Nick Harkaway
@nickharkaway.com
Book-writin' man. Also husband, dad and occasional clothing-repairer, dog-walker, enthusiastic improviser of temporary solutions to random problems. Decreasingly rigorous on social media.
www.linktr.ee/harkaway
He/him
www.linktr.ee/harkaway
He/him
Pinned
Boring update: I am not the owner/operator of the asknickharkaway Gmail account. If you get mail from it, no, that’s not me. (And please let me know.)
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
The Company of the Ring gathers on Rivendell’s threshold at dusk, with their baggage loaded on Bill the pony. Sam remembers that he hasn’t packed rope. Boromir sounds his horn. And Elrond gives his blessing: ‘May the stars shine upon your faces!’
They walk south into the Wild.
They walk south into the Wild.
December 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The Company of the Ring gathers on Rivendell’s threshold at dusk, with their baggage loaded on Bill the pony. Sam remembers that he hasn’t packed rope. Boromir sounds his horn. And Elrond gives his blessing: ‘May the stars shine upon your faces!’
They walk south into the Wild.
They walk south into the Wild.
Strenuous testing of @nigella.bsky.social’s Pedro Ximénez Xmas pud reveals a frankly decadent feather-light item, rich and utterly delicious, verging on a boozy, fruity sticky toffee. Happy Christmas :)
December 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Strenuous testing of @nigella.bsky.social’s Pedro Ximénez Xmas pud reveals a frankly decadent feather-light item, rich and utterly delicious, verging on a boozy, fruity sticky toffee. Happy Christmas :)
I literally just worked out the plot of Cal III :)
Merry Christmas to me! Excited to finally read @nickharkaway.com's follow-up to Titanium Noir. 🪐📚💙
December 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I literally just worked out the plot of Cal III :)
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Merry Christmas to everyone but especially every dad and granddad in Britain who is unwrapping four copies each of Jonn Elledge’s borders book.
December 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Merry Christmas to everyone but especially every dad and granddad in Britain who is unwrapping four copies each of Jonn Elledge’s borders book.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Just a thing about this: a common statement in writing is that you can fix crap, but you can't fix a blank page.
I have heard AI apologists claim that this is why it's fine to generate a first draft.
Now, to be clear, fuck this.
But also: an AI draft is a fucking blank page.
I have heard AI apologists claim that this is why it's fine to generate a first draft.
Now, to be clear, fuck this.
But also: an AI draft is a fucking blank page.
I know I don’t talk about writing much. It is because I am writing so slowly.
But I want you to know that I am taking a part of this story that absolutely sucked and took me months to produce four of the worst chapters I have ever written and in the edit I figured out how to fix it.
But I want you to know that I am taking a part of this story that absolutely sucked and took me months to produce four of the worst chapters I have ever written and in the edit I figured out how to fix it.
December 24, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Just a thing about this: a common statement in writing is that you can fix crap, but you can't fix a blank page.
I have heard AI apologists claim that this is why it's fine to generate a first draft.
Now, to be clear, fuck this.
But also: an AI draft is a fucking blank page.
I have heard AI apologists claim that this is why it's fine to generate a first draft.
Now, to be clear, fuck this.
But also: an AI draft is a fucking blank page.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
HATCH THE FROZEN FLESH EGG
December 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
HATCH THE FROZEN FLESH EGG
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
If you have used 23AndMe, you are advised by California’s AG to delete your DNA right now from the company’s database as it has declared bankruptcy
Column | Delete your DNA from 23andMe right now
The genetic information company declared bankruptcy on Sunday, and California’s attorney general has issued a privacy “consumer alert.”
www.washingtonpost.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
If you have used 23AndMe, you are advised by California’s AG to delete your DNA right now from the company’s database as it has declared bankruptcy
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
I’ve just finished the audio book version of #TitaniumNoir by @nickharkaway.com and I loved it like a hungover Englishman loves a fry up. Satisfying and compelling
December 21, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I’ve just finished the audio book version of #TitaniumNoir by @nickharkaway.com and I loved it like a hungover Englishman loves a fry up. Satisfying and compelling
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
A Lord of the Rings cover band called Flock of Smeagols
A Lord of the Rings cover band called Chappell Rohan
A Lord of the Rings cover band called Sex Bomb-adil.
December 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A Lord of the Rings cover band called Flock of Smeagols
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
There are obvious reasons why this would be good. I’m not optimistic, first because the public is *expert* at breaking things, and second because I feel sure if the hallucination problem was fixed someone would have mentioned it.
GOV.UK to unleash AI chatbot on confused citizens
GOV.UK to unleash AI chatbot on confused citizens
Coming with added 'filters and rules' after prototype spat out inaccurate or outright wrong responses
The UK's Government Digital Service (GDS) will add an AI chatbot to its GOV.UK app in early 2026, before rolling it out across the GOV.UK website used by most government departments and services.…
dlvr.it
December 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM
There are obvious reasons why this would be good. I’m not optimistic, first because the public is *expert* at breaking things, and second because I feel sure if the hallucination problem was fixed someone would have mentioned it.
