Dennis Wise
@denniswise.bsky.social
Tolkien & fantasy scholar
Editor: SPECULATIVE POETRY & THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE
REVIVAL (https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781683933304/)
denniswilsonwise.net
Editor: SPECULATIVE POETRY & THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE
REVIVAL (https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781683933304/)
denniswilsonwise.net
Pinned
Dennis Wise
@denniswise.bsky.social
· Sep 22
IT'S OUT!!!! ... the *paperback* edition of SPECULATIVE POETRY AND THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, which was just short-listed for the Mythopoeic Society Scholarship Award.
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
Apparently, there now exists a thing called GROKIPEDIA.
Also apparently, it still needs some help getting its facts straight.
@adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social @medievalists.bsky.social @rhunedhel.bsky.social
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/10/anal...
Also apparently, it still needs some help getting its facts straight.
@adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social @medievalists.bsky.social @rhunedhel.bsky.social
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/10/anal...
Analyzing the Mistakes in Grokipedia's Entry for Alliterative Verse
Apparently, Elon Musk has just launched Grokipedia , based off GenAI, as a way to compete with wikipedia (which it's probably plagiarizing)....
stratofanatic.blogspot.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Apparently, there now exists a thing called GROKIPEDIA.
Also apparently, it still needs some help getting its facts straight.
@adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social @medievalists.bsky.social @rhunedhel.bsky.social
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/10/anal...
Also apparently, it still needs some help getting its facts straight.
@adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social @medievalists.bsky.social @rhunedhel.bsky.social
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/10/anal...
Just saw a long, heart-felt tweet about how the "best" way to discourage Generative AI is to encourage students to view themselves as writers, and to take pride in their own distinct writing voices....
... and it's precisely that combination of idealism & wish-fulfillment ...1/2
... and it's precisely that combination of idealism & wish-fulfillment ...1/2
October 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Just saw a long, heart-felt tweet about how the "best" way to discourage Generative AI is to encourage students to view themselves as writers, and to take pride in their own distinct writing voices....
... and it's precisely that combination of idealism & wish-fulfillment ...1/2
... and it's precisely that combination of idealism & wish-fulfillment ...1/2
An author from the upcoming issue of Forgotten Ground Regained!
To introduce the Fall issue of Forgotten Ground Regained, releasing next Saturday, I'm introducing its authors first.
@jordanriverwrites.bsky.social is author of Banquet & Ashes. (amzn.to/4ogAhSE).
His poem, "Song Hall of the Bone-Mother" tells a short but chilling tale, without any happy endings.
@jordanriverwrites.bsky.social is author of Banquet & Ashes. (amzn.to/4ogAhSE).
His poem, "Song Hall of the Bone-Mother" tells a short but chilling tale, without any happy endings.
Banquet & Ashes: A Book of Gold & Hunger, of Gates & Fire, of Feasts That Devour and Flames That Purge
Banquet & Ashes: A Book of Gold & Hunger, of Gates & Fire, of Feasts That Devour and Flames That Purge [River, Jordan D] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Banquet & Ashes: A Book of Gold & Hunger, of Gates & Fire, of Feasts That Devour and Flames That Purge
amzn.to
October 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
An author from the upcoming issue of Forgotten Ground Regained!
Countdown to the next issue of FORGOTTEN GROUND REGAINED begins!
To introduce the Fall issue of Forgotten Ground Regained, releasing next Saturday, I'm introducing its authors first.
D.A. Cooper is publishing "Hellhound" (based on a scene from Dante's Inferno) in FGR. Previous publications include "Rise" in The North American Anglican:
northamanglican.com/rise/
D.A. Cooper is publishing "Hellhound" (based on a scene from Dante's Inferno) in FGR. Previous publications include "Rise" in The North American Anglican:
northamanglican.com/rise/
Rise | The North American Anglican
Thick, mist-forged shackles held us in the cave, imprisoned for the crime of losing all. We saw nothing but shadows on the wall— they gamboled and they taunted us. We gave in to the dark. A crushing f...
northamanglican.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Countdown to the next issue of FORGOTTEN GROUND REGAINED begins!
Reading the "about" section from Giovanni's Room bookstore in Philly, one of the oldest queer bookstores in the world, but I'm guessing that the following tidbit, while definitely interesting, is maaaaaaybe every HR person's nightmare: 1/2
October 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reading the "about" section from Giovanni's Room bookstore in Philly, one of the oldest queer bookstores in the world, but I'm guessing that the following tidbit, while definitely interesting, is maaaaaaybe every HR person's nightmare: 1/2
Oh, in addition to accidentally re-inventing book history, looks like I've also accidentally re-invented distance reading (!).
Absolutely love this article by Ted Underwood"
dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/11/2/000...
