club bestie, here to help you build community around reading.</li>
<li>Dyer Oxley covers pop culture and how it intersects with life in the Puget Sound region. We&rsquo;re a geeky place, and Dyer will dig into the conversations and debates overheard at local comic-cons, movie theaters, and happy hours with your friends</li>
</ul>

Meet Me Here is your podcast guide to the most exciting arts and culture events in Seattle. 

Meet Me Here

What’s stranger than fiction? Maybe the present. Even so, sci-fi writers are pushing themselves to imagine new futures during Clarion West’s annual write-a-thon.

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