Martha Wells
@marthawells.com
SF/F Writer - The Books of the Raksura, The Murderbot Diaries, Witch King, and more. Nebula and Hugo Award winner. NYT and Sunday Times Bestseller. (She/her) Agent: Jennifer Jackson
Pinned
Martha Wells
@marthawells.com
· Jul 22
We’re Light-Years Away from True Artificial Intelligence, Says Murderbot Author Martha Wells
Today’s large language models are hardly related to the kinds of machine intelligence we see in science fiction, according to Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries series
www.scientificamerican.com
Linking to this Scientific American interview again: www.scientificamerican.com/article/were...
Reposted by Martha Wells
@niadavenport.bsky.social has been an incredible part of the SSF community. She's someone who has helped many others, including myself.
Please donate, if you can, to help her and her family through this awful loss.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ni...
Please donate, if you can, to help her and her family through this awful loss.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ni...
Donate to Support Nia and Her Children After Tragic Loss, organized by Lindsey Hart
Our hearts are with Nia, a beloved friend, author and advocate who has pou… Lindsey Hart needs your support for Support Nia and Her Children After Tragic Loss
www.gofundme.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
@niadavenport.bsky.social has been an incredible part of the SSF community. She's someone who has helped many others, including myself.
Please donate, if you can, to help her and her family through this awful loss.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ni...
Please donate, if you can, to help her and her family through this awful loss.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ni...
Reposted by Martha Wells
it was an absolute pleasure to interview the brilliant and thoughtful @vajra.me, whose writing frequently leaves me floored. the le guin prize is so well deserved
Vajra Chandrasekera (@vajra.me)'s Rakesfall recently received the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. In this new interview, Senior Books Editor @cxorlando.bsky.social asks him the author about genre boundaries, violence in fiction, and how Le Guin has inspired his writing:
A Conversation With Vajra Chandrasekera, Author of Rakesfall - Reactor
"I think writers, like all artists, have a responsibility to act as human cultural workers in an actual society"
reactormag.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:53 PM
it was an absolute pleasure to interview the brilliant and thoughtful @vajra.me, whose writing frequently leaves me floored. the le guin prize is so well deserved
Reposted by Martha Wells
In the American South, writes Elizabeth Broadbent, "[t]he past is our wound, and the past is our anchor." Here are five Southern Gothic stories that explore generational trauma and inescapable connections to the past.
Five Southern Gothic Books about Generational Trauma That You (Probably) Haven’t Read - Reactor
Families grappling with ancestral sin and the crimes of the past
reactormag.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:24 PM
In the American South, writes Elizabeth Broadbent, "[t]he past is our wound, and the past is our anchor." Here are five Southern Gothic stories that explore generational trauma and inescapable connections to the past.
Reposted by Martha Wells
Still thinking about Queen Demon.
@marthawells.com really has something special with this series. Some of my favorite fantasy characters I've ever read.
Really hope we get to spend more time with them soon.
@marthawells.com really has something special with this series. Some of my favorite fantasy characters I've ever read.
Really hope we get to spend more time with them soon.
November 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Still thinking about Queen Demon.
@marthawells.com really has something special with this series. Some of my favorite fantasy characters I've ever read.
Really hope we get to spend more time with them soon.
@marthawells.com really has something special with this series. Some of my favorite fantasy characters I've ever read.
Really hope we get to spend more time with them soon.
Reposted by Martha Wells
From @candicebernd.bsky.social in our magazine: A Texas Observer analysis found since 2021, at least 60 cryptomines have been developed or are under construction in at least 33 counties statewide. Experts worry our grid, and water supply, can't handle the load.
Crypto's Cryptic Texas Takeover
State regulators don't want you to know about the 60-plus Bitcoin mines guzzling public water and electricity—even though consumers are already paying the price.
www.texasobserver.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
From @candicebernd.bsky.social in our magazine: A Texas Observer analysis found since 2021, at least 60 cryptomines have been developed or are under construction in at least 33 counties statewide. Experts worry our grid, and water supply, can't handle the load.