Absolutely love this article by Ted Underwood"
dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/11/2/000...
DHQ: Digital Humanities Quarterly: A Genealogy of Distant Reading
dhq.digitalhumanities.org
October 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Oh, in addition to accidentally re-inventing book history, looks like I've also accidentally re-invented distance reading (!).
Absolutely love this article by Ted Underwood"
dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/11/2/000...
Absolutely love this article by Ted Underwood"
dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/11/2/000...
Given my newfound appreciation for how book packaging & distribution -- hc vs. pb, covers, bookstores vs. wholesalers -- affects interpretation, I realized I've just invented a new field of literary studies.
I think I'm going to call it "book history." Hope it catches on!
I think I'm going to call it "book history." Hope it catches on!
October 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Given my newfound appreciation for how book packaging & distribution -- hc vs. pb, covers, bookstores vs. wholesalers -- affects interpretation, I realized I've just invented a new field of literary studies.
I think I'm going to call it "book history." Hope it catches on!
I think I'm going to call it "book history." Hope it catches on!
Just saw that this came out! Holmes has always written *extremely* insightful reviews and articles. I'll be looking forward to this one .... although mainly to see what he says about Tolkien's alliterative poetry!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tolk...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tolk...
Tolkien’s Glee - McFarland
Tolkien’s Glee A Reading of the Songs in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings John R. Holmes 978-1-4766-9865-6 978-1-4766-5735-6
mcfarlandbooks.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Just saw that this came out! Holmes has always written *extremely* insightful reviews and articles. I'll be looking forward to this one .... although mainly to see what he says about Tolkien's alliterative poetry!
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tolk...
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tolk...
A very pleasant review of my anthology from Douglas A. Anderson, writing for @mythlore.bsky.social .
dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...
dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...
<i>Speculative Poetry and the Modern Alliterative Revival: A Critical Anthology</i>, edited by Dennis Wilson Wise
Book review, by Douglas A. Anderson, of Speculative Poetry and the Modern Alliterative Revival: A Critical Anthology (2024), edited by Dennis Wilson Wise
dc.swosu.edu
October 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A very pleasant review of my anthology from Douglas A. Anderson, writing for @mythlore.bsky.social .
dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...
dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...
I've always been puzzled by standing conferences that have "themes." ICFA always has a theme, and this year's theme ("cognition") is perfectly decent .... but how many academics actually write their paper to match the theme?
The chances that any one theme randomly...
The chances that any one theme randomly...
October 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I've always been puzzled by standing conferences that have "themes." ICFA always has a theme, and this year's theme ("cognition") is perfectly decent .... but how many academics actually write their paper to match the theme?
The chances that any one theme randomly...
The chances that any one theme randomly...
Reposted by Dennis Wise
Announcing the 2025 Rhysling Award Winners
The Rhysling Award honors the year's best in speculative poetry ✨
Nominees were selected by the membership of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Each member is allowed to nominate one work in each of two categories: Long and Short poem
thread/
The Rhysling Award honors the year's best in speculative poetry ✨
Nominees were selected by the membership of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Each member is allowed to nominate one work in each of two categories: Long and Short poem
thread/
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Announcing the 2025 Rhysling Award Winners
The Rhysling Award honors the year's best in speculative poetry ✨
Nominees were selected by the membership of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Each member is allowed to nominate one work in each of two categories: Long and Short poem
thread/
The Rhysling Award honors the year's best in speculative poetry ✨
Nominees were selected by the membership of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Each member is allowed to nominate one work in each of two categories: Long and Short poem
thread/
Christmas is coming up...and what do you get the person who has everything? Clearly, SPECULATIVE POETRY & THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, the most exciting compilation since the 10th-century Exeter Book!
(Seriously, the pb edition's still on sale for only $25.)
www.bloomsbury.com/us/speculati...
(Seriously, the pb edition's still on sale for only $25.)
www.bloomsbury.com/us/speculati...
Speculative Poetry and the Modern Alliterative Revival
2025 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award Finalist for Myth and Fantasy StudiesIf a literary movement arises but no one notices, is it still a movement? In Speculative…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Christmas is coming up...and what do you get the person who has everything? Clearly, SPECULATIVE POETRY & THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, the most exciting compilation since the 10th-century Exeter Book!
(Seriously, the pb edition's still on sale for only $25.)
www.bloomsbury.com/us/speculati...
(Seriously, the pb edition's still on sale for only $25.)
www.bloomsbury.com/us/speculati...
Reposted by Dennis Wise
Another edition of the Roving Ranger has just been sent to its subscribers.
Including:
PE 18; Ohio Shakespeare's Smaug; CfP - Fantasy's Present Pasts; Christopher Lee & Tolkien; JRRT, the air raid warden; Bilbo's superpower; what does 'home' mean?; Magic wants the Hobbit; cost of a pint & more...
