Craig M. Ranapia
@craigmranapia.bsky.social
"This heaven gives me migraine."
Old enough to know better at the ends of the earth (New Zealand). I am large and contain multitudes, all of them intensely irritating. (Same-sex) married. Catholic. Conservative-ish. Cis-male. Jane Austen cultist.
Old enough to know better at the ends of the earth (New Zealand). I am large and contain multitudes, all of them intensely irritating. (Same-sex) married. Catholic. Conservative-ish. Cis-male. Jane Austen cultist.
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
THIS. P.D. James, was very reticent about her private life but talked candidly about how the only way she could write her early novels AND hold down a full-time civil service job while raising two young children alone in the 1950's was with a LOT of help from a non-stereotypical mother-in-law.
If you have ever thought that my journalism or my first book were net positives for the world, understand that they probably would not exist if I did not have a spouse who paid the mortgage. If I'd been a solo earner/parent, I likely would have left criticism, journalism or book writing long ago.
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
November 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM
THIS. P.D. James, was very reticent about her private life but talked candidly about how the only way she could write her early novels AND hold down a full-time civil service job while raising two young children alone in the 1950's was with a LOT of help from a non-stereotypical mother-in-law.
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Congratulations to whoever is doing crisis management for Dulwich College - the 50K pound a year private school where this crap went down. They've sure done a pretty good job of keeping their client out of the splash zone of this poo bomb.
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Congratulations to whoever is doing crisis management for Dulwich College - the 50K pound a year private school where this crap went down. They've sure done a pretty good job of keeping their client out of the splash zone of this poo bomb.
THIS. Friendly reminder that the only reason we know the Wannsee Conference even happened - and who participated - is because a single copy of the heavily edited record given to each attendee survived the war. And was accidentally discovered in an archive in 1947.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
THIS. Friendly reminder that the only reason we know the Wannsee Conference even happened - and who participated - is because a single copy of the heavily edited record given to each attendee survived the war. And was accidentally discovered in an archive in 1947.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
If Warners insists on suppressing the unexpurgated director's cut of Ken Russell's THE DEVILS, I'd force 'em to do a shot-for-shot remake. Every. Single. Frame. Of. Psychosexual. Derangment.
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
If Warners insists on suppressing the unexpurgated director's cut of Ken Russell's THE DEVILS, I'd force 'em to do a shot-for-shot remake. Every. Single. Frame. Of. Psychosexual. Derangment.
Congressional Republicans who roll over and play dead for the Imperial Executive say what?
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Congressional Republicans who roll over and play dead for the Imperial Executive say what?
I'm sure no school could have trained the trash out of Nigel Farage, but this is hardly a great advertisement for Dulwich College, where the fees range from £30-50K a year.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage responds to racism claims saying he never ‘tried to hurt anybody’
Reform leader denies racist or antisemitic behaviour ‘with intent’ at school, but says he can’t remember everything from 49 years ago
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I'm sure no school could have trained the trash out of Nigel Farage, but this is hardly a great advertisement for Dulwich College, where the fees range from £30-50K a year.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
I don't think you can overstate the lust of the radical right for visiting petty and relentless humiliation on others. A perversion that should be restricted to consensual BDSM role playing in private among consenting adults.
Russell Vought dislikes how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau scrutinizes financial institutions.
The bureau is now requiring financial examiners to recite a “humility pledge” to companies before a review.
The examiners’ union calls it “creepy” 🎁
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
The bureau is now requiring financial examiners to recite a “humility pledge” to companies before a review.
The examiners’ union calls it “creepy” 🎁
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
Consumer Bureau’s Bank Examiners Criticize New ‘Humility Pledge’
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I don't think you can overstate the lust of the radical right for visiting petty and relentless humiliation on others. A perversion that should be restricted to consensual BDSM role playing in private among consenting adults.
Nice early Christmas present to hear Olaf Stapleton's FIRST AND LAST MEN given the @backlisted.bsky.social glow up. He's always going to be an acquired taste, but I love that his best work is that of a true novelist of ideas without the kind of lecturn-pounding that has made so much...
November 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Nice early Christmas present to hear Olaf Stapleton's FIRST AND LAST MEN given the @backlisted.bsky.social glow up. He's always going to be an acquired taste, but I love that his best work is that of a true novelist of ideas without the kind of lecturn-pounding that has made so much...
