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mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns
@mealofthorns.bsky.social
2.4K followers 120 following 120 posts
A speculative book club, where critics, writers, and scholars join us to talk about thorny, interesting titles. A podcast from the Ancillary Review of Books. https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/amealofthorns/
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 23h
Check out this nice review of FICTIONAL GAMES that @steinea.bsky.social did for ARB a while back: ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2023/05/26/i...
Imagined Agency: Review of Stefano Gualeni and Riccardo Fassone’s Fictional Games
Eric Stein Under Review:Fictional Games: A Philosophy of Worldbuilding and Imaginary Play. Stefano Gualeni and Riccardo Fassone. Bloomsbury Academic, January 2023. Throughout the media we enjoy, fr…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 23h
Very nice interview here (and lovely to run into discussions speculative games so soon after reading BURNING BRIGHT):
utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
Utopian and Dystopian Fictions Podcast @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social · 3d
Episode 16 on all things playful in utopian and dystopian fiction is available to stream now via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. We had a lot of fun talking to the brilliant Stefano Gualeni. Take a listen and let us know what you think.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Pz0...
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hugohistory.bsky.social
Hugo History @hugohistory.bsky.social · 2d
Episode 4 just released! In this episode, we discuss Fritz Lieber's The Big Time and Christine gets nerdy about the history of the USO. Our guest is Nora of @leafittouspod.bsky.social!
Episode 4! | Hugo History
Get more from Hugo History on Patreon
www.patreon.com
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byzantienne.bsky.social
Arkady Martine | Dr. AnnaLinden Weller @byzantienne.bsky.social · 4d
eeeeeeeeeee OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK, I have loved this book since I was nine years old
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
Ancillary Review of Books @ancillaryreviewofbooks.org · 4d
In our latest critical book-club, we talk about Melissa Scott's BURNING BRIGHT (@torbooks.bsky.social), a queer cyberpunk/space opera about political machinations and online role-playing games, with author Ursula Whitcher!
mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 5d
For Episode 34, @yarntheory.bsky.social joins to talk about structure, art & endings, relationships, and much more in Melissa Scott's 1993 cyberpunk space-Venice thriller BURNING BRIGHT:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/10/06/a...
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emmanewman.bsky.social
Emma Newman @emmanewman.bsky.social · 3d
Episode 7 of Starship Alexandria goes live tomorrow. We discuss The Ministry of The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. The end blooper is one of my favourites, mostly because making @aptshadow.bsky.social dissolve into giggles with the opening line of the show made me so happy! starshipalexandria.com
Starship Alexandria
The Sci-fi and Fantasy podcast from the best of futures! In this future, humanity has solved its problems and is now sending spaceships from Earth, not in a desperate attempt to escape the apocalypse...
starshipalexandria.com
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danhartland.bsky.social
Dan Hartland @danhartland.bsky.social · 4d
In which @casella.bsky.social and I both discuss novels of two halves, and in which Nileena Sunil and @yarntheory.bsky.social both sing the praises of @indrapramitdas.bsky.social.

This would be impressive co-working with @mealofthorns.bsky.social had we done any actual co-working.
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jsuttonmorse.me
Jonah @jsuttonmorse.me · 4d
Seriously @danhartland.bsky.social and @casella.bsky.social … Critical Friends from @strangehorizons.bsky.social and also @mealofthorns.bsky.social on the same day? Y’all gotta space these SFF criticism podcasts …
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yarntheory.bsky.social
Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear) @yarntheory.bsky.social · 4d
Come talk to us about Burning Bright, whether my take on the tiny ending mystery makes sense, and why cyberpunk/space opera fusions are best!
mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 5d
For Episode 34, @yarntheory.bsky.social joins to talk about structure, art & endings, relationships, and much more in Melissa Scott's 1993 cyberpunk space-Venice thriller BURNING BRIGHT:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/10/06/a...
A Meal of Thorns 34 – BURNING BRIGHT with Ursula Whitcher
Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!Guest: Ursula WhitcherTitle: Burning Bright by Melissa ScottHost: Jake Case…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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danhartland.bsky.social
Dan Hartland @danhartland.bsky.social · 5d
📣 NEW CRITICAL FRIENDS!

