David
@bluebookballoon.bsky.social
Oxford, UK. When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? No pasarán. He/him. https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com
Pinned
Review - The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror Stephen Cox Independent, 12 September 2026 Available as: PB, e Source: Advance copy ISBN: 978106816...
bluebookballoon.blogspot.com
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror by @stephencoxauthor.bsky.social is out now and you should get it! Murder, mediums and Victorian mayhem! My #review bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2026/09/revi... #BookSky 💙📚
Reposted by David
Over on GNOH today there’s an interview with Michael C. Williams.
Michael C. Williams calls The Blair Witch Project the Jaws of found footage. Our Fright Club interview looks at the film’s legacy, the 2016 sequel and the pressure on the 2027 reboot. #FoundFootage #Horror
gnofhorror.com/the-blair-wi...
@maddwolfcolumbus.bsky.social
gnofhorror.com/the-blair-wi...
@maddwolfcolumbus.bsky.social
September 19, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Over on GNOH today there’s an interview with Michael C. Williams.
Reposted by David
We'd like your help with something. The one hundredth anniversary of Ursula's birth will take place in 2029. This may seem a long time away, but we’re already starting to think about how to celebrate Ursula’s life and art. We’d love to add your ideas to the mix—there's a brief survey here:
Centenary event planning
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
September 18, 2026 at 6:39 PM
We'd like your help with something. The one hundredth anniversary of Ursula's birth will take place in 2029. This may seem a long time away, but we’re already starting to think about how to celebrate Ursula’s life and art. We’d love to add your ideas to the mix—there's a brief survey here:
Reposted by David
Having taken an online British Citizenry test (and failed) I propose we make our own, better one.
Q1:
If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit?
a) tough, it's dry digestives
b) join our club
c) racism
Q1:
If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit?
a) tough, it's dry digestives
b) join our club
c) racism
September 18, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Having taken an online British Citizenry test (and failed) I propose we make our own, better one.
Q1:
If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit?
a) tough, it's dry digestives
b) join our club
c) racism
Q1:
If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit?
a) tough, it's dry digestives
b) join our club
c) racism
Reposted by David
whether or not AI is on the verge of super sentience or just a plagiarism machine i am still not sure i want either one plugged into everything.
it's alive! it's so dangerous! it might kill us!
it's a mechanical turk! it's just faking! and it's plugged into things that can kill us
it's alive! it's so dangerous! it might kill us!
it's a mechanical turk! it's just faking! and it's plugged into things that can kill us
August 27, 2026 at 11:05 PM
whether or not AI is on the verge of super sentience or just a plagiarism machine i am still not sure i want either one plugged into everything.
it's alive! it's so dangerous! it might kill us!
it's a mechanical turk! it's just faking! and it's plugged into things that can kill us
it's alive! it's so dangerous! it might kill us!
it's a mechanical turk! it's just faking! and it's plugged into things that can kill us
Reposted by David
Greater Manchester Police are continuing their efforts to locate Lillia, who is 13 yrs old and was reported missing on Friday September 11th.
More information in the Alt Text or by following this link.
mipp.police.uk/operation/06...
#MissingChild
More information in the Alt Text or by following this link.
mipp.police.uk/operation/06...
#MissingChild
September 18, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Greater Manchester Police are continuing their efforts to locate Lillia, who is 13 yrs old and was reported missing on Friday September 11th.
More information in the Alt Text or by following this link.
mipp.police.uk/operation/06...
#MissingChild
More information in the Alt Text or by following this link.
mipp.police.uk/operation/06...
#MissingChild
Reposted by David
Hello weird Anglican Bluesky and associated cloud of witnesses!
I have inherited an alb, too short for me.
I plan to lengthen it with lace, which I will crochet.
Are there any motifs I should *not* use?
✝️⚓
I have inherited an alb, too short for me.
I plan to lengthen it with lace, which I will crochet.
Are there any motifs I should *not* use?
✝️⚓
September 18, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Hello weird Anglican Bluesky and associated cloud of witnesses!
I have inherited an alb, too short for me.
I plan to lengthen it with lace, which I will crochet.
Are there any motifs I should *not* use?
✝️⚓
I have inherited an alb, too short for me.
I plan to lengthen it with lace, which I will crochet.
Are there any motifs I should *not* use?
✝️⚓
Reposted by David
If you think closing an RNLI station is done by people with "legitimate concerns" you really need to give your head a wobble.
It's an unforgivable act of thuggery.
It's an unforgivable act of thuggery.
September 18, 2026 at 5:38 AM
If you think closing an RNLI station is done by people with "legitimate concerns" you really need to give your head a wobble.
It's an unforgivable act of thuggery.
It's an unforgivable act of thuggery.
Reposted by David
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror
Out worldwide
"An absolute page-turner that masterfully blends Victorian crime with unearthly menace"
"Humane, tender and funny..."
KDP print www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068164425
Kindle www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD64PT4X
and Kobo www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
#books #SFF
Out worldwide
"An absolute page-turner that masterfully blends Victorian crime with unearthly menace"
"Humane, tender and funny..."
