Scott Stein
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sstein.bsky.social
Scott Stein
@sstein.bsky.social
4.8K followers 340 following 9.9K posts
Latest novel: THE GREAT AMERICAN BETRAYAL "Best Comedy Books of 2022" —Vulture

English professor, novelist, satirist, editor, father, husband, dog owner, gardener

https://scottsteinonline.com
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sstein.bsky.social
I hope some of you are having a Saturday night. Cheers.
Boulevard beer glass containing Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad on a kitchen counter.
January 31, 2026 at 11:02 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Don't know if it's intentional, but the lack of a hyphen between "illegal" and "immigration" in the last line gives this a meaning...
screenshot from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/31/pew-gop-losing-faith-in-trump-affordability-ice/88448606007/?tbref=hp Republicans are noticeably beginning to lose faith in President Donald Trump, a new survey shows, as he crisscrosses the country selling Americans on his economic record while dealing with growing civil unrest over his illegal immigration crackdown.
January 31, 2026 at 5:25 PM
sstein.bsky.social
A headline to make me truly appreciate my job and especially that it isn't this
screenshot from home page of cnn.com that shows pic of Melania Trump at an event for the movie Melania. The word "ANALYSIS" is on the pic. Headline: I've covered Melania Trump for more than a decade. Heres' what I learned from her new documentary
January 31, 2026 at 1:36 PM
sstein.bsky.social
AI should not write books, but coffee machine robots should, and in fact that's who narrates my novel series.

“Sure to appeal to fans of Douglas Adams, this zany, uproarious mystery is a constant delight.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

