Tal
@taldragon.bsky.social
3 tiredly cynical magpies hiding under a duvet, reposting things that catch their interest.
loves books, SFFH, cats, tea, puns and terrible jokes ;)
(She/her)
loves books, SFFH, cats, tea, puns and terrible jokes ;)
(She/her)
Reposted by Tal
HOLY SHIT. They found the genes for fibromyalgia - and it's *not* autoimmune, it's the central nervous system. It's very cool to see some progress made on the thing that's ruined my life since late teenage years!
Medical Republic: 'Fibromyalgia finally gets a genetic fingerprint'
'Additionally, certain risk loci overlapped with long covid (BPTF) and ME/CFS (OLFM4, RABGAP1L/GPR52), two poorly characterised disorders, albeit with different lead variants.'
www.medicalrepublic.com.au/fibromyalgia...
'Additionally, certain risk loci overlapped with long covid (BPTF) and ME/CFS (OLFM4, RABGAP1L/GPR52), two poorly characterised disorders, albeit with different lead variants.'
www.medicalrepublic.com.au/fibromyalgia...
Fibromyalgia finally gets a genetic fingerprint - Medical Republic
A massive global study links the chronic pain condition to 26 genes associated with brain signalling, marking a turning point in understanding its biological roots.
www.medicalrepublic.com.au
November 14, 2025 at 4:09 AM
HOLY SHIT. They found the genes for fibromyalgia - and it's *not* autoimmune, it's the central nervous system. It's very cool to see some progress made on the thing that's ruined my life since late teenage years!
Reposted by Tal
Halloween may be over, but we're still feeling spooky!
So, how about a bumper website exclusive #stillspooky sale of our spookiest titles for only 0.99 each? Shop the sale: geni.us/Solarissale
Titles available vary by your country of origin. Ends on 24th November 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
1/6
So, how about a bumper website exclusive #stillspooky sale of our spookiest titles for only 0.99 each? Shop the sale: geni.us/Solarissale
Titles available vary by your country of origin. Ends on 24th November 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
1/6
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Halloween may be over, but we're still feeling spooky!
So, how about a bumper website exclusive #stillspooky sale of our spookiest titles for only 0.99 each? Shop the sale: geni.us/Solarissale
Titles available vary by your country of origin. Ends on 24th November 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
1/6
So, how about a bumper website exclusive #stillspooky sale of our spookiest titles for only 0.99 each? Shop the sale: geni.us/Solarissale
Titles available vary by your country of origin. Ends on 24th November 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
1/6
Get to know your mutuals! In no particular order (beyond the pleasing growth in line length), 10 things I like:
1. books
2. tea
3. music
4. naps
5. cats
6. terrible puns
7. my D&D group, and our shenanigans
8. being warm
9. FFXIV
10. scuba diving
1. books
2. tea
3. music
4. naps
5. cats
6. terrible puns
7. my D&D group, and our shenanigans
8. being warm
9. FFXIV
10. scuba diving
Get to know your mutuals! In no particular order (beyond the pleasing growth in line length), 10 things I like:
1. Naps
2. Pulsars
3. Sunsets
4. Art Deco
5. Bluegrass
6. Lake Baikal
7. Practising katas
8. Clever headlines*
9. Siberian (and other) cats
10. Audacious plans actually working in a TTRPG
1. Naps
2. Pulsars
3. Sunsets
4. Art Deco
5. Bluegrass
6. Lake Baikal
7. Practising katas
8. Clever headlines*
9. Siberian (and other) cats
10. Audacious plans actually working in a TTRPG
Get to know your mutuals! 10 things I like (no particular order)
1. Dark nights
2. Frost
3. Stroopwafels
4. Old fashioned tea roses
5. Naps on sunny afternoons
6. Synthwave
7. Architecture
8. Stationery
9. Art supplies of any kind
10. Schlocky 80s horror movies
1. Dark nights
2. Frost
3. Stroopwafels
4. Old fashioned tea roses
5. Naps on sunny afternoons
6. Synthwave
7. Architecture
8. Stationery
9. Art supplies of any kind
10. Schlocky 80s horror movies
November 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Get to know your mutuals! In no particular order (beyond the pleasing growth in line length), 10 things I like:
1. books
2. tea
3. music
4. naps
5. cats
6. terrible puns
7. my D&D group, and our shenanigans
8. being warm
9. FFXIV
10. scuba diving
1. books
2. tea
3. music
4. naps
5. cats
6. terrible puns
7. my D&D group, and our shenanigans
8. being warm
9. FFXIV
10. scuba diving
Reposted by Tal
We have repeatedly proven that guaranteed housing and basic income are overall beneficial for both the people who receive them and for society AND for the economy.
