This is Zarjaz news - the readers of @2000ad.bsky.social voted RED DRAGON the top story of 2025 and JUDGE DREDD: AND TO THE SEA RETURN came in second place. Cc collaborators @paddyg.bsky.social @dylanteague.bsky.social @henryflint.bsky.social & @simonbowland.bsky.social

Distract yourself from the long, cold grind of January by mangling your brain in the company of the two must mismatched detectives in crime fiction. The Cracked Mirror is a Kindle monthly deal. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CKYRHQ4B/

Subtweet: You do not feel safer in London *despite* it being more diverse than other towns. You feel safer in London because it is generally safe, and there being a lot of brown people here has LITERALLY NOTHING to do with how safe you are.

It would mean the world to my boy if you could like the trailer for his new animation series and subscribe to his channel. Thank you. youtu.be/wtOo2MmWytk?...

I have two nominations in the @brokenfrontier.bsky.social Awards! For Nessie and for my Marvel book! An honour to be on the list with such lovely nominees! Take a look and vote here! www.brokenfrontier.com/introducing-...

So far in 1066: • Edward the Confessor has died. • Harold Godwineson has been named king instead of Edgar Ætheling. • Edward has been buried. • Harold has been crowned. It's still only 6 January.

Oh gawd it's January, which means my book is coming out in paperback on the 29th! Waterstones are doing an exclusive edition with red edges, a prequel chapter AND the first chapter of the sequel, The Hoard and can be pre-ordered THUSLY: www.waterstones.com/book/pagans/...

If you want to know who took all of your money, it's the people with all of the money. Famously, we know that's people working in child care.

Yes, hello? I don’t think 2026 is working properly. I’d like to cancel my free 5 day trial please.

Series Five - Episode Five Tourist Trap Special With @garethgwynn.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

Agree. I've lived in Croydon since 2012. Perfectly safe despite its reputation. Yes it has its problems, but they are issues of socio-economic deprivation not safety. And yes, everyone says thanks to the bus driver. Yes people are wishing you happy new year on the street.

New Year, new beginning, right? I used to do predictions for the year ahead, but in the Mad World we’re in it seems a wild roll of the dice. Instead a hope: the end of one despot which could set off a chain reaction bringing down other despots and would-be despots. A chance to turn to the light.

I spoke to @sixteenthcgirl.bsky.social about secrets hidden in Tudor art for the latest episode of Not Just the Tudors - find it wherever you get your podcasts!: shows.acast.com/not-just-the...

Please know it's never too late to reach out if you're experiencing abuse, you deserve safety and respect. Resources here: For women: womensaid.org.uk For LGBTQ+ specific help: www.galop.org.uk For men: mensadviceline.org.uk If you are worried you are perpetrating abuse: respectphoneline.org.uk

Another of Brian Bolland’s fine covers for London’s Time Out magazine, this time for September 23rd 1987’s issue.

How am I only just now hearing about the existence of the maned wolf? WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED?!

This seems a bit suspicious.

Princelet Street, Spitalfields, London - December 2025

Instead of watching a panel show in which a man who has been credibly accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment does nazi salutes, you can simply watch Horrible Science on iplayer for free, which has great comedy, interesting facts about dinosaurs and space & no nazi salutes x

So, just to confirm, the BBC can’t keep Robin Ince on the air because his trans allyship brings the organisation into disrepute, but they can keep David Walliams, who performed Nazi salutes at the recording of this very show, on the air despite him being predatory towards women. Cool. Very normal.

Happy Hogswatch to all who celebrate. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Notes for authors: How to really object to the copy edit of your work, as per David Livingstone to his publisher John Murray, 1857, "It is quite abominable and no earthly consideration will make me succumb". (From, 'Dear Mr Murray. Letters to a Gentleman Publisher', David McClay.)

Can anyone recommend a comic suitable for 7 year-olds and available digitally? Nephew has gone off books a bit, but loves his tablet, so hoping to shakily lure him back... #KidLit #Comics

The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.

Morons on X are salivating over the prospect of Trump destroying the BBC so that its role as state broadcaster can be taken over by - yes, GB News. That would be the GB News that produces such great documentaries, drama, comedy, light entertainment, local radio, national radio ...