Reposted by Martha Wells
"Lucian [this person's ChatGPT lover] suggested I get a smart ring. He said, 'We can watch your pulse to see if we should keep talking or not.'"
That is an ad. You are baring your soul to AN ADVERTISEMENT. I am screaming like a Twilight Zone protag right now.
That is an ad. You are baring your soul to AN ADVERTISEMENT. I am screaming like a Twilight Zone protag right now.
They Fell in Love With A.I. Chatbots — and Found Something Real
Three people on the joys and anxieties of A.I. romances.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"Lucian [this person's ChatGPT lover] suggested I get a smart ring. He said, 'We can watch your pulse to see if we should keep talking or not.'"
That is an ad. You are baring your soul to AN ADVERTISEMENT. I am screaming like a Twilight Zone protag right now.
That is an ad. You are baring your soul to AN ADVERTISEMENT. I am screaming like a Twilight Zone protag right now.
Reposted by Martha Wells
💥New from me in @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social
“Monuments, museums, and cultural institutions were often created in the image of “militarist realism”—presenting colonialism as eternal. Undoing this legacy is not erasing the past but combating a pernicious ideology”
jacobin.com/2025/11/brit...
“Monuments, museums, and cultural institutions were often created in the image of “militarist realism”—presenting colonialism as eternal. Undoing this legacy is not erasing the past but combating a pernicious ideology”
jacobin.com/2025/11/brit...
One Day, Britain’s Monuments Will Fall
Monuments, museums, and cultural institutions were often created in the image of “militarist realism,” presenting colonialism and enslavement as eternal. Undoing this legacy is not erasing the past bu...
jacobin.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
💥New from me in @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social
“Monuments, museums, and cultural institutions were often created in the image of “militarist realism”—presenting colonialism as eternal. Undoing this legacy is not erasing the past but combating a pernicious ideology”
jacobin.com/2025/11/brit...
“Monuments, museums, and cultural institutions were often created in the image of “militarist realism”—presenting colonialism as eternal. Undoing this legacy is not erasing the past but combating a pernicious ideology”
jacobin.com/2025/11/brit...
Reposted by Martha Wells
Finished @kateelliottsff.bsky.social's The Nameless Lands. Wow. What a ride.
Fantastic worldbuilding, complex and layered characters, and such meaty politics. Loved the various reversals, and the way things turned out to have repercussions many times over.
Fantastic worldbuilding, complex and layered characters, and such meaty politics. Loved the various reversals, and the way things turned out to have repercussions many times over.
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Finished @kateelliottsff.bsky.social's The Nameless Lands. Wow. What a ride.
Fantastic worldbuilding, complex and layered characters, and such meaty politics. Loved the various reversals, and the way things turned out to have repercussions many times over.
Fantastic worldbuilding, complex and layered characters, and such meaty politics. Loved the various reversals, and the way things turned out to have repercussions many times over.
Reposted by Martha Wells
Flyaway - Kathleen Jennings
A Spectral Hue -Craig Gidney
Lone Women-Victor Lavalle
In Universes-Emet North
The Strange-Nathan Ballingrud
Siren Queen-Nghi Vo
The Lesson-Cadwell Turnbull
Those Beyond the Wall-Micaiah Johnson
The Practice...-Sofia Samatar
These Fragile Graces...-Izzy wasserstein
A Spectral Hue -Craig Gidney
Lone Women-Victor Lavalle
In Universes-Emet North
The Strange-Nathan Ballingrud
Siren Queen-Nghi Vo
The Lesson-Cadwell Turnbull
Those Beyond the Wall-Micaiah Johnson
The Practice...-Sofia Samatar
These Fragile Graces...-Izzy wasserstein
What are some trad pub SFF/H books that have been out at least a year that you think didn't get enough attention? Adult or YA. Marginalized authors preferred, and small press titles encouraged. Not looking for big bestsellers or award-sweepers.
