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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Speculative Insight journal
@speculativeinsight.bsky.social
1.9K followers 310 following 2.5K posts
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/
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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Speculative Insight journal @speculativeinsight.bsky.social · Oct 17
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
Speculative Insight
A journal for exploring the ideas and themes that stand behind, inform, and develop out of, speculative fiction.
www.speculativeinsight.com
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jolantru.bsky.social
Grab a cuppa, curl under blankets and read.

ko-fi.com/post/Story-F...
[Story]: For The Care And Love Of A Dragon
Joyce Chng published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes, a real-life #Pratchett scholar, looks at Mrs Palm and the historical connections between sex work and witchcraft... come for the history, stay for some amazing puns.

Read for free: www.speculativeinsight.com

Please share widely!
Purple background, white text, which says Mrs Palm is an interesting Discworld character, as is the historical context her story references. Discworld's foremost witch, Granny Weatherwax, describes Mrs Palm as "almost a witch."
October 31, 2025 at 8:40 PM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
I'm not crying you're crying.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oygI...
Andrea Bocelli - Who Wants To Live Forever (with Brian May) - Live at “Teatro Del Silenzio” 2024
YouTube video by Andrea Bocelli
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 AM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Anyone know about "Next Generation Indie Book Awards" - ? Just wondering if this is the publisher equiv of the book club email scam. Wikipedia suggests it's legit, but thought I should crowdsource further info.
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
And these are the subs-essays: more questions of representation and genre, more Pratchett and Tolkien and also Kingfisher; more empire; forensics in SFF, and Alan Moore's London.
(Subscribe for AUD30 to get access to all of them!)
Screenshot of the subscriber essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include The Empire of the Radch and the Injustice of Justice; Dispatches from Other Londons; War and Empire in Post Second World War Science Fiction. Screenshot of the subscriber essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include Different Types of Strength, Should Galadriel have taken the Ring? Men Who Respect Witches IV Screenshot of the subscriber essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include Reimagining Disability in YA Fantasy; Forensics for Fairytales; Untangling Quiet Screenshot of the subscriber essays in Speculative Insight: Romantic Lead Balloons
November 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
These are the free essays... there's questions of representation and genre, there's Pratchett, there's Tolkien, there's families, Warhammer, the Dublin Portal, and living in an empire...
Screenshot of the free essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include Almost a Witch, Lives under Empire, Towards a Taxonomy of Historical Science Fiction. Screenshot of the free essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include Glass Geographies, Upwardly Mobile and Hating it, The Dublin Portal... or the Dublin Intrusion? Screenshot of the free essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future there are Only Warriors, What Lies and Threats, Celibacy & the Single Wizzard Screenshot of the free essays in Speculative Insight. Essay titles include The SEA is Whose? and Families of the Future.
November 9, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
So, awards season!

If you're thinking about nonfiction / related works, please do consider the essays that have appeared in Speculative Insight over 2025.

You can read 11 for free right now (a 12th coming in Dec), and there's another 10 (soon 11!) for subscribers...

www.speculativeinsight.com
Speculative Insight
A journal for exploring the ideas and themes that stand behind, inform, and develop out of, speculative fiction.
www.speculativeinsight.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
So, awards season!

If you're thinking about nonfiction / related works, please do consider the essays that have appeared in Speculative Insight over 2025.

You can read 11 for free right now (a 12th coming in Dec), and there's another 10 (soon 11!) for subscribers...

www.speculativeinsight.com
Speculative Insight
A journal for exploring the ideas and themes that stand behind, inform, and develop out of, speculative fiction.
www.speculativeinsight.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes, a real-life #Pratchett scholar, looks at Mrs Palm and the historical connections between sex work and witchcraft... come for the history, stay for some amazing puns.

Read for free: www.speculativeinsight.com

Please share widely!
Purple background, white text, which says Mrs Palm is an interesting Discworld character, as is the historical context her story references. Discworld's foremost witch, Granny Weatherwax, describes Mrs Palm as "almost a witch."
November 1, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes goes deep into the historical connections between European witchcraft and sex work, and draws out how #Pratchett uses these in the person of Mrs Palm. It's got history AND sexy puns...

This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!

Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says The real-world history and stories about "witches directly inform the portrayal of Discworld's witches. Discworld's sex work and sex workers are similarly informed by real-world history and narratives. More specifically, the ways in which Mrs Rosemary Palm is "almost a witch" can constructively frame some real-world conversations around marginalisation, power, and autonomy... "Almost a Witch," Freyja Stokes
November 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
In which Granny Weatherwax is far more comfortable with Mrs Palm than Nanny... and Freyja Stokes explores the historical connections between witchcraft and sex work, as so beautifully explored by Terry Pratchett.

Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says Nanny, a typically candid and non-judgemental figure, is mortified to find out that her grandson suggested staying at this kind of establishment. She is then floored when Granny Weatherwax is unphased, knows exactly who Mrs Rosemary Palm is, and speaks of her with matter-of-fact respect. "Almost a Witch," Freyja Stokes
November 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
jolantru.bsky.social
I probably have to come up with a snazzy graphic soon -
But it's awards eligibility season.

Wolf's Path - Best Collection.
Cold Steel - Best YA novel.
The Freedom - Best short story. (self-pub)
Forest - Best flash fiction.
November 8, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes goes deep into the historical connections between European witchcraft and sex work, and draws out how #Pratchett uses these in the person of Mrs Palm. It's got history AND sexy puns...

