Farah Mendlesohn
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effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn
@effjayem.bsky.social
6K followers 2.7K following 1.7K posts

SF fan, writer etc etc. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Author of The Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein and Rhetorics of Fantasy. Publishing a book on Joanna Russ's The Female Man with Luna Press in 2026. Pre Order now! Supporter of 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 Pronouns: Farah/they .. more

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Farah Jane Mendlesohn is a British academic historian, writer on speculative fiction, and active member of science fiction fandom. Mendlesohn is best-known for their book Rhetorics of Fantasy (2008), which classifies fantasy literature into four modes based on how the fantastic enters the story. Their work as editor includes the Cambridge Companions to science fiction and fantasy, collaborations with Edward James. The science fiction volume won a Hugo Award in 2005. Mendlesohn is also known for books on the history of fantasy, including Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction, co-written with Michael Levy. It was the first work to trace the genre's 500-year history and won the World Fantasy Award in 2017. .. more

Art 30%
Philosophy 18%
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effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 12h
Update from the @brisbanein28.bsky.social Worldcon bid. Please do share.
brisbanein28.bsky.social Brisbane in 28 @brisbanein28.bsky.social · 12h
Brisbane in 28 Announces Change in Co-Chairs

We're excited to announce a lot of additions to our Team bidding for a Worldcon in Brisbane in 2028!

www.brisbane28.org/brisbane-in-...

#brisbanein28 #worldcon
Image of the Brisbane in 28 logo, with each letter showing a picture of a speculative fiction-related image: The letter B is a dark purple swirl with many orange beast eyes, the letter R is a hovering UFO sending a beam of light down to the ground below, the letter I is a rocket blasting off, the letter S is an android, the letter B is an astronaut with a moon in the background sky, the letters A and N are of a spaceship flying over a red planet with another large orange planet in the sky behind it, and the letter E is a green Australian frog. https://brisbane28.org

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

brisbanein28.bsky.social
Brisbane in 28 @brisbanein28.bsky.social · 12h
Brisbane in 28 Announces Change in Co-Chairs

We're excited to announce a lot of additions to our Team bidding for a Worldcon in Brisbane in 2028!

www.brisbane28.org/brisbane-in-...

#brisbanein28 #worldcon
Image of the Brisbane in 28 logo, with each letter showing a picture of a speculative fiction-related image: The letter B is a dark purple swirl with many orange beast eyes, the letter R is a hovering UFO sending a beam of light down to the ground below, the letter I is a rocket blasting off, the letter S is an android, the letter B is an astronaut with a moon in the background sky, the letters A and N are of a spaceship flying over a red planet with another large orange planet in the sky behind it, and the letter E is a green Australian frog. https://brisbane28.org

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 13h
Yes. My flight is about to take off. DM me.

Reposted by Neil Pederson, Farah Mendlesohn

chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 15h
I‘ve mentioned that thanks to the Epstein tranche I learned that one of my PhD advisors, Lee Smolin, continued to have contact with Epstein after 2007, which is not the impression I had

It’s weird to say the least for my professional past to become a public story that demands feminist analysis
Lee Smolin pauses working relationship with Perimeter Institute after being named in Epstein files
Lee Smolin has been asked to “pause” his work by the Perimeter Institute as they review ties to Jeffrey Epstein
www.therecord.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Farah Mendlesohn, Timothy D. McBride

emptywheel.bsky.social
emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 16h
To my surprise, CDC is still tracking how many children RFK condemns to measles. Cases are getting younger and, of course, it is spreading faster.

www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
2026 To date 2025 Full year Total Cases 910 2280 Age  Under 5 years 227 (25%) 582 (26%)  5-19 years 527 (58%) 1014 (44%)  20+ years 136 (15%) 671 (29%)  Age unknown 20 (2%) 13 (1%) Vaccination Status  Unvaccinated or Unknown 94% 93%

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Dorothy Bishop, Colin F. Camerer , and 4 more

sacbee.com
The Sacramento Bee @sacbee.com · 1d
Wendy Bohon has built a TikTok following as an earthquake geologist. She helps lead earthquake work for the California Geological Survey.
How a TikToker and former actress is helping lead California’s earthquake work
Wendy Bohon has built a TikTok following as an earthquake geologist. She helps lead earthquake work for the California Geological Survey.
bit.ly

Reposted by James Goodwin, Farah Mendlesohn

volts.wtf
David Roberts @volts.wtf · 3d
All those kids & nurses & mechanics & service workers that we are deporting? It costs us $133,333 a head.

