Omg buuuuuuuy iiiiiiiit

It’s Christmas so I’m reading purely for fun which means re-reading Malka Older’s infomocracy series.

You can still buy the ebook of our July-Dec 2025 collection in time for Christmas (especially if you're not in Australia!) - or a delayed physical book is better than no book... or if you want to gift a subscription, get in touch! www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

The Coode Street Advent Calendar 2025 - Day 25 Today Jonathan for the final instalment of our Advent Calendar chats with E. J. Swift about what she's been reading, been writing, and would recommend! www.podbean.com/eas/pb-p4cma...

How one Japanese Confucian scholar confronted the arrival of American ships in the 19th century: write the first Japanese SF novel (probably). Subscribe now to read this essay - AUD30/year (about GBP15 or USD19), and get the 6-monthly ebook (inc. two exclusive essays!). www.speculativeinsight.com

NEW ESSAY! I have been researching the origins of Japanese cinema throughout 2025, with a future project in mind. Here, as a festive gift, is the story of Japan's first-ever feature film: Makino Shozo's 47 ronin adaptation Chusingura. fictionmachine.com/2025/12/23/h...

A very short book about the film DIE HARD, contextualising it American politics and within the action movie oeuvre. I love that cover! randomalex.net/2025/12/23/d...

How one Japanese Confucian scholar confronted the arrival of American ships in the 19th century: write the first Japanese SF novel (probably). Subscribe now to read this essay - AUD30/year (about GBP15 or USD19), and get the 6-monthly ebook (inc. two exclusive essays!). www.speculativeinsight.com

Want to read about one of the earliest Japanese SF novels? In which a Japanese fleet heads to Britain, to be the saviours of Asia? Subscribe now (AUD30/year, about GBP15 or USD19) to read the essay, AND get the 6-monthly ebook (which includes bonus essays!). www.speculativeinsight.com

In which Eli K.P Williams discusses a very early Japanese SF novel - Japan invades Britain to save Asia! - and how it was influenced by the author's Confucian beliefs. Subscribe now to read (AUD30/year, about GBP15 or USD19): www.speculativeinsight.com You'll also get the 6-monthly ebook!

Want to read about one of the earliest Japanese SF novels? In which a Japanese fleet heads to Britain, to be the saviours of Asia? Subscribe now (AUD30/year, about GBP15 or USD19) to read the essay, AND get the 6-monthly ebook (which includes bonus essays!). www.speculativeinsight.com

Did you miss this? Don't miss the book! It's got great essays across a range of SFF topics! Subscribing is AUD30/yr and it gets you two 6-monthly ebooks (like this), or you can buy the ebook (AUD20) or paperback (AUD35, inc shipping). www.speculativeinsight.com

The perfect book for Christmas.

Oh wow, can’t believe this has popped up a decade after publication. So very proud of this book - my first editing experience.

Maybe the earliest Japanese SF story is about Japan invading Britain, as Eli KP William explains in this new essay . Subscribe now (AUD30) to read - and get the July-Dec ebook with TWO exclusive essays! www.speculativeinsight.com/subs (~GBP15 or USD19. Ish.)

In which Eli K.P Williams discusses a very early Japanese SF novel - Japan invades Britain to save Asia! - and how it was influenced by the author's Confucian beliefs. Subscribe now to read (AUD30/year, about GBP15 or USD19): www.speculativeinsight.com You'll also get the 6-monthly ebook!

NEW REVIEW! Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind (2025) is now streaming on Mubi. It's a very low-key affair, almost like an anti-thriller, with a sensational performance by Josh O'Connor. fictionmachine.com/2025/12/20/r...

Maybe the earliest Japanese SF story is about Japan invading Britain, as Eli KP William explains in this new essay . Subscribe now (AUD30) to read - and get the July-Dec ebook with TWO exclusive essays! www.speculativeinsight.com/subs (~GBP15 or USD19. Ish.)

The July-Dec 2025 book collects the essays from those 6 months plus two excellent (and queer) exclusives: one about Southeast Asian SFF authors, another about villains who are kinda heroes (Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man...) Subscribe for free ebook, or: www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

🌌 A tea specialist-turned-assassin embarks on a quest to rescue her sibling. 🪐 Scientists & soldiers try to colonize a planet, only to discover their new home can fight back. There are a few signed copies of THE SPLINTER IN THE SKY and THIS WORLD IS NOT YOURS at @greenapplebooks.bsky.social in SFO!

NEW REVIEW: "When faced with a choice of historical fidelity or charming pastiche, Doctor Who owes its premise to choose the pastiche every time." fictionmachine.com/2025/12/19/t...

