Category: Events

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

January 10th, 19:00: A World Out of Time

After being cryogenically frozen in the 1970s to await a cure for his (then) incurable cancer, Jaybee Corbell awakes after more than 200 years – to find his own body destroyed and his mind and memories transferred into the “mindwiped” body of a criminal. And this is not all that has changed: the Earth is now overseen by an oppressive, totalitarian global government called “The State”, and Corbell’s existence is to be determined by a “checker”; if he is found wanting, he will be discarded.

However, Peerssa, the checker, recommends Corbell as ideal fodder in The State’s attempts to seek out exoplanets suitable for terraforming. Disgusted by his treatment, Corbell works out a way to take control of his one-person ship on its otherwise one-way mission, and heads toward the galactic core. Entering suspended animation, he is unaware his vessel skims close enough to the super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy to experience time dilation.

Emerging from his suspended state, and believing only 150 years have passed, Corbell returns to the solar system to find it vastly changed: more than three million years have passed, and the Sun has become a bloated red giant, and Earth … well, Earth appears to have been relocated to an orbit around Jupiter, whilst humanity itself had endured extensive changes – and Corbell must face an entirely new set of challenges if he is to survive.

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads the 1976 novel (and originally a short story) by Larry Niven.

Tuesday, January 11th

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Character Development

An original tale of an actor, a dragon, and a profound need for a new direction – presented by Ktadhn Vesuvino

Wednesday, January 12th

The Library will be mostly closed to Wednesday readings through January 2022.

Thursday, December 13th:

19:00: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Join Shandon Loring as he recounts the early adventures of a young Henry Walton Jones, Jr., who would one day become the famous Indiana Jones.

21:00: Seanchai Late Night

Contemporary sci-fi with Finn Zeddmore.

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

Sunday, December 26th, Noon: It’s a Wonderful Life

At the Seanchai Winter Holiday setting.

There can be few unfamiliar with Frank Capra’s 1946 American Christmas fantasy film It’s a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore, and based on the 1943 self-published short story, The Greatest Gift (in turn somewhat based on Charles Dickens novella, A Christmas Carol, published a century earlier).

While now considered one of the greatest films of all time, when it was released, the film didn’t fair too well;  it received mixed critical reviews and under-performed at the box office, failing even to break even. This prompted some studios to see Capra as a director / producer who had lost his touch, something added to when the film achieved just one Oscar out of its five nominations – and that for Technical Achievement. It was only after the decision was made to put the film into the public domain, allowing it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees, that it gained the recognition it rightly deserves.

Telling the story of George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams, in order to help others in his community, and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who in turn takes on the role of a kind of latter-day Ghost of Christmases Past, Present, and Future, It’s a Wonderful Life is genuinely a feel-good, timeless classic one can watch again and again.

It’s also a story that translates well into a radio production. So why not share it with the Seanchai team of Corwyn Allen, Gloriana Maertens, Elrik Merlin, Kayden Oconnell, and Caledonia Skytower?

Monday, December 27th, 19:00: Touching Faith

Gyro Muggins reads a sci-fi adventure story.

Tuesday, December 28th, 12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

Wednesday, December 29th 19:00 Adventures from Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather

Susan had never hung up a stocking . She’d never put a tooth under her pillow in the serious expectation that a dentally inclined fairy would turn up. It wasn’t that her parents didn’t believe in such things. They didn’t need to believe in them. They know they existed. They just wished they didn’t.

There are those who believe and those who don’t. Through the ages, superstition has had its uses; nowhere more so than in the Discworld where it’s helped to maintain the status quo. Anything that undermines superstition has to be viewed with some caution.

There may be consequences, particularly on the last night of the year when the time is turning. When those consequences turn out to be the end of the world, you need to be prepared. You might even want more standing between you and oblivion than a mere slip of a girl – even if she has looked Death in the face on numerous occasions.

Caledonia Skytower read selection from the 20th book in Pratchett’s Discworld series at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Thursday, December 30th, 19:00: Seasonal Ghost Stories

Live at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Friday, December 31st, 18:00: New Year’s Eve Skating Party

With DJ Caledonia Skytower at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday skating pond.

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

Sunday, December 19th, Noon: A Christmas Carol – The Big Read

At the Seanchai Winter Holiday setting.

A Seanchai Library reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has long been a seasonal tradition in Second Life. Most often since 2012, the reading has been associated with the Library’s end-of year celebration of all things Dickens with the annual presentation of The Dickens Project, conceived and coordinated  by Caledonia Skytower.

However, whilst presenting a seasonal setting for their events in the run-up and around Christmas, for 2021, Seanchai Library is taking a break from the full quota of activities for the Project – but they will be presenting the highlight of the Project in the form of The Big Read – a cover-to-cover reading of Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.

First published in 1843, with illustrations by John Leech, A Christmas Carol is a story with which we’re all familiar: the redemption of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge through the visits of four ghosts: his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

Part secular story, part Christian allegory, A Christmas Carol was written at a time when Victorians were exploring and re-evaluating the traditions of Christmas “old” and “new” – carol singing, the growing use of Christmas trees and the sending / receiving of Christmas cards. Partially inspired by the stories of other popular authors together with his own experiences whilst a boy, A Christmas Carol was the fourth Christmas story Dickens wrote, but its themes of redemption, giving, kindness and the ability to transform the lives of others struck a collective chord among the novella’s readers, one that has continued to be heard down the decades since its publication.