Pedro Ximénez Xmas puds somewhat belatedly steaming as per @nigella.bsky.social - have to say the mix smelled amazing :)
Ultimate Christmas Pudding
I don’t deny it: there is something unattractively boastful about calling one’s own recipe “ultimate”. But having soaked my dried fruit for this pudding in Pedro Ximénez — the sweet, dark, sticky sher...
www.nigella.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Pedro Ximénez Xmas puds somewhat belatedly steaming as per @nigella.bsky.social - have to say the mix smelled amazing :)
Next train is evidently for Edgware via R’lyeh
December 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Next train is evidently for Edgware via R’lyeh
Enoch Powell Fanfic Right: 28%
Rump Clubland Right: 17%
Depressing Authoritarian Left: 18%
Optimistic Eco-Progressive Left: 17%
Liberal Process Nerds: unchanged
Rump Clubland Right: 17%
Depressing Authoritarian Left: 18%
Optimistic Eco-Progressive Left: 17%
Liberal Process Nerds: unchanged
🧵/ How has political opinion changed over 2025?
In voting intention, Labour have made the biggest losses, while the Greens have gained most, and Reform UK have established a clear lead
Ref: 28% (+3 from 12-13 Jan)
Lab: 18% (-8)
Grn: 17% (+9)
Con: 17% (-5)
LD: 14% (=)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
In voting intention, Labour have made the biggest losses, while the Greens have gained most, and Reform UK have established a clear lead
Ref: 28% (+3 from 12-13 Jan)
Lab: 18% (-8)
Grn: 17% (+9)
Con: 17% (-5)
LD: 14% (=)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
December 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Enoch Powell Fanfic Right: 28%
Rump Clubland Right: 17%
Depressing Authoritarian Left: 18%
Optimistic Eco-Progressive Left: 17%
Liberal Process Nerds: unchanged
Rump Clubland Right: 17%
Depressing Authoritarian Left: 18%
Optimistic Eco-Progressive Left: 17%
Liberal Process Nerds: unchanged
Government’s new plan to save the NHS: make it harder to access health care for everyone. Sure this will go swimmingly.
Got an appointment from the hospital. At the top of the first page is my name, address, NHS number and patient number. The first two pages of the letter tell me where and when and remind me that I should bring my hearing aids/walking stick/whatever other helps I might need. The usual stuff. (1/4)
December 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Government’s new plan to save the NHS: make it harder to access health care for everyone. Sure this will go swimmingly.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
Really encouraging new data on the take up of smart tariffs. www.businessgreen.com/news/4523327...
'Households are moving fast': Over 2.5 million households now using 'smart tariffs'
Report reveals rapid increase in number of households switching to smart tariffs that incentivise people to use power when electricity is at its cleanest and cheapest
www.businessgreen.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Really encouraging new data on the take up of smart tariffs. www.businessgreen.com/news/4523327...
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
A recent study by Dutch colleagues shows that a shutdown of the Atlantic overturning circulation #AMOC could bring extreme drought to Europe for centuries.
That is a thus far underappreciated risk of climate change.
@swinda.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
That is a thus far underappreciated risk of climate change.
@swinda.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Experts warn ongoing concern with Atlantic Ocean will be direct threat to dozens of nations: 'Consequences for at least 1,000 years to come'
"A huge responsibility for the decision makers of today."
www.yahoo.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
A recent study by Dutch colleagues shows that a shutdown of the Atlantic overturning circulation #AMOC could bring extreme drought to Europe for centuries.
That is a thus far underappreciated risk of climate change.
@swinda.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
That is a thus far underappreciated risk of climate change.
@swinda.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
HURRAH! Petitions are crap at making gov'ts do things they don't want to. But they are good for two things: First, making them explain why they won't do something, but second (and more important) nudging/giving them permission to do something they DO want, but that's been crowded out bandwidth-wise.
UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics
Review, which will focus on effectiveness of political finance laws, follows conviction of former Reform politician for accepting bribes
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
HURRAH! Petitions are crap at making gov'ts do things they don't want to. But they are good for two things: First, making them explain why they won't do something, but second (and more important) nudging/giving them permission to do something they DO want, but that's been crowded out bandwidth-wise.
Reposted by Nick Harkaway
It will be interesting to see how loudly ministers trumpet this win.
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions
December 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It will be interesting to see how loudly ministers trumpet this win.
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
The govt tends to soft-pedal its more left-wing measures, as if hoping no one will notice.
It has a story to tell about workers' rights, rental reform, green investment & public ownership, but seems curiously reluctant to tell it
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Hedgehog
Roe deer
Badger
Muntjac deer
Fox
I live in the Cotswolds, okay?
Hedgehog
Roe deer
Badger
Muntjac deer
Fox
I live in the Cotswolds, okay?
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Osprey
Eider ducks
Orca
Bald eagle
California sea lion
Osprey
Eider ducks
Orca
Bald eagle
California sea lion
December 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
Can’t shake the feeling that Starmer is discovering in real time what a lot of people said about dealing with the Trump admin: that the deal and the relationship don’t matter. The issue is whether you bend the knee whenever you are required to do so.
December 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Can’t shake the feeling that Starmer is discovering in real time what a lot of people said about dealing with the Trump admin: that the deal and the relationship don’t matter. The issue is whether you bend the knee whenever you are required to do so.
America to suffer acute shortage of Mr Darcy
December 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
America to suffer acute shortage of Mr Darcy
Experiencing physical pain at this time
Another datapoint for the argument that we are living through an increasingly ludicrous market bubble
December 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Experiencing physical pain at this time