sean guynes
@guynes.bsky.social
critic and cultural historian of fantasy, horror, sf + senior acquiring editor, @leverpress.bsky.social + associate editor of sf, @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social + read more: seanguynes.com
Pinned
Reading “The Forest of Forever” by Thomas Burnett Swann
Thomas Burnett Swann’s The Forest of Forever (1971) is the author’s fourth novel, a prequel to his first novel, Day of the Minotaur (1966). It’s a mediocre and somewhat messy return to …
seanguynes.com
Continuing with my obsessive effort to read all of Thomas Burnett Swann's novels, in this essay I take a look at his fourth novel, THE FOREST OF FOREVER (1971), which is a prequel to his first novel, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (1966).
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
Reposted by sean guynes
this is literally never not accurate
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
this is literally never not accurate
Reposted by sean guynes
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
The new official Star Trek: Khan podcast starring Naveen Andrews and Wrenn Schmidt is surprisingly really fucking good. And I say "surprisingly" because I think Khan is such a boring character. I only reluctantly started the podcast, but I'm glad I did.
November 9, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The new official Star Trek: Khan podcast starring Naveen Andrews and Wrenn Schmidt is surprisingly really fucking good. And I say "surprisingly" because I think Khan is such a boring character. I only reluctantly started the podcast, but I'm glad I did.
Reposted by sean guynes
Continuing with my obsessive effort to read all of Thomas Burnett Swann's novels, in this essay I take a look at his fourth novel, THE FOREST OF FOREVER (1971), which is a prequel to his first novel, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (1966).
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
Reading “The Forest of Forever” by Thomas Burnett Swann
Thomas Burnett Swann’s The Forest of Forever (1971) is the author’s fourth novel, a prequel to his first novel, Day of the Minotaur (1966). It’s a mediocre and somewhat messy return to …
seanguynes.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Continuing with my obsessive effort to read all of Thomas Burnett Swann's novels, in this essay I take a look at his fourth novel, THE FOREST OF FOREVER (1971), which is a prequel to his first novel, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (1966).
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
Reposted by sean guynes
Other acquisitions editors: I have multiple authors, some under contract, one who has even had their book approved by the editorial board, who just don't respond to emails. For years.
Is this normal? It's so frustrating that they won't just send a brief response, anything!
Is this normal? It's so frustrating that they won't just send a brief response, anything!
November 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Other acquisitions editors: I have multiple authors, some under contract, one who has even had their book approved by the editorial board, who just don't respond to emails. For years.
Is this normal? It's so frustrating that they won't just send a brief response, anything!
Is this normal? It's so frustrating that they won't just send a brief response, anything!
Another of my recent acquisitions for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, this time a great review of Star Trek: Strange New World, season 3, in all its unholy messiness.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Strange New Lows | Los Angeles Review of Books
Adam Kotsko boldly goes into season three of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” with high expectations.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Another of my recent acquisitions for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, this time a great review of Star Trek: Strange New World, season 3, in all its unholy messiness.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Sure, yes, but a European saying "civilized societies"? 🤔
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Sure, yes, but a European saying "civilized societies"? 🤔
Reposted by sean guynes
Getting word that the Pope just said, “Habibis…” before addressing the Cardinals
November 5, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Getting word that the Pope just said, “Habibis…” before addressing the Cardinals
Reposted by sean guynes
So, those terrified rich people leaving New York City now?
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 AM
So, those terrified rich people leaving New York City now?
Reposted by sean guynes
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win
BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win
Reposted by sean guynes
Happy Zohran Day to all who celebrate!!
November 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Happy Zohran Day to all who celebrate!!
Reposted by sean guynes
Back on my Ballantine Adult Fantasy bullshit, with the ninth installment in my reading series, a look at Peter Beagle's first novel: A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE (1960). (Written when he was just 19!) It's got ghosts falling in love, a rude talking raven, and tons of trite reflections on life and death.
Ballantine Adult Fantasy: Reading “A Fine and Private Place” by Peter S. Beagle
The ninth essay in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series, which looks at Peter Beagle’s first novel, A Fine and Private Place (1960), a rather dull novel about people dealing with death.
seanguynes.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Back on my Ballantine Adult Fantasy bullshit, with the ninth installment in my reading series, a look at Peter Beagle's first novel: A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE (1960). (Written when he was just 19!) It's got ghosts falling in love, a rude talking raven, and tons of trite reflections on life and death.
Back on my Ballantine Adult Fantasy bullshit, with the ninth installment in my reading series, a look at Peter Beagle's first novel: A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE (1960). (Written when he was just 19!) It's got ghosts falling in love, a rude talking raven, and tons of trite reflections on life and death.