In a new ep of the @strangehorizons.bsky.social SFF criticism podcast, I talk with @redfernjon.bsky.social and Nileena Sunil about books that might be longer, and others that could be shorter.

How to read a text that offers too little, or too much, stuff? Some ideas.
Critical Friends Episode 16: Length and Breadth
Dan Hartland is joined by Redfern Jon Barrett and Nileena Sunil to discuss those novels that feel too sure or not long enough: what's behind that feeling we have that a text is lacking something, o…
strangehorizons.com
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fulmerford.com
Juan Martinez @fulmerford.com · 5d
Here’s a fun write-up about the American Writers Museum event I’m doing this Friday 10/10 with Tananarive Due and Matt Ruff!

chronicleillinois.com/features/aut...
Authors address religion in horror writing - Chronicle Media
Juan Martinez, an assistant and associate professor at Northwestern University since 2013, wrote Extended Stay, which published in 2023.
chronicleillinois.com
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mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 5d
For Episode 34, @yarntheory.bsky.social joins to talk about structure, art & endings, relationships, and much more in Melissa Scott's 1993 cyberpunk space-Venice thriller BURNING BRIGHT:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/10/06/a...
A Meal of Thorns 34 – BURNING BRIGHT with Ursula Whitcher
Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!Guest: Ursula WhitcherTitle: Burning Bright by Melissa ScottHost: Jake Case…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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older.bsky.social
Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 6d
It's true, I have a podcast!! In which I chat with friends who work on fascinating stuff related to disasters (expansive definition). Check it out: issues.org/category/the...
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guynes.bsky.social
sean guynes @guynes.bsky.social · 6d
I've finished my essay on Kostova's THE HISTORIAN, complete with discussion of dark academia, her conservative, apolitical view of history and violence, and, of course, vampires.

The 11k-word essay will be released in November to coincide with my @mealofthorns.bsky.social episode on the novel.
guynes.bsky.social
sean guynes @guynes.bsky.social · 11d
Alright , finished my (6th) reread of Kostova's The Historian and ended with over 7k words of notes. Now to write the essay on why I think this is a pretty bad novel, a worse vampire novel, and an even worse novel about history -- basically, it's bad at what it wants to be (about).
guynes.bsky.social
sean guynes @guynes.bsky.social · 17d
Not even halfway through my reread of The Historian and I've already got nearly 4k words of notes. This reread is really challenging me -- I genuinely no longer know what I think about this novel and I vacillate wildly between "man, this sucks" and "ok, I'm enjoying this again."
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davidnaimon.bsky.social
David Naimon @davidnaimon.bsky.social · 12d
Don't miss today's conversation with @olgaravn.bsky.social. Witches, folk magic, alchemy, the fear of women gathering, animating the archive through ritual & the imagination, & much more
Audio📻: tinhouse.com/podcast/olga...
@ndbooks.bsky.social @bookhugpress.bsky.social @vikingbooksuk.bsky.social
Olga Ravn : The Wax Child - Tin House
Set during the 17th century witch trials in Denmark, and relayed to us through the voice of a magically animated wax child of one of the accused, Olga Ravn’s new book, which creates something uncannil...
tinhouse.com
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jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social
Joy Sanchez-Taylor @jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social · 14d
When it rains it pours! An excerpt of Ch 2 of Dispelling Fantasies, "Blood Magic is not Always Black Magic," is available in the journal Foundation's newest issue: www.sf-foundation.org/sf-foundatio...
SF Foundation Latest Issue | SF Foundation Org
www.sf-foundation.org
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jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social
Joy Sanchez-Taylor @jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social · 17d
I had so much fun talking about one of my favorite authors of all time. Thank you @mealofthorns.bsky.social!
mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 17d
Episode 33: N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON, with @jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social! We talk about dystopias with utopian glimmers, meta-genre play, and much more:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/09/23/a...
A Meal of Thorns 33 – THE FIFTH SEASON with Joy Sanchez-Taylor
Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!Guest: Joy Sanchez-TaylorTitle: The Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinHost: Jake …
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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amalelmohtar.com
Amal El-Mohtar @amalelmohtar.com · 16d
I'm so moved by Rob Maslen's long, deep reading of THE RIVER HAS ROOTS. Pleased to be read through Rosemary Jackson, who "famously described fantasy itself as a kind of engine driven by desire", & I love insights like "Every aspect of El-Mohtar’s story looks two ways." Many thanks.
Amal El-Mohtar, The River Has Roots (2025)
[Warning: this post contains spoilers, and is best read after you’ve read the book!] Amal El-Mohtar’s first solo novella is a work of fantasy, a fairy tale with supernatural beings and magic …
thecityoflostbooks.glasgow.ac.uk
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guynes.bsky.social
sean guynes @guynes.bsky.social · 17d
Not even halfway through my reread of The Historian and I've already got nearly 4k words of notes. This reread is really challenging me -- I genuinely no longer know what I think about this novel and I vacillate wildly between "man, this sucks" and "ok, I'm enjoying this again."
2 1 10
mealofthorns.bsky.social
A Meal of Thorns @mealofthorns.bsky.social · 17d
Episode 33: N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON, with @jsanchez-taylor.bsky.social! We talk about dystopias with utopian glimmers, meta-genre play, and much more:
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/09/23/a...
A Meal of Thorns 33 – THE FIFTH SEASON with Joy Sanchez-Taylor
Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!Guest: Joy Sanchez-TaylorTitle: The Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinHost: Jake …
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
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aaronmfking.bsky.social
Aaron King @aaronmfking.bsky.social · 26d
When I don't have any new podcasts to listen to, I go back to my favorite episodes of SFUltra. Here's my top 5:
- Electric Forest by Tanith Lee: allunits.libsyn.com/sfultra-3-el...
- We Who Are About To by Joanna Russ: allunits.libsyn.com/sfultra-9-we...
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therisingtithes.bsky.social
Brandon O’Brien, low on Action Points @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 25d
We are in the final moments of voting for the Rhysling and Elgin Awards! If you're a member of the SFPA, don't forget to cast your ballots!
sfpoetry.bsky.social
SF & F Poetry Assn @sfpoetry.bsky.social · 28d
It's the FINAL voting weekend for both the Rhysling and Elgin awards, SFPA members!

