Books and Coffee series exploring science fiction and dystopian literature

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Department of English and Purdue Student Union Board are sponsoring a 2018 Books and Coffee series to discover and explore the great books of the present.

The series was launched in 1951 and features talks by Purdue faculty and friends of the university on popular books. This year’s theme for books is science fiction and dystopian literature. The events are free and open to the public.

The series will take place each Thursday in February. Coffee and pastries will be provided starting at 4 p.m. and the presentation on the book will begin at 4:30 p.m. Those who attend can also enter a raffle drawing for a chance to win prizes, as well as have the opportunity to meet the presenter.

* Feb. 1, Stewart Center, rooms 302/306. Jennifer Freeman Marshall, assistant professor of English and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, College of Liberal Arts, will be speaking on Colson Whitehead’s “The Underground Railroad.”

* Feb. 8, Stewart Center, rooms 302/306. P. Ryan Schneider, associate professor of English, College of Liberal Arts, will be speaking on Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.”

* Feb. 15, Stewart Center, rooms 302/306. Patricia Boling, professor of political science, College of Liberal Arts, will be speaking on Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven.”

* Feb. 22, Stewart Center, rooms 302/306. Gordon G. McNickle, assistant professor of botany and plant pathology, College of Agriculture, will be speaking on Elizabeth Kolbert’s “The Sixth Extinction.”   

Writer: Olivia Crouse, ocrouse@purdue.edu      

Source: Julie Henderson, 765-494-3746, jhenders@purdue.edu