Brian C. Veteran Bookseller
@chainborne.bsky.social
Bookseller (British, bearded, bespectacled, bald). Fantasy-fan. Sci-Fi guy. Word-nerd. He/Him.
On a mission to read all the middle-grade science fiction books.
On a mission to read all the middle-grade science fiction books.
Passive income from capital wealth, whether in the form of rental property or interest on investments, is morally suspect at best.
Congrats for hoarding up enough money that it makes you more money, but it's a bit icky.
There's a reason usury used to be a sin.
Congrats for hoarding up enough money that it makes you more money, but it's a bit icky.
There's a reason usury used to be a sin.
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 15, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Passive income from capital wealth, whether in the form of rental property or interest on investments, is morally suspect at best.
Congrats for hoarding up enough money that it makes you more money, but it's a bit icky.
There's a reason usury used to be a sin.
Congrats for hoarding up enough money that it makes you more money, but it's a bit icky.
There's a reason usury used to be a sin.
I'm on 10/20 but starting to slow down.
Yeah, sex is cool, but have you ever completed the Hidden Books Game?
20 books to name, can you grab the glory (and maybe even a £500 book token)? hiddenbooks.nationalbooktokens.com?competition=22
20 books to name, can you grab the glory (and maybe even a £500 book token)? hiddenbooks.nationalbooktokens.com?competition=22
November 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I'm on 10/20 but starting to slow down.
I'm incapable of shelving, picking or handling a book by Friedrich Nietzsche without the words of Howard Johnson playing in my head...
November 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I'm incapable of shelving, picking or handling a book by Friedrich Nietzsche without the words of Howard Johnson playing in my head...
Miracle of miracles I did actually have a successful webchat with a customer service rep who cancelled and refunded the webhosting charge.
What a relief! 😓
What a relief! 😓
Just got hit with the three-yearly auto-renewal fees for webhosting services for the website I never built and had all but forgotten about.
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
November 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Miracle of miracles I did actually have a successful webchat with a customer service rep who cancelled and refunded the webhosting charge.
What a relief! 😓
What a relief! 😓
Just got hit with the three-yearly auto-renewal fees for webhosting services for the website I never built and had all but forgotten about.
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Just got hit with the three-yearly auto-renewal fees for webhosting services for the website I never built and had all but forgotten about.
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
At the no-longer introductory rate.
That's £400 I don't think I'll get back. Their T&C's are quite specific. 🫤
Idea: A romance novel set in the American suburbs, called "From HOA to HEA".
November 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Idea: A romance novel set in the American suburbs, called "From HOA to HEA".
Reposted by Brian C. Veteran Bookseller
🚨MASSIVE NEWS🚨
One of our most sought after titles that sold out in less than 24 hours is back in stock!
The brilliant and bonkers, darkly comic, animal detective novel a Remington Platypus is available now! Grab yours while stocks last!
share.google/c7Di7sJNkNr8...
One of our most sought after titles that sold out in less than 24 hours is back in stock!
The brilliant and bonkers, darkly comic, animal detective novel a Remington Platypus is available now! Grab yours while stocks last!
share.google/c7Di7sJNkNr8...
November 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
🚨MASSIVE NEWS🚨
One of our most sought after titles that sold out in less than 24 hours is back in stock!
The brilliant and bonkers, darkly comic, animal detective novel a Remington Platypus is available now! Grab yours while stocks last!
share.google/c7Di7sJNkNr8...
One of our most sought after titles that sold out in less than 24 hours is back in stock!
The brilliant and bonkers, darkly comic, animal detective novel a Remington Platypus is available now! Grab yours while stocks last!
share.google/c7Di7sJNkNr8...
Had an hour to kill before my train home, so I reported - via the customer contact form - the fact that the paperback of Harrow the Ninth weirdly appears to have been memory-holed by our web store. 🤔
Gideon and Nona are listed no problem. 🤷♂️
Gideon and Nona are listed no problem. 🤷♂️
November 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Had an hour to kill before my train home, so I reported - via the customer contact form - the fact that the paperback of Harrow the Ninth weirdly appears to have been memory-holed by our web store. 🤔
Gideon and Nona are listed no problem. 🤷♂️
Gideon and Nona are listed no problem. 🤷♂️
A fancy Collector's Edition of the first book in a much-loved classic series just got announced, and I am both disappointed and somewhat relieved to discover I don't like the cover art. 🫤
So I probably won't be tempted to spend several $100s collecting the whole series.
So I probably won't be tempted to spend several $100s collecting the whole series.
October 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
A fancy Collector's Edition of the first book in a much-loved classic series just got announced, and I am both disappointed and somewhat relieved to discover I don't like the cover art. 🫤
So I probably won't be tempted to spend several $100s collecting the whole series.
So I probably won't be tempted to spend several $100s collecting the whole series.
Even Murderbot is anti-genAI.
Granted, I liked the imaginary people on the entertainment feed way more than I liked real ones, but you can’t have one without the other.
October 27, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Even Murderbot is anti-genAI.
Hey #Booksky. 👋 I'm trying to find a 2025 #Fantasy debut (I think?) I read about a couple of months ago, in which the main character is a guard/pathfinder for hire, escorting travellers as they journey across the dangerous countryside, and their latest job is to accompany a mage (I think?).
📚🪐
1/2
📚🪐
1/2
October 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I'm just realising that there is a now a generation of individuals
who a) know who Stephen Fry is,
and b) know who Hugh Laurie is,
and c) have no idea that they have ever worked together...
