Three leading writers in science fiction discuss all things Orwellian in this fascinating event, taking place at Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker, the Governments chilling Cold War ‘hideaway’ from 1952 to 1994.

Matt de Abaitua interviews Irenosen Okojie and Dave Hutchinson about their contribution to 2084, an anthology of new short stories inspired by George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984, published by Unsung Books.

This out-of-this-world anthology brings together the writings of fifteen different authors: Visit dark corners of future metropoleis, trek post apocalyptic wastelands, see the world through the eyes of drones, and say goodbye to your body as humanity merges with technology.

Warnings or prophesies? Paradise or destruction? Our future unfolds before us.

Irenosen Okojie is a Nigerian British writer. Her debut novel Butterfly Fish won a Betty Trask award and was shortlisted for an Edinburgh International First Book Award. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Observer,The Guardian, the BBC and the Huffington Post amongst other publications. Her short stories have been published internationally including Salt’s Best British Short Stories 2017, Kwani? and The Year’s Best Weird Fiction. She was presented at the London Short Story Festival by Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri as a dynamic writing talent to watch and featured in the Evening Standard Magazine as one of London’s exciting new authors. Her short story collection Speak Gigantular , published by Jacaranda Books was shortlisted for the Edgehill Short Story Prize, the Jhalak Prize, the Saboteur Awards and nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award.

Dave Hutchinson is a science fiction writer, born in Sheffield in 1960. He is best known for his Fractured Europeseries, which has received multiple award nominations, with the third novel, Europe in Winter, winning the BSFA Award for Best Novel. After reading American Studies at the University of Nottingham, he became a journalist. He’s the author of five collections of short stories and one novel, and his novella The Push was shortlisted for the 2010 BSFA award for short fiction. He has also edited two anthologies and co-edited a third. His short story ‘The Incredible Exploding Man’ featured in the first Solaris Rising anthology, and appeared in Year’s Best Science Fiction collection.

Matthew De Abaitua’s debut novel The Red Men was shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke Award and published in the US for the first time in November 2017. His science fiction novels IF THEN (Angry Robot, 2015) and The Destructives (Angry Robot, 2016) were described as “Extraordinary visionary… the most intriguing and disturbing near-future speculations published for some years.” (Andy Sawyer, Strange Horizons). His next book is Self & I: A Memoir of Literary Ambition (Eye Books, 2018) about his time as Will Self’s amanuensis in the 1990s. He lectures on creative writing and science fiction at the University of Essex and lives in Hackney.

http://post-apocalypticbookclub.co.uk

@HutchinsonDave

unsungstories.co.uk/2084-the-anthology        @UnsungTweets

irenosenokojie.com       @IrenosenOkojie

harrybravado.com    @MDeAbaitua

FESTIVAL 4 – MULTIPLE EVENT OFFER: This year we are offering four events for the price of three on selected talks – Just choose any four events with the ‘Festival 4’ symbol when booking in person, over the phone or online.

ESSEX BOOK FESTIVAL AT THE BUNKER
SUNDAY 25 MARCH
10.00am – 4.30pm

This event is part of Essex Book Festival’s Science & Invention weekend.

Join us for a day of exciting author events, panel discussions, workshops and more as we take over Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker, the Government’s chilling Cold War ‘hideaway’. This unique and unusual space was operational from 1952 right through to 1994, and is now a fascinating underground museum open to all.

Working with a whole array of partners, authors, organisations and individuals, Essex Book Festival presents an exciting programme all inspired by the Bunker’s history, its ‘raison d’être’, and the thoughts and feelings it provokes. Taking place throughout disused rooms, stairways and corridors, from the Canteen Common Room, to the Bunker Plant Room, through to the Prime Minister’s Bedroom, we invite you to a truly immersive experience.

PRICING

Talks, panel discussions and the writers’ workshop during the day are individually priced. Please note they DO NOT include the admission price for the bunker, which is payable on the door.

Entry to the Bunker:

Adults: £7.50
Children: £5.50 (5-16 Years)
Family: £18.00 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Group Discount 15+ Adults £7.00, Children £5.00

The Bunker is unable to accept credit or debit cards, so please bring cash to pay for your admission. For more information visit www.secretnuclearbunker.com/entry

Essex Book Festival at the Bunker is part of the Festival’s Science and Invention weekend in Chelmsford and Kelvedon Hatch’s Secret Nuclear Bunker. Click here for a list of all events taking place during the weekend.