This week's essay is up: continuing my look at Iain M. Banks' Culture novels with Matter (2008). Podcast version to follow shortly.

Loved this. Locus review won't be online for a bit, but here's the conclusion.

Happy publication day to this little book

On to this next, a somewhat fictionalised account of John von Neumann, he of the self-replicating machines and much more besides, it turns out. Early days, but I think I'm going to enjoy it immensely. #nonfiction #science #mathematics #vonneumann

New video! I take a look at the roster of new science fiction books out soon. Check it out 👀! 📚🪐💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube youtu.be/98AwFfhyGo4

Finished this, a military space opera type thang. Nice found family vibe among the crew, some pretty kinetic close combat scenes. Tees up the next book nicely. 🚀📚🪐💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #nowreading #spaceopera

After our romance picks yesterday, here's a selection of Solaris titles that either have no romance or aren't focused on romantic relationships! Perfect for those who are fed up of all the Valentine's fuss! Ft Premee Mohamed Sam K Horton @vajra.me Lorraine Wilson & more! 1/4

New video! I take a look at the roster of new science fiction books out soon. Check it out 👀! 📚🪐💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube youtu.be/98AwFfhyGo4

Looks like more provisional additions to the SF Masterworks coming this year. Subject to change. A couple of exciting ones let down a little by the addition of a Philip K. Dick 🪐📚💙

We’re deep into recent genre writing this month on the podcast. Regular episode is @annasmithspark.bsky.social ‘s Sword of Bronze and Ashes and for our patrons we discuss EJ Swift’s The Coral Bones.

Egan is such a blast to read—really enjoyed revisiting this one with Eden. We somehow didn't make the Ted Chiang comp, but: if you are hungry for more like EXHALATION or STORIES OF YOUR LIFE, pick up some Egan post-haste.

@unlikelyworlds.bsky.social reading from his new book Loss Protocol, in a pub, organised by @srfantasyclub.bsky.social #scifibooks #sciencefiction

Scored the first signed copy Loss Protocol at an event run by @srfantasyclub.bsky.social near King's Cross. 📚🪐💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #bookcollecting #bookhaul

New Book Releases: February 10, 2026 locusmag.com/2026/02...

Would you like to read about haunted architecture, the vicissitudes of AI minds, and a whole lot of my thinking about Shirley Jackson and Le Corbusier? in PAPERBACK? because you can do that now! My Hugo-nominated novella ROSE/HOUSE is out in paperback today in the US wherever books are sold!

Choice selection of my @unlikelyworlds.bsky.social collection signed, thank you Paul, pint on the go, ready for talk to start. #scifibooks #sciencefiction #bookcollecting 📚🪐💙

Le Monde on The Vanishing Kind: "It takes a certain audacity,a certain talent,or perhaps both,to return to the well-trodden soil of the alternate history genre...Tidhar lacks neither, and he subtly shifts the genre's center of gravity...constant tension [leads to] to a final twist of rare elegance."

Lunchtime charity shop find, two of your Earth pounds. Jolly good. #scifibooks #sciencefiction #bookcollecting #bookhaul 📚🪐💙

Watching a - tbh not very good - documentary about whale scientists trying to decode humpback whale communication, and I remain convinced to that one of the undervalued glories of modern civilisation is that it allows people to earn a living (or at least a research grant) doing crazy shit like this.

If you've read any of Dave Hutchinson's books, there is lots of interesting background info in this conversation. And if you haven't read any of his excellent books, get to it! :-)

Project Hail Mary (March 20): Final trailer Very good trailer for what promises to be a great sci-fi movie, but beware, it reveals a lot about the story and, above all, shows a lot of Rocky. ☝️

New Video! I chat to @hutchinsondave.bsky.social author of the Fractured Europe series, and most recently of The Essence which I read and very much enjoyed last month. Check it out 👀! 📚🪐🩵 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube youtu.be/K31ewZ2vPBQ

New Video! I chat to @hutchinsondave.bsky.social author of the Fractured Europe series, and most recently of The Essence which I read and very much enjoyed last month. Check it out 👀! 📚🪐🩵 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube youtu.be/K31ewZ2vPBQ

I have the timeline done, including the Inhibitor Phase elements (that was in the back of the book!). Working on the voice over to go with. Am up to fhe year 2500, Melding Plague imminent, then it's just the 37,500 years to cover until the galactic leave-taking.