KDP print www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068164425
Kindle www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD64PT4X
and Kobo www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
#books #SFF
September 18, 2026 at 5:55 AM
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror
Out worldwide
"An absolute page-turner that masterfully blends Victorian crime with unearthly menace"
"Humane, tender and funny..."
KDP print www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068164425
Kindle www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD64PT4X
and Kobo www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
#books #SFF
Out worldwide
"An absolute page-turner that masterfully blends Victorian crime with unearthly menace"
"Humane, tender and funny..."
KDP print www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068164425
Kindle www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD64PT4X
and Kobo www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
#books #SFF
Reposted by David
Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson | #historicalfiction #bookreview
Kate Atkinson is a favourite author of mine and I've really enjoyed both her Jackson Brodie series and her standalone novels. Our Noble Selves is historical fiction set around the time of The Festival of Britain in 1951. I'm very…
Kate Atkinson is a favourite author of mine and I've really enjoyed both her Jackson Brodie series and her standalone novels. Our Noble Selves is historical fiction set around the time of The Festival of Britain in 1951. I'm very…
Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson | #historicalfiction #bookreview
Kate Atkinson is a favourite author of mine and I've really enjoyed both her Jackson Brodie series and her standalone novels. Our Noble Selves is historical fiction set around the time of The Festival of Britain in 1951. I'm very grateful to the publishers Doubleday for my digital review copy from Netgalley. Our Noble Selves was published last week in hardback, digital and audiobook editions.
portobellobookblog.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson | #historicalfiction #bookreview
Kate Atkinson is a favourite author of mine and I've really enjoyed both her Jackson Brodie series and her standalone novels. Our Noble Selves is historical fiction set around the time of The Festival of Britain in 1951. I'm very…
Kate Atkinson is a favourite author of mine and I've really enjoyed both her Jackson Brodie series and her standalone novels. Our Noble Selves is historical fiction set around the time of The Festival of Britain in 1951. I'm very…
Reposted by David
New review - Science fantasy novel infused with Chinese Opera elements, political intrigue, siblings trying to save all.
An Empire in the Clouds, by @aijiang.bsky.social (pub by @titanbooks.bsky.social) is a brilliant science fantasy novel infused with Chinese elements that paints a story about political intrigue and the power of storytelling.
Full thoughts:
jamreads.com/reviews/an-e...
💙📚
Full thoughts:
jamreads.com/reviews/an-e...
💙📚
JamReads - Making your TBR closer to infinite
In JamReads you will find content about books, and why you should read them more. This content may include reviews, interviews and occasionally, some news of the literary world
jamreads.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:15 AM
New review - Science fantasy novel infused with Chinese Opera elements, political intrigue, siblings trying to save all.
Reposted by David
Great review from @alifeinbooks.bsky.social!
New on my blog - Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson: A very British treat alifeinbooks.co.uk/2026/09/our-... #BookSky
Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson: A very British treat - A Life in Books
Book reviews, snippets of book news, and alerts about books outside the glare of the publicity spotlight.
alifeinbooks.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Great review from @alifeinbooks.bsky.social!
Thank you for sharing my reviews @canadahardcover.bsky.social @fictionfanspod.bsky.social @wsbookclub.bsky.social @alifeinbooks.bsky.social @mehsi.bsky.social @fantasybooknerd.bsky.social @runalongwomble.bsky.social @cjhenderson.bsky.social @j-lbrbsblogs.bsky.social @marinasofia.bsky.social
September 16, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by David
I spent 8 years living in a village in the middle of nowhere not far from an immigration detention centre. On one evening I was locking up the pub (for clarity I worked there I hadn’t just broken into it)
Two men appeared from the pub car park shadows. They were walking slowly towards me
Two men appeared from the pub car park shadows. They were walking slowly towards me
September 16, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I spent 8 years living in a village in the middle of nowhere not far from an immigration detention centre. On one evening I was locking up the pub (for clarity I worked there I hadn’t just broken into it)
Two men appeared from the pub car park shadows. They were walking slowly towards me
Two men appeared from the pub car park shadows. They were walking slowly towards me
Reposted by David
While Piddington dominates the news, at Leicester Crown Court this man was sentenced today
Ivan Jennings, a former Conservative councillor, called for terror attacks on small boat migrants and Muslims and shared target ideas, telling fellow white supremacists to kill as many “subhumans” as possible
Ivan Jennings, a former Conservative councillor, called for terror attacks on small boat migrants and Muslims and shared target ideas, telling fellow white supremacists to kill as many “subhumans” as possible
September 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM
While Piddington dominates the news, at Leicester Crown Court this man was sentenced today
Ivan Jennings, a former Conservative councillor, called for terror attacks on small boat migrants and Muslims and shared target ideas, telling fellow white supremacists to kill as many “subhumans” as possible
Ivan Jennings, a former Conservative councillor, called for terror attacks on small boat migrants and Muslims and shared target ideas, telling fellow white supremacists to kill as many “subhumans” as possible
Reposted by David
Whether it's code or math, giving up even attempting to create a mental model means *never even noticing* the things that you could be ripping out to repurpose in unexpected ways.
