Ali Baker
@alisonbaker01.bsky.social
BA Primary lecturer at UEL. Children's fantasy literature researcher. Podcast host at Fantasy Book Swap. Trans rights are human rights.
No DMs without asking first. I am a prolific blocker.
No DMs without asking first. I am a prolific blocker.
Reposted by Ali Baker
It's LGBTQIA History Month in the UK & I wrote about some books I read recently about parts of that topic. I find reading history is useful to see how much has changed, or not, & what we can learn from what worked, & didn't, in the past, because we need that knowledge now.
ko-fi.com/post/LGBTQIA...
ko-fi.com/post/LGBTQIA...
LGBTQIA History Month
SJ Groenewegen published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM
It's LGBTQIA History Month in the UK & I wrote about some books I read recently about parts of that topic. I find reading history is useful to see how much has changed, or not, & what we can learn from what worked, & didn't, in the past, because we need that knowledge now.
ko-fi.com/post/LGBTQIA...
ko-fi.com/post/LGBTQIA...
Reposted by Ali Baker
I had wonderful time talking to @alisonbaker01.bsky.social about children's fantasy literature, magic and loss this morning. A really interesting conversation. And now I want to reread all the books we discussed.
And! It happened! And @annasmithspark.bsky.social reminded me about Nina Beachcroft, an author whose books I loved, which were set in Hertfordshire where I grew up.
So! Anna Spark Smith & I have been trying to record an episode of Fantasy Book Swap since Oct. We hope that chakras are aligned, the moon is in the seventh house and there will be no cockerels crowing before dawn and we’ll be discussing Welsh mythology in Alan Garner and Lizzie Huxley Jones.
February 15, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I had wonderful time talking to @alisonbaker01.bsky.social about children's fantasy literature, magic and loss this morning. A really interesting conversation. And now I want to reread all the books we discussed.
Reposted by Ali Baker
It would be good if people started to understand AI doesn’t “know” anything. It’s been programmed to show what looks like an answer.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 9:23 AM
It would be good if people started to understand AI doesn’t “know” anything. It’s been programmed to show what looks like an answer.
Reposted by Ali Baker
This isn't a very attractive way for any MP to post. What has happened to basic standards of politeness in politics?
“Simplistic expectations” except for all the actual evidence.
The Greens can keep their lazy Luddite labels, the rest of us can crack on with actual evidence and progress.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
The Greens can keep their lazy Luddite labels, the rest of us can crack on with actual evidence and progress.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
Comparison of Waymo Rider-Only crash rates by crash type to human benchmarks at 56.7 million miles
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
www.tandfonline.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
This isn't a very attractive way for any MP to post. What has happened to basic standards of politeness in politics?
And! It happened! And @annasmithspark.bsky.social reminded me about Nina Beachcroft, an author whose books I loved, which were set in Hertfordshire where I grew up.
So! Anna Spark Smith & I have been trying to record an episode of Fantasy Book Swap since Oct. We hope that chakras are aligned, the moon is in the seventh house and there will be no cockerels crowing before dawn and we’ll be discussing Welsh mythology in Alan Garner and Lizzie Huxley Jones.
February 15, 2026 at 12:24 PM
And! It happened! And @annasmithspark.bsky.social reminded me about Nina Beachcroft, an author whose books I loved, which were set in Hertfordshire where I grew up.
Reposted by Ali Baker
Anti-vaxers are the actual pits. This needn’t happen, and is caused by them and them alone. No excuse to not vaccinate your children for the sake of a healthier society.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Health officials are racing to contain a growing measles outbreak in London, which has struck down dozens of young children and affected 7 schools and a nursery.
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Anti-vaxers are the actual pits. This needn’t happen, and is caused by them and them alone. No excuse to not vaccinate your children for the sake of a healthier society.
Relevant to @adela42.bsky.social, @liwella.bsky.social, @katepreach.bsky.social and @drfionamoore.bsky.social
Also, if you want more Gothic shenanigans with a cozy queer vibe, here are some books about murder husbands trying to solve murders without incurring more murders
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
February 14, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Ali Baker
Eric Ravilious designs for his garden themed crockery service.
In the Aberdeen art gallery.
In the Aberdeen art gallery.
February 14, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Eric Ravilious designs for his garden themed crockery service.
In the Aberdeen art gallery.
In the Aberdeen art gallery.
Reposted by Ali Baker
If you know...😂
Roses are red
I bet you'll agree
Which one is bouba
And which is kiki
I bet you'll agree
Which one is bouba
And which is kiki
February 14, 2026 at 7:17 PM
If you know...😂
My husband sometimes brings me tea in a coffee cup 😐
"ah yes, maybe using my Favourite Fork will cheer me up" and other extremely neurotypical thoughts
February 14, 2026 at 7:16 PM
My husband sometimes brings me tea in a coffee cup 😐
I thought I was a Welsh rugby vague fan, but it turns out that my loathing of up-turned collars on rugby shirts and Ruperts (cf Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment) makes me an ABE vague fan.
February 14, 2026 at 7:15 PM
I thought I was a Welsh rugby vague fan, but it turns out that my loathing of up-turned collars on rugby shirts and Ruperts (cf Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment) makes me an ABE vague fan.
