Chris Farnell
@thebrainofchris.bsky.social
I've written the Crew Handbook for Star Trek Lower Decks, the Prospectus for Life is Strange's Caledon University, the joke book for Doctor Who and the continuing misadventures of the deadly starship Fermi.
https://chrisfarnell.com
https://chrisfarnell.com
Pinned
Each new world they visit has new ideas, new people, and new stories.
They won't last long.
Fermi's Progress
Paperback
www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...
Season Pass
scarletferret.com/books/fermis...
Fermi's Wake
Paperback
www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Wake-...
Season Pass
scarletferret.com/books/fermis...
They won't last long.
Fermi's Progress
Paperback
www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...
Season Pass
scarletferret.com/books/fermis...
Fermi's Wake
Paperback
www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Wake-...
Season Pass
scarletferret.com/books/fermis...
Reposted by Chris Farnell
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
December 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
Don't worry, he's having a little joke. All the books go to a nice farm with a big library and they get read as much as they want.
as someone who has worked in the book trade all my life the fact that they destructively scanned used books is by faaaar the most innocuous bit of this situation, do you know how many books get pulped
February 17, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Don't worry, he's having a little joke. All the books go to a nice farm with a big library and they get read as much as they want.
The really annoying thing here is the USS Miyazaki would have been operating around the same time as the Star Trek: The Last Starship comics that have a really distinctive but unmistakable Trek look that would have gone beautifully here.
I complained about the generated slop images used in last week’s episode of Starfleet Academy, but couldn’t find examples except for the cover at the time. But I found some now so you can see why I accused it of being Ai. Very disappointed in this production for doing it.
February 17, 2026 at 11:40 AM
The really annoying thing here is the USS Miyazaki would have been operating around the same time as the Star Trek: The Last Starship comics that have a really distinctive but unmistakable Trek look that would have gone beautifully here.
Obligatory Hugos eligibility post:
Fermi's Wake is eligible for Best Novel.
Overview Effect is eligible for Best Novella.
Fermi's Progress as a whole is eligible for Best Series.
If you're into that kind of thing.
chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
Fermi's Wake is eligible for Best Novel.
Overview Effect is eligible for Best Novella.
Fermi's Progress as a whole is eligible for Best Series.
If you're into that kind of thing.
chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
February 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Obligatory Hugos eligibility post:
Fermi's Wake is eligible for Best Novel.
Overview Effect is eligible for Best Novella.
Fermi's Progress as a whole is eligible for Best Series.
If you're into that kind of thing.
chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
Fermi's Wake is eligible for Best Novel.
Overview Effect is eligible for Best Novella.
Fermi's Progress as a whole is eligible for Best Series.
If you're into that kind of thing.
chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Fascinating study. One thing I’ve said a lot is that in a post-skinnerian field we are finding cognitive complexity wherever we look in the animal kingdom and this study starts by saying that where sentience can’t be confidently stated it’s in cephalopod species that haven’t been studied much.
This open access paper in Biological Reviews offers an up-to-date synthesis of the scientific evidence on cephalopod sentience 🐙🦑
It considers 120+ studies using an 8-criterion framework:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@zoophilosophy.bsky.social @birchlse.bsky.social
It considers 120+ studies using an 8-criterion framework:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@zoophilosophy.bsky.social @birchlse.bsky.social
Sentience in cephalopod molluscs: an updated assessment
This article evaluates the evidence for sentience – the capacity to have feelings – in cephalopod molluscs: octopus, cuttlefish, squid, and nautilus. Our framework includes eight criteria, covering b...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Fascinating study. One thing I’ve said a lot is that in a post-skinnerian field we are finding cognitive complexity wherever we look in the animal kingdom and this study starts by saying that where sentience can’t be confidently stated it’s in cephalopod species that haven’t been studied much.
I'm a Norwich resident and I am 100% on the Glitter Chickens' side (Okay but we're not calling them that. Tried it, didn't like it).
You know most of them are descended from carrier pigeons? It's an obsolete self-replicating communication system that has gone feral. They are cyberpunk AF.
You know most of them are descended from carrier pigeons? It's an obsolete self-replicating communication system that has gone feral. They are cyberpunk AF.
