A. Lee Martinez
@aleemartinez.bsky.social
Fantasy / Sci-Fi Novelist, Hollywood Smallshot, Guy Who Owns Way Too Many Board Games, Not Terribly Interesting Beyond Any of That, He / Him / They / Whatever. Hipstercthulhu@hotmail.com
Same here. The other day I was sitting with some writer friends enjoying an ice cold Coca-Cola brand soft drink, enjoying a fine Marvel film. The topic came up and I looked away from my iPhone 17 and said, “I’d never do such a thing.”
And then we all went to enjoy some Arby’s.
They have the meats!
And then we all went to enjoy some Arby’s.
They have the meats!
I don't know a single writer who has been asked to do product placement in their work, or at least, if they have, they have not admitted so to me. Nor have I ever been approached with an offer for product placement of any sort. I would be unlikely to entertain such an offer. I don't need the money.
@scalzi.com is this true? Do brands pay the big bucks for product placement in books?
January 7, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Same here. The other day I was sitting with some writer friends enjoying an ice cold Coca-Cola brand soft drink, enjoying a fine Marvel film. The topic came up and I looked away from my iPhone 17 and said, “I’d never do such a thing.”
And then we all went to enjoy some Arby’s.
They have the meats!
And then we all went to enjoy some Arby’s.
They have the meats!
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
OH HEY-- did you know we're exactly two weeks away from the audiobook of GOD'S JUNK DRAWER? And it's read by the always-outstanding @realrayporter.bsky.social .
You did know? Oh... well... sorry to bother you. As you were.
You did know? Oh... well... sorry to bother you. As you were.
January 6, 2026 at 9:17 PM
OH HEY-- did you know we're exactly two weeks away from the audiobook of GOD'S JUNK DRAWER? And it's read by the always-outstanding @realrayporter.bsky.social .
You did know? Oh... well... sorry to bother you. As you were.
You did know? Oh... well... sorry to bother you. As you were.
Something that’s always bugged me is the whole Emotional Lantern Spectrum corps of DC. It makes their space really boring and repetitive.
Also, not a huge fan of the Green Lantern corp in general.
Though I do like Green Lantern as a character.
Killowog for life!
Also, not a huge fan of the Green Lantern corp in general.
Though I do like Green Lantern as a character.
Killowog for life!
January 6, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Something that’s always bugged me is the whole Emotional Lantern Spectrum corps of DC. It makes their space really boring and repetitive.
Also, not a huge fan of the Green Lantern corp in general.
Though I do like Green Lantern as a character.
Killowog for life!
Also, not a huge fan of the Green Lantern corp in general.
Though I do like Green Lantern as a character.
Killowog for life!
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
It’s easy to pick our own pet issue and point to that as the source of all this administration’s dangerous and reckless choices. But the truth is that it’s all those issues at work.
Imperialism. Oligarchy. Kakistocracy. Authoritarianism. White supremacy. The Epstein files. Take your pick.
Imperialism. Oligarchy. Kakistocracy. Authoritarianism. White supremacy. The Epstein files. Take your pick.
January 5, 2026 at 8:53 PM
It’s easy to pick our own pet issue and point to that as the source of all this administration’s dangerous and reckless choices. But the truth is that it’s all those issues at work.
Imperialism. Oligarchy. Kakistocracy. Authoritarianism. White supremacy. The Epstein files. Take your pick.
Imperialism. Oligarchy. Kakistocracy. Authoritarianism. White supremacy. The Epstein files. Take your pick.
Imperialism always works.
Just look at Afghanistan…
I mean, Iraq…
I mean, Korea…
I mean, Vietnam…
I mean, Nicaragua…
I mean…well…I’m sure it will definitely work this time.
Just look at Afghanistan…
I mean, Iraq…
I mean, Korea…
I mean, Vietnam…
I mean, Nicaragua…
I mean…well…I’m sure it will definitely work this time.
January 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Imperialism always works.
