Susan Murray
@pulpthorn.bsky.social
Writer of Fantasy & SF. Northerner. Girly swot. She/her. Ooh, squirrel...
Pinned
Susan Murray
@pulpthorn.bsky.social
· Oct 23
"AWAKE! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light."
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light."
Reposted by Susan Murray
"Oh my god, they killed Jimmy!"
November 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
"Oh my god, they killed Jimmy!"
Shunn doesn't appear to have any views on widows and orphans. Should I allow them? Or shouldn't I?
I usually let them do their own thing, but a couple of unfortunate page breaks look utterly rancid.
I usually let them do their own thing, but a couple of unfortunate page breaks look utterly rancid.
November 11, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Shunn doesn't appear to have any views on widows and orphans. Should I allow them? Or shouldn't I?
I usually let them do their own thing, but a couple of unfortunate page breaks look utterly rancid.
I usually let them do their own thing, but a couple of unfortunate page breaks look utterly rancid.
Package due today.
According to tracking it was somewhere around 06:20 at the carrier facility on the edge of Preston when the ennui began to take hold.
According to tracking it was somewhere around 06:20 at the carrier facility on the edge of Preston when the ennui began to take hold.
November 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Package due today.
According to tracking it was somewhere around 06:20 at the carrier facility on the edge of Preston when the ennui began to take hold.
According to tracking it was somewhere around 06:20 at the carrier facility on the edge of Preston when the ennui began to take hold.
Reposted by Susan Murray
Revealed! How I wrote the first Cesare Aldo historical thriller CITY OF VENGEANCE, in my free author newsletter this week: dvbishop.substack.com/p/writing-ve... @panmacmillan.bsky.social @jennybrownagency.bsky.social
Writing Vengeance
Behind the scenes on Cesare Aldo #1
dvbishop.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Revealed! How I wrote the first Cesare Aldo historical thriller CITY OF VENGEANCE, in my free author newsletter this week: dvbishop.substack.com/p/writing-ve... @panmacmillan.bsky.social @jennybrownagency.bsky.social
Sat on the couch with my right knee tucked up last night, thinking 'Isn't HRT grand' and this morning my right knee is 'The fuck did you do to me?'
Bit grumpy this morning. Possibly.
Bit grumpy this morning. Possibly.
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Sat on the couch with my right knee tucked up last night, thinking 'Isn't HRT grand' and this morning my right knee is 'The fuck did you do to me?'
Bit grumpy this morning. Possibly.
Bit grumpy this morning. Possibly.
That Guardian BBC piece continues to be weird about life after a Labour landslide, breathlessly quoting oven-ready-Brexit, party-while the-bodies-pile-up de Pfeffel Johnson as if he's a credible or even relevant source of information since being ejected in disgrace by his own party.
November 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
That Guardian BBC piece continues to be weird about life after a Labour landslide, breathlessly quoting oven-ready-Brexit, party-while the-bodies-pile-up de Pfeffel Johnson as if he's a credible or even relevant source of information since being ejected in disgrace by his own party.
Reposted by Susan Murray
1945 the British made sure that Germanys public broadcasting system would never be taken over by an authoritarian leader again by creating a complicated federal system.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
Well, this is quite a serious allegation. I do hope the BBC shows true impartiality and investigate whether or not some of its Board members are systemically biased. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC board member with Tory links ‘led charge’ in systemic bias claims, say insiders
Sources say Robbie Gibb amplified criticisms of Trump, Gaza and trans rights coverage, and had ‘a lot of oxygen in the room’
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 AM
1945 the British made sure that Germanys public broadcasting system would never be taken over by an authoritarian leader again by creating a complicated federal system.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
They didn’t see to that at home which has left the BBC vulnerable.
This needs to change now.
Reposted by Susan Murray
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Authors, Beware! There's a firm called "ClaimsHero" doing aggressive social media outreach claiming to
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
"help" you file to get $ in the Anthropic class action. In fact, it's a bait-and-switch, they are luring authors to sign up with them, then OPTING THEM OUT of the class action so they'll get zilch.
Reposted by Susan Murray
If you are thinking, "wow, I wish a resource like this existed for office holders in the Roman Republic" - it does, albeit in book form, as T.R.S. Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic (1951, 1952, 1960) in two volumes, both hosted online: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/...
