Speculative Insight journal
@speculativeinsight.bsky.social
A journal that explores the breadth and depth of the themes, ideas, and issues of science fiction and fantasy. Ed. Alexandra Pierce.
https://www.speculativeinsight.com/
https://www.speculativeinsight.com/
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Speculative Insight
A journal for exploring the ideas and themes that stand behind, inform, and develop out of, speculative fiction.
www.speculativeinsight.com
Hi new folks! Speculative Insight publishes nonfiction essays about science fiction and fantasy.
First Saturday of the month is a free essay; third Saturday of the month is for subscribers (and subscribing is AUD30/year: ~15GBP, 18 euro, and USD20... ish)
www.speculativeinsight.com
First Saturday of the month is a free essay; third Saturday of the month is for subscribers (and subscribing is AUD30/year: ~15GBP, 18 euro, and USD20... ish)
www.speculativeinsight.com
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
Less than a day before end of Winter Sale and y'know, you don't HAVE to buy, but the sale is around and the bundle is wilding value. 30 dollars for 37 things that I've made!
itch.io/s/175709/win...
itch.io/s/175709/win...
Winter Sale 2025 by Urania Games
A bundle by Urania Games, $30.00 for 37 games
itch.io
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Less than a day before end of Winter Sale and y'know, you don't HAVE to buy, but the sale is around and the bundle is wilding value. 30 dollars for 37 things that I've made!
itch.io/s/175709/win...
itch.io/s/175709/win...
TWO FULL YEARS of essays!
Our very first essay was @cherylmorgan.bsky.social on fantasy and historical fiction: www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/what-...
January 2025 saw @nniskanen.bsky.social discuss how SF has looked at families of the future:
www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/famil...
Our very first essay was @cherylmorgan.bsky.social on fantasy and historical fiction: www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/what-...
January 2025 saw @nniskanen.bsky.social discuss how SF has looked at families of the future:
www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/famil...
What Is Fantasy Anyway? — Speculative Insight
Cheryl Morgan explores what we mean by fantasy fiction, and how that is similar to alternate history fiction. She concludes that all historical fiction is a form of fantasy.
www.speculativeinsight.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:45 PM
TWO FULL YEARS of essays!
Our very first essay was @cherylmorgan.bsky.social on fantasy and historical fiction: www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/what-...
January 2025 saw @nniskanen.bsky.social discuss how SF has looked at families of the future:
www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/famil...
Our very first essay was @cherylmorgan.bsky.social on fantasy and historical fiction: www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/what-...
January 2025 saw @nniskanen.bsky.social discuss how SF has looked at families of the future:
www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/famil...
One of the exclusive essays in our December book is about the overwhelmingly queer nature of award-winning SEA SFF. You can get the ebook by subscribing (AUD30/yr), or you can buy the ebook (AUD20) or paper version (AUD35 inc shipping).
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
![Purple background, white text, which says Over the course of the 21st century, eight authors from [Southeast Asia] and diaspora have been nominated for the Hugo and Astounding Awards; all but one of them are known for consistently writing about queer love and community. "Dragonfruit Jungle" -- Ng Yi-Sheng](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:etyqh3teyar75uaji3ts4goa/bafkreigyyehgdenxdzxdzpdhe4pdnxs3w3j3wlzmtxeec7amk3qwbxbmhi@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
One of the exclusive essays in our December book is about the overwhelmingly queer nature of award-winning SEA SFF. You can get the ebook by subscribing (AUD30/yr), or you can buy the ebook (AUD20) or paper version (AUD35 inc shipping).
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collections
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
I'm just working on the first post of my #LordoftheRings reread 50 years on from when I first read it. This was my post from a couple of years ago about the Fantasy Exhibition in London and the #Tolkien: Man, Professor, Author Exhibition in Rome, seen by the Guardian and the NYT as quasi Fascist.
A Tale of Two Fantasy Exhibitions: Rome and London
Fantasy is very much in vogue at the moment, with high-profile television series and exhibitions, such as ‘Fantasy: Realms of Imagination’ at the British Library, which I visited earlier this month…
prospectiveculture.wordpress.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:31 PM
I'm just working on the first post of my #LordoftheRings reread 50 years on from when I first read it. This was my post from a couple of years ago about the Fantasy Exhibition in London and the #Tolkien: Man, Professor, Author Exhibition in Rome, seen by the Guardian and the NYT as quasi Fascist.
