Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
Ph.D Classics. Reviews @ Reactor Magazine (ex. Tor.com) and Locus Magazine.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
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Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
· Nov 9
κῆπος τῶν βιβλιοθηκῶν | a garden from the libraries
Liz Bourke: books, history, writing, and culture.
lizbourke.wordpress.com
Hello, new followers! I write reviews of science fiction and fantasy novels for @locusmag.bsky.social and for @reactorsff.bsky.social. On my blog lizbourke.wordpress.com/news-and-upd..., I write about the nonfiction I've been reading lately, and the occasional deeper dive on some aspect of SFF.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Have I sailed as close as you are legally allowed to do to have a nose at the SS Montgomery?
Of course.
Moment I knew she existed, I was out there faster than Jay Hulme when he spots a rickety ladder in a church.
Here she is:
Of course.
Moment I knew she existed, I was out there faster than Jay Hulme when he spots a rickety ladder in a church.
Here she is:
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Have I sailed as close as you are legally allowed to do to have a nose at the SS Montgomery?
Of course.
Moment I knew she existed, I was out there faster than Jay Hulme when he spots a rickety ladder in a church.
Here she is:
Of course.
Moment I knew she existed, I was out there faster than Jay Hulme when he spots a rickety ladder in a church.
Here she is:
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Waking up to news 🚨 that 6 (!) Roman statues were stolen from Syria’s National Museum, in Damascus, on Monday. No details on which statues yet, but I had a few pics below from the GRB gallery with the famed Al-Lat Athena. Heartbreaking news.
thehill.com/homenews/ap/...
thehill.com/homenews/ap/...
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Waking up to news 🚨 that 6 (!) Roman statues were stolen from Syria’s National Museum, in Damascus, on Monday. No details on which statues yet, but I had a few pics below from the GRB gallery with the famed Al-Lat Athena. Heartbreaking news.
thehill.com/homenews/ap/...
thehill.com/homenews/ap/...
Damn, @themountaingoats.bsky.social's Through The Fire Across From Peter Balkan is something else. Absolutely haunting.
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Damn, @themountaingoats.bsky.social's Through The Fire Across From Peter Balkan is something else. Absolutely haunting.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Utrecht (city of 377k population) receives €562 million (NZ $1.1 billion) from the government to build tramlines to Merwede.
As the council says; “because without a tram line the city would be one massive traffic jam”.
As the council says; “because without a tram line the city would be one massive traffic jam”.
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Utrecht (city of 377k population) receives €562 million (NZ $1.1 billion) from the government to build tramlines to Merwede.
As the council says; “because without a tram line the city would be one massive traffic jam”.
As the council says; “because without a tram line the city would be one massive traffic jam”.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This year is the first year I am exclusively teaching courses I designed related to my research areas and my God the difference!
The last 9 years in academia, I have taught seemingly every area but my own most of the time and it is exhausting, taking most of your energy and time.
The last 9 years in academia, I have taught seemingly every area but my own most of the time and it is exhausting, taking most of your energy and time.
The main thing I've discovered over the past few semesters is that I got way more actual research-related work done when I was allowed to teach stuff that was even vaguely, tangentially, related to my actual research. Who would have thought it, eh?
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
This year is the first year I am exclusively teaching courses I designed related to my research areas and my God the difference!
The last 9 years in academia, I have taught seemingly every area but my own most of the time and it is exhausting, taking most of your energy and time.
The last 9 years in academia, I have taught seemingly every area but my own most of the time and it is exhausting, taking most of your energy and time.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Very pleased to see the WCC UK restate its commitment to the support of trans and non-binary folk in the discipline, particularly in light of the current political climate.
WCC Supports Trans People - WCC-UK
Following a unanimous vote at the 2025 AGM, the Women’s Classical Committee UK wishes to reiterate its unwavering support for trans and non-binary people. We are deeply concerned at the harmful implic...
wcc-uk.blogs.sas.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Very pleased to see the WCC UK restate its commitment to the support of trans and non-binary folk in the discipline, particularly in light of the current political climate.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Stock images used in DCC presentation planning PR campaigns to promote active travel and use of cycle lane (left), vs images of actual cycle infrastructure in the city. "Only 36% of respondents felt safe cycling in Dublin City". Hmmm.
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Stock images used in DCC presentation planning PR campaigns to promote active travel and use of cycle lane (left), vs images of actual cycle infrastructure in the city. "Only 36% of respondents felt safe cycling in Dublin City". Hmmm.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Your social circle sapphic needs to be informed of this
August 31, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Your social circle sapphic needs to be informed of this
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Jupiter says trans rights
🔭 Jupiter in Ultraviolet from Hubble
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & License: Judy Schmidt
star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/a...
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & License: Judy Schmidt
star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/a...
November 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Jupiter says trans rights
Reposted by Liz Bourke
So proud of my father for all the passion, courage,care and vision he brought to the last 14 years as President of Ireland. Both my parents have always been driven by a deep wide love for Ireland & the world, for people, planet & possibilities. Looking forward to their next chapter! #Grá #spiergirm
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 AM
So proud of my father for all the passion, courage,care and vision he brought to the last 14 years as President of Ireland. Both my parents have always been driven by a deep wide love for Ireland & the world, for people, planet & possibilities. Looking forward to their next chapter! #Grá #spiergirm
Reposted by Liz Bourke
this was a business discovery to us! we wondered for ages why our subscriber base wasn't matching broader games media reading patterns; when we asked around, turns out loads of europeans simply don't like using credit cards.
hopefully this is an improvement!
hopefully this is an improvement!
