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Will Wiles

@willwiles.bsky.social

1.6K followers 670 following 1.4K posts

"The Anechoic Chamber & other weird tales" (Salt) is out now! Author of several novels, most recently "The Last Blade Priest" (Angry Robot), which won best novel at the 2023 Kitschies. Its sequel, "The Dead Man's Empire", coming 2026. He/him

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · Jul 9

"The Dead Man's Empire", long-awaited sequel to the award-winning "The Last Blade Priest", now has a cover! It's available for pre-order and is published in March 2026, from @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social. Duna and Elecy fight to escape the Hidden Land, and at the Brink something terrible stirs...

A graphic from Angry Robot showing the cover of "The Dead Man's Empire". The cover shows two silhouetted young women on a mountainside looking across a range of peaks, with birds wheeling overhead. It was designed by Alice Coleman.

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Reposted by Will Wiles

The Society of Authors @societyofauthors.bsky.social · 1d

Today is Bookshop Day, a day to celebrate ALL bookshops on our high streets.

Bookshops are an integral part of an author's livelihood, and we celebrate all the talented booksellers who share their guidance and expertise.

Visit your local bookshop today and show them your support.

#bookshopday

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 1d

Oooh look, a Custodian!

HolBolDoArt🏳️‍🌈 @holboldoart.bsky.social · 1d

🎂 It's my special cake and candles day you all have to be nice to me because it's been QUITE the year 🎂

So share some of my paintings??

In the pew-lined interior of a dim medieval church lit by rows of candles on tall staffs and pale sunlight coming through a window, a tall humanoid crow figure with flowing black robes and a glowing yellow eye stands beneath an ornately carved semicircular arch in Norman Romanesque style. On the wall surrounding the arch are many colourful murals depicting more humanoid crow figures with halos, carrying various items including swords, spears, harps, and chalices.

A painting set in a cosy shady woodland clearing on a sunny summer's day. In the centre of the frame, two figures sit on a fallen log mostly hidden by vegetation. The figure on the right has wavy blonde hair down past her shoulders, and wears a flowing white floor-length dress with long sleeves, with delicate lacework around the cuffs and neckline. She looks into the distance with a contemplative, sad expression. On her lap rests a small green book, covered by both of her hands.
The figure on the left sits leaning with her head against shoulder of the other figure. She wears a similar dress but simpler, and in a dark slate grey. Her hair is dark and straight, and flows down her tilted face, and she looks off towards a nightingale bird perched on a nearby branch. She raises a hand towards the other figure as if to get her attention.

Both figures are surrounded by various flowers. On the left of the frame are many spires of foxglove flowers in vivid pink and white, interspersed among green stinging nettles. On the right are the purple flowers of monkshood/wolfsbane.

Wrapping around the figures is a clear stream flowing from a distant pond that descends in a series of steps. Around the stream are many small mossy rocks, and shoots of dark green dog's mercury.

Above and behind the figures and flowers are two trees; on the left is a weeping willow with dangling dark green leaves. On the right are the branches of an old ash tree.

A snowy scene in which a humanoid figure in long black robes with the head of a rook stands in a churchyard holding a long spear. By its feet is a red fox. Both are flecked with fallen snow. Around them are many weathered snow-covered graves. In the background is a medieval church of warm coloured stone with large rectangular windows and a battlemented parapet topped with pinnacles. Behind the main body of the church is the tower with clock face and belfry. Behind the church are tall but bare trees dusted with snow. More snow falls in the air.

Reposted by Will Wiles

Apollo @apollo-magazine.com · 2d

‘The plan of the Bank of England as Soane left it shows how architecture can derive life and power from fixes, compromises and even portions of fudge’ – Will Wiles finds the Bank’s own museum feeling apologetic about the 1925 demolition and rebuilding of the architect’s masterpiece

The man who broke the Bank of England – and built it back up again

It is a century since most of Sir John Soane’s structure was demolished to make way for Herbert Baker’s bigger but more boring vision, writes Will Wiles

buff.ly

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 1d

Enough with the scientific mumbo jumbo, professor!

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine a world where a different drug had been taken up as the morning eye-opener.... Mushrooms or MDMA ....

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Reposted by Will Wiles

Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 1d

"I say I say I say, my dog's got no gnosis."

"No nose? How does it smell?"