Voting closes at the end of the day on Sept. 15th.

Voting links have been re-sent as an official missive, but do reach out to an exec if you need the links again.

We hope you've enjoyed reading ✨ and please vote 💜
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davidnaimon.bsky.social
David Naimon @davidnaimon.bsky.social · 26d
I'm over the moon that Arthur Sze has been named our 25th U.S. Poet Laureate. Arthur was on the show for his new & collected The Glass Constellation and we looked back across his life as a poet in honor of it.
ICYMI: 📻 tinhouse.com/podcast/arth...
@coppercanyonpress.bsky.social
Arthur Sze : The Glass Constellation : New & Collected Poems - Tin House
Arthur Sze, winner of the 2019 National Book Award in Poetry for Sight Lines, joins David Naimon to discuss his latest book, The Glass Constellation: New and Collected Poems. Together they step back t...
tinhouse.com
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octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe @octothorpecast.bsky.social · 29d
Octothorpe 143 is slightly late! We welcome Alison back to the podcast and read a bumper mailbag before getting into discussion of @seattlein2025.org, @laworldcon.bsky.social, and @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social. Our artwork is by Atom! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/143-a-majo...
An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom.
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ztul.bsky.social
michael lutz @ztul.bsky.social · 29d
I think it's really funny that Cameron asked this question, gets as far as one answer that technically predates the example we're discussing, and we call it a day
rangedtouch.bsky.social
Ranged Touch @rangedtouch.bsky.social · 29d
The cabaret is leaving town--SHELVED BY GENRE today discusses the last book of V FOR VENDETTA, in which everything sort of wraps up, and we wonder which debonair antiheroes might be our next object of fixation: rangedtouch.com/2025/09/12/v...
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older.bsky.social
Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · Aug 26
So pleased to share the incredible conversations of this upcoming podcast, talking to friends who work on topics like the intersection of food systems & climate; the takeover of Afghanistan; gender inequality; and how all of these fit into our understanding of disasters~ I hope you enjoy listening
Not Now, But Soon
Malka Older challenges our typical stories about disasters, and explains what they can teach us about society and building better futures.
issues.org
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