Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 3h

That's a great one

Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 6h

One hundred trillion percent

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 6h

Very very well said

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

David Avallone @davallone.bsky.social · 7h

Hard same on Bradbury. The Golden Age Guys have some awesome ideas and mostly can handle pacing and plot… but they have no ear for human speech, no sense of poetry, and very little interest in people who aren’t white dudes. It’s permissible when you’re a kid. As an adult, it’s hard to stick with.

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 8h

That's super helpful, thank you.

Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 8h

I can roll with a fair degree of sentimental breathlessness; I suppose slop is in the eye of the beholder. I've been meaning to read Cordwainer Smith for a while; where do you think is the best place to start?

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 11h

Oh, hello, @sentencebender.bsky.social and I are in here! www.grimdarkmagazine.com/grimdark-mag... There's an interview, plus a review in Issue #44 of @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social.

Cover of Issue #44 of Grimdark Magazine, with a many-tentacled monster emerging from the sea with a red laser eye.

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Brian Anderson @bganderson.bsky.social · 11h

One of my favorite Bradbury quotes, from "Zen in the Art of Writing," is: "We never sit anything out. We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."

Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 11h

So I dug deeper into why, with input from @haileypiperfights.bsky.social @thelincoln.bsky.social @bbolander.bsky.social

Big big gratitude to them for sharing their awesome insights.

undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/why-do-we-st...

why do we still like Ray Bradbury?

Greetings, fellow undercover artists embedded in the apocalypse! It's a funny business, connecting with other covert operatives across time and space. Tracking what holds true and what changes. What ...

undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 11h

So I dug deeper into why, with input from @haileypiperfights.bsky.social @thelincoln.bsky.social @bbolander.bsky.social

Big big gratitude to them for sharing their awesome insights.

undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/why-do-we-st...

why do we still like Ray Bradbury?

Greetings, fellow undercover artists embedded in the apocalypse! It's a funny business, connecting with other covert operatives across time and space. Tracking what holds true and what changes. What ...

undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 11h

I wasn't surprised that my post about not loving the Golden Age sci-fi writers got a lot of... engagement. 😅

What *did* surprise me was that when I casually mentioned that Ray Bradbury was the lone exception, a ton of great writers chimed in to echo that sentiment.

So I dug deeper into why.

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why do we still like Ray Bradbury?

Greetings, fellow undercover artists embedded in the apocalypse! It's a funny business, connecting with other covert operatives across time and space. Tracking what holds true and what changes. What ...

undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 2d

Exciting news! My novel Plague Birds, which was a finalist for the Nebula & Philip K. Dick Awards, will be rereleased by Apex Books @apexmag.bsky.social in an new edition with extra content in June 2026. And a sequel will be published by Apex in Oct. 2026. 1/
www.apexbookcompany.com/products/pla...

Cover of Plague Birds by Jason Sanford, which was a finalist for the Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards.

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

Jen Karner @articulatedream.bsky.social · 2d

It's cover reveal day so I got u dis.
Snag the new cover on sale all month long using the spooky sale section of the link in my bio.

The new cover of Cinders of Yesterday is shown. Emilie (blonde, curly hair) is on the left leaning against Dani (long black wavy hair, leather jacket, holding a glowing blade). Around them a fire rages. The top reads "Jen Karner", middle text reads "Cinders of Yesterday" and at the bottom "Legacy of Shadows Book 1"

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

Sonia Spookyman @soniasulaiman.bsky.social · 2d

Game dev really is like fibre arts. I just learned to make an image button and now I am day dreaming about putting character customization into my game.

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 2d

A new small press? iN tHiS eCoN0mY / p01i+icAL m0M3nt?!?

YES. We need new homes for new stories. Even now. Especially now.

I love and trust the people behind Homeward Books, and I hope you will join me in backing them.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hom...

Homeward Books: The home for books without a home

Splendor over mediocrity. Stories for the hot bath & the cold plunge. Defying the constraints of genre & delving deep into your heart.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

Patrick S. Tomlinson @stealthygeek.bsky.social · 3d

[Taps the sign.]