[*angrily*] "He lacks any and all immanent knowledge or transcendent insight, such as was sought by Clement of Alexandria, Marcion or Simon Magus. What has smell to do with it?"

"I'm sorry, I misheard."

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 1d

Coincidentally, advance reading copies of "The Dead Man's Empire" have just arrived in my inbox, and this is the highly appropriate epigraph. So, join us for some festivals of atonement and sacred games!

Part of the famous "God is dead" quote from philosopher Friedrich Nietszche: "How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?"

Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 1d

Lock up your deities, it's an old fashioned pray-and-slay

Stew Hotston (he/him) @stewarthotston.com · 2d

On 13th November I'll be joining @justmarvewrites.bsky.social , @abeaumontbooks.bsky.social and @willwiles.bsky.social to discuss religion and epic fantasy.

Ticket bookings are due to go live soon on the Waterstones Covent Garden website, don’t miss out on this great event!
#SFF #projecthanuman

Announcing the Kill the Gods: Epic Fantasy Religion session at Waterstones Covent Garden, 13th November featuring Alex Beaumont in conversation with Marvelous Michael Anson, Stewart Hotston and Will Wiles.

Tickets on sale soon

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you! And thank you for supporting Salt.

Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 2d

Indeed! It's more than 2 metres thick

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Reposted by Will Wiles

Gregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 3d

Speaking of which, here are two particularly good short story collections from @saltpublishing.com, by Alison Moore & @willwiles.bsky.social. SALT MODERN STORIES and BEST BRITISH SHORT STORIES are important for the form's survival (see also @confingopublishing.bsky.social & @commapress.bsky.social).

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you Gregory!

Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 3d

Anthropic settlement details are available today, might have something to do with it

Reposted by Will Wiles

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 4d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 4d

Pevsner said that the destruction of Soane's Bank of England was the greatest architectural crime of the 20th century. A century later the Bank is putting the perpetrators up for parole. I consider the evidence.

Apollo @apollo-magazine.com · 4d

Sir John Soane described the Bank of England building he designed as ‘the pride and boast of my life’, but in 1925 his masterpiece was demolished to make way for Herbert Baker’s bigger but more boring vision, writes @willwiles.bsky.social

The man who broke the Bank of England – and built it back up again

It is a century since most of Sir John Soane’s structure was demolished to make way for Herbert Baker’s bigger but more boring vision, writes Will Wiles

buff.ly

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Reposted by Will Wiles

Apollo @apollo-magazine.com · 4d

The man who broke the Bank of England – and built it back up again

It is a century since most of Sir John Soane’s structure was demolished to make way for Herbert Baker’s bigger but more boring vision, writes Will Wiles

buff.ly

2 5

Reposted by Will Wiles

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 4d

Help Salt take its publishing to the next level!

Donate to Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026, organized by Christopher Hamilton-Emery

Help Salt Publish Brilliant New Books in 2026 For twenty-… Christopher Hamilton-Emery needs your support for Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026

gofund.me

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 4d

Homage to Marty Feldman?

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 4d

It sounds great. A bit Brion Gysin, a bit Jack Rosenthal.

Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, I know - I suppose my wording should have been "would this be like ..."

Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 4d

Is this like the DIY poetry / philosophy / etc fridge magnets that were a middle-class staple for a time in the late 90s and early 2000s?

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Reposted by Will Wiles

Angry Robot Books @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social · 6d

"The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords."
J.R.R. Tolkien

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 6d

This thread was a great start to my week!

Rob T @thexclaim6.bsky.social · 6d

Enjoyed the Lovecraftian turn towards the end, and then ‘The Acknowledgements’ kicker

Appreciated the wide range of unexpected references too: from ceefax to James Turrell art installations, from Gaudi to EBay style ‘sniping’ tools…

I finished this collection in a day, which is my endorsement 👌

Reposted by Will Wiles

Rob T @thexclaim6.bsky.social · 6d

Just started The Anechoic Chamber and Other Weird Tales (2025) by @willwiles.bsky.social published by @saltpublishing.com and based on a @raynewman.bsky.social endorsement

Three stories in and it’s really great. Stylistically diverse and highly addictive without resorting to pastiche 🤌👌👍

#booksky

Will Wiles - The Anechoic Chamber paperback cover

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Will Wiles @willwiles.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you Rob!

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