November 10, 2025 at 8:59 PM
If you are thinking, "wow, I wish a resource like this existed for office holders in the Roman Republic" - it does, albeit in book form, as T.R.S. Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic (1951, 1952, 1960) in two volumes, both hosted online: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/...
Reposted by Susan Murray
Honestly, I did NOT have "punching the air and going HELL YES to Chris Patten" on my bingo card today. But what he says is SO rarely said and needed saying SO badly!
"How shall we treat Mr Farage's concerns? Shall we hail Brexit a tremendous success? Something that has cost the country billions?"
"How shall we treat Mr Farage's concerns? Shall we hail Brexit a tremendous success? Something that has cost the country billions?"
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Honestly, I did NOT have "punching the air and going HELL YES to Chris Patten" on my bingo card today. But what he says is SO rarely said and needed saying SO badly!
"How shall we treat Mr Farage's concerns? Shall we hail Brexit a tremendous success? Something that has cost the country billions?"
"How shall we treat Mr Farage's concerns? Shall we hail Brexit a tremendous success? Something that has cost the country billions?"
Tonight’s spider is at least four times bigger than last night’s spider. It’s currently under the chair by the fire. I’m going in with the vacuum cleaner. If you don’t hear from me again, avenge me.
(And dance on BJ’s grave if you get the chance…)
(And dance on BJ’s grave if you get the chance…)
November 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Tonight’s spider is at least four times bigger than last night’s spider. It’s currently under the chair by the fire. I’m going in with the vacuum cleaner. If you don’t hear from me again, avenge me.
(And dance on BJ’s grave if you get the chance…)
(And dance on BJ’s grave if you get the chance…)
Reposted by Susan Murray
Advanced read giveaway of the essay collection on the history & craft of science fiction & fantasy that Jo & I have coming out in spring! Pacing, plot, What Is Genre?, flying grapefruit, evolution of printing tech, impact of international translation, and much more!
(This giveaway is US only, alas)
(This giveaway is US only, alas)
Goodreads giveaway for Trace Elements!
@adapalmer.bsky.social is very interesting, science fiction is very interesting, sometimes when it isn't a Monday morning even I can be a bit interesting -- if you use Goodreads, sign up in the hope of a free copy of our book
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
@adapalmer.bsky.social is very interesting, science fiction is very interesting, sometimes when it isn't a Monday morning even I can be a bit interesting -- if you use Goodreads, sign up in the hope of a free copy of our book
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Book giveaway for Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Jo Walton Nov 10-Dec 01, 2025
Enter to win one of 50 free copies available. Giveaway dates from Nov 10-Dec 01, 2025. From two of the most acclaimed writers in the field today, a groun...
www.goodreads.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Advanced read giveaway of the essay collection on the history & craft of science fiction & fantasy that Jo & I have coming out in spring! Pacing, plot, What Is Genre?, flying grapefruit, evolution of printing tech, impact of international translation, and much more!
(This giveaway is US only, alas)
(This giveaway is US only, alas)
Reposted by Susan Murray
‘It’s in the almost incidental details that Maitland’s prose really shines, with a rhapsodic beauty.'
@matthewepaul.bsky.social reviews the inimitable Sara Maitland's selected works 'True North' (link 👇🧵)
📃 matthewpaulpoetry.blog/2025/11/07/r...
@matthewepaul.bsky.social reviews the inimitable Sara Maitland's selected works 'True North' (link 👇🧵)
📃 matthewpaulpoetry.blog/2025/11/07/r...
Review of Sarah Maitland’s True North
Sara Maitland, True North, Selected Stories, Comma Press, 2024 £14.99, available to buy here.Among post-war British writers, few can justifiably claim to have amassed an oeuvre as varied and intere…
matthewpaulpoetry.blog
November 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
‘It’s in the almost incidental details that Maitland’s prose really shines, with a rhapsodic beauty.'
@matthewepaul.bsky.social reviews the inimitable Sara Maitland's selected works 'True North' (link 👇🧵)
📃 matthewpaulpoetry.blog/2025/11/07/r...
@matthewepaul.bsky.social reviews the inimitable Sara Maitland's selected works 'True North' (link 👇🧵)
📃 matthewpaulpoetry.blog/2025/11/07/r...
Off to the doc shortly but a routine health check. Fully expect to be weighed, measured, and found wanting. Bah.
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Off to the doc shortly but a routine health check. Fully expect to be weighed, measured, and found wanting. Bah.