Reposted by Ali Baker
I went to a wool show 😬
@samdeane.bsky.social
@samdeane.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I went to a wool show 😬
@samdeane.bsky.social
@samdeane.bsky.social
So! Anna Spark Smith & I have been trying to record an episode of Fantasy Book Swap since Oct. We hope that chakras are aligned, the moon is in the seventh house and there will be no cockerels crowing before dawn and we’ll be discussing Welsh mythology in Alan Garner and Lizzie Huxley Jones.
February 14, 2026 at 7:07 PM
So! Anna Spark Smith & I have been trying to record an episode of Fantasy Book Swap since Oct. We hope that chakras are aligned, the moon is in the seventh house and there will be no cockerels crowing before dawn and we’ll be discussing Welsh mythology in Alan Garner and Lizzie Huxley Jones.
I’m very excited to start reading this book. I love Lucy Lapinska (L. D. Lapinski)’s children’s books.
February 12, 2026 at 5:19 PM
I’m very excited to start reading this book. I love Lucy Lapinska (L. D. Lapinski)’s children’s books.
Reposted by Ali Baker
📚 World Book Day is in a few weeks time, but FROM TODAY children can choose their own book FREE with a £1/€1.50 book token - including this exclusive BUNNY VS MONKEY book! Tokens are available through schools, some magazines, McDonalds Happy Meal boxes, or digital tokens from worldbookday.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:47 PM
📚 World Book Day is in a few weeks time, but FROM TODAY children can choose their own book FREE with a £1/€1.50 book token - including this exclusive BUNNY VS MONKEY book! Tokens are available through schools, some magazines, McDonalds Happy Meal boxes, or digital tokens from worldbookday.com
Reposted by Ali Baker
Doubles luge? Oh, you mean seated rivalry?
February 12, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Doubles luge? Oh, you mean seated rivalry?
Reposted by Ali Baker
Hey so remember when I said white women are endangering their own freedom when they cozy up to white supremacy? And that the hard right fantasies do not include sharing power with women? Yeah so the not so quiet part is here
Fuentes, yesterday: “Our #1 political enemy is women because women constrain everything, every conversation, every man, everything. They have to be imprisoned. They are the ones that are hurting the fertility rate. They're the ones making us sympathetic to poor people, which are also brown people.”
Nick Fuentes: “The number one political enemy in America is women. … They have to be imprisoned.”
www.mediamatters.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Hey so remember when I said white women are endangering their own freedom when they cozy up to white supremacy? And that the hard right fantasies do not include sharing power with women? Yeah so the not so quiet part is here
Reposted by Ali Baker
Someone told me lately "Bluesky is just like Twitter." I argued that was untrue on the basis that last time I had a Twitter account most times I got a new follower their bio said "single & looking for fun" & here when I get a new follower it tends to say something like "professor of rare moths".
February 12, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Someone told me lately "Bluesky is just like Twitter." I argued that was untrue on the basis that last time I had a Twitter account most times I got a new follower their bio said "single & looking for fun" & here when I get a new follower it tends to say something like "professor of rare moths".
Such is the state of gendered harassment on social media that I am now wary of accepting LinkedIn contact requests from men. Yes, I have been creeped on via DM on LinkedIn.
February 12, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Such is the state of gendered harassment on social media that I am now wary of accepting LinkedIn contact requests from men. Yes, I have been creeped on via DM on LinkedIn.
@stewarthotston.com Would you like to be on my podcast? alibaker68.podbean.com If so, please DM me an email address! I’d be looking to record early next month.
Fantasy Book Swap | alibaker68
Ali Baker and a guest discuss children’s fantasy fiction. The guest chooses a favourite for Ali, and Ali chooses a complementing contemporary book. Jokes and the occasional swear word may ensue. Pleas...
alibaker68.podbean.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:55 PM
@stewarthotston.com Would you like to be on my podcast? alibaker68.podbean.com If so, please DM me an email address! I’d be looking to record early next month.
Reposted by Ali Baker
A letter from Mr F arrives today, inviting me to vote Reform on 7 May. In it, he asserts that "immigration is out of control".
Might one of our well-known TV journalists or commentators actually challenge him robustly about this lie, preferably before 7 May?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Might one of our well-known TV journalists or commentators actually challenge him robustly about this lie, preferably before 7 May?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS figures show
Figure of 204,000 in 12 months to June 2025 is lowest since 2021, statistics body says
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:03 PM
A letter from Mr F arrives today, inviting me to vote Reform on 7 May. In it, he asserts that "immigration is out of control".
Might one of our well-known TV journalists or commentators actually challenge him robustly about this lie, preferably before 7 May?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Might one of our well-known TV journalists or commentators actually challenge him robustly about this lie, preferably before 7 May?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
It me
February 6, 2026 at 5:01 PM
It me
Reposted by Ali Baker
I've been practically bursting at the seams, sitting on this, but it's finally here: I'm honored to have a piece featured on @smartbitches.bsky.social today, talking about the #romance pulps, my personal journey with them, and my anthology, THE BEST OF ALL-STORY LOVE: 1929! #pulp #romancelandia
The Best of All-Story Love: 1929 Stuff - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
smartbitchestrashybooks.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I've been practically bursting at the seams, sitting on this, but it's finally here: I'm honored to have a piece featured on @smartbitches.bsky.social today, talking about the #romance pulps, my personal journey with them, and my anthology, THE BEST OF ALL-STORY LOVE: 1929! #pulp #romancelandia