Richard Wainman
@richardwainman.bsky.social
Book designer in absentia.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
And here it is, after long labor, my essay on Titus Groan, the fifth in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series. Here, I focus on the role of ritual and power, as well as the mysterious story of Keda and the Mud Dwellers. Writing this convinced me that Peake is genius and I look forward to more.
Ballantine Adult Fantasy: Reading “Titus Groan” by Mervyn Peake (Gormenghast 1)
The fifth essay in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series, which looks at Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan (1946): an atmospheric, richly wrought novel about power and social hierarchy in a castle po…
seanguynes.com
June 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
And here it is, after long labor, my essay on Titus Groan, the fifth in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series. Here, I focus on the role of ritual and power, as well as the mysterious story of Keda and the Mud Dwellers. Writing this convinced me that Peake is genius and I look forward to more.
Slightly diminish a band:
Pulped
Pulped
Slightly diminish a band:
The Beatless
The Beatless
Slightly diminish a band:
Hüsker Don’t
Hüsker Don’t
August 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Slightly diminish a band:
Pulped
Pulped
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Today is the 47th anniversary of this clearly unimprovable photo, from a story so absurd that it shouldn’t be true, but is: the day a team of workers from British Waterways pulled the plug out of the Chesterfield Canal, and all the water emptied out
August 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Today is the 47th anniversary of this clearly unimprovable photo, from a story so absurd that it shouldn’t be true, but is: the day a team of workers from British Waterways pulled the plug out of the Chesterfield Canal, and all the water emptied out
Reposted by Richard Wainman
This was something we said again and again in interviews and talks about the Ladybird books.
When you give a child something made carefully and skilfully, they feel it. A treat. “For me?”
We all remember that feeling.
When you give a child something half-arsed, you tell them they don’t matter.
When you give a child something made carefully and skilfully, they feel it. A treat. “For me?”
We all remember that feeling.
When you give a child something half-arsed, you tell them they don’t matter.
I keep seeing generative AI being used on stuff for kids, like maybe they won’t notice, or it doesn’t matter as much. The opposite is true. Anyone who’s created anything for kids knows you should make more effort for them, not less.
August 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
This was something we said again and again in interviews and talks about the Ladybird books.
When you give a child something made carefully and skilfully, they feel it. A treat. “For me?”
We all remember that feeling.
When you give a child something half-arsed, you tell them they don’t matter.
When you give a child something made carefully and skilfully, they feel it. A treat. “For me?”
We all remember that feeling.
When you give a child something half-arsed, you tell them they don’t matter.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
A few years ago during Covid, when like a lot of the country, I was going batshit, I started a mini Grand Designs, on Twitter, using tiny 18mm figures.
And if people enjoyed it there, maybe they'll enjoy it here.
Meet Tom & Sue.
And if people enjoyed it there, maybe they'll enjoy it here.
Meet Tom & Sue.
December 2, 2024 at 1:30 PM
A few years ago during Covid, when like a lot of the country, I was going batshit, I started a mini Grand Designs, on Twitter, using tiny 18mm figures.
And if people enjoyed it there, maybe they'll enjoy it here.
Meet Tom & Sue.
And if people enjoyed it there, maybe they'll enjoy it here.
Meet Tom & Sue.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
August 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
In September 1980 EMI asked Roger Scott to record promos for the reissues of The Beatles’ Rock’n’Roll Music volumes 1 & 2.
Perhaps unwisely, EMI also arranged for these to be produced by Kenny Everett
Perhaps unwisely, EMI also arranged for these to be produced by Kenny Everett
August 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In September 1980 EMI asked Roger Scott to record promos for the reissues of The Beatles’ Rock’n’Roll Music volumes 1 & 2.
