Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 8hl to r: toy Dark Rider, a Xmas present from my daughter; a warrior whose head comes off (it's balanced in place atm) in honour of "acephalous" my late friend Scott Eric Kaufmann, a lego figure from my son (shouldn't be on his back like that: I'll be having a word later), a 3D printed Oxygène head 270
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 8h"When is a 1970s synthesiser not a 1970s synthesiser? When it's a Jarre." "But that joke doesn't make any sense!" *shrugs Gallically* "bof" 4170
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 12hSlightly obsessed by this photo of Juliette Gréco, in Paris, 1948. 2192
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 12hLet us never forget that, inspired by Buddy Holly's Crickets, John Lennon's originally wanted to call his group "The Beatals". 220
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 13h"We've travelled to this Irish city to rerecord the vocals of Michael Redgrave's famous actress-daughter." "To dub Lynne?" "That's where we're fixing Vanessa's soundtrack performance, yes." 2141
Reposted by Adam RobertsBrendan C. Byrne @brendancbyrne.bsky.social · 02/10/2026adam on late henry james: good stuff 011
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 02/10/2026And did those feet ...? Breaking news here: profadamroberts.substack.com/p/william-bl...profadamroberts.substack.comWilliam Blake, ‘Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion’ (c.1810)And did those feet, in ancient times, walk upon England's ...? No. No, they didn't. 095
Reposted by Adam RobertsWizard's Tower Press @wtpress.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Press Release: Wizard's Tower to Publish Beowulf in Hel by Adam Roberts wizardstowerpress.co... 1178
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 01/10/2026This is a dog who's been fooled before and now agrees with The Who on the subject of foolery. 1185
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Reupping this 4-part thread from this morning, in case there are any Historians of the Pen, who can help me out. 013
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Our Norman betters Taught English letters To bathe in the fresh Warm springs of the south. So turn your backs on Anglo-Saxon; The þ in the flesh, The æ in the mouth ANTHONY BURGESS 2259
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 30/09/2026"It seems the famous writer of political dystopian fiction is poorly." "Orwell?" "No, Yevgeney Zamiatin is definitely poorly." 1101
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 30/09/2026In "Contemplations" (1856) Hugo says: Ô printemps ! quand on songe à toutes les missives Qui des amants rêveurs vont aux belles pensives, À ces cœurs confiés au papier, à ce tas De lettres que le feutre écrit au taffetas 1/ 120
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Speaking as an author, I am in awe of this as an author name. 3180
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Not 100% on this, so don't quote me, but I believe the original Schwarzenegger "Predator" was based on this novella: profadamroberts.substack.com/p/henry-jame... 4102
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026"What shall we call this woodland?" "Well it's a fairly substantial stretch of ancient woodland, filled with bluebells in the summer, home to foxes and deer ..." "Substantial, you say?" 4122
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026" ... and if you get it wrong, you get a flight next time ..." 2132
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I, Michael Buerk, a human body with a head that is a gigantic cob of corn, will judge you all in, THE MORAL MAIZE. 2251
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026The snails They destroyed their cage Yes YES The snails are out 11555150
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026"What's the mood on Beck's new album?" "Dark. He had a bad break-up." "So, not any good?" "No, I love it. Heck, I back Beck's black break-up-wreck tracks." 480
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 27/09/2026PRINCE: I'm in love with the mysterious girl who came to last night's ball, wearing a fine dress and giant creamy pastries on her feet! I must find her again -- but how? ME: well, if the Choux fits ... 4201
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Spider pot Spider pot Does whatever a spider pot does Can it store Stuff you bought? Course it can It's a pot LOOK OUT! Here comes the spider pot 1193
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 26/09/2026"She had, I'm not joking, a hundredweight of keys! So many keys—but she gave them to silent cinema's biggest star and he *broke them all*!" "Buster Keaton?" "That's what Chaplin did, yes." 5110
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 26/09/2026" ... please make yourself aware of your nearest chance for redemption, which may be behind you ..." 1395
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 26/09/2026"Terry has grown an enormous mouse tail." "Has he? How do you know?" "There are Tel-tail signs." 160
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Critical Star Trek on the season-finale for "Strange New Worlds" s4: latestartrek.substack.com/p/snw-410-wh...latestartrek.substack.comSNW 4.10: What to expect when you’re expecting a Space BabyOr: Was Star Trek ever actually good? 083
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 25/09/2026The newsreader mentioned "Pope Leo" and I heard it as "Popelio" and thought: that would be a good rap name, like "Coolio". And then I checked & discovered (TIL) that Coolio's real name is Leo (strictly: Leon) and that's is why he's called that: he's the Cool Leo. So there you are. 46811
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 25/09/2026A follow-up: the important and pressing question in this old Substack has been answered: it originated in Germany. What wasn't determined is why Germans named it after the Iron Duke. profadamroberts.substack.com/p/the-myster...profadamroberts.substack.comThe Mystery of the Beef WellingtonThat sounds like a Father Brown short-story title, but is not. 473
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026DEVIL: It is agreed! I take your soul, and in return you FAUST: merkin DEVIL: will enjoy all the power and glory in my power to ... wait: what? FAUST: merkin DEVIL: I can make you king of the world, the richest man alive! FAUST: I just want to be a merkin, alright? DEVIL: uh ..... OK? 5235
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026I mean, if "they" are the bears, then this is indeed a mystery. 1524337
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026I appreciate this is archaic German for "Lord", and that's why they've used it, but it's very hard not to read this as THE MISTER OF THE RING. 8214
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026That 1827 lunar eclipse over England was some kind of crazy. 2266
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026From yesterday: Frankenstein's monster's horoscope's illustration. profadamroberts.substack.com/p/the-monste...profadamroberts.substack.comThe Monster’s HoroscopeFrankenstein and the Stars 093
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 23/09/2026The monster's horoscope was cast as early as 1831: profadamroberts.substack.com/p/the-monste...profadamroberts.substack.comThe Monster’s HoroscopeFrankenstein and the Stars 122
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 23/09/2026The shortlived Qin dynasty produced a wealth of richly coloured art, something the successor Han dynasty was never quite able to match, thanks to poor Han-dye coordination. 1613937
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026*crackles* *hiss* *turning the dial, sounds slowly coming clear* ... it's The Archers theme! 191
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026"Which?" magazine tested twelve popular Norman warriors, and picked the one right for your pocket. 1472
Adam Roberts @adamroberts.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Ah, the sweet Goddess of Love! www.discovermagazine.com/venus-may-ha...discovermagazine.comVenus May Have Pulled Its Own Moon Back Toward It, Torn It Apart, and Eaten the RemainsLearn how an astrophysicist’s simulations traced a possible lunar downfall that could have changed Venus’s climate and ability to hold onto water. 714040
Reposted by Adam RobertsHistory Today @historytoday.com · 21/09/2026Philip Hensher’s A History of the Novel in Britain is certainly novel but how does it fare as history? ✍️ Robert Eaglestone reviews the recent #history book buff.ly/PJvctPLbuff.ly‘A History of the Novel in Britain’ by Philip Hensher reviewPhilip Hensher’s A History of the Novel in Britain is certainly novel but how does it fare as history? 274