Lauren Beukes
@laurenbeukes.com
Novelist, scriptwriter, imaginative futurist, recovering journalist. Winner of the Arthur C Clarke and the University of Johannesburg Prize. Author of The Shining Girls (now on Apple TV), Zoo City and Bridge.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
I read a lot of science fiction growing up, thought about a lot of ways the human race would push itself into self-extinction, but I don't think I ever came across the notion that we would invent a machine that would do all the fun, imaginative parts of life, leaving us to slowly die of boredom.
December 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I read a lot of science fiction growing up, thought about a lot of ways the human race would push itself into self-extinction, but I don't think I ever came across the notion that we would invent a machine that would do all the fun, imaginative parts of life, leaving us to slowly die of boredom.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Neurodivergent people can be terrible people .
And there’s a deep need for a convo ( intra community ) about how the discourse around how parts of our divergence are treated .
And how privilege is handled .
Because the fact that this on a table is about control
And there’s a deep need for a convo ( intra community ) about how the discourse around how parts of our divergence are treated .
And how privilege is handled .
Because the fact that this on a table is about control
Palantir's new neurodivergent fellowship is in fact bad because neurodivergent people participating in technofascism will not save us. Latest for @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The problem with Palantir's new neurodivergent fellowship
Critics have accused the company of being technofascist.
www.motherjones.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Neurodivergent people can be terrible people .
And there’s a deep need for a convo ( intra community ) about how the discourse around how parts of our divergence are treated .
And how privilege is handled .
Because the fact that this on a table is about control
And there’s a deep need for a convo ( intra community ) about how the discourse around how parts of our divergence are treated .
And how privilege is handled .
Because the fact that this on a table is about control
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Mini thread on the ET decision in Peggie
Top line: It says exactly what we have been saying for months. The decision of the Supreme Court was not to turn the Equality Act 2010 into a nationwide bathroom ban - regardless of how anti-trans organisations have sought to misrepresent the law.
🧵👇
Top line: It says exactly what we have been saying for months. The decision of the Supreme Court was not to turn the Equality Act 2010 into a nationwide bathroom ban - regardless of how anti-trans organisations have sought to misrepresent the law.
🧵👇
December 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Mini thread on the ET decision in Peggie
Top line: It says exactly what we have been saying for months. The decision of the Supreme Court was not to turn the Equality Act 2010 into a nationwide bathroom ban - regardless of how anti-trans organisations have sought to misrepresent the law.
🧵👇
Top line: It says exactly what we have been saying for months. The decision of the Supreme Court was not to turn the Equality Act 2010 into a nationwide bathroom ban - regardless of how anti-trans organisations have sought to misrepresent the law.
🧵👇
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Every writer I know, every artist I follow, is in the fucking trenches trying to survive this shit. GenAI is not the future because if it keeps going there is no future, and even if it was that would be no excuse.
December 8, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Every writer I know, every artist I follow, is in the fucking trenches trying to survive this shit. GenAI is not the future because if it keeps going there is no future, and even if it was that would be no excuse.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
If some guy stole my shit and made millions off it while wiping out my job prospects, and you, as my friend, bought that guy's cheap mass market replica of my shit, you and i would for obvious reasons have a problem. It being a massive company, not a guy, actually makes it even more of a problem.
December 8, 2025 at 5:14 AM
If some guy stole my shit and made millions off it while wiping out my job prospects, and you, as my friend, bought that guy's cheap mass market replica of my shit, you and i would for obvious reasons have a problem. It being a massive company, not a guy, actually makes it even more of a problem.
These are wonderful!
Feeling festive?
Why not deck the halls with @cvrinfo.bsky.social's papercraft #VirusSnowflakes and celebrate the science of viruses and the fight against viral diseases.
Download for free: cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
#scicomm #sciart #decorations
Why not deck the halls with @cvrinfo.bsky.social's papercraft #VirusSnowflakes and celebrate the science of viruses and the fight against viral diseases.
Download for free: cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
#scicomm #sciart #decorations
December 5, 2025 at 1:12 PM
These are wonderful!
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
@tgeuorg.bsky.social calls it.
As an academic I have been consistently saying this all along. The “Pathways” “study” is totally unethical.
And it won’t even address the main pretext used to justify it; the issue of long-term negative effects (of which there is no evidence whatsoever).
As an academic I have been consistently saying this all along. The “Pathways” “study” is totally unethical.
And it won’t even address the main pretext used to justify it; the issue of long-term negative effects (of which there is no evidence whatsoever).
The UK puberty blocker trial is an ethical breach and a threat to trans youth’s health and rights - TGEU - Trans Europe and Central Asia
The recently announced PATHWAYS clinical trial protocol on puberty blockers (also known as puberty suppressing hormones) for young trans people in the UK represents a deeply troubling escalation in th...
tgeu.org
December 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
@tgeuorg.bsky.social calls it.
As an academic I have been consistently saying this all along. The “Pathways” “study” is totally unethical.
And it won’t even address the main pretext used to justify it; the issue of long-term negative effects (of which there is no evidence whatsoever).
As an academic I have been consistently saying this all along. The “Pathways” “study” is totally unethical.
And it won’t even address the main pretext used to justify it; the issue of long-term negative effects (of which there is no evidence whatsoever).
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Guys… it looks like someone invented a fake Russia advance in Ukraine to manipulate online gambling markets. @evystadium.bsky.social gets into it.
Full story by @mjgault.bsky.social here:
www.404media.co/unauthorized...
Full story by @mjgault.bsky.social here:
www.404media.co/unauthorized...
December 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Guys… it looks like someone invented a fake Russia advance in Ukraine to manipulate online gambling markets. @evystadium.bsky.social gets into it.
Full story by @mjgault.bsky.social here:
www.404media.co/unauthorized...
