Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
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shaunduke.net
Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
@shaunduke.net
SF/F/H writer/editor (The Duke of Editing), Prof of #scifi #writing, podcaster (The Skiffy and Fanty Show)!

Twitch (W/Su 6-8PM Central. Skiffy on Fri 7PM): http://twitch.tv/alphabetstreams

Opinions my own. Things here: https://shaunduke.net/dukethings
Saw a clip of coyotes running around Chicago the other day, and it led me to this fascinating news piece from a few days ago.

Wild dogs, foxes, coyotes. Squirrels, birds, whatever. So many animals having to adapt to human cities. Every one fascinating.

nbcchicago.com/news/...
Coyote sightings on the rise in Chicago area. Here’s why – NBC Chicago
Whether you live in the city or suburbs, chances are you might have seen coyotes roaming your neighborhood. But are the sightings higher than normal?
www.nbcchicago.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:31 PM
That is pretty cool!
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
Warner Bros. Studio Tour is opening a new SINNERS exhibit to celebrate its record-breaking sixteen Oscar nominations.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Unveils New SINNERS Exhibit
Warner Bros. Studio Tour is opening a new SINNERS exhibit to celebrate its record-breaking sixteen Oscar nominations.
dlvr.it
February 9, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
CALL FOR PITCHES

@dan-sinnamon.bsky.social and I are at work on a new version of Close Reading for the Twenty-First Century aimed at a more general audience.

We’re looking for new contributions: your model close readings of texts, canonical and not, from literary studies and not.

Details below!
February 9, 2026 at 1:56 PM
I'm a bit out of the loop and want to be in the loop.

Who do I know from the Caribbean who has work coming out this year? Shorts, novels, comics, whatever. And if I don't know you, uh, say hi so I can know you and your stuff!

I want it all!
February 9, 2026 at 9:19 PM
I'm building my YouTube by releasing more videos! If you're inclined toward geeky content, including games, #TTRPGs, + other nerdy stuff, AlphabetStreams might be your jam!

Click on through. Maybe drop a like and/or sub. Comments always welcome (I always reply)!

youtube.com/@alphabe...
February 9, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
Live in BCS #450 – Science-Fantasy Month 8: "Precipice Sun" by @ewenmaer.bsky.social "Do you remember Vaihuei-Sing still, Aohane? I’m just sorry you aren’t here to see this star through my eyes. You would have fallen in love with it the way I have." www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/prec...
Beneath Ceaseless Skies - Precipice Sun by Ewen Ma
Do you remember Vaihuei-Sing still, Aohane? Or have you shed even that part of yourself when you broke your own chains so long ago? I’m just sorry you aren’t here to see this star through my eyes. You...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Good lord is this ASOP photo of the Running Man Nebula absolutely gorgeous.

apod.nasa.gov/apod/a...
APOD: 2026 February 2 – Orion: The Running Man Nebula
A different astronomy and space science related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.
apod.nasa.gov
February 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
For those curious about such things, I've finally updating my Patreon again.

This week's post is a Random Access Photo one! It involves food. :P

Anywhoodles. Join up if you like my nonsense. I'm cheap and adorable.

patreon.com/posts/ra...
Just a moment...
www.patreon.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Something I've been working on more and more as I play games I'm not very good at is just laughing when things go horribly wrong. Folks who have been to my streams have probably seen me collapse into fits of giggles. Doesn't always work, but it's much healthier when it does.
February 9, 2026 at 5:31 PM
If you're the type who waltzes into the comments to tell everyone else who enjoyed the Super Bowl Halftime Show that you didn't watch it because you watched the other one, I hope you know how pathetic you sound.

Grow up. Most of the planet didn't watch. it. You're not special or virtuous.
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
someone asked me recently if i could rec some more SFF books with butches beyond mine, which reminded me that i made a list for google books a while back. i’ve included that list plus some others i’ve read in the last few years!

*as usual, fictional character identities are up for interpretation &c
Butches in Books
Updating the list of my favorite butches in (mostly) fantasy
clclarkwrites.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
Thinking about Black History Month, speculative fiction would be much the poorer without its poets; voices like Brandon O'Brien often capture more feeling and emotion with verse than can be easily expressed with prose.

deepcuts.blog/2021/12/01/l...
“Lovecraft Thesis #5” (2021) by Brandon O’Brien
The man you say brought us here is a kind of prophet. —Brandon O’Brien “Lovecraft Thesis #5” in Can You Sign My Tentacle? (2021) 59 Every Lovecraftian thesis in O’Brien&#821…
deepcuts.blog
February 9, 2026 at 11:22 AM
The universe is saved. The Seahawks unified the dimensional waves or whatever. I can rest.
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 AM
I swear to god. If the Patriots claw this one back, this is my last of these ridiculous things.
February 9, 2026 at 2:37 AM
The number of times the camera has focused on people who are just buried in their phones is wild.
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 AM
I am apparently missing all the bad ads for the Super Bowl. We found a stream that runs no ads. It just cuts to a long shot of the field whenever there is an ad break. It is the most peaceful experience for a sportsball game.
February 9, 2026 at 2:09 AM
That's how you do a Super Bowl halftime show.
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
Just finished a tremendous interview/discussion with @sgj.bsky.social for @skiffyandfanty.com with Dandan the Transient. Weren't able to make this a live one, but look for the #podcast and YouTube video to drop soon! This gives you time to get/read NIGHT OF THE MANNEQUINS if you haven't yet.
February 7, 2026 at 1:59 AM
I've now done two mock MtG drafts with my kid in two different sets, and he has steamrolled me both times.

I never was *good* at draft, but if it happens a third time, I'm gonna question whether this game even likes me playing it...
February 7, 2026 at 11:20 PM
A part of me wonders what impact this will have on reading in my country. Most Americans already don't read (it shows -- just look at where we're at), and while cost is not a major reason for this, the absence of an affordable reading option when they go to the bookstore must impact reading uptake.
The mass market paperback, light in the hand and on the wallet, once filled airport bookstores and supermarket media aisles. You may never buy a new one again.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...
So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
My new sci-fi short story is out now in Lightspeed Magazine (and also featured on Gizmodo io9)! 3 planets, including Earth, meet their apocalypse at the exact same time - and their people experience each other's lives in psychic visions before the end.

www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/deat...
Death Echoes Overlapping - Lightspeed Magazine
On the necropolis space station of the Tau Andromeda planetary system, the keepers of the tomb attended to the dead and the dying. They cleansed, prepared, and prayed over the bodies. They performed t...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Grand Admiral Shaun Duke
Thank you, Rochita! The story in question is free to read over at @strangehorizons.bsky.social.

Rochita is helping me with my fundraiser for my medical needs. If you liked the story and feel so inclined, my fundraiser is linked below:

gogetfunding.com/medical-and-...
February 7, 2026 at 12:20 PM
With my hands in so many different hats, it's a bit cumbersome to link everything on socials. So if you are trying to find all the things I do, there's a handy page that makes that easy peasy (lemon squeezy)!

Podcasts, blogs, videos, and so much more. Wee!

shaunduke.net/duketh...
February 6, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Take care of yourself. Viruses are running rampant in my area. I've had students out with the flu. I'm out with some kind of cold. Multiple people at my wife's work are sick or have sick family members (colds and what not).

Signed,
Someone with a cold who is miserable.
February 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM