Luke Kennard
@lukekennard.bsky.social
Novelist, poet, lecturer at University of Birmingham. Latest novel BLACK BAG out March 12th 2026.
https://linktr.ee/lukekennard
https://linktr.ee/lukekennard
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Luke Kennard
@lukekennard.bsky.social
· Feb 21
Black Bag
In Luke Kennard's audacious new novel, a penniless and out-of-work actor picks up a job working for Dr Blend, a university professor who is conducting a psyc...
www.hachette.co.uk
Here are some places you can get Black Bag! but you should really get it from your local bookshop because that’s the only way we have anything resembling a functional culture in the UK.
www.hachette.co.uk/titles/luke-...
www.hachette.co.uk/titles/luke-...
New Slow Horses is great. Absolute return to form after a slightly pallid previous season. The reviews are nonsense.
September 19, 2026 at 9:09 PM
New Slow Horses is great. Absolute return to form after a slightly pallid previous season. The reviews are nonsense.
No, wait I’ve change my mind, Undo, don’t report the phishing scam they probably had a really bad start in life
September 18, 2026 at 1:45 PM
No, wait I’ve change my mind, Undo, don’t report the phishing scam they probably had a really bad start in life
Another long-read article about how we’re oblivious sleepwalkers who should be prepared for war and a draft which also admits that the real threat is the cutting of underseas cables and cyberattacks apple.news/AP2amuwnmTnu...
War may be coming. Are we psychologically ready? — BBC News
The military and government say the risk of conflict is growing, but we may not be mentally ready for it
apple.news
September 18, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Another long-read article about how we’re oblivious sleepwalkers who should be prepared for war and a draft which also admits that the real threat is the cutting of underseas cables and cyberattacks apple.news/AP2amuwnmTnu...
Is it that they love having a bet?
September 15, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Is it that they love having a bet?
Reposted by Luke Kennard
Absolutely appalling stuff. This country is being ripped apart by a management class that has no clue why the schemes and wheezes don't work any more.
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
UCU members at Brighton University face the threat of derecognition. We have called an emergency rally tomorrow at 1:15pm.
It would be amazing to see as many #TUC26 delegates as possible in attendance.
58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 0JY
It would be amazing to see as many #TUC26 delegates as possible in attendance.
58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 0JY
September 15, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Absolutely appalling stuff. This country is being ripped apart by a management class that has no clue why the schemes and wheezes don't work any more.
Reports of some teenagers intimidating and assaulting kids on their way home from school has really brought out my shadow self.
September 14, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Reports of some teenagers intimidating and assaulting kids on their way home from school has really brought out my shadow self.
“mandatory lentils” would fit better to Eleanor Rigby
September 14, 2026 at 8:44 AM
“mandatory lentils” would fit better to Eleanor Rigby
Why has my hedge died? Nobody else’s hedge has died! It was visibly dying before the drought. Do hedges have a maximum lifespan, like us? Have I been nursing a 100 year old hedge in its dotage?
September 4, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Why has my hedge died? Nobody else’s hedge has died! It was visibly dying before the drought. Do hedges have a maximum lifespan, like us? Have I been nursing a 100 year old hedge in its dotage?
Would really like to go ahead with the Anthropic lawsuit but the form is giving me a headache and I’m not sure it’s worth the paltry share of the three grand it’ll end up being. Should probably crack on on principle.
September 4, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Would really like to go ahead with the Anthropic lawsuit but the form is giving me a headache and I’m not sure it’s worth the paltry share of the three grand it’ll end up being. Should probably crack on on principle.
Disgustingly, stupefyingly humid again. I’m so glad I didn’t immediately throw away all my fans like I was going to.
September 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Disgustingly, stupefyingly humid again. I’m so glad I didn’t immediately throw away all my fans like I was going to.