Just look at Afghanistan…
I mean, Iraq…
I mean, Korea…
I mean, Vietnam…
I mean, Nicaragua…
I mean…well…I’m sure it will definitely work this time.
Just look at Afghanistan…
I mean, Iraq…
I mean, Korea…
I mean, Vietnam…
I mean, Nicaragua…
I mean…well…I’m sure it will definitely work this time.
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
January 4, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
See? Somebody likes me out there.
I always suspected.
I always suspected.
Among my top authors were @mikebrooks668.bsky.social and @aleemartinez.bsky.social, both of whom I recommend for Fantasy / SciFi readers who enjoy adventures and witty-smart characters. Also, they are great follows on BlueSky.
💙📚🪐
💙📚🪐
January 3, 2026 at 11:23 PM
See? Somebody likes me out there.
I always suspected.
I always suspected.
This will certainly place a black eye on the prestigious FIFA peace prize committees first outing.
Jokes aside, the world is run by weak, despicable, greedy people who will burn civilization to ash and complain that we aren’t thanking them loudly enough as they do it.
Jokes aside, the world is run by weak, despicable, greedy people who will burn civilization to ash and complain that we aren’t thanking them loudly enough as they do it.
January 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
This will certainly place a black eye on the prestigious FIFA peace prize committees first outing.
Jokes aside, the world is run by weak, despicable, greedy people who will burn civilization to ash and complain that we aren’t thanking them loudly enough as they do it.
Jokes aside, the world is run by weak, despicable, greedy people who will burn civilization to ash and complain that we aren’t thanking them loudly enough as they do it.
Watched Trading Places recently, and gotta say that it is a remarkably laughless movie for a “comedy”.
Also, a striking indictment of wealth culture in the ‘80s and beyond. The movie’s thesis is wealth makes one a monster, and I’d argue that the ending suggests our heroes have fallen into this trap
Also, a striking indictment of wealth culture in the ‘80s and beyond. The movie’s thesis is wealth makes one a monster, and I’d argue that the ending suggests our heroes have fallen into this trap
January 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Watched Trading Places recently, and gotta say that it is a remarkably laughless movie for a “comedy”.
Also, a striking indictment of wealth culture in the ‘80s and beyond. The movie’s thesis is wealth makes one a monster, and I’d argue that the ending suggests our heroes have fallen into this trap
Also, a striking indictment of wealth culture in the ‘80s and beyond. The movie’s thesis is wealth makes one a monster, and I’d argue that the ending suggests our heroes have fallen into this trap
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
It has come to my attention that the U.S: has a startling lack of catapults! This is why I have initiated the Catapults of Excellence Initiative! Won’t you give now?
December 29, 2025 at 11:52 PM
It has come to my attention that the U.S: has a startling lack of catapults! This is why I have initiated the Catapults of Excellence Initiative! Won’t you give now?
Sally Hamilton, my wife, has signed with Sara Crowe Literary. It’s pretty cool, and honestly, I think she’ll be a more successful writer than me, which is just fine by me.
December 27, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sally Hamilton, my wife, has signed with Sara Crowe Literary. It’s pretty cool, and honestly, I think she’ll be a more successful writer than me, which is just fine by me.
Watching Enemy Gold on Tubi. It’s low budget exploitation filmmaking from Andy Sidaris. If you know, you know.
This one features protagonists Becky Midnite and Chris Cannon. It is not very good, but still a ton of fun for a Sidaris fan.
This one features protagonists Becky Midnite and Chris Cannon. It is not very good, but still a ton of fun for a Sidaris fan.
December 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Watching Enemy Gold on Tubi. It’s low budget exploitation filmmaking from Andy Sidaris. If you know, you know.
This one features protagonists Becky Midnite and Chris Cannon. It is not very good, but still a ton of fun for a Sidaris fan.
This one features protagonists Becky Midnite and Chris Cannon. It is not very good, but still a ton of fun for a Sidaris fan.
