Tomorrow, Count Binface faces off against Farage. For those who think he can't pull it off, in 2002, H'Angus the Monkey became the mayor of Hartlepool, defeating Labour. The actor Stuart Drummond stood down as mascot afterwards, but won two more terms and was the first mayor to ever win three terms.

This really is very good.

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · last mo.

This is a brilliant essay, which, in my view, accurately describes the predicament of the post-Boomer generations, and the vast infrastructure of lies designed to disguise it. "Degeneracy is a symptom. The disease is rent." 🧵 henryfudgeofficial.substack.com/p/degeneracy...

2) Telling the Bees by @eoindooley.bsky.social : widow visits apiary of mutated bees for husband’s final goodbye. Brutal tale. Brilliant end. Love it.

In all the furore about E.D.E Bell’s behaviour it’s important not to lose sight of the authors. What my friend Emma says here is heartbreaking. The downside of relying on whisper networks is they leave newcomers who have not yet been integrated vulnerable.

emma burnett@slashnburnett.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I never saw the chaos coming. I was just excited to publish a book. emmaburnett.uk/life/marketi...

I will continue to be angry about how publisher bullshit hurts authors who have done nothing wrong. Please support Emma in whatever way you feel best. I also including her patreon in my list (next post)

emma burnett@slashnburnett.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So… I know shit is going down again. But my novella is really a good read, and I just want you to know that.

So… I know shit is going down again. But my novella is really a good read, and I just want you to know that.

Thanks for the support so far, folks. It means a lot. Gonna point people to this thread where Krista D. Ball went out of her way to find other places to support some of the authors affected by this publisher. bsky.app/profile/kris...

Krista D Ball is Canada's Snarky Potato@kristadb1.bsky.social · 2mo ago

One of the frustrating things about publisher discourse is that authors get hurt in the process. If you'd like to support Emma Burnett (who has a new book out), she has a patreon page. There's also "buy a post" options if you want to do a one time financial support. www.patreon.com/cw/sadtale

Morning, all. Felt the need to say something given a bit of discourse in Writer Land this week.

so, this is deeply, deeply horrifying thedreydossier.substack.com/p/i-found-a-...

I found a second vote.gov — and it's registered to the White House

There is a moment in every investigation where the thing you have been looking for finds you instead.

thedreydossier.substack.com

Does your team need a senior writer or designer with shipped exp in narrative RPGs, imm sims, or emergent stories? I'm available, and am open to temp/contract/FTE. I specialize in delivering rich, player-driven narratives and developing living worlds in historical settings. REPOSTS APPRECIATED ♥️

so like lemme weigh in on this as someone who is more financially comfortable than many in my generational cohort: everything I have gained seems precarious and temporary because I know the people with real money will take it all from me the second they get an opportunity and no one will protect me.

The Atlantic@theatlantic.com · 3mo ago

"People have stopped believing that the economy can be good, and have lost the willingness to admit that they are doing well. That pessimism might be harder to fix than an actual downturn," @annielowrey.bsky.social argues.

Just finished reading this bad boy. Narrative design is an extremely interesting field to come to from a prose perspective. So many radically different problems to solve, but also, a lot of the same ones too.

Do you like dystopian speculative fiction? Stories about food? A focus on parenting? Raging against the predatory capitalist machine? Awesome because I have a book for you! Pre-order your copy here: emmaburnett.carrd.co #scifi #stories #booksky 📚🪐 #parenting #food #agroecology

Emma Burnett

Writer of stories

emmaburnett.carrd.co

Hey, my good friend @slashnburnett.bsky.social is publishing EX PARTUM and it's a great novella about the anxiety of new parenthood told through a dystopian frame. See the links here for the many places you can pick it up: emmaburnett.carrd.co You should consider doing so.

Emma Burnett

Writer of stories

emmaburnett.carrd.co

Remembering a conversation with a Russian graduate student about games. HIM: So what's your favorite game? ME: Disco Elysium. HIM: Really? Are you sure you get it? I don't understand how an American can understand that game. ME: I'm divorced. HIM: Ah ok. Yes, I see.

Somehow missed this had come out. I have a flash fiction piece in here called “Telling the Bees”. On the plus side at least the readership will have had the chance to enjoy it already.

