We’ve had a lot of people sign up for free tickets to the Library’s next big event, Fantasy Book Night, on May 16. In fact, we had so many requests that yesterday we released more tickets—get tickets here.
Join us for a night of imaginative Library quests, tarot readings, Dungeons and Dragons character sheet creation, past and future audiobook technology that makes storytelling accessible to all, Library of Congress collections displays, happy hour food, drinks and more.
We’ve had a lot of fun cooking up events and activities for this, our second theme night (after Mystery Night last fall) Fantasy is a huge genre of fiction that is particularly popular right now. If you devour fantasy novels, we’ve got a stellar lineup of writers, plus activities such as a quest that will take you throughout hidden corners of our Thomas Jefferson building on Capitol Hill. All events for Fantasy Book Night are spelled out below.
Your reservation gives you access to all Great Hall activities including concessions, tarot readers, Dungeons and Dragons character sheets, Library quests and book sales. If you wish to attend any of the three author panels, please select them from the pop-up options after you make your reservation on the ticketing link above.
Onstage Events
6:00-6:45 p.m.: Stories Seen and Unseen: Seanan McGuire and Travis Baldree in the Coolidge Auditorium. Award-winning writers Seanan McGuire and Travis Baldree join us at Fantasy Book Night to discuss the cozy, urban, slice-of-life moments that make their books memorable. Book signing to follow in the Great Hall Mezzanine.
7:00-7:45 p.m.: The Familiar, The Loving, and the Dark: Roshani Chokshi and Lauren Blackwood in room LJ-119. A novel’s fantastical elements shine bright against the backdrop of the familiar. Roshani Chokshi’s novel is about a bridegroom who promises, swears, not to pry into his wife’s past. Lauren Blackwood’s novel is set in 1863, on two battlefronts: North vs. South, and also demigods vs. vampires. These dark stories of romance and dubious pasts make us wonder about the tales we tell ourselves. This panel will be moderated by Ashley Dickerson. Book signing to follow in the Great Hall Mezzanine.
7:15-8:00 p.m.: Secret Societies and Forbidden Knowledge: Olivie Blake in the Coolidge Auditorium. Bestselling dark fantasy writer Olivie Blake delves into stories of secret societies, miraculous talents and forbidden knowledge. She joins us during Fantasy Book Night to discuss the Atlas series and how her characters chase after coveted power, glory and sometimes just survival. Book signing to follow in the Whittall Pavilion.
Offstage Activities
Hero’s Journey: A Library Quest
Adventure awaits! Should you choose to heed the call, gather your party and embark on a mystical quest within the Library of Congress walls. Visitors are invited to choose from various paths while fulfilling tasks to assist a noble Library dragon during their heroic journey.
Tarot Card Reading
Fantasy literature has been deeply influenced by tarot—a card game and divination tool that spans back to the 15th-Century. Amidst the books that established the Library’s collections, visitors are join real-life tarot readers in Thomas Jefferson’s Library for a quick, single-card reading.
Create Your Own Dungeons and Dragons Character Sheets
Have you ever wondered about Dungeons and Dragons or are you an experienced player? Whether you’re a human who doesn’t know how to roll for initiative or a fully equipped 18th Level Wood Elf Druid, visitors are invited to collaborate and create their own D&D character sheet.
Tech As It Was, Tech As It Will Be: Accessible Storytelling from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Discover the history of technology that enables all to read, and check out the production of specialized reading materials created by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Interact with past, present and future tech with Library curators!
We’ll see you there!