Every year at this time I recall that the climax of Jingle All the Way requires a world where actual jetpack technology exists and is used exclusively sell a line of action figures to children.
Also, the resolution involves forgiving Sinbad for almost killing a kid for an action figure.
Also, the resolution involves forgiving Sinbad for almost killing a kid for an action figure.
December 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Every year at this time I recall that the climax of Jingle All the Way requires a world where actual jetpack technology exists and is used exclusively sell a line of action figures to children.
Also, the resolution involves forgiving Sinbad for almost killing a kid for an action figure.
Also, the resolution involves forgiving Sinbad for almost killing a kid for an action figure.
Wunderwaffe: a big, expensive, impressive (on paper) weapon that will frighten the enemy into submission, but ultimately, burns a ton of resources and accomplishes nothing.
Just throwing this out there.
Just throwing this out there.
December 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Wunderwaffe: a big, expensive, impressive (on paper) weapon that will frighten the enemy into submission, but ultimately, burns a ton of resources and accomplishes nothing.
Just throwing this out there.
Just throwing this out there.
Little late to the party but Nobody Wants This is delightful and charming.
December 22, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Little late to the party but Nobody Wants This is delightful and charming.
I heard it said once that complaining about what the internet is giving you is basically telling on yourself.
When people say Bluesky is like 50% “Cheeto bad” posts that’s how I know their dislike of the platform is a skill issue. I have perfectly curated my feed and encounter fewer of these posts than I do on most other social media platforms
December 22, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I heard it said once that complaining about what the internet is giving you is basically telling on yourself.
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
One thing about all the ai folks who are like "use it or get left behind..." How? How am I going to get left behind? I'm an individual artist. Nobody else does what I do the way I do it. How can I possibly get left behind when I'm in a class of one?
And the answer, of course, is...
And the answer, of course, is...
December 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
One thing about all the ai folks who are like "use it or get left behind..." How? How am I going to get left behind? I'm an individual artist. Nobody else does what I do the way I do it. How can I possibly get left behind when I'm in a class of one?
And the answer, of course, is...
And the answer, of course, is...
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
Currently watching that Christmas classic where The Terminator almost gets himself killed to get an action figure for Anakin Skywalker
December 21, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Currently watching that Christmas classic where The Terminator almost gets himself killed to get an action figure for Anakin Skywalker
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
Reposted by A. Lee Martinez
One major problem, bluntly, is that lots of folks can't distinguish between good writing and poor writing. This is about education, not intelligence: they could learn the difference, but it's frequently not taught, even in "good" schools. This is ultimately a competitive disadvantage for them.
it's so wild that people conflate quickness with quality so they think chatGPT writing a wall of text in 10 seconds means it's good writing.
December 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
One major problem, bluntly, is that lots of folks can't distinguish between good writing and poor writing. This is about education, not intelligence: they could learn the difference, but it's frequently not taught, even in "good" schools. This is ultimately a competitive disadvantage for them.
We don’t make people important by naming buildings after them. We name buildings after important people.
You’d think the generation that complained about participation trophies would understand this better.
You’d think the generation that complained about participation trophies would understand this better.
December 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
We don’t make people important by naming buildings after them. We name buildings after important people.
You’d think the generation that complained about participation trophies would understand this better.
You’d think the generation that complained about participation trophies would understand this better.
“I’m the real victim here!” screams the most powerful man in the nation to a captive audience who’d all just rather watch TV for the night.
December 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
“I’m the real victim here!” screams the most powerful man in the nation to a captive audience who’d all just rather watch TV for the night.
We pause network television to have an old man occupying the highest office in the land now tell us how he is not responsible for anything and how we should all be nicer to him.
We will return to our regularly scheduled program once he’s done whining.
We will return to our regularly scheduled program once he’s done whining.
December 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
We pause network television to have an old man occupying the highest office in the land now tell us how he is not responsible for anything and how we should all be nicer to him.
We will return to our regularly scheduled program once he’s done whining.
We will return to our regularly scheduled program once he’s done whining.