JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
@jcmberne.bsky.social
Author of the Hybrid Helix, a space opera; first 5-book arc is complete!
https://a.co/d/0XRSsUC
https://linktr.ee/jcmberne
Usually apolitical here, but if you're curious, I'm so far left that checking out my politics might give you whiplash.
https://a.co/d/0XRSsUC
https://linktr.ee/jcmberne
Usually apolitical here, but if you're curious, I'm so far left that checking out my politics might give you whiplash.
Pinned
I'm Joe, a writer of space opera (The Hybrid Helix: DBZ meets DS9 with a touch of B5 and a heaping dollop of Invincible).
Also a martial artist and fan of South Asian pop culture (Tollywood films and Bollywood music).
I only follow back if I can tell we share an interest (art counts).
Also a martial artist and fan of South Asian pop culture (Tollywood films and Bollywood music).
I only follow back if I can tell we share an interest (art counts).
Rohan, MC of the Hybrid Helix, listens to music in many scenes.
If you're ever curious about those songs, they can mostly be found here:
open.spotify.com/playlist/5k5...
If you're ever curious about those songs, they can mostly be found here:
open.spotify.com/playlist/5k5...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Rohan, MC of the Hybrid Helix, listens to music in many scenes.
If you're ever curious about those songs, they can mostly be found here:
open.spotify.com/playlist/5k5...
If you're ever curious about those songs, they can mostly be found here:
open.spotify.com/playlist/5k5...
You know how many people hate the sound of their own voice?
I hate the sound of my words being read out loud.
I'm prooflistening my audiobook, and I can tell my narrator is doing an incredible job, people love him, it's fantastic . . . but it can't match what's in my head.
My most hated task.
I hate the sound of my words being read out loud.
I'm prooflistening my audiobook, and I can tell my narrator is doing an incredible job, people love him, it's fantastic . . . but it can't match what's in my head.
My most hated task.
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
You know how many people hate the sound of their own voice?
I hate the sound of my words being read out loud.
I'm prooflistening my audiobook, and I can tell my narrator is doing an incredible job, people love him, it's fantastic . . . but it can't match what's in my head.
My most hated task.
I hate the sound of my words being read out loud.
I'm prooflistening my audiobook, and I can tell my narrator is doing an incredible job, people love him, it's fantastic . . . but it can't match what's in my head.
My most hated task.
I'm a problem consumer - I always want stuff, I buy things I don't need, I have lists of things I want to buy. It's bad.
But this is only true about 9-10 months out of the year.
As the holidays and my birthday approach, I forget about every single thing I want and I am perfectly content.
But this is only true about 9-10 months out of the year.
As the holidays and my birthday approach, I forget about every single thing I want and I am perfectly content.
November 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I'm a problem consumer - I always want stuff, I buy things I don't need, I have lists of things I want to buy. It's bad.
But this is only true about 9-10 months out of the year.
As the holidays and my birthday approach, I forget about every single thing I want and I am perfectly content.
But this is only true about 9-10 months out of the year.
As the holidays and my birthday approach, I forget about every single thing I want and I am perfectly content.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
TOMORROW on @sffaddictspod.bsky.social
UNDERSTANDING your HEROES & VILLAINS 🦹
Ep. 182 airs tomorrow, with Christopher Ruocchio and @adrianmgibson.bsky.social @mjkuhnbooks.bsky.social & Greta Kelly discussing how a character’s past influences their choices.
Available Nov. 25 in audio/video:
linktr.ee/SFFAddicts
youtube.com/@FanFiAddict
Ep. 182 airs tomorrow, with Christopher Ruocchio and @adrianmgibson.bsky.social @mjkuhnbooks.bsky.social & Greta Kelly discussing how a character’s past influences their choices.
Available Nov. 25 in audio/video:
linktr.ee/SFFAddicts
youtube.com/@FanFiAddict
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
TOMORROW on @sffaddictspod.bsky.social
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
The Monday thing. youtu.be/DeagFCi8CXk
Weekly Navel-Gazing 24.11.2025
YouTube video by Raf Blutaxt
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The Monday thing. youtu.be/DeagFCi8CXk
Gift giving season is fast approaching!
Want to make people happy? Nobody needs more socks, ties, or peanut butter logs.
Buy them the Hybrid Helix and bring true joy back to the holidays.
Want to make people happy? Nobody needs more socks, ties, or peanut butter logs.
Buy them the Hybrid Helix and bring true joy back to the holidays.
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Gift giving season is fast approaching!
Want to make people happy? Nobody needs more socks, ties, or peanut butter logs.
Buy them the Hybrid Helix and bring true joy back to the holidays.
Want to make people happy? Nobody needs more socks, ties, or peanut butter logs.
Buy them the Hybrid Helix and bring true joy back to the holidays.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
The cover art for Immortal Connections (Celestial Cataclysms Book 1) is here! What do you think?
The book is releasing on Amazon in May 2026, and as always, on our shop early. We're also planning to launch a Kickstarter in January so stay tuned for that!
Find the preorder 🔗 in my bio.
The book is releasing on Amazon in May 2026, and as always, on our shop early. We're also planning to launch a Kickstarter in January so stay tuned for that!
Find the preorder 🔗 in my bio.
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The cover art for Immortal Connections (Celestial Cataclysms Book 1) is here! What do you think?
