JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
@jcmberne.bsky.social
Author of the Hybrid Helix, a space opera; first 5-book arc is complete!
https://a.co/d/0XRSsUC
https://linktr.ee/jcmberne
Usually apolitical here, but if you're curious, I'm so far left that checking out my politics might give you whiplash.
https://a.co/d/0XRSsUC
https://linktr.ee/jcmberne
Usually apolitical here, but if you're curious, I'm so far left that checking out my politics might give you whiplash.
Pinned
I'm Joe, a writer of space opera (The Hybrid Helix: DBZ meets DS9 with a touch of B5 and a heaping dollop of Invincible).
Also a martial artist and fan of South Asian pop culture (Tollywood films and Bollywood music).
I only follow back if I can tell we share an interest (art counts).
Also a martial artist and fan of South Asian pop culture (Tollywood films and Bollywood music).
I only follow back if I can tell we share an interest (art counts).
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Recently, I've been seeing a lot of discourse about peoples' reading choices.
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Recently, I've been seeing a lot of discourse about peoples' reading choices.
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Pressure to read certain things or read quickly, criticism of both engaging and not engaging critically with what you read, and do our reading choices really matter at all? What is the point of this hobby of ours? 🧵 1/5
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
P.L’S TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025!!
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
P.L’s TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025
This is the post where I note the top Indie/Self-Published, and the top Traditionally-Published (Small Press/Big Five Trad & Imprints) books for Sci-Fi &am
beforewegoblog.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
P.L’S TOP INDIE & TOP TRAD SFF BOOKS FOR 2025!!
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
***Authors on the lists tagged in the comments***
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-ind...
My theory on action adventure revenge films:
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
November 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
My theory on action adventure revenge films:
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Typically there is time spent building up how bad the bad guys are, then time spent beating up the bad guys.
You can calculate a ratio of this - setup:payoff.
MOST action films use much too high a ratio.
John Wick gets it pretty much perfect.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
It’s 🦖 and 🦕 for me all the way, if I could get my Time Machine™️ to work successfully.
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
November 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
It’s 🦖 and 🦕 for me all the way, if I could get my Time Machine™️ to work successfully.
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
So I’m going to have to nominate @jcmberne.bsky.social’s “Partial Function” for today’s prompt, though I confess I have yet to read it 🫢🫣 Oopzi! 😰
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋 #AMoRaR 📆
Inaki Godoy is the best actor you're not thinking of when I say the words, 'best actor.'
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Inaki Godoy is the best actor you're not thinking of when I say the words, 'best actor.'
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Shadows of Old Town by T. Olsen @bbnya.bsky.social @keilantra.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
BBNYA SEMI-FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Shadows of Old Town by T. Olsen @bbnya.bsky.social @keilantra.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/11/07/b...
This is why NYC is such an incredibly important political wedge - not the money. It's the fact that the greatest wealth generator in the world is ALSO the most diverse city in the world. THAT is the stark reality that conservatives and nationalists cannot comprehend, cannot allow to be true.
Conservatism, and any type of nationalism, desperately needs NYC to be a hellscape because otherwise it is active proof that their fundamental premise (that people thrive only in homogeneous communities) is false.
The fact that there has never been widespread racial violence in NYC shows the lie.
The fact that there has never been widespread racial violence in NYC shows the lie.
November 5, 2025 at 9:19 PM
This is why NYC is such an incredibly important political wedge - not the money. It's the fact that the greatest wealth generator in the world is ALSO the most diverse city in the world. THAT is the stark reality that conservatives and nationalists cannot comprehend, cannot allow to be true.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Some more indie love.
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Some more indie love.
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
@jcmberne.bsky.social @ericamarks.bsky.social @andiewington.bsky.social #BookSky
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
🏋️ Oh hey, I have some receipts for this! 👇
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
November 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
🏋️ Oh hey, I have some receipts for this! 👇
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
I’ve added bonus contenders into mix, cos this is clearly what you meant by chonk, amirite?! 💪😂🤏
🧱 @krystlematar.bsky.social
🥉 @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
🥈 @jnevair.bsky.social
🥇 @jcmberne.bsky.social
📚⚔️ #FantasyBooks 🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky 🦋
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
😬 You know what's scary? Writers missing out in a class action that already only covers a slice of all the harm done by creative theft.