New essay! Focused on translation! What does it look like when you can compare simultaneously-punished anthologies? That's what Christine Sun examines here...
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
![Purple background, white text, which says [translators] are expected to remain neutral, staying true to the source texts while ensuring the target texts read fluently and reflect faithfully the styles and perspectives of the authors. However, in reality, because languages evolve constantly as mirrors of their cultures, the translating process inevitably has to be flexible... "The Politics of Translation" -- Christine Yunn-Yu Sun](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:etyqh3teyar75uaji3ts4goa/bafkreib7ykp3cdyud7kbncgbpsemov742oxsgg5lvgyxscm2q6f3d5n7qi@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM
New essay! Focused on translation! What does it look like when you can compare simultaneously-punished anthologies? That's what Christine Sun examines here...
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
Translation: not a neutral act, as Christine Sun shows in this new (free!) essay focused on The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories.
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
![Purple background, white text, which says What makes the translation project even more unusual is the simultaneous publishing of [The Way Spring Arrive]'s English and Simplified Chinese versions. With that said, [the Chinese version] is quite different from its English counterpart. "The Politics of Translation" -- Christine Yunn-Yu Sun](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:etyqh3teyar75uaji3ts4goa/bafkreiehtwz5twfah2nrjoazimqjkiwbgt5goasbiymrj2qefs6pgj5v4q@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Translation: not a neutral act, as Christine Sun shows in this new (free!) essay focused on The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories.
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
Translation: not a neutral act, as Christine Sun shows in this new (free!) essay focused on The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories.
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
![Purple background, white text, which says What makes the translation project even more unusual is the simultaneous publishing of [The Way Spring Arrive]'s English and Simplified Chinese versions. With that said, [the Chinese version] is quite different from its English counterpart. "The Politics of Translation" -- Christine Yunn-Yu Sun](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:etyqh3teyar75uaji3ts4goa/bafkreibbrzwkt75fnagc56axe2gkqcsc3uosmg4b3wiaf2m5f6wlt3dgzq@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Translation: not a neutral act, as Christine Sun shows in this new (free!) essay focused on The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories.
www.speculativeinsight.com
www.speculativeinsight.com
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
but I didn't feel the need to skip any of them and I definitely found something in every one that made my time with them worthwhile.
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
but I didn't feel the need to skip any of them and I definitely found something in every one that made my time with them worthwhile.
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
the aforementioned essay on queer SE Asian SFF and one on queer-coded villains which must be the only piece of writing to discuss the movie, Demolition Man, and the graphic novel (specifically, as opposed to the movie), Nimona.
Obviously, not every essay worked for me, but that is to be expected /4
Obviously, not every essay worked for me, but that is to be expected /4
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
the aforementioned essay on queer SE Asian SFF and one on queer-coded villains which must be the only piece of writing to discuss the movie, Demolition Man, and the graphic novel (specifically, as opposed to the movie), Nimona.
Obviously, not every essay worked for me, but that is to be expected /4
Obviously, not every essay worked for me, but that is to be expected /4
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
world is supportive of queer people.
While most of the essays are available to read on the SI website, the two which were exclusive to this collection more than made up for the price of subscribing, both in terms of length (together they made up a quarter of the book) and subject matter /3
While most of the essays are available to read on the SI website, the two which were exclusive to this collection more than made up for the price of subscribing, both in terms of length (together they made up a quarter of the book) and subject matter /3
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
world is supportive of queer people.
While most of the essays are available to read on the SI website, the two which were exclusive to this collection more than made up for the price of subscribing, both in terms of length (together they made up a quarter of the book) and subject matter /3
While most of the essays are available to read on the SI website, the two which were exclusive to this collection more than made up for the price of subscribing, both in terms of length (together they made up a quarter of the book) and subject matter /3
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@tkingfisher.com's Saint of Steel books, all of which added to my list of books that I need to get.