Including:
PE 18; Ohio Shakespeare's Smaug; CfP - Fantasy's Present Pasts; Christopher Lee & Tolkien; JRRT, the air raid warden; Bilbo's superpower; what does 'home' mean?; Magic wants the Hobbit; cost of a pint & more...
The One hundred and fifty-sixth Roving Ranger
The Roving Ranger #156 brings you all the interesting things Tolkienian of the last week and the weeks upcoming, curated by the Tolkienist.
steady.page
October 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Another edition of the Roving Ranger has just been sent to its subscribers.
Including:
PE 18; Ohio Shakespeare's Smaug; CfP - Fantasy's Present Pasts; Christopher Lee & Tolkien; JRRT, the air raid warden; Bilbo's superpower; what does 'home' mean?; Magic wants the Hobbit; cost of a pint & more...
Including:
PE 18; Ohio Shakespeare's Smaug; CfP - Fantasy's Present Pasts; Christopher Lee & Tolkien; JRRT, the air raid warden; Bilbo's superpower; what does 'home' mean?; Magic wants the Hobbit; cost of a pint & more...
Reposted by Dennis Wise
The fourth poem Forgotten Ground Regained is nominating for #BestOfTheNet: @rosenovick.com's "Monostich Sequence 1":
Isolated images that add up to much more than that.
alliteration.net/poetry/monostich-sequence-i/
Isolated images that add up to much more than that.
alliteration.net/poetry/monostich-sequence-i/
Monostich Sequence I
The monostich (one line poem) format that Rose Novick is using consists of a single line of alliterative verse (four strong beats, three alliterating), followed by an adonic (/ u u / u).
alliteration.net
September 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The fourth poem Forgotten Ground Regained is nominating for #BestOfTheNet: @rosenovick.com's "Monostich Sequence 1":
Isolated images that add up to much more than that.
alliteration.net/poetry/monostich-sequence-i/
Isolated images that add up to much more than that.
alliteration.net/poetry/monostich-sequence-i/
IT'S OUT!!!! ... the *paperback* edition of SPECULATIVE POETRY AND THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, which was just short-listed for the Mythopoeic Society Scholarship Award.
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
September 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
IT'S OUT!!!! ... the *paperback* edition of SPECULATIVE POETRY AND THE MODERN ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, which was just short-listed for the Mythopoeic Society Scholarship Award.
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
PLUS, publisher' s running a sale, so pb copies are just under $25 (even less for ebook) 1/2
Ah-ha! Other professors are foisting this stuff on hapless students. My mission is done.
@rhunedhel.bsky.social @adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social
@rhunedhel.bsky.social @adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social
Took @denniswise.bsky.social's book to class today as we started the Old English elegies to assure the students that alliterative verse was alive and well!
September 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Ah-ha! Other professors are foisting this stuff on hapless students. My mission is done.
@rhunedhel.bsky.social @adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social
@rhunedhel.bsky.social @adambolivar.bsky.social @sfpoetry.bsky.social
In honor of Robert Redford, the three best baseball movies ever made:
1. The Natural
2. Bull Durham
3. Field of Dreams
(Anything who thinks Major League belongs on this list should be swiftly kicked.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-o_...
1. The Natural
2. Bull Durham
3. Field of Dreams
(Anything who thinks Major League belongs on this list should be swiftly kicked.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-o_...
Hobbs Proves His Worth At Batting Practice | The Natural (Wilford Brimley, Robert Redford)
YouTube video by Moving Pictures
www.youtube.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:11 AM
In honor of Robert Redford, the three best baseball movies ever made:
1. The Natural
2. Bull Durham
3. Field of Dreams
(Anything who thinks Major League belongs on this list should be swiftly kicked.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-o_...
1. The Natural
2. Bull Durham
3. Field of Dreams
(Anything who thinks Major League belongs on this list should be swiftly kicked.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-o_...
Spent another morning writing about three fantasy novels from during the Del Rey Hegemony (i.e., the 1980s!).
For all my usual action-packed commentary, plus a reference to "massive puppykickers," check out the following.
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/09/thre...
For all my usual action-packed commentary, plus a reference to "massive puppykickers," check out the following.
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/09/thre...
Three Fantasy Novels from the Del Rey Hegemony
So I'm going through several old 1980s fantasy novels, primarily from Del Rey Books (DRB), and wanted to jot down thoughts on a few. Here, w...
stratofanatic.blogspot.com
September 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Spent another morning writing about three fantasy novels from during the Del Rey Hegemony (i.e., the 1980s!).
For all my usual action-packed commentary, plus a reference to "massive puppykickers," check out the following.
