Charlie Stross
@cstross.bsky.social
SFF author, triple Hugo award winner (and three times Locus award too), over a million books sold.
Mostly on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Blog: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/
Mostly on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Blog: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/
Reposted by Charlie Stross
If you are close friends with a notorious trafficker of young victims of abuse and joke that he 'likes them on the young side', it at the very least calls your judgement into question. If you go on to joke about sharing a wonderful secret, it at the very least implies complicity.
January 31, 2026 at 12:19 PM
If you are close friends with a notorious trafficker of young victims of abuse and joke that he 'likes them on the young side', it at the very least calls your judgement into question. If you go on to joke about sharing a wonderful secret, it at the very least implies complicity.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
ah, awesome. very normal stuff.
January 31, 2026 at 10:13 AM
ah, awesome. very normal stuff.
Brexit is a utopian revolutionary project, and like all URPs it can never be achieved so the people can only ever fail it. Juche Britannia! Consign Earth to the Dustbin of History! The People Struggle for Brexit! &c.
Remember, revolutions are *hungry*.
Remember, revolutions are *hungry*.
January 31, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Brexit is a utopian revolutionary project, and like all URPs it can never be achieved so the people can only ever fail it. Juche Britannia! Consign Earth to the Dustbin of History! The People Struggle for Brexit! &c.
Remember, revolutions are *hungry*.
Remember, revolutions are *hungry*.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
It does tell us all pretty clearly what they think real creativity is worth.
January 31, 2026 at 9:39 AM
It does tell us all pretty clearly what they think real creativity is worth.
If I was an entomologist I would be desperately searching uncharted jungles for a new species of bug to name "[Family name] melania". Ideally one that practices traumatic insemination *or* a variety of ichneumon wasp that lays its eggs in paralysed victims which the larvae then feast on.
January 31, 2026 at 9:36 AM
If I was an entomologist I would be desperately searching uncharted jungles for a new species of bug to name "[Family name] melania". Ideally one that practices traumatic insemination *or* a variety of ichneumon wasp that lays its eggs in paralysed victims which the larvae then feast on.
I am ridiculously over-qualified for this job and also I wouldn't cross the road to piss on Elon Musk if he was on fire, especially not for a pay cut like that (the sort of people they want to hire should be on a lot more than that).
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
January 31, 2026 at 9:26 AM
I am ridiculously over-qualified for this job and also I wouldn't cross the road to piss on Elon Musk if he was on fire, especially not for a pay cut like that (the sort of people they want to hire should be on a lot more than that).
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Ain’t I been telling you the reactionary backlash was driven by the very rich and powerful watching regular people use social media to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sex crimes, then watching him dragged sobbing to jail, unprotected by his enormous wealth? What do you think the cancel culture panic was.
January 31, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Ain’t I been telling you the reactionary backlash was driven by the very rich and powerful watching regular people use social media to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sex crimes, then watching him dragged sobbing to jail, unprotected by his enormous wealth? What do you think the cancel culture panic was.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
The only purpose this film serves is as a source of clips for the trump bunker documentary Dumbfall.
January 30, 2026 at 10:16 PM
The only purpose this film serves is as a source of clips for the trump bunker documentary Dumbfall.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
@cstross.bsky.social - slowly making my way through The Regicide Report. Got the *hugest* smile on my face when you confirmed my suspicion that you'd merged The Laundry Files and Hot Fuzz...
January 30, 2026 at 9:35 PM
@cstross.bsky.social - slowly making my way through The Regicide Report. Got the *hugest* smile on my face when you confirmed my suspicion that you'd merged The Laundry Files and Hot Fuzz...