Over the years, I have tried and utterly failed to elevator pitch Olaf Stapleton austerely fantastic novels of ideas without coming across as an acid-fried space cadet. This is an acceptable alternative - another @backlisted.bsky.social banger and not just for Cosmic Woolybacks! #BookSky
Listened to the new @backlisted.bsky.social episode on Patreon this morning and it’s another excellent, interesting discussion. I went into the bookshop to order the book and H asked me what it was about. I tried to remember Una’s blurb and failed miserably. Advised him to just listen to Backlisted!
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Over the years, I have tried and utterly failed to elevator pitch Olaf Stapleton austerely fantastic novels of ideas without coming across as an acid-fried space cadet. This is an acceptable alternative - another @backlisted.bsky.social banger and not just for Cosmic Woolybacks! #BookSky
Also, pardon my big gay language, but this sniggering homophobic bro-coded bullshit is pretty fucking demeaning to persuadable straight men I know who don't think or act like that. This isn't woke-scolding or whatever... I just don't think you win hearts and minds by talking fluent arsehole.
"Straight men aren’t looking for Democrats to cosplay as their drinking buddies: They’re looking for leaders who can speak plainly about the pressures and problems men face today and offer solutions."
Why Are Democrats Teasing Homophobia in New Attacks on MAGA?
The strategy demeans an important constituency of the party without providing an obvious political gain.
lnk.thebulwark.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Also, pardon my big gay language, but this sniggering homophobic bro-coded bullshit is pretty fucking demeaning to persuadable straight men I know who don't think or act like that. This isn't woke-scolding or whatever... I just don't think you win hearts and minds by talking fluent arsehole.
One way I show my advanced age is telling incredulous younglings about the elder age when The Daily Telegraph was a right-leaning but fundamentally serious and sober broadsheet newspaper rather than the pre-soiled toilet tissue it is today.
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
One way I show my advanced age is telling incredulous younglings about the elder age when The Daily Telegraph was a right-leaning but fundamentally serious and sober broadsheet newspaper rather than the pre-soiled toilet tissue it is today.
THIS. It is also one of the more exquisite democratic ironies that the most obsessive control freaks are also the same people who couldn't get pissed at an Irish wake on Saint Patrick's Day.
November 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM
THIS. It is also one of the more exquisite democratic ironies that the most obsessive control freaks are also the same people who couldn't get pissed at an Irish wake on Saint Patrick's Day.
THIS. It's no bad thing that the ability of a handful of gatekeepers to dominate and direct the cultural conversation has waned. But while its harder than ever for any artist to get their signal through the ambient noise, WORD OF MOUTH has never been more important! Every share counts!
For graphic novels, especially adult genre fiction, it's incredibly helpful to review it online, talk about it, recommend it to a friend—adult fiction in the graphic novel space is difficult to place, and nothing convinces readers that they'll like a book more than the personal testimonial.
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
THIS. It's no bad thing that the ability of a handful of gatekeepers to dominate and direct the cultural conversation has waned. But while its harder than ever for any artist to get their signal through the ambient noise, WORD OF MOUTH has never been more important! Every share counts!
Brought to you by people who have a fetishistic adoration for Confederate generals who inarguably committed treason by taking up arms to wage war against the United States.
Breaking news: The Pentagon has launched an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) for alleged misconduct after he and other Democrats urged military members to disobey unlawful orders in a recent viral video.
Pentagon says it will investigate Sen. Mark Kelly after controversial video
The Department of Defense announced it would investigate Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) for “serious allegations of misconduct” after his participation in a viral video.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Brought to you by people who have a fetishistic adoration for Confederate generals who inarguably committed treason by taking up arms to wage war against the United States.
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
Hey, so there's this tomorrow at Real Groovy. It'll be fun – and the book might make an excellent Christmas present for someone you know!
November 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Hey, so there's this tomorrow at Real Groovy. It'll be fun – and the book might make an excellent Christmas present for someone you know!
Let's reset this glitchy AF simulation to tech bros missing the point of Blade Runner, Lord of the Rings and Dune. Trying to make the apocalyptic backstory of The Matrix happen for reals is a really bad idea..
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 24, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Let's reset this glitchy AF simulation to tech bros missing the point of Blade Runner, Lord of the Rings and Dune. Trying to make the apocalyptic backstory of The Matrix happen for reals is a really bad idea..
