Our podcast has been off the packety air for a bit, but we have a bunch of episodes in the can now and are rolling out season 3. In this one, @maryannemohanraj.bsky.social try to think of the next thing to say about LLMs, by integrating all of the things said so far, and producing the next token.

Serendib House confections -- flash sale happening now: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

CHICAGO: • Thursday, November 7, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., panel discussion: On Strike Against God, a darkly comedic story of feminist love, hope, and reckoning. • Thursday, November 7 @ 6 p.m, reading at AfterWords Bookstore

Well, first up, my solidarity with Erin, and with all other people affected — and in hope of accountability. But also, while this is about the actions of one individual, it’s also not *just* about that: it’s also about an industry climate that has enabled this. I want to talk a bit about that. 🧵

Delighted to note that the SLF has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Book Foundation! This grant will support the purchase of new equipment, upgrades to software, and accessibility and finance training for staff. Excellent. www.speclit.org

Coming (reasonably) soon on the @mrahpodcast.bsky.social podcast; @maryannemohanraj.bsky.social and I talked with Sofia Samatar about the incandescent "The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain"!

The Sunday Morning Transport makes a return trip this week to the world of Mary Anne Mohanraj’s Jump Space universe (@maryannemohanraj.bsky.social) with a new story that explores multi-layered relationships, consequences, and the meaning of family. Read a sample or subscribe!

Look what's back in print! This reissue of Joanna Russ's lesbian-feminist novel "On Strike Against God" is edited by Russ's biographer and has new material from @maryannemohanraj.bsky.social, Samuel R. Delany, and Russ herself. Looking forward to it. www.feministpress.org/books-a-m/on...

Thought some of you might want to see the next several weeks of the 200-level speculative literature (fantasy) course I'm teaching. (Previously posted the first four weeks.) www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

One of my customers mentioned that he'd been to WisCon twice and loved it, so I sent him @maryannemohanraj.bsky.social's speech, which can still move me to tears: maryannemohanraj.com/science-fict...

It's weird when I'm listening to podcasts about food and gardening while I do morning chores (this morning, was Gastropod on Arctic cuisine, which was fascinating) and then it autoplays the next one and it's my own voice coming out of the phone. Freaks me out every time.

What draws you to a literary SFF convention? Detailed question here -- would you love your feedback on that post: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Veganuary challenge -- cook two vegan Sri Lankan dishes this week, get a prize! Details here: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Quick note that I'm running a 30% off sale on my vegan Sri Lankan cookbooks for the last week of #veganuary -- details here: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Folks, I haven't said anything yet about the current Hugo Award controversy (file770.com/2023-hugo-no...), and I probably won't say much substantive anytime soon.

I'm teaching a new course this semester, a 200-level speculative literature class, and I'm focusing it on fantasy. (I did SF last semester). Thought some of you might like to read along -- I may post notes occasionally. Details here: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Candle flash sale! Details here -- please order on that page: www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Dear SF/F writing community -- you can find the SLF's year-end letter here -- happy to be writing in community with you all! Happy New Year! www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Ep. 63 "OKPsyche with Anya Johanna DeNiro" out now! Joining @maryannemohanraj.bsky.social and Benjamin Rosenbaum on this episode is @adeniro.bsky.social, a trans woman and writer who recently published her novel, OKPsyche. Check out the episode now at speculativeliterature.org/ep-63-show-n...

Autumn clearance flash sale (sweets, books, jewelry, and more): www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

Sí, somos.

I'm consulting editor on a new anthology: Call for Submissions for Indopantheology: Stories from the Spiritual Margins. locusmag.com/2023/12/call...

The Sunday Morning Transport visits Mary Anne Mohanraj's (@maryannemohanraj.bsky.social) Jump Space universe today, in a story in which privilege - and its consequences - are inescapable. Read a sample or subscribe!

Based on today's sales at the Brown Cow holiday market, the target audience for my vegan cookbook is people my age or older who see the book and say, "Oh! I have a vegan daughter / nephew / grandson / etc."

