Comic Book Clubs Sydney

The Death of Death: Should We Choose To Live Forever?

What if ageing were optional? A small, extraordinarily wealthy group of people — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Peter Thiel among them — are betting billions that it could become so within our lifetimes. They are funding gene therapies, plasma clinics, AI drug discovery programmes, and private city-states designed to sit beyond the reach of ordinary regulation, all pointed at a single goal: the abolition of death. Some of this is serious science. Some of it is alchemy with a better press team. But before the science catches up with the ambition — if it ever does — the personal, social, and political questions are already here. Would you choose five centuries of life, or even to live indefinitely — more time to love, to learn, to taste everything the world has to offer? Or would you find, on reflection, that something essential about a human life depends on it being finite? What happens to marriage when it lasts for centuries? To democracy when the same people hold power for hundreds of years? To inheritance (that might never arrive!), to ambition ('I can always do it later'), to the feeling that today is precious rather than just one more day in an endless supply? So join us as we pull apart this fascinating and unsettling territory, where Silicon Valley hubris meets some of the oldest questions in philosophy. **Book: *The Immortalists: The Death of Death and the Race for Eternal Life* (2025) by Aleks Krotoski** **Companion reading:** ***[A Guide to the Personal, Social, and Political Questions of Radical Life Extension](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDyh0ZXuhOXSY1hShIPivrVAb994lzRy8NuznN6KIb52lM?e=heHTTk)***[ ](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDyh0ZXuhOXSY1hShIPivrVAb994lzRy8NuznN6KIb52lM?e=heHTTk) (prepared for this meetup) *The Immortalists* is a sharp investigation into the people, science, money, and politics behind Silicon Valley’s war on death. Krotoski — a psychologist, BBC broadcaster, and veteran technology reporter — takes us from immortality cults in the Arizona desert and biohacking clinics in Los Angeles to the corridors of Washington and a private city in Honduras where unapproved gene therapies are on the menu. Along the way, she meets the geroscientists doing genuinely important work on the biology of ageing, the billionaire investors pouring huge sums into longevity start-ups, the lobbyists rewriting FDA regulations in their own interests, and the true believers who have concluded that death is not a fact of life but a failure of engineering. The result is gripping reported journalism, a sober account of what the science has actually established, and a serious political warning about what happens when the people trying to live forever start writing the rules for everyone else. In addition, we’ve prepared a 35-page companion document that draws out the personal, social, and political questions raised by radical life extension. The Krotoski book spends considerable time on the science and on the people pursuing it, but our discussion is likely to centre on the human consequences: whether we would actually want vastly longer lives; what they would do to relationships, work, inequality, democracy, and meaning; and who would benefit if the technology ever became real. The companion document is intended to give us a shared map of these issues, so the conversation can move beyond the biology and into the questions most likely to matter around the table. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before you attend; it will enrich both your own experience and the discussion as a whole. We’ve also included some further resources below for anyone who wants to go deeper. We’ll meet for a drink — and an optional meal — at 6:30pm on Monday, 7 September, on the second floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills. The venue is close to Central Station and the light rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. If you RSVP yes and later find you can’t make it, please update your RSVP so someone else can take the spot if there’s a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just optional links to consider to supplement the reading of the book and document. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * Interviews and Podcasts with Aleks Krotoski: [Intelligence Squared – Could Billionaires Cure Ageing (1 hr)](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DgTxyg8YezFkX391FNOmX) [BBC Radio 4 World at One (18 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTQ-tZfRFW8) * A collection of 15 min BBC Podcasts by Aleks Krotoski: [The Immortals Podcast](https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p0hl8knd) * Venki Ramakrishnan on the biology of death and aging and why the immortalists' timeline is wildly optimistic: [Sean Carroll's Mindscape with Venki Ramakrishnan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNqwamgxNiU) * Four Corners (ABC iview) *The Race to Reverse Ageing* (July 2026) * Science documentary: *[Longevity Hackers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PV0X5U4smY)*[ (2024)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PV0X5U4smY) This is a mostly enthusiastic doco about the possibility of radical life extension; not a rigorous investigation but provides a useful sense of the different areas of research. * Netflix documentary: *Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever* (2025). A documentary on the daily routines, family plasma exchange, and the "Don't Die" philosophy of tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who appears prominently in the book. * An explainer video on the science and ethics of radical life extension: [Billionaires Trying to Live Forever - Honest Truth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5kMFzndPiM) **Written** * Articles on radical life extension: [The Ethics of Radical Life Extension](https://www.scu.edu/ethics/all-about-ethics/radical-life-extension/) [Three arguments against extending the human lifespan](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2652797/) * Reviews of *The Immortalists*: [The Guardian - The Immortalists](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/23/the-immortalists-by-aleks-krotoski-review-the-downsides-of-cheating-death) * An article version on the ABC Four Corners episode on biohacking and anti-aging science: [ABC - The Race to Reverse Ageing](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-19/biohacking-anti-aging-science-promise-to-extend-human-lifespan/106923024) * An unfortunate update on biohacker Bryan Johnson (from Netflix series above): [A recent health update on Bryan Johnson](https://futurism.com/health-medicine/bryan-johnson-autoimmune-disease) * Two other relevant books for those wanting to dig deeper into this topic: *\- Morbid: Debunking Modern Longevity Science* (2026) by Saul Newman. To be released in August, the author uses dark humour and rigorous evidence to expose the systemic data errors and corporate grifting behind popular anti-aging trends like "Blue Zones" and youth-blood transfusions. *\- Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality* (2024) by Venki Ramakrishnan. This book provides a lucid and authoritative look at the biological mechanisms of cellular degeneration, balancing the realistic limits of our current biotechnology against the hyped promises of the immortality movement.

