Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
Ph.D Classics. Reviews @ Reactor Magazine (ex. Tor.com) and Locus Magazine.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
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Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
· Nov 9
κῆπος τῶν βιβλιοθηκῶν | a garden from the libraries
Liz Bourke: books, history, writing, and culture.
lizbourke.wordpress.com
Hello, new followers! I write reviews of science fiction and fantasy novels for @locusmag.bsky.social and for @reactorsff.bsky.social. On my blog lizbourke.wordpress.com/news-and-upd..., I write about the nonfiction I've been reading lately, and the occasional deeper dive on some aspect of SFF.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Where is the push for greater use of ASBOs coming from? There's a bill moving through the Oireachtas to loosen which rank of Garda can apply to the courts for “anti-social behaviour orders” – also known as ASBOs.
Where is the push for greater use of ASBOs coming from?
There is a bill moving through the Oireachtas to loosen which rank of Garda can apply to the courts for “anti-social behaviour orders” – also known as ASBOs.
www.dublininquirer.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Where is the push for greater use of ASBOs coming from? There's a bill moving through the Oireachtas to loosen which rank of Garda can apply to the courts for “anti-social behaviour orders” – also known as ASBOs.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I read The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa
Review by kjcharles - The Samurai and the Prisoner
A really remarkable history/mystery novel. I say it like that because it's in no way a histori...
app.thestorygraph.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:18 AM
I read The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa
Reposted by Liz Bourke
"you could put like, a year’s worth of active travel reports in and ask it to work out what progress has been made, or what questions you should be asking in advance of the next report" - @social-democrats.bsky.social Cat O’Driscoll
Very disappointed in the SocDems about this
#spéirghorm
Very disappointed in the SocDems about this
#spéirghorm
As their workload gets heavier, some councillors are eyeing up AI assistants. “You could get 500 emails, and I do recall my friend saying ‘God, why don’t you get Copilot?’”
As workload gets heavier, councillors eye up AI assistants
“You could get 500 emails, and I do recall my friend saying ‘God, why don’t you get Copilot?’”
www.dublininquirer.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:46 AM
"you could put like, a year’s worth of active travel reports in and ask it to work out what progress has been made, or what questions you should be asking in advance of the next report" - @social-democrats.bsky.social Cat O’Driscoll
Very disappointed in the SocDems about this
#spéirghorm
Very disappointed in the SocDems about this
#spéirghorm
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Of course it did, that was the point.
That's always the point when they attack people in poverty, people that need community care, people that don't "get up early in the morning to work", etc.
To quote Emmit Kirwan, it wasn't blokes in tracksuits that ruined the country, it was blokes in suits.
That's always the point when they attack people in poverty, people that need community care, people that don't "get up early in the morning to work", etc.
To quote Emmit Kirwan, it wasn't blokes in tracksuits that ruined the country, it was blokes in suits.
The 'welfare cheats’ government campaign temporarily weakened belief in Ireland that social benefits help prevent poverty, according to the State’s think tank.
jrnl.ie/6960170
jrnl.ie/6960170
‘Welfare cheats’ campaign weakened belief in social benefits, says ESRI
The controversial 2017 campaign encouraged the public to identify “potential cheats” committing welfare fraud.
jrnl.ie
February 18, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Of course it did, that was the point.
That's always the point when they attack people in poverty, people that need community care, people that don't "get up early in the morning to work", etc.
To quote Emmit Kirwan, it wasn't blokes in tracksuits that ruined the country, it was blokes in suits.
That's always the point when they attack people in poverty, people that need community care, people that don't "get up early in the morning to work", etc.
To quote Emmit Kirwan, it wasn't blokes in tracksuits that ruined the country, it was blokes in suits.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of editors suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly unconscious.
Coffee-growing countries becoming too hot to cultivate beans, analysis finds
Coffee-growing countries becoming too hot to cultivate beans, analysis finds
Five countries responsible for 75% of world’s coffee supply record average of 57 extra days of coffee-harming heat a year
In Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, more than 4m households rely on coffee as their primary source of income. It contributes almost a third of the country’s export earnings, but for how much longer is uncertain.
“Coffee farmers in Ethiopia are already seeing the impact of extreme heat,” said Dejene Dadi, the general manager of Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union (OCFCU), a smallholder cooperative. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:44 AM
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of editors suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly unconscious.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
People always ask, "What would you do if you were born in another time period?"