This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!

Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says The real-world history and stories about "witches directly inform the portrayal of Discworld's witches. Discworld's sex work and sex workers are similarly informed by real-world history and narratives. More specifically, the ways in which Mrs Rosemary Palm is "almost a witch" can constructively frame some real-world conversations around marginalisation, power, and autonomy... "Almost a Witch," Freyja Stokes
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
locusmag.bsky.social
Explore @niallharrison’s review of WHEN THERE ARE WOLVES AGAIN by E.J. Swift: “I say that what Swift has given us in this remarkable book is a benchmark. I imagine rereading it in 25 years’ time.”
When There Are Wolves Again by E.J. Swift: Review by Niall Harrison
When There Are Wolves Again, E.J. Swift (Ar­cadia 978-1-529-43644-0, £20.00, 304pp, hc) October 2025. I don’t want to put more weight on E.J. Swift’s wonderful sixth novel than a single book should…
locusmag.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
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guynes.bsky.social
Continuing with my obsessive effort to read all of Thomas Burnett Swann's novels, in this essay I take a look at his fourth novel, THE FOREST OF FOREVER (1971), which is a prequel to his first novel, DAY OF THE MINOTAUR (1966).

It's... messy. But interesting! Interestingly messy!
Reading “The Forest of Forever” by Thomas Burnett Swann
Thomas Burnett Swann’s The Forest of Forever (1971) is the author’s fourth novel, a prequel to his first novel, Day of the Minotaur (1966). It’s a mediocre and somewhat messy return to …
seanguynes.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
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speculativeinsight.bsky.social
In which Granny Weatherwax is far more comfortable with Mrs Palm than Nanny... and Freyja Stokes explores the historical connections between witchcraft and sex work, as so beautifully explored by Terry Pratchett.

Read it now for free: www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says Nanny, a typically candid and non-judgemental figure, is mortified to find out that her grandson suggested staying at this kind of establishment. She is then floored when Granny Weatherwax is unphased, knows exactly who Mrs Rosemary Palm is, and speaks of her with matter-of-fact respect. "Almost a Witch," Freyja Stokes
November 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes writes about witches and "seamstresses" (the Discworld's sex workers, except for Sandra), and especially the historical connections between the two professions, in this excellent new essay.

Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says Seamstresses and witches both perform demanded services but are marginalised for doing so. Mistress Weatherwax and Mrs Palm are two women who head heavily gendered and marginalised professions. Both women are aware of the deeply-culturally-ingrained narratives that are applied to them by wider society. "Almost a Witch" -- Freyja Stokes
November 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
I need a word!

What’s the word for when your interest and focus is outward focused rather than inward? I can’t figure out how better to explain it so my googling is failing.
November 7, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Freyja Stokes writes about witches and "seamstresses" (the Discworld's sex workers, except for Sandra), and especially the historical connections between the two professions, in this excellent new essay.

Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says Seamstresses and witches both perform demanded services but are marginalised for doing so. Mistress Weatherwax and Mrs Palm are two women who head heavily gendered and marginalised professions. Both women are aware of the deeply-culturally-ingrained narratives that are applied to them by wider society. "Almost a Witch" -- Freyja Stokes
November 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
This excellent essay from Freyja Stokes examines the ways in which Terry Pratchett accurately portrays historical sex work in Europe, and its close connections to witchcraft.

Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says The history of sex work is not only one of marginalisation. It is also a history of real-world people who, like Rosemary Palm, work collectively with their communities and allies to push for improvements, protections, social change, and legal legitimacy. "Almost a Witch" -- Freyja Stokes
November 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
This excellent essay from Freyja Stokes examines the ways in which Terry Pratchett accurately portrays historical sex work in Europe, and its close connections to witchcraft.

Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says The history of sex work is not only one of marginalisation. It is also a history of real-world people who, like Rosemary Palm, work collectively with their communities and allies to push for improvements, protections, social change, and legal legitimacy. "Almost a Witch" -- Freyja Stokes
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Speculative Insight journal
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
This time last year, @tansyrr.bsky.social gave us her list of the great (male) brutes and villains of the #Discworld...

Read it here (for free!): www.speculativeinsight.com/essays/brutes-villains
Purple background, white text, which says In the Discworld, true power-hungry evil tends to go hand-in-hand with a willingness to do a lot of admin. "Brutes, Villains, & Bureaucrats" -- Tansy Rayner Roberts
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
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cherylmorgan.bsky.social
Made it to £7000. How high can we go in the final few hours?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/191...
They Are Still Here (Maen Nhw Yma O Hyd)
An anthology of contemporary fantasy stories featuring creatures and characters from Welsh mythology and folklore
www.kickstarter.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
This excellent essay from Freyja Stokes examines the ways in which Terry Pratchett accurately portrays historical sex work in Europe, and its close connections to witchcraft.

Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com
Purple background, white text, which says The history of sex work is not only one of marginalisation. It is also a history of real-world people who, like Rosemary Palm, work collectively with their communities and allies to push for improvements, protections, social change, and legal legitimacy. "Almost a Witch" -- Freyja Stokes
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
speculativeinsight.bsky.social
Because of my rollercoaster vis a vis the doco about The Doors, have Moonlight Drive:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4i2...
The Doors - Moonlight Drive (Live At The Bowl '68)
YouTube video by The Doors
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM