From 12/8-1/1, several of my ebooks are 25-50% off in ebook at Smashwords for the 2025 End of Year Sale. (These ebooks can be side-loaded to Kindle, by the way...) www.smashwords.com/profile/view...

Because it’s the Wren’s Day in Ireland: the tale of how, in another universe, she is Queen of Birds: and how this didn’t work out the way she thought it would. https://dduane.tumblr.com/post/734724959207817216/wip-wednesday-why-the-wren-is-queen-of-birds

This feels like what I'd come up with if Marvel asked me to redo that old plot where there's a Soviet era supervillain that's been imprisoned since before the end of the Cold War, who escapes and fights Captain America.

If you’re in the UK & are so inclined, from Dec 25 to Jan 5 you can get the Kindle edition of THE RIVER HAS ROOTS for 99p as part of their 12 Days of Kindle event! This means in the UK you can also get that price matched at other etailers, like Kobo! Merry Christmas! www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...

Y’all, the Castlevania: Awakening In The Moonlight musical by Takarazuka Revue is available legally on VOD with subtitles starting today until the end of March, this is a great adaptation and the women in this show are so good, PLUS this is a rare experiment globally Please see it if you’re curious

This is one of our favorites!

I do feel @theotherhappyplace.bsky.social and I really should get to fleshing this out

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas, however and with whoever you celebrate it.

Emperor Julian holiday carol.

Anyway. Time for my annual (Starfleet approved) AMA. I am Lieutenant Commander Bull. I'm half-Caitian, and am Chief Shuttle Officer on board the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). Ask me whatever you like about serving in Starfleet. If it won't break regs I'll answer.

New hosts of #strictly

vicesimo quarto die Decembris, Minimus stellam invenit. (On the 24th of December, Minimus finds a star.) #latinadventcalendar

It’s that time of year again! And by that I mean time to read this hilarious story.

#Booksky In which our publisher does a lengthy unscripted gratitude post! But forgets to mention a. Our books are now officially collected by the U of MN Upper Midwest Literary Archive and b. The Astreiant Series is eligible for the Best Series Hugo! www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yyUq7h/

The disquieting chiaro-scuro treescapes of Hans Emmenegger (great name) are now my current Favourite Thing. Not a surprise to read he was heavily influenced by Arnold Böcklin. Looks like I'll need to save up to visit the Kunstmuseum Luzern if I want to see them on permanent display 😓...

The UK’s largest planned data centre—a project by US firm QTS—is understating its true water consumption by a factor of 50, says new analysis by @watershed-i.bsky.social & @aiarmsracebook.bsky.social @digiconomist.bsky.social No mistake; AI is a heavy, polluting industry. shorturl.at/KXQxJ

Techbros seem to love Tolkien, so here's an analogy to help you understand what genAI is. GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart. But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.

On the subject of Christmas songs: a newsletter containing 3 tunes I come back to this time of year, and some "yes I am once again on my bullshit / re-reading Hogfather" thoughts about the season buttondown.com/MaxGladstone...

After finding an old crown on the beach, Vin Diesel must utilise his expert driving skills to outrun an ancient curse in... A WARNING TO THE FAST AND THE CURIOUS.

This has been made available, so for purposes of commenting on Bari Weiss's decision to spike the story, here's a live-post of that segment. It begins with a "you may recall" summary of the deportation to el Salvador. Describes the admin's claim that it could deport the men without due process

@gailsimone.bsky.social Not in Canada, just in SPACE

Infatuation

Itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie ancient Roman langoustinie

Binding design for the 150th anniversary edition of Edward Fitzgerald's translation of Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, published by The Folio Society, 2009. Gold, copper, and silver gouache on blue Winsor & Newton pastel paper. #ArtAdventCalendar

Dear writer: No, Mary Shelley was not influenced by Charles Darwin while writing Frankenstein. Charles was born in 1809. She started writing it during the House Party From Hell in 1816, and published in 1818, when he was 9. Please ensure your editor fixes this laughable error you all made.

There’s an Arabic version of “every cloud has a silver lining” that translates to “no cows, no feeding them at dawn.” A Scots version is “today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky.” And a Romanian phrase for looking on the bright side is un șut în fund, un pas înainte, or “a kick in the ass, a step forward”

Reading some current discussions, I remember when I came off my bike 20 or 30 years ago and broke my jaw. I was lucky and it didn’t require fixation, but I was on liquids for 6 weeks or so. Which was bad enough at the time of year (summer) - I hate to think what it’d have been like over Christmas…

My review of Néro which is, honestly, a lot of fun. stewarthotston.com/2025/12/21/n...

On the train, heading down to my parents for Christmas. Trains are messed up today (thank heavens I checked last night) but so far my last-minute alternative route has been okay and not too crowded. Touch wood.

Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower

Its easy to become despondent in the face of such obvious misogyny and racial hate. It should have no place in our society. But its important to remember their rage is *because* the “sacred lore” less & less frequently obfuscates their hate. Change is here, and worthy of celebration :)

From the Larchives

And dozens of horror writers and/or satirists reach for their pens and keyboards…

Yes!!!!! #strictly #scd

I have to say, I enjoyed George’s Paso Doble more than Amber’s. #strictly #scd

That was an awesome Argentine Tango by Karen & Carlos. And it might be just me, but I got a few of connection - or connected tension - between the two which I haven’t got from the other two pairs (yet, at least). #strictly #scd

Came across Clarissa Dickson-Wright’s autobiography in a charity shop. It is everything a devotee of weird history could hope for

Had some dreams last night, cloaked in certain tv characters, boiling down to: Unit-style organisation. The friendly “scientific advisor” as not a helpful passer-by. He was injured and the bosses compelled him. He didn’t “heroically sacrifice himself”. He’s back and out for vengeance. (Makes note…)

Classic three act structure.

Day 20 - As the doorbell rings once more, Betsy tucks herself further into the space beneath the lounge window and holds her breath. Her plans for the evening revolved around a gin fizz and a good book. 1/2

Last convention of the year! Comic Fiesta! If you are coming, drop by and say hi. I am at PG 01 along with @ehronlime and @nightshade_tavern_dnd at our own TTRPG alley! (Last photo of our alley by Aaron!)

Working on this piece right now. Maybe 70% done. Need to draw the characters now, finish the floor and add a few more details. 🌿

Phil sighed as the girls finished *O Come All Ye Faithful* and shifted to *God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen*, with a pause for the Headmistress to twang on a tuning fork, and everyone to stagger back to the original key. #editing

He had, however, declined to walk the streets like some common feline. #editing

Me, submerged headfirst in Brie: Shu’ up, ’s medishinal.

This is a bit of technical legalese, but the basic point is that if the UK forcibly outs trans people then it will probably be in breach of its trade agreements with the EU.

Ooooh yes, I will ABSOLUTELY be making time for this.

NINE GOBLINS is brand new novella of low fantasy and high mischief from the New York Times bestselling, Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author @tkingfisher.com! ✨ Coming January 2026 and available to pre-order now: https://tinyurl.com/ybyzuybt

SOS Newletter #1 sent to our Backers and friends. You can see it here: sonsofthesingularity.com/sons-of-the-... Before X-mass, we will send coupons for the Appreciation Bundle, free digital products from SOS, to fans who sign up for our newsletter. The bundle will be updated several times a year.