It's my 50th birthday today. The last few weeks have been tough (who am I kidding, the last few *years* have been tough!), but I am still here and I am hopeful that the coming year will be better than the last one.

🎧 The one with the “meta-textual context of their podcast ouvre.”🤓 I’m a bit LTTP on this one, but it’s fun to hear how the #StarshipAlexandria crew work behind the scenes, taking notes/doing some extra reading homework. And like AT, I too am the hermit in the house ✋☺️ 📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #Podcasts 📻

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

Currently listening and looking forward to hear Adrian's thoughts on this one. I read this book last month in anticipation of this episode, and was pleasantly surprised by its unique alt-history, character driven story.

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 4w ago

Here's a new episode of Starship Alexandria in which our @aptshadow.bsky.social shares his thoughts on my recommendation "Do You Dream of Terra-Two?" by Temi Oh. Apologies for this being late. The heat is doing its best to kill me. starshipalexandria.com/episode-15-d...

Here's a new episode of Starship Alexandria in which our @aptshadow.bsky.social shares his thoughts on my recommendation "Do You Dream of Terra-Two?" by Temi Oh. Apologies for this being late. The heat is doing its best to kill me. starshipalexandria.com/episode-15-d...

Starship Alexandria: Episode 15 - Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

For our July 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria Emma puts forward the book Do you Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh for Adrian’s consideration.  We talk about spoilers in this, and despite my initi...

starshipalexandria.com

Here's a new episode of Starship Alexandria in which our @aptshadow.bsky.social shares his thoughts on my recommendation "Do You Dream of Terra-Two?" by Temi Oh. Apologies for this being late. The heat is doing its best to kill me. starshipalexandria.com/episode-15-d...

Starship Alexandria: Episode 15 - Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

For our July 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria Emma puts forward the book Do you Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh for Adrian’s consideration.  We talk about spoilers in this, and despite my initi...

starshipalexandria.com

I thought I had finished writing my review of EVERYBODY'S PERFECT, forthcoming from @bluejo.bsky.social , but listening to the excellent Starship Alexandria episode where ( @aptshadow.bsky.social and @emmanewman.bsky.social ) talk about PIRANESI gave me a link between the two novels to footnote.

The only guide to surviving office life that one could ever need. youtu.be/w8vkrMF4QNw So glad that one of my besties sent this to me!

Health & Safe Tea at Work: Small Talk

YouTube video by Yorkshire Tea

youtu.be

The only guide to surviving office life that one could ever need. youtu.be/w8vkrMF4QNw So glad that one of my besties sent this to me!

Health & Safe Tea at Work: Small Talk

YouTube video by Yorkshire Tea

youtu.be

Read the Planetfall series by @emmanewman.bsky.social to learn more! Slightly more coherent than Drew’s creation here.

Defector@defector.com · 2mo ago

It's time to begin safeguarding the future against our intelligent teddy bear: defector.com/its-time-to-...

Well, that was surprisingly different and very good. A worthy pick I think by @emmanewman.bsky.social for next month's episode.if Starship Alexandria. I'm looking forward to hearing @aptshadow.bsky.social's thoughts on it.

CraigBookwyrm 📖📚@craigbookwyrm.bsky.social · 2mo ago

After listening to this month's episode of Starship Alexandria and hearing what @emmanewman.bsky.social will be recommending in next month's episode, I remembered I have this one on audio. So guess what I'm listening to? 😄

Ok. I loved @aptshadow.bsky.social’s theory and I’m going to assume that’s what is happening in this movie. Listen to this episode on Patreon to find out.

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

And for our lovely patrons this month, @aptshadow.bsky.social and I discuss the movie The Green Knight. I think it might be our longest discussion to date, and we still didn't cover everything in this sumptuous feast of a film. www.patreon.com/c/starshipal...

This wonderful Starship Alexandria episode starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p... transported me back to when I first read Piranesi during a COVID lockdown in Goa, India. A thoughtful and engaging review from the @aptshadow.bsky.social and @emmanewman.bsky.social #scifi #fantasy #recommendation

Starship Alexandria: Episode 14 - Piranesi

For our June 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria Adrian puts forward the book Piranesi by Susanna Clarke for Emma’s consideration.   Other talking ...

starshipalexandria.com

A brilliant episode about one of my favourite books. @emmanewman.bsky.social delves into a harrowing topic I have *almost the same* experience with, so absolutely worth a listen👇

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

This is the first of Adrian's book recommendations that I have read and what a great start! Not something I would have picked. I heard myself echoed in Emma, going mad analysing the book early on.

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

In which @emmanewman.bsky.social & @aptshadow.bsky.social discuss what is a beloved book for me in their always entertaining & thoughtful podcast: Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi.

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

My partner @rudigerhonsbein.bsky.social also went mad with coming up with explanations for this book. I had to politely suggest that he wait till the book explained itself in the end, which it kind of didn’t. Loved hearing Emma and Adrian’s analysis.