Full story by @mjgault.bsky.social here:
www.404media.co/unauthorized...
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
This item is VERY special - a one to one with my amazing agent, Molly Ker Hawn. Ask her anything about publishing, esp about children's and YA! app.galabid.com/creatives4su... Bid bid bid! Let's get this auction to ten grand by the end of the day! #Creatives4Sudan
December 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This item is VERY special - a one to one with my amazing agent, Molly Ker Hawn. Ask her anything about publishing, esp about children's and YA! app.galabid.com/creatives4su... Bid bid bid! Let's get this auction to ten grand by the end of the day! #Creatives4Sudan
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
We can't really say this enough...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
AI tools are 'deskilling' workers, philosophy professor says
A philosophy professor warns that AI reliance is weakening workers' judgment, creativity, and problem-solving.
www.businessinsider.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
this is quite the detail
November 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
this is quite the detail
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
I'm delighted to see that the #Creatives4Sudan has now raised over 7 grand! We're raising money for people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan, and every bid helps the Emergency Response Rooms there do their work. Bid here on mentoring from comics supremo! @nickabadzis.bsky.social bit.ly/4pxHBK7
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
I'm delighted to see that the #Creatives4Sudan has now raised over 7 grand! We're raising money for people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan, and every bid helps the Emergency Response Rooms there do their work. Bid here on mentoring from comics supremo! @nickabadzis.bsky.social bit.ly/4pxHBK7
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Huge congrats to all the winners of the African SF awards, the Nommos! africansfs.substack.com/p/2025-nommo...
2025 Nommo Award Winners announced at the Aké Arts and Book Festival in Lagos
A Celebration of African Speculative Fiction
africansfs.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Huge congrats to all the winners of the African SF awards, the Nommos! africansfs.substack.com/p/2025-nommo...
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
This is not just a shocking statistic. It is the lived reality of women across Britain. Each number represents a life lost, a family broken, a community grieving.
When we hear this, our anger should be directed where it belongs - at the systems that fail to keep women safe - not at trans people.
When we hear this, our anger should be directed where it belongs - at the systems that fail to keep women safe - not at trans people.
November 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
This is not just a shocking statistic. It is the lived reality of women across Britain. Each number represents a life lost, a family broken, a community grieving.
When we hear this, our anger should be directed where it belongs - at the systems that fail to keep women safe - not at trans people.
When we hear this, our anger should be directed where it belongs - at the systems that fail to keep women safe - not at trans people.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
A good summary of many of the lies told by people like Wes Streeting and the rest of the political far right about puberty blockers.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/p...
www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/p...
Six lies transphobes tell about puberty blockers - debunked
Ahead of the NHS PATHWAYs puberty blockers trial, PinkNews debunks six lies commonly told about puberty blockers.
www.thepinknews.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A good summary of many of the lies told by people like Wes Streeting and the rest of the political far right about puberty blockers.
www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/p...
www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/p...
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Lately I keep expecting myself to somehow bootstrap myself into feeling better. But as always, we can't personal choice our way out of systemic problems.
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Lately I keep expecting myself to somehow bootstrap myself into feeling better. But as always, we can't personal choice our way out of systemic problems.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 AM
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
I'm so excited to see we've raised over 5k so far on the #Creatives4Sudan auction. Can you help us get to £10k? I'm offering a personalised original Loki drawing, and I really will go all out to make it as funny as possible. app.galabid.com/creatives4su... #KidLitUK #KeepEyesOnSudan
Sorry, GalaBid took too long to load. Please check your internet speed or try again.
app.galabid.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I'm so excited to see we've raised over 5k so far on the #Creatives4Sudan auction. Can you help us get to £10k? I'm offering a personalised original Loki drawing, and I really will go all out to make it as funny as possible. app.galabid.com/creatives4su... #KidLitUK #KeepEyesOnSudan
A little late, but I read my SF military horror story "Unaccounted" for WAYO FM's Halloween fundraiser on Jessica Bisko's Bedtime Stories show. Lightly edited because the loooong tally of equipment, weapons and meds that *are* accounted for didn't work for audio www.mixcloud.com/wayoradio/be...
Bedtime Stories - Fundraiser Special
Bedtime Stories presents Lauren Beukes! Guest reader and best selling author reading her short story 'Unaccounted'
www.mixcloud.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A little late, but I read my SF military horror story "Unaccounted" for WAYO FM's Halloween fundraiser on Jessica Bisko's Bedtime Stories show. Lightly edited because the loooong tally of equipment, weapons and meds that *are* accounted for didn't work for audio www.mixcloud.com/wayoradio/be...
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
Finally. My big 2800 word essay about One Battle After Another and its black women characters is live. www.vulture.com/article/blac...
Black Actresses Are Carrying One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, and Regina Hall propel the film’s most conflicted ideas, for better and worse.
www.vulture.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Finally. My big 2800 word essay about One Battle After Another and its black women characters is live. www.vulture.com/article/blac...
Absolutely. I want to add that if you have had ANY work at all published in the UK, in magazines, journalism, fiction, you should join ALCS. I reliably get £500 - £4000 a year from them for licensing rights and the small time cost on my side of filling in a form listing eligible works. They're great
I’d suspect the numbers here are actually even lower than this. This report is only based on authors who shared details of their income with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS). That’s more likely to be the ones who write as part of their living.
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Absolutely. I want to add that if you have had ANY work at all published in the UK, in magazines, journalism, fiction, you should join ALCS. I reliably get £500 - £4000 a year from them for licensing rights and the small time cost on my side of filling in a form listing eligible works. They're great
Reposted by Lauren Beukes
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!
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
A profession struggling to sustain itself - The Society of Authors
ALCS report on author incomes shows 60% drop in median incomes since 2006
societyofauthors.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
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!