The book is releasing on Amazon in May 2026, and as always, on our shop early. We're also planning to launch a Kickstarter in January so stay tuned for that!
Find the preorder 🔗 in my bio.
The book is releasing on Amazon in May 2026, and as always, on our shop early. We're also planning to launch a Kickstarter in January so stay tuned for that!
Find the preorder 🔗 in my bio.
I swear, I'm editing my own book and the penultimate chapter makes me cry.
Every.
Time.
I'm not the guy who writes 'makes-you-cry' stuff.
Every.
Time.
I'm not the guy who writes 'makes-you-cry' stuff.
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I swear, I'm editing my own book and the penultimate chapter makes me cry.
Every.
Time.
I'm not the guy who writes 'makes-you-cry' stuff.
Every.
Time.
I'm not the guy who writes 'makes-you-cry' stuff.
ARCs for Prey of Angels (Hybrid Helix 😎 are almost ready.
DM if you want in.
DM if you want in.
November 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
ARCs for Prey of Angels (Hybrid Helix 😎 are almost ready.
DM if you want in.
DM if you want in.
If you are interested in a review copy of Wistful Ascending (or Partial Function or The Grimdwarf) please don't hesitate to reach out.
I have very few audio codes for WA left if you're US-based, more if you're in the UK.
Always looking for more readers!
I have very few audio codes for WA left if you're US-based, more if you're in the UK.
Always looking for more readers!
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
If you are interested in a review copy of Wistful Ascending (or Partial Function or The Grimdwarf) please don't hesitate to reach out.
I have very few audio codes for WA left if you're US-based, more if you're in the UK.
Always looking for more readers!
I have very few audio codes for WA left if you're US-based, more if you're in the UK.
Always looking for more readers!
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Recently, I've been seeing a lot of discourse about peoples' reading choices.
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Recently, I've been seeing a lot of discourse about peoples' reading choices.
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
P.L’S TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025!!
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
P.L’s TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025
This is the post where I note the top Indie/Self-Published, and the top Traditionally-Published (Small Press/Big Five Trad & Imprints) books for Sci-Fi &am
beforewegoblog.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
P.L’S TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025!!
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
My theory on action adventure revenge films:
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
November 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
My theory on action adventure revenge films:
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
It’s 🦖 and 🦕 for me all the way, if I could get my Time Machine™️ to work successfully.
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
November 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
It’s 🦖 and 🦕 for me all the way, if I could get my Time Machine™️ to work successfully.
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
Inaki Godoy is the best actor you're not thinking of when I say the words, 'best actor.'
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Inaki Godoy is the best actor you're not thinking of when I say the words, 'best actor.'
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Shadows of Old Town by T. Olsen @bbnya.bsky.social @keilantra.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Shadows of Old Town by T. Olsen @bbnya.bsky.social @keilantra.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
This is why NYC is such an incredibly important political wedge - not the money. It's the fact that the greatest wealth generator in the world is ALSO the most diverse city in the world. THAT is the stark reality that conservatives and nationalists cannot comprehend, cannot allow to be true.
Conservatism, and any type of nationalism, desperately needs NYC to be a hellscape because otherwise it is active proof that their fundamental premise (that people thrive only in homogeneous communities) is false.
The fact that there has never been widespread racial violence in NYC shows the lie.
The fact that there has never been widespread racial violence in NYC shows the lie.
November 5, 2025 at 9:19 PM
This is why NYC is such an incredibly important political wedge - not the money. It's the fact that the greatest wealth generator in the world is ALSO the most diverse city in the world. THAT is the stark reality that conservatives and nationalists cannot comprehend, cannot allow to be true.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Some more indie love.
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Some more indie love.
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
🏋️ Oh hey, I have some receipts for this! 👇
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
November 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
🏋️ Oh hey, I have some receipts for this! 👇
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
😬 You know what's scary? Writers missing out in a class action that already only covers a slice of all the harm done by creative theft.
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 PM
😬 You know what's scary? Writers missing out in a class action that already only covers a slice of all the harm done by creative theft.
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
More procrastination fodder!
Guess what! I'm starting a podcast, and who better to join me for its premier than @krystlematar.bsky.social!
I had a blast talking about Tainted Dominion, Magic Mushrooms, and of course, Spidussy.
Keep an eye out for this hitting podcast shelves on Wednesday, November 12!
I had a blast talking about Tainted Dominion, Magic Mushrooms, and of course, Spidussy.
Keep an eye out for this hitting podcast shelves on Wednesday, November 12!
October 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
More procrastination fodder!
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Took me a day to fix the video but now my rambling thoughts on Tendeleo's Story by @ianmcdonald.bsky.social are back up, complete with moving pictures of me drinking beer. youtu.be/1NHOTZG2IBA
Making Disaster And Hope Personal - Discussing Ian McDonald's Tendeleo's Story
YouTube video by Raf Blutaxt
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Took me a day to fix the video but now my rambling thoughts on Tendeleo's Story by @ianmcdonald.bsky.social are back up, complete with moving pictures of me drinking beer. youtu.be/1NHOTZG2IBA
OK, hear me out:
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
October 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
OK, hear me out:
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
What have you (if you're an author) or other authors come back to in their worldbuilding and realize they neglected?
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
October 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
What have you (if you're an author) or other authors come back to in their worldbuilding and realize they neglected?
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.