T R Napper
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trnapper.bsky.social
T R Napper
@trnapper.bsky.social
Doctor of Cyberpunk

Debut collection: Neon Leviathan (2020)
Debut novel: 36 Streets (2022)
Ghost of the Neon God (2024)
The Escher Man (2024)

Repped by Joshua Bilmes

Website: https://nappertime.com/
Up until recently I was in a cyberpunk group on Facebook. On it, someone wrote a very long and very well received post on why AI in art is okay and fucking hell I'm just tired. The AI techbros are the real world manifestation of everything cyberpunk detests and warned against.
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Tim Hickson just uploaded an excellent, thoughtful video on his channel HelloFutureMe, exploring the trope: 'When a Character is a Weapon'. I was immensely gratified to see he'd included Lin Thi Vu from 36 Streets & The Escher Man. Well worth a watch (Link below).
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The Australian Ditmar Award ceremony was last night, and I was honoured to receive the nod for Best Novella. Ghost of the Neon God has now won the Australian double (Aurealis and Ditmar). Congrats to all the winners, and a huge thanks to all my readers.
October 6, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Today (17 September) is the 1st anniversary of the publication of The Escher Man. Ten years in the writing (and trunking, and resurrecting). Big thanks to everyone who's read (and especially talked about, and reviewed). Cheers. @titanbooks.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Now for the winner. To be eligible to vote in this round, you need to have been a member of any of the Natcons (Conflux, Continuum) over the past five years. Link to the form here: form.jotform.com/252351941469...
August 29, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Huge milestone for my current manuscript, a dark fantasy epic (Have I made a massive error, switching genres and taking on a story so ambitious? I mean: yeah, maybe. But that's true of every novel, that creative leap of faith, without a net).
August 28, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Ah, here it is. 'Aren't AIs are people, too?" I engage with this claim in my Asimov's Novella, 'The Hidden God'. The protagonist (Izzy) is talking to an AGI (Huldo) about a tech baron (Bookman):
August 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
From my Asimov's Novella, 'The Hidden God'. The protagonist (Izzy) is talking to an AGI (Huldo) about a tech baron (Bookman):
August 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
A small milestone for my novella, Ghost of the Neon God. 300 ratings on Goodreads and still going strong. Thank you to all who've read, enjoyed, and rated.
August 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I'm not physically attending @seattlein2025.org, and the FOMO is crushing. My meagre compensation is the virtual panel. Times below are for Australian East Coast. But if you're in Seattle, why attend barcon when at 9pm and 1030pm Wednesday, you could be watching me?
August 13, 2025 at 6:17 AM
1/2 Ditmar Award nominations are open and I've two works I'm particularly proud of: The Escher Man (novel), and Ghost of the Neon God, (novella). If you're eligible to vote (and there's a good chance you are - criteria explained in the linked article), have at it.

nappertime.com/ditmar-award...
August 8, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Prepping for Comic-Con (@ozcomic-con.bsky.social):
August 7, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I'm back in the ring. Comic Con (@ozcomic-con.bsky.social), Canberra August 9&10, and Sydney September 20&21. I'll have all my books (including the new Aliens: Bishop paperback), and should be mostly coherent. So drop by the table and say hi. Link in comments.
July 23, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Oh and we've just hit 350 on Goodreads. Our batting average is pretty good there, as well.
July 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Current TBR:
July 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I wrote about what it meant to me to win the Aurealis (and all the places you can find the novella), linked here: nappertime.com/ghost-of-the... @titanbooks.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Today (the 25th) is the 1st anniversary of the publication of Ghost of the Neon God. It was a very tough sell - novellas always are - so I'm beyond relieved that it has been received so well by readers (and also by award juries). Thank you, to everyone who's given it a chance.
June 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
I confess I have watched this creep towards the 1000 milestone. It's immensely gratifying to see, 3 years after publication, that readers are still discovering 36 Streets.
June 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I'll be at Comic-Con Melbourne (@ozcomic-con.bsky.social) next weekend (7-8 June). I'll have all my books (including the newly-arrived paperback of Aliens: Bishop), and most of my wits. If you're around, do drop by the table.

ozcomiccon.com/t-r-napper/
May 31, 2025 at 7:29 AM
My Aurealis Award trophy arrived today (my precious). Gorgeous. Wrote a short article (linked) about the award, what it means to me, and included an excerpt from my acceptance speech, where I speak to the diabolical issue of AI in our art.

nappertime.com/ghost-of-the...
May 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Huge honour to win the prestigious Australian Aurealis Award for my novella, Ghost of the Neon God (it was online this year so no trophy to brandish, yet). Absolutely elated.
May 4, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Very gratifying that, 3 years later, people are still discovering my debut, 36 Streets (though, much like the reviewer, I too wish the book were more popular). And I've good news for this reader - Lin Thi Vu reappears in The Escher Man, so look there to get your fix of our dark troubled gangster.
April 29, 2025 at 4:46 AM
My long form essay on AI, and why we need human art (linked, below).
April 28, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Some thoughts on generative AI, the propaganda that supports it, why we need human art, and how we fight back, "It's The People, Stupid (Human Art in a Company World)":
nappertime.com/its-the-peop...
April 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Massive honour to be shortlisted for the prestigious Aurealis Awards, in the Best Science Fiction Novella category, for 'Ghost of the Neon God'. I'm alongside some truly exceptional talent (and check out the Best Series category - it's fucking stacked)
@titanbooks.bsky.social
shorturl.at/NaGui
April 15, 2025 at 7:09 AM