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 PM
😬 You know what's scary? Writers missing out in a class action that already only covers a slice of all the harm done by creative theft.
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
That's why SFWA Legal Affairs has updates to help eligible creators make their claim against Anthropic. Have you read the latest FAQ? 👀 www.sfwa.org/anthropic-faq/
More procrastination fodder!
Guess what! I'm starting a podcast, and who better to join me for its premier than @krystlematar.bsky.social!
I had a blast talking about Tainted Dominion, Magic Mushrooms, and of course, Spidussy.
Keep an eye out for this hitting podcast shelves on Wednesday, November 12!
I had a blast talking about Tainted Dominion, Magic Mushrooms, and of course, Spidussy.
Keep an eye out for this hitting podcast shelves on Wednesday, November 12!
October 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
More procrastination fodder!
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Took me a day to fix the video but now my rambling thoughts on Tendeleo's Story by @ianmcdonald.bsky.social are back up, complete with moving pictures of me drinking beer. youtu.be/1NHOTZG2IBA
Making Disaster And Hope Personal - Discussing Ian McDonald's Tendeleo's Story
YouTube video by Raf Blutaxt
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Took me a day to fix the video but now my rambling thoughts on Tendeleo's Story by @ianmcdonald.bsky.social are back up, complete with moving pictures of me drinking beer. youtu.be/1NHOTZG2IBA
OK, hear me out:
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
October 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
OK, hear me out:
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
Bluesky has no algorithm.
Cool.
But what would make this site useful is a better algorithm, not none.
Just shoving everything I follow into my feed means what I see is a meaningless function of when I log in.
What have you (if you're an author) or other authors come back to in their worldbuilding and realize they neglected?
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
October 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
What have you (if you're an author) or other authors come back to in their worldbuilding and realize they neglected?
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
For me, there are a few things, but religious practices and festivals or holidays is high on my list.
Sold a lot (for me) of books in the last 2 days and . . . I'm super grateful, but I'd also really like to know what happened.
Was it an ad? A blog post? Just chance?
Like I said, grateful regardless, but if it's something I could duplicate that would be super.
Was it an ad? A blog post? Just chance?
Like I said, grateful regardless, but if it's something I could duplicate that would be super.
October 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Sold a lot (for me) of books in the last 2 days and . . . I'm super grateful, but I'd also really like to know what happened.
Was it an ad? A blog post? Just chance?
Like I said, grateful regardless, but if it's something I could duplicate that would be super.
Was it an ad? A blog post? Just chance?
Like I said, grateful regardless, but if it's something I could duplicate that would be super.
Any authors out there selling adult sex toys modelled after their MC and, if so, what service are you using for fulfillment?
October 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Any authors out there selling adult sex toys modelled after their MC and, if so, what service are you using for fulfillment?
Read this very generous review of Blood Reunion! Coming to audio later this year!
#BookReview
Blood Reunion by @jcmberne.bsky.social
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The Hybrid Helix is one of the best superhero stories currently being written. Blood Reunion really takes everything to a whole new level!
Full review on @sffinsiders.com . Link in comments 💬
Blood Reunion by @jcmberne.bsky.social
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The Hybrid Helix is one of the best superhero stories currently being written. Blood Reunion really takes everything to a whole new level!
Full review on @sffinsiders.com . Link in comments 💬
October 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Read this very generous review of Blood Reunion! Coming to audio later this year!
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
Across dimensions, it creeps and consumes... Are you ready for your imagination to be infected?
October 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Across dimensions, it creeps and consumes... Are you ready for your imagination to be infected?
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
I’ll tell you what, but signed copies of The Traitors We Are ($15) and/or A Grave for Us All ($15) and I will throw in The Revenge of Thousands ($10) free!