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

After listening to this month's episode of Starship Alexandria and hearing what @emmanewman.bsky.social will be recommending in next month's episode, I remembered I have this one on audio. So guess what I'm listening to? 😄

If you’re a patron you can hear me go completely nuts as I explain it’s all about time travel :)

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

And for our lovely patrons this month, @aptshadow.bsky.social and I discuss the movie The Green Knight. I think it might be our longest discussion to date, and we still didn't cover everything in this sumptuous feast of a film. www.patreon.com/c/starshipal...

This month on Starship Alexandria we talk about Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, one of the best books I’ve ever read. (For patrons we also chat about Lowery’s The Green Knight)

Emma Newman@emmanewman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

Lovelies, I can't fix the horrors in the world, but I can give you the latest episode of Starship Alexandria in which we discuss @aptshadow.bsky.social 's recommendation of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. starshipalexandria.com/episode-14-p...

What are your favourite scifi, fantasy, horror & spec fic books with great #LGBTQIA rep? Here's our display in the bookshop with some of your suggestions and staff favourites (keep em coming)! Titles and authors in the alt txt 🪐📚💙 #PrideMonth

Bookish Scifi & Fantasy@bookishsff.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Hello #Booksky, happy June, and happy Pride Month! Let's hear your favourite LGBTQIA+ scifi, fantasy, horror, folklore and spec reads. (Bonus points if they're new enough that we might have them in the bookshop so I can add them to our Pride display over the course of the month! 😁) 💙📚🪐 #Pride

We spy @emmanewman.bsky.social ‘s THE VENGEANCE and @artofelaineho.bsky.social ‘s CRY VOIDBRINGER in truly excellent company!

Bookish Scifi & Fantasy@bookishsff.bsky.social · 2mo ago

What are your favourite scifi, fantasy, horror & spec fic books with great #LGBTQIA rep? Here's our display in the bookshop with some of your suggestions and staff favourites (keep em coming)! Titles and authors in the alt txt 🪐📚💙 #PrideMonth

Tonight! 8:30pm! Live in the Discord with @emmanewman.bsky.social! discord.gg/6gRzSt2TJ

Writeopolis@writeopolis.bsky.social · 2mo ago

S14 continues with @emmanewman.bsky.social! Emma writes SFF short stories, novels & novellas, and is an audiobook narrator & Hugo Award-winning podcaster. Will she raise us up to her award-winning level, or will we drag her down with our shenanigan-riddled chaos? I think we all know the answer...

Are there any UK-based boardgame reviewers (in any format) around here who might be interested in having a crack at a cute, family weight game that came out last year but hasn't had a lot of coverage? The publisher has a few copies available, so feel free to DM me if you want to discuss.

This Sunday! 8:30pm! Live in the Discord with @emmanewman.bsky.social! discord.gg/6gRzSt2TJ

Writeopolis@writeopolis.bsky.social · 2mo ago

S14 continues with @emmanewman.bsky.social! Emma writes SFF short stories, novels & novellas, and is an audiobook narrator & Hugo Award-winning podcaster. Will she raise us up to her award-winning level, or will we drag her down with our shenanigan-riddled chaos? I think we all know the answer...

I wrote a piece about attending the UK Games Expo last weekend, about feeling bad, stupid & worthless, about taking my 9 year old daughter for the first time, about the values of the market, & about pointless games. It's called 'Stupid Games, Stupid Prizes': www.timclarepoet.co.uk/stupid-games...

STUPID GAMES, STUPID PRIZES - Tim Clare - Author, Poet and Creative Writing Advice Podcaster

STUPID GAMES, STUPID PRIZES A week ago, in 34°C heat, I went with my wife and daughters camping. We deliberately chose a site only fifteen minutes’ drive from our house, near a familiar spot we’ve oft...

timclarepoet.co.uk

This is a long shot, but does anyone know of any youth centres/charities in the Salford and Greater Manchester area who would like a free pool table? My dad has one he'd like to give away and he's having a hard time finding anyone who wants one.

So I am going to be recording a live podcast on Sunday evening (UK time) with the Writeopolis lovelies. I expect gentle chaos, seeing as @rjbarker.bsky.social is involved. You can listen along live on Discord and ask questions in the chat :) And yes, I am faintly terrified by the live aspect.

Writeopolis@writeopolis.bsky.social · 2mo ago

With sci-fi novels about how a secret withheld to protect humanity's future might be its undoing, fantasy set in Bath's secret mirror city, swashbuckling pirates & vampires, and short stories galore, expect all the tangents! Join us live in the Discord, Sun 7th June 8:30pm discord.gg/6gRzSt2TJ

After Atlas by @emmanewman.bsky.social was fantastic. my first of her books and it was an entertaining and thoughtful read from start to finish. I was missing out. Likely would not have given it a shot without coming across the Starship Alexandria podcast which is also excellent. Go read it!