Lisa Gold: Research Maven
@lisagold.bsky.social
Freelance researcher, fact-checker, writer, and rare book expert. I do creative research for authors. Married to novelist Matt Ruff (Lovecraft Country).
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Public Domain Day 2026 is just a week away! Published works from 95 years ago (1930) and sound recordings from 1925 now have no copyright! web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...
So many of these works seem modern! I read them in school or later, know the songs, watched the movie in class on or TV.
So many of these works seem modern! I read them in school or later, know the songs, watched the movie in class on or TV.
Public Domain Day 2026 | Duke University School of Law
January 1, 2026 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1930 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1925! By Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle[1] CC BY 4.0 Please note that this site is only about US l...
web.law.duke.edu
December 24, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Public Domain Day 2026 is just a week away! Published works from 95 years ago (1930) and sound recordings from 1925 now have no copyright! web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...
So many of these works seem modern! I read them in school or later, know the songs, watched the movie in class on or TV.
So many of these works seem modern! I read them in school or later, know the songs, watched the movie in class on or TV.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
New #WriterBeware blog post: an explainer on the huge Anthropic class action copyright settlement: what it is, how it happened, how writers with eligible infringed works may benefit financially, and what eligible writers should do next writerbeware.blog/2025/10/31/t...
The Anthropic Class Action Settlement: What You Need to Know Right Now - Writer Beware
One of the most urgent issues confronting writers and other creators right now is the use of copyrighted material for generative AI training. The large language models that power chatbots like OpenAI’...
writerbeware.blog
October 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: an explainer on the huge Anthropic class action copyright settlement: what it is, how it happened, how writers with eligible infringed works may benefit financially, and what eligible writers should do next writerbeware.blog/2025/10/31/t...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
32: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff.
Yet another work I’ve engaged with recently that hits home for me personally. In this case, it’s a story that seeks to reconcile the author’s love for classic pulp fiction and weird tales with said fiction’s history and legacy of racism - a thing that, as a fan…
Yet another work I’ve engaged with recently that hits home for me personally. In this case, it’s a story that seeks to reconcile the author’s love for classic pulp fiction and weird tales with said fiction’s history and legacy of racism - a thing that, as a fan…
October 13, 2025 at 3:41 PM
32: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff.
Yet another work I’ve engaged with recently that hits home for me personally. In this case, it’s a story that seeks to reconcile the author’s love for classic pulp fiction and weird tales with said fiction’s history and legacy of racism - a thing that, as a fan…
Yet another work I’ve engaged with recently that hits home for me personally. In this case, it’s a story that seeks to reconcile the author’s love for classic pulp fiction and weird tales with said fiction’s history and legacy of racism - a thing that, as a fan…
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
A reminder if you’re in Chicago: tonight at 6:30 I’ll be at the U. of Chicago Divinity School with Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez for a panel on Horror Writing and Religion, hosted by @americanwritersmuseum.org as part of their “American Prophets” series.
October 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A reminder if you’re in Chicago: tonight at 6:30 I’ll be at the U. of Chicago Divinity School with Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez for a panel on Horror Writing and Religion, hosted by @americanwritersmuseum.org as part of their “American Prophets” series.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Join us this Friday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago as we talk horror writing and religion with @bymattruff.bsky.social, author of LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, alongside Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez. Free to students!
Register here: bit.ly/46EnYIF
Register here: bit.ly/46EnYIF
Horror Writing and Religion - An American Prophets Program
Leading writers of horror and suspense—Tananarive Due, Matt Ruff, & Juan Martinez—discuss the role of religion in their work and the genre.
bit.ly
October 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Join us this Friday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago as we talk horror writing and religion with @bymattruff.bsky.social, author of LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, alongside Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez. Free to students!
Register here: bit.ly/46EnYIF
Register here: bit.ly/46EnYIF
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Gonna put this on a sandwich board and wear it on the street while ringing a bell like a town crier:
“AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations,” he continued.”
“AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations,” he continued.”
October 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Gonna put this on a sandwich board and wear it on the street while ringing a bell like a town crier:
“AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations,” he continued.”
“AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations,” he continued.”
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
I've already informed my publishers that as the sole owner of the copyrights of my works, I expect any sums received by them to be forwarded to me. We'll see how that goes.
