Michael Pryor
@michaeljpryor.bsky.social
YA fantasy writer based in Melbourne, Australia. Co-publisher of Aurealis, Australia's longest running spec fic magazine. Podcast host. Gadabout.
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Michael Pryor
@michaeljpryor.bsky.social
· Nov 13
What’s true? What’s not? Michael Pryor and George Ivanoff present three remarkable stories to each other. Two stories are true, but one is totally made up. Subscribe and listen to Michael and George as they try to fool each other into believing absolute nonsense.
itstrueorisit.podbean.com
itstrueorisit.podbean.com
'Chief! I've narrowed down the suspects in the Really Confusing Murders case! It's gotta be either Madison Stephens or Stephen Madison! '
'It's obvious, Bronson! Get on with it!'
'You mean ...'
'That's right. Don't get Mad, get Stephen!'
'It's obvious, Bronson! Get on with it!'
'You mean ...'
'That's right. Don't get Mad, get Stephen!'
December 29, 2025 at 6:04 AM
'Chief! I've narrowed down the suspects in the Really Confusing Murders case! It's gotta be either Madison Stephens or Stephen Madison! '
'It's obvious, Bronson! Get on with it!'
'You mean ...'
'That's right. Don't get Mad, get Stephen!'
'It's obvious, Bronson! Get on with it!'
'You mean ...'
'That's right. Don't get Mad, get Stephen!'
A neverending source of wonder is how Australians and Americans pronounce 'Aquaman' so differently.
December 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A neverending source of wonder is how Australians and Americans pronounce 'Aquaman' so differently.
1960 Postcard from the State Library of Victoria collection. Christmas in Broadford looks a bit grim, TBH.
December 24, 2025 at 2:36 AM
1960 Postcard from the State Library of Victoria collection. Christmas in Broadford looks a bit grim, TBH.
An Australian version of A Christmas Carol: stinking hot weather, Tiny Tim's is lame because of a football injury, the Ghost of Christmas Past drones on and on about the Good Old Days and Scrooge sends the Cratchits a bucket of prawns instead of a turkey. And Scrooge would be played by Bryan Brown.
December 22, 2025 at 11:39 PM
An Australian version of A Christmas Carol: stinking hot weather, Tiny Tim's is lame because of a football injury, the Ghost of Christmas Past drones on and on about the Good Old Days and Scrooge sends the Cratchits a bucket of prawns instead of a turkey. And Scrooge would be played by Bryan Brown.
Last week's fluffy baby tawny has grown up a little, but still fluffy.
December 21, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Last week's fluffy baby tawny has grown up a little, but still fluffy.
The Seven Basic Plots:
1. Love lost/love found.
2. Revenge.
3. Rise and Fall.
4. The Journey.
5. That one where it's the end - or is it?
6. That one where we wake up and it's all a dream.
7. That one with the talking cat.
1. Love lost/love found.
2. Revenge.
3. Rise and Fall.
4. The Journey.
5. That one where it's the end - or is it?
6. That one where we wake up and it's all a dream.
7. That one with the talking cat.
December 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The Seven Basic Plots:
1. Love lost/love found.
2. Revenge.
3. Rise and Fall.
4. The Journey.
5. That one where it's the end - or is it?
6. That one where we wake up and it's all a dream.
7. That one with the talking cat.
1. Love lost/love found.
2. Revenge.
3. Rise and Fall.
4. The Journey.
5. That one where it's the end - or is it?
6. That one where we wake up and it's all a dream.
7. That one with the talking cat.
I have an idea for a new TV series: 'Emergency Editors': teams of highly trained, highly efficient editors in Emergency Editing Rooms calling out things like 'Hand me a brace of full stops!', 'Cut out that comma splice, now' and, of course, 'Stet!' and, rarely, 'Clear!'
December 20, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I have an idea for a new TV series: 'Emergency Editors': teams of highly trained, highly efficient editors in Emergency Editing Rooms calling out things like 'Hand me a brace of full stops!', 'Cut out that comma splice, now' and, of course, 'Stet!' and, rarely, 'Clear!'
There are sticklers, and then there are stone hard, steely eyed pedants: 'Mickey Spillane ordered 50,000 copies of his 1952 novel 'Kiss Me, Deadly' to be pulped when the comma was left out of the title.'
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_Me...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_Me...
Kiss Me, Deadly - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
There are sticklers, and then there are stone hard, steely eyed pedants: 'Mickey Spillane ordered 50,000 copies of his 1952 novel 'Kiss Me, Deadly' to be pulped when the comma was left out of the title.'
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_Me...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_Me...
Here's a shout-out to reviewers/critics who are currently busily compiling 'Best Books of 2025' lists. Please include genre, YA and children's books, otherwise call your list 'Best Books of 2025 Chosen from a Narrow List of Books Pre-emptively Deemed Quality Books'.
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Here's a shout-out to reviewers/critics who are currently busily compiling 'Best Books of 2025' lists. Please include genre, YA and children's books, otherwise call your list 'Best Books of 2025 Chosen from a Narrow List of Books Pre-emptively Deemed Quality Books'.
Reposted by Michael Pryor
Can't be bothered subscribing? Like a paper book? The July-December collection is here, with all essays since July PLUS two exclusives (one by Ng Yi-Sheng, the other by Chris Campbell & H.E Milla).