Perhaps unwisely, EMI also arranged for these to be produced by Kenny Everett
Perhaps unwisely, EMI also arranged for these to be produced by Kenny Everett
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Often when consumed by anxiety and feeling awful in the head, I calm myself by following disused railway lines on maps, and imagine the layouts I might build based on them. For The Observer, I've written about engines big and small, masculinity and mental health:
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
‘Model trains are my meditation' | The Observer
Model railways offer a ticket to a safe world – no wonder it's good for hobbyists' mental health
observer.co.uk
July 20, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Often when consumed by anxiety and feeling awful in the head, I calm myself by following disused railway lines on maps, and imagine the layouts I might build based on them. For The Observer, I've written about engines big and small, masculinity and mental health:
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1850-1913), Jeanne d'Arc
July 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1850-1913), Jeanne d'Arc
Reposted by Richard Wainman
It's possible that no artist was more felicitously matched with an author than Charles Keeping with Alan Garner!
July 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
It's possible that no artist was more felicitously matched with an author than Charles Keeping with Alan Garner!
Graphic designer life: singing Sweet Caroline, but substituting 'mise en abyme' (oh oh oh).
July 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Graphic designer life: singing Sweet Caroline, but substituting 'mise en abyme' (oh oh oh).
Ten writers by whom I’ve read more than five books:
Graham Greene
P.G. Wodehouse
Tove Jansson
John le Carré
Russell Hoban
Sue Townsend
George Saunders
John Berger
J.G. Ballard
Ursula K. Le Guin
Graham Greene
P.G. Wodehouse
Tove Jansson
John le Carré
Russell Hoban
Sue Townsend
George Saunders
John Berger
J.G. Ballard
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ten writers by whom I've read (much) more than five books
Anita Brookner
Barbra Comyns
Charles Dickens
Celia Fremlin
Shirley Jackson
Henry James
Jonathan Raban
Elizabeth Taylor
Evelyn Waugh
Edith Wharton
Anita Brookner
Barbra Comyns
Charles Dickens
Celia Fremlin
Shirley Jackson
Henry James
Jonathan Raban
Elizabeth Taylor
Evelyn Waugh
Edith Wharton
Ten writers by whom I've read more than 5 books
Martin Amis
Jane Austen
Dostoyevsky
Thomas Hardy
Charles Dickens
PG Wodehouse
Thomas Pynchon
Philip Roth
Tolstoy
Balzac
Martin Amis
Jane Austen
Dostoyevsky
Thomas Hardy
Charles Dickens
PG Wodehouse
Thomas Pynchon
Philip Roth
Tolstoy
Balzac
July 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Ten writers by whom I’ve read more than five books:
Graham Greene
P.G. Wodehouse
Tove Jansson
John le Carré
Russell Hoban
Sue Townsend
George Saunders
John Berger
J.G. Ballard
Ursula K. Le Guin
Graham Greene
P.G. Wodehouse
Tove Jansson
John le Carré
Russell Hoban
Sue Townsend
George Saunders
John Berger
J.G. Ballard
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ignore the somewhat clickbaity subheader – this is a fascinating read.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
‘You are living with a difficult person who is waiting to die’: my harrowing time as Patricia Highsmith’s assistant
The long read: I worked for the author of The Talented Mr Ripley in her final months. She was so mean and secretive, I imagined she wanted to kill me
www.theguardian.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Ignore the somewhat clickbaity subheader – this is a fascinating read.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Reposted by Richard Wainman
"The Master & Margarita", illustrations Gennady Novozhilov
July 2, 2025 at 11:18 AM
"The Master & Margarita", illustrations Gennady Novozhilov
Seeing him playing at Glastonbury reminded me of my long-held dream album.
I would like Father John Misty to record a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Death of a Ladies' Man' album in its entirety. Add on Do I Have to Dance All Night? as a bonus track. It would be *phenomenal*.
I would like Father John Misty to record a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Death of a Ladies' Man' album in its entirety. Add on Do I Have to Dance All Night? as a bonus track. It would be *phenomenal*.
June 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Seeing him playing at Glastonbury reminded me of my long-held dream album.
I would like Father John Misty to record a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Death of a Ladies' Man' album in its entirety. Add on Do I Have to Dance All Night? as a bonus track. It would be *phenomenal*.
I would like Father John Misty to record a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Death of a Ladies' Man' album in its entirety. Add on Do I Have to Dance All Night? as a bonus track. It would be *phenomenal*.
Brilliant.
