Antony Johnston
@antonyjohnston.bsky.social
Atomic Blonde, Can You Solve the Murder, The Dog Sitter Detective, The Exphoria Code, The Organised Writer, Resident Evil Village, etc. I write all the things. Reps: http://antonyjohnston.com/contact
Pinned
Antony Johnston
Award-winning author and creator of Atomic Blonde.
antonyjohnston.com
Lots of new followers. Hi!
I write all the things, too much to list in a single Bluesky post. Don't believe me, visit antonyjohnston.com 😂
Books, videogames, graphic novels, non-fiction, plus podcasts + music.
I mostly post about writing, sometimes food pics + bad jokes too. Big fan of dogs.
I write all the things, too much to list in a single Bluesky post. Don't believe me, visit antonyjohnston.com 😂
Books, videogames, graphic novels, non-fiction, plus podcasts + music.
I mostly post about writing, sometimes food pics + bad jokes too. Big fan of dogs.
Reposted by Antony Johnston
Of course. Why would you invest in soft power?
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Of course. Why would you invest in soft power?
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
Two separate, incredibly bright rainbows within 30 secs of each other while out walking today 🌈
February 15, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Two separate, incredibly bright rainbows within 30 secs of each other while out walking today 🌈
Reposted by Antony Johnston
Superb work, Ireland. I hope I'm proven wrong one day, but I can't see a point at which U.K. politicians will ever be intellectually or morally capable of acknowledging the immense value of art to the U.K. economy and implementing a similar scheme. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Superb work, Ireland. I hope I'm proven wrong one day, but I can't see a point at which U.K. politicians will ever be intellectually or morally capable of acknowledging the immense value of art to the U.K. economy and implementing a similar scheme. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Reposted by Antony Johnston
To give you an idea of how deranged the UK has become about gender stuff, here's Enid Blyton - the absolute avatar of classic English conservatism and a huge fan of racist "gollywogs" - casually describing a gender non-conforming kid in the 1940s and having their friends be totally cool with it.
February 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM
To give you an idea of how deranged the UK has become about gender stuff, here's Enid Blyton - the absolute avatar of classic English conservatism and a huge fan of racist "gollywogs" - casually describing a gender non-conforming kid in the 1940s and having their friends be totally cool with it.
Snow on the peaks 🏔
February 14, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Snow on the peaks 🏔
Reposted by Antony Johnston
Graphic Novels are flying off the shelves at school in a rapid fashion! Bought a few more to top up the collection. They didn’t last long! @anthonyhorowitz.com @antonyjohnston.bsky.social @sheenadempsey.bsky.social @heychante.bsky.social @johngreenart.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Graphic Novels are flying off the shelves at school in a rapid fashion! Bought a few more to top up the collection. They didn’t last long! @anthonyhorowitz.com @antonyjohnston.bsky.social @sheenadempsey.bsky.social @heychante.bsky.social @johngreenart.bsky.social
I hope this isn’t true. Even putting creative ethics aside, the cost to hire a real artist to draw those pages – even if you paid them top comics industry rates – is less than pocket change to the budget of a prestige show like STA.
'Starfleet Academy' using AI slop for the comic book depicted rather prominently on screen in episode six has me really perturbed.
I'm sure it was a cost cutting measure as opposed to hiring an artist to bang out some quick pages, but it looks terrible.
I'm sure it was a cost cutting measure as opposed to hiring an artist to bang out some quick pages, but it looks terrible.
February 13, 2026 at 11:35 PM
I hope this isn’t true. Even putting creative ethics aside, the cost to hire a real artist to draw those pages – even if you paid them top comics industry rates – is less than pocket change to the budget of a prestige show like STA.
Reposted by Antony Johnston
In all this talk of best Heathcliff and best Cathy on screen, everyone seems to have forgotten Terry Jones and Carol Cleveland. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIME...
Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights
YouTube video by Kvetch Hell
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
In all this talk of best Heathcliff and best Cathy on screen, everyone seems to have forgotten Terry Jones and Carol Cleveland. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIME...
