dickowalexander.bsky.social
@dickowalexander.bsky.social
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
does anyone else feel like SFF criticism is in a really good place right now? perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention before. reading through the latest Strange Horizons and thinking about all the cool conversations I've seen and all the books I've picked up because of them. thank you critics.
January 29, 2026 at 4:07 PM
does anyone else feel like SFF criticism is in a really good place right now? perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention before. reading through the latest Strange Horizons and thinking about all the cool conversations I've seen and all the books I've picked up because of them. thank you critics.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
So that’s the 2026 @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special. Themes were legion: the interface with politics, the shadows of history, the lines between traditions.
Hope you found thoughts to chew on.Thanks to our writers for sharing them.
Shout out to the SH proofreaders:
heroes every year.
Hope you found thoughts to chew on.Thanks to our writers for sharing them.
Shout out to the SH proofreaders:
heroes every year.
26 January 2026
Welcome to the annual Strange Horizons criticism special!
strangehorizons.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:03 AM
So that’s the 2026 @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special. Themes were legion: the interface with politics, the shadows of history, the lines between traditions.
Hope you found thoughts to chew on.Thanks to our writers for sharing them.
Shout out to the SH proofreaders:
heroes every year.
Hope you found thoughts to chew on.Thanks to our writers for sharing them.
Shout out to the SH proofreaders:
heroes every year.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
A must-read: open.substack.com/pub/bullhorn...
Defunding ICE Is Not Enough. Minneapolis Exposed the System Democrats Refuse to Confront.
The for-profit immigration system under DHS isn't broken, it's built this way.
open.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:54 AM
A must-read: open.substack.com/pub/bullhorn...
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
"French science fiction, even at its least realist, tends to bear a simultaneous concern for formal and stylistic invention—sometimes with downright hallucinatory results—and for the ideological Message, tending even toward a clunky didacticism."
A really eye-opening view of a literature in this.
A really eye-opening view of a literature in this.
Wednesday! Today’s Criticism Special essay is from @dickowalexander.bsky.social on francophone SF.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Francophone Speculative Fiction and the Challenge of Politics
What I find interesting in the “politics” of these three books is that “preachiness” is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.
strangehorizons.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:42 PM
"French science fiction, even at its least realist, tends to bear a simultaneous concern for formal and stylistic invention—sometimes with downright hallucinatory results—and for the ideological Message, tending even toward a clunky didacticism."
A really eye-opening view of a literature in this.
A really eye-opening view of a literature in this.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
The theme of this essay is politics and aesthetics, and how the balance between them can play out differently in varied contexts. Very rich seam.
“‘Preachiness’,” Alexander argues, “is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.”
Really hope this sparks further chat.
“‘Preachiness’,” Alexander argues, “is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.”
Really hope this sparks further chat.
Francophone Speculative Fiction and the Challenge of Politics
What I find interesting in the “politics” of these three books is that “preachiness” is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.
strangehorizons.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:57 PM
The theme of this essay is politics and aesthetics, and how the balance between them can play out differently in varied contexts. Very rich seam.
“‘Preachiness’,” Alexander argues, “is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.”
Really hope this sparks further chat.
“‘Preachiness’,” Alexander argues, “is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.”
Really hope this sparks further chat.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
Wednesday! Today’s Criticism Special essay is from @dickowalexander.bsky.social on francophone SF.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Francophone Speculative Fiction and the Challenge of Politics
What I find interesting in the “politics” of these three books is that “preachiness” is not a function of political messaging, but one of aesthetic integrity.
strangehorizons.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Wednesday! Today’s Criticism Special essay is from @dickowalexander.bsky.social on francophone SF.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Note this is not a piece on SF in translation - a lot of the works in this essay are available only in French. If like me you don’t have the language … well, a whole tradition is opened up here.
Read my essay in the new Strange Horizons, if you like! Thanks to Dan Hartland! @danhartland.bsky.social and in excellent company too!
📣 It's here: the 2026 @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special!
💡 A whole week of critical insight, with a new essay and new review every day. A podcast, a roundtable, an *editorial*.
📚 The weird! Anthropology! Non-anglophone SFF! Plus thoughts on fantasy series, adaptations, film and more.
💡 A whole week of critical insight, with a new essay and new review every day. A podcast, a roundtable, an *editorial*.
📚 The weird! Anthropology! Non-anglophone SFF! Plus thoughts on fantasy series, adaptations, film and more.
26 January 2026
Welcome to the annual Strange Horizons criticism special!
strangehorizons.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Read my essay in the new Strange Horizons, if you like! Thanks to Dan Hartland! @danhartland.bsky.social and in excellent company too!
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
it is my first amendment protected opinion that the statement "nazis deserve to die" should be neither controversial nor legally actionable, if anyone were to make such a statement
January 25, 2026 at 1:11 AM
it is my first amendment protected opinion that the statement "nazis deserve to die" should be neither controversial nor legally actionable, if anyone were to make such a statement
Stop the death squads
January 24, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Stop the death squads
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
defund ICE, defund Schumer, impeach Trump
ICE out of Minnesota NOW.
Breaking News: Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a person in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, state and local officials said. Follow live updates.
January 24, 2026 at 9:18 PM
defund ICE, defund Schumer, impeach Trump
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
I think at this point it's reasonable to call them death squads and Democrats should have to explain why they're voting to fund the death squads.
January 24, 2026 at 8:13 PM
I think at this point it's reasonable to call them death squads and Democrats should have to explain why they're voting to fund the death squads.