Analog Science Fiction and Fact@analogsf.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Our May/June issue is on sale now! Grab a copy for the latest from Jay Werkheiser, Eric Del Carlo, Thoraiya Dyer, and more. We're also thrilled to publish the fiction debut of frequent fact-article contributor Kevin Walsh. Don't miss it!

Irish people: St. Patrick's Day presents such a stereotypical portrayal of Ireland that doesn't reflect its modern, vibrant culture. Irish people when they see Americans setting Leprechaun traps: You fools! You've doomed us all! The children will be changelings. The crops will wither in the field.

I left academia following a crisis of faith in my ability to produce meaningful knowledge within that institution. It just hit me how much worse I would be doing right now if I had stuck to my guns and continued following that path.

Derek Silva@derekcrim.bsky.social · 5mo ago

fuck this so much we are so not prepared for the mountain of dogshit “scholarship” about to flood journals everywhere

If you want to see how I (NOT an artist) make the art for our game (without AI) by remixing public domain bird illustrations - check out this short documentary about the making of our game! #gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev

Char@alphachar.bsky.social · 5mo ago

A few weeks ago, a lovely videographer called Rob Allmand asked to come by & make a short documentary about our making of Sparrow Warfare. & here it is! Full of birds, our weird workarounds, & us being awkward: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ic...

Expedition 33 is very good.

I published my first bit of short fiction yesterday. Deep Space Drift is a flash fiction piece about toxic ambition, alchemy, and the limits of love. Thanks to @elegantliterature.bsky.social for selecting this humble bit of flash fiction for your Ink and Iron issue (March 2025) #elegantliterature

A little overwhelmed to see ‘25 Peppercorns’ on the BSFA’s Best Short Fiction shortlist. I cried for three days when this story came out. It meant so much to me to be able to give life to these feelings, and I’m grateful to all the readers who voted for it.

Mythaxis Magazine@mythaxis.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Sometimes the news is just great: Emma Burnett's "25 Peppercorns" has been shortlisted for the BSFA's Best Short Fiction award! Congratulations @slashnburnett.bsky.social from all at Mythaxis! To everyone else, it's a beautiful story, well worth a read (and your vote): bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...

TIL: The earliest forms of print journalism were ballads describing current events en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadsi... I advocate a return to this style of news broadcast. It won‘t stop misinformation, but it will annoy lots and lots of grifters.

Trinity book fair is a good time.

i think in the name of fairness the producers of the baldur's gate tv show should demand that tv writers do at least a year of running around in circles doing unpaid writing tests before they're allowed to write for the show

I may delete this because it’s a bit spicy but it shouldn’t be lost on us that games being turned into TV is essentially harvesting the stories written by those who don’t have union representation or healthcare with WGA by those that do. Our stories are good enough for TV but the writers aren’t?

Well Bluesky, it's time I gave an update. For well over a year I've been working as the Narrative Lead for Don't Call Abigail, a Disco Elysium mod. Largely all my free time has been going there. Unfortunately, following some toxic disagreements in leadership, several people have left, including me.

Had a lovely time attending the launch event last night. Got some good chuckles out of the crowd during my reading. Very welcoming crowd. And I learned that this gorgeous cover was indeed based on my story 🫣

Jess Traynor@jesstraynor.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Come join us this Thursday @booksupstairs.bsky.social to celebrate 20 issues and 10 years of @bansheepress.bsky.social ✨️ There'll be chats, readings and 🍷

Banshee celebrates ten years in print @booksupstairs.bsky.social next Thursday 4 December! Join us from 6pm to raise a glass to the publication of issue 20 and hear from our brilliant contributors. Hosted by guest editor @clarakiyoko.bsky.social 🎄 booksupstairs.ie/all-events/l...

LAUNCH: Banshee | Issue 20 | Books Upstairs

Celebrate ten years of Banshee at the Dublin launch of our speculative fiction-themed 20th issue. Join us at Books Upstairs on Thursday 4 December at 6pm to raise a glass and to hear prose and poetry ...

booksupstairs.ie

Whoops, it's the 4th of December not the 6th. 😅

Eóin Dooley@eoindooley.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I will also be at the Dublin launch for this, taking place in Books Upstairs on December 6th, at 6pm. Do come along and say hi!