www.amazon.com/dp/B08RB4S319

scottsteinonline.com
Private detective Frank Harken could really, really use a cup of coffee. Can you blame him? His new case features a missing woman, a flaky client, a cranky security officer, a mysterious assassin, an overbearing mob boss, an ice-cold enforcer, and the best mini-golf the world has ever seen. Did we mention the fate of millions is at stake? “Stein delivers a madcap sci-fi take on the hard-boiled detective genre in this fun, near-future romp that’s chock-full of rapid-fire wit, tongue-in-cheek literary allusions, and playful futuristic absurdity… Stein keeps the stakes high and the laughs coming … Sure to appeal to fans of Douglas Adams, this zany, uproarious mystery is a constant delight.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Get ready for some super great fun! The Great American Deception is a hilarious (and deeply disturbing) voyage through a futuristic netherworld of caffeinated robots and diet pizza. Somewhere—possibly nowhere—Douglas Adams is sighing pleasurably with a combination of approval and afterlife indigestion.” —Gary Shteyngart, author of Little Failure and Lake Success “The Great American Deception is by far the most enjoyable novel told from the point of view of a futuristic coffee machine I have ever read!” —Ben Schwartz, actor and writer “A clever novel that just consistently dances on the edge of absurdity; it’s a great and witty time.” —Vulture.com, “The Best Comedy Books of 2022” “The Great American Betrayal is a wickedly funny novel jam-packed with madcap invention and verbal hijinks that are sure to be a hit with fans of Douglas Adams and Stanislaw Lem. Scott Stein writes wild plots and sentences that tie your brain in delicious knots while working his inimitable brand of bravura cosmic absurdity. God bless him.” —Gabe Hudson, author of Dear Mr. President and Gork, the Teenage Dragon “Delightful, sparkling, zany, with clever references to Kafka and Orwell and Borges, and narrated by a lovable crime-solving coffeebot, The Great American Betrayal takes the dysfunction of our social-media-riveted world and ramps it up to absurdist heights in service of a rollicking, engrossing mystery.” —Vikram Paralkar, author of Night Theater and The Afflictions “I love Scott Stein’s writing. It’s effervescent. The Great American Betrayal practically fizzed on my tongue. It’s sharp and silly and a hell of a lot of fun to read.” —Mike Sacks, author of Passing on the Right, Stinker Lets Loose, and Poking a Dead Frog “Stein’s The Great American Betrayal is a blast! A coffee-maker turned detective and his laconic, ‘Not-An-English-Professor’ partner deliver a fun story and a good-humored skewering of contemporary American culture in this winning sequel.”
January 30, 2026 at 9:20 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Cheers to beer and books.
Hand holding beer glass containing Weyerbacher Quad beer. Background is room with bookcases and bar and desk.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Some things don't change.
screenshot that says "9 years ago" in upper right corner Laptop open on a wood table. Word doc showing on screen with uppercase large words: WRITE, YOU BASTARD!
January 28, 2026 at 1:42 PM
sstein.bsky.social
I made a Buffalo chicken and spinach stromboli. (Dough from store.)
Buffalo chicken and spinach stromboli on foil
January 27, 2026 at 11:42 PM
sstein.bsky.social
My Kafka students just told the class what they're researching and writing about for the first paper and I'm already impressed. Students have chosen topics like health insurance, bail, immigration/ICE, terms of service arbitration, and voting. Below is the assignment description from the syllabus.
Subject: The Trial and the Kafkaesque in our world Write an essay (academic style with clear, accessible prose) that examines whether and how the term “Kafkaesque” and the themes of Kafka’s novel The Trial apply to the real world today. Look for actual events and news stories from within the past year that will allow you to develop your own specific thesis or point about The Trial and its connection or relevance to a particular aspect of our society. You should focus on a narrow-enough issue or aspect of society to allow for a deep examination of the text and subject (rather than trying to show the novel’s relevance to a wide range of issues or events). As examples, you might examine real-world law enforcement, legal system, immigration policy, education, free speech, technology, politics, or business (or something else), but not all of them (though there is obviously some overlap that cannot and does not need to be avoided). The paper should not try to show that our entire society is Kafkaesque even if you think it is. Length: approximately 5-10 pages (typed, double-spaced). Citations in MLA parenthetical style. Include a Works Cited page. Papers will be submitted electronically on Blackboard Learn through Turnitin.
January 27, 2026 at 5:50 PM
sstein.bsky.social
I just emailed my two US senators for the first time that I can remember.
As a longtime resident of Bucks County, I am writing to urge you to hold ICE accountable for its actions, to keep it out of Pennsylvania, and to work to eliminate its funding and power and restore the rights and protections of the Constitution. Bovino, Noem, Holman, and Miller must be removed from government positions. Prosecutions are needed where appropriate. We can have partisan disagreements and argue about policies, but all Americans must oppose this slide into tyranny. Thank you.
January 27, 2026 at 1:48 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Can someone do something about this ridiculous "What's up?" Bluesky isn't MySpace. You could change it to "Skeet here"
screenshot of Bluesky asking What's up?
January 27, 2026 at 2:24 AM
sstein.bsky.social
Light rereading to prepare for tomorrow’s class.
Paperback book Kafka’s Letter to the Father
January 26, 2026 at 7:02 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Took two shifts today and one yesterday but it’s done enough to get the cars out. Ready for spring.
Snow on sides of driveway that’s mostly clear. Cars in garage. House. Narrow walking path shoveled through snow to house front door
January 26, 2026 at 5:57 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Breaking ice
Chunks of ice broken up on driveway
January 26, 2026 at 2:54 PM
sstein.bsky.social
The cookout is canceled.
Snow and ice on deck and outdoor furniture/table and grill
January 26, 2026 at 1:21 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Driveway and path mostly clear of snow. Sleet and freezing rain up next and the bottom of the driveway will be a wall after the plows come by a few times. That’s a problem for tomorrow’s Scott. Today’s Scott is going to make chili.
Driveway after shoveling snow. Houses across the street Path to house shoveled, snow
January 25, 2026 at 6:13 PM
sstein.bsky.social
“This is some bullshit.”
Buster the apricot mini labradoodle standing on snowy back deck in path that humans shoveled for him
January 25, 2026 at 6:04 PM
sstein.bsky.social
I’m gonna have to shovel a path on the deck for Buster.
January 25, 2026 at 4:08 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Is this new and can Bluesky quit doing it?
screenshot from top of Bluesky web page that show following and discover categories and them my profile icon (a coffee mug held by a robot hand with water in the background) with the words "What's up?" in the posting field
January 23, 2026 at 11:03 PM
sstein.bsky.social
A coffee machine robot narrates and footnotes this sci-fi detective comedy.