Of course, you can subscribe and get the ebook for free...
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
Of course, you can subscribe and get the ebook for free...
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
December 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Can't be bothered subscribing? Like a paper book? The July-December collection is here, with all essays since July PLUS two exclusives (one by Ng Yi-Sheng, the other by Chris Campbell & H.E Milla).
Of course, you can subscribe and get the ebook for free...
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
Of course, you can subscribe and get the ebook for free...
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
Clair Matin, a joyful climbing rose with abundant flowers and a sprightly apple-like scent.
December 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Clair Matin, a joyful climbing rose with abundant flowers and a sprightly apple-like scent.
Baby tawny frogmouth, sitting behind dad, stares at us.
December 14, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Baby tawny frogmouth, sitting behind dad, stares at us.
I've been into some mediaeval history lately where people are vouchsafing all over the place and I realised I haven't vouchsafed much at all lately.
Resolution: Michael, do more vouchsafing.
Resolution: Michael, do more vouchsafing.
December 11, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I've been into some mediaeval history lately where people are vouchsafing all over the place and I realised I haven't vouchsafed much at all lately.
Resolution: Michael, do more vouchsafing.
Resolution: Michael, do more vouchsafing.
Street art, Melbourne. More Australian wildlife in street art, please!
December 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Street art, Melbourne. More Australian wildlife in street art, please!
Rainbow lorikeets in a nesting hollow
December 3, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Rainbow lorikeets in a nesting hollow
Books are the best Christmas present for all sorts of reasons (no use by date, multiple uses without breaking, good to share) but one stands out: THEY'RE SO EASY TO WRAP!
That basic rectangle shape is a doddle, even for those who dread a yearly battle with the sticky tape.
That basic rectangle shape is a doddle, even for those who dread a yearly battle with the sticky tape.
November 29, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Books are the best Christmas present for all sorts of reasons (no use by date, multiple uses without breaking, good to share) but one stands out: THEY'RE SO EASY TO WRAP!
That basic rectangle shape is a doddle, even for those who dread a yearly battle with the sticky tape.
That basic rectangle shape is a doddle, even for those who dread a yearly battle with the sticky tape.
Paul Gauguin was once a tarpaulin salesman in Denmark. He spoke no Danish and French tarpaulins were unpopular in Denmark.
Unsurprisingly, he sought another career and he turned to art.
Worked out okay for him.
Unsurprisingly, he sought another career and he turned to art.
Worked out okay for him.
November 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Paul Gauguin was once a tarpaulin salesman in Denmark. He spoke no Danish and French tarpaulins were unpopular in Denmark.
Unsurprisingly, he sought another career and he turned to art.
Worked out okay for him.
Unsurprisingly, he sought another career and he turned to art.
Worked out okay for him.
A writer's life.
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
A writer's life.
I still get a thrill when someone asks me what I do for a living and I get to fix them with my steely gaze and say, 'I'm a writer'.
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I still get a thrill when someone asks me what I do for a living and I get to fix them with my steely gaze and say, 'I'm a writer'.
Daniel Keyes, author of ‘Flowers for Algernon’ was once asked how he wrote such a poignant, moving, beautiful story. His response? ‘Listen, when you find out how I did it, let me know, will you? I want to do it again.’
November 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Daniel Keyes, author of ‘Flowers for Algernon’ was once asked how he wrote such a poignant, moving, beautiful story. His response? ‘Listen, when you find out how I did it, let me know, will you? I want to do it again.’
Perhaps my favourite rose, Precious Michelle. It's a perfect tea rose shape, a lovely ivory cream shading to a delicate shell pink, with a delightful sweet perfume. Gorgeous.
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Perhaps my favourite rose, Precious Michelle. It's a perfect tea rose shape, a lovely ivory cream shading to a delicate shell pink, with a delightful sweet perfume. Gorgeous.
A.A. Milne (creator of Pooh Bear) had H.G. Wells ('The Time Machine', 'War of the Worlds') as a primary school teacher.
November 19, 2025 at 3:46 AM
A.A. Milne (creator of Pooh Bear) had H.G. Wells ('The Time Machine', 'War of the Worlds') as a primary school teacher.
Reposted by Michael Pryor
Showcasing the brilliant internal artwork from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025, and here's Peter Allert's amazing illustration for 'The Great Tree Migration' by Sam Cecins.
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Showcasing the brilliant internal artwork from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025, and here's Peter Allert's amazing illustration for 'The Great Tree Migration' by Sam Cecins.
Reposted by Michael Pryor
Showcasing the brilliant internal art from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025, and here's Hannah Dunn's moody and evocative illustration for 'The Beasties' by Dorothy-Jane Daniels.
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Showcasing the brilliant internal art from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025, and here's Hannah Dunn's moody and evocative illustration for 'The Beasties' by Dorothy-Jane Daniels.
Reposted by Michael Pryor
Showcasing the brilliant internal art from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025 and here's Rayji de Guia's exquisite illustration for 'Tucking my Feathers in your Brittle Heart' by Sophia-Maria Nicolopoulos.
November 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Showcasing the brilliant internal art from Aurealis #186, our last issue for 2025 and here's Rayji de Guia's exquisite illustration for 'Tucking my Feathers in your Brittle Heart' by Sophia-Maria Nicolopoulos.