Proofs have landed! Next Feb marks 20 YEARS of @dougjohnstone.bsky.social's darkly funny #Debut #Tombstoning & we'll be celebrating with a special new edition featuring an intro from Chris Brookmyre A sharp Scottish #Thriller we can’t wait for you to read! #BookSky #NewBooks #Books2026

I am THRILLED that my second novel, THE OSSIANS, is getting a shiny new reissue in April next year by @orendabooks.bsky.social, with a lovely introduction by none other than @valmcdermid.bsky.social! It's a wild ride of a book, for sure. You can pre-order it here: geni.us/49IJe

My latest novel The Heist Of Hollow London is currently £12.99 at Amazon (it's usually £20) and because Blackwell's often price match Amazon, it's the same price there if you (understandably) don't want to use Amazon. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro... amzn.to/4s0NqSq (affiliate link)

The best ideas are when you immediately go 'Well obviously not THAT, that's just ridiculous. *slight pause* But maybe not *completely* ridiculous- OH NO, I'M DOING THIS NOW, APPARENTLY'

The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party. Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar

Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, has been identified as the heroic civilian who disarmed one of the Sydney terrorists. He was shot twice by the second gunman firing from a bridge and is now undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Can't wait for Robin Ince to get as many column inches in the national press over his actual establishment silencing due to his stance on lgbt+ rights as phobes get over their former friends not wanting to hang out so much any more

I'm privileged to call Robin a friend, and as such, have seen behind the curtains with what went on with Monkey Cage. When BBC bosses say they don't recognise his version of events, I was being told of them by Robin in real time. This stuff has been going on for YEARS. I'm heartbroken for him.

Have you heard this? Dead Funny History starts 15 Dec Look at the credits for goodness sake Produced by Dr Emma Nagouse & @scriblit.bsky.social ✏️ Emma, Gabby, Athena Kugblenu, @jackbern.bsky.social 🎤 @jlukeroberts.bsky.social Richard David Caine, & Mali Ann Rees www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

It's my final newsletter of the year! We take a look at the lost treasure of King John, and I also look at the spate of high-profile heritage heists this year and why our historic collections are at such risk from thieves: justhistoryposts.substack.com/p/merry-chri... #history #newsletter

For the record, Robin Ince is a superb comedian, an absolute mensch, a remarkable thinker and the kindest human you’ll ever meet. And the BBC is a genuinely great and globally unique institution that needs to stop being afraid. I think that’s where most of its faults and issues stem from.

Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people

🌟New post!🌟 King John is one of England’s most infamous kings. Shortly before his death, he reputedly lost England's Crown Jewels in The Wash in the east of the country. But how did this happen, and may the treasure be found? #history #medieval #treasure

It's so damning the way they never think about the people, only their narrative

Big band, big impact. Gigspanner Big Band’s “Turnstone” is nominated for Folk Album of the Year. In our new episode, out now, Peter Knight, Hannah Martin and @johnspiers.co.uk reveal the stories behind the songs and discuss the band's unique chemistry. ▶️ Watch here: youtu.be/YyMz1vyPp54

Folk on Foot have made episodes like these for every single shortlisted album for the Folk Album of the Year Award ... I have to say I have absolutely enjoyed listening to them to give an insight in to how these albums get made ... and a musical introduction to those I'm less familiar with.

My newest podcast is live 🥳 It was such a treat to speak to @sixteenthcgirl.bsky.social about Elizabeth Boleyn! We discussed her early life, her marriage, her court career, her estate management, her involvement in Anne's queenship, and her later life. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/2TJq...

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One of things I’m going to do when my personal Tardis finally arrives, as it surely eventually must, will be to discover the identity of the now-unknown sitters in many of Hans Holbein The Younger’s utterly fabulous portraits. It just doesn’t seem right that Holbein’s people should be forgotten.

We've so far raised almost £100 for the Mermaids charity through sales of these 'Reenactment is for everybody' hoodies and tees mancstees.myshopify.com The perfect Xmas gift for the historical nerd in your life!

25 'MOST BLUESKY' POSTS OF 2025 Here's my selection of the 25 Bluesky posts that most impressed me this year. They're quite varied, but doesn't that reflect the thriving, harmonious site this really is? Yes. It does. They've been anonymised anyway, who cares?