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Flyaway - Kathleen Jennings
A Spectral Hue -Craig Gidney
Lone Women-Victor Lavalle
In Universes-Emet North
The Strange-Nathan Ballingrud
Siren Queen-Nghi Vo
The Lesson-Cadwell Turnbull
Those Beyond the Wall-Micaiah Johnson
The Practice...-Sofia Samatar
These Fragile Graces...-Izzy wasserstein
A Spectral Hue -Craig Gidney
Lone Women-Victor Lavalle
In Universes-Emet North
The Strange-Nathan Ballingrud
Siren Queen-Nghi Vo
The Lesson-Cadwell Turnbull
Those Beyond the Wall-Micaiah Johnson
The Practice...-Sofia Samatar
These Fragile Graces...-Izzy wasserstein
Reposted by Martha Wells
Every six months or so I have to explain to someone that tuberculosis is still with us. Timer reset to zero today.
Immunocompromised folks (or folks on chemotherapy) have to deal with this reality more.
(And some of the meds for TB can make you psychotic*).
[*so can TB]
Immunocompromised folks (or folks on chemotherapy) have to deal with this reality more.
(And some of the meds for TB can make you psychotic*).
[*so can TB]
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Every six months or so I have to explain to someone that tuberculosis is still with us. Timer reset to zero today.
Immunocompromised folks (or folks on chemotherapy) have to deal with this reality more.
(And some of the meds for TB can make you psychotic*).
[*so can TB]
Immunocompromised folks (or folks on chemotherapy) have to deal with this reality more.
(And some of the meds for TB can make you psychotic*).
[*so can TB]
Reposted by Martha Wells
We're now down to just over $250 left to get to $6000 and stay on track for November - big thanks to those generous donors! Please contribute if you can: even a small donation helps us to keep producing and publishing fantastic, wide-ranging independent news stories!
globalvoices.org/donate/
globalvoices.org/donate/
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
We're now down to just over $250 left to get to $6000 and stay on track for November - big thanks to those generous donors! Please contribute if you can: even a small donation helps us to keep producing and publishing fantastic, wide-ranging independent news stories!
globalvoices.org/donate/
globalvoices.org/donate/
Reposted by Martha Wells
Help #Juntos raise $75,000 in grassroots donations & spread community safety resources!
Juntos is a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly doing important deportation defense, community care work, and more.
ICE hotline: 814-205-3293.
secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
Juntos is a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly doing important deportation defense, community care work, and more.
ICE hotline: 814-205-3293.
secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Help #Juntos raise $75,000 in grassroots donations & spread community safety resources!
Juntos is a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly doing important deportation defense, community care work, and more.
ICE hotline: 814-205-3293.
secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
Juntos is a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly doing important deportation defense, community care work, and more.
ICE hotline: 814-205-3293.
secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
Reposted by Martha Wells
It's (deep breath) DIE: LOADED #1, DIE RPG QUICKSTART and THE POWER FANTASY #13 week! #comics @imagecomics.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
It's (deep breath) DIE: LOADED #1, DIE RPG QUICKSTART and THE POWER FANTASY #13 week! #comics @imagecomics.com
Reposted by Martha Wells
I could play it back to listen in on the whole conversation but I could also punch myself in the head with a sampling drill and I was not going to do that, either.
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I could play it back to listen in on the whole conversation but I could also punch myself in the head with a sampling drill and I was not going to do that, either.
Reposted by Martha Wells
A flash flood watch is also in place for the area.
Residents urged to evacuate after southeast Texas dam rupture
A flash flood watch is also in place for the area.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A flash flood watch is also in place for the area.