Ballantine Adult Fantasy: Reading “A Fine and Private Place” by Peter S. Beagle
The ninth essay in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series, which looks at Peter Beagle’s first novel, A Fine and Private Place (1960), a rather dull novel about people dealing with death.
seanguynes.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Back on my Ballantine Adult Fantasy bullshit, with the ninth installment in my reading series, a look at Peter Beagle's first novel: A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE (1960). (Written when he was just 19!) It's got ghosts falling in love, a rude talking raven, and tons of trite reflections on life and death.
dumbest shit ever -- though, it might helps solve some of the city's affordability issues!
Nearly a million New Yorkers ready to flee NYC if Mamdani becomes mayor — possibly igniting mass exodus: poll
Nearly a million New Yorkers ready to flee NYC if Mamdani becomes mayor — possibly igniting mass exodus: poll
Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are prepared to bolt from the Big Apple if socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday's mayoral race — potentially setting the stage for the largest population flight in US history, a new poll warns.
nypost.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
dumbest shit ever -- though, it might helps solve some of the city's affordability issues!
Reposted by sean guynes
Really enjoying my new Dan Brown book, the world’s greatest code breaker took three chapters to figure out a word was written backwards. My first draft looks like fucking Shakespeare next to that
October 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Really enjoying my new Dan Brown book, the world’s greatest code breaker took three chapters to figure out a word was written backwards. My first draft looks like fucking Shakespeare next to that
JESUS CHRIST there's these Republic ladies chatting loudly in the coffee shop about the oppressiveness of having to get vaccines, trading stories about how they've avoided other vaccines in the past.
The vaccine? Meningitis. The vaccinee? A child.
The vaccine? Meningitis. The vaccinee? A child.
November 3, 2025 at 2:20 PM
JESUS CHRIST there's these Republic ladies chatting loudly in the coffee shop about the oppressiveness of having to get vaccines, trading stories about how they've avoided other vaccines in the past.
The vaccine? Meningitis. The vaccinee? A child.
The vaccine? Meningitis. The vaccinee? A child.
Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn is probably the best novel I've read this year. It's amazing.
Up next in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series is his first novel, A Fine and Private Place. It's not a very good novel. It's mostly shallow reflections on death. Trite as hell. Essay out v. soon!
Up next in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series is his first novel, A Fine and Private Place. It's not a very good novel. It's mostly shallow reflections on death. Trite as hell. Essay out v. soon!
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn is probably the best novel I've read this year. It's amazing.
Up next in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series is his first novel, A Fine and Private Place. It's not a very good novel. It's mostly shallow reflections on death. Trite as hell. Essay out v. soon!
Up next in my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series is his first novel, A Fine and Private Place. It's not a very good novel. It's mostly shallow reflections on death. Trite as hell. Essay out v. soon!
Reposted by sean guynes
I highly recommend watching TV the documentary Hit & Stay (2013) about priests & nuns of the liberation theology Catholic left who protested the Vietnam War by repeatedly breaking into draft offices & burning the files with homemade napalm. Hugely effective at changing public perception.
Of all the clerics they could have popped, those ICE idiots had to hit Hot Priest.
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I highly recommend watching TV the documentary Hit & Stay (2013) about priests & nuns of the liberation theology Catholic left who protested the Vietnam War by repeatedly breaking into draft offices & burning the files with homemade napalm. Hugely effective at changing public perception.
Reposted by sean guynes
Usha Vance is no victim. She is a person with agency who knows exactly what she is doing.
The biggest victim here is JD Vance’s wife Usha who is being disrespected in so many ways. Constantly humiliated by Vance on stage.
Remember she met him before he was a politician or fascist, in law school.
Remember she met him before he was a politician or fascist, in law school.
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Usha Vance is no victim. She is a person with agency who knows exactly what she is doing.
Reposted by sean guynes
BREAKING: A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must fund SNAP during the government shutdown.
6abc.com/post/judges-...
6abc.com/post/judges-...
Judges order the Trump administration to use contingency funds for SNAP payments during the shutdown
Two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Trump's administration must continue to fund SNAP, using contingency funds during the government shutdown.
6abc.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:17 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must fund SNAP during the government shutdown.
6abc.com/post/judges-...
6abc.com/post/judges-...
I was really happy to acquire this smart, insightful, and somewhat depressing piece for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @racheledini.bsky.social on OpenAI, metafiction, and the state of the humanities.
I'm excited to share my piece in Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, which examines OpenAI's claims about ChatGPT's creative writing skills, Big Tech's weaponisation of grief and nostalgia, and the collapse of the academic humanities. lareviewofbooks.org/article/lite...
Literature Is Not a Vibe: On ChatGPT and the Humanities | Los Angeles Review of Books
Rachele Dini discusses OpenAI’s “A Machine-Shaped Hand” and an academic sector in crisis.
lareviewofbooks.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I was really happy to acquire this smart, insightful, and somewhat depressing piece for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @racheledini.bsky.social on OpenAI, metafiction, and the state of the humanities.
Reposted by sean guynes
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.