@brucebethke.bsky.social
Yes, *that* Bruce Bethke.
Here's a thought: consider checking with the primary source before you repeat something you read on the Internet as if it was true.
Here's a thought: consider checking with the primary source before you repeat something you read on the Internet as if it was true.
Today on Stupefying Stories: Where did the spheres come from? What did they want? Their ominous silence didn't help.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
“The Spheres of NilSpace” • by Rebecca A. Demarest
When the first bubble appeared, in Mx. Zarblat’s regurgitation chamber, it was the size of a fruit a human might call a melon. It lasted o...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Today on Stupefying Stories: Where did the spheres come from? What did they want? Their ominous silence didn't help.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Apparently bluesky back-burners your account if you don't post frequently, even if you don't actually have anything to say. Accordingly, here's a pic of my rain gauge. Five inches since last Friday. That Cessna A-37 Dragonfly washed out in the rain. Not a clue which kid lost it or how long ago.
September 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Apparently bluesky back-burners your account if you don't post frequently, even if you don't actually have anything to say. Accordingly, here's a pic of my rain gauge. Five inches since last Friday. That Cessna A-37 Dragonfly washed out in the rain. Not a clue which kid lost it or how long ago.
Today on Stupefying Stories: it's back-to-school time, with... oh no. Timothy.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/09/pres...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/09/pres...
“Presenting Ancient Humanity” • by Ruby Dae Mellinger
While Wilma took her seat and the other students clapped, the teacher let out a low, quiet sigh, seeing that Timothy was next to give his pr...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Today on Stupefying Stories: it's back-to-school time, with... oh no. Timothy.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/09/pres...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/09/pres...
Today on Stupefying Stories: a little reminder that Fall is just around the corner.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-f...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-f...
“In Fall, After the Harvest” • by S. Travis Brown
The little cybernetic gadfly popped up as soon as I logged in. “ Dave Miller ,” it dutifully nagged, “ you are now 15 minutes overdue fo...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Today on Stupefying Stories: a little reminder that Fall is just around the corner.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-f...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-f...
We've been having trouble with cross-posting lately, so you've probably missed this. If you've self-published or indie-published a book lately, we'd love to help share your success story.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Writing 101 • Understanding the Publishing Ecosystem: an RFP
Continued from: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Supplemental reading: How to Get Rich Quick Writing Big Hit Bestsellers! RFP: It’s engineer-speak...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
We've been having trouble with cross-posting lately, so you've probably missed this. If you've self-published or indie-published a book lately, we'd love to help share your success story.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Today: if you're craving something *really* dark today, read this! stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/glos...
“Glossary” • by Allan Dyen-Shapiro
Glossary of Archaic Terms used in Monograph on Human Culture During the Period of Conquest (Kindle Edition) colonist (ˈkälənəst) The humans’...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Today: if you're craving something *really* dark today, read this! stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/glos...
Success Story #1: Karl K. Gallagher explains what he's had to do to become a profitable indie author on Amazon.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Writing 101 • How I Did It, by Karl K. Gallagher
I started writing my first novel in 2013. After some work by a wonderful editor, I sent it off to a publisher I liked and set to work on th...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Success Story #1: Karl K. Gallagher explains what he's had to do to become a profitable indie author on Amazon.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Today, I decided to pause what was mushrooming into the "Understanding the Publishing Ecosystem" series and issue a call for success stories. The details are here.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Writing 101 • Understanding the Publishing Ecosystem: an RFP
Continued from: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Supplemental reading: How to Get Rich Quick Writing Big Hit Bestsellers! RFP: It’s engineer-speak...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
August 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Today, I decided to pause what was mushrooming into the "Understanding the Publishing Ecosystem" series and issue a call for success stories. The details are here.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/08/writ...
Today's post: following up on yesterday's post, some notes to help you understand how publishing actually works.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
Writing 101 • Understanding the Publishing Ecosystem
I know I said I was going to let Writing 101 rest a while, but a few recent conversations have made this post seem necessary. Lately I’ve ru...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Today's post: following up on yesterday's post, some notes to help you understand how publishing actually works.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
Today's post: a painful observation about the state of the SF/F publishing business.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
It’s Amazon’s world. We just rent space in it.
I got a query from an old friend the other day. And by old, I mean old : this is someone I’ve known for more than fifty years. After a l...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
July 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Today's post: a painful observation about the state of the SF/F publishing business.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
Today: One of the weirder things about being me is that people seem to think I should be some sort of judge, arbiter, or elder spokesman for the cyberpunk genre. Here's what *I* think of that idea.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/ask-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/ask-...
Ask Dr. Cyberpunk • with your host, Bruce Bethke
This being the Independence Day holiday weekend, we’re running The Best of Ask Dr. Cyberpunk today. This column was originally posted on Fe...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
July 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Today: One of the weirder things about being me is that people seem to think I should be some sort of judge, arbiter, or elder spokesman for the cyberpunk genre. Here's what *I* think of that idea.
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/ask-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/ask-...
Today: Vote early! Vote often! And remember, likes are nice, but shares and retweets boost the signal!
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
It’s Time To Nominate Your Favorite Stories!
All good things must end someday, and this includes The Pete Wood Challenge. After a four-year run and more than 230 published stories, it’s...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
July 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Today: Vote early! Vote often! And remember, likes are nice, but shares and retweets boost the signal!
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-...
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week wraps up, with the gold going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
“The Marks in the Walls” • by Sophie Sparrow
When someone is miserable for a long time, it leaves an aura, a trace that seeps into the walls. You feel it viewing property: some places ...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week wraps up, with the gold going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
Today: the Pete Wood Challenge medal round continues, with the silver going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/fart...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/fart...
“Farther Galaxy’s Choose Your Own Adventure” • by C. L. Sidell
Cam and Becca begin the interactive activity. Signs flicker above the first three-pronged fork they encounter. red // blue // WHITE U...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Today: the Pete Wood Challenge medal round continues, with the silver going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/fart...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/fart...
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week advances to the medal round, with the bronze going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
“The Unicorn Farm” • by Carol Scheina
Mellie was seven when she discovered the unicorn farm. The unicorns’ brilliant coats glistened like sunbeams through raindrops. Manes float...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week advances to the medal round, with the bronze going to...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week continues, with...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-...
“May Your Path Be Blessed Forever” • by Jeff Currier
Nyota Njeri strained to decouple the ruptured hose, her slippers sliding through pooling biogel. “Dr. Njeri, primary burn cannot be dela...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Today: Pete Wood Challenge Week continues, with...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-...
Let's see how Bluesky handles this image.
books2read.com/The-Day-We-S...
books2read.com/The-Day-We-S...
June 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Let's see how Bluesky handles this image.
books2read.com/The-Day-We-S...
books2read.com/The-Day-We-S...
Today: It's another Pete Wood Challenge Week! Five new stories by five authors, all stemming from the same prompt, and beginning with...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/flas...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/flas...
“Flashes” • by Gideon P. Smith
They say life flashes before your eyes at the end. That’s what Happy Trails Hospice Services promises—a virtual reality tour for your f...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Today: It's another Pete Wood Challenge Week! Five new stories by five authors, all stemming from the same prompt, and beginning with...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/flas...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/flas...
Today: news, new book releases, and more!
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
The Never-ending FAQ • 11 June 2025
A lot of questions have piled up in my inbox since the last Never-ending FAQ post , most of which are variations on “Where are you?!” and “...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Today: news, new book releases, and more!
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...