Jon
@thelitcritguy.bsky.social
author and recovering academic.
phd in gothic literature. writing on horror, utopia, the gothic nightmare of capitalism
CAPITALISM A HORROR STORY out now, working on a new book about HOUSES
phd in gothic literature. writing on horror, utopia, the gothic nightmare of capitalism
CAPITALISM A HORROR STORY out now, working on a new book about HOUSES
8. David Peace, "GB84" -- horrifying, bleak and brilliant. A political gothic novel that understands the past as a crime scene to be exhumed. What an absolutely incredible book. Going to have to read everything he's published now.
February 14, 2026 at 1:45 PM
8. David Peace, "GB84" -- horrifying, bleak and brilliant. A political gothic novel that understands the past as a crime scene to be exhumed. What an absolutely incredible book. Going to have to read everything he's published now.
Slowing closing in on 1000 subscribers so subscribe to the haunt for film, horror and other sundries in your inbox....
February 10, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Slowing closing in on 1000 subscribers so subscribe to the haunt for film, horror and other sundries in your inbox....
Me and CLR James are right there with you
February 8, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Me and CLR James are right there with you
Current reading, a literary montage that occults the recent past into a complete nightmare - history becomes both a horror story and a crime scene. Incredible, what an astonishing book.
February 8, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Current reading, a literary montage that occults the recent past into a complete nightmare - history becomes both a horror story and a crime scene. Incredible, what an astonishing book.
Finishing this over the weekend.
February 5, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Finishing this over the weekend.
7. @boneysoups.bsky.social, "The Red Sacrement" - Just magnificent, a Gothic delight of a novel that draws from Zola, Marx and Anne Rice to create something utterly thrilling. Haven't read a book so precisely crafted for me in AGES. 🧛 PRE-ORDER IT NOW 🧛
January 31, 2026 at 4:08 PM
7. @boneysoups.bsky.social, "The Red Sacrement" - Just magnificent, a Gothic delight of a novel that draws from Zola, Marx and Anne Rice to create something utterly thrilling. Haven't read a book so precisely crafted for me in AGES. 🧛 PRE-ORDER IT NOW 🧛
"Capitalism a horror story" spotted in Mexico! (Thanks to @andrekanasiro.bsky.social for sending me this!)
January 25, 2026 at 11:09 AM
"Capitalism a horror story" spotted in Mexico! (Thanks to @andrekanasiro.bsky.social for sending me this!)
Out in the world, scheming and planning
January 20, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Out in the world, scheming and planning
6. Qntm, "There Is No Antimemetics Division" -- both a novel of paperwork & a cosmic sci-fi horror of how ideas are materially resolved through their contradictions. A kind of Hegelian Lovecraftianism that I had a great time with, and thanks again to @leavittalone.bsky.social for sending this to me!
January 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
6. Qntm, "There Is No Antimemetics Division" -- both a novel of paperwork & a cosmic sci-fi horror of how ideas are materially resolved through their contradictions. A kind of Hegelian Lovecraftianism that I had a great time with, and thanks again to @leavittalone.bsky.social for sending this to me!
Post surgery recovery being helped along with one of my most anticipated books of the year -- thank you so much to @boneysoups.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Post surgery recovery being helped along with one of my most anticipated books of the year -- thank you so much to @boneysoups.bsky.social
Woke from general anesthesia and was thinking about Twin Peaks -- I hadn't realized it's a year to the day that Lynch passed on.
January 16, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Woke from general anesthesia and was thinking about Twin Peaks -- I hadn't realized it's a year to the day that Lynch passed on.
Tooze on the Dems: "You people are a bunch of sentimental schmucks....If you had any self-respect, you would not be on any podium again, ever, sounding off about anything. Because comrades, if we were in the 30s, I would have taken you out and shot you" www.theguardian.com/business/202...
January 15, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Tooze on the Dems: "You people are a bunch of sentimental schmucks....If you had any self-respect, you would not be on any podium again, ever, sounding off about anything. Because comrades, if we were in the 30s, I would have taken you out and shot you" www.theguardian.com/business/202...
A small upside of this site is you'll occasionally be awake at 4am talking with a charming New York commie who finds out your making a video on the game Control and then decides to mail you a book because "it feels like the kind of thing you should read" -- thank you @leavittalone.bsky.social 🙏
January 11, 2026 at 9:14 PM
A small upside of this site is you'll occasionally be awake at 4am talking with a charming New York commie who finds out your making a video on the game Control and then decides to mail you a book because "it feels like the kind of thing you should read" -- thank you @leavittalone.bsky.social 🙏
5. John Berger, "Ways of Seeing" -- a yearly re-read at this point and retains it's capactity to consistently be rewarding, generous and generative in ways that still constantly teach me something new. A writer I miss so very much.
January 9, 2026 at 9:38 PM
5. John Berger, "Ways of Seeing" -- a yearly re-read at this point and retains it's capactity to consistently be rewarding, generous and generative in ways that still constantly teach me something new. A writer I miss so very much.
Property, homes, domesticity - its all a horror story
January 9, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Property, homes, domesticity - its all a horror story
4. Brandon Taylor, "Minor Black Figures" -- Taylor's best novel yet, putting into practice all his critical writing on realism to outstanding effect. A world of art, politics and love that feels alive in a way other contemporary literary fiction frequently fails to match.
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
4. Brandon Taylor, "Minor Black Figures" -- Taylor's best novel yet, putting into practice all his critical writing on realism to outstanding effect. A world of art, politics and love that feels alive in a way other contemporary literary fiction frequently fails to match.
3. Daniel Kehlmann, "The Director" - an incredible novel, fictionalising the life of legendary film director GW Pabst. A book scathing about the compromises and evil little lies we tell ourselves to stay safe under fascist politics, showcasing a world in which art doesn't (and can't) save anyone.
January 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
3. Daniel Kehlmann, "The Director" - an incredible novel, fictionalising the life of legendary film director GW Pabst. A book scathing about the compromises and evil little lies we tell ourselves to stay safe under fascist politics, showcasing a world in which art doesn't (and can't) save anyone.
2. Grace Byron, "Herculine: A Novel" - an enormously impressive debut - a novel about surviving NYC, the inescapability of the theological, trans collectivity as a ground of dis/utopia and the sublime possiblity that who you were is not a limit on who you may become. An amazing horror novel.
January 1, 2026 at 5:19 PM
2. Grace Byron, "Herculine: A Novel" - an enormously impressive debut - a novel about surviving NYC, the inescapability of the theological, trans collectivity as a ground of dis/utopia and the sublime possiblity that who you were is not a limit on who you may become. An amazing horror novel.
1. Gretchen Felker-Martin, "Black Flame" - a novel of seething libidinal desire, curdled inward into repression so dense as to become self annihilation. Violent, gross and horny & also utterly fearless about connecting individual horrors to current politics. Typical GFM banger to start the year.
January 1, 2026 at 8:25 AM
1. Gretchen Felker-Martin, "Black Flame" - a novel of seething libidinal desire, curdled inward into repression so dense as to become self annihilation. Violent, gross and horny & also utterly fearless about connecting individual horrors to current politics. Typical GFM banger to start the year.
As a Christmas treat to myself I've finished two new scripts for YouTube videos.
December 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
As a Christmas treat to myself I've finished two new scripts for YouTube videos.
Almost furious with just how good this book is, the best thing I've read from this year.
December 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Almost furious with just how good this book is, the best thing I've read from this year.
sorry, I'm talking to no one over Christmas
December 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
sorry, I'm talking to no one over Christmas