I found it interesting that a lot of the pieces either came from an explicitly queer point of view or held space for queerness. It was a breath of fresh air and a strong reminder that most of the /2
I found it interesting that a lot of the pieces either came from an explicitly queer point of view or held space for queerness. It was a breath of fresh air and a strong reminder that most of the /2
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
@tkingfisher.com's Saint of Steel books, all of which added to my list of books that I need to get.
I found it interesting that a lot of the pieces either came from an explicitly queer point of view or held space for queerness. It was a breath of fresh air and a strong reminder that most of the /2
I found it interesting that a lot of the pieces either came from an explicitly queer point of view or held space for queerness. It was a breath of fresh air and a strong reminder that most of the /2
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
2 @speculativeinsight.bsky.social December 2025 edited by Alexandra Pierce
This is an excellent collection of essays covering subjects I know about - the three Discworld pieces and the one on Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy - to those I don't know about - South East Asian Queer SFF and /1
This is an excellent collection of essays covering subjects I know about - the three Discworld pieces and the one on Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy - to those I don't know about - South East Asian Queer SFF and /1
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
2 @speculativeinsight.bsky.social December 2025 edited by Alexandra Pierce
This is an excellent collection of essays covering subjects I know about - the three Discworld pieces and the one on Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy - to those I don't know about - South East Asian Queer SFF and /1
This is an excellent collection of essays covering subjects I know about - the three Discworld pieces and the one on Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy - to those I don't know about - South East Asian Queer SFF and /1
New essay! Christine Sun delves deep into translation choices in The Way Spring Arrives, published simultaneously in English and Chinese...
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM
New essay! Christine Sun delves deep into translation choices in The Way Spring Arrives, published simultaneously in English and Chinese...
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
New essay! Christine Sun delves deep into translation choices in The Way Spring Arrives, published simultaneously in English and Chinese...
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:15 PM
New essay! Christine Sun delves deep into translation choices in The Way Spring Arrives, published simultaneously in English and Chinese...
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
In this new essay, Christine Sun discusses the politics of translation, with a particular focus on a simultaneously published Chinese and English anthology of SFF stories.
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:42 AM
In this new essay, Christine Sun discusses the politics of translation, with a particular focus on a simultaneously published Chinese and English anthology of SFF stories.
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
2) For political reasons! Translations are largely funded by government grants, for which the governments must be convinced there is justification.
3) Like all small pub: Grass roots, love, understanding the vitality. And 9 months for two books? Let's open eyes on that.
3) Like all small pub: Grass roots, love, understanding the vitality. And 9 months for two books? Let's open eyes on that.
January 1, 2026 at 10:50 PM
2) For political reasons! Translations are largely funded by government grants, for which the governments must be convinced there is justification.
3) Like all small pub: Grass roots, love, understanding the vitality. And 9 months for two books? Let's open eyes on that.
3) Like all small pub: Grass roots, love, understanding the vitality. And 9 months for two books? Let's open eyes on that.
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
In February, I'll be talking a lot about translation at the global level, and hopefully many more will be too.
It's a vital vital discussion. Thank you to @speculativeinsight.bsky.social and Christine Sun for this piece and this insight.
It's a vital vital discussion. Thank you to @speculativeinsight.bsky.social and Christine Sun for this piece and this insight.
January 1, 2026 at 10:33 PM
In February, I'll be talking a lot about translation at the global level, and hopefully many more will be too.
It's a vital vital discussion. Thank you to @speculativeinsight.bsky.social and Christine Sun for this piece and this insight.
It's a vital vital discussion. Thank you to @speculativeinsight.bsky.social and Christine Sun for this piece and this insight.
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
One of my favorite things I did this past year:
720 pages, for my sins: @guynes.bsky.social talked me through Elizabeth Kostova's "vampires, I guess" novel THE HISTORIAN, with many asides on publishing-industry phenomena and how easy it is to replicate gnarly patterns if you're not being conscious of them:
A Meal of Thorns 37 – THE HISTORIAN with Sean Guynes
Vampire scholar, science fiction studies editor, and ARB co-founder Sean Guynes joins to discuss Kostova’s 2005 historical vampire thriller. We both have fairly negative opinions of the book, but i…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
January 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
One of my favorite things I did this past year:
In this new essay, Christine Sun discusses the politics of translation, with a particular focus on a simultaneously published Chinese and English anthology of SFF stories.