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Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 2d

Heaven have mercy on us all—Presbyterians and Pagans alike—for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending

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Fonda Lee @fondalee.bsky.social · 2d

The JADE CITY ebook is an Amazon Prime Day deal today (Tuesday) for a ludicrously low $2.99 which is much less than what I paid for boba tea yesterday so if you still haven't jumped on the Green Bone Saga bandwagon, this is your sign👇

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Fran Wilde @franwilde.bsky.social · 2d

Where to find me this week: At Main Point Books in Wayne Pa tonight w. @acwise.bsky.social! On Thursday I’m at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore! And I’m over at my Patreon talking about favorite heists, lessons learned & hosting a free write-in on Wednesday. Join me! www.patreon.com/c/franwilde

Main point books 6:30 pm 10/7 with A.C. Wise

October what I love and where I’ll be News on Patreon

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Reposted by Sam J Miller

Zig Zag Claybourne @zzclaybourne.bsky.social · 2d

What is best in life, reader edition.

Post from Angelica Chong saying "There is something incredibly satisfying about reading the first page of a book, and immediately something in your brain sits up and goes 'oh, I'm going to like this'-- and then every subsequent page proves you right."

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

Tomorrow, Oct 7 at 8 PM ET, @sentencebender.bsky.social and I are answering your questions about our forthcoming Saga Double titles: Red Star Hustle and Apprehension. To join the live conversation, sign up for a free 7-day trial of my Patreon at the Q&A tier or above: patreon.com/maryrobinette

"Live Q&A" with photos of Mary Robinette Kowal, Sam J. Miller, and the cover of Apprehension/Red Star Hustle. "Tuesday, October 7 at 8 PM ET on Patreon. Free 7-day trial at patreon.com/maryrobinette." Over a purple background with a few stars for decoration.

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 3d

I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING 😭😭😭😭

thank uuuuu @pazsays.bsky.social

Paz Pardon me, is that a ghost in your pocket or @pazsays.bsky.social · 3d

@sentencebender.bsky.social's RED STAR HUSTLE is both a nail-biting ride through a thrilling universe & a paean to hope for recovery from addiction. Miller’s keen eye for character & deft hand at worldbuilding make for a story that carries more of a punch than should be legal in a novel this short

Red Star Hustle / Apprehension

Check out Red Star Hustle / Apprehension - <B>Two expertly crafted crime stories set in a far-future science fiction universe, from two award-winning authors known for their gripping plots and unforge...

bookshop.org

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Angry Algonquin 😸 📚 🧊 🍸 @angryalgonquin.bsky.social · 4d

OMG @maryrobinettekowal.com and @sentencebender.bsky.social coming to @eagleeyebooks.bsky.social in Atlanta on October 28th!

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

If you're in the following cities, @sentencebender.bsky.social and I are coming to a bookstore near you soon: New York, Atlanta, WDC, Houston, Portland, Boulder, and San Diego. Plus, a virtual event! See all the details here: maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/appr... @sagapressbooks.bsky.social

Apprehension + Red Star Hustle Book Tour Schedule:
Oct 20, 6 PM MT - Virtual: Poisoned Pen
Oct 22, 7:30 PM ET - NYC: Twisted Spine
Oct 28, 7 PM ET - Atlanta: Eagle Eye Books
Oct 29, 7 PM ET - DC: Little District Bookstore
Oct 30, 6:30 PM CT - Houston: Murder by the Book
Nov 3, 7 PM PT - Portland: Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing
Nov 4, 6:30 PM MT - Boulder: Boulder Bookstore
Nov 5, 7 PM PT - San Diego: Mysterious Galaxy
At the bottom is the double cover of Apprehension and Red Star Hustle with headshots of Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 5d

No disrespect but I'm going to need a queer person or persons to tell me ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is worth seeing. I am suspicious of all this heterosexual enthusiasm.

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Jeannie Marschall 🍇🫐🍏🍋🍊🍓 @jeanniemarschall.bsky.social · 5d

Then how about a viciously satisfying anti-fascist, anti-capitalist tale with magic ink and boxing and mobs and badass women??
"Kid Wolf and Kraken Boy" by Sam J. Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social is a TREAT

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Sam J Miller @sentencebender.bsky.social · 6d

I am loving it so much. I don't yet have the strength to re-read the book myself (tho I will do so one day, thru a lens of "what if Julian was the good one the whole time") so this has been a great safe way to re-experience Teh Feels and oh also learn excellent tricks to steal

wait who said that

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