Apparently people are now receiving their #Hugoawards ballots. I don’t normally mention it, but this year I have an eligible work: my weirdpunk short story “Outrider” (in the anthology “Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers”, pub’d by Stars and Sabers)! If you feel so inclined to nominate… 😊
February 12, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Apparently people are now receiving their #Hugoawards ballots. I don’t normally mention it, but this year I have an eligible work: my weirdpunk short story “Outrider” (in the anthology “Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers”, pub’d by Stars and Sabers)! If you feel so inclined to nominate… 😊
Reposted by Antony Johnston
We’re celebrating #HeartUnionsWeek this week + the vital work of unions
If you’re a writer in TV, film, theatre, audio, books, comedy, poetry, animation or videogames, it’s the perfect week to join WGGB, your trade union!
Find out more + join online:
www.writersguild.org.uk
If you’re a writer in TV, film, theatre, audio, books, comedy, poetry, animation or videogames, it’s the perfect week to join WGGB, your trade union!
Find out more + join online:
www.writersguild.org.uk
February 11, 2026 at 12:21 PM
We’re celebrating #HeartUnionsWeek this week + the vital work of unions
If you’re a writer in TV, film, theatre, audio, books, comedy, poetry, animation or videogames, it’s the perfect week to join WGGB, your trade union!
Find out more + join online:
www.writersguild.org.uk
If you’re a writer in TV, film, theatre, audio, books, comedy, poetry, animation or videogames, it’s the perfect week to join WGGB, your trade union!
Find out more + join online:
www.writersguild.org.uk
Reposted by Antony Johnston
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 11, 2026 at 5:15 PM
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
Brilliant, hilarious, and 100% accurate
www.actioncookbook.com/welcome-to-t...
www.actioncookbook.com/welcome-to-t...
Welcome to the Group Chat
There's a new member, whether you like it or not!
www.actioncookbook.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Brilliant, hilarious, and 100% accurate
www.actioncookbook.com/welcome-to-t...
www.actioncookbook.com/welcome-to-t...
So it was all a blatant lie, not even close to the truth, and obviously agenda-driven. Will the exposure of this lie get the same level of publicity, and cause those who spread the lie without fact-checking to reflect on their actions? Highly unlikely, because the lie suited their own agenda.
The real Tavistock Clinic scandal: 1,000 court cases that never materialised | A FoI request for the data behind the media hysteria over the Tavistock Clinic presents quite a different picture | Marie Shrewsbury
The real Tavistock Clinic scandal: 1,000 court cases that never materialised
A FoI request for the data behind the media hysteria over the Tavistock Clinic presents quite a different picture
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
So it was all a blatant lie, not even close to the truth, and obviously agenda-driven. Will the exposure of this lie get the same level of publicity, and cause those who spread the lie without fact-checking to reflect on their actions? Highly unlikely, because the lie suited their own agenda.
This was a great conversation, very relaxed and fun, with good questions and topics. Interview starts at around 1hr20, but check out the whole show:
The Gaming Outsider Podcast’s latest episode is live! This week, we have the pleasure of interviewing author @antonyjohnston.bsky.social, who is responsible for such games as ‘Dead Space’ & ‘Resident Evil VIII'.
New games discussed include:
‘Pragmata’ [demo]
‘Snow Bros. Classic Collection’
New games discussed include:
‘Pragmata’ [demo]
‘Snow Bros. Classic Collection’
February 11, 2026 at 1:36 PM
This was a great conversation, very relaxed and fun, with good questions and topics. Interview starts at around 1hr20, but check out the whole show:
Reposted by Antony Johnston
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Reposted by Antony Johnston
One of the most miserable things about living in this era is having to watch the stupidest & most arrogant people in the world have to relearn The Why of literally everything good that we collectively do the hard way.
The answer is always ‘Because a bunch of people died, fuckwit.’
The answer is always ‘Because a bunch of people died, fuckwit.’
Dr. Mehmet Oz is calling on Americans to get the measles vaccine as cases spread across the U.S.
Dr. Oz urges 'take the vaccine, please' amid measles outbreaks
Dr. Mehmet Oz is calling on Americans to get the measles vaccine as cases spread across the U.S.
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
One of the most miserable things about living in this era is having to watch the stupidest & most arrogant people in the world have to relearn The Why of literally everything good that we collectively do the hard way.
The answer is always ‘Because a bunch of people died, fuckwit.’
The answer is always ‘Because a bunch of people died, fuckwit.’
