Huysmans' Against Nature (À rebours) is a bit funnier than I thought it would be.
ben peek
@nosubstance.bsky.social
Author of The Godless, 26Lies, Dead Americans and other novels. Short fiction in Lightspeed, Clarkesworld, Nightmare, Overland, etc. Lives in the edges of Sydney, Australia. http://linktr.ee/benpeek
This week's No Substance is about Charles Maturin's Melmoth, and about Sarah Perry's.
No Substance #275: Two Melmoths
I spent some time reading Charles Maturin’s 1820 novel, Melmoth the Wanderer. I spent more time than time that I should have, really, but it’s how it goes sometimes.
nosubstance.substack.com
This week's No Substance is about Charles Maturin's Melmoth, and about Sarah Perry's.
No Substance #275: Two Melmoths
I spent some time reading Charles Maturin’s 1820 novel, Melmoth the Wanderer. I spent more time than time that I should have, really, but it’s how it goes sometimes.
nosubstance.substack.com
Folks, Lightspeed & Nightmare magazines need your support. www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/a...
Announcement: We're Launching a New Kickstarter Soon. Sign up to be notified when it launches! - Lightspeed Magazine
On September 15, 2026, we’ll be launching our first Kickstarter campaign in more than a decade, to fund Year 17 of Lightspeed and Year 15 of Nightmare. Join us for a year of new short fiction from som...
lightspeedmagazine.com
It’s Asterix and Obelix I think. I just remember thinking they were funny and weird and I liked that.
G. Willow Wilson@gwillow.me · 3d agoIf you’re a comics fan, what’s the earliest comic book you can remember reading? And what kind of impression did it make on you?
The thing people seem to forget about criticism is that it is its own art. It doesn’t exist to validate (or invalidate) an artist. It has its own structures, body of work, and theories. It’s not about is it good or bad. That’s the kind of thinking that has led to ppl drinking raw milk.
Lolita. I’m tired of listening to the takes of ppl who haven’t read it but know what it’s about, or so they say.
Sophia_Nyx 🏳️⚧️@sophianyx.bsky.social · 6d agoName a book you wish everyone else had to read.
This week's No Substance is about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
No Substance #274: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
I saw The Odyssey last week though I hadn’t planned to.
nosubstance.substack.com
This week's No Substance is about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
No Substance #274: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
I saw The Odyssey last week though I hadn’t planned to.
nosubstance.substack.com
It’s interesting (and sad) that the right’s campaign to kill The Odyssey has failed when they’ve made it work so well against female led superhero films. It says, perhaps, ugly things about the audience of the latter? Or that these campaigns have little impact and the films would fail regardless?
Saw Nolan’s The Odyssey yesterday, somewhat unexpectedly. Everyone has an opinion about it, and I have mine. Simply put I thought it was pretty much your standard Nolan fare. It’s fine without being anything truly interesting, or groundbreaking. Tom Holland is miscast, however.
This week's No Substance is more a rambling one than anything, but it's about personal libraries.
No Substance #273: Thoughts on a Personal Library
I was reading an essay by Ignacio M.
nosubstance.substack.com
This week's No Substance is more a rambling one than anything, but it's about personal libraries.
No Substance #273: Thoughts on a Personal Library
I was reading an essay by Ignacio M.
nosubstance.substack.com
I see people bitching about the half time show but the game itself isn’t very good and now we’re in extra time and you might as well bring back Shakira.
I do all these writing workshops and I’ve done them for years now and it’s always the same, people who wanna write but don’t read, and look, save your time and your money and listen to me now, you wanna write you gotta read.
One day, there will be no track work, no replacement buses, or a fire on the light rail. One day.
This is a fantastic collection. I gotta figure out if Lee’s novels are in print.
This week's No Substance is a brief introduction to my new story in Aurealis. It's part of my Black Empire (or Ministry) stories, the name of which I haven't really settled upon, even if I have written a few.
No Substance #272: Sons & Fathers in Aurealis #192
I’ve got a new story out this month called ‘Sons & Fathers’ in the latest issue of Aurealis, #192.
nosubstance.substack.com
So sad to hear. It felt like I grew up with Neill in every corner of film, from In the Mouth of Madness, Dead Calm, Event Horizon, Jurassic Park, The Piano, and Sweet Country. A fine actor who will be missed.
ABC News Australia@news.abc.net.au · 3w agoActor Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park, dies
ABC iView has Death in Brunswick, with Sam Neill and John Clarke. It remains a goddam classic, and a great way to remember him: iview.abc.net.au/video/ZX0410...
Death In Brunswick
Down-on-his-luck Carl Fitzgerald falls for Sophie while working as a cook, but things get complicated when he accidentally kills a fellow worker. Now he must turn to his best friend Dave to help him d...
iview.abc.net.au
This week's No Substance is a brief introduction to my new story in Aurealis. It's part of my Black Empire (or Ministry) stories, the name of which I haven't really settled upon, even if I have written a few.
No Substance #272: Sons & Fathers in Aurealis #192
I’ve got a new story out this month called ‘Sons & Fathers’ in the latest issue of Aurealis, #192.
nosubstance.substack.com
If you're not on Meta (understandable) the letter is also on my website. Email me or message here to add your name. Thanks!
An Open Letter from members of the speculative fiction community to The Queensland Writer's Centre regarding the recently announced Aurealis Awards - Alan Baxter
Below is an open letter to the Queensland Writers Centre in response to their recently announced changes to the Aurealis Awards. We have collected a handful of signatories already and invite anyone wh...
alanbaxter.com.au
Alan Baxter@alanbaxter.bsky.social · 4w agoAussie spec-fic friends, please have a look here and add your signature if you agree. Thanks! www.facebook.com/alanbaxterau...
The Aurealis Awards have some problems, it’s true. There’s too many categories for a field as thin as Australia’s, and this impacts on quality judges and prestige in the award itself. But accessibility should never be a problem - especially given the very real class divides that exist in art.
ben peek@nosubstance.bsky.social · 4w agoThose are some fancy new fees for the Aurealis Awards. Pretty wild tbh. Seems like a very real choice to make sure certain people can’t be involved. Seems shitty and elitist and laughable. Australia SF doesn’t need more barriers in it. Try and be better.
Those are some fancy new fees for the Aurealis Awards. Pretty wild tbh. Seems like a very real choice to make sure certain people can’t be involved. Seems shitty and elitist and laughable. Australia SF doesn’t need more barriers in it. Try and be better.
Friends, in a couple days I'll announce the table of contents for "The Best Weird Fiction of the Year, Vol. 2." Meanwhile, here are the very notable stories that garnered much consideration and will be listed in the book. As always, great stuff.
Got a dark little story called 'Sons & Fathers' in the latest issue of Aurealis if you're keen
Aurealis #192
Our July 2026 issue opens with a guest editorial by Scott Vandervalk who shares his search for new hooks in fantasy stories. Aurealis #192 features the captivating 'The Square' by EL Edwards, the disq...
smashwords.com
Was in a bar tonight. At one stage, as I wandered the hallways looking for a bathroom, I came across a men’s bookclub reading William Gass’ The Tunnel. There must have been six of seven of them, each with that massive edition of the book, like a fever dream, or a scene from a David Lynch film.
Got a dark little story called 'Sons & Fathers' in the latest issue of Aurealis if you're keen
Aurealis #192
Our July 2026 issue opens with a guest editorial by Scott Vandervalk who shares his search for new hooks in fantasy stories. Aurealis #192 features the captivating 'The Square' by EL Edwards, the disq...
smashwords.com