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:30 PM
In this new essay, Christine Sun discusses the politics of translation, with a particular focus on a simultaneously published Chinese and English anthology of SFF stories.
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Read it now, for free! www.speculativeinsight.com
Coming tomorrow morning (Australian time): an essay about the politics of translation, using as a case study an sff anthology published simultaneously in Chinese and English. Watch this space for the link!
January 1, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Coming tomorrow morning (Australian time): an essay about the politics of translation, using as a case study an sff anthology published simultaneously in Chinese and English. Watch this space for the link!
Starting tomorrow! Happy new year!
When I look at what 2026 has planned (starting this Friday!)... I am so excited to share the essays. Afro- and Africanfuturism, Indian feminist SFF, parents in SF, the politics of translation and paranormal women's fiction: and that's just the first few months!
It's gonna be a blast.
It's gonna be a blast.
January 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Starting tomorrow! Happy new year!
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
This year #JoanneAnderton recommends #Honeyeater by #KathleenJennings !
See all Staff Picks at locusmag.com and get your donation in to bwc.io/locus2025 before midnight tonight to help us kick off 2026 with a bang and bring you all the best next year too!
See all Staff Picks at locusmag.com and get your donation in to bwc.io/locus2025 before midnight tonight to help us kick off 2026 with a bang and bring you all the best next year too!
December 31, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This year #JoanneAnderton recommends #Honeyeater by #KathleenJennings !
See all Staff Picks at locusmag.com and get your donation in to bwc.io/locus2025 before midnight tonight to help us kick off 2026 with a bang and bring you all the best next year too!
See all Staff Picks at locusmag.com and get your donation in to bwc.io/locus2025 before midnight tonight to help us kick off 2026 with a bang and bring you all the best next year too!
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
In which I personally wax enthusiastic about @emilytesh.net, @aptshadow.bsky.social, EJ Swift, Claire North, Darkly Lem, and @tashasuri.bsky.social, while @mondyboy74.bsky.social and @ghostspecies.bsky.social in particular make me add books to my TBR pile.
Coode Street 714: The Year in Books
@JonathanStrahan & @garykwolfe are joined by James Bradley, Ian Mond, and Alex Pierce to discuss the year in books.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-a3hnv...
@JonathanStrahan & @garykwolfe are joined by James Bradley, Ian Mond, and Alex Pierce to discuss the year in books.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-a3hnv...
Episode 714: The Year in Books with James Bradley, Ian Mond, and Alex Pierce
For our year-end discussion of 2025 books, we’re joined by Locus reviewers Ian Mond and Alex Pierce, and distinguished critic and novelist James Bradley. As usual, we mention a lot of authors and titl...
www.podbean.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
In which I personally wax enthusiastic about @emilytesh.net, @aptshadow.bsky.social, EJ Swift, Claire North, Darkly Lem, and @tashasuri.bsky.social, while @mondyboy74.bsky.social and @ghostspecies.bsky.social in particular make me add books to my TBR pile.
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
If you want to see where we've been, buy a book! www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collection
If you want to follow where we're going, subscribe! (AUD30/year!) - www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
If you want to follow where we're going, subscribe! (AUD30/year!) - www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
www.speculativeinsight.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
If you want to see where we've been, buy a book! www.speculativeinsight.com/buy-collection
If you want to follow where we're going, subscribe! (AUD30/year!) - www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
If you want to follow where we're going, subscribe! (AUD30/year!) - www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
When I look at what 2026 has planned (starting this Friday!)... I am so excited to share the essays. Afro- and Africanfuturism, Indian feminist SFF, parents in SF, the politics of translation and paranormal women's fiction: and that's just the first few months!
It's gonna be a blast.
It's gonna be a blast.
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 AM
When I look at what 2026 has planned (starting this Friday!)... I am so excited to share the essays. Afro- and Africanfuturism, Indian feminist SFF, parents in SF, the politics of translation and paranormal women's fiction: and that's just the first few months!
It's gonna be a blast.
It's gonna be a blast.