Great time this weekend at Bloody barnes, a new crime festival. A wonderful atmosphere, engaged audience, and of course the adorable Magic 😍🐶 The organisers did a great job of looking after us. I didn’t take the Pen and Cob, but it was an honour to be shortlisted. Congratulations to the organisers!
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Great time this weekend at Bloody barnes, a new crime festival. A wonderful atmosphere, engaged audience, and of course the adorable Magic 😍🐶 The organisers did a great job of looking after us. I didn’t take the Pen and Cob, but it was an honour to be shortlisted. Congratulations to the organisers!
Chatting about music with @tommeadauthor.bsky.social and came across the title of @dvbishop.com's next book
February 8, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Chatting about music with @tommeadauthor.bsky.social and came across the title of @dvbishop.com's next book
Reposted by Antony Johnston
I may delete this because it’s a bit spicy but it shouldn’t be lost on us that games being turned into TV is essentially harvesting the stories written by those who don’t have union representation or healthcare with WGA by those that do. Our stories are good enough for TV but the writers aren’t?
February 6, 2026 at 1:59 AM
I may delete this because it’s a bit spicy but it shouldn’t be lost on us that games being turned into TV is essentially harvesting the stories written by those who don’t have union representation or healthcare with WGA by those that do. Our stories are good enough for TV but the writers aren’t?
Braving the weather on a trip to London for the Cob & Pen Awards dinner (The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead is on the shortlist 🐶🔍) followed by Bloody Barnes , where I’m on a Saturday panel with Martin Edwards and Victoria Dowd. See you there!
February 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Braving the weather on a trip to London for the Cob & Pen Awards dinner (The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead is on the shortlist 🐶🔍) followed by Bloody Barnes , where I’m on a Saturday panel with Martin Edwards and Victoria Dowd. See you there!
Reposted by Antony Johnston
"By the end of the two-year period, 94% of participants reported they were housed."
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
Homeless Oregon youth got $1,000 a month for two years. Most found housing after • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon is the second of its kind in the nation to implement the direct cash transfer program after New York City.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
"By the end of the two-year period, 94% of participants reported they were housed."
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
Thrilled to see "Consensual Hallucination" (from my SILENCAEON album Dead Channel) opening this week's Syrup Moose Radio broadcast! Airing today on 93.9 CICK, and you can also stream it here:
www.smithersradio.com/program-play...
www.smithersradio.com/program-play...
Syrup Moose Radio playlist for 02/03/2026 | CICK 93.9
www.smithersradio.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Thrilled to see "Consensual Hallucination" (from my SILENCAEON album Dead Channel) opening this week's Syrup Moose Radio broadcast! Airing today on 93.9 CICK, and you can also stream it here:
www.smithersradio.com/program-play...
www.smithersradio.com/program-play...
I just pledged to help this fantastic project of Emma's. I was there when her song won the Stiles + Drew Prize, and can't wait to see this show fulfil its potential!
greenlit.com/project/unfo... Well - this is scary stuff, but what's the BEST than can happen? Every little helps towards our budget for a two-week rehearsal and workshop leading up to a London industry sharing for www.unfoldingthemusical.com xx Your shares and comments keep this alive. Thank you!🎇
February 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I just pledged to help this fantastic project of Emma's. I was there when her song won the Stiles + Drew Prize, and can't wait to see this show fulfil its potential!
Reposted by Antony Johnston
"[Since the '80s], private equity has gobbled up £1.2 trillion in assets across Britain, a greater proportion than any other advanced economy... everything from schools, daycare centres, dentists and care homes to water companies, vets and even bucolic little villages in the Cotswolds".
“They promise you the Earth and then tell you to open 20 new branches in the next six months.”
From Issue 26, Ian Trueger details private equity’s grip on British food.
www.the-fence.com/whining-and-...
From Issue 26, Ian Trueger details private equity’s grip on British food.
www.the-fence.com/whining-and-...
Whining and Dining
Sometimes, everything must change so that things can stay the same. Since it opened in 1889, Sweetings has been serving fish lunches smack-bang in the middle of London’s Square Mile, closing by 3pm on...
www.the-fence.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM
"[Since the '80s], private equity has gobbled up £1.2 trillion in assets across Britain, a greater proportion than any other advanced economy... everything from schools, daycare centres, dentists and care homes to water companies, vets and even bucolic little villages in the Cotswolds".