It's the season to spend, spend, spend on gifts. But there's an opportunity to get a whole bunch for free: specifically, a Kindle and sci-fi books. Check out this giveaway. You'll find one my books among the offerings. www.bargainbooksy.com/science-fict...

What if you were crazy about a legendary person and could go back in time to meet them? That's the premise of "The Everlasting," a new novel that's making waves. I wrote about it here:  https://f.mtr.cool/jtsytxavsc  #mondayblogs

Have you watched del Torro's "Frankenstein" on Netflix? I get into some thoughts on that, along with Vince Gilligan's new sci-fi series, within my latest newsletter. Check it out here: mailchi.mp/ad67d0a52ef5... (Photo Credit: Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025)

There's a new place to go for people who want to talk about all things risk, responsibility and ethics. Join me in subscribing to Alison Taylor's Higher Ground Substack -- see for yourself how this is the community we want and need in turbulent times. findhigherground.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

Health insurance companies are finalizing their rates RIGHT NOW. Doesn't matter if you're in a red or blue state, your premium might skyrocket. And somehow, Republican senators are okay with throwing thousands of their own constituents under the bus.

Senate is back in session today. 1/ So a quick 🧵on where things are at on the shutdown. You get a lot of propaganda and spin thrown at you, so I want to give you the real, behind-the-scenes tea.

I don't always agree with Margaret Sullivan 100%. But this post is quite revealing about how the upcoming No Kings event is being largely ignored by media. margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/the-media-...

Out of the blue, a friend of a friend found this story online--3 years after I posted it. The memories deep inside it are so intense, I just had to make a new batch of red beans and rice.   https://f.mtr.cool/tyxabcwwhp #MondayBlogs

What if an astronaut staged a protest from the International Space Station that rippled around the world? That's the premise of Jeffrey Kluger's "The Holdout." I explain why the end result is a page turner in this story: https://f.mtr.cool/wenmlwmzxp #MondayBlogs #books #scifi

LIfe's twists and turns, seen from the distance of time, can seem so unexpected--especially when love is concerned. I get into how Ann Patchett made that work so magnificently in "Tom Lake" within this story: https://f.mtr.cool/namgyowztz #MondayBlogs #books #romance #novels

If you gravitate toward dark fantasy tales and mysteries, "Tainted Cup" might be up your alley. After I wrote the story linked here, the book won a Hugo award!  https://f.mtr.cool/lfuybktvvp #MondayBlogs #fantasy #books

If you're into thrillers, you might want to dive into "Black Rabbit" on Netflix. If you've already indulged, tell me what you think. I get into why this dark, complex series kept me watching night after night in this story: medium.com/counterarts/... #Netflix #television #thriller

"Peter Thiel recently warned that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and critics of technology or artificial intelligence are “legionnaires of the Antichrist” in private lectures on Christianity. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

"The Long Walk" has so-so box office, but great Rotten Tomatoes scores, and I'm among its fans. Why might you be too? Find out in my latest newsletter: https://f.mtr.cool/onkwwwoqot  Photo: Murray Close for Lionsgate #film #horror

Imagine a meal of delicious courses, only instead of food, they're stories by the great @amortowles in his short story collection "Table for Two." I write about why I gobbled it up here: https://f.mtr.cool/gvzblriqsn @MondayBlogs #booklover

Mix together a #fantasy version of Renaissance Italy with a powerful dragon's eye, and you've got "Navola." I write about why this tale of power and love captured my imagination here: https://f.mtr.cool/dpvojmbhiq @MondayBlogs #books

Melding comedy with #sci-fi is a surefire way to grab my attention! In this story, I write about two options that just might delight you! https://f.mtr.cool/ecbhickkls @MondayBlogs #comedy #books #iloveTV #ilovefilm #bookblogger

As it turns out, the book I recommended in this story won a Hugo award, which is about as good as it gets for #fantasy and #scifi writers. If you love #mystery laced with fantasy, check out my thoughts on "The Tainted Cup." @MondayBlogs #reading #books medium.com/counterarts/...

I recently heard the great George RR Martin (Game of Thrones) talk about the state of epic fantasy. He noted that it's been taken over by romantasy. Here's my take on why that's true, along with a romantasy recommendation! Photo: Jodie O’Connor on Unsplash #books #writing medium.com/counterarts/...

This is what journalism should be all about. Fighting for the truth and for freedom of the press. #journalism #truth theintercept.com/2025/08/26/s...

Fantastic news! #books #writing #law www.wired.com/story/anthro...

Yes, I'm making it impossible for you to write your novel. But there is a much more important thing for you to do. #cats #writing #books

This says it all ... www.wired.com/story/senate...

What a great star witness. Excerpt: "The Trump administration has agreed to release from prison a three-time felon who drunkenly fired shots in a Texas community and spare him from deportation in exchange for his cooperation in the federal prosecution of Kilmar Abrego García."