In TK Maxx workshopping potential school bag responses with my eldest
September 3, 2026 at 10:05 AM
In TK Maxx workshopping potential school bag responses with my eldest
Reposted by Luke Kennard
I do think “every rich person went insane during covid because it was the first time they’ve been inconvenienced in decades” felt a little reductive at first but damn if isn’t more and more compelling as the years drag on
September 3, 2026 at 4:50 AM
I do think “every rich person went insane during covid because it was the first time they’ve been inconvenienced in decades” felt a little reductive at first but damn if isn’t more and more compelling as the years drag on
Reposted by Luke Kennard
2014: Harmful air pollution above legal limits.
2024: Harmful air pollution driven down to legal limits.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
2024: Harmful air pollution driven down to legal limits.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
September 2, 2026 at 6:23 AM
2014: Harmful air pollution above legal limits.
2024: Harmful air pollution driven down to legal limits.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
2024: Harmful air pollution driven down to legal limits.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“September is a terrifyingly expensive month.” - T S Eliot if he’d had school age kids
September 2, 2026 at 1:06 PM
“September is a terrifyingly expensive month.” - T S Eliot if he’d had school age kids
- Why are you getting sent so many books?
- So I can write something nice about them if I like them. It’s called a blurb.
- Like on the walls at Five Guys?
- Yes, like on the walls at Five Guys.
- So I can write something nice about them if I like them. It’s called a blurb.
- Like on the walls at Five Guys?
- Yes, like on the walls at Five Guys.
September 2, 2026 at 9:43 AM
- Why are you getting sent so many books?
- So I can write something nice about them if I like them. It’s called a blurb.
- Like on the walls at Five Guys?
- Yes, like on the walls at Five Guys.
- So I can write something nice about them if I like them. It’s called a blurb.
- Like on the walls at Five Guys?
- Yes, like on the walls at Five Guys.
I did once say yes to reviewing applications for a Harvard humanities residency, but it took me half a day to fill in the 8BEN form because American tax law is terrifying and then they would only pay by cheque and my bank charged so much for the conversion I ended up getting paid minus eight quid
September 1, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I did once say yes to reviewing applications for a Harvard humanities residency, but it took me half a day to fill in the 8BEN form because American tax law is terrifying and then they would only pay by cheque and my bank charged so much for the conversion I ended up getting paid minus eight quid
Reposted by Luke Kennard
One of my fondest childhood memories was not knowing the name of any CEO of any company.
September 1, 2026 at 4:50 PM
One of my fondest childhood memories was not knowing the name of any CEO of any company.
Reposted by Luke Kennard
a "liminal space" is any place where there's no one there and the carpet looks kind of weird
August 31, 2026 at 5:15 PM
a "liminal space" is any place where there's no one there and the carpet looks kind of weird
Automatic hand driers think I’m a vampire
August 30, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Automatic hand driers think I’m a vampire
Sometimes I feel like they make up new oxbridge colleges using a random word generator
August 30, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Sometimes I feel like they make up new oxbridge colleges using a random word generator
🎵“Make healthy choices” to tune of We Are the Champions
August 22, 2026 at 12:53 PM
🎵“Make healthy choices” to tune of We Are the Champions
Tomatoes look great when they’re growing but when they fall from the plant and squash a little, it’s like, who threw all this Italian food everywhere?
August 19, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Tomatoes look great when they’re growing but when they fall from the plant and squash a little, it’s like, who threw all this Italian food everywhere?
Spiders always be like “I’ll build a web on the clothesline! It’s perfect!”
August 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Spiders always be like “I’ll build a web on the clothesline! It’s perfect!”
It’s because of the male loneliness epidemic - we’re so sad we’re *studying*
August 13, 2026 at 9:49 AM
It’s because of the male loneliness epidemic - we’re so sad we’re *studying*
Guys, I just found out colanders can also be used for straining the water pasta, broccoli, potatoes and other boiled foods!
August 13, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Guys, I just found out colanders can also be used for straining the water pasta, broccoli, potatoes and other boiled foods!