Note that most authors will only get $1,500 per book -- the publisher will get the other half. More from the NWU: nwu.org/anthropic/
Settlement of AI lawsuit gets tentative approval; some writers will get paid, but mostly only if they make claims | NWU
On September 25, 2025, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California gave preliminary (tentative) approval to a proposed $1.5 billion settlement of some of the...
nwu.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I've already informed my publishers that as the sole owner of the copyrights of my works, I expect any sums received by them to be forwarded to me. We'll see how that goes.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Jane Austen. Spike Lee. MrBeast. “Modern Family.” The Atlantic’s new AI Watchdog search tool lets you see which creative works tech companies may have used to train their generative-AI models: https://theatln.tc/vQSlfiyC
October 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Jane Austen. Spike Lee. MrBeast. “Modern Family.” The Atlantic’s new AI Watchdog search tool lets you see which creative works tech companies may have used to train their generative-AI models: https://theatln.tc/vQSlfiyC
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Please do read the novel, "Lovecraft Country". The phrase “the book is always better” is not hyperbole - the book is full of extra gems.
October 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Please do read the novel, "Lovecraft Country". The phrase “the book is always better” is not hyperbole - the book is full of extra gems.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
I'll be at the University of Chicago on Friday, Oct. 10 as part of the @americanwritersmuseum.org American Prophets series, talking about "Horror Writing & Religion" with Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez.
Details/tickets here: tinyurl.com/bdh6zhtd
Details/tickets here: tinyurl.com/bdh6zhtd
September 30, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I'll be at the University of Chicago on Friday, Oct. 10 as part of the @americanwritersmuseum.org American Prophets series, talking about "Horror Writing & Religion" with Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez.
Details/tickets here: tinyurl.com/bdh6zhtd
Details/tickets here: tinyurl.com/bdh6zhtd
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
New #WriterBeware blog post: An update on the historic Bartz v. Anthropic settlement. It's been preliminarily approved by the court, but many questions remain about the claims process, the timeline, and exactly which works are included writerbeware.blog/2025/09/26/b...
Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement: An Update for Authors - Writer Beware
BACKGROUND A year ago, a group of authors filed suit against AI company Anthropic over its creation of an enormous library of digitized books to train its Claude LLMs, arguing that because Anthropic d...
writerbeware.blog
September 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: An update on the historic Bartz v. Anthropic settlement. It's been preliminarily approved by the court, but many questions remain about the claims process, the timeline, and exactly which works are included writerbeware.blog/2025/09/26/b...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...
The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus
Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it
thewalrus.ca
September 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...
Today the ebooks of four of Matt Ruff's novels are on sale in the U.S.:
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is $1.99
-- BAD MONKEYS is $1.99
-- 88 NAMES is $1.99
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99
You can read about all of his novels on his website: bymattruff.com
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is $1.99
-- BAD MONKEYS is $1.99
-- 88 NAMES is $1.99
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99
You can read about all of his novels on his website: bymattruff.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Today the ebooks of four of Matt Ruff's novels are on sale in the U.S.:
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is $1.99
-- BAD MONKEYS is $1.99
-- 88 NAMES is $1.99
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99
You can read about all of his novels on his website: bymattruff.com
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is $1.99
-- BAD MONKEYS is $1.99
-- 88 NAMES is $1.99
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99
You can read about all of his novels on his website: bymattruff.com
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Historians and researchers, you must prepare for this eventuality online. Some stuff will go away.
Less likely; but I predict it'll happen – anything in physical govt archives that touches upon currently contentious matters could be made inaccessible. Create high quality copies of crucial docs.
Less likely; but I predict it'll happen – anything in physical govt archives that touches upon currently contentious matters could be made inaccessible. Create high quality copies of crucial docs.
This moment is disturbing even in the mundane: I’ve started taking screenshots of historical sources I’m using in research from the national park service, the smithsonian, and the national archives, just in case they get taken down. It’s now a part of my process and takes time I have to plan for.
September 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Historians and researchers, you must prepare for this eventuality online. Some stuff will go away.
Less likely; but I predict it'll happen – anything in physical govt archives that touches upon currently contentious matters could be made inaccessible. Create high quality copies of crucial docs.
Less likely; but I predict it'll happen – anything in physical govt archives that touches upon currently contentious matters could be made inaccessible. Create high quality copies of crucial docs.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Okay, and here is the crowdfunding campaign for my next project, which now I guess is going to have to be amazing and foundational and wildly essential and move us all: www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-... Help how you can. That's what I'm doing.
Donate to Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!, organized by Eileen Gunn
Nisi Shawl, a wise and wonderful writer of science fiction and fantasy, had a… Eileen Gunn needs your support for Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!
www.gofundme.com
September 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Okay, and here is the crowdfunding campaign for my next project, which now I guess is going to have to be amazing and foundational and wildly essential and move us all: www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-... Help how you can. That's what I'm doing.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
This is a nifty write up of both sets of novels—go read GENERATION LOSS!—plus an interview with me about why Aud, with her “slivers of strangeness” is a “unique character who could enliven a book in any genre”. Quite right!