Good morning Europe! We have a new website! If you don't like using credit cards (and many EU readers have told us they don't), we're finally accepting other payment methods for subs, like Google Pay, Apple Pay and Link:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
Welcome To Aftermath 2.0
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different.
aftermath.site
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
this was a business discovery to us! we wondered for ages why our subscriber base wasn't matching broader games media reading patterns; when we asked around, turns out loads of europeans simply don't like using credit cards.
hopefully this is an improvement!
hopefully this is an improvement!
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Literally streams of people arriving in saying “the bank sent me here to print my statements, &c.” They then have to be assisted to log on to a PC, assisted to find the website, assisted to logon to their account, assisted to send the document to print, assisted with retrieving and paying for docs.
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Literally streams of people arriving in saying “the bank sent me here to print my statements, &c.” They then have to be assisted to log on to a PC, assisted to find the website, assisted to logon to their account, assisted to send the document to print, assisted with retrieving and paying for docs.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
It’s difficult to underestimate the extra burden that this is placing on our public libraries. For example, on a daily basis library workers are now filling the in-person/human service gap that billion euro banking institutions have abdicated from to maximise their profit margins.
"Essential services are now digital by default, leaving many older people feeling locked out of their own lives."
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
Opinion: We’ve grown far too comfortable excluding older people from the digital world
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie
November 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It’s difficult to underestimate the extra burden that this is placing on our public libraries. For example, on a daily basis library workers are now filling the in-person/human service gap that billion euro banking institutions have abdicated from to maximise their profit margins.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
"ceasefire"
Since the ceasefire took effect one month ago, Israeli attacks have killed at least 242 Palestinians and injured 622.
How many times has Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire? Here are the numbers
Since the ceasefire took effect one month ago, Israeli attacks have killed at least 242 Palestinians and injured 622.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
"ceasefire"
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I did the math on an item that I know is identical -- men's leather boots with rubber storm king soles. In 1925, these shoes retailed for $5.50, roughly $99 in modern money.
They cost me $200 new. There are no new boots like this for under $100 at retail. So how many boots can I buy in 1925 again?
They cost me $200 new. There are no new boots like this for under $100 at retail. So how many boots can I buy in 1925 again?
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I did the math on an item that I know is identical -- men's leather boots with rubber storm king soles. In 1925, these shoes retailed for $5.50, roughly $99 in modern money.
They cost me $200 new. There are no new boots like this for under $100 at retail. So how many boots can I buy in 1925 again?
They cost me $200 new. There are no new boots like this for under $100 at retail. So how many boots can I buy in 1925 again?
Reposted by Liz Bourke
under my regime if a company uses the term “tools” to refer to something without measurable weight which cannot be physically brandished and used as a weapon, that company will be dissolved and its assets seized
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
under my regime if a company uses the term “tools” to refer to something without measurable weight which cannot be physically brandished and used as a weapon, that company will be dissolved and its assets seized
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I looked for my favorite, read the description, found it completely accurate, wondered what the others would've said, and then laughed so hard.
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I looked for my favorite, read the description, found it completely accurate, wondered what the others would've said, and then laughed so hard.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Who made this and why are you choosing nerd violence? ✍️ I mean, it is true, but still.
November 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Who made this and why are you choosing nerd violence? ✍️ I mean, it is true, but still.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Read the whole thread
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Read the whole thread
Reposted by Liz Bourke
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
At the beginning of October, I was celebrating A Thousand Nights's 10th anniversary, abd while I was sad not to have a special edition or, like, an eBook sale, I thought "well, at least it's still on shelves."
And now it's November, and soon it won't be.
And now it's November, and soon it won't be.
aaaaand a thousand nights is going out of print
the book that saved my life. the ebook will still be available, but we never got an audio in the first place, so that will be it.
10 years is a long time in publishing, but, my heart, i wanted my best book to live.
the book that saved my life. the ebook will still be available, but we never got an audio in the first place, so that will be it.
10 years is a long time in publishing, but, my heart, i wanted my best book to live.
November 8, 2025 at 2:28 AM
At the beginning of October, I was celebrating A Thousand Nights's 10th anniversary, abd while I was sad not to have a special edition or, like, an eBook sale, I thought "well, at least it's still on shelves."
And now it's November, and soon it won't be.
And now it's November, and soon it won't be.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This is one of the funniest apologies I've ever seen
November 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This is one of the funniest apologies I've ever seen
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Amazon has launched a new AI-driven translation service, Kindle Translate, for Kindle Direct Publishing authors 👇 #BookSky
Amazon launches AI translation service for indie authors
ebx.sh
November 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
as @dinseaferno.bsky.social pointed out this is both a Skyrim loading tip and actually good advice for real world social skills
When simply greeting the security guy at the local mini supermarket every time, eventually you can get useful tips on the freshest and nicest pastries.
November 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
as @dinseaferno.bsky.social pointed out this is both a Skyrim loading tip and actually good advice for real world social skills