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. I’ll have a jar near the sign-in list on the day. Please feel free to contribute at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

The Odyssey by Homer

Join us upstairs at **The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills,** on **Thursday 1 October 2026**, at 7.00pm (sharp) as we discuss ***The Odyssey***, one of the foundational works of Western literature. We will have special guests and will be warmly welcoming two members of the Greek diplomatic mission to Australia: Mr. Georgios Skemperis, the Consul General, as well as Mrs. Paraskevi Tsintzou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy. Originating in an oral tradition about 3,000 years ago, *The Odyssey* tells the story of the 10-year journey of King Odysseus after the Trojan War. King Odysseus is a soldier, at a time when Kings had to prove their authority by their bravery and skill in fighting the enemy. Along the way back to his homeland, he outwits the **Cyclops -** the one-eyed giants who were so uncivilised that they ate their meals alone. He resists the goddess **Circe**: despite her skill at sexual pleasure (hey, she is a goddess), Odysseus enjoys her sexual delights, but really just wants to re-unite with his (ageing, but real) wife back in Ithaca. And he passes by the **Sirens**, whose irresistible song lures sailors to their deaths. He wants to listen to their songs, but gets his men to tie him to a mast, and to get his own sailors to fill their ears with wax, so that only he can hear them sing. That way, the sailors will not hear his orders that they should sail ever closer to their seductive voices (and to certain death). Meanwhile, his wife Penelope cleverly delays the suitors trying to seize his kingdom in his absence. There are multiple translations. For newcomers, I (Dale) recommend the 2017 translation by **Emily Wilson**, available in print, audiobook (about 13 hours), and as a free PDF from me on request ([dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net)). There are lots of criticisms of the recent Nolan film and the Wilson translation, but one has to start somewhere. If you're short on time, I recommend reading: * Books 1–5 (Telemachus and Calypso) * Book 9 (Cyclops) * Book 12 (The Underworld and the Sirens) * Books 13–16 (Return to Ithaca) * Books 21–23 (The Bow Contest and Reunion) Also, perhaps, see several podcasts on this at [https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece](https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece) Fortunately, the most famous painting of Odysseus and the Sirens is by John William Waterhouse, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. There will be about 30 of us speaking in a big group for about 30 mins. After that, people break up into groups of 4 or 5 to speak more about the book or anything else. We are a friendly lot, and newcomers are welcome. Contact Dale on dalemills@cantab.net for more info.