Only a deep seated and irrational resentment of someone else "getting a free ride" is really in the way.
Only a deep seated and irrational resentment of someone else "getting a free ride" is really in the way.
"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 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
We have repeatedly proven that guaranteed housing and basic income are overall beneficial for both the people who receive them and for society AND for the economy.
Only a deep seated and irrational resentment of someone else "getting a free ride" is really in the way.
Only a deep seated and irrational resentment of someone else "getting a free ride" is really in the way.
Reposted by Tal
We are thrilled to announce that Titan Books will be publishing GODBOUND by Rowan Skye, a standalone high fantasy novel in which a petty thief on the run from her all-seeing god is unwillingly drawn into a murder conspiracy when she finds herself cursed...
Coming February 2027 ✨
Coming February 2027 ✨
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
We are thrilled to announce that Titan Books will be publishing GODBOUND by Rowan Skye, a standalone high fantasy novel in which a petty thief on the run from her all-seeing god is unwillingly drawn into a murder conspiracy when she finds herself cursed...
Coming February 2027 ✨
Coming February 2027 ✨
Reposted by Tal
They don't leave because it's where there is the most money to be had from the collective value generated by human beings, and despite what they insist, they don't generate wealth; they collect it.
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
November 14, 2025 at 10:36 AM
They don't leave because it's where there is the most money to be had from the collective value generated by human beings, and despite what they insist, they don't generate wealth; they collect it.
Reposted by Tal
Just tossing this back into TLs to start the day w/some brightness and fun-- 1 post (+ pretty manuscript image!) per chapter below for my forthcoming book on medieval manuscripts, design, and media.
Here’s the US distributor link, KENNEDY2026 will work here too for 20% off! But don't stop now!
Follow this thread to find out what you get for your CAN/USD!
Follow this thread to find out what you get for your CAN/USD!
Illuminating Media
Reveals the hidden power of medieval manuscript decoration and its lasting influence today. The overlooked art of late medieval English manuscript illumination—its initials, borders, and non-figurativ...
press.uchicago.edu
November 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Just tossing this back into TLs to start the day w/some brightness and fun-- 1 post (+ pretty manuscript image!) per chapter below for my forthcoming book on medieval manuscripts, design, and media.
Reposted by Tal
Coventry Cathedral has a similar message. If only things like that were the norm, esp on this side of the pond.
November 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Coventry Cathedral has a similar message. If only things like that were the norm, esp on this side of the pond.
Reposted by Tal
See, that’s the good shit right there
I left the biggest voluntary donation ever at Bristol Cathedral a) because it was voluntary and b) they had the most gorgeous welcome message by the door. I loved my visit there and their whole approach to their slavery connections was just perfect
November 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
See, that’s the good shit right there
Reposted by Tal
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
November 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
Reposted by Tal
A pre-order in return for a signed-copy and an exclusive bookmark that isn't a scrap of paper, a twig or a piece of orange peel?
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
Hey there, kids, don't use receipts, rolling papers or candy wrappers to mark your progress in WAY OF THE WALKER- get your exclusive bookmark and signed copy by preordering from @loyaltybooks.bsky.social - out Jan 27 on @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social
loyaltybookstores.com/preorderwalker
loyaltybookstores.com/preorderwalker
November 14, 2025 at 10:18 AM
A pre-order in return for a signed-copy and an exclusive bookmark that isn't a scrap of paper, a twig or a piece of orange peel?
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
Reposted by Tal
I just learned what a least weasel is and now I want six.
November 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I just learned what a least weasel is and now I want six.
Reposted by Tal
I wrote about the painful, hopeful, often absurd process of picking out a brand new wardrobe -- after coming out as a brand new gender-- for @flaminghydra.com: flaminghydra.com/issue-442/?a...
