Scott Edelman
@scottedelman.bsky.social
Scott Edelman is a Stoker Award-nominated writer and Hugo Award-nominated editor of SF, fantasy & horror. And host of the Eating the Fantastic podcast! (He/Him)
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
![A man seen from the back, holding a helmet over his head, about to don it.
HIS WORD BALLOON: "Oh, screw this, I need to escape from all this noise for a while."
[from Killtopia: Nano Jams, 2024, words by Dave Cook, image by Clark Brit.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ac2kmpveixxnm4cp4janyafx/bafkreiaoo44lgp5ai2anhoy5xri4kxwttp4xffzbxesrtozt2funpmjrlq@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
Considering the kinds of ads Facebook has been throwing at me lately, the site seems to be making assumptions about what my disgust with Donald Trump might cause me to do.
January 4, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Considering the kinds of ads Facebook has been throwing at me lately, the site seems to be making assumptions about what my disgust with Donald Trump might cause me to do.
Back in 1940, Hugo Gernsback predicted we'd someday be using a Thought-Writer, which would "be far more accurate than any other means of expressing your thoughts now in existence." Considering what a rambling steam of consciousness mess my thoughts are, I think I'll stick to my notebook and pen.
January 4, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Back in 1940, Hugo Gernsback predicted we'd someday be using a Thought-Writer, which would "be far more accurate than any other means of expressing your thoughts now in existence." Considering what a rambling steam of consciousness mess my thoughts are, I think I'll stick to my notebook and pen.
I've been so busy I only just paid my dues for another year of membership in the Horror Writers Association. I look forward to gathering with the other members at this year's StokerCon in Pittsburgh come June.
January 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
I've been so busy I only just paid my dues for another year of membership in the Horror Writers Association. I look forward to gathering with the other members at this year's StokerCon in Pittsburgh come June.
Happy birthday to living legend @ramseycampbell.bsky.social! Celebrate his latest spin around the sun by joining us for dinner on an episode of Eating the Fantastic, where he ponders who he might have been had he never discovered H. P. Lovecraft — plus much more. www.scottedelman.com/2019/10/31/r...
January 4, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Happy birthday to living legend @ramseycampbell.bsky.social! Celebrate his latest spin around the sun by joining us for dinner on an episode of Eating the Fantastic, where he ponders who he might have been had he never discovered H. P. Lovecraft — plus much more. www.scottedelman.com/2019/10/31/r...
Today's Clues by Sam was rated "Hard" ... and it was.
January 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Today's Clues by Sam was rated "Hard" ... and it was.
This being Tolkien's birthday, I thought I'd mention that while kid me was wandering a bookstore one day, I remembered a fantasy novel a friend said I should read, but I only vaguely recalled the title. Which is how rather than buying myself a copy of The Hobbit, I instead brought home ... Babbit.
January 4, 2026 at 3:29 AM
This being Tolkien's birthday, I thought I'd mention that while kid me was wandering a bookstore one day, I remembered a fantasy novel a friend said I should read, but I only vaguely recalled the title. Which is how rather than buying myself a copy of The Hobbit, I instead brought home ... Babbit.
Tonight's treadmill TV time took me 20 minutes deep into Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 5, and after Donald Trump's war crimes of the day, I kept thinking as I watched — we've got a real-life Vecna to deal with — but no real-life Eleven to help. We've only got ourselves. Let's hope that's enough.
January 4, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Tonight's treadmill TV time took me 20 minutes deep into Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 5, and after Donald Trump's war crimes of the day, I kept thinking as I watched — we've got a real-life Vecna to deal with — but no real-life Eleven to help. We've only got ourselves. Let's hope that's enough.
My rage over Donald's Trump's latest atrocities made it difficult to concentrate on anything creative today, but I was finally able to convince myself I simply couldn't let the bastard win, and so managed to add 258 words to the new story. Tough going, but ... they exist. And that's what matters.