Imagine a person with so much charisma, they can make anyone do just about ANYTHING. In this excerpt, the gifted Ron Butler portrays a guy who's watching two "Charismites," as they're called. Find the full audiobook here: geni.us/CMl7E #scifi #audiobooks #audible @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social

Here's a tiny excerpt from my sci-fi book on government-controlled media. In it, award-winning actor Emily Woo Zeller portrays a 15-year-old girl with lots of moxie in a life-altering moment. Check out the full recording here: geni.us/CMl7E #audiobooks #audible

In this little excerpt from "The Juice," the talented Ron Butler performs as a guy named Jarat, who's walking into danger on the tough streets of Dorchester, MA a few decades from today. Check out the full recording here: geni.us/CMl7E #audible #audiobooklover #scifi @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social

Take a listen to this short clip from "The Juice," a sci-fi audiobook. The talented Emily Woo Zeller performs as Petra Cardinale, a lonely exec trying to get preggers, and Rico Reingold, who's trying to help her. Buy/Rent the #audiobook here: geni.us/CMl7E #scifi #books

Lot going on in the world. As an escape hatch, I've been diving into "Murderbot" on Apple TV+. It stars Alexander Skarsgård. Have you watched it? I have some thoughts about the show, which I share in my latest newsletter: mailchi.mp/78809f52875f...

Take a listen to the talented Emily Woo Zeller narrating a little section of my novel. You may recognize her voice from games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us Part 2. Buy or rent the #scifi audiobook here: geni.us/CMl7E #audiobooks #audiobookaddict #audiobooklover

What if you have a genius friend who says he has the flu, but it turns out something very weird is going on? That's what's happening in this sample of my #sci-fi audiobook. Features the brilliant @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social ! Buy/Rent the #audiobook here: geni.us/CMl7E #scifi #books #audiobooks

Check out this short excerpt from my novel, "The Juice." Two brainiacs meet for the first time after pulling an all-nighter working on experiments at MIT. Actor Ron Butler is SPOT ON in portraying them. @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social #audiobooks #scifi #novels Buy/rent the audiobook here: geni.us/CMl7E

Wanted to give you a heads up about what I'll be posting over the next month. June is Audiobook Month. So I'm going to post short excerpts from the audiobook version of my #scifi #novel "The Juice." It features two award-winning performers, Emily Woo Zeller and @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social

Picked up an NYC Big Book Award in the Sci-Fi category for "Universe of Lost Messages" last weekend. Here's a little bit about the book: https://f.mtr.cool/vddmcioknu  #scifi #books

Why do we get so addicted to certain TV shows? The answer is simple, but it can be really tricky for the people who try to entice us. I share some thoughts about that in this story.  https://f.mtr.cool/qpfgsebqbn #MondayBlogs #television

We get news about Trump's war against the press in bits. This piece puts everything together in a way that's quite chilling. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

So idiotic. theintercept.com/2025/04/23/t...

This is the authoritarian ratchet. If Trump can, in defiance of the Supreme Court, arbitrarily "disappear" non-citizens in El Salvador, anyone else could be next — including journalists who report on his administration.

Supernatural tales, blended with imaginative sci-fi is sooo up my alley! Matt Bell's novel "Appleseed" was an entrancing read. I write about it here: https://f.mtr.cool/jxcgwccojg @mondayblogs #books #booksworthreading #scifi #fantasy

Take a real-life, extremely daring art theft that remains mysterious to this day, add an ingenious plot by ace mystery writer Larry Maness, and you get one helluva read. I write about why I love "A Perfect Crime" here: https://f.mtr.cool/ttnwucwmei @MondayBlogs #booksworthreading

I'm in the middle of watching Robert DeNiro's thriller "Zero Day" on Netflix. Along the same lines, but so much better, IMHO, is Michael Keaton's "Knox Goes Away." I wrote about it some time ago, within this story: https://f.mtr.cool/qwsbfageqy  @MondayBlogs #streaming #thriller

The thriller aspect of the series "Paradise" is at a low simmer in the beginning, but the climax is a roiling boil! Features Sterling K. Brown & James Marsden. I wrote about why I found it riveting in this story: https://f.mtr.cool/sfexpxypmw @mondayblogs #thriller #streaming #hulu

Super Cool Deal: To celebrate the launch of my sci-fi cyberpunk novel "The Juice" as an audiobook, I'm giving away five recordings to the first people who DM me. Trying to build up audiobook reviews.  Learn more here: https://f.mtr.cool/ucyakshziy

Excerpt: "This is dealing with — have you ever worked with someone who’s manic-depressive?” www.propublica.org/article/reco...

This told me a lot more than I already knew. As much as I abhor some of Bezos' moves at the Post, I'm glad they are still publishing pieces like this. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int...

An AP Exclusive. apnews.com/article/dei-...

An audiobook version of my sci-fi cyberpunk novel "The Juice" is now live on five different stores, starring @ronniebutlerjr.bsky.social  and Emily Woo Zeller. Buy it here https://geni.us/CMl7E Audio sample available on those store pages.  (Confetti photo by Thor Alvis on Unsplash) #audiobook #scifi

A U.S. astronaut's rebel power play sends shock waves through the world. That's a book by Jeffrey Kluger, "The Holdout." I explain why it entranced me in this article: https://medium.com/counterarts/love-horror-and-defiance-above-planet-earth-fa6474cf880b #MondayBlogs #scifi #books #space

The Greek goddess Circe often gets a very bad rap in popular fiction. But in the #novel "Circe" there is so much more to her. It's deeply engaging. I explain why in this article: https://medium.com/counterarts/learning-to-love-an-evil-witch-goddess-f70899058208 #myths #fantasy #MondayBlogs #books

A strange love story set against a secret U.K. ministry experimenting with time travel. That's Kaliane Bradley's #novel "The Ministry of Time." I explain why I love it in this article. https://medium.com/counterarts/time-travel-passion-and-some-very-big-secrets-07201846f67e #MondayBlogs #scifi