Again: we are spending $133,333 per migrant worker that we deport.
US Spent $133,333 for Each Deportation to Third Party Countries
The figures from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats average out to a cost of roughly $133,333 per person deported. The report outlines the cost of President Donald Trump’s controversial pol...
finance.yahoo.com

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 3d
Minneapolis has to be the first locality ICE leaves, not the last.

No funds for ICE.

“ICE Is Rattling Small-Town and Exurban America”

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...
Beyond the Big Cities, ICE Is Rattling Small-Town and Exurban America
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Richard Price, Dave O’Brien, Martin Paul Eve , and 2 more

manshel.bsky.social
Alexander Manshel @manshel.bsky.social · 3d
As some of you may know, I’m writing a book on the history of high school English in the United States, and I’m excited to share a new article from that project—“High School English and the Making of American Readers”—out today in American Literary History! 🧵

academic.oup.com/alh/article/...
High School English and the Making of American Readers
Abstract. The high school English classroom is the most influential literary institution in the United States, and the most overlooked by literary scholars
academic.oup.com

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

weratedogs.com
WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 3d
Here are the Top 5 Dogs of the week!

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

brisbanein28.bsky.social
Brisbane in 28 @brisbanein28.bsky.social · 3d
If you're at #Boskone this weekend, keep a sharp eye out for our Brisbane / Meanjin Worldcon Bid for 2028 swag! We'll have a rep handing out badge ribbons, postcards, and bookmarks with our pretty logos on them!

@boskone.bsky.social #brisbanein28 #worldcon
Image of a young woman wearing a grey Raglan-sleeved t-shirt smiling and holding Brisbane in 28-branded green badge ribbons, skyline at dusk postcards, and glossy black Meanjin bookmarks, standing in front of a roomful of bookshelves stuffed with speculative fiction books. https://brisbane28.org

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

techmeme.com
Techmeme @techmeme.com · 4d
In a memo to US lawmakers, OpenAI accused DeepSeek of using distillation techniques to train the next generation of R1 and "free-ride" on leading US AI models (Bloomberg)

Main Link | Techmeme Permalink

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

polphilpod.bsky.social
Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 4d
basically, we've utterly erased the rights & healthcare access of a vulnerable minority because a very small group (of apparently very well-connected) of people became fanatical about it & the (also very small) group who decide press coverage decided they needed relentless coverage

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 5d
That is fantastic. Thank you.

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

hatulimyafim.bsky.social
Bird @hatulimyafim.bsky.social · 5d
"Gaza Children Village [was] created by Palestinian-American Dr. David Hasan in Apr '25 in response to the devastation of Gaza...in particular the impact on 10,000s of orphaned children. GCV provides education, nutrition, healthcare, & psychosocial support for orphaned & vulnerable children..."
Jewish Voices Rising for Gaza’s Children | GAZA CHILDREN VILLAGE (Powered by Donorbox)
Jewish Voices Rising: A benefit concert for the children of GazaSunday March 8th · 7-9 pmEliot Church of Newton474 Centre St, Newton, MAJoin us for an evening of song and inspiration with some of the ...
donorbox.org

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

lsangha.bsky.social
Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 5d
#EarlyModern 🗃️

Rosamund Oates is researching the history of early modern deafnes - see her P&P article, book out soon I think.

academic.oup.com/past/article...

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 7d
thank you!

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

brisbanein28.bsky.social
Brisbane in 28 @brisbanein28.bsky.social · 8d
The Brisbane / Meanjin Worldcon Bid for 2028 reps had a great time @capriconsfcon.bsky.social this weekend!

If you missed our bid table or our parties, look for our rep handing out Brisbane in 28 swag @boskone.bsky.social this coming weekend!

#capricon #capricon46 #boskone #brisbanein28 #worldcon
Image of a woman with long brown hair and elf ears in faerie dress sitting with a man in a flannel shirt wearing glasses and a newsboy cap at a bid table, with an assortment of swag including colourful Brisbane in 28 postcards and bookmarks, green Aussie badge ribbons, a stuffed koala and a stuffed wombat, and an assortment of Down Under treats including Tim Tams and Starward Whisky. https://brisbane28.org Image of a black marble table in a hotel room covered with dishes full of chunks of fruit includine watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and pineapple; raw veggies including cucumber slices, broccoli and cauliflower florets, yellow capsicum halves filled with cherry tomatoes, and carrot and celery sticks; various savoury dips; and several types of cheese in squares with a variety of crackers. A beautiful sculpture of a sunburst enhances the display. https://brisbane28.org

Reposted by Michael H. Whitworth, Farah Mendlesohn

scumbelievable.bsky.social
Gretchen Felker-Martin 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · 8d
One of the most sickening realizations I've ever had came when it hit me that six hundred years from now historians will be writing things like "while technically illegal, intercourse with minors was broadly accepted as normal among the American ruling class, and even a marker of status"

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 8d
The Wesleyan Anthology is a bit like this.