An awful lot to think about here but the main thing I need to draw your attention to is that one click deep is the Peck Savers fb page, and do you know what they're calling them on there? That's right it's
`°•☆ Glitter Chickens ☆•°`
`°•☆ Glitter Chickens ☆•°`
Pooping menaces or ‘flying puppies’? How pigeons are dividing a UK city
The growing number of birds in Norwich market has pushed the council to adopt extreme measures – including a hawk and oral contraceptives. But for the city’s pigeon-loving activists, they are just mis...
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I'm a Norwich resident and I am 100% on the Glitter Chickens' side (Okay but we're not calling them that. Tried it, didn't like it).
You know most of them are descended from carrier pigeons? It's an obsolete self-replicating communication system that has gone feral. They are cyberpunk AF.
You know most of them are descended from carrier pigeons? It's an obsolete self-replicating communication system that has gone feral. They are cyberpunk AF.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
"There, there," a fellow soldier says, patting my shoulder as I weep over the body. "It could have happened to anyone."
"Thanks," I sniff. "That's... quite cliche. Say, do you know a recipe for apple pie in haiku form?"
My hand is already reaching for the fallen gun.
"Thanks," I sniff. "That's... quite cliche. Say, do you know a recipe for apple pie in haiku form?"
My hand is already reaching for the fallen gun.
October 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
"There, there," a fellow soldier says, patting my shoulder as I weep over the body. "It could have happened to anyone."
"Thanks," I sniff. "That's... quite cliche. Say, do you know a recipe for apple pie in haiku form?"
My hand is already reaching for the fallen gun.
"Thanks," I sniff. "That's... quite cliche. Say, do you know a recipe for apple pie in haiku form?"
My hand is already reaching for the fallen gun.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Me in the Terminator resistance camp, crying and covered in blood as I struggle to apply pressure to a fallen comrade's gaping shotgun blast.
"I'm sorry! I honestly thought you were AI! Your replies were just really generic and I had to be sure!"
"I'm sorry! I honestly thought you were AI! Your replies were just really generic and I had to be sure!"
October 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Me in the Terminator resistance camp, crying and covered in blood as I struggle to apply pressure to a fallen comrade's gaping shotgun blast.
"I'm sorry! I honestly thought you were AI! Your replies were just really generic and I had to be sure!"
"I'm sorry! I honestly thought you were AI! Your replies were just really generic and I had to be sure!"
If you send an AI to catch AIs posing as humans it'll probably just end up falling in love with one of them while the rest end up dying of old age.
Just because I keep seeing those "I checked this piece and it's written by AI" - this is an old article of mine, before AI was available. So could we not?
February 17, 2026 at 8:05 AM
If you send an AI to catch AIs posing as humans it'll probably just end up falling in love with one of them while the rest end up dying of old age.
It has been 365 days since my 6 year old last heard this song, but she came into the bedroom singing it this morning.
February 17, 2026 at 7:23 AM
It has been 365 days since my 6 year old last heard this song, but she came into the bedroom singing it this morning.
With The Last Days on Mars trending, it's a good time to bring up my essay on the difficulties of putting zombies IN SPAAAAAAACE: www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-t...
(Not to mention my own story about an alien philosophical zombie apocalypse...: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...)
(Not to mention my own story about an alien philosophical zombie apocalypse...: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...)
The Trouble with Alien Zombies | Den of Geek
Following an exciting Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, we look at the traditions and problems with space zombies opposite their earthly counterparts.
www.denofgeek.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:21 AM
With The Last Days on Mars trending, it's a good time to bring up my essay on the difficulties of putting zombies IN SPAAAAAAACE: www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-t...
(Not to mention my own story about an alien philosophical zombie apocalypse...: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...)
(Not to mention my own story about an alien philosophical zombie apocalypse...: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...)
Reposted by Chris Farnell
A prominent Bluesky elder already hosts Jeopardy
How many followers for a prominent Bluesky elder to host Jeopardy
February 16, 2026 at 8:29 PM
A prominent Bluesky elder already hosts Jeopardy
Hot Take: Wrath of Khan was a huge waste of what could have been an excellent TNG episode (or would've been, if The Masterpiece Society didn't end up existing anyway)
"It would be interesting, Captain, to return to that world in a hundred years and to learn what crop has sprung from the seed you planted today." - Spock
Understatement! "Space Seed" has inspired two Star Trek movies, a story on Strange New Worlds, and an audio drama.
