James Alistair Henry
@jamesbluecat.bsky.social
Surrounded by yowling, nebulous forms. Writer: Green Wing, Smack the Pony, Delivery Man, Piglets, my first novel Pagans available to order in paperback: https://www.waterstones.com/book/pagans/james-alistair-henry/2928377365622
Pinned
Oh gawd it's January, which means my book is coming out in paperback on the 29th! Waterstones are doing an exclusive edition with red edges, a prequel chapter AND the first chapter of the sequel, The Hoard and can be pre-ordered THUSLY: www.waterstones.com/book/pagans/...
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
I pointed out (elsewhere) that the Vice President was lying when he said in a speech that archaeologists used mass infant remains to identify ancient brothels (they don't) so now I have right-wing chuds emailing my university email to 'gotcha' me about the sites I mentioned by name already.
January 25, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I pointed out (elsewhere) that the Vice President was lying when he said in a speech that archaeologists used mass infant remains to identify ancient brothels (they don't) so now I have right-wing chuds emailing my university email to 'gotcha' me about the sites I mentioned by name already.
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
Bob's digital reconstructions of historical buildings are fantastic, and a real antidote to shoddy AI art.
Made a few improvements to my online portfolio to provide more context with my reconstruction images. I'll include more paradata with the projects I post in future. With so many now questioning image authenticity because of AI, I feel it's more important than ever to declare my sources & references.
Bob Marshall: Commissioned Reconstructions
Portfolio of Commissioned Reconstruction Artworks by Bob Marshall
bobmarshall.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Bob's digital reconstructions of historical buildings are fantastic, and a real antidote to shoddy AI art.
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
Exactly the same thing BBC and Sky did with Renee Nicole Good. "A says X, but B says Y." Sure, but Y is on actual fkn video, so maybe just watch it.
The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible.
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
January 25, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Exactly the same thing BBC and Sky did with Renee Nicole Good. "A says X, but B says Y." Sure, but Y is on actual fkn video, so maybe just watch it.
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
Mafia goon: Nice house you got here...it'd be a shame if something happened to it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
January 21, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Mafia goon: Nice house you got here...it'd be a shame if something happened to it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Mark Haddon's bit about his upbringing is the most quietly heartbreaking thing I've read in some time. I'm even more in awe of his writing now. To come through that and not even *sound* bitter is quite remarkable. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
‘To say I was the favourite would imply I was liked’: Mark Haddon on a loveless childhood
As a bookish child with a distant father and a disapproving mother, the Curious Incident author retreated into a world of his own. Looking back, he asks what it means to lose parents who never showed ...
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Mark Haddon's bit about his upbringing is the most quietly heartbreaking thing I've read in some time. I'm even more in awe of his writing now. To come through that and not even *sound* bitter is quite remarkable. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
Did a thing for the Big Issue on some favourite comedy/crime books: www.bigissue.com/culture/book...
Top 5 comedy books, chosen by James Alistair Henry
Fantasy worlds, eco warriors and Hollywood all provide ample opportunities for humour in these funny books.
www.bigissue.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Did a thing for the Big Issue on some favourite comedy/crime books: www.bigissue.com/culture/book...
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
Counterpoint: that kind of thing doesn't play as well in Minnesota as it does elsewhere. Politicians who shove their way to the front of a protest are perceived as trying to steal the thunder of the real organizers, and Minneapolis is a city of organizers. So a lot of local pols tend to hang back.
imagine seeing these ICE protests today and you as a potential governor or senator or national democratic candidate didn't push babies out of the way to get to the front of the march
yall really bad at retail politics and seizing the moment huh
yall really bad at retail politics and seizing the moment huh
January 24, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Counterpoint: that kind of thing doesn't play as well in Minnesota as it does elsewhere. Politicians who shove their way to the front of a protest are perceived as trying to steal the thunder of the real organizers, and Minneapolis is a city of organizers. So a lot of local pols tend to hang back.
GET YOUR RED SPREDGES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. #redspredges
The @waterstones.bsky.social exclusive paperback of Pagans by @jamesbluecat.bsky.social is a limited edition, and stocks are going fast – so if you want shiny foil, red spredges, a sneak peek of the sequel *and* a bonus short story, you'll need to pre-order ASAP! www.waterstones.com/book/pagans/...
January 23, 2026 at 2:21 PM
GET YOUR RED SPREDGES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. #redspredges
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
Best not to think of Labour as a political party, and more of a bunch of nomadic herders who share the same landmass, and occasionally come together for moments of peace and intermarriage in between raiding each other over blood feuds and livestock.
Starmer’s allies launch ‘Stop Andy Burnham’ campaign to block parliamentary return
Speculation has spread over whether Burnham will attempt to return to pursue a Labour leadership bid
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Best not to think of Labour as a political party, and more of a bunch of nomadic herders who share the same landmass, and occasionally come together for moments of peace and intermarriage in between raiding each other over blood feuds and livestock.
Which has reminded me to pick up a copy of Prof Alice Roberts' 'Domination' (Emperor Constantine taking control of Christianity) as I've been meaning to read it for ages.
Listening to Amol Rajan talking to Tom Holland on his Radical podcast - and quite surprised to hear this history of Christianity as a history of ideas - completely separate from economics and politics.
January 23, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Which has reminded me to pick up a copy of Prof Alice Roberts' 'Domination' (Emperor Constantine taking control of Christianity) as I've been meaning to read it for ages.
