James E Gilbert
@astrosurf.bsky.social
Science Fiction, Surf Music, Coffee. Interstellar Bookseller on ABE. My other car is an in-progress SF history centering on John W. Campbell's dianetics journals
Pinned
James E Gilbert
@astrosurf.bsky.social
· Nov 27
new here; bookseller, editor, writer, blah blah, but I figure the best way to introduce myself is to introduce my 22-lb workout coach, Igor
the real Gulf of America was the friends we lost along the way
November 15, 2025 at 2:26 AM
the real Gulf of America was the friends we lost along the way
things sure aren't what they used to be...
(except the fact that every generation thinks it's the last generation that lived in a decent time, that's the same)
(except the fact that every generation thinks it's the last generation that lived in a decent time, that's the same)
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
things sure aren't what they used to be...
(except the fact that every generation thinks it's the last generation that lived in a decent time, that's the same)
(except the fact that every generation thinks it's the last generation that lived in a decent time, that's the same)
change one letter, ruin a candy
every bite you take from a Zeno bar must be smaller than the one before
every bite you take from a Zeno bar must be smaller than the one before
Change one letter, ruin a candy
Bitterfinger
Bitterfinger
Change one letter, ruin a candy.
S&Ms
S&Ms
October 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
change one letter, ruin a candy
every bite you take from a Zeno bar must be smaller than the one before
every bite you take from a Zeno bar must be smaller than the one before
movie quotes [amended for 2025]
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become cringe."
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become cringe."
October 29, 2025 at 2:06 PM
movie quotes [amended for 2025]
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become cringe."
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become cringe."
the lifeblood of SFF is the printed word
Support the 2026 @apexmag.bsky.social Kickstarter! Apex publishes amazing SF, dark fantasy, and horror and we need their stories now more than ever.
I'll give an Apex gift subscription and dedication to one random person who promotes this Kickstarter! 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
I'll give an Apex gift subscription and dedication to one random person who promotes this Kickstarter! 1/
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:52 AM
the lifeblood of SFF is the printed word
"I want for you what you want for everyone else" is a nice modern spin on the Golden Rule
October 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM
"I want for you what you want for everyone else" is a nice modern spin on the Golden Rule
2025 newspeak refresher:
"woke" = "I don't like it"
"antifa" = "I don't like you"
"woke" = "I don't like it"
"antifa" = "I don't like you"
October 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
2025 newspeak refresher:
"woke" = "I don't like it"
"antifa" = "I don't like you"
"woke" = "I don't like it"
"antifa" = "I don't like you"
I really miss having a functional governing body that did not feel the need to endlessly weigh in on ... *checks notes* ... pop culture issues completely unrelated to governing
House Speaker Mike Johnson Calls Bad Bunny Super Bowl Slot a ‘Terrible Decision,’ Offers 82-Year-Old 1980s Country Star As Better Option
House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime booking a 'terrible decision,' suggesting an 82-Year-Old 1980s country act instead.
www.billboard.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I really miss having a functional governing body that did not feel the need to endlessly weigh in on ... *checks notes* ... pop culture issues completely unrelated to governing
I keep meaning to go down to the courthouse and change my middle name to "Procrastination" but then
September 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I keep meaning to go down to the courthouse and change my middle name to "Procrastination" but then
people are taking GWAR at face value, I'm just waiting for Rod Serling to step out and submit something for my approval
GWAR Singer Reacts to Alleged Outrage Over Onstage ‘Murder’ of Trump & Musk Dummies Amid 1st Amendment Crisis: ‘It’s Looney Tunes’
GWAR singer speaks to Billboard about the alleged outrage over band's 'cartoon' beheading of Elon Musk dummy at Riot Fest amid 1st Amendment crisis.
www.billboard.com
September 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
people are taking GWAR at face value, I'm just waiting for Rod Serling to step out and submit something for my approval
remember back when people used to believe the P&G logo was a secret sigil implying corporate devil worship? such fun, innocent times. such good ol days.