New #Shelfies alert! This week, we have Paul McAuley @UnlikelyWorlds on London! Don't forget you can subscribe for a free weekly shelfie in your inbox!

There is now a Discord server associated with my YouTube channel, a great place to chat and share your interest with other fans of sf old and new. Come on in! discord.gg/7P7b2Bdf6

🚀 An amazing night at the Flame Tree Press Sauúti Horrors anthology launch, where I caught @stephenembleton.bsky.social and @genni.bsky.social and met the wonderful Cheryl Ntumy and Jude Umeh. This sci-fi universe is 100% African and bursting with detail. Get it today wherever you find your books!

Shelf 17 of my science fiction library. Here be anthologies. I do have a bunch more, the Dozois mammoths and other bits and bobs but they are elsewhere. Collections are shelved alphabetically/with the author. #scifibooks #sciencefiction #bookcollecting #shelfie

But if we're picking stories for an anthology, I'd go with Diamond Dogs Beyond The Aquila Rift Thousandth Night As they hit like the best Twilight Zone episodes. bsky.app/profile/quit...

Want some British Military SF? Of course you do!

It's my birthday. Pre-order my book! bookshop.org/p/books/audi...

circa 1985, I hopped over the barrier at the Crystal Palace track at a big athletics meet to get Daley Thompson's autograph. He told me to bugger off, or words to that effect. To be fair, he was holding a big pole and about to start his run-up.

The Folio Society's spring collection includes some outstanding SF/F titles: Andy Weir's The Martian, Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, China Miéville's Perdido Street Station, and more. www.andrewliptak.com/folio-societ...

100% agree on The Essence. I thought Shroud was good too, a Tchaikovsky hit for me.

Your new horror listen. Freezing. Infectious. rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...

After a mildly mind-bending read, I feel the need for something lighter, more bangy-crashy. This should do the trick! #scifibooks #sciencefiction #spaceopera #nowreading

righto, finished 381. an odd fantasy-esque coming-of-age quest with a science fiction framing. spent most of it thinking WTF is going on here? each section of the underlying tale is exactly 381 words long. the number is clearly significant and some of that resolves, sort of, by the end.

new video! I take a look back at the 13 books I read in January. Check it out 👀! 📚👍💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube #wrapup youtu.be/ajFnRpmbDqY

Finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist. Watching Line of Duty. 14 years late....

Humans must be silent. Humans must be obedient. Humans must be good. We're excited to share an excerpt from @edashtonwriting.bsky.social's buddy comedy/alien invasion story/workplace satire After The Fall!

What in the actual flip is going on here? Half way in and I've no real idea. In it for the long haul though.

new video! I take a look back at the 13 books I read in January. Check it out 👀! 📚👍💙 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #booktube #wrapup youtu.be/ajFnRpmbDqY

Next week! Sci-Fi and Fantasy Author Readings and Chat with: Kim Curran @kimecurran.bsky.social Paul McAuley @unlikelyworlds.bsky.social 6:30pm, Tuesday 10th February Come along! Free tickets: srfcfeb2026.eventbrite.com

£1.99 charity shop pickup today. Spine is a bit creased but these Pelham covers don't show up very often. gotta grab em when you can. 📚🪐 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #bookcollecting #bookhaul

I'm about half way in to a dimly remembered re-read. It functions as a standalone but there are familiar locations, a familiar lighthugger and some new characters that may not be as new as first appears. 📚🪐 #scifibooks #sciencefiction #nowreading #spaceopera #hardsf

My daughter, 24, just asked to borrow this. Sure, when I'm finished. Why? I wondered. It's got a pink cover, I'm sure I'll like it, she says. Apparently that is her main criteria for book selection. I've created a monster.

Pre-ordered mine today. Sucker for a fancy edition. I bought the Hyperion special edition last year so it seemed rude, churlish even, not to complete the set. I think I will use the original art dust jackets from the US editions. 📚🪐

And if this 👇👇👇 isn't enough Ken for you, here's a chat we had a couple of years back. youtu.be/inqrXBf6KQ8

Jitterbug hits shelves 4 weeks today, and it’s going to take you on one heck of an adventure! Preorder from your favourite retailer. @titanbooks.bsky.social