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
this deck is very beautiful and very well made, go treat yourself
heads up that there are TEN (10) signed limited 1st edition tarot decks left and when they're gone they're gone 👀 shop.frankduffy.co.uk/product/quee... #tarotsky #witchmadness
January 22, 2026 at 5:16 PM
this deck is very beautiful and very well made, go treat yourself
Researching acorn coffee and immediately coming across advice to get a proper caffeine kick by brewing it with Red Bull, which feels a bit cheaty to me tbh
January 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Researching acorn coffee and immediately coming across advice to get a proper caffeine kick by brewing it with Red Bull, which feels a bit cheaty to me tbh
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
One small but notable sign of the rightward shift in UK politics in recent years is the use of “illegal migrants” for asylum seekers who arrive unofficially. It’s a dehumanising term which was popularised by the hard right and is now - as here - used repeatedly in Home Office press releases.
January 22, 2026 at 10:44 AM
One small but notable sign of the rightward shift in UK politics in recent years is the use of “illegal migrants” for asylum seekers who arrive unofficially. It’s a dehumanising term which was popularised by the hard right and is now - as here - used repeatedly in Home Office press releases.
Really enjoyed The Rip on Netflix, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in one of those containment thrillers where a group of overconfident types suddenly realise they're trapped, against overwhelming odds and at least one of the is working for the other side.
January 21, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Really enjoyed The Rip on Netflix, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in one of those containment thrillers where a group of overconfident types suddenly realise they're trapped, against overwhelming odds and at least one of the is working for the other side.
The weather forecast in Cornwall appears to be RAIN, RAIN FOREVER, RAIN WITHOUT END, RAIN UNTIL THE END OF DAYS (also moderate breeze)/
January 21, 2026 at 8:10 PM
The weather forecast in Cornwall appears to be RAIN, RAIN FOREVER, RAIN WITHOUT END, RAIN UNTIL THE END OF DAYS (also moderate breeze)/
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
my dwarf boss: I was thinking we should dig too greedily, and too deep
me: on it boss
me: on it boss
November 9, 2024 at 9:26 AM
my dwarf boss: I was thinking we should dig too greedily, and too deep
me: on it boss
me: on it boss
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
The way you automatically know what this is about
I do honestly think my phone will make some kind of special new noise
January 21, 2026 at 10:36 AM
The way you automatically know what this is about
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
For any who don't know, for most of the time I research prehistoric gold, especially Iron Age gold - looking at it from a craft perspective.
My website (of free to read info, from the basics to the complex) can be found here:
#Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs
www.bigbookoftorcs.com
My website (of free to read info, from the basics to the complex) can be found here:
#Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs
www.bigbookoftorcs.com
The Big Book of Torcs
by Tess Machling
www.bigbookoftorcs.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:07 PM
For any who don't know, for most of the time I research prehistoric gold, especially Iron Age gold - looking at it from a craft perspective.
My website (of free to read info, from the basics to the complex) can be found here:
#Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs
www.bigbookoftorcs.com
My website (of free to read info, from the basics to the complex) can be found here:
#Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs
www.bigbookoftorcs.com
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
January 21, 2026 at 9:38 AM
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
Reposted by James Alistair Henry
So Disney deleted their post on Threads asking users to post Disney quotes that show how their feeling - I suspect this is because it didn't quite go as they expected but the internet is forever so, for your delectation and delight...
January 20, 2026 at 5:01 PM
So Disney deleted their post on Threads asking users to post Disney quotes that show how their feeling - I suspect this is because it didn't quite go as they expected but the internet is forever so, for your delectation and delight...
Second series of the brilliant Things You Should Have Done seems to be plonked out on iPlayer with zero publicity, which is a shame because it's really funny and not quite like anything else out there: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Things You Should Have Done - Series 2: 1. Get Therapy
Chi is once again forced to contend with life and death, but this time under the guidance of unhinged grief counsellor Ruth. The gang go to bingo in search of answers.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Second series of the brilliant Things You Should Have Done seems to be plonked out on iPlayer with zero publicity, which is a shame because it's really funny and not quite like anything else out there: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Emma is my editor and she is the BEST, so if you're around Portsmouth and interested in publishing, 100% go to this.
Thinking about getting your book published but not sure where to start? Our Editorial Director, @emmajwaring.bsky.social, will be at Portsmouth Bookfest, attempting to demystify the industry with a panel of fellow publishing professionals. Tickets available here: wegottickets.com/event/683469
January 20, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Emma is my editor and she is the BEST, so if you're around Portsmouth and interested in publishing, 100% go to this.
Just realised the Manchester Waterstones PAGANS event has become detached from the thread somehow, I am basically terrible at this stuff. Anyway, it's Weds 11th Feb at the Deansgate store, 6.30pm.
Manchester Deansgate Waterstones event! Talking all things Pagans and signing books Weds 11th February 18:30pm www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
An Evening with James Alistair Henry | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about An Evening with James Alistair Henry today.
www.waterstones.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Just realised the Manchester Waterstones PAGANS event has become detached from the thread somehow, I am basically terrible at this stuff. Anyway, it's Weds 11th Feb at the Deansgate store, 6.30pm.
Man, this 'EU' thing sounds great, we should totally look into it.
A note from reality: Trump says that he is imposing tariffs on 8 EU countries, but that's not doable. The EU is a single trading block and customs union. Things made in the EU are simply "made in EU." Many products such as autos or machinery are made with components from multiple EU countries.
January 20, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Man, this 'EU' thing sounds great, we should totally look into it.
One of those days where I have a video call at half noon so now I can't do ANYTHING.
January 20, 2026 at 10:43 AM
One of those days where I have a video call at half noon so now I can't do ANYTHING.