Mr. Carnegie’s Sci-Fi Book Club

Prepare yourself for aliens, strange new planets, and talking cats! The Knox County Public Library (KCPL) is starting a second book club which will focus primarily on science fiction novels: Mr. Carnegie’s Sci-Fi Book Club.

The KCPL has been the home of the original Mr. Carnegie’s Book Club since 2021, starting with a discussion of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Members from throughout Knox County (and beyond) have hosted books published from the 1800’s (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen) to the 2020’s (Together We Will Go by J. Michael Straczynski); books from South Korea (Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum), Sweden (A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman), and Vincennes (Letters in the Attic by Meredith Lindsey); books of short stories (The Four Million by O. Henry), plays (A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt), and Memoirs (The Boys by Ron and Clint Howard).

But one book club is no longer enough to satisfy the literary cravings of Knox County. Starting in September, the Sci-Fi Book Club will meet on the second Monday of every month at 6 PM in the library’s new Maker Studio (located next to the Teen Department on the lowest floor of the main library building).

Although we’re calling it the “Sci-Fi” book club, potential hosts are welcome to suggest books which venture into the realms of speculative fiction or even fantasy. Upcoming titles include Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman (in September), Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (in October), The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman (in November), and Dune by Frank Herbert (in December).

Don’t worry—the original Mr. Carnegie’s Book Club will still be meeting every month on the third Monday at 6 PM. The original book club does not focus on a particular genre, so members can expect to read everything from historical fiction to horror to holiday stories. Upcoming titles include Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (in September), South of Broad by Pat Conroy (In October), Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (in November), and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (in December).

Anyone can join either book club (or both) by showing up to one of the discussions. You do not have to be a resident of Knox County or have a library card to join, although you do have to be a cardholder if you would like to take home one of the copies of the book which we make available one month before the club meets (September’s books will be available during the August meeting).

If you’ve never been to a book club, please don’t feel intimidated. No one is pressured to talk; you are more than welcome to just listen—although you may find it hard to hold back your opinions once you get comfortable. Members come from diverse backgrounds. Some people drop in once to hear about their favorite book, and some have come to every meeting, rain or shine. And if a lively literary discussion is not strong enough enticement, there are usually plenty of snacks to munch on.

If you have any questions or are interested in hosting a book for either book club, please call the library at 812-886-4380 or email kstorm@kcpl.lib.in.us.