September 16, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Whether it's code or math, giving up even attempting to create a mental model means *never even noticing* the things that you could be ripping out to repurpose in unexpected ways.
Reposted by David
Regular reminder that JG Ballard’s final novel, “Kingdom Come” (2006), is about a far-right English town which creates their own militarised breakaway state in a shopping mall, where they worship the gods of St George and consumerism. Old JG wrote it as tongue-in-cheek satire. At the time.
In the movie version of this, after Piddington runs out of food water and money as a result of leaving the UK, the residents apply for asylum and end up housed in a military base, with HILARIOUS consequences.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Piddington in Oxfordshire votes to leave UK over asylum plans
Piddington residents voted over proposals to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby
www.bbc.com
September 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Regular reminder that JG Ballard’s final novel, “Kingdom Come” (2006), is about a far-right English town which creates their own militarised breakaway state in a shopping mall, where they worship the gods of St George and consumerism. Old JG wrote it as tongue-in-cheek satire. At the time.
Reposted by David
Middle England today
September 16, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Middle England today
Reposted by David
On my blog today a review of #TheButterflyHouse which is book 2 in Teresa Solana's Barcelona Nights series published by @corylusbooks.bsky.social . Translated by Peter Bush. Thanks to Ewa Sherman for the tour invite.
peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/t...
peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/t...
The Butterfly House by Teresa Solana – a Barcelona Nights investigation
No money, no future – a motive for murder? By Teresa Solana Translated by Peter Bush Published by Corylus Books 223 pages ISBN 978-1917586283 Publication date 12 September 2026 I was sent an electr…
peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM
On my blog today a review of #TheButterflyHouse which is book 2 in Teresa Solana's Barcelona Nights series published by @corylusbooks.bsky.social . Translated by Peter Bush. Thanks to Ewa Sherman for the tour invite.
peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/t...
peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/t...
Reposted by David
"Huffity, Puffity, Ringstone Round".
September 16, 2026 at 7:28 AM
"Huffity, Puffity, Ringstone Round".
Reposted by David
Hey folks -- Signal Boost time for this week's #TheFullLid. If you have a creative project to promote, leave the details in a reply. Include the title and a link please, so folks can find it. For pre-launch crowdfunders let us know about 2 weeks in advance.
September 16, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Hey folks -- Signal Boost time for this week's #TheFullLid. If you have a creative project to promote, leave the details in a reply. Include the title and a link please, so folks can find it. For pre-launch crowdfunders let us know about 2 weeks in advance.
Reposted by David
Scotland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Huh?
Wales: We want to leave the UK
BBC: What?
Northern Ireland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Lolz
Some shithole in Oxfordshire: We want to leave the UK because racism
BBC: REPORT THE HELL OUT OF THIS
#Piddington
BBC: Huh?
Wales: We want to leave the UK
BBC: What?
Northern Ireland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Lolz
Some shithole in Oxfordshire: We want to leave the UK because racism
BBC: REPORT THE HELL OUT OF THIS
#Piddington
September 16, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Scotland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Huh?
Wales: We want to leave the UK
BBC: What?
Northern Ireland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Lolz
Some shithole in Oxfordshire: We want to leave the UK because racism
BBC: REPORT THE HELL OUT OF THIS
#Piddington
BBC: Huh?
Wales: We want to leave the UK
BBC: What?
Northern Ireland: We want to leave the UK
BBC: Lolz
Some shithole in Oxfordshire: We want to leave the UK because racism
BBC: REPORT THE HELL OUT OF THIS
#Piddington
Reposted by David
Review: Asking for the Moon (Dalziel and Pascoe 16) by Reginald Hill fictionfanblog.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/r...
Review: Asking for the Moon (Dalziel and Pascoe 16) by Reginald Hill
Twenty years after the publication of the first Dalziel and Pascoe book in 1970, Reginald Hill wrote this short collection as a gift to his readers. It has four stories – one showing the dynamic du…
fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
September 16, 2026 at 7:17 AM
Review: Asking for the Moon (Dalziel and Pascoe 16) by Reginald Hill fictionfanblog.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/r...
Reposted by David
Happy Slow Horses day to those who celebrate!
September 16, 2026 at 7:17 AM
Happy Slow Horses day to those who celebrate!
Reposted by David
As with other areas who vote to leave the UK my view is we should let them, and give them independence good and hard.
Should be easy to set up border posts and tariffs
Should be easy to set up border posts and tariffs
Piddington in Oxfordshire votes to leave UK over asylum plans
Piddington residents vote over proposals to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 6:32 AM
As with other areas who vote to leave the UK my view is we should let them, and give them independence good and hard.
Should be easy to set up border posts and tariffs
Should be easy to set up border posts and tariffs