Gareth Hanrahan
@mytholder.bsky.social
He/Him. Novel THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT out May '25. Currently writing: Black Iron 4, Unannounced Novel, Merryshire Detective Club, Terraforming Mars rpg, Across the Abyss other stuff.
Pinned
Gareth Hanrahan
@mytholder.bsky.social
· Jan 23
Gar's novels - a thread.
First, we've got the Black Iron Legacy series, starting with THE GUTTER PRAYER.
Three thieves - runaway Carillon Thay, slowly petrifying Spar, and corpse-eating ghoul-monster Rat - get embroiled in a web of intrigue and sorcery. Crazed gods, alchemy-punk, high weirdness.
First, we've got the Black Iron Legacy series, starting with THE GUTTER PRAYER.
Three thieves - runaway Carillon Thay, slowly petrifying Spar, and corpse-eating ghoul-monster Rat - get embroiled in a web of intrigue and sorcery. Crazed gods, alchemy-punk, high weirdness.
Like many others, I’m missing @tinstargames.bsky.social this morning. While I can’t claim to have known Steve that well, we’ve been moving in the same online circles for, god, I have no idea how long. Gaming Outpost? Usenet?
He had a genius for wickedly clever little games. I especially love this:
He had a genius for wickedly clever little games. I especially love this:
January 5, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Like many others, I’m missing @tinstargames.bsky.social this morning. While I can’t claim to have known Steve that well, we’ve been moving in the same online circles for, god, I have no idea how long. Gaming Outpost? Usenet?
He had a genius for wickedly clever little games. I especially love this:
He had a genius for wickedly clever little games. I especially love this:
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
January 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
The second game was a farcical success. Gimli cut a swathe across the north, liberating Dol Guldur and Moria. Arwen led an Elvish horde to Minas Tirith; Boromir spent a few turns running around Mordor trying desperately to die. The Nazgûl got lost in Eriador.
First game lost when Dol Amroth fell - trying again with a fresh Fellowship
January 4, 2026 at 11:06 PM
The second game was a farcical success. Gimli cut a swathe across the north, liberating Dol Guldur and Moria. Arwen led an Elvish horde to Minas Tirith; Boromir spent a few turns running around Mordor trying desperately to die. The Nazgûl got lost in Eriador.
Playing Fate of the Fellowship
January 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Playing Fate of the Fellowship
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
Sunrise inside Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
January 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Sunrise inside Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
Venezuelan intelligence probably weren't monitoring polymarket activity a few days ago, but you can bet Mexican intelligence are now.
January 4, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Venezuelan intelligence probably weren't monitoring polymarket activity a few days ago, but you can bet Mexican intelligence are now.
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
Can't believe Stranger Things ends with them switching to Pathfinder
January 4, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Can't believe Stranger Things ends with them switching to Pathfinder
An automaton fuelled by tomes of newly available knowledge sweeps away the old society. No, not a self-portrait by ChatGPT in the style of a Georgian satirical print, but one of several “March of Intellect” cartoons published ca. 1828: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/march-of-the-intellect
January 3, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Great interview!
This is me being interviewed in detailed on the nuts and bolts of writing technique.
Very interesting interview of @aptshadow.bsky.social . As an amateur want-to-be sci-fi author, I’ve found so many great insights about writting good sci-fi. Concept of One Big Lie is a very useful thing, for example.
youtu.be/LO0qHnhpkDs?...
youtu.be/LO0qHnhpkDs?...
January 2, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Great interview!
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
CBS Evening News: “On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnd...
That Mitchell and Webb Look - Send us your reckons
YouTube video by iotaman5
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
CBS Evening News: “On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnd...
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
Happy New Year! 🥂🎉 It’s my year of writing, and I’m open for freelance work in the #TTRPG space. Game designer, writer, part-time historian. Need weird history, deep lore, Mythos, pulp, horror, cyberpunk, or smart design with teeth (and on time)? Slide into my DMs or toss a sending spell. 🎲✍️
a cartoon of a man sitting at a desk with a laptop and the words `` i 'm freelancer '' above him .
ALT: a cartoon of a man sitting at a desk with a laptop and the words `` i 'm freelancer '' above him .