Understatement! "Space Seed" has inspired two Star Trek movies, a story on Strange New Worlds, and an audio drama.
February 16, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Hot Take: Wrath of Khan was a huge waste of what could have been an excellent TNG episode (or would've been, if The Masterpiece Society didn't end up existing anyway)
Fundamentally, what the fuck has citizenship got to do with feelings? Citizenship is about where you were born or about where a government has decided that you have made enough of an economic investment (labour or money) to justify them letting you stay.
Very fed up of people trying to reduce my identity to a single stupid flag.
February 16, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Fundamentally, what the fuck has citizenship got to do with feelings? Citizenship is about where you were born or about where a government has decided that you have made enough of an economic investment (labour or money) to justify them letting you stay.
If you try to put your foot in one of these and miss it is the most painful experiences imaginable.
February 16, 2026 at 3:44 PM
If you try to put your foot in one of these and miss it is the most painful experiences imaginable.
Popped into the #Norwich Science Festival today, when I heard the Crab Museum were in town and dropped off a Fermi's Wake paperback. It still doesn't have any crab people in.
(Also, their show A Natural History of Bums is on at the Forum at 15.45 and is a GODSEND if you need free half-term activity)
(Also, their show A Natural History of Bums is on at the Forum at 15.45 and is a GODSEND if you need free half-term activity)
February 16, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Popped into the #Norwich Science Festival today, when I heard the Crab Museum were in town and dropped off a Fermi's Wake paperback. It still doesn't have any crab people in.
(Also, their show A Natural History of Bums is on at the Forum at 15.45 and is a GODSEND if you need free half-term activity)
(Also, their show A Natural History of Bums is on at the Forum at 15.45 and is a GODSEND if you need free half-term activity)
Reposted by Chris Farnell
mom they’re roasting the US economy on mastodon again
February 16, 2026 at 7:37 AM
mom they’re roasting the US economy on mastodon again
Every time I have to write an alien equivalent of some mundane terrestrial thing, I must enter the mind realm and do psychic battle with the phrase "almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea."
"Is there any tea on this spaceship?" he asked.
February 16, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Every time I have to write an alien equivalent of some mundane terrestrial thing, I must enter the mind realm and do psychic battle with the phrase "almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea."
This is the correct response to all GenAI use.
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: 'I'd rather quit the industry than use generative AI'
The latest GDC survey also found that managers are more likely to use generative AI than their employees.
www.pcgamer.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:07 AM
This is the correct response to all GenAI use.
It is almost impressive that a film can be the capstone of a nine film epic (not to mention all the ancillary material) told over more than 40 years, and yet have its emotional payoff feel *unearned.*
I read once that Abrams' process is to decide the emotion he wants the audience to feel, then work backwards to achieve it. It explains shit like that final scene of Rise of Skywalker - look! she's on tattooine! there's those two suns from A New Hope! she calls herself skywalker!
i often think about this review
February 15, 2026 at 11:12 AM
It is almost impressive that a film can be the capstone of a nine film epic (not to mention all the ancillary material) told over more than 40 years, and yet have its emotional payoff feel *unearned.*
Reposted by Chris Farnell
the baby (17 months) raised both her hands and said “WEADY?” so I said “ready!” and then she slapped me in the face
November 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
the baby (17 months) raised both her hands and said “WEADY?” so I said “ready!” and then she slapped me in the face
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Universal video game rule: if an NPC is sitting behind a desk I should not need to walk around the desk to talk to them.
February 14, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Universal video game rule: if an NPC is sitting behind a desk I should not need to walk around the desk to talk to them.
The funniest way to make this film is as a straight, shot-for-shot remake of The Bicycle Thief (1948)
deadline.com/2026/02/jaso...
deadline.com/2026/02/jaso...
Big-Budget Jason Statham-David Leitch Action-Comedy ‘Jason Statham Stole My Bike’ Arrives To Heat Up Berlin Market; Black Bear On Sales & Domestic With Leitch & Kelly McCormick Producing
The action-comedy is budgeted north of $80M
deadline.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:36 AM
The funniest way to make this film is as a straight, shot-for-shot remake of The Bicycle Thief (1948)
deadline.com/2026/02/jaso...
deadline.com/2026/02/jaso...