Simon Okotie
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simonokotie.bsky.social
Simon Okotie
@simonokotie.bsky.social
Essayistic novelist (and vice versa). The Absalon novels are published by Salt: ‘Fiction as original as this deserves a long shelf life.’ (London Review of Books). The Future of the Novel is published by Melville House.
I dug out this top for my run today - a third kit from the early 2000s modelled on Inter Milan. I’m hoping it will bring us luck (and an Italian defensive display) against Porto this evening.
October 23, 2025 at 9:21 AM
I’m delighted to be speaking about my book The Future of the Novel at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival.

As someone who spans 'the two cultures' of science and the humanities, I am pleased with organiser's title for the event. So much to say!

www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/autho...
August 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
August 6, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I'm grateful for the review of my book The Future of the Novel in this week's TLS but I do want to clarify one thing: I don't believe that the prospect of a novel generated by AI is still some way off - it is already with us.

www.the-tls.com/literature/l...
August 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM
My mum with my maternal grandparents at Mile End Hospital in east London just over sixty years ago, and me in the same spot last week. She died two weeks ago today.
July 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
She was great tonight too!
June 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A.I. represents a profound threat to storytellers but not necessarily to novelists.
May 9, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Was discharged from hospital five weeks ago today, after a successful op for prostate cancer. (I was an NHS patient but they did the op in a private hospital - this is what the evening meal looked like!)

It's easier to treat if you find it early. Check your risk:

prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
May 1, 2025 at 8:23 AM
March 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
With record numbers of Americans applying for UK citizenship on.ft.com/4i7RH1a I'm here to tell US friends there's no longer any need to come over: The Future of the Novel is published stateside today! Order here:

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-future...

@melvillehouse.bsky.social
March 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
February 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
A nice surprise to be on this bestseller list a day after publication. Thanks to all who pre-ordered the book! www.hive.co.uk/books/bestse...
February 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Spot the difference between the first online and in print review of The Future of the Novel (with thanks to The Observer).
February 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
This was going to be a post promoting the launch of my new book, The Future of the Novel, which is published a month today, but the launch sold out over the weekend! Further tour dates to be announced! In the meantime, please do pre-order the book - ideally from your local independent bookshop.
January 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Just bought an enclosure for His Enclosure.
December 23, 2024 at 12:35 PM
Using my 100th post on here, 100 days before the US publication of The Future of the Novel, to ask: Where should I stay, where should I go, who should I speak to about this topic when I visit New York City for the first time, in the spring, to launch the book?
November 24, 2024 at 10:02 PM
November 19, 2024 at 11:23 AM
November 16, 2024 at 12:05 PM
November 15, 2024 at 7:23 PM
November 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
November 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
November 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
November 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Things I’m looking forward to between now and the end of the year.
November 14, 2024 at 2:20 PM
The Future of the Novel will be published in 100 days! It speculates on the uneasy role AI will play in coming decades and argues that the novel has started to self-reflexively think itself into existence.

Pre-orders:

UK: www.hive.co.uk/Product/The-...

US: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-future...
November 13, 2024 at 8:38 PM