January 4, 2026 at 12:54 AM
My rage over Donald's Trump's latest atrocities made it difficult to concentrate on anything creative today, but I was finally able to convince myself I simply couldn't let the bastard win, and so managed to add 258 words to the new story. Tough going, but ... they exist. And that's what matters.
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
![Comic book panel of a mustachioed man wearing a red jumpsuit with a yellow eye on his chest. He is triumphantly holding up a rectangular box with dials and wires on its face. He's wearing a domed head covering which seems to be covered with scallops or scales.
CAPTION: Hip Know inspects the finished product. What is its purpose?
HIS WORD BALLOON: "There she is! Complete in every detail!"
[from "Hip Knox the Super Hypnotist," published in Superworld Comics #2, May 1940, script by Charles Hornig, no artist given.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ac2kmpveixxnm4cp4janyafx/bafkreiamwz6luv24fqgezapdw7w5es2hc3zte2vrjjpczz3kcnovssxjbi@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
Something new seems to be happening over at YouTube, as this popup proves. Or is it just me?
January 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Something new seems to be happening over at YouTube, as this popup proves. Or is it just me?
These sentences from an interview with Hélène Cixous in the latest issue of the Paris Review resonated mightily with me: "I could say that I write the text, but it's much more the case that the text writes me. It asks, Are you coming? And I reply, Yes, I am following you." Oh, how I feel the same!
January 3, 2026 at 5:07 PM
These sentences from an interview with Hélène Cixous in the latest issue of the Paris Review resonated mightily with me: "I could say that I write the text, but it's much more the case that the text writes me. It asks, Are you coming? And I reply, Yes, I am following you." Oh, how I feel the same!
IMPEACH.
CONVICT.
REMOVE.
CONVICT.
REMOVE.
January 3, 2026 at 3:56 PM
IMPEACH.
CONVICT.
REMOVE.
CONVICT.
REMOVE.
Woke to learn the career criminal whom so many fools placed in a position of power has committed another atrocity. As a former New Yorker who witnessed Donald Trump's venality long before he entered the national stage, I've known for nearly 50 years he was unfit for public life. I am sickened today.
January 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Woke to learn the career criminal whom so many fools placed in a position of power has committed another atrocity. As a former New Yorker who witnessed Donald Trump's venality long before he entered the national stage, I've known for nearly 50 years he was unfit for public life. I am sickened today.
#5 on this list has me feeling seen.
New year, new you, new writing, new etc.
Just trying to make it easier for you...
Just trying to make it easier for you...
5 Easy Pieces
[your copyeditorial resolutions for 2026]
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:18 AM
#5 on this list has me feeling seen.
Remembering Isaac Asimov, born 106 years ago today, whom I interviewed in 1972 for a high school magazine. Some of that interview even survives, should you care to hear me chat with him, my heavy Brooklyn accent having me sound like one of Welcome Back, Kotter's Sweathogs. youtu.be/KijREk1Hfeo
January 3, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Remembering Isaac Asimov, born 106 years ago today, whom I interviewed in 1972 for a high school magazine. Some of that interview even survives, should you care to hear me chat with him, my heavy Brooklyn accent having me sound like one of Welcome Back, Kotter's Sweathogs. youtu.be/KijREk1Hfeo
This afternoon's treadmill TV time had me stepping up through the first 15 minutes of Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 4 ... but that's all my feet could take. I still find it hard to believe it's been nearly a decade since I first met these kids. Seems like only a couple of years. Time is weird.
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
This afternoon's treadmill TV time had me stepping up through the first 15 minutes of Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 4 ... but that's all my feet could take. I still find it hard to believe it's been nearly a decade since I first met these kids. Seems like only a couple of years. Time is weird.
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
![Comic book panel of a man and woman standing in front of a spaceship which workers are inspecting. He's got rolled up sleeves and appears to be carrying a blueprint, while she's in a red dress. She's grabbed one of his wrists and has her other hand on one of his shoulders.