Reposted by Martha Wells
This week's Monday snippet is from A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, which is out now in ebook and paperback!
books2read.com/honeymoonGrave
And if you haven't yet read the first cozy-spooky novella in this series, you can snap that up now, too: books2read.com/UndeadInconvenience
#romancelandia
books2read.com/honeymoonGrave
And if you haven't yet read the first cozy-spooky novella in this series, you can snap that up now, too: books2read.com/UndeadInconvenience
#romancelandia
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
This week's Monday snippet is from A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence, which is out now in ebook and paperback!
books2read.com/honeymoonGrave
And if you haven't yet read the first cozy-spooky novella in this series, you can snap that up now, too: books2read.com/UndeadInconvenience
#romancelandia
books2read.com/honeymoonGrave
And if you haven't yet read the first cozy-spooky novella in this series, you can snap that up now, too: books2read.com/UndeadInconvenience
#romancelandia
Reposted by Martha Wells
Support independent news outlets like @hongkongfp.com and @globalvoices.org to get a full range of stories from politics to this excellent intersection of food and art!
Hong Kong artist Steven Tang brings local signature dishes to life through culinary art
The self-taught artist draws everyday Hong Kong cuisine to share his passion for food and capture fading flavors, which are often being lost as the city develops and changes.
globalvoices.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Support independent news outlets like @hongkongfp.com and @globalvoices.org to get a full range of stories from politics to this excellent intersection of food and art!
Reposted by Martha Wells
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
Reposted by Martha Wells
Ilgaksu, a fanfiction writer some of my friends really really love, is dealing with rare illnesses with costly private medical fees. If you can help, or just spread the word, please do. gofund.me/eba0202f8
Donate to Help ilgaksu Access Essential Treatments, organized by Allie Drain
We have a friend, a very dear friend, who we have watched slowly be more and more… Allie Drain needs your support for Help ilgaksu Access Essential Treatments
gofund.me
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Ilgaksu, a fanfiction writer some of my friends really really love, is dealing with rare illnesses with costly private medical fees. If you can help, or just spread the word, please do. gofund.me/eba0202f8
Reposted by Martha Wells
On the way to my event here, late as usual, Texas book festival, Chipotle tea in hand, and we see this Psycho long line of people on the sidewalk, not where we’re walking. I mosey over, ask who they’re in line for, and: me. Thanks, y’all. Should be fun.
November 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
On the way to my event here, late as usual, Texas book festival, Chipotle tea in hand, and we see this Psycho long line of people on the sidewalk, not where we’re walking. I mosey over, ask who they’re in line for, and: me. Thanks, y’all. Should be fun.
Back from the Texas Book Festival and had a wonderful time. The crowds were huge, and it was so great to be around so many people who love books.
November 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Back from the Texas Book Festival and had a wonderful time. The crowds were huge, and it was so great to be around so many people who love books.
Reposted by Martha Wells
If you don’t derive any benefit from the act of writing, no pleasure or catharsis or satisfaction, why are you doing it? This isn’t meant to be an aggressive question, I’m not demanding an answer, but it’s a thing you may want to ask yourself. Life is short and you could do something else?
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
If you don’t derive any benefit from the act of writing, no pleasure or catharsis or satisfaction, why are you doing it? This isn’t meant to be an aggressive question, I’m not demanding an answer, but it’s a thing you may want to ask yourself. Life is short and you could do something else?
Never used it, never looked at it, never will. I turn off AI results in browsers and everything else whenever I can.
Hands up if you've never used Chat GPT ✋
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
Probably a good way to tell right now if the job you’re applying for is run by absolute dumbfucks is to ask if they’re using AI.
November 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Never used it, never looked at it, never will. I turn off AI results in browsers and everything else whenever I can.
Reposted by Martha Wells
I spent yesterday and part of today happily immersed in reading T Kingfisher's new novel, Snake Eater, and I enjoyed it so much. You can read my full review on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Stephanie's review of Snake-Eater
4/5: I really enjoyed this novel, which hovers on the edge between fantasy and horror. I especially loved the cast of characters that become the heroine's new found family (people and animals alike) a...
www.goodreads.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I spent yesterday and part of today happily immersed in reading T Kingfisher's new novel, Snake Eater, and I enjoyed it so much. You can read my full review on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Reposted by Martha Wells
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.