Ben Blake
@benblakeauthor.bsky.social
Husband, father, Fantasy author. Usually tired or asleep. Debut novel The Scholar's War out now from Divertir Publishing. Read a free sample on Amazon or Divertir website.
Not rep'd yet. I ignore DM's.
Not rep'd yet. I ignore DM's.
This Is What It Sounds Like, for me. Excellent song.
December 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This Is What It Sounds Like, for me. Excellent song.
That's a pretty good movie, really. Not much originality, but it's done with some style and dash, it's engaging, and the songs are great.
December 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
That's a pretty good movie, really. Not much originality, but it's done with some style and dash, it's engaging, and the songs are great.
Here in the UK, too. At least, we laugh at him when we're not busy recoiling in horror.
December 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Here in the UK, too. At least, we laugh at him when we're not busy recoiling in horror.
Truth to all of that, and Italy already has a far-right government. Populism is surging, and it's because the mainstream parties have failed us so badly for so long. Still, the US is further down the road than most.
December 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Truth to all of that, and Italy already has a far-right government. Populism is surging, and it's because the mainstream parties have failed us so badly for so long. Still, the US is further down the road than most.
No, of course not. Try, and have hope, because those things are important. And remember, I said I doubt it - not that it's impossible.
December 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
No, of course not. Try, and have hope, because those things are important. And remember, I said I doubt it - not that it's impossible.
I hope you're right, truly.
December 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I hope you're right, truly.
As a Brit, I'm sorry to say I doubt it. Too much damage is already done. The UK, and Europe, know that the USA might elect another Trump, or worse, in the future. We can't rely on America, and that tragedy forces us to find other ways to defend ourselves and to interact, without the US.
December 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
As a Brit, I'm sorry to say I doubt it. Too much damage is already done. The UK, and Europe, know that the USA might elect another Trump, or worse, in the future. We can't rely on America, and that tragedy forces us to find other ways to defend ourselves and to interact, without the US.
Yes, the loose ends were neatly tied up. We could see society beginning to re-emerge, and then we saw Flagg appear again far away, and we knew that evil is never wholly gone.
I still think Fran and Stu were mad to wander off alone though, cos you know... evil is never wholly gone.
I still think Fran and Stu were mad to wander off alone though, cos you know... evil is never wholly gone.
December 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Yes, the loose ends were neatly tied up. We could see society beginning to re-emerge, and then we saw Flagg appear again far away, and we knew that evil is never wholly gone.
I still think Fran and Stu were mad to wander off alone though, cos you know... evil is never wholly gone.
I still think Fran and Stu were mad to wander off alone though, cos you know... evil is never wholly gone.
True, it does. The denouement with Trashcan Man is very cleverly done.
December 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
True, it does. The denouement with Trashcan Man is very cleverly done.
Love the Stand. It sags a little in the middle section I think, but part one especially is outstanding.
December 27, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Love the Stand. It sags a little in the middle section I think, but part one especially is outstanding.
Hmm. Is there such a thing as a bachelor?
December 26, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Hmm. Is there such a thing as a bachelor?
But, but, why did you not go for both books?
December 16, 2025 at 10:47 PM
But, but, why did you not go for both books?
Likely true. Though the UK invaded Iraq too, so we share the guilt. As France does, after helping overthrow Gaddafi in Libya, in 2011. I'm afraid that in the end, the West as a whole will accept American violence because it preserves a world order in which the West dominates. For a little longer.
December 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Likely true. Though the UK invaded Iraq too, so we share the guilt. As France does, after helping overthrow Gaddafi in Libya, in 2011. I'm afraid that in the end, the West as a whole will accept American violence because it preserves a world order in which the West dominates. For a little longer.
Excellent book. It sags a little in the middle to my mind, the Boulder section mostly, but overall it's very good indeed.
December 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Excellent book. It sags a little in the middle to my mind, the Boulder section mostly, but overall it's very good indeed.
Me neither, sad to say. Their world view is too tied up with their lives, and what they see as their history - guns, guts and God, mostly. Nothing wrong with any of those things, but in much of America the attitude towards them seems twisted, to those of us on the outside.
December 8, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Me neither, sad to say. Their world view is too tied up with their lives, and what they see as their history - guns, guts and God, mostly. Nothing wrong with any of those things, but in much of America the attitude towards them seems twisted, to those of us on the outside.
You could pick any 1 of several days. But yes, the madness has been growing for a long time - since Citizens United? Since the requirement for fairness in news reporting was abolished? Maybe before even those things. Hard to see how it can be undone now.
December 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
You could pick any 1 of several days. But yes, the madness has been growing for a long time - since Citizens United? Since the requirement for fairness in news reporting was abolished? Maybe before even those things. Hard to see how it can be undone now.
For us in Europe, the concern is that America might in future go fucknuts again and elect another Trump-type President. That makes it impossible to wholly trust the USA, and vital to arrange our affairs so we don't have to.
December 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
For us in Europe, the concern is that America might in future go fucknuts again and elect another Trump-type President. That makes it impossible to wholly trust the USA, and vital to arrange our affairs so we don't have to.
Getting in my own way.
December 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Getting in my own way.
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
Click on 'Read Sample' under the cover image and you can even read the opening part of the book for free! Well worth the time.
Click on 'Read Sample' under the cover image and you can even read the opening part of the book for free! Well worth the time.
The Scholar's War
The Scholar's War [Blake, Ben] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Scholar's War
www.amazon.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
Click on 'Read Sample' under the cover image and you can even read the opening part of the book for free! Well worth the time.
Click on 'Read Sample' under the cover image and you can even read the opening part of the book for free! Well worth the time.
And just as a practical point, America can't win a war on drugs/terror/whatever, in Venezuela. Fighters will hide in villages, slums, and jungles; it will be Vietnam again.
November 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
And just as a practical point, America can't win a war on drugs/terror/whatever, in Venezuela. Fighters will hide in villages, slums, and jungles; it will be Vietnam again.