• Enter one of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society Writing Contests
  • The 2016 BSFS Amateur Writing Contest winners were announced at Capclave 2016 on Saturday, Oct. 8. Pictured from left: 1st place winner Irette Y. Patterson, 2nd place winner J.D. Gordon, and 3rd place winner S.L. Carney.
  • Pictured from left, Sherin Nicole, Aliza Greenblatt, Day Al-Mohamed, Sarah Pinsker, Jason Harris, and P. Djeli Clark discussed "Diversity in Genre" during a roundtable.
  • E. J. Wenstrom reads from her book Departures 11/14/2021
  • Tour of the Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Pictured from left, writer Erica Satifka, editor Jonathan Landen (Daily Science Fiction), moderator Sarah Pinsker, and editors Scott Andrews (Beneath Ceaseless Skies), Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld Magazine), Norm Sherman (Drabblecast), and Bill Campbell (Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism) discussed the current state of short fiction at a roundtable on March 22. Watch video of the panel.

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How to Join BSFS

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The Baltimore Science Fiction Society exists to promote the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy cultural arts. Primarily through literary art forms, but also embracing the many related graphical, musical, and theatrical creations inspired by SF. If you love science fiction and fantasy then BSFS and our projects and programs are a new home for your mind, heart, and soul.

The Latest Word - as of 5/27/2026:

o The BSFS Avery/Deutsch Amateur Writing Contest is open! details at 2026 CONTEST

Special Events at BSFS Building: (Some Online)

Book Club Meeting at BSFS: Next Book Club held June 27, 2026 at 6:30 PM at the BSFS Picnic. Featured Book: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. In person only as internet at park is spotty. Join us in person for the Josh Reinking Memorial Book Club. See BSFS Annual Picnic Info Below.

BSFS Annual Picnic at PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK: June 27, 2026. At the HOLLOFIELD AREA, SHELTER #: 301, 8020 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE (RT 40 W), ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 (NO RAIN DATE) NOON to DUSK ( ~ 9 PM) Pot Luck as we bring soda and snacks and you bring meat for gril and anything you want to share. No charge from BSFS, but park has a per person charge. Please see park website for cost details and park info including map at **PARK WEBSITE CLICK HERE*** Remember to bring your joy of SF culture! Volunteers to set up please show at 11:00 AM.

Film Night at BSFS: Next on June 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM. (building opens at 6:00 PM for early folks and browse the library) We will screen a recent mini-series based on the work of our friend George of the 50th. The license we have to clear copyright says we can not advertise on the web but we can distribute flyers, meaning you can see this months movie(s) flyer by using the password "movie" on the pdf file of the flyer that opens when you click **here** . Free screening on our 10 ft screen. Watch with old or new friends.

BSFS Social Meeting: Join members of BSFS and anyone that loves SF in-person (at our building or a party at the home of a BSFS member when they volunteer) for free form conversations and hanging out. Discuss everything SF, Fantasy or whatever in an informal session. On the fourth Saturday of the month at (not at 8:00 PM+ in June due to at the picnic which starts at 1:00 PM and consumes all effort that day to pull off) In June will be at the BSFS Picnic all day and not after dark. See info above.

Speculative Poetry Workshop by Zoom: A monthly writer's workshop for SF and Fantasy and Speculative authors of poetry held every Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Near term this would mean on 6/17/2026. By Zoom only (only use this zoom link for Poetry Workshop, for other zoom meetings use proper links below) at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82112772660?pwd=OpzU8diAfWSeCiAhdfSGKyfhcPW4Os.1

Sunday Tabletop Role-Playing Game Event at Online: Tabletop Role-Playing Game Event next held June 25, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. On Discord only at https://discord.gg/5U3s2YzPzQ To participate by Discord you do need to register for Discord if you have never done so before, but the process is fairly easy. Our Tabletop Roleplaying Games (RPGs) meetup! We will be rotating through various tabletop Sci Fi RPGs. You are welcome if you love Tabletop RPG's. We will be running for all levels and will have premade characters available. We will run as many games as we have players to fill. For more details contact yoshi at bsfs dot org