I don't think the reviewer liked the movie …
![Headline from the INDEPENDENT:
Melania review - First Lady is a preening, scowling void of pure nothingness in this ghastly bit of propaganda
[one star]
Hitting cinemas as the streets of America remain filled
with the angry and grieving, the vulgar, gilded lifestyle of the Trumps makes them look like Marie Antoinette skulking in her cake-filled chateau](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mvqgxyogng6i3ki6ps5klhwp/bafkreia4r475wyxoe6jrj73yjmnxlmmcncfuskzpfwyzibl2gmfwwsoucu@jpeg)
January 30, 2026 at 9:03 PM
I don't think the reviewer liked the movie …
Reposted by Charlie Stross
“I was on a sex island and Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and Bill Gates were all there too” is unfortunately now extremely plausible
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
“I was on a sex island and Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and Bill Gates were all there too” is unfortunately now extremely plausible
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Ranking's a tradition or an old charter'. Overall the combination of action and humour was so cleverly done, that I'm now really looking forward to going back and reading the first 9 volumes! 6/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Ranking's a tradition or an old charter'. Overall the combination of action and humour was so cleverly done, that I'm now really looking forward to going back and reading the first 9 volumes! 6/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
carpeted'. Whilst being a fan of "The Abominable Doctor Phibes" I've never seen the sequel, but I'd watch all of this parallel universe ones (the Indiana Jones and "Cabaret" jokes were brilliant). Loved the range of literary (and filmic) references, from '(To say nothing of the dog.) to Robert 5/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
carpeted'. Whilst being a fan of "The Abominable Doctor Phibes" I've never seen the sequel, but I'd watch all of this parallel universe ones (the Indiana Jones and "Cabaret" jokes were brilliant). Loved the range of literary (and filmic) references, from '(To say nothing of the dog.) to Robert 5/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
limited to) Jehovah's wife Asherah, Professor Wetterhahn and Lovecraft's Iä, Iä. Expanded my vocabulary to encompass words like cella and scotoma. Smiled more times than I can count at thigs like a Sainsbury's Bordeaux tasting of 'dead grapes' and 'you could hear a pin drop. And this room's 4/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
limited to) Jehovah's wife Asherah, Professor Wetterhahn and Lovecraft's Iä, Iä. Expanded my vocabulary to encompass words like cella and scotoma. Smiled more times than I can count at thigs like a Sainsbury's Bordeaux tasting of 'dead grapes' and 'you could hear a pin drop. And this room's 4/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
figures, from the 'bunch of Old Etonians called Cambridge Analytica' and the sword bearing Penny Mordaunt, to calling members of the royal family 'Jug-Ears and the Nonce'. (Some of them are far too good to spoil, like the BBC royal correspondent!) Learnt about many things (including but not 3/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
figures, from the 'bunch of Old Etonians called Cambridge Analytica' and the sword bearing Penny Mordaunt, to calling members of the royal family 'Jug-Ears and the Nonce'. (Some of them are far too good to spoil, like the BBC royal correspondent!) Learnt about many things (including but not 3/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
style of the next few too dissimilar because they were pastiching different authors. This is a long winded way of saying that most of the backstory references were lost on me, but it didn't matter because the novel itself was so enjoyable. Enjoyed the irreverent descriptions of real-world 2/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
style of the next few too dissimilar because they were pastiching different authors. This is a long winded way of saying that most of the backstory references were lost on me, but it didn't matter because the novel itself was so enjoyable. Enjoyed the irreverent descriptions of real-world 2/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Read @cstross.bsky.social' "The Regicide Report". That was a lot of fun! Really enjoyed The Tales of the New Management & the Halting State series, but until "A Conventional Boy" I'd previously struggled to get into the Laundry Files. Liked the first one, then initially found the style of the 1/6
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Read @cstross.bsky.social' "The Regicide Report". That was a lot of fun! Really enjoyed The Tales of the New Management & the Halting State series, but until "A Conventional Boy" I'd previously struggled to get into the Laundry Files. Liked the first one, then initially found the style of the 1/6
Reposted by Charlie Stross
I'm not sure how Microsoft's "we understand that people don't trust Windows 11" and "We're going to put even more AI into it" are reconcilable.
