“Are the Schools dangerous?” “If you cannot guide the bridges, or open the sealed gates, if you don’t know how to summon a light in darkness or seal a pact with a demon or charm the shower water to a tolerable temperature, then they are dangerous.” DEAD HAND RULE

When I feel unmotivated I just try to remind myself what it's all really about: unlocking the secrets of a cursed manuscript and acquiring otherworldly powers that come at a horrifying cost.

“Are the Schools dangerous?” “If you cannot guide the bridges, or open the sealed gates, if you don’t know how to summon a light in darkness or seal a pact with a demon or charm the shower water to a tolerable temperature, then they are dangerous.” DEAD HAND RULE

"Much as Cat would like to buy ringside seats for a Wreckers-versus-gargoyles throwdown, that seemed like the sort of diplomatic incident it was now her job to avoid." DEAD HAND RULE

This week started v badly but appearance to be looking up! Darkest before the dawn etc etc

"Much as Cat would like to buy ringside seats for a Wreckers-versus-gargoyles throwdown, that seemed like the sort of diplomatic incident it was now her job to avoid." DEAD HAND RULE

BIG list of books we're interested in seeing coverage for in October, and we haven't even listed all the excellent horror on the way (feel free to pitch!):

NEW POST: Craft Sequence world map part 2! Was I in a cafe last night cutting out made up continents and gluing them down? Yes, yes I was. Is it nearly twice as long despite having v few textual sources? Also yes! Enjoy: www.thehiddenschools.com/articles/wor...

NEW POST: Craft Sequence world map part 2! Was I in a cafe last night cutting out made up continents and gluing them down? Yes, yes I was. Is it nearly twice as long despite having v few textual sources? Also yes! Enjoy: www.thehiddenschools.com/articles/wor...

Did you know that one of the oldest team sports—the Mesoamerican ballgame played by the Olmecs, Maya, Mexicas, and many other Indigenous groups across Mexico and Central America—is played in Los Angeles?

Also just found a reference to a location in Southern Kath I didn't include last time. Basically zero info other than thst it's driveable from the spirecliffs, but shall add it in now I've found it.

Update: these blobs are much more difficult to draw and place.

Dublin? AKA fairly near to me so I might be able to go? Have supported! I am very new to cons so had no idea how this kind of thing works, thanks Meg ☺️

I've finished the text of part 2! It's 2k words longer than the first. Oops. Now to draw some blob maps!

While I'm busy writing the next world map essay, have an audio version of this year's most popular essay: HOW TO KILL A GOD. Going to try to record all my essays going forward, but it takes a bit longer than writing...! Enjoy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcl...

"Some of the bays are still tainted by the Cataclysm, so the kraken and sea serpents and the other big monsters stay away. The ocean between the Fangs is warmer than the Pax, shallower. On calm days you can see all the way down to sunken Quechal cities overgrown with coral.” TWO SERPENTS RISE

The first year I’ve really struggled to get women on board. One final plea. I’ll gladly give up my own speaking slot because I’d really love more women and people from racially minoritised communities.

While I'm busy writing the next world map essay, have an audio version of this year's most popular essay: HOW TO KILL A GOD. Going to try to record all my essays going forward, but it takes a bit longer than writing...! Enjoy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcl...

"Some of the bays are still tainted by the Cataclysm, so the kraken and sea serpents and the other big monsters stay away. The ocean between the Fangs is warmer than the Pax, shallower. On calm days you can see all the way down to sunken Quechal cities overgrown with coral.” TWO SERPENTS RISE

This is a FASCINATING thread, thank you

NEW POST: Mapping the world of the Craft Sequence Nine books in, yet no world map for the Craft Sequence. I am here to change this. Today, let’s look at Northern and Southern Kath. Beware terrible blob-maps (yet entirely evidence-based). www.thehiddenschools.com/articles/wor...

NEW POST: Mapping the world of the Craft Sequence Nine books in, yet no world map for the Craft Sequence. I am here to change this. Today, let’s look at Northern and Southern Kath. Beware terrible blob-maps (yet entirely evidence-based). www.thehiddenschools.com/articles/wor...

