Hildur Knútsdóttir
@hildur.bsky.social
Icelandic writer.
The Night Guest is already out! // Dead Weight coming in May 2026!
The Night Guest is already out! // Dead Weight coming in May 2026!
Pinned
Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir
A woman leading a routine life is pushed by circumstance to violent extremes in this impressively subtle and slow-burning psycho...
www.publishersweekly.com
DEAD WEIGHT just got a ⭐starred⭐ review from Publishers Weekly!
“[An] impressively subtle and slow-burning psychological chiller from Knútsdóttir... Anyone looking for character-driven horror with a very sharp edge will be thrilled."
It's out May 26th!
“[An] impressively subtle and slow-burning psychological chiller from Knútsdóttir... Anyone looking for character-driven horror with a very sharp edge will be thrilled."
It's out May 26th!
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
February 18, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Signed two publishing contracts today. One for a novel that’s already been printed and is out in March and the other is for the novel that I’m currently writing and my publisher hasn’t seen a word of yet.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
February 17, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Signed two publishing contracts today. One for a novel that’s already been printed and is out in March and the other is for the novel that I’m currently writing and my publisher hasn’t seen a word of yet.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Aliette's work is terrific. Highy recommended.
New US edition of Dominion of the Fallen!
Deliciously gothic atmosphere & queer characters from around the world in a ruined Paris
Out March 10 2026
awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-h...
Preorder (or buy UK edition) & get EXCLUSIVE ebook www.aliettedebodard.com/2026/01/23/d...
Covers @fringe-element.net
Deliciously gothic atmosphere & queer characters from around the world in a ruined Paris
Out March 10 2026
awfulagent.com/ebooks/the-h...
Preorder (or buy UK edition) & get EXCLUSIVE ebook www.aliettedebodard.com/2026/01/23/d...
Covers @fringe-element.net
February 18, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Aliette's work is terrific. Highy recommended.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Same. I only lived to my 2nd birthday because of antibiotics, probably only made it to 5 because of vaccines, would have been blind by 25 and dead by 40 for different reasons (survived both crises because of modern medical interventions).
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
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 9:25 PM
Same. I only lived to my 2nd birthday because of antibiotics, probably only made it to 5 because of vaccines, would have been blind by 25 and dead by 40 for different reasons (survived both crises because of modern medical interventions).
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
PSA. If you come to Iceland as a tourist and rent a car, do not attempt to drive across the empty highlands by yourself in winter.
You’ll just get your car stuck in snow where there is no cell service and have to walk 10 km to call for help in -18, like these German tourists did yesterday.
You’ll just get your car stuck in snow where there is no cell service and have to walk 10 km to call for help in -18, like these German tourists did yesterday.
Gengu tíu kílómetra til að kalla eftir aðstoð - RÚV.is
Björgunarsveitir komu fjórum Þjóðverjum til hjálpar sem festu bíl sinn í miklum snjó í Mælifellsdal. Svo virðist sem fólkið hafi ætlað yfir Kjöl á leiðinni suður.
www.ruv.is
February 18, 2026 at 9:57 AM
PSA. If you come to Iceland as a tourist and rent a car, do not attempt to drive across the empty highlands by yourself in winter.
You’ll just get your car stuck in snow where there is no cell service and have to walk 10 km to call for help in -18, like these German tourists did yesterday.
You’ll just get your car stuck in snow where there is no cell service and have to walk 10 km to call for help in -18, like these German tourists did yesterday.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
February 18, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Your periodic reminder that we have a weekly newsletter that delivers you news from around Europe, both the important and the frivolous, with moderate wit and pizzazz.
Sign up to receive Good Week Bad Week here:
europeanspodcast.substack.com
Sign up to receive Good Week Bad Week here:
europeanspodcast.substack.com
Good Week Bad Week | The Europeans | Substack
Non-boring news from Europe, from the team behind The Europeans, a non-boring podcast about Europe. Click to read Good Week Bad Week, by The Europeans, a Substack publication.
europeanspodcast.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Your periodic reminder that we have a weekly newsletter that delivers you news from around Europe, both the important and the frivolous, with moderate wit and pizzazz.