The badass return of crime novels by Nicola Griffith and Elizabeth Hand
Griffith’s Aud Torvingen novels and Hand’s Cass Neary series are back in new editions and they’re terrific.
www.dailybulletin.com
September 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This is a nifty write up of both sets of novels—go read GENERATION LOSS!—plus an interview with me about why Aud, with her “slivers of strangeness” is a “unique character who could enliven a book in any genre”. Quite right!
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
My good friend @nisishawl.bsky.social, the author of Everfair and Kinning, is having a fundraiser for a book she literally dreamed into existence. You can check out the details here:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
September 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My good friend @nisishawl.bsky.social, the author of Everfair and Kinning, is having a fundraiser for a book she literally dreamed into existence. You can check out the details here:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
September 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The ebooks of 4 of Matt Ruff's novels are on sale in the U.S. right now:
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY and its sequel THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS are only $1.99 each.
-- SET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER is $2.99.
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99.
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY and its sequel THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS are only $1.99 each.
-- SET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER is $2.99.
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99.
September 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The ebooks of 4 of Matt Ruff's novels are on sale in the U.S. right now:
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY and its sequel THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS are only $1.99 each.
-- SET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER is $2.99.
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99.
-- LOVECRAFT COUNTRY and its sequel THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS are only $1.99 each.
-- SET THIS HOUSE IN ORDER is $2.99.
-- SEWER, GAS & ELECTRIC is $2.99.
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
Another cool WorldCon panel, this one about adapting books to TV and movies.
From L to R:
Luke Elliott, moderator
Caitlin Rozakis: Leah's Perfect Gift
Matt Ruff: Lovecraft Country
Leigh Bardugo: Shadow and Bone
Holly Black: Spiderwick Chronicles
Nicholas Binge: Ascension
From L to R:
Luke Elliott, moderator
Caitlin Rozakis: Leah's Perfect Gift
Matt Ruff: Lovecraft Country
Leigh Bardugo: Shadow and Bone
Holly Black: Spiderwick Chronicles
Nicholas Binge: Ascension
August 16, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Another cool WorldCon panel, this one about adapting books to TV and movies.
From L to R:
Luke Elliott, moderator
Caitlin Rozakis: Leah's Perfect Gift
Matt Ruff: Lovecraft Country
Leigh Bardugo: Shadow and Bone
Holly Black: Spiderwick Chronicles
Nicholas Binge: Ascension
From L to R:
Luke Elliott, moderator
Caitlin Rozakis: Leah's Perfect Gift
Matt Ruff: Lovecraft Country
Leigh Bardugo: Shadow and Bone
Holly Black: Spiderwick Chronicles
Nicholas Binge: Ascension
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
The Five Petals of Thought is coming real! Fundraiser for supporting me as I write this artifact of an alt history philosophical movement: www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
Donate to Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!, organized by Eileen Gunn
Nisi Shawl, a wise and wonderful writer of science fiction and fantasy, had a… Eileen Gunn needs your support for Help Nisi Shawl write the book of her dream!
www.gofundme.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
The Five Petals of Thought is coming real! Fundraiser for supporting me as I write this artifact of an alt history philosophical movement: www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
I adored the music of Tom Lehrer, who died yesterday at the ripe old age of 97. I wrote an appreciation of him here, with links to some of his best work. There is also a shout-out to Dr. Demento. www.rogerebert.com/tributes/lif...
Life is Like a Piano: Tom Lehrer (1928-2025) | Tributes | Roger Ebert
A tribute to the iconic political musical satirist, who passed this weekend.
www.rogerebert.com
July 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I adored the music of Tom Lehrer, who died yesterday at the ripe old age of 97. I wrote an appreciation of him here, with links to some of his best work. There is also a shout-out to Dr. Demento. www.rogerebert.com/tributes/lif...
Reposted by Lisa Gold: Research Maven
RIP Tom Lehrer, truly one of the greatest to ever do it, a satirist beyond compare, a brilliant wordsmith, a cheeky fellow, I loved him and his work beyond reason.
Tom Lehrer, Musical Satirist With a Dark Streak, Dies at 97
www.nytimes.com
July 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
RIP Tom Lehrer, truly one of the greatest to ever do it, a satirist beyond compare, a brilliant wordsmith, a cheeky fellow, I loved him and his work beyond reason.