“Sure to appeal to fans of Douglas Adams, this zany, uproarious mystery is a constant delight.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

www.amazon.com/Great-Americ...

scottsteinonline.com/books/the-gr...
Private detective Frank Harken could really, really use a cup of coffee. Can you blame him? His new case features a missing woman, a flaky client, a cranky security officer, a mysterious assassin, an overbearing mob boss, an ice-cold enforcer, and the best mini-golf the world has ever seen. Did we mention the fate of millions is at stake? “Stein delivers a madcap sci-fi take on the hard-boiled detective genre in this fun, near-future romp that’s chock-full of rapid-fire wit, tongue-in-cheek literary allusions, and playful futuristic absurdity… Stein keeps the stakes high and the laughs coming … Sure to appeal to fans of Douglas Adams, this zany, uproarious mystery is a constant delight.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Get ready for some super great fun! The Great American Deception is a hilarious (and deeply disturbing) voyage through a futuristic netherworld of caffeinated robots and diet pizza. Somewhere—possibly nowhere—Douglas Adams is sighing pleasurably with a combination of approval and afterlife indigestion.” —Gary Shteyngart, author of Little Failure and Lake Success “The Great American Deception is by far the most enjoyable novel told from the point of view of a futuristic coffee machine I have ever read!” —Ben Schwartz, actor and writer
January 23, 2026 at 6:26 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Collapse of society will have to wait a few hours. Go Canes!
Me, an incredibly handsome very young man, wearing a Miami Hurricanes shirt
January 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM
sstein.bsky.social
No new pictures. Where are you at mentally?
Two books on a wood table. Kafka’s The Complete Stories and The Trial
January 18, 2026 at 2:36 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Salary disclosure in the academic job market.
Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00
January 18, 2026 at 2:10 PM
sstein.bsky.social
Trivia night at local Bucks County, PA brewery.
LGBTQ flag over inside of entrance. Words: Craft Love Community
January 16, 2026 at 1:28 AM
sstein.bsky.social
This teabag label hasn’t met some of my neighbors.
Text on teabag label: Every neighbor can be your teacher.
January 13, 2026 at 5:22 PM
sstein.bsky.social
From early in Kafka’s THE TRIAL. I’m sharing it here only because my students are reading the first 50 pages for discussion tomorrow, not because it’s in any way relevant to the world we live in or anything going on in our country.
Franz Kafka too important a matter. I conclude that from the fact that I've been accused of something but can't think of the slightest offense of which I might be accused. But that's also beside the point, the main question is: Who's accusing me? What authorities are in charge of the proceedings? Are you offi-cials? No one's wearing a uniform, unless you want to call your suit" —he turned to Franz—"a uniform, but it's more like a traveler's outfit. I demand clarification on these mat-ters, and I'm convinced that once they've been clarified we can part on the friendliest of terms." The inspector flung the matchbox down on the table. "You're quite mistaken," he said. "These gentlemen and I are merely marginal figures in your affair, and in fact know almost nothing about it. We could be wearing the most proper of uniforms and your case would not be a whit more serious. I can't report that you've been accused of anything, or more accurately, I don't know if you have. You've been arrested, that's true, but that's all! know. Perhaps the guards have talked about other things, if so it was just that, idle talk. If, as a result, I can't answer your questions either, I can at least give you some advice: think less about us and what's going to happen to you, and instead think more about yourself. And don't make such a fuss about how innocent you feel; it disturbs the otherwise not unfavorable impression you make. And you should talk less in gen-eral; almost everything you've said up to now could have been inferred from your behavior, even if you'd said only a few words, and it wasn't terribly favorable to you in any case.
January 12, 2026 at 6:54 PM