Prats In The Kitchen marketing ploy finally achieves apotheosis.
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Prats In The Kitchen marketing ploy finally achieves apotheosis.
Either one small spider is on its fifth lap (anti-clockwise) of the living room floor, or four other small spiders are managing to hide out of sight at any given moment.
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Either one small spider is on its fifth lap (anti-clockwise) of the living room floor, or four other small spiders are managing to hide out of sight at any given moment.
What's the most widely used sans serif font these days (hopefully not Arial because I don't have that installed)?
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
What's the most widely used sans serif font these days (hopefully not Arial because I don't have that installed)?
@craftycow.bsky.social Happy birthday! May your day be filled with good things!
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
@craftycow.bsky.social Happy birthday! May your day be filled with good things!
Reposted by Susan Murray
So, I've been reluctant to share this, simply because I'm a shy little weirdo, but if you'd like to hear me read a bit from TO CONQUER DEATH, then November 19th you'll get a fine and dandy chance!
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
So, I've been reluctant to share this, simply because I'm a shy little weirdo, but if you'd like to hear me read a bit from TO CONQUER DEATH, then November 19th you'll get a fine and dandy chance!
Reposted by Susan Murray
Hard same.
Someone asked me the other day about something and said “you know in chatGPT when you click on…” and I stopped them, because, my dude, I have never even SEEN ChatGPT, let alone used it.
Someone asked me the other day about something and said “you know in chatGPT when you click on…” and I stopped them, because, my dude, I have never even SEEN ChatGPT, let alone used it.
Never have. Never will. Not interested in going anywhere *near* a crap app built out of countless millions of hard-won words stolen from my colleagues, the use of which will (bonus!) begin progressively to degrade my cognitive skills and blunt the edge of the tool I’ve spent half a century honing. 🤨
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 😅)
November 9, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Hard same.
Someone asked me the other day about something and said “you know in chatGPT when you click on…” and I stopped them, because, my dude, I have never even SEEN ChatGPT, let alone used it.
Someone asked me the other day about something and said “you know in chatGPT when you click on…” and I stopped them, because, my dude, I have never even SEEN ChatGPT, let alone used it.
Reposted by Susan Murray
I need your help, chums. Running low on food & need to pay my phone & internet bills, so am selling some of my records in the hope of generating some income. Take a look, if 2nd hand records are your thing, or repost to reach the vinyl lovers out there ❤️ www.discogs.com/seller/DrJam...
Buy Vinyl Records and CDs from DrJamesFeelgood at Discogs Marketplace
Check out our shop on Discogs, the biggest online music marketplace in the world, and add some gems to your collection!
www.discogs.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I need your help, chums. Running low on food & need to pay my phone & internet bills, so am selling some of my records in the hope of generating some income. Take a look, if 2nd hand records are your thing, or repost to reach the vinyl lovers out there ❤️ www.discogs.com/seller/DrJam...
Reposted by Susan Murray
#Booksky In honor of Catherine Lundoff’s upcoming reading at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis on 11/12, and in recognition of the numerous glowing scammy emails we’re getting about it, may we recommend her collection OUT OF THIS WORLD? Queer fantasy and sf short stories! books2read.com/b/3J88zg
November 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
#Booksky In honor of Catherine Lundoff’s upcoming reading at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis on 11/12, and in recognition of the numerous glowing scammy emails we’re getting about it, may we recommend her collection OUT OF THIS WORLD? Queer fantasy and sf short stories! books2read.com/b/3J88zg
If we all have two wolves in us, one of mine is urging me to dust off the cursed novella for a new open submissions window, while the other is muttering there’s no point because it’ll just end in another shitty disappointment.
I’ve been feeding them both equally, obv. 🤷♂️
I’ve been feeding them both equally, obv. 🤷♂️
November 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
If we all have two wolves in us, one of mine is urging me to dust off the cursed novella for a new open submissions window, while the other is muttering there’s no point because it’ll just end in another shitty disappointment.
I’ve been feeding them both equally, obv. 🤷♂️
I’ve been feeding them both equally, obv. 🤷♂️
Reposted by Susan Murray
“Let’s go, shall we?”
TANK vs TESLA
"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"
- WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"
- WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
May 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
“Let’s go, shall we?”
Reposted by Susan Murray
At this rate, they’re gonna have a full choir by next week.
November 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
At this rate, they’re gonna have a full choir by next week.