Jonathan L. Howard
@jonathanlhoward.bsky.social
I write novels & games. Johannes Cabal, Carter & Lovecraft, THE SHADOW ON THE GLASS for "Call of Cthulhu," Russalka, Kyth the Taker, Goon Squad, co-wrote BROKEN SWORD I-III, principal writer on ATOMFALL. All my fault. Sorry.
UK. Portrait: Small Robot
UK. Portrait: Small Robot
This was literally a double bill I saw in the old Manchester Odeon on Oxford Street in 1980. I went to see GREGORY'S GIRL, a whimsical Scottish coming-of-age comedy, and it was double billed with CAPRICORN ONE, a kinetic thriller about a faked Mars landing. A baffling combo, but really enjoyable.
February 17, 2026 at 1:50 PM
This was literally a double bill I saw in the old Manchester Odeon on Oxford Street in 1980. I went to see GREGORY'S GIRL, a whimsical Scottish coming-of-age comedy, and it was double billed with CAPRICORN ONE, a kinetic thriller about a faked Mars landing. A baffling combo, but really enjoyable.
I'd quite forgotten that I started another story for the second AS&BF anthology, but it didn't firm up until too late. So instead it went into a very exclusive little book of which only 125 copies were printed by design. It introduces Professor Thauma, who is a bit like Prof. Challenger, but louder.
February 11, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I'd quite forgotten that I started another story for the second AS&BF anthology, but it didn't firm up until too late. So instead it went into a very exclusive little book of which only 125 copies were printed by design. It introduces Professor Thauma, who is a bit like Prof. Challenger, but louder.
Book Quote Wednesday: UNBELIEVABLE. It transpires that I only rarely use the word "unbelievable," which is reasonable given the unlikely tosh that I write. I finally ran down an example in the short story "The Sound of Gyroscopes," featured in the anthology AIRSHIP SHAPE & BRISTOL FASHION.
#bookqw
#bookqw
February 11, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Book Quote Wednesday: UNBELIEVABLE. It transpires that I only rarely use the word "unbelievable," which is reasonable given the unlikely tosh that I write. I finally ran down an example in the short story "The Sound of Gyroscopes," featured in the anthology AIRSHIP SHAPE & BRISTOL FASHION.
#bookqw
#bookqw
The centenary set features the Viggen in a livery from a few years ago when, for reasons that escape me, they decided to paint one red, stick ghosts all over it, and write "The Show Must Go On" down the fuselage. I fancy building it because it's simple, bright red, and haunted.
February 10, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The centenary set features the Viggen in a livery from a few years ago when, for reasons that escape me, they decided to paint one red, stick ghosts all over it, and write "The Show Must Go On" down the fuselage. I fancy building it because it's simple, bright red, and haunted.
After the tank's done, I may astonish all (not least myself) by doing an aircraft for a change. I've got the Swedish Airforce Centenary double set, which includes a DH Tiger Moth and a Saab Viggen. Amusingly, the biplane is a much newer mould (2013) than the jet (1971). Here's the original box art.
February 10, 2026 at 9:19 PM
After the tank's done, I may astonish all (not least myself) by doing an aircraft for a change. I've got the Swedish Airforce Centenary double set, which includes a DH Tiger Moth and a Saab Viggen. Amusingly, the biplane is a much newer mould (2013) than the jet (1971). Here's the original box art.
The first at least doesn't exactly have a plot. Mahiro (Saori Izawa) and Chisato (Akari Takaishi) have somehow ended up as contract killers. They are terrible at everything they try with the exception of killing (and Mahiro is good at cooking). They blunder around for 90 minutes. It's great fun.
February 6, 2026 at 2:41 PM
The first at least doesn't exactly have a plot. Mahiro (Saori Izawa) and Chisato (Akari Takaishi) have somehow ended up as contract killers. They are terrible at everything they try with the exception of killing (and Mahiro is good at cooking). They blunder around for 90 minutes. It's great fun.
From the probably unpublishable WIP.
January 28, 2026 at 3:36 PM
From the probably unpublishable WIP.
"Bubble battery"? That's the best cover story they could come up with? We know the truth, and the truth is summoned by a brace of tiny women singing.
January 25, 2026 at 3:23 PM
"Bubble battery"? That's the best cover story they could come up with? We know the truth, and the truth is summoned by a brace of tiny women singing.
My own highly subjective choice would be the English Electric Lightning. There's a certain rightness married to an oddly British design eccentricity that just makes me happy whenever I see one of these birds.
January 25, 2026 at 12:51 PM
My own highly subjective choice would be the English Electric Lightning. There's a certain rightness married to an oddly British design eccentricity that just makes me happy whenever I see one of these birds.