ICYMI!

Kindling is now available on audiobook! Narrated by Felicity Jurd www.audible.com.au/pd/Kindling-...

Finished this book tonight & I know I'm an Angela Slatter fangirl and all, but this book about the witch Mehrab and the strange and dangerous creatures she encounters in the woods (and the local village), is fierce and angry and joyful and lusty and wicked in a way that is pure, dark fairytale fire.

This is familiar territory, and it's good to see it so clearly articulated.

Did you miss this exuberant video from Ng Y-Sheng? Does that mean you don't know that you can read his essay by subscribing to Speculative Insight (& get the ebook free - AUD30/yr), OR by buying an e- or paper copy of the Dec 2025 book? www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

Today's Love Letter is a reflection on the incredible, healing, life-affirming power of pain -- and how good it is to get the chance to hurt.

ICYMI

I loved it also.

Ng Yi-Sheng discusses his new essay, "Dragonfruit Jungle," about the queer authors and themes of modern Southeast Asian SFFH. You can read the essay in the December 2025 SI book - buy it now, or subscribe (AUD30/year) and get the ebook free! www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

Basically an old-fashioned military-ish science fiction explosion-heavy novel. It's a bit silly and I read it really fast. randomalex.net/2025/12/17/a...

The Coode Street Advent Calendar 2025 - Day 17 Today Gary and Jonathan chat with Alastair Reynolds about his new novel and very busy year. We also chat about what he's been reading and his seasonal recommendations. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-u3jmn...

If you want to read this book RIGHT NOW, you can buy the ebook (AUD20). Or you can subscribe for AUD30, get the ebook for free, and get the June 2026 book for free as well! www.speculativeinsight.com

Here it is! The magical medical school book I've been talking about for years! 🫀✨💀📙 BODIES OF MAGIC will be taking your pulse & injecting itself into your veins in September next year.

USMAAAN

Subscription recommendation! Being a Bedrock even more!

The Coode Street Advent Calendar 2025 - Day 16 @garykwolfe.bsky.social and Jonathan talk to Kim Stanley Robinson about what he's been reading, seasonal traditions, his new book and his return to novel writing. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-pgtvg...

10 years ago I wrote about the making of The Princess Bride, one of my favourite films. With the death of its director, Rob Reiner, I wanted to share it again. There is no better way to remember him than with a story of true love. fictionmachine.com/2015/02/12/t...

OR if you like limited editions, there's the hardcover consisting of all 27 essays from 2025! (24 from the online journal, three bonuses - inc. the Lee Murray piece from the July book). It's AUD70, which includes shipping... and it's quite large... www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

Can't be bothered subscribing? Like a paper book? The July-December collection is here, with all essays since July PLUS two exclusives (one by Ng Yi-Sheng, the other by Chris Campbell & H.E Milla). Of course, you can subscribe and get the ebook for free... www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

Recently published, the new Green Man book: wizardstowerpress.co...

2025 Books We Loved: Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings locusmag.com/2025/12...

NEW REVIEW! Of Leigh Whannell and James Wan's three key horror franchises, Insidious definitely seems the weirdest. fictionmachine.com/2025/12/15/r...

Did I mention that this book has TWO bonus essays? Ng Yi-Sheng, on SEAsian queer authors and themes, and one by Chris Campbell and H.E Milla: "Dressed like a Villain, Built like a Savior" - about queer-coded villains and how they're heroes... www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

LOOK at this amazing cover, art by @bydhiyanah.bsky.social! I'm so happy with it! The book is the December compilation of SI essays, now available for purchase! Paperback or ebook (or limited edition hardcover, covering all of 2025...). www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections

Food nerd? Bloomsbury's Object Lessons has done the taco... randomalex.net/2025/12/14/t...

Today Jonathan chats with Wole Talabi about what he's been reading, what he'd recommend, his fabulous 2025 novella "Descent" and his forthcoming novel, The Fist of Memory. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-wiepa...

A great piece with an important message - "we cannot get what we cannot imagine." The hero's journey & the stories it creates aren't separate from the political, social, & economic landscape we live in, one that values individuality over community, mastery over collaboration...

On the question of Jospeh Campbell, his conception of the Hero's Journey, and its failure to account for significant parts of activism and hero-work... Read Donna Glee Williams' excellent essay here: www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/hero-journey

The Convenors' Award for Excellence may be given to non-fiction, artwork, film, television, electronic or multimedia work, or other Australian speculative fiction related work which brings credit or attention to the speculative fiction genres. aurealisawards.org/rules/#the-c...