OK, so here’s my JJ Abrams story…
Before I started working in digital restoration one of my primary jobs in post-production support was running the in-house theater and screening rooms at work. Every now and again it would get booked for casting sessions, because it was perfectly suited for that…
Before I started working in digital restoration one of my primary jobs in post-production support was running the in-house theater and screening rooms at work. Every now and again it would get booked for casting sessions, because it was perfectly suited for that…
Happy birthday to the composer of the theme music to the nonexistent 70s private detective TV series “Chuck Taggart, Private Eye!”
That’s one hell of a story. I suppose it’s about time I told it…
That’s one hell of a story. I suppose it’s about time I told it…
June 27, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Brilliant.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
It's so hot I could fall asleep in the Australian wilderness only to wake up and find my schoolmates and teacher have disappeared in unusual circumstances
June 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It's so hot I could fall asleep in the Australian wilderness only to wake up and find my schoolmates and teacher have disappeared in unusual circumstances
Reposted by Richard Wainman
+BBC CLOCK COMPETITION+
We won't be making a run of these but this Bank Holiday weekend you can win a one-off 90s inspired BBC ident clock. Follow, Like & RP to enter. Winner announced Mon AM. We've also restocked our 'Radiophonic' inspired signs & other items.
hiddenbritain.bigcartel.com
We won't be making a run of these but this Bank Holiday weekend you can win a one-off 90s inspired BBC ident clock. Follow, Like & RP to enter. Winner announced Mon AM. We've also restocked our 'Radiophonic' inspired signs & other items.
hiddenbritain.bigcartel.com
May 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
+BBC CLOCK COMPETITION+
We won't be making a run of these but this Bank Holiday weekend you can win a one-off 90s inspired BBC ident clock. Follow, Like & RP to enter. Winner announced Mon AM. We've also restocked our 'Radiophonic' inspired signs & other items.
hiddenbritain.bigcartel.com
We won't be making a run of these but this Bank Holiday weekend you can win a one-off 90s inspired BBC ident clock. Follow, Like & RP to enter. Winner announced Mon AM. We've also restocked our 'Radiophonic' inspired signs & other items.
hiddenbritain.bigcartel.com
Reposted by Richard Wainman
The fact that AI generated kid-lit is a thing shows that some people view kids' media as something meant to distract children, and not something that's integral to cognitive development.
May 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The fact that AI generated kid-lit is a thing shows that some people view kids' media as something meant to distract children, and not something that's integral to cognitive development.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Never leave the house without a good book.
If you’re over 30, quote this with some life advice 🤌🏼
May 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Never leave the house without a good book.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Hey! I really felt the weight of everything last week, and I wanted a way to talk through it... so I've been working on (maybe the first???) choose your own adventure game set up directly *in* Bluesky. And here it is!
Would you like to visit the Garden of Fortune with me?
Enter the garden.
Would you like to visit the Garden of Fortune with me?
Enter the garden.
May 5, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Hey! I really felt the weight of everything last week, and I wanted a way to talk through it... so I've been working on (maybe the first???) choose your own adventure game set up directly *in* Bluesky. And here it is!
Would you like to visit the Garden of Fortune with me?
Enter the garden.
Would you like to visit the Garden of Fortune with me?
Enter the garden.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Look, I admit, I should have got started earlier, but does anybody know where I can get some wicker?
May 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Look, I admit, I should have got started earlier, but does anybody know where I can get some wicker?
Reposted by Richard Wainman
Visual development art by Aurélien Predal for Moominvalley (2019–), dir. Steve Box, Gutsy Animations
April 16, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Visual development art by Aurélien Predal for Moominvalley (2019–), dir. Steve Box, Gutsy Animations
Utterly magnificent.
STOP what you are doing, find some headphones or a secluded location, and watch this. I am crying with laughter and admiration at an idea seen through to its (nearly) bitter end. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD3Q... Sound--as they say--on.
Hlavní nadraží Praha - znělka 02 (Dlouhá verze)
YouTube video by Pavel Jirásek
www.youtube.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Utterly magnificent.
Reposted by Richard Wainman
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...