Anime Afternoon at BSFS: The next Anime Afternoon Social will be July 25, 2026 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. (Balticon in way in May and BSFS Picnic in way in June) Also held on Discord as a watch party. Join Discord here We will be screening: TBD. For more info or suggest titles for the future contact anime at BSFS dot org

Alphabet Soup Board Gaming at BSFS: Every third Sunday of the month at the BSFS Building. (Due to Balticon and building being taken up by stuff going to Balticon...Next on June 21, 2026 between 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. For info email dale at bsfs dot org

Fiber Arts Creativity Circle: Work on your sewing, knitting, crafting and share skills including cosplay building etc. Discuss everything SF, Fantasy or whatever during this informal session. On the first Saturday of the month during 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. (Borrow and bring back books and work on other volunteer projects will happen at same time in rest of building). Next time not in June as the BSFS Building will be full of stuff returning from Balticon and it all needs put away. If anyone wants to show up on the first Saturday in June they can help us put stuff away post-Balticon as we will be working on it then. And in July lands on July 4th so not then either. Fiber Arts returns in August unless we figure out alternate date before the regular one.

See our long range events calendar here.

Borrow and bring back books from our 18,200+ item free lending library at any event or meeting at the BSFS Building.

Special Events Sponsored By BSFS Outside BSFS Building:

Oral History of BSFS Video Online: David M Ettlin one of the two surviving founding members of BSFS tells the story on Y-Tube at https://youtu.be/4Bxb4WBvh6E?si=HIlpfg-J9W4HeUEQ

Balticon Planning and BSFS Business Meetings:

These meetings this month will be in person at the BSFS Building and by teleconference by Zoom. To attend in person see our directions page at bsfsdrct.htm. To attend by Zoom using your computer use link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88616075406?pwd=YmF1aDhPZzVYR2NjdzBYdGZ0aStpZz09
Passcode: 930363
Meeting ID: 886 1607 5406 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13017158592,,97614691479#,,,,*463191# or +19292056099,,97614691479#,,,,*463191# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC), +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago), +1 929 205 6099 US (New York), +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma), +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston), +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 886 1607 5406 Passcode: 930363
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/ac59gxWAiW

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society business and discussion meeting will be held at 8:30pm on June 13, 2026 in person and by Zoom. Connection details see above. Stop on by and watch us perform parliamentary ritual to work out ideas. First meeting after Balticon. We hope to not have/need a duck pond...

The Balticon 60 Post and Balticon 61 Planning Meeting next held on June 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Drop by in person or on Zoom then to share and learn ideas about how to improve the next and future Balticons. (or volunteer) First meeting after Balticon so come on down to learn the news. (or show up an hour or two early and help put stuff away from Balticon.

Writers Circle at BSFS:

BSFS sponsors a Writing Circle 6:30-8:30pm usually meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month, near term this means teleconference only by zoom on 05/14/2026 and 05/28/2026. Participants prefer to stay on zoom for now. This is a SF and Fantasy focused writing group. If you write check it out. Many stories work shopped at this writer's circle have been sold to professional markets in the last few years. This is a recurring meeting so any Writer's Circle meeting use: Join Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/91064908740?pwd=TENjZ25HenRNOHhtcHFaRlZnOGE3dz09
Meeting ID: 910 6490 8740 Passcode: 805110 (see Zoom phone numbers above for dial in at need)
For more info contact BSFSEvents at BSFS dot org

"Balticon" is a service mark of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc.
Copyright 2026. BSFS is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization.
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This website originally started in 1996 for BSFS by the late Hal Haag
and viewed since then over times.
Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc.
PO Box 686
Baltimore, MD 21203-0686
Phone: (410) JOE-BSFS (563-2737)
webmeister at bsfs dot org