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 9:17 PM
People always ask, "What would you do if you were born in another time period?"
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I've transcribed dozens of interviews. With rare exceptions, everyone speaks with those um/uh tics, little restarts, hesitations, and most of us speak in sentence fragments with emphases, tones, pauses that create coherence not replicable in print. Spoken and written are distinct. Translate fairly.
February 16, 2026 at 8:52 PM
I've transcribed dozens of interviews. With rare exceptions, everyone speaks with those um/uh tics, little restarts, hesitations, and most of us speak in sentence fragments with emphases, tones, pauses that create coherence not replicable in print. Spoken and written are distinct. Translate fairly.
I need to get an updated headshot, my last one is more than ten years old. Sigh.
February 17, 2026 at 8:07 PM
I need to get an updated headshot, my last one is more than ten years old. Sigh.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
wow I...I gasped at this one. good Lord
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:48 PM
wow I...I gasped at this one. good Lord
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Monstrously evil. Abolish ICE. Melt down its weapons and sell off all of its assets. Release everyone from its concentration camps and grant citizenship (if they want it) to everyone whose rights it has violated.
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Monstrously evil. Abolish ICE. Melt down its weapons and sell off all of its assets. Release everyone from its concentration camps and grant citizenship (if they want it) to everyone whose rights it has violated.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Three days, slightly under $3k to go in order to fund WHAT ELEGANT STARS, a space opera & fashion anthology that I am deeply, deeply excited to write for ... if it gets funded.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
What Elegant Stars
Queer Tales of Impossible Style, a fashionable space opera anthology.
www.kickstarter.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Three days, slightly under $3k to go in order to fund WHAT ELEGANT STARS, a space opera & fashion anthology that I am deeply, deeply excited to write for ... if it gets funded.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Great thread, this is the nub for me
And when it comes down to it, 96 cases in just a few weeks is *huge* when we know it can be zero or close to zero. There mustn’t be any shrugging of shoulders, or acceptance of these outbreaks.
We know that outbreaks are avoidable because we did avoid them – for years, and not long ago. 7/8
We know that outbreaks are avoidable because we did avoid them – for years, and not long ago. 7/8
February 17, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Great thread, this is the nub for me
Reposted by Liz Bourke
When my my man said something about that meth & hollow cheeks and I was like “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re taking about”
February 17, 2026 at 5:38 PM
When my my man said something about that meth & hollow cheeks and I was like “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re taking about”
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I *did* break myself during the Lockdown, trying to keep students sane, learn entirely new skills, change courses to enable online learning, provide so much pastoral care, etc. etc.
This entitled consumer behaviour is deeply insulting to all the work staff were made to do, and those lawfirms are 🤬
This entitled consumer behaviour is deeply insulting to all the work staff were made to do, and those lawfirms are 🤬
I feel so miserable about this. Nearly broke myself working 16, 18 hour days during the pandemic. We did everything we possibly could, then doubled it, tripled it. HE is still struggling to get back off the floor, years later. Now another financial punch in the face.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Students begin Covid compensation claim against 36 more universities
It comes after University College London settled a claim from students there over lost learning in the pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 5:51 PM
I *did* break myself during the Lockdown, trying to keep students sane, learn entirely new skills, change courses to enable online learning, provide so much pastoral care, etc. etc.
This entitled consumer behaviour is deeply insulting to all the work staff were made to do, and those lawfirms are 🤬
This entitled consumer behaviour is deeply insulting to all the work staff were made to do, and those lawfirms are 🤬
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This is a travesty! Perilous Times is one of the most delightful books I read last year and I want more queer knights please and thank you
This is perhaps one of many reasons why it won't be published in the US any time soon. As I said at WFC in Brighton: Ballantine Books, who published Perilous Times in the US, wanted me to cut a major queer storyline from the book. When I refused to makes those edits, they cancelled the contract.
February 17, 2026 at 5:56 PM
This is a travesty! Perilous Times is one of the most delightful books I read last year and I want more queer knights please and thank you
Reposted by Liz Bourke
On the DPC taking action by starting an investigation they’ve been pressed for for nearly a month.
This is welcome news and follows ICCL and @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social writing to the DPC on January 20, urging it to exercise its powers and take immediate action ➡️ www.iccl.ie/wp-content/u...
February 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
On the DPC taking action by starting an investigation they’ve been pressed for for nearly a month.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This is welcome news and follows ICCL and @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social writing to the DPC on January 20, urging it to exercise its powers and take immediate action ➡️ www.iccl.ie/wp-content/u...
