Ray Ingles
@ringles.bsky.social
I’m a software developer with a lifelong taste for science fiction.
My first novel, SECONDARY, is now available! Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN meets Naomi Alderman's THE POWER.
https://secondary.blog
My first novel, SECONDARY, is now available! Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN meets Naomi Alderman's THE POWER.
https://secondary.blog
Most stuff I translate straight, but I want the reader to feel a little discombobulated every so often. The word for "male spouse" is translated as "wife" because that's the closest word in English, connotation-wise.
It's a tricky balance to strike, tho. 🤔
It's a tricky balance to strike, tho. 🤔
January 24, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Most stuff I translate straight, but I want the reader to feel a little discombobulated every so often. The word for "male spouse" is translated as "wife" because that's the closest word in English, connotation-wise.
It's a tricky balance to strike, tho. 🤔
It's a tricky balance to strike, tho. 🤔
Bingo! A foonote:
"Anthropology” comes from the Greek words for “man” and “study.” Here, the word “kowoidovoo” definitely means “woman-study”; I’ve translated it accordingly.
"Anthropology” comes from the Greek words for “man” and “study.” Here, the word “kowoidovoo” definitely means “woman-study”; I’ve translated it accordingly.
January 24, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Bingo! A foonote:
"Anthropology” comes from the Greek words for “man” and “study.” Here, the word “kowoidovoo” definitely means “woman-study”; I’ve translated it accordingly.
"Anthropology” comes from the Greek words for “man” and “study.” Here, the word “kowoidovoo” definitely means “woman-study”; I’ve translated it accordingly.
They're not looking for strontium per se. They're looking for *radioactive* strontium in his bones (and teeth).
We've had nukes decades longer than them. If his story were true, there should be evidence of contamination from when he was an infant. Which a local adult *wouldn't* have... 😈
We've had nukes decades longer than them. If his story were true, there should be evidence of contamination from when he was an infant. Which a local adult *wouldn't* have... 😈
January 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
They're not looking for strontium per se. They're looking for *radioactive* strontium in his bones (and teeth).
We've had nukes decades longer than them. If his story were true, there should be evidence of contamination from when he was an infant. Which a local adult *wouldn't* have... 😈
We've had nukes decades longer than them. If his story were true, there should be evidence of contamination from when he was an infant. Which a local adult *wouldn't* have... 😈
*Love* the extended but insightful metaphors. Plural.
January 24, 2026 at 2:03 PM
*Love* the extended but insightful metaphors. Plural.
I tried to think of all the ways one might scientifically test the idea someone came from an alternate history. Turns out there's a fair number... if the split happened far enough back. 😈
January 24, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I tried to think of all the ways one might scientifically test the idea someone came from an alternate history. Turns out there's a fair number... if the split happened far enough back. 😈
#WIPSnips 24: bone
Bones are useful in lots of fields. Anthropologists care about them a lot, for example.
Jim cares most, because he desperately needs *evidence* that he comes from an alternate history.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction #SciFiBooks
Bones are useful in lots of fields. Anthropologists care about them a lot, for example.
Jim cares most, because he desperately needs *evidence* that he comes from an alternate history.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction #SciFiBooks
![I held up a finger, and Huvishu squinted at another interruption, however polite. "Bairuhfeh... most of bones, is?"
Atosho and Manayka nodded in unison. Huvishu noticed. I nodded myself, slowly. "I think 'bairuhfeh' is 'calcium' in English. And 'gusaisuh' is maybe 'strontium'." I looked at the gynologists. "We use amounts," - I held out my hands flat in front of me, and moved them up and down, trying to indicate varying quantities - "different 'ratios', to check... old bones. Can see where person was [baby]."
Atosho was nodding quickly. She explained to the other deacons how different regions have different amounts of strontium in the environment. So, by checking bone samples of ancient human remains, it was sometimes possible to tell roughly where someone grew up - useful for assessing migration. She smiled, and looked to Huvishu. "I should like to see your data. It may be consistent with the region where Jim was raised." Then she frowned. "Although... it is less useful as a marker, with modern peoples. Their food comes from all over the world."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bu5ob3emr4yddctx53uitqhl/bafkreia2iqchfsqskyvugcfdgzovz6juw4kir7ejakfmhcqzlgs4o7muyi@jpeg)
January 24, 2026 at 1:32 PM
#WIPSnips 24: bone
Bones are useful in lots of fields. Anthropologists care about them a lot, for example.
Jim cares most, because he desperately needs *evidence* that he comes from an alternate history.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction #SciFiBooks
Bones are useful in lots of fields. Anthropologists care about them a lot, for example.
Jim cares most, because he desperately needs *evidence* that he comes from an alternate history.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction #SciFiBooks
Yeah, that hit hard in multiple ways!
January 23, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Yeah, that hit hard in multiple ways!
Come a couple hundred miles south! We're only getting down to -9F or so. 🤣
January 23, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Come a couple hundred miles south! We're only getting down to -9F or so. 🤣
Womens' electrical organs need sugars and electrolytes, so sweet-and-sour combinations are extremely common, even for more prepared meals on a base or boat. Salt is used more heavily than even in our world's United States. 😀
3/3
3/3
January 23, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Womens' electrical organs need sugars and electrolytes, so sweet-and-sour combinations are extremely common, even for more prepared meals on a base or boat. Salt is used more heavily than even in our world's United States. 😀
3/3
3/3
There are military robots (run on neural networks; more 'trained' than 'programmed'). Some are used for offense, but self-navigating gurneys that can carry a wounded soldier to a field hospital are welcome.
Field rations are heavily processed, but very nutrient-and-calorie-dense.
2/3
Field rations are heavily processed, but very nutrient-and-calorie-dense.
2/3
January 23, 2026 at 12:08 PM
There are military robots (run on neural networks; more 'trained' than 'programmed'). Some are used for offense, but self-navigating gurneys that can carry a wounded soldier to a field hospital are welcome.
Field rations are heavily processed, but very nutrient-and-calorie-dense.
2/3
Field rations are heavily processed, but very nutrient-and-calorie-dense.
2/3
#WIPSnips 23: transfer
When you're a mental patient, custody of you becomes important.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction
When you're a mental patient, custody of you becomes important.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction
![The Inquirer turned to me. “Jeem, I leave thee in the care of Atosho, to return thee when thou must appear.”
This was the protocol. She was officially delegating her authority to Atosho. “I understand.” I had to acknowledge the transfer–and not object to it.[1] Technically it wasn’t the correct form, but we’d been doing it the last several days–and the first few times, I’d lacked the vocabulary for the legal phrase. It had become habit, almost a private joke.
[1] Waiting for that response was actually a politeness, I found out later. In the case of mentally ill or otherwise indisposed subjects, their cooperation is entirely optional. But Nusuku gave me the courtesy of treating me as mentally competent.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bu5ob3emr4yddctx53uitqhl/bafkreigw3crhlyxcwqgsup6mtc2xuu3urbd4fdjhs7zmtynv6uvzc7ttzy@jpeg)
January 23, 2026 at 12:06 PM
#WIPSnips 23: transfer
When you're a mental patient, custody of you becomes important.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction
When you're a mental patient, custody of you becomes important.
#SciFi #ScienceFiction