Fit check
Tal Lavin’s wardrobe metamorphosis
flaminghydra.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I wrote about the painful, hopeful, often absurd process of picking out a brand new wardrobe -- after coming out as a brand new gender-- for @flaminghydra.com: flaminghydra.com/issue-442/?a...
Reposted by Tal
With her book Popcorn Disabilities soon to hit shelves, author Kristen Lopez offers a starter pack of twenty films about disability—from the good (The Best Years of Our Lives) to the not-so-good (Rain Man)—unpacking common tropes and contextualizing their depictions. boxd.it/2Oq
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
With her book Popcorn Disabilities soon to hit shelves, author Kristen Lopez offers a starter pack of twenty films about disability—from the good (The Best Years of Our Lives) to the not-so-good (Rain Man)—unpacking common tropes and contextualizing their depictions. boxd.it/2Oq
Reposted by Tal
I’m sorry I just found out that in 1379, as in, 650 years ago, a baby girl was born in Yorkshire and named Diot Coke
history is a fucking joke lmao
history is a fucking joke lmao
November 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I’m sorry I just found out that in 1379, as in, 650 years ago, a baby girl was born in Yorkshire and named Diot Coke
history is a fucking joke lmao
history is a fucking joke lmao
Reposted by Tal
rah herself is in fact an eldritch entity, but one who is sitting there clutching a diet Dr Pepper asking "are you fucking kidding me with this shit"
A lot of people think of moderators as eldritch entities that are bound to the exact words of the spell and if you don't speak the exact words, you cannot be moderated! Whereas in reality it's a bunch of very tired and overworked people going "are you fucking kidding me with this shit"
November 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
rah herself is in fact an eldritch entity, but one who is sitting there clutching a diet Dr Pepper asking "are you fucking kidding me with this shit"
Reposted by Tal
It’s Transgender Awareness Week. I’m trans. Happily so! (Apart from *gestures at the world*.)
I also make trans art - books about a trans magical girl and all her gay teammates. You might like ‘em, and it directly supports me because this is my whole job. 😅 magicariot.com
I also make trans art - books about a trans magical girl and all her gay teammates. You might like ‘em, and it directly supports me because this is my whole job. 😅 magicariot.com
Magica Riot - Portland's Queer Magical Girl Rock Band - The Official Site
Novels about Portland's hard-rocking queer magical girls, Magica Riot.
magicariot.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
It’s Transgender Awareness Week. I’m trans. Happily so! (Apart from *gestures at the world*.)
I also make trans art - books about a trans magical girl and all her gay teammates. You might like ‘em, and it directly supports me because this is my whole job. 😅 magicariot.com
I also make trans art - books about a trans magical girl and all her gay teammates. You might like ‘em, and it directly supports me because this is my whole job. 😅 magicariot.com
Reposted by Tal
The problem is that Bluesky’s “moderation policies” protect but do not bind racist, transphobic regressives, and binds but does not protect those regressives’ victims, the fact-checkers calling out the regressives, or anyone else.
November 13, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The problem is that Bluesky’s “moderation policies” protect but do not bind racist, transphobic regressives, and binds but does not protect those regressives’ victims, the fact-checkers calling out the regressives, or anyone else.
Reposted by Tal
I want to very gently say something, and I hope nobody will be mad: If somebody on the internet says something that is NOT about politics and NOT about how terrible everything is, it’s a kindness not to reflexively make a comment (in jest or not) that brings it back to those things.
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I want to very gently say something, and I hope nobody will be mad: If somebody on the internet says something that is NOT about politics and NOT about how terrible everything is, it’s a kindness not to reflexively make a comment (in jest or not) that brings it back to those things.
Reposted by Tal
BEING ARO lineup announcement! This YA cross genre aromantic anthology is coming your way May 2026 from Page Street!
@clh2oars.bsky.social @kashinggiwa.bsky.social @kalynjosephson.bsky.social @rukman.bsky.social @soumiroy1.bsky.social @annzhao.bsky.social
@clh2oars.bsky.social @kashinggiwa.bsky.social @kalynjosephson.bsky.social @rukman.bsky.social @soumiroy1.bsky.social @annzhao.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
BEING ARO lineup announcement! This YA cross genre aromantic anthology is coming your way May 2026 from Page Street!