Happy National Hugging Day.
January 21, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Happy National Hugging Day.
While tidying up a bit yesterday, I came across a copy of the Jan/Feb 2021 issue of "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" that contains my story "Interludes with the Gunwright." I love this story; I got something very right with it and I still reread it for pleasure every now and again.
January 18, 2026 at 12:59 PM
While tidying up a bit yesterday, I came across a copy of the Jan/Feb 2021 issue of "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" that contains my story "Interludes with the Gunwright." I love this story; I got something very right with it and I still reread it for pleasure every now and again.
As a further aside, Airfix unveiled their 2026 line-up and, after a couple of underwhelming years for somebody who's not wildly interested in aircraft models (i.e. me), it's not bad. Cromwell VII that might be fun to do after having done this VI, 1/35th Saracen, and a hilarious Vickers Light Tank I.
January 16, 2026 at 9:01 PM
As a further aside, Airfix unveiled their 2026 line-up and, after a couple of underwhelming years for somebody who's not wildly interested in aircraft models (i.e. me), it's not bad. Cromwell VII that might be fun to do after having done this VI, 1/35th Saracen, and a hilarious Vickers Light Tank I.
Dug out the compressor and fired it up. All seems well. Using a pistol airbrush for the basing rather than a pen-style airbrush. I like this thing for extended spraying, as a pen gives me cramp in the trigger finger after a while. Pistol-grip brush is better when it comes to big jobs.
January 16, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Dug out the compressor and fired it up. All seems well. Using a pistol airbrush for the basing rather than a pen-style airbrush. I like this thing for extended spraying, as a pen gives me cramp in the trigger finger after a while. Pistol-grip brush is better when it comes to big jobs.
If you've got something to say, Quordle, just say it.
January 16, 2026 at 7:32 PM
If you've got something to say, Quordle, just say it.
Started watching THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE (2024) and almost immediately had to stop. It opens with an animated map showing the Allies advance into France and then sweeping North into the Lowlands. Antwerp is captured, but the River Scheldt must be liberated to allow ships through. A lot hangs on this.
January 14, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Started watching THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE (2024) and almost immediately had to stop. It opens with an animated map showing the Allies advance into France and then sweeping North into the Lowlands. Antwerp is captured, but the River Scheldt must be liberated to allow ships through. A lot hangs on this.
Apropos to nothing, but seeing this cover art in a book shop in Pwllheli in 1973 was an electric moment for me. I was already well into DOCTOR WHO, but in those days there was no way to access the old stories. The novelisations were like TARDISes.
January 13, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Apropos to nothing, but seeing this cover art in a book shop in Pwllheli in 1973 was an electric moment for me. I was already well into DOCTOR WHO, but in those days there was no way to access the old stories. The novelisations were like TARDISes.
“Post a pic of the venue you saw your first concert and the band or artist.”
January 11, 2026 at 2:22 PM
“Post a pic of the venue you saw your first concert and the band or artist.”
Finally got a chance to prime the Cromwell. Was waiting for a warmish day, so I'll guess 5C had to do. The painting booth has an extractor pipe I can stick out of the window. I don't bother much, as I usually work with water-based acrylics, but the primer has an organic base and I like my kidneys.
January 10, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Finally got a chance to prime the Cromwell. Was waiting for a warmish day, so I'll guess 5C had to do. The painting booth has an extractor pipe I can stick out of the window. I don't bother much, as I usually work with water-based acrylics, but the primer has an organic base and I like my kidneys.
Just saying, the British Library does "Library of the Weird" merch. Just saying.
January 7, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Just saying, the British Library does "Library of the Weird" merch. Just saying.
*Actual news footage of me at your friend's window.*
January 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM
*Actual news footage of me at your friend's window.*
"You b'aint want to go through Old Styrene Wood , young sorr! Not on St Airfixmas Eve, you b'aint!"
December 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"You b'aint want to go through Old Styrene Wood , young sorr! Not on St Airfixmas Eve, you b'aint!"
Do I need to explain it if the logic is readily apparent?
December 31, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Do I need to explain it if the logic is readily apparent?
Are we doing end-of-the-year roundups? Okay, well, it's been a rum sort of year, but oodles of team-based stuff, plus my first comic, so that was nice. All very ATOMFALL orientated, but that's the sort of year it's been.
December 29, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Are we doing end-of-the-year roundups? Okay, well, it's been a rum sort of year, but oodles of team-based stuff, plus my first comic, so that was nice. All very ATOMFALL orientated, but that's the sort of year it's been.