Sign up to receive Good Week Bad Week here:
europeanspodcast.substack.com
Sign up to receive Good Week Bad Week here:
europeanspodcast.substack.com
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Sure:
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Sure:
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
😭😭😭😭
First chick of the kākāpō breeding season has successfully hatched!!!! Look at this grumpy little puff of feathers!! www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-r...
First kākāpō chick in four years hatches on Valentine's Day
The first kākāpō chick of the breeding season has hatched on Pukenui Anchor Island.
www.doc.govt.nz
February 17, 2026 at 8:28 PM
😭😭😭😭
Signed two publishing contracts today. One for a novel that’s already been printed and is out in March and the other is for the novel that I’m currently writing and my publisher hasn’t seen a word of yet.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
February 17, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Signed two publishing contracts today. One for a novel that’s already been printed and is out in March and the other is for the novel that I’m currently writing and my publisher hasn’t seen a word of yet.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
Icelandic publishing is a lot more chill than U.S. publishing.
I’ve been meaning to read more by Joyce Carol Oates for a long time (I read Beasts years ago and loved it) but she has written so much that I don’t really know where to start. Any recommendations?
February 17, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I’ve been meaning to read more by Joyce Carol Oates for a long time (I read Beasts years ago and loved it) but she has written so much that I don’t really know where to start. Any recommendations?
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
I don't believe I've ever seen Ted Levine speak so candidly about his regrets of portraying Buffalo Bill in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He and some of the crew on the film were asked about the film's cultural transphobia by The Hollywood Reporter.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
February 17, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I don't believe I've ever seen Ted Levine speak so candidly about his regrets of portraying Buffalo Bill in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He and some of the crew on the film were asked about the film's cultural transphobia by The Hollywood Reporter.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Sorry to say I really relate to this
*le sigh*
Hiding from a scary message for 36 hrs. Read it by accident. Total non-issue.
Hiding from a scary message for 36 hrs. Read it by accident. Total non-issue.
February 17, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Sorry to say I really relate to this
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
In general, I wish people would get off Twitter but not Joyce. We need Joyce there to hold the line.
February 17, 2026 at 3:12 AM
In general, I wish people would get off Twitter but not Joyce. We need Joyce there to hold the line.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Every time you speak up - and every time you don't - there are people watching and learning about you and the world you help create.
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
February 17, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Every time you speak up - and every time you don't - there are people watching and learning about you and the world you help create.
I am so close to finishing the first draft of this book I'm writing that I feel like I can smell the end!
February 16, 2026 at 3:45 PM
I am so close to finishing the first draft of this book I'm writing that I feel like I can smell the end!
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
It’s easy to think writing is mainly the transcription of ideas you already have—that is, until you try to write something worthwhile, and you find what you thought were saying transform into something far more interesting in the process. This skips that last step, and that is *not* an improvement.
“We plan to hire an AI rewrite specialist to ingest the reporting by Hannah and others and use AI to convert it into stories.”
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
February 16, 2026 at 2:45 PM
It’s easy to think writing is mainly the transcription of ideas you already have—that is, until you try to write something worthwhile, and you find what you thought were saying transform into something far more interesting in the process. This skips that last step, and that is *not* an improvement.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Happy Bun Day to all who celebrate!
Please honour our traditions of spanking people while they are still in bed, yelling "BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!" and then demanding they give you a creamy bun!
Please honour our traditions of spanking people while they are still in bed, yelling "BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!" and then demanding they give you a creamy bun!
Bolludagur; an Icelandic Festival where Kids Spank their Parents for Cream Buns - IcelandDiscover.is
What is Bolludagur, or bun day in Iceland? Learn how to enjoy this delicious festival, and the days that follow it here. Even where to find vegan buns! Delicious!
icelanddiscover.is
February 16, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Happy Bun Day to all who celebrate!
Please honour our traditions of spanking people while they are still in bed, yelling "BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!" and then demanding they give you a creamy bun!
Please honour our traditions of spanking people while they are still in bed, yelling "BOLLA BOLLA BOLLA!" and then demanding they give you a creamy bun!
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
First copy of my new novel Irpa is here so my editor Guðrún Lára and me had to have an emergency beer meeting.
February 15, 2026 at 8:10 PM
First copy of my new novel Irpa is here so my editor Guðrún Lára and me had to have an emergency beer meeting.
Reposted by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Proposal: vampire romance is necromantasy
February 16, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Proposal: vampire romance is necromantasy