No factor contributes to T’s rise and persistence more than Americans’ grotesque and naked worship of wealth and the wealthy. We are a failed people of greed and infamy.
January 24, 2026 at 4:41 AM
No factor contributes to T’s rise and persistence more than Americans’ grotesque and naked worship of wealth and the wealthy. We are a failed people of greed and infamy.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
🚨 As we enter the weekend, let it be known that the coming Monday is not just any Monday … it’s the annual @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special Monday.
Five essays! Five reviews! Poems! A roundtable, a podcast, a veritable trove of critical insight.
Also, ducks.
Be there!
Five essays! Five reviews! Poems! A roundtable, a podcast, a veritable trove of critical insight.
Also, ducks.
Be there!
January 23, 2026 at 7:20 PM
🚨 As we enter the weekend, let it be known that the coming Monday is not just any Monday … it’s the annual @strangehorizons.bsky.social Criticism Special Monday.
Five essays! Five reviews! Poems! A roundtable, a podcast, a veritable trove of critical insight.
Also, ducks.
Be there!
Five essays! Five reviews! Poems! A roundtable, a podcast, a veritable trove of critical insight.
Also, ducks.
Be there!
I am thrilled to announce the publication in October 2026 of my translation of Alain Damasio's Horde du Contrevent, under the title The Horde of the Counterwind. It's been a long wait, but it's finally going to appear; it's official!
January 22, 2026 at 3:08 AM
I am thrilled to announce the publication in October 2026 of my translation of Alain Damasio's Horde du Contrevent, under the title The Horde of the Counterwind. It's been a long wait, but it's finally going to appear; it's official!
Je me réjouis d'annoncer la publication en octobre 2026 de ma traduction de La Horde du contrevent d'Alain Damasio, sous le titre The Horde of the Counterwind. J'ai dû attendre longtemps, mais cela va enfin paraître, c'est officiel!
January 22, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Je me réjouis d'annoncer la publication en octobre 2026 de ma traduction de La Horde du contrevent d'Alain Damasio, sous le titre The Horde of the Counterwind. J'ai dû attendre longtemps, mais cela va enfin paraître, c'est officiel!
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
Over the last year the entire "free speech on campus" beat has been revealed as an utter fraud. Years of punditry puked out in ignorance and bad faith.
Yet even as the fraud becomes undeniable we still get stories about wide-eyed idealists who just wanted 'ideological diversity' and 'open debate'.
Yet even as the fraud becomes undeniable we still get stories about wide-eyed idealists who just wanted 'ideological diversity' and 'open debate'.
January 16, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Over the last year the entire "free speech on campus" beat has been revealed as an utter fraud. Years of punditry puked out in ignorance and bad faith.
Yet even as the fraud becomes undeniable we still get stories about wide-eyed idealists who just wanted 'ideological diversity' and 'open debate'.
Yet even as the fraud becomes undeniable we still get stories about wide-eyed idealists who just wanted 'ideological diversity' and 'open debate'.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
You love to see it.
Wow
The night before Spanberger’s inauguration
She’s cleared house at UVA
Top Youngkin appointees resign
Spanberger should be able to easily replace them given Dem trifecta
The former CIA officer asserting her control
The night before Spanberger’s inauguration
She’s cleared house at UVA
Top Youngkin appointees resign
Spanberger should be able to easily replace them given Dem trifecta
The former CIA officer asserting her control
January 17, 2026 at 2:26 AM
You love to see it.
Join in, folks.
My dream is for all cities in the US to join in.
Alt text, because one would think folks would want news about a general strike to go as far as it can.
January 16, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Join in, folks.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 PM
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
The single audience member at my poetry reading last night was very nice to stay and humor us poets. But boy, it sure is a long howl into the void sometimes, ain’t it?
January 16, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The single audience member at my poetry reading last night was very nice to stay and humor us poets. But boy, it sure is a long howl into the void sometimes, ain’t it?
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
GOP: We will come to your home and kidnap you. We will kill you if you object. We will cleanse the streets of you. You are like rodents. We laugh as we squish you beneath our feet. You are not even human. Ours is the Fourth Reich.
Democrats: Ignore that, we are only talking about the economy.
Democrats: Ignore that, we are only talking about the economy.
January 15, 2026 at 8:06 PM
GOP: We will come to your home and kidnap you. We will kill you if you object. We will cleanse the streets of you. You are like rodents. We laugh as we squish you beneath our feet. You are not even human. Ours is the Fourth Reich.
Democrats: Ignore that, we are only talking about the economy.
Democrats: Ignore that, we are only talking about the economy.
Don't forget Renée Good, and don't forget all of the other victims of these murderous goons.
January 14, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Don't forget Renée Good, and don't forget all of the other victims of these murderous goons.
Reposted by dickowalexander.bsky.social
I wish them the trauma they cause to others. I hope they wake to a head of fear every morning, I hope their hands shake as they grip their guns. I hope the stress, drinking, drugs takes decades off their lives. I hope their wives/families leave them.
And I hope trump never pays them.
And I hope trump never pays them.
I bothered to actually talk to some immigration officers and their views on ICE's shooting of Renee Good are more divided than I expected: www.kenklippenstein.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration Agents Terrified by ICE Backlash
Leaked documents show Border Patrol needs volunteers for Minneapolis surge
www.kenklippenstein.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:08 AM
I wish them the trauma they cause to others. I hope they wake to a head of fear every morning, I hope their hands shake as they grip their guns. I hope the stress, drinking, drugs takes decades off their lives. I hope their wives/families leave them.
And I hope trump never pays them.
And I hope trump never pays them.