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Happy New Year! 🥂🎉 It’s my year of writing, and I’m open for freelance work in the #TTRPG space. Game designer, writer, part-time historian. Need weird history, deep lore, Mythos, pulp, horror, cyberpunk, or smart design with teeth (and on time)? Slide into my DMs or toss a sending spell. 🎲✍️
@gshowitt.bsky.social relevant information
Horses are born with tentacles that fall off when they’re babies. It’s so they don’t kick their way through their moms when they’re still baking in the horse oven.That’s the origin of the term “horse feathers”.
(Horses kinda freak me out so I know all their dirty little secrets)
(Horses kinda freak me out so I know all their dirty little secrets)
Ok folks: what is your favorite fact that you share with people (maybe a bit too) eagerly?
December 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
@gshowitt.bsky.social relevant information
Between Mythic Bastionland, stuff we’re doing on Terraforming Mars, Hollows, and my quixotic quest to find time to organised a game of Seven Part Pact, 2026 appears to be the Year Of Things On The Table That Aren’t Character Sheets or Battlemaps.
December 31, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Between Mythic Bastionland, stuff we’re doing on Terraforming Mars, Hollows, and my quixotic quest to find time to organised a game of Seven Part Pact, 2026 appears to be the Year Of Things On The Table That Aren’t Character Sheets or Battlemaps.
I must go back and read Foucault’s Pendulum for the millionth time, because I bet Abulafia reads differently in this age of AI.
December 31, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I must go back and read Foucault’s Pendulum for the millionth time, because I bet Abulafia reads differently in this age of AI.
Yeah, ok, Mythic Bastionland is fun.
December 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Yeah, ok, Mythic Bastionland is fun.
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
@mytholder.bsky.social
Finished Lands of the Firstborn last night! Great series! If there is anything out there that plays "After the Adventure" so straight while simultaneously keeping me on the edge of my seat I'm not aware of.
Finished Lands of the Firstborn last night! Great series! If there is anything out there that plays "After the Adventure" so straight while simultaneously keeping me on the edge of my seat I'm not aware of.
December 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
@mytholder.bsky.social
Finished Lands of the Firstborn last night! Great series! If there is anything out there that plays "After the Adventure" so straight while simultaneously keeping me on the edge of my seat I'm not aware of.
Finished Lands of the Firstborn last night! Great series! If there is anything out there that plays "After the Adventure" so straight while simultaneously keeping me on the edge of my seat I'm not aware of.
There is no more unspoken camaraderie
Than the recycling centre on a cold morning in the week after Christmas.
Than the recycling centre on a cold morning in the week after Christmas.
December 30, 2025 at 9:51 AM
There is no more unspoken camaraderie
Than the recycling centre on a cold morning in the week after Christmas.
Than the recycling centre on a cold morning in the week after Christmas.
Current book: Game designer.
Book before that: Game designer
Book before that: Game designer
December 30, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Current book: Game designer.
Book before that: Game designer
Book before that: Game designer
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
I used to do that. What I’ve discovered over the years:
December 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I used to do that. What I’ve discovered over the years:
I must confess I'm fighting hard not to start writing Carnivorous Sky Cathedral fanfic.
IMINT #38695 from SBIRS GEO-5 (USAP)
1. Ziggurat of Glitches
2. Carniverous Sky Cathedral
1. Ziggurat of Glitches
2. Carniverous Sky Cathedral
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I must confess I'm fighting hard not to start writing Carnivorous Sky Cathedral fanfic.
How I’m walking out of 2025
December 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
How I’m walking out of 2025
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
HiPOD: Possible Sulfate Deposits in West Melas Chasma
This image shows many interesting features that are common to Melas Chasma, including salt-bearing deposits that indicate water was present in the past.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_044892_1695
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
This image shows many interesting features that are common to Melas Chasma, including salt-bearing deposits that indicate water was present in the past.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_044892_1695
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
December 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
HiPOD: Possible Sulfate Deposits in West Melas Chasma
This image shows many interesting features that are common to Melas Chasma, including salt-bearing deposits that indicate water was present in the past.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_044892_1695
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
This image shows many interesting features that are common to Melas Chasma, including salt-bearing deposits that indicate water was present in the past.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_044892_1695
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
(daft punk One More Time voice) Auld Lang Syne
December 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
(daft punk One More Time voice) Auld Lang Syne
Reposted by Gareth Hanrahan
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Field trip to Fornost Erain (Norbury of the Kings/Deadman’s Dyke)
December 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Field trip to Fornost Erain (Norbury of the Kings/Deadman’s Dyke)