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Ali Baker

@alisonbaker01.bsky.social
1.1K followers 938 following 1.7K posts

BA Primary lecturer at UEL. Children's fantasy literature researcher. Podcast host at Fantasy Book Swap. Trans rights are human rights. No DMs without asking first. I am a prolific blocker.

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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Good lord the book discourse on social media has been particularly exhausting this week. People have been hating on: * A woman who had a long-cherished tote bag with the signatures of her favourite authors and was mildly annoyed that a random author signed it without being asked
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Every year I say “this year induction week is sorted and Nothing Can Go Wrong.” Every year the fates spit in my tea. This year I have a colleague in an emergency hospitalisation and another on extended bereavement leave, and we’re already covering another colleague’s maternity leave.
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NewsThump @newsthump.com · 16/09/2026
NEWS! Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed as new support act for Ed Sheeran tour buff.ly/0RbZo7d
newsthump.com
Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed as new support act for Ed Sheeran tour
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been confirmed as the new support act for Ed Sheeran’s tour after everyone else quit.
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Nicholas Jackson @njj4.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Well, I've pretty much finished my latest knitting project: a copy of the scarf Tom Baker wore in his last season of Doctor Who. It's basically unwearable but it was certainly a fun project. I'm thinking I might knit a shorter (and narrower) one that I can actually wear normally.
Me, standing in my garden, wearing a longish black coat and an absurdly long red, purple and orange scarf.A very long red, orange and purple scarf, hanging in my conservatory.A ridiculously long red, orange and purple scarf, stretched out on the floor of my lounge. I've folded it in two so it'll fit in the room.
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The Midnight Society @midnightpals.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Mr Beast: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the most dangerous game Richard Connell: hey wait a second
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
There you go. Absolutely gobsmacking. But mostly just incredibly embarrassing. bsky.app/profile/adam...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
For the morning gang
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Wake up* babes**, there’s a new Fantasy Book Swap episode! alibaker68.podbean.com/e/ep-58-a-re...
alibaker68.podbean.com
Ep 58: A Real Boy with Gary Couzens | Fantasy Book Swap
Gary's book choice: The Devil's Children by Peter Dickinson  Ali's book choice: Tin by Padraig Kenny  The book covers while I try to be a book influencer The Changes TV show trailer Anna Home, childre...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Mmm. Marina Hyde, eh. Her Q and A is the final nail in the Guardian coffin.
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lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
It's being treated as a policy victory that we have less of the world's smart young people coming to learn from us, participate in our society and economy. This is just so depressing to me, it feels like a complete victory for know-nothing ignorant bigotry over enlightened sensibilities.
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Redwall Feasts Bot @redwallfeasts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
He stuffed himself with toasted bilberry scones, slices of woodland plum spice cake, cucumber sandwiches, a cheese 'n' onion pasty, and a large tankard of October ale.
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Dave Cook @davecook.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We’re only £194 from the goal now 😳 Thanks to our backers so far. If you’d want to help us hit the goal, we’re doing a cheap £4 digital copy, and a digital catch up bundle with issue #1. Either way, it’s always incredibly appreciated 🙏 Reposts welcome ❤️ www.kickstarter.com/projects/bus...
kickstarter.com
Killtopia: Phantoms #2
Cyberpunk and horror collide! An elite Neo Tokyo police unit hunts a mind hacker who makes peoples' fears a reality.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
StepTeen and I are in London for a few days. Travelling from our hotel to the city centre by Thames Clipper is always a joy.
Tower Bridge, London from the river
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TarZangief @tarzangief.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
"Neutral in the culture war"
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Dr Laura Varnam @drlauravarnam.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I am so looking forward to being in conversation with Daphne du Maurier’s grandson Paul de Zulueta at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in October! We’ll be talking about Paul’s forthcoming memoir, LAST NIGHT I DREAMT. Tickets on general sale 3 Sept www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/last-...
Paul de Zulueta, Daphne du Maurier’s grandson, at the Cheltenham Literature FestivalLast Night I Dreamt: A Personal History of the Du Mauriers by Paul de Zulueta
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saxylizbeth @saxylizbeth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