HIS WORD BALLOON: "Well Nina, the ship is pretty nearly finished and will be named after you -- but for you to go along is definitely out!"
HER WORD BALLOON: "Just the same, I'm going!"
[from "Mitey Powers Battles the Martians on the Moon," published in Superworld Comics, April 1940, script by Charles Hornig, artist unknown.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ac2kmpveixxnm4cp4janyafx/bafkreifronq6li37nmzok6l7z5w5um3s65brxzqva27j22gdk7lq4aewom@jpeg)
January 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Your context-free comic book panel of the day.
Remembering the late comics artist Don Heck, born on this date in 1929, known best for his time at Marvel drawing such titles as Iron Man and The Avengers — but who also worked at DC, where he tackled one of my Supergirl stories in 1979. How lucky I was to work with someone who dazzled me as a kid!
January 2, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Remembering the late comics artist Don Heck, born on this date in 1929, known best for his time at Marvel drawing such titles as Iron Man and The Avengers — but who also worked at DC, where he tackled one of my Supergirl stories in 1979. How lucky I was to work with someone who dazzled me as a kid!
This morning's sleuthing puzzle was rated as Tricky ... and it turned out to be so.
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
This morning's sleuthing puzzle was rated as Tricky ... and it turned out to be so.
My two Captain America backups from 1978 — one about Rick Jones, the other starring the Falcon — will be reprinted again in March as part of a 1,048-page hardcover selling for $125.00. I'm happy to see them be reprinted, even as I continue to be amazed anyone's willing to cough up that much cash.
January 2, 2026 at 4:06 AM
My two Captain America backups from 1978 — one about Rick Jones, the other starring the Falcon — will be reprinted again in March as part of a 1,048-page hardcover selling for $125.00. I'm happy to see them be reprinted, even as I continue to be amazed anyone's willing to cough up that much cash.
But with whom? Or what?
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 AM
But with whom? Or what?
For those who like knowing how Eating the Fantastic's podcast sausage is made — editing the raw audio from my recent chat with @andyduncansf.bsky.social to prep it for your ears took 689 snips, removing 13 minutes, 33 seconds of the inessential. Please join us next week! pod.link/1083737796
January 1, 2026 at 10:54 PM
For those who like knowing how Eating the Fantastic's podcast sausage is made — editing the raw audio from my recent chat with @andyduncansf.bsky.social to prep it for your ears took 689 snips, removing 13 minutes, 33 seconds of the inessential. Please join us next week! pod.link/1083737796
Happy birthday to @stefansecho.bsky.social, who recorded "A Man Walks Into a Bar: In Which More Than Four Decades After My Father’s Reluctant Night of Darts on West 54th Street I Finally Understand What Needs to Be Done" for @lightspeedmagazine.com. Thanks! www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/a-ma...
A Man Walks Into a Bar: In Which More Than Four Decades After My Father's Reluctant Night of Darts on West 54th Street I Finally Understand What Needs to Be Done - Lightspeed Magazine
My father was so honest, people often spoke of him in cliches. For example---you know the way someone will sometimes say so-and-so was so honest they’d walk five miles to return an extra nickel they’d...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Happy birthday to @stefansecho.bsky.social, who recorded "A Man Walks Into a Bar: In Which More Than Four Decades After My Father’s Reluctant Night of Darts on West 54th Street I Finally Understand What Needs to Be Done" for @lightspeedmagazine.com. Thanks! www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/a-ma...
Finally finished the 147-page Episode 15 of James Joyce's Ulysses which was my homework for Monday's reading group session — the seventh of nine Zoom gatherings being run by the Elevator Repair Service in advance of their adaptation, which I'll catch at the Pubic Theater next month. Whew!
January 1, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Finally finished the 147-page Episode 15 of James Joyce's Ulysses which was my homework for Monday's reading group session — the seventh of nine Zoom gatherings being run by the Elevator Repair Service in advance of their adaptation, which I'll catch at the Pubic Theater next month. Whew!