January 30, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I'm not sure how Microsoft's "we understand that people don't trust Windows 11" and "We're going to put even more AI into it" are reconcilable.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
If you see this, don't participate. It's a rigged study by Lisa Littman and unethical researcher J. Michael Bailey meant to undermine access to care. Spread the word.
January 30, 2026 at 5:28 PM
If you see this, don't participate. It's a rigged study by Lisa Littman and unethical researcher J. Michael Bailey meant to undermine access to care. Spread the word.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Add another entry in the Book of Plumber Crimes: I thought at first this was Homeowner Crimes but then got to "He informed IFD that he was aware of the use of a blow torch on active gas pipes but noted his experience as a plumber"
ATTN: @rahaeli.bsky.social , I have found Brand New Levels of PLUMBER CRIMES. (Thanks to a friend sharing a screenshot image with me.)
local12.com/news/nation-...
local12.com/news/nation-...
3 people, 1 dog displaced after Indiana man tries using blow torch to thaw gas lines
Firefighters discovered the man was unaware of the fire and refused to leave the space, continuing his work.
local12.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Add another entry in the Book of Plumber Crimes: I thought at first this was Homeowner Crimes but then got to "He informed IFD that he was aware of the use of a blow torch on active gas pipes but noted his experience as a plumber"
Welp, just spent two hours this morning discovering a new not-by-favourite experience the hard way: an electrooculography exam. I'm now blind as a bat until the eyedrops wear off (typing this almost blind on an iPad) and *really enjoyed* the fine electrodes in contact with my corneas (no I didn't).
January 30, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Welp, just spent two hours this morning discovering a new not-by-favourite experience the hard way: an electrooculography exam. I'm now blind as a bat until the eyedrops wear off (typing this almost blind on an iPad) and *really enjoyed* the fine electrodes in contact with my corneas (no I didn't).
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Well, if Slippery Jim was the unfortunate Master Criminal from "The Code of the Woosters" coming down to the old Grange then he might regret meeting broken bottle chewing Aunt Agatha who kills rats with her teeth. So it makes complete sense for the Rat to meet Reggie and Bertie.
January 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Well, if Slippery Jim was the unfortunate Master Criminal from "The Code of the Woosters" coming down to the old Grange then he might regret meeting broken bottle chewing Aunt Agatha who kills rats with her teeth. So it makes complete sense for the Rat to meet Reggie and Bertie.
I mean, in 20/20 hindsight it was OBVIOUS that my Stainless Steel Rat homage needed to be gatecrashed by Jeeves & Co. with nuclear artillery. Right?
January 29, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I mean, in 20/20 hindsight it was OBVIOUS that my Stainless Steel Rat homage needed to be gatecrashed by Jeeves & Co. with nuclear artillery. Right?
Reposted by Charlie Stross
#cuyreads26 Book 6: @cstross.bsky.social - The Regicide Report
I can not put into words how much I loved the one-line payoffs of literally multiple books worth of setup. Fantastic end to the main series and I'm eagerly awaiting more!
I can not put into words how much I loved the one-line payoffs of literally multiple books worth of setup. Fantastic end to the main series and I'm eagerly awaiting more!
January 29, 2026 at 8:25 PM
#cuyreads26 Book 6: @cstross.bsky.social - The Regicide Report
I can not put into words how much I loved the one-line payoffs of literally multiple books worth of setup. Fantastic end to the main series and I'm eagerly awaiting more!
I can not put into words how much I loved the one-line payoffs of literally multiple books worth of setup. Fantastic end to the main series and I'm eagerly awaiting more!
Aaaand the nuclear artillery is in the tender, if slightly drunken, hands of Smoothbrain Freddie, Clotworthy-Skeffington, and Bullingdon Thump. Tally ho and pass the iodine tablets!
January 29, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Aaaand the nuclear artillery is in the tender, if slightly drunken, hands of Smoothbrain Freddie, Clotworthy-Skeffington, and Bullingdon Thump. Tally ho and pass the iodine tablets!