I have no idea why I own a copy of GONE GIRL, but I feel an intense desire to go back in time and punch myself in the face for every buying into this toxic white lady tears fuck-fest lightly glazed with girlboss bullshit.
#BookSky
#BookSky
a bob 's burgers movie poster shows a woman sitting on a bed
Alt: a bob 's burgers movie poster shows a woman sitting on a bed
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I have no idea why I own a copy of GONE GIRL, but I feel an intense desire to go back in time and punch myself in the face for every buying into this toxic white lady tears fuck-fest lightly glazed with girlboss bullshit.
#BookSky
#BookSky
I'm routinely being shorted on my scripts, due to supply chain issues, for the common meds that control my blood pressure and the ataxic tremors in my hands.
So pardon me if I find it hard to believe the fantasy fiction that "trans activists" are dishing out puberty blockers on every street corner.
So pardon me if I find it hard to believe the fantasy fiction that "trans activists" are dishing out puberty blockers on every street corner.
a drag queen says " oh really " in yellow
Alt: a drag queen says " oh really " in yellow
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I'm routinely being shorted on my scripts, due to supply chain issues, for the common meds that control my blood pressure and the ataxic tremors in my hands.
So pardon me if I find it hard to believe the fantasy fiction that "trans activists" are dishing out puberty blockers on every street corner.
So pardon me if I find it hard to believe the fantasy fiction that "trans activists" are dishing out puberty blockers on every street corner.
As ever, I know American exceptionalism is a hell of a drug and nobody is immune but I have a simple question for everyone who piously cants "There is no place in America for political violence."
WHAT THE FORKING SHIRTBALLS DO YOU THINK YOU CELEBRATE EVERY JULY 4TH?
WHAT THE FORKING SHIRTBALLS DO YOU THINK YOU CELEBRATE EVERY JULY 4TH?
a bald man in a green shirt says reeeally think about it
Alt: Alt: a bald man in a green shirt says reeeally think about it
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
As ever, I know American exceptionalism is a hell of a drug and nobody is immune but I have a simple question for everyone who piously cants "There is no place in America for political violence."
WHAT THE FORKING SHIRTBALLS DO YOU THINK YOU CELEBRATE EVERY JULY 4TH?
WHAT THE FORKING SHIRTBALLS DO YOU THINK YOU CELEBRATE EVERY JULY 4TH?
THIS. And like too much else in life, there's too many people way too invested in creating a false zero-sum binary of The Big Five or small presses. Not both and whatever comes next. Diversity really is the strength of a healthy book culture.
Re: taking risks on books large publishers wouldn’t. My book Excavation was rejected by ~30 traditional publishing editors before a small press (@futuretensebooks.bsky.social) picked it up. It went on to sell about 10k copies before I sold it to @nupress.bsky.social.
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
THIS. And like too much else in life, there's too many people way too invested in creating a false zero-sum binary of The Big Five or small presses. Not both and whatever comes next. Diversity really is the strength of a healthy book culture.
Another day, another reminder that the existential threat to the Democratic Party isn't "woke" socialists or trans athletes with weak bladders, but the parasitic "centrist" machine politician-donor-consultant industrial complex incapable of getting drunk at an Irish wake.
Hakeem Jeffries was literally voting for a resolution condemning socialism while this meeting was taking place
November 22, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Another day, another reminder that the existential threat to the Democratic Party isn't "woke" socialists or trans athletes with weak bladders, but the parasitic "centrist" machine politician-donor-consultant industrial complex incapable of getting drunk at an Irish wake.
Couldn't happen to a nicer demon-possessed clone of Stephen Colbert.
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Couldn't happen to a nicer demon-possessed clone of Stephen Colbert.
THIS. Friendly reminder that the best vaccine against this toxic waste lie is to actively listen to trans people who will go into granular detail about the flaming hoops they have to jump through for every morsel of gender-affirming healthcare at every stage of their lives. It's not that hard.
Bullshit alert: some NZ politicians (dishonestly) claiming that the puberty blocker ban is about "saving" kids from "unnecessary" medical interventions and "letting them make up their own minds"
No, that's *what puberty blockers* do. It gives those kids time to work out their own identity.
No, that's *what puberty blockers* do. It gives those kids time to work out their own identity.
November 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
THIS. Friendly reminder that the best vaccine against this toxic waste lie is to actively listen to trans people who will go into granular detail about the flaming hoops they have to jump through for every morsel of gender-affirming healthcare at every stage of their lives. It's not that hard.