The new Dr. Who episode was utterly charming and made me laugh out loud multiple times. It must have been so much fun writing the dialogue bits when they were (no spoilers) working on the ship. (Please avoid spoilers in comments for at least a few days.)

CHICAGOLAND: Free Greeting Card and Bookmark Making Demo / Workshop, plus free raffle for A Feast of Serendib: a Sri Lankan cookbook! (Or Vegan Serendib, your choice!) Friday 11/24, 3-6 p.m. Sprout, 7129 Cermak Road, Berwyn

Flash sale! www.facebook.com/mary.a.mohan...

I have a doctoral student working in the area of climate change SF/F-- she'll be writing a creative dissertation, but she has to pass her exams first, and it'd be helpful if I could point her to some relevant criticism.  I gave her Ghosh's _The Great Derangement_, but need more suggestions. Help?

Calling all artists! The SLF is looking for our 2024 Illustration of the Year! Submissions are open from 11.20 - 12.20 speculativeliterature.org/ioty/

Future novelette-ists, come get your food! Alec Nevala-Lee is serving up a course on April 13th. speculativeliterature.org/writing-the-...

Ep. 61 of MRAH Out Now: "On Israel and Palestine" In this episode, Mary Anne Mohanraj and Benjamin Rosenbaum take some time to share their grief and complicated feelings about the devastating conflict occurring between Israel and Palestine....

To finish off my Intro to SF class, I'm having the students choose one novella each from this list and briefly present on it the last day of class. Thanks to everyone who suggested novellas when I asked previously -- I did leave off some suggestions when I was completely unfamiliar with them...

Making cashew milk toffee...

Reminder that the new COVID shot isn’t just a booster, it’s a new vaccine more effective against more variants. Important to get it and remind friends & family.

The AMPTP’s “last best final” proposal would allow them to body scan performers making *more than minimum* in TV and features. Performers would get paid once. But studios would be allowed to profit off their AI likenesses without their approval forever — even after they’re dead.

Sewed an ombré leaves skirt, made a crown / halo, and and designed an outfit for Our Lady of Falling Leaves -- window decor for the new brick-and-mortar shop. Who knew window designing would be so much fun?

“The report found that all four models tested (incl. GPT4) failed when asked to respond to medical questions about kidney function, lung capacity and skin thickness… they appeared to reinforce long-held false beliefs about biological differences between Black and white people…”

Someone hurt me so now I’m going to hurt you. Because misery, company, and sharing is caring, right?

Oh hey I'm in the Fantasy exhibition at the British Library!!!

There were two widespread narratives about why inflation would be stubborn and recovery weak: great resignation, Americans not coming back to work, and quiet quitting, productivity never getting back to trend. Guess what?

Cabin crew: Is there a Dr on board? Me: I am a Dr Cabin crew: Thank God. We have a question about the 18th century textile trade in Northern Africa Me: Ah. I'm afraid my PhD is in the ceramics of Northern Europe, 1672 - 1701

Not really sorry. That feels like literature done right.

Again, relying on for-profit orgs for public goods like public health maybe wasn't our best idea.

Announcing our Micro Fiction Holiday Horrors contest! Hosted by longtime Apex slush reader and Drabble King, Kai Delmas. Send us your 100 words all about RENEWAL, and make sure it's Apexy! apex-magazine.com/apex-blog/ho...

World Fantasy schedule: Friday, 8 p.m., Mass Autographing Session (recommending picking up my books from the Larry Smith table in the dealer's room first, if you don't have them already, as I'm unlikely to have any on hand)... (1 of 2)

Delighted to announce sale of another Jump Space story, "Expulsion," to the The Sunday Morning Transport! Here's a little taste of the opening -- I'll post again when it's live, but recommend subscribing to them (and/or to my newsletter) so you don't miss it!

Hey, I'm arriving at World Fantasy tomorrow -- anyone else I know going? I have no schedule! Let's hang!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Republican party no longer in possession of a its senses or values, must be in want of a speaker.