It’s time to kick-off a week of story-telling in voice, brought to our virtual lives by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s Second Life home at Bradley University, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, August 7th
13:30: Tea Time at Baker Street
Tea-time at Baker Street returns for the summer, featuring a new location – 221B Baker Street at the University of Washington in Second Life, and a return to His Last Bow. 
A 1917 anthology of previously published Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the volume originally comprised seven stories published by The Strand Magazine between 1908 and 1917. However, later editions of the book saw an eighth story included, The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, originally published in 1892.
In this episode, Sherlock Holmes steps back from the spotlight as he dispatches John Watson to Lausanne, Switzerland, to investigate The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax.
Unwed, and denied what should be wealthy inheritance, Lady Fairfax is given to writing to her former governess every other week, wherever she may be – but for five weeks, nary a letter has been received, and fearing for her safety, the governess has contacted Sherlock Holmes.
Reaching his destination, Watson learns that Lady Carfax had been ensconced in the Hôtel International for several weeks prior to leaving suddenly, possibly the result of her being hounded by a large, bearded man. Watson also learns that Lady Carfax paid her maid a hefty £50.00 prior to the latter leaving her employ.
Thus the good doctor is faced with a series of riddles to solve: where did Lady Carfax go? Who was the bearded man and is he somehow involved in her disappearance? Why did she pay her maid so handsome a sum? And where did the maid go after leaving her employ?
15:00: Storyteller Sandbox
The world is full of stories, even the virtual world. The Storytellers’ Sandbox makes its showcase debut at the Firestorm Community Gateway, featuring voice performers from all around Second Life to share tales of adventure.
The first of a series, this session features: Dubhna Rhiadra, John Morland, Eleseren Briana, Bryn Taleweaver, Hanna Hoo, and Shandon Loring, live in voice. See my article on the Seanchai / Firestorm partnership for more about this joint venture.
Monday August 8th To the Vanishing Point
Gyro Muggins continues his Monday Night treat of sci-fi with Alan Dean Foster’s To the Vanishing Point.
When Frank Sonderberg insists his family make their annual vacation a road trip, his wife and kids are less than impressed. When he pulls over to the side of the road to pick up a beautiful young hitch-hiker apparently stranded in the desert, his wife definitely isn’t impressed.
But no sooner has the young woman, calling herself Mouse, boarded their motor-home than reality changes – and not necessarily for the better. Mouse, it turns out, is an alien on a mission and in picking her up, the family is inextricably joined with her in that mission. The universe, with all its many realities, is coming apart because the Spinner, the creator of those realities, has a headache. Mouse has the cure, but in order to give it, she must reach the Vanishing Point – and she needs the Sonderbergs to get her there.
Tuesday August 9th, 19:00: Blueberry Summers: Growing Up at the Lake
Kayden Oconnell reads from Curtiss Anderson’s classic coming of age memoirs.
Born in 1928 in Minneapolis, Curtiss Anderson grew up in an extended family of Norwegian-Americans, among whom the highlight of the year was time spent among the lakes of northern Minnesota.
For young Curtiss, growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, these were especially idyllic years. Time spent in the farmhouse among this extended family presented an opportunity for him to escape the strained and troubled relationship he had with his parents and enjoy the company of others, aunts and uncles, the loving care offered by family friends Leigh and Clara, the companionship of the family dogs – and the chances to experience young love of his own.
Through the tales he relates of these summers, so Anderson also explores the notes and letters he wrote as a boy, carefully produced on a hand-me-down typewriter. Missives and notes which, although he never realised it at the time, were in fact his first forays into what would blossom in his adult life into a distinguished career as a writer, editor and publisher.
Wednesday August 10th: Women Going Wild in the West
With Trolley Trollop.
Thursday, August 11th
19:00: Preview – EXPLORE the World of John Steinbeck
Seanchai Library’s Explore the Arts series in Kitely will continue in January 2017, supporting the Tacoma Little Theatre’s physical world stage production of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. You can read the project announcement, and join Caledonia in-world (SL and Kitely simulcast), as she talks about the project’s aims, and what visitors will be able to see and experience.
21:00: Seanchai Late Night
With Finn Zeddmore.
Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
The featured charity for July-August is WildAid: seeking to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes by reducing demand through public awareness campaigns and providing comprehensive marine protection.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 