September Book Club: The Hundred Years' War on Palestine

Welcome to Meet the Moment Book Club, where we read books that meet the moment and make sense of it all together. Please see our [group page](https://www.meetup.com/meet-the-moment-book-club/) for a list of upcoming books. After examining the economic system, we now understand how economic growth fuels many of the crises in our world today, including historical and ongoing colonialism. This leads us to one of the most salient examples of our time: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I've long known I needed to understand more about Palestine, and how the horrors there are interlocked with the current crises we face. Civil rights leaders have long spoken of collective liberation, that "none of us are free until we are all free." But what does that really mean? Of all the issues today, why must we care about this one that is so far away? Recently I came across this interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUyIjQLh9J0), then read his book *The Message*, and feel like I am on my way to the very beginnings of understanding. *The Hundred Years' War on Palestine*, long recommended to me, feels like the natural next step in my learning journey. If you'd like to join me on this quest to understand more about Palestine, please join me in reading -- the author, Rashid Khalidi, is not only a renowned historian and Columbia professor, but his family's history is interwoven with Palestine's -- his great-great-great uncle was the mayor of Jerusalem in the 1800s and was the first Palestinian leader on record to write to the Zionist founder Theodor Herzl when the Zionist movement was still nascent. Khalidi weaves his own and his family's history into this history of the conflict in this acclaimed international bestseller. \*\*\* "A landmark history of one hundred years of war waged against the Palestinians from the foremost US historian of the Middle East, told through pivotal events and family history." https://www.amazon.com.au/HUNDRED-YEARS-WAR-PALESTINE-Colonialism/dp/1627798552# "Rigorous and lucid . . . Rashid Khalidi, the intellectual heir to Edward Said, has written one of the great books on the Israeli-Palestinian question." --Financial Times "Rashid Khalidi makes clear that the Zionists could not have created modern day Israel without abundant help from Britain and the United States. A must read for the growing number of people who are interested in understanding the real roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." --John J. Mearsheimer, coauthor of The Israel Lobby \*\*\* We will be meeting at The Erko Hotel, in the outside area in the back. We will start and end on time. There's no fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue. \*\*\* If you have trouble getting the book, message me. On reading a book: I encourage people to read books over just interviews or summaries, because nothing beats the slow digesting of the beauty and nuances in a book. Especially for the books in this book club that challenge our worldviews and help us see the world as it truly is, these books need to be really grappled with, to be fully engaged with, to receive the full benefits. For reference, I use book clubs to motivate me to finish the books I want to read, so the date of the book club becomes a deadline to finish the book by. I calculate the number of pages in a book and the number of days I can realistically read, and work out how many pages on average I need to read each day. That's how I've finished many books. Invariably, they're worth reading to the end. Of course, life happens and we're all busy. If you really can't finish a book or can only watch videos this time, that's okay. Come by with an attitude of listening, open to being inspired, and take in what others have to say; perhaps you'll want to read/finish the book afterwards. Just know that books are like most things in life: what you put in is what you get out of it. A podcast or ChatGPT can give you the high-level points, sure, perhaps to BS your way to a decent grade in class; but we're not in school anymore, and we read these books because they better our lives and help us see more clearly. But they can only do so if we read them, because reading is what makes all the new concepts come to life enough to maybe change yours. For the full magic, you just gotta read. Alright, thanks for reading my ode to reading. \*\*\* If the RSVP list is full, please join the waiting list as there will likely be fluctuations closer to the date. If you RSVP'ed and can't make it, please edit your RSVP so that others can attend. No-shows will be noted and barred from the book club. Look forward to seeing you there!