Happy Father's Day! I pulled together this stack of books featuring fathers and exploring fatherhood: from the dads who are Perfect and Kind to the ones who are... not, mentors & protectors, priests, psychics, soldiers, & kings, good & the bad alike in one of our earliest & strongest relationships.

Oof constant job applications and rejections are depressing, as the end of my current contract looms ever closer...

My favorite form of self care is conjuring a dark and unspeakable evil and letting it deal with my problems for the day.

The Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards voting is still open until Sunday, August 8 at 8 pm Pacific! Don't forget to submit your ballots if you're an Attending, Virtual, or WSFS member. If you don't have a membership yet, you can sign up through the #LAconV site now: lacon.org/register

The King in Red during the Skittersill Rising

What are some classic SFFH books you'd like to see on Bar Cart Bookshelf?

Ohmygod Haggis was just made legal* in Massachusetts because of the Tartan Army??? With so much awful news out there, this is so delightful (*symbolic executive order) news.stv.tv/scotland/mas...

The King in Red during the Skittersill Rising

“Denovo looks even less aged than you.” “He drinks the life of those who come too close to him. Steals their youth. Also,” she said after a pause, “he moisturizes.” THREE PARTS DEAD

Visiting my friend in her new place, and I spy my influence.

“Denovo looks even less aged than you.” “He drinks the life of those who come too close to him. Steals their youth. Also,” she said after a pause, “he moisturizes.” THREE PARTS DEAD

“They know I’m here. They want revenge, and they want my strength. They will come for me. And I will break them. I am the Chief Craftswoman to Kos Everburning and Seril the Lady of Light of Alt Coulumb. I have wrestled gods, and I will not abandon you.” DEAD COUNTRY

Market and publicize your backlist. Market and publicize your backlist. Market and publicize your backlist. Market and publicize your backlist. Market and publicize your backlist.

Casella is doing SO MUCH for the genre, he should get at least one Hugo imo

The Scots are in Boston for the World Cup and have bestowed the highest honor given by the Scottish people: putting traffic cones on their statues

I knew virtually nothing about Scotland or the Scots before them invading Boston for the World Cup … I am obsessed with them. They’re insane? And so fun. And SO nice and talkative and thankful for the hospitality. And super duper drunk always.

Really enjoying all the Boston news clips being obsessed over the Tartan Army visiting. Was SLIGHTLY worried our generally decent reputation as tourists could be tarnished given, you know, football and alcohol, but no! Absolutely delightful.

Artists! Quote with your blue art! 💙

Visiting my friend in her new place, and I spy my influence.

“They know I’m here. They want revenge, and they want my strength. They will come for me. And I will break them. I am the Chief Craftswoman to Kos Everburning and Seril the Lady of Light of Alt Coulumb. I have wrestled gods, and I will not abandon you.” DEAD COUNTRY

A skeleton in a crimson bathrobe stood behind him. It held a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, and a folded newspaper in the other. A circlet of red gold adorned its skull, and two ruby sparks glittered from the pits where its eyes would have been. TWO SERPENTS RISE

A skeleton in a crimson bathrobe stood behind him. It held a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, and a folded newspaper in the other. A circlet of red gold adorned its skull, and two ruby sparks glittered from the pits where its eyes would have been. TWO SERPENTS RISE

"Kai had more experience with this creeping-down-corridors business than your average Kavekanese priestess, thanks to her prior work with Tara, but it was hardly her core competency." WICKED PROBLEMS

"Kai had more experience with this creeping-down-corridors business than your average Kavekanese priestess, thanks to her prior work with Tara, but it was hardly her core competency." WICKED PROBLEMS

Auto captions have put "Glass Rose Snow" instead of "Last First Snow." They also hate Dead Hand Rule in my accent, making it Dead Hen Roll. I expected names and locations to be wrong but these did surprise me.

Craft Sequence (prob best animation) and Code Name Verity (BBC minseries) The real white whale is I want to be the showrunner/head writer for both.

"It is a metaphor for climate change, but fun!" - Claire North on their latest novel Slow Gods at @cymerafestival.co.uk

And everywhere there were skulls, the lighting in their bleak eyes staring out, as the beast opened many mouths to loose a thunderous infrasonic roar. Tara cackled in the cataclysm. She might even have shouted “Rise!” Kai couldn’t make it out, amid the tombs bursting open, ravens crying, et cetera.