@clh2oars.bsky.social @kashinggiwa.bsky.social @kalynjosephson.bsky.social @rukman.bsky.social @soumiroy1.bsky.social @annzhao.bsky.social
@clh2oars.bsky.social @kashinggiwa.bsky.social @kalynjosephson.bsky.social @rukman.bsky.social @soumiroy1.bsky.social @annzhao.bsky.social
Reposted by Tal
Fools Rush In is available on my shop!
💖 Bisexual lead
🎉 Polyamory end game
🔮 Cool sword
♥️ Processing trauma
🪆 Found family
🎭 Enemies to lovers
A free preview (70+ pages) is also available.
📚 sarahclowder.com
🏷 payhip.com/SillyGooseInk
💖 Bisexual lead
🎉 Polyamory end game
🔮 Cool sword
♥️ Processing trauma
🪆 Found family
🎭 Enemies to lovers
A free preview (70+ pages) is also available.
📚 sarahclowder.com
🏷 payhip.com/SillyGooseInk
November 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Fools Rush In is available on my shop!
💖 Bisexual lead
🎉 Polyamory end game
🔮 Cool sword
♥️ Processing trauma
🪆 Found family
🎭 Enemies to lovers
A free preview (70+ pages) is also available.
📚 sarahclowder.com
🏷 payhip.com/SillyGooseInk
💖 Bisexual lead
🎉 Polyamory end game
🔮 Cool sword
♥️ Processing trauma
🪆 Found family
🎭 Enemies to lovers
A free preview (70+ pages) is also available.
📚 sarahclowder.com
🏷 payhip.com/SillyGooseInk
Reposted by Tal
Just two days left to back WITCHING SEASON!
You want to read @matthtaylor.com and my story about TRANS WITCHES battling MONSTERS don't you?!? Of course you do! So back this book!!! www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
You want to read @matthtaylor.com and my story about TRANS WITCHES battling MONSTERS don't you?!? Of course you do! So back this book!!! www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just two days left to back WITCHING SEASON!
You want to read @matthtaylor.com and my story about TRANS WITCHES battling MONSTERS don't you?!? Of course you do! So back this book!!! www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
You want to read @matthtaylor.com and my story about TRANS WITCHES battling MONSTERS don't you?!? Of course you do! So back this book!!! www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
Reposted by Tal
Heads up: If you haven't read A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by @tkingfisher.com (and frankly that's criminal in the first place) and you're on Audible, it's part of the 2 for 1 sale right now. You won't regret it.
It has a possibly sentient, probably murderous sourdough starter in it.
It has a possibly sentient, probably murderous sourdough starter in it.
November 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Heads up: If you haven't read A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by @tkingfisher.com (and frankly that's criminal in the first place) and you're on Audible, it's part of the 2 for 1 sale right now. You won't regret it.
It has a possibly sentient, probably murderous sourdough starter in it.
It has a possibly sentient, probably murderous sourdough starter in it.
Reposted by Tal
Just cuz I suspect it's gonna be relevant: "underage women" is a contradiction in terms. There are adults and there are minors, who are children. Ditto "nonconsensual sex." That's rape. The only reason to play semantic games is because you benefit from obscuring the simplicity of these terms.
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Just cuz I suspect it's gonna be relevant: "underage women" is a contradiction in terms. There are adults and there are minors, who are children. Ditto "nonconsensual sex." That's rape. The only reason to play semantic games is because you benefit from obscuring the simplicity of these terms.
Reposted by Tal
Just add a bunch of trauma and this is the actual plot of LIBRARY OF AMORLIN by @kalynjosephson.bsky.social
Never give up.
Somewhere in the world, there's a haunted manor house on the moors with a mysterious caretaker, indifferent cats, and secret libraries within libraries, waiting for you in the darkness.
Somewhere in the world, there's a haunted manor house on the moors with a mysterious caretaker, indifferent cats, and secret libraries within libraries, waiting for you in the darkness.
November 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Just add a bunch of trauma and this is the actual plot of LIBRARY OF AMORLIN by @kalynjosephson.bsky.social