International orders: message me to calculate shipping first!
International orders: message me to calculate shipping first!
🗡️Writing that disappears when the writer dies.
🗡️The outcome of a war based on lies.
🗡️Robust cast of characters on both sides of an ever evolving conflict.
🗡️Human moments and intimately character driven development.
🗡️A world just waiting for you to explore.
🖇️⬇️
🗡️The outcome of a war based on lies.
🗡️Robust cast of characters on both sides of an ever evolving conflict.
🗡️Human moments and intimately character driven development.
🗡️A world just waiting for you to explore.
🖇️⬇️
October 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I’ll tell you what, but signed copies of The Traitors We Are ($15) and/or A Grave for Us All ($15) and I will throw in The Revenge of Thousands ($10) free!
International orders: message me to calculate shipping first!
International orders: message me to calculate shipping first!
Well, I WAS a huge Zohran Mamdani fan but I just found out he supports Arsenal so I guess that's over.
October 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Well, I WAS a huge Zohran Mamdani fan but I just found out he supports Arsenal so I guess that's over.
Here's the irony:
Conservatives claim their policies are pro-business, but something like 70% of US GDP is generated in blue counties.
Republican ideas aren't actually good for business, they're just good for some of the rich.
Conservatives claim their policies are pro-business, but something like 70% of US GDP is generated in blue counties.
Republican ideas aren't actually good for business, they're just good for some of the rich.
October 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Here's the irony:
Conservatives claim their policies are pro-business, but something like 70% of US GDP is generated in blue counties.
Republican ideas aren't actually good for business, they're just good for some of the rich.
Conservatives claim their policies are pro-business, but something like 70% of US GDP is generated in blue counties.
Republican ideas aren't actually good for business, they're just good for some of the rich.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
🔥 COVER REVEAL 🔥
I had the absolute honor of working on the eBook cover design for HAMMERFALL by @robjhayes.bsky.social! Thank you for letting me unleash my inner Warhammer geek on this epic GOD EATER standalone novel ⚔️
Original cover art by the talented Andrea Tarzia.
I had the absolute honor of working on the eBook cover design for HAMMERFALL by @robjhayes.bsky.social! Thank you for letting me unleash my inner Warhammer geek on this epic GOD EATER standalone novel ⚔️
Original cover art by the talented Andrea Tarzia.
October 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
🔥 COVER REVEAL 🔥
I had the absolute honor of working on the eBook cover design for HAMMERFALL by @robjhayes.bsky.social! Thank you for letting me unleash my inner Warhammer geek on this epic GOD EATER standalone novel ⚔️
Original cover art by the talented Andrea Tarzia.
I had the absolute honor of working on the eBook cover design for HAMMERFALL by @robjhayes.bsky.social! Thank you for letting me unleash my inner Warhammer geek on this epic GOD EATER standalone novel ⚔️
Original cover art by the talented Andrea Tarzia.
Reposted by JCM Berne; author of Wistful Ascending
BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Take Me Back by Amanda Rodriguez @thewritereads.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/10/17/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/10/17/b...
October 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Take Me Back by Amanda Rodriguez @thewritereads.bsky.social
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/10/17/b...
irresponsiblereader.com/2025/10/17/b...
Worth a look!
Blasphemy! A #blogpost about injecting POLITICS into your #superhero fiction!? You're not supposed to do that, right?
Actually, you should. But you should do it right. So here's my fun bit of #writing advice. How to properly inject #politics into your #fiction.
www.tienswitch.com/blog/how-to-...
Actually, you should. But you should do it right. So here's my fun bit of #writing advice. How to properly inject #politics into your #fiction.
www.tienswitch.com/blog/how-to-...
How To Properly Inject Politics Into Your Story — TienSwitch
I reject the notion that there is too much politics in superhero fiction. If you write superhero books, you should know how to properly inject politics into your story in order to make it have passion...
www.tienswitch.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Worth a look!