People are making Rapture jokes like there's no tomorrow

That last repost for the early crowd.

Okay. Two books published today. Each is designed to be strange. They’re books, and not books. They know who you are, and where they came from. And they’re not going back quietly. Shipping today. ambientliterature.bigcartel.com/product/none... ambientliterature.bigcartel.com/product/none...

Hold on. I want to see billionaires do this on a live tech demo based on the AI technology they say will change the world. Make this the Opening Ceremony at Davos. (Bonus points if we can get some Dalek-themed backdrops.)

Okay. Two books published today. Each is designed to be strange. They’re books, and not books. They know who you are, and where they came from. And they’re not going back quietly. Shipping today. ambientliterature.bigcartel.com/product/none... ambientliterature.bigcartel.com/product/none...

Out of interest, has anyone shipped a book to the US since de minimis ended? And did it get through? Asking for me, before I switch shipping options back on..

It's odd to me that no UK university seems to have recognised the potential recruitment advantage of promising prospective students "Your work will never be marked using AI, unlike at [growing list of institutions]".

We don’t do unboxing videos here. But, it has arrived. Hardback and softback. Update and ordering details in a few days.

I've reduced the price of the digital version of The Wretched to £8, basically permanently, and it's in a bundle with all of my other Wretched & Alone games. This is a great opportunity to ignore all your friends and play games about being stressed and alone itch.io/s/159400/wre... #ttrpg

Marvellous. For your Sunday afternoon reading.

This is astonishing research. If @mazistyping.bsky.social has a donation pot, then I’m in for material thanks. (Cc’ing @dspk.bsky.social and @simonmoreton.bsky.social)

A very dear friend bought me a copy of @stuhorvath.com’s Monsters, Aliens and Holes in the Ground. Honestly, I’m entranced. And 16 again. Thanks @georgewalkley.com and thanks Stu. (Tunnels and Trolls. Originally. But D&D more properly)

Go and read this - and then buy one of the man's books. Not just because you're helping, but because they're foundationally terrifying, and will take your mind off the rest of the world for a while. Sending love and best wishes Laird.

This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.

TLDR: the orange fuckwit is imposing a flat $80 import fee on everything from the UK. Order immersive book things now, to avoid lining his saggy, piss-filled pockets.

quick post, on tariffs, imports to the US, and a little bit of politics. open.substack.com/pub/bittergr...

Art by Darren Cullen | www.spellingmistakescostlives.com/single-post/...

"Despite its runtime of less than fifteen minutes and the obviously modest means of its production, it’s long been canonized as not just a standard introduction to experimentalism in film studies classes, but also a critical favorite."

Spent most of the day wrestling with layouts and then realised exactly what I was recreating. (Yes, @iangadd.bsky.social, this is your fault..)

The degree to which this whole thing is predicated on a fundamental misunderstanding of *any and all* science fiction is staggering. (The Musk anecdote in here is exhibit A) www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Motherfucking wind farms…

This rules. www.alltext.nyc

ouch - recommended, regardless of breakfast or not…

Okay - I’m in. I’ll wait to see how ‘immersive’ it actually is, but it’s a clever notion, and so bring on November..

It’s the start of a journey to Withered Hill. It might not be your last step though.

That’s at @bodleianlibraries.bsky.social But regardless, go and see it.

Also talked about The Onion being inefficient on purpose. www.status.news/p/the-onion-...

The always-wonderful @simonmoreton.bsky.social delivering the lunchtime talk at @pmstudiouk.bsky.social on themes of home, landscape, grief, and small children who don’t sleep. (I may have interpreted that last one)

Artists... follow this plan. This is the way.

There’s a rather fine immersive intro too, at discover.witheredhill.place (Congrats David. So well deserved!)

@bookhaus.bsky.social’s owners are retiring, and the manager - the brilliant Darran McLaughlin (alongside the equally brilliant Phil Wrigglesworth) are crowdfunding to buy the bookshop - they deserve all your support: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bookhaus--...

Thoroughly recommended… Don’t forget to order a copy. Again.

Alex Cox talking on wandering the shelves of a video store and finding films worth watching with Moviedrome as a guide. The BBC canned Moviedrome for being 'too didactic'. Didactic is in the BBC's charter - educate and entertain. More didacticism. www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/a...

this for @veritymcintosh.bsky.social in advance of the next Immersive Arts management meeting…

This is a superb and concise retelling of the ‘other’ radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. Not the one you’re familiar with, and one that had rather more impact…

(Thread breaks multiple times, so to avoid that, go to this one, scroll all the way up, visit the bathroom, grab a drink and a snack, then SETTLE IN.) bsky.app/profile/aida...

Fully funded PhD in the lab, looking at detecting/classifying gestures and tactile interactions with wearable technology. Come and join the lab. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNL898/f...

Stage one. 24 hard bound cases ‘treated’ with an oxyacetylene torch. Now to flatten them back and move to the inner contents. (I’m making a book)

Something else we missed when David lynch passed. www.indiewire.com/news/general...

A series of announcements, and a yard sale. open.substack.com/pub/bittergr...

New @thebookseller.com survey on AI use in publishing is out today. A few reflections on the data🧵 1. Just 18% of respondents “optimistic”, 58% “concerned.” By contrast, Proyecto451’s much larger study in Spanish publishing found 54% “positive/very positive”, only 20% “negative.” (1/7)

I used to have a beer with @baldurbjarnason.com about twice a month, and I’ve never heard most of these stories. (I have heard at least one he’s not mentioned here, but that wasn’t anything to do with book production)

Did you know Michael Biehn (Aliens) filmed an action adventure series in Bristol in 2002? AND it was produced by @galeannehurd.bsky.social? See if these any of places look familiar! #AdventureInc #Bristol #BristolFilm

If you’re a writer, it’s important to take regular breaks. Gradually increase their frequency and duration. Eventually you will have stopped writing altogether, and can take your place as a normal, decent member of society.

If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, then you’re not in business. You’re in organized crime.

As it would be the birthday of #PeterCushing today, I feel obligated to tell this story of one of the nicest men in horror.

Vienna granted asylum to a spherical micronation in 1982, changed their mind, fought all the way to the supreme court, lost, then gave up. It's still sat in a public park and has 650 citizens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugelmu...

This is the body. This is the water. And this is the well. Drink full and descend. The horse is the white of the eyes and dark within.