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/09/thre...
For all my usual action-packed commentary, plus a reference to "massive puppykickers," check out the following.
stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2025/09/thre...
Finally took the plunge: I'm beginning an "absolutely no electronics" policy in my classroom this semester.
Just too much evidence out there about the negative impact it has on peoples' attentions. Just converted ALL my course links to pdfs, that students can print & bring.
Just too much evidence out there about the negative impact it has on peoples' attentions. Just converted ALL my course links to pdfs, that students can print & bring.
August 22, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Finally took the plunge: I'm beginning an "absolutely no electronics" policy in my classroom this semester.
Just too much evidence out there about the negative impact it has on peoples' attentions. Just converted ALL my course links to pdfs, that students can print & bring.
Just too much evidence out there about the negative impact it has on peoples' attentions. Just converted ALL my course links to pdfs, that students can print & bring.
In my class on close reading, I'm spending one day walking my students through FINNEGANS WAKE. Super beginner stuff, of course (I myself haven't read more than 50 pages of it), but man ....
I've been studying some supplemental materials, and I'm only now realize how hilarious Joyce is.
I've been studying some supplemental materials, and I'm only now realize how hilarious Joyce is.
August 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
In my class on close reading, I'm spending one day walking my students through FINNEGANS WAKE. Super beginner stuff, of course (I myself haven't read more than 50 pages of it), but man ....
I've been studying some supplemental materials, and I'm only now realize how hilarious Joyce is.
I've been studying some supplemental materials, and I'm only now realize how hilarious Joyce is.
"We are contacting you because your *expertise in areas related to linguistics (if any)* makes you an ideal candidate to review [ms.]."
Um .... I'm selected for my expertise in linguistics, *IF* I have any expertise in linguistics? Gosh, shucks, you guys sure know how to make a girl feel special.
Um .... I'm selected for my expertise in linguistics, *IF* I have any expertise in linguistics? Gosh, shucks, you guys sure know how to make a girl feel special.
August 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"We are contacting you because your *expertise in areas related to linguistics (if any)* makes you an ideal candidate to review [ms.]."
Um .... I'm selected for my expertise in linguistics, *IF* I have any expertise in linguistics? Gosh, shucks, you guys sure know how to make a girl feel special.
Um .... I'm selected for my expertise in linguistics, *IF* I have any expertise in linguistics? Gosh, shucks, you guys sure know how to make a girl feel special.
After another day of "Reading papers at Conferences" discourse on Twitter, I wonder how much of the whole debate from Humanities folks boils down to sheer in-group/out-group mentality.
All the arguments for the "necessity" of straight-reading paper are specious.
All the arguments for the "necessity" of straight-reading paper are specious.
August 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
After another day of "Reading papers at Conferences" discourse on Twitter, I wonder how much of the whole debate from Humanities folks boils down to sheer in-group/out-group mentality.
All the arguments for the "necessity" of straight-reading paper are specious.
All the arguments for the "necessity" of straight-reading paper are specious.
Ooof. I'm focusing a lot on the history of criticism for my Literary Analysis course, and I thought, "Oh, I should share a chapter from POSTMODERN POOH by Frederick Crews. It's funny and accessible, and gives a taste of what different methodologies in literary studies looks like."
August 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Ooof. I'm focusing a lot on the history of criticism for my Literary Analysis course, and I thought, "Oh, I should share a chapter from POSTMODERN POOH by Frederick Crews. It's funny and accessible, and gives a taste of what different methodologies in literary studies looks like."
Having just read Klarkash-Ton's THE LAST INCANTATION, I'm liking some of these phrasings!
More Leiber than Levittown? More Klarkash-Ton than Clarksville? More Dying-Earth than Google-Earth?
Most authors I work with know that I often phrase requests for more fantastic/archaic language by nodding to Le Guin's "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie" essay - literally just writing "Poughkeepsie!" when I'm in a hurry.
But I may have just coined something a bit more S&S, a bit more Canadian.
But I may have just coined something a bit more S&S, a bit more Canadian.
August 4, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Having just read Klarkash-Ton's THE LAST INCANTATION, I'm liking some of these phrasings!
Reposted by Dennis Wise
There's a conference on alliteration in poetry & cultural history, University of East Anglia, Norwich UK, Sept. 1st. You have till Aug. 18th to register for the conference, till Aug. 14th to register for the conference dinner, which will include informal poetry readings
www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-c...
www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-c...
Conference
University of East Anglia
www.uea.ac.uk
July 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
There's a conference on alliteration in poetry & cultural history, University of East Anglia, Norwich UK, Sept. 1st. You have till Aug. 18th to register for the conference, till Aug. 14th to register for the conference dinner, which will include informal poetry readings
www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-c...
www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-c...