February 17, 2026 at 11:22 AM
This is welcome news and follows ICCL and @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social writing to the DPC on January 20, urging it to exercise its powers and take immediate action ➡️ www.iccl.ie/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Fossil fuels must be phased out as early as by 2029, with "limited to no opportunity for new investments in fossil fuel systems"
Our tax system "supports use of fossil fuels through environmentally harmful subsidies ... This is inconsistent with Ireland’s climate objectives"
Our tax system "supports use of fossil fuels through environmentally harmful subsidies ... This is inconsistent with Ireland’s climate objectives"
An Oireachtas committee has heard that Ireland will struggle to meet its national and EU obligations on climate, leading to "a significant call on the public purse"
Missing climate goals risks significant fine, cttee told
An Oireachtas committee has heard that Ireland will struggle to meet its national and EU obligations on climate, leading to "a significant call on the public purse".
www.rte.ie
February 17, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Fossil fuels must be phased out as early as by 2029, with "limited to no opportunity for new investments in fossil fuel systems"
Our tax system "supports use of fossil fuels through environmentally harmful subsidies ... This is inconsistent with Ireland’s climate objectives"
Our tax system "supports use of fossil fuels through environmentally harmful subsidies ... This is inconsistent with Ireland’s climate objectives"
Reposted by Liz Bourke
dumplings are a side effect of Mongols
In honor of Lunar New Year, one of my all-time favorite maps:
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
February 17, 2026 at 6:51 PM
dumplings are a side effect of Mongols
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Big news folks - The final book in The Feral Gods is called...
The God of Bronze
Pre-order now & get 25% off your pre-order at Waterstones website or app (code FEB26) until the 20th Feb.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-god...
The paperback of The Lore of Silver is in the same deal.
Out in November
The God of Bronze
Pre-order now & get 25% off your pre-order at Waterstones website or app (code FEB26) until the 20th Feb.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-god...
The paperback of The Lore of Silver is in the same deal.
Out in November
February 17, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Big news folks - The final book in The Feral Gods is called...
The God of Bronze
Pre-order now & get 25% off your pre-order at Waterstones website or app (code FEB26) until the 20th Feb.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-god...
The paperback of The Lore of Silver is in the same deal.
Out in November
The God of Bronze
Pre-order now & get 25% off your pre-order at Waterstones website or app (code FEB26) until the 20th Feb.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-god...
The paperback of The Lore of Silver is in the same deal.
Out in November
All right. @katalicedunn.bsky.social's BITTERTHORN. Why did no one tell me about this book? It is a fantastic meditation on loneliness wrapped in a gothic-esque romance that draws from Bluebeard, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast.
February 17, 2026 at 5:37 PM
All right. @katalicedunn.bsky.social's BITTERTHORN. Why did no one tell me about this book? It is a fantastic meditation on loneliness wrapped in a gothic-esque romance that draws from Bluebeard, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Reposted by Liz Bourke
How green is The Irish Times? Why does it side with nimbys so much? Can I put any question in a headline and not bother answering it? irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/h...
How green is The Irish Times? Why does it side with nimbys so much? Can I put any question in a headline and not bother answering it?
Comment & Analysis: Ok, so that headline is clearly being provocative. I should clarify it’s not for clicks, but to make a point. For the avoidance of doubt, this is an article about the …
irishcycle.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:11 PM
How green is The Irish Times? Why does it side with nimbys so much? Can I put any question in a headline and not bother answering it? irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/h...
Reposted by Liz Bourke
"Eh, it's probably ants," he says, kindly excusing my lack of coffee offer. "Just a sec."
So this nice man heads out to the gate, takes one look at it, and says "yeah, the ants ate your Linky".
THE ANTS ATE MY LINKY
So this nice man heads out to the gate, takes one look at it, and says "yeah, the ants ate your Linky".
THE ANTS ATE MY LINKY
April 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"Eh, it's probably ants," he says, kindly excusing my lack of coffee offer. "Just a sec."
So this nice man heads out to the gate, takes one look at it, and says "yeah, the ants ate your Linky".
THE ANTS ATE MY LINKY
So this nice man heads out to the gate, takes one look at it, and says "yeah, the ants ate your Linky".
THE ANTS ATE MY LINKY
Reposted by Liz Bourke
February 17, 2026 at 3:46 PM