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 8d
I recommend the Years' Bests because they give the widest range and sf is a very wide field. But I would note that lots of us read 19th century literature when we were kids and many loved it. I don't think it's cut and dried.

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

file770.bsky.social
File 770 @file770.bsky.social · 9d
Rwanda in 2028 Worldcon Bid Withdraws
file770.com/rwanda-in-20...
Rwanda in 2028 Worldcon Bid Withdraws
Micheal Kabunga, Chair of the ConKigali bid for Rwanda in 2028, today announced they are withdrawing from the race. Greetings from ConKigali Worldcon Bid Team. Due to the ongoing immigration change…
file770.com

Reposted by Ian Hall, Lesley A. Hall, Janet Murray , and 9 more

bencollins.bsky.social
Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 10d
Once again, it turns out “fully autonomous” means “a guy in the Philippines.”
It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines
During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.
futurism.com

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 10d
We have a fantastic programme of speakers at the Frances Hardinge Symposium this summer. Including Frances Hardinge herself. Frances Hardinge has multiple awards including the Carnegie Medal (twice) and the Costa Award.

11th July, Kings College, London.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-one-day-...
A One Day Symposium on Frances Hardinge
Politics, Ethics and the Material World: the Interrogative  Fiction of Frances Hardinge.
www.eventbrite.co.uk

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 10d
I think that's correct. It really is revolting.

Reposted by Farah Mendlesohn

vallescurarule.bsky.social
Val Nolan @vallescurarule.bsky.social · 10d
Have you checked out what the first stand-alone volume of our *Spec Fic for Newbies* writing guide series offers you?

Find it here www.lunapresspublishing.com/product-page... from @lunapress.bsky.social! Grab yourself a copy, start learning, and get writing! 😀
To the left, the cover (red and black) of "Spec Fic For Newbies: A Beginner's Guide to Writing Subgenres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror" Vol 1 by Tiffani Angus and Val Nolan. To the right, a list of the topics covered by the book: "Learn about writing… Spaceships, Aliens, Big Dumb Objects, Robots, Military SF, Utopia, Dystopia, Apocalypses, Cyberpunk, Solarpunk, Folktales & Fairy Tales, Witches, High Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Grimdark, Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Time Travel, Gothic Horror, Supernatural Horror, Vampires, Psychological Horror, Body Horror, Zombies, Suburban Horror, Splatterpunk, Techno Horror, and Cosmic Horror!"

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 10d
Same.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn, Fredrik Albritton Jonsson , and 1 more

ihrhistorylab.bsky.social
HistoryLab @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social · 10d
Our conference #cfp is now live! This year's conference, "Embodied Histories: Body, Mind and Experience" will take place on 17th July 2026 at University of Birmingham!

Keep on reading to find out more...(1/9)
HistoryLab 20th Anniversary Annual Conference 2026 — Call for Papers Embodied Histories: Body, Mind, and Experience 17th July 2026 | Hybrid Conference, in-person at University of Birmingham, Staff House, Grand Central Room The human body is both a biological reality and a cultural construct. It is a site of meaning, experience, and power. From rituals of health and healing to practices of regulation, discipline, and display, bodies have both shaped and been shaped by their historical contexts. We invite papers that place the body and lived experience at the centre of historical inquiry, engaging with themes such as medicine, disability, gender, the senses, and the emotions. We welcome contributions that explore how bodies and experiences have been represented, regulated, or performed, and how these processes intersect with broader questions of identity, power, culture, and society across periods and regions. This conference also marks the 20th anniversary of HistoryLab. Since its founding, HistoryLab has provided a national platform for postgraduate and early career historians to share ideas, foster collaboration, and build community. We invite participants to join us in celebrating this milestone year.

effjayem.bsky.social
Farah Mendlesohn @effjayem.bsky.social · 10d
Appalled to see yesterday that a crop eared Doberman won the Westminster Show. I had no idea that they continued to validate this cruelty. You can write here: www.westminsterkennelclub.org/contact-us/?...

And for those of you who have never seen an unmutilated Doberman, look at those silky ears!

Reposted by Nandita Sharma, Farah Mendlesohn

brennancenter.org
Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 11d
Congress failed to pass the SAVE Act last year for good reason: it’s an anti-voter bill. But now lawmakers have revived it despite overwhelming public opposition. Tell Congress to reject the SAVE Act: bit.ly/4tmVIor