Duncan Batey
@duncanbatey.bsky.social
is allegedly a gracefully ageing rocker whose life was demolished in a freak meditation accident back when he was a computer scientist
but also very definitely a singer-songwriter and t'ai-chi enthusiast based in Glastonbury, UK
duncanbatey.bandcamp.com
but also very definitely a singer-songwriter and t'ai-chi enthusiast based in Glastonbury, UK
duncanbatey.bandcamp.com
Reposted by Duncan Batey
The Essence has made it onto the Reading List, which is unexpected but also well cool. Thank you, everyone at Locus.
2025 Recommended Reading List
Welcome to the Locus Recommended Reading List… We saw some fabulous books come out last year and are so pleased to let you know about them! Our recommendations are compiled annually by the Locus re…
locusmag.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The Essence has made it onto the Reading List, which is unexpected but also well cool. Thank you, everyone at Locus.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Not To Be Missed. I directed Wil in Act III of our audio production of The Sandman and he is one of the finest voice artists I have had the pleasure of working with.
Listen to the story that shaped a generation. Decades after starring in Stand By Me, the film adaptation of THE BODY, Wil Wheaton lends his voice to an all new recording of the audiobook. Pre-order your copy and start listening March 24, 2026.
February 2, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Not To Be Missed. I directed Wil in Act III of our audio production of The Sandman and he is one of the finest voice artists I have had the pleasure of working with.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Listen to the story that shaped a generation. Decades after starring in Stand By Me, the film adaptation of THE BODY, Wil Wheaton lends his voice to an all new recording of the audiobook. Pre-order your copy and start listening March 24, 2026.
February 2, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Listen to the story that shaped a generation. Decades after starring in Stand By Me, the film adaptation of THE BODY, Wil Wheaton lends his voice to an all new recording of the audiobook. Pre-order your copy and start listening March 24, 2026.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Reporting referenced in my statement: technopathology.substack.com/p/neil-gaima...
February 2, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Reporting referenced in my statement: technopathology.substack.com/p/neil-gaima...
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Inevitably a bunch of radio stations played I Got You Babe at 6am this morning.
The really EVIL ones will play it again at 6am TOMORROW morning.
The really EVIL ones will play it again at 6am TOMORROW morning.
February 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Inevitably a bunch of radio stations played I Got You Babe at 6am this morning.
The really EVIL ones will play it again at 6am TOMORROW morning.
The really EVIL ones will play it again at 6am TOMORROW morning.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
I fiercely believe that shared joy is the best joy.
We all need each other, maybe more than ever.
There isn't a person I know who didn't have a rough 2025 or even a rough few years.
Share joy every chance you get. Send a cute selfie! Share a lovely sunset. Remind people you are thinking of them.
We all need each other, maybe more than ever.
There isn't a person I know who didn't have a rough 2025 or even a rough few years.
Share joy every chance you get. Send a cute selfie! Share a lovely sunset. Remind people you are thinking of them.
February 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I fiercely believe that shared joy is the best joy.
We all need each other, maybe more than ever.
There isn't a person I know who didn't have a rough 2025 or even a rough few years.
Share joy every chance you get. Send a cute selfie! Share a lovely sunset. Remind people you are thinking of them.
We all need each other, maybe more than ever.
There isn't a person I know who didn't have a rough 2025 or even a rough few years.
Share joy every chance you get. Send a cute selfie! Share a lovely sunset. Remind people you are thinking of them.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Excited to announce that Phil Wang will be appearing at The 99 Club on Wed 18 Feb with a Work in Progress show ahead of his Australian and UK tours later this year! Don't miss your chance to see him in an intimate venue for a very reasonable price... fixr.co/event/phil-w...
Phil Wang: Work in Progress tickets on Wednesday 18 Feb | The 99 Club Comedy | FIXR
Buy tickets to Phil Wang: Work in Progress on Wednesday 18 Feb at 2A Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0HF | FIXR
fixr.co
February 2, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Excited to announce that Phil Wang will be appearing at The 99 Club on Wed 18 Feb with a Work in Progress show ahead of his Australian and UK tours later this year! Don't miss your chance to see him in an intimate venue for a very reasonable price... fixr.co/event/phil-w...