(Prompted by me telling a co-worker about the 90s adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster.)
who a) know who Stephen Fry is,
and b) know who Hugh Laurie is,
and c) have no idea that they have ever worked together...
(Prompted by me telling a co-worker about the 90s adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster.)
October 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I'm just realising that there is a now a generation of individuals
who a) know who Stephen Fry is,
and b) know who Hugh Laurie is,
and c) have no idea that they have ever worked together...
(Prompted by me telling a co-worker about the 90s adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster.)
who a) know who Stephen Fry is,
and b) know who Hugh Laurie is,
and c) have no idea that they have ever worked together...
(Prompted by me telling a co-worker about the 90s adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster.)
If a story doesn't contain some element of the impossible, fantastic, magical, speculative, historical or other-worldly, then I'm really not interested.
Fiction is for escapism, and things that cannot be. Real life is right there outside your front door.
Fiction is for escapism, and things that cannot be. Real life is right there outside your front door.
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
If a story doesn't contain some element of the impossible, fantastic, magical, speculative, historical or other-worldly, then I'm really not interested.
Fiction is for escapism, and things that cannot be. Real life is right there outside your front door.
Fiction is for escapism, and things that cannot be. Real life is right there outside your front door.
One of the stops on my commute is called "Mauldeth Road", and every time it's announced I think...
October 12, 2025 at 6:46 AM
One of the stops on my commute is called "Mauldeth Road", and every time it's announced I think...
Reposted by Brian C. Veteran Bookseller
Join us on Saturday for Bookshop Day! We're open 10-5.30pm. See you then!
#bookshopday @booksaremybag.bsky.social
#bookshopday @booksaremybag.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Join us on Saturday for Bookshop Day! We're open 10-5.30pm. See you then!
#bookshopday @booksaremybag.bsky.social
#bookshopday @booksaremybag.bsky.social
Upgrades! 🤩
Long overdue...
Doug McClure, newly arrived in 1080p courtesy of @imprintfilms.bsky.social
Long overdue...
Doug McClure, newly arrived in 1080p courtesy of @imprintfilms.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Upgrades! 🤩
Long overdue...
Doug McClure, newly arrived in 1080p courtesy of @imprintfilms.bsky.social
Long overdue...
Doug McClure, newly arrived in 1080p courtesy of @imprintfilms.bsky.social
This headline confused me for at least 30 seconds; I was like, "Uh, the Queen is also dead??" 🤨
October 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
This headline confused me for at least 30 seconds; I was like, "Uh, the Queen is also dead??" 🤨
Reposted by Brian C. Veteran Bookseller
NEW: Extraordinary scenes in Amsterdam this afternoon (Sunday, Oct 5).
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
October 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
NEW: Extraordinary scenes in Amsterdam this afternoon (Sunday, Oct 5).
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
Is there any evidence of The One Ring making anyone other than a Hobbit invisible?
Did it maybe only make *Hobbits* invisible because furtiveness & concealment are part of their natural magic?
Perhaps it would've given a Human super-strength, like Gummiberry Juice™. 🤔
Did it maybe only make *Hobbits* invisible because furtiveness & concealment are part of their natural magic?
Perhaps it would've given a Human super-strength, like Gummiberry Juice™. 🤔
October 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Is there any evidence of The One Ring making anyone other than a Hobbit invisible?
Did it maybe only make *Hobbits* invisible because furtiveness & concealment are part of their natural magic?
Perhaps it would've given a Human super-strength, like Gummiberry Juice™. 🤔
Did it maybe only make *Hobbits* invisible because furtiveness & concealment are part of their natural magic?
Perhaps it would've given a Human super-strength, like Gummiberry Juice™. 🤔
This looks good fun. Out next summer, 144 pages. Added it to my wishlist.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Kill All Wizards
SWORDS, SORCERY, AND A SPOT OF TEAKill All Wizards is a blood-soaked romp through high society—picture Conan the Barbarian caught up in a comedy of manners...
us.macmillan.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This looks good fun. Out next summer, 144 pages. Added it to my wishlist.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
I did once have the idea of publishing an edition of Dracula printed using ink that was only visible under a UV blacklight, to make it unreadable to vampires...
no no the publishing industry is doing fine, why do you ask
October 2, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I did once have the idea of publishing an edition of Dracula printed using ink that was only visible under a UV blacklight, to make it unreadable to vampires...
Reposted by Brian C. Veteran Bookseller
For a movie that’s 35 years old, Dick Tracy’s make up & prosthetic artists did a fantastic job on the outlandish Dick Tracy villains that still holds up.
October 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
For a movie that’s 35 years old, Dick Tracy’s make up & prosthetic artists did a fantastic job on the outlandish Dick Tracy villains that still holds up.
I think a lot of British people are possibly missing how batshit crazy the current news cycle from America is by not realising that Tylenol is just the American name for paracetamol.
September 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I think a lot of British people are possibly missing how batshit crazy the current news cycle from America is by not realising that Tylenol is just the American name for paracetamol.
I'm not familiar with Glitch studios, so this hit me out of nowhere when it crossed my feed, and it's fantastic!
Will definitely be watching the rest of the series.
Will definitely be watching the rest of the series.
September 20, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I'm not familiar with Glitch studios, so this hit me out of nowhere when it crossed my feed, and it's fantastic!
Will definitely be watching the rest of the series.
Will definitely be watching the rest of the series.
I thought for a second each line was a separate quote.
September 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I thought for a second each line was a separate quote.