EVENT - A R K D U S T Book Launch

Readings & Conversation with Alex Smith

Greetings PHILLY SCIFI DREAMERS

THIS FRIDAY NOV 25
5pm ET at MAKING WORLDS BOOKS
210 S 45th St

~myself along w Ras Cutlass Mashramani will be~

in conversation with ALEX SMITH

on the occasion of the Rosarium Publishing release of A R K D U S T .

If you didn’t know, Arkdust began as a speculative short story zine & interview series you could buy straight from Alex and sometimes thru the Metropolarity distro (run by yours truly) here in Philly. Alex went on to self-publish the first Arkdust book collecting those short stories, with bomb cover art by Oskar Castro. That sold out fast. We printed a second self-published run, hoping it would last Alex until the release of this Rosarium version of the book… but lol it very much did not.

Direct from the source:

The gracious folks at Making Worlds Books and Social Center @makingworldsbooks is hosting me, Alex Smith, November 25 at 5pm! It's Philadelphia's official book launch for ARKDUST, the zine turned short story collection that Rosarium Publishing ( @rosariumpub ) was so gracious to release! I'm also honored that my fellow Metropolaritians Ras Mashramani ( @rascutlass ) and M. Tellez ( @cyborgmemoirs )will also be joining me in conversation about the life, history and love affair, the hopes and dreams of ARKDUST and all this little tome type jawn represents. If you like science fiction and afrofuturism through a radical queer lens, come hear a few stories, pick up a couple copies (they make great gifts) and experience these strange worlds.

LINK FOR THE EVENTBRIGHT IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ark-dust-with-alex-smith-tickets-446322642037

#arkdust #indiepublishing #phillywriters #afrofuturism #afrofuturist #blackwriters #cyberpunk #sciencefiction #collage #flierart #collagists #blackcollagists #alexoteric

[image: an old school cut and paste flier by Alex Smith, advertising the event. White background negative space layered with a center motif of old computer monitors, fully helmet’ed figures multiplying from the book cover itself. A chubby cheekd n bearded Black face with goggle-esque glowing red eyes presides over it all]

About A R K D U S T

Pain, hope, and love collide in this explosive collection of speculative fiction. Arkdust demands revolutions while seeking compassion and understanding. Alex Smith gives us abandoned Black Panthers, disillusioned queer anarchists, warrior queen grocery clerks, all fighting for a better future against sadistic superheroes and white supremacist automatons—while a high-heeled bag lady with utopia in her eyes leads the way. Worlds we hope to never see and only dare to imagine, Arkdust challenges and implores the reader to explore the unimaginable to make all worlds possible. As Samuel R. Delany says, “You should be in that armchair, this word-wonder in your hand, reading...”

About the Author

Alex Smith is a sci-fi writer (The Resistance web-series; Black Vans comic book), artist, musician (art-punk bands Solarized, Rainbow Crimes), activist (Metropolarity queer sci-fi collective) and cultural/arts critic (Pitchfork, The Key, Bandcamp, Philly Gay News). He is a recipient of the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and soon to be published author of the sci-fi/cyberpunk/super-hero/Afrofuturist short story collection ARKDUST, published from Rosarium Publishing.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Out of concern for everyone’s well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, we require advance registration to our events.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ark-dust-with-alex-smith-tickets-446322642037

Attendees are asked to wear masks at all times during the event. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination for entry to all in-person events.

ACCESSIBILITY
We are an ADA-accessible space on the ground floor. Event setup is flexible & can accommodate the needs of everyone. Our bathroom is also ADA accessible with transfer rails (note: the door is not automatic). Note we are not a scent-free space. Pleases contact us with any questions or need specific accommodations.

info @ makingworldsbooks.org

Hope to see you there~
(I do keep thinking about how I used to livestream the early Laser Life readings we did as Metropolarity crew, using Google Hangouts and then YouTube Live. Since those early days, I’ve become so so so burned out re: staying on top of all the tech/promo/comm needs… I keep wanting to say, if i somehow get the spoons I’ll stream on YT, but I know I won’t. But if I’m going to be involved in any reading events down the line, I want livestream for sure. Anyway!)

Monk
@}-}-;————