September 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
remember back when people used to believe the P&G logo was a secret sigil implying corporate devil worship? such fun, innocent times. such good ol days.
how my boy Igor plays hide-&-seek
September 15, 2025 at 3:47 AM
how my boy Igor plays hide-&-seek
see also: Curtis Yarvin's biodiesel "modest proposal"
to understand why the Silicon Valley right has embraced racism, elitism, and exterminationism, you have to realize that they think that in ten years AI is going to knock most people into the surplus population by automating their jobs. they don't want to pay the unemployed UBI forever.
September 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
see also: Curtis Yarvin's biodiesel "modest proposal"
so Benicio Del Toro has been, thus far, in every Thomas Pynchon movie
September 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
so Benicio Del Toro has been, thus far, in every Thomas Pynchon movie
Slater in particular fascinates me as one of those figures who it seems should know better (much like John W Campbell) but naw
The responsibility of the pro surfer’s voice on social media
Professional surfers have an influential voice on social media. But are there topics they should refrain from sharing opinions on, like health and politics?
www.surfertoday.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Slater in particular fascinates me as one of those figures who it seems should know better (much like John W Campbell) but naw
slightly diminish a book
Shadow Tick
Shadow Tick
Slightly diminish a book
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Gal
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Gal
Slightly diminish a book
The Small Scratch on the Orient Express
The Small Scratch on the Orient Express
September 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
slightly diminish a book
Shadow Tick
Shadow Tick
Reposted by James E Gilbert
Must-read update from @cornellwriter.bsky.social about contract difficulties with Must Read Magazines and Analog.
Spoiler: It shouldn't be this complicated to get a good contract!
Spoiler: It shouldn't be this complicated to get a good contract!
I’ve made an update to this situation.
open.substack.com/pub/pacornel...
open.substack.com/pub/pacornel...
This is an interesting and important read if you want to know about contracts, negotiations and the ongoing situation regarding MRM.
September 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Must-read update from @cornellwriter.bsky.social about contract difficulties with Must Read Magazines and Analog.
Spoiler: It shouldn't be this complicated to get a good contract!
Spoiler: It shouldn't be this complicated to get a good contract!
once upon a time, I really loved em dash construction -- but times change; these days I'm more of a semicolon kind of guy
August 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
once upon a time, I really loved em dash construction -- but times change; these days I'm more of a semicolon kind of guy
well well well if it isn't the Deconstruction Era, whence the South has risen again
July 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
well well well if it isn't the Deconstruction Era, whence the South has risen again
I don't use chatGPT but if I did I'd ask it to find correlations between itself and the petsdotcom sock puppet
July 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I don't use chatGPT but if I did I'd ask it to find correlations between itself and the petsdotcom sock puppet
there's a fart joke in here somewhere, but I don't want to find it
Pretty fucked that the second most important liquid in the world is called “gas.”
July 18, 2025 at 2:19 AM
there's a fart joke in here somewhere, but I don't want to find it
if states getting into retail is such a terrible idea, why does Alabama have an absolute mafia-lock on liquor sales?
July 17, 2025 at 2:15 AM
if states getting into retail is such a terrible idea, why does Alabama have an absolute mafia-lock on liquor sales?
nobody:
me: "hot blooded" by foreigner but it's a tender piano ballad
me: "hot blooded" by foreigner but it's a tender piano ballad
July 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
nobody:
me: "hot blooded" by foreigner but it's a tender piano ballad
me: "hot blooded" by foreigner but it's a tender piano ballad
I for one welcome our new AI overlords being replaced by AI
Tech bros running the billion-dollar companies cramming genAI down our throats forget their positions could also be outsourced to AI. In honor of this fact, @apexmag.bsky.social and I present my humorous story "How to Install Generative AI on a Zombie CEO." 1/ www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/frontp...
"How to Install Generative AI on a Zombie CEO" by Jason Sanford
In this tutorial we will learn how to install generative AI on a zombie CEO. Please note this tutorial is for “educational purposes” only. Despite our sarcastic air quotes, this tutorial does “not” en...
www.apexbookcompany.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I for one welcome our new AI overlords being replaced by AI
and when the truth comes out, finally ... well, by then no one will care
which was the whole point of 'Fahrenheit 451'
which was the whole point of 'Fahrenheit 451'
July 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
and when the truth comes out, finally ... well, by then no one will care
which was the whole point of 'Fahrenheit 451'
which was the whole point of 'Fahrenheit 451'