Stoics by the beach Reading and Discussion Group

RESCHEDULED DUE TO OCTOBER LONG WEEKEND Unlike other philosophies, Stoicism was named after a place not a person, making it accessible to ALL people. In ancient greco-roman times people would meet at the Stoa, where they would discuss Stoic Philosophy. We can meet in the park just as the stoic sages 1000s of years ago. Currently reading SENECA: Moral Letters to Lucia. FULL-TEXT: Moral letters to Lucilius - Wikisource, the free online library No need to do any homework, we will read together and discuss. Am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Event fee (Optional) suggested $2. Pay on the day, payID 0416147804, PayPal: paypal.me/jonnikaren or private message for direct deposit details. In lieu of event fee, you can buy me a coffee :)

Feminism, Horror, and Speculative Fiction

Join author-translator Tiffany Tsao and author-scholar Intan Paramaditha for a conversation around their respective new and forthcoming novels, *But Won't I Miss Me* (HarperCollins) and *Night of a Thousand Hells* (Europa). What is it about the tropes associated with horror and speculative writing that lend themselves to feminist modes of literary expression? **TIFFANY TSAO** is the author of *Under Your Wings*, which was longlisted for the Ned Kelly Award and released in the US as *The Majesties*. Her translations of Indonesian fiction and poetry have been awarded the NSW Premier’s Translation Prize and PEN Translation Prize, as well as longlisted for the International Booker Prize. She holds an English PhD from UCBerkeley and works as Deputy Editor at the Sydney Review of Books. *But Won’t I Miss Me* is her fourth novel. **INTAN PARAMADITHA** is the author of *Apple and Knife*, part of the Vintage Classics Weird Girls series, and *The Wandering*, winner of the PEN Translates Award and longlisted for the Stella Prize. A Harvard Radcliffe Fellow and Civitella Ranieri Fellow, she is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University and co-founder of the feminist collective Sekolah Pemikiran Perempuan. Her new novel, *Night of a Thousand Hells*, will be published in October 2026. **FREE** but [bookings essential](https://events.humanitix.com/writing-and-society-research-centre-writing-by-the-river-event-feminism-horror-and-speculative-fiction-tiffany-tsao-and-intan-paramaditha) *[Zoom access](https://uws.zoom.us/meeting/register/F0kIkGAfS--dxiRPltILiA#/registration) for online attendance also available.* *Please note a 'yes' RSVP does not confirm your place. You must book through the [Western Sydney University link](https://events.humanitix.com/writing-and-society-research-centre-writing-by-the-river-event-feminism-horror-and-speculative-fiction-tiffany-tsao-and-intan-paramaditha) above.*

Twisted Fiction readings

Twisted Fiction returns at The Shakespeare Hotel. Don’t miss out on a night of fantastical storytelling. With tales from: * Kell Woods * Jeremy Szal * Jamie Ramjan * Erin Latimer **FREE**

Stoics in the park: NEW LOCATION- Sydney Park

Unlike other philosophies, Stoicism was named after a place not a person, making it accessible to ALL people. In ancient greco-roman times people would meet at the Stoa, where they would discuss Stoic Philosophy. We can meet in the park just as the stoic sages 1000s of years ago. Join us to read through and discuss Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Google books has a FREE PDF you can download. No need to do any homework, we will read together and discuss. Am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Event fee (optional) is $2, this goes to admin costs of running the group, please consider I am from Wollongong and wanted to keep this group when original organiser stepped down. I have significant travel expenses and am generally organising creative events that take resources. A gratuity would be a wonderful way to make me feel appreciated. Pay on the day, payID 0416147804, PayPal: paypal.me/jonnikaren or private message for direct deposit details. In lieu of event fee, you can buy me a coffee :)

The Many-Colored Land by Julian May | Sat 12 Sep 2026

The Many-Colored Land by Julian May | Sun 6 Sep 2026

Book Club - 'Black Bag' by Luke Kennard and 'Whistler' by Anne Patchett

Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy

Join us for a discussion of René Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy, one of the foundational works of modern philosophy. Beginning with radical doubt, Descartes asks what—if anything—we can know with certainty, leading to his famous conclusion, "I think, therefore I am." Along the way, he explores the existence of God, the nature of the mind, and the foundations of human knowledge. Whether you're reading Descartes for the first time or revisiting this classic, all are welcome. No academic background is required—just come having read the text and ready for a thoughtful discussion. Wednesday, September 2, 6:30 PM 61 Broadway Street, Ultimo (UTS Library) No affiliation with UTS. We will be sat at the table space at the bottom of the stairs going from level 4 to level 3.