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
February 2, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Groundhog Day | noun | a situation in which the same usually negative or monotonous experiences occur repeatedly or are felt to occur repeatedly with no change or correction
Reposted by Duncan Batey
I had no idea someone was talking about me on a podcast 😳😳😳😳 But it feels very nice to be appreciated for music.
Brigid Kaelin | A Good Thing Happening
Podcast Episode · Swiftory · 01/31/2026 · 9m
podcasts.apple.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I had no idea someone was talking about me on a podcast 😳😳😳😳 But it feels very nice to be appreciated for music.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
A lovely (if somewhat spoilers!) review of Children of Strife (out March) - also includes a rundown of the previous books in brief.
TO was super fortunate to receive an advanced copy of @aptshadow.bsky.social's much anticipated upcoming CHILDREN OF STRIFE:
"This book is an absolute treat and a fitting additional jewel in the crown of the 'Children of' series."
More: tinyurl.com/p5vuzktf
@panmacmillan.bsky.social
"This book is an absolute treat and a fitting additional jewel in the crown of the 'Children of' series."
More: tinyurl.com/p5vuzktf
@panmacmillan.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A lovely (if somewhat spoilers!) review of Children of Strife (out March) - also includes a rundown of the previous books in brief.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Just started Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton - should keep me quiet for a while. Not entirely sure what's going on yet, plots evolving in multiple time-frames, but it's not looking good for the human race, despite the development of super-cool quantum-entangled portals as a way of getting around.
February 2, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Just started Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton - should keep me quiet for a while. Not entirely sure what's going on yet, plots evolving in multiple time-frames, but it's not looking good for the human race, despite the development of super-cool quantum-entangled portals as a way of getting around.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Indiegogo currently have an offer on ‘most anticipated books’ including Children of Strife. www.indigo.ca/en-ca/sale/m... - lasts until 8th Feb and it’s 25% off.
25% Off Our Most Anticipated Sci-fi Books | Indigo
Shop online at Indigo and browse our assortment of 25% off Our Most Anticipated Sci-Fi Books. Save on top selling 25% off Our Most Anticipated Sci-Fi Books brands and products you love. Free shipping ...
www.indigo.ca
February 2, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Indiegogo currently have an offer on ‘most anticipated books’ including Children of Strife. www.indigo.ca/en-ca/sale/m... - lasts until 8th Feb and it’s 25% off.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
I've noticed a microgenre shift in SF over the last year - or possibly just in the books I've come across. Specifically, a bit of a boom in big concept space opera books working in the Banks/Hamilton ideaspace. Meaning SF that simultaneously delivers a strong action storyline against a backdrop
February 1, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I've noticed a microgenre shift in SF over the last year - or possibly just in the books I've come across. Specifically, a bit of a boom in big concept space opera books working in the Banks/Hamilton ideaspace. Meaning SF that simultaneously delivers a strong action storyline against a backdrop
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Book no 5: Villager by Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
A kaleidoscope of short stories told in different voices & from different times, set in the fictional village of Underhill on Dartmoor. It's a mesmerising read, with elements of folk horror and a deep love of nature. Beautiful.
#Booksky 📚
A kaleidoscope of short stories told in different voices & from different times, set in the fictional village of Underhill on Dartmoor. It's a mesmerising read, with elements of folk horror and a deep love of nature. Beautiful.
#Booksky 📚
February 1, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Book no 5: Villager by Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
A kaleidoscope of short stories told in different voices & from different times, set in the fictional village of Underhill on Dartmoor. It's a mesmerising read, with elements of folk horror and a deep love of nature. Beautiful.
#Booksky 📚
A kaleidoscope of short stories told in different voices & from different times, set in the fictional village of Underhill on Dartmoor. It's a mesmerising read, with elements of folk horror and a deep love of nature. Beautiful.
#Booksky 📚
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Fair play to 4chan & Qanon though; turns out they were right about pretty much everything. Except which side was doing it.