In this very special reading, Seanchai regulars Corwyn Allen, David Abbot, Aoife Lorefield, Dubhna Rhiadra, and Caledonia Skytower are joined by Gloriana Maertens to take us back to Victorian London and this timeless tale.

Monday, December 20th, 19:00: Prometheus

Gyro Muggins reads the final volume of Philip José Farmer’s tale of Father John Carmody, and ex-con who painfully grew a conscience, but who is still not entirely beyond benefiting himself.

Having been tasked with travelling to the planet Wildenwoolly entirely by his own means, and entirely without funds, Carmody find himself travelling with an unexpected – and unwanted – companion, the egg of a large sentient bird called a horowitz. Firmly attached to his chest with no obvious means to remove it, the egg leaves Carmody with no option but to travel to the homeworld of the horowitz.

In Prometheus, Carmody reaches Feral, the planet of the horowitzes – and finds himself cast into the role of a kind of Prometheus. Except that, rather than bringing light to that world, his role is that of an educator bringing moral enlightenment to the bird civilisation.

Tuesday, December 21st

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Festivus

With R. Dismantled.

Wednesday, December 22nd 19:00 Adventures from Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather

Susan had never hung up a stocking . She’d never put a tooth under her pillow in the serious expectation that a dentally inclined fairy would turn up. It wasn’t that her parents didn’t believe in such things. They didn’t need to believe in them. They know they existed. They just wished they didn’t.

There are those who believe and those who don’t. Through the ages, superstition has had its uses; nowhere more so than in the Discworld where it’s helped to maintain the status quo. Anything that undermines superstition has to be viewed with some caution.

There may be consequences, particularly on the last night of the year when the time is turning. When those consequences turn out to be the end of the world, you need to be prepared. You might even want more standing between you and oblivion than a mere slip of a girl – even if she has looked Death in the face on numerous occasions.

Caledonia Skytower read selection from the 20th book in Pratchett’s Discworld series at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Thursday, December 23rd, 19:00: The Night Before the Night Before

The return of a Seanchai tradition with Kayden Oconnell, Aoife Lorefield, and Caledonia Skytower, Live at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Friday, December 24th, 14:00: Christmas Eve Skating Party

With DJ Caledonia Skytower at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday skating pond.

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

Sunday, December 12th, 13:30: Teatime Holiday Radio Classics

At the Seanchai Winter Holiday setting.

Richard Clarke is a lawyer with his own legal practice in Pottsville, New York who has a reputation for been far too nice to be a profitable businessman, since he always fails to demand payment from his poor clients and never takes on those he doesn’t believe are innocent. But Clarke’s main problem is that he is hopelessly in love with the lovely Janie Brown, even though her wealthy father has decided that she is to marry the even wealthier Bill Potts.

When Clarke’s too-kind attitude fails to impress Janie’s father, he decides to heed Brown’s advice and move to New York City and earn money. This doesn’t go too well, forcing Clarke to play games of deceit to impress Janie and her father, starting him on a spiral that eventually leads him to gaining a reputation as a “mean” lawyer. While his newfound reputation brings him the adoration – and business – of wealthy clients, it doesn’t endear him to Janie. Could his success wreck his chances of marrying her – or is all she is hearing about his new approach to business and life really true?

Originally a stage play starring George M. Cohan (who was famously portrayed by James Cagney in the 1942 film Yankee Doodle Dandy), The Meanest Man in the World became a 1934 comedy film starring Jack Benny and Priscilla Lane. Now it is brought to us by the Seanchai team of Corwyn Allen, David Abbot, Gloriana Maertens, Elrik Merlin, and Caledonia Skytower, Live at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Monday, December 13th, 19:00: A Few Miles

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads the 1960 short story by fantasy and sci-fi author Philip José Farmer.

Tuesday, December 14th

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Vintage Christmas – stories by L. Frank Baum and Lucy Maud Mongomery

Live in Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting with Caledonia Skytower. The landmark will be distributed on the day.

Wednesday, December 15th, 19:00 Adventures from Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather

Susan had never hung up a stocking . She’d never put a tooth under her pillow in the serious expectation that a dentally inclined fairy would turn up. It wasn’t that her parents didn’t believe in such things. They didn’t need to believe in them. They know they existed. They just wished they didn’t.

There are those who believe and those who don’t. Through the ages, superstition has had its uses; nowhere more so than in the Discworld where it’s helped to maintain the status quo. Anything that undermines superstition has to be viewed with some caution.

There may be consequences, particularly on the last night of the year when the time is turning. When those consequences turn out to be the end of the world, you need to be prepared. You might even want more standing between you and oblivion than a mere slip of a girl – even if she has looked Death in the face on numerous occasions.

Caledonia Skytower read selection from the 20th book in Pratchett’s Discworld series at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday setting.

Thursday, December 16th:

19:00: The Season in Music and Poetry

With Ktadhn Vesuvino and Caledonia Skytower, Live at Seanchai’s Winter Holiday skating pond.

21:00: Seanchai Late Night

Contemporary sci-fi with Finn Zeddmore.