February 2, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Fair play to 4chan & Qanon though; turns out they were right about pretty much everything. Except which side was doing it.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Februate [FEB-roo-ayt]
(v.)
- To purify, cleanse, or rejuvenate, esp. in a ritual or ceremonial context.
Used in a sentence:
“He simmered orange peel, cloves, and cedar needles on the stove to februate the home with a sweetness that felt almost like magic.”
(v.)
- To purify, cleanse, or rejuvenate, esp. in a ritual or ceremonial context.
Used in a sentence:
“He simmered orange peel, cloves, and cedar needles on the stove to februate the home with a sweetness that felt almost like magic.”
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Februate [FEB-roo-ayt]
(v.)
- To purify, cleanse, or rejuvenate, esp. in a ritual or ceremonial context.
Used in a sentence:
“He simmered orange peel, cloves, and cedar needles on the stove to februate the home with a sweetness that felt almost like magic.”
(v.)
- To purify, cleanse, or rejuvenate, esp. in a ritual or ceremonial context.
Used in a sentence:
“He simmered orange peel, cloves, and cedar needles on the stove to februate the home with a sweetness that felt almost like magic.”
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Reminder that live performance regulates the nervous system, so don’t be a meanie to artist friends who tell you about their shows. Paying the cover charge is way cheaper than your prescriptions/therapy & you get endorphins, dopamine, and a nervous system reset. Art fucking matters.
February 2, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Reminder that live performance regulates the nervous system, so don’t be a meanie to artist friends who tell you about their shows. Paying the cover charge is way cheaper than your prescriptions/therapy & you get endorphins, dopamine, and a nervous system reset. Art fucking matters.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
AI slop and science publishing on front page of FT (below the fold, but still) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Artificial intelligence researchers hit by flood of ‘slop’
Artificial intelligence researchers hit by flood of ‘slop’
Conferences restrict use of LLMs after surge of low-quality AI-generated papers and reviews
giftarticle.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:32 AM
AI slop and science publishing on front page of FT (below the fold, but still) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Artificial intelligence researchers hit by flood of ‘slop’
Reposted by Duncan Batey
It was a very still, calm morning today in Glastonbury. Photo was taken about an hour before sunrise.
February 2, 2026 at 9:05 AM
It was a very still, calm morning today in Glastonbury. Photo was taken about an hour before sunrise.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
Best thing I've seen in months is the BBC drama series Waiting for the Out. Exceptional.
Or, as younger citizens have been moved to remark, it's lowkey TS fine shyte.
Whatever the hell that means.
Or, as younger citizens have been moved to remark, it's lowkey TS fine shyte.
Whatever the hell that means.
February 2, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Best thing I've seen in months is the BBC drama series Waiting for the Out. Exceptional.
Or, as younger citizens have been moved to remark, it's lowkey TS fine shyte.
Whatever the hell that means.
Or, as younger citizens have been moved to remark, it's lowkey TS fine shyte.
Whatever the hell that means.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
It’s Monday once more and I’m still reading the Dungeon Master’s Guide 2024
What book(s) are you reading this week?
alt text please
What book(s) are you reading this week?
alt text please
February 2, 2026 at 6:59 AM
It’s Monday once more and I’m still reading the Dungeon Master’s Guide 2024
What book(s) are you reading this week?
alt text please
What book(s) are you reading this week?
alt text please
Reposted by Duncan Batey
I thought y’all were pulling my leg with this, but it’s real.
Damn.
Damn.
January 31, 2026 at 9:36 PM
I thought y’all were pulling my leg with this, but it’s real.
Damn.
Damn.
Reposted by Duncan Batey
“Most people who criticise me actually know things”
You dont win 'em all! Reform's Matt Goodwin in Sunday Times: 'Most .. people criticising me are nerds.The last thing I want is to be at some dinner party table with Nick Robinson & Mary Beard. I'd rather shoot myself in the head'. Hang on, I'm not THAT bad!Nerds sometimes have a (thoughtful!) point.
February 1, 2026 at 9:04 AM
“Most people who criticise me actually know things”
Reposted by Duncan Batey
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:48 AM
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com