BBC News - do better. JKKK - take her name out of your hateful transphobic mouth and fuck off into the sun while you do it.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Good morning! Latest podcast episode on The Borribles and @elencaldecott.bsky.social’s The Blackthorn Branch alibaker68.podbean.com/e/ep-57-lost...
alibaker68.podbean.com
Ep 57 Lost boys and celebrity rivers with Tajinder Hayer | Fantasy Book Swap
Ali’s choice: The Borribles by Michael de Larrabeiti Taj’s choice: The Blackthorn Branch by Elen Caldecott Ebbs and Flows by Tajinder on Ragged Edge Productions’ website Taj’s episode of Zog: The Grea...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New podcast episode with the brilliant scriptwriter and playwright Tajinder Hayer. Enjoy! alibaker68.podbean.com/e/ep-57-lost...
alibaker68.podbean.com
Ep 57 Lost boys and celebrity rivers with Tajinder Hayer | Fantasy Book Swap
Ali’s choice: The Borribles by Michael de Larrabeiti Taj’s choice: The Blackthorn Branch by Elen Caldecott Ebbs and Flows by Tajinder on Ragged Edge Productions’ website Taj’s episode of Zog: The Grea...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I can’t see the eclipse from where I am, but on the other hand I have a cold drink and nobody wants anything from me.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
He was a vile human being.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Next episode of Fantasy Book Swap is messing with the format but not jumping the shark as my guest, screenwriter Tajinder Hayer chose a contemporary book! So I have chosen Michael de Larrabeiti’s brilliantly anarchic The Borribles. You can read more about it here: vector-bsfa.com/2023/12/02/s...
vector-bsfa.com
Vector 294 SFF and Class
Vector 294 is now available to download. We open issues to the public after about two years. An index of back issues of Vector can be found at the ISFDB. For the availability of individual print is…
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Los Angeles Worldcon @laworldcon.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Congratulations to our Toastmaster Ursula Vernon @tkingfisher.com for recently being named the winner of the 2026 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature for her work, Snake-Eater! (This is your sign to add this book to your TBR if you haven't already.)
Mythopoeic Awards logo
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Ok, in that case I’m going to do a dramatic interpretation of Time by David Bowie.
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Wizard's Tower Press @wtpress.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
It is Book Quote Wednesday and the word is 'ride'. We are in the last week for the Best of British StoryBundle, which includes Fight Like A Girl #2. This extract is from 'The Seamstress, The Hound, The Cook and Her Brother' by K T Davies #BookQW storybundle.com/bestof
Through the narrow panes she saw the strangers throw saddles on their mounts and ride from the castle still tightening their girths. Such was their haste that one of the horses slipped on the mist-slicked cobbles and fell. The rider lay where he fell, but the horse staggered to its feet and charged after the others. When the riderless horse overtook the others, none of them slowed or looked back to see what had become of their companion. Defying the rules about kitchen staff wandering the halls of the castle, Onya rushed up the stairs, and was almost knocked off her feet by a dozen of the Aubro’s men as they ran into the courtyard. She followed them as far as the door. Beyond the gate she could see the plotters split up and ride off the road, which was dangerous even on a clear day, let alone a miserable fog-bound morn. And then she saw why. A column of mounted knights resplendent in the scarlet and gold livery of the king were riding along the road from the east.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Anyway, if you want a brilliant book to read around Halloween, The Blackthorn Branch by @elencaldecott.bsky.social is brilliant. As a very poor Welsh speaker I particularly love the interweaving of Welsh words and phrases into the text, which changes the rhythm in my head as I read it. Wonderful.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I keep reading autumnal books at the moment. I am about to do my hundredth (possibly not hundredth) re-read of The Borribles for the podcast. It’s a book that I associate with London in 1976. A US reviewer called it dystopian. London in 1976 was fairly dystopian, I suppose.
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Barrington Stoke @barringtonstoke.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We are delighted to announce What It Was Like to be a Norman, the latest in @writerdavidlong.bsky.social's acclaimed series exploring the daily life, culture and legacy of the world’s most extraordinary historical civilisations. Are you missing any from your collection? Publishing October 2026.
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Minimus @minimuslatin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
#fabulamurina (mouse story) 517 mures iter ad litus faciunt (The mice are on a trip to the seaside). Minimus et Minima velarium erigunt, ne musculi adusti fiant (Minimus and Minima put up an awning, so the little mice don't get sunburned).
Photo of Minimus, Minima and Silvius, the Latin mice, with the little fingerpuppet mouse cousins, at Walberswick on the Suffolk coast. They are all under a green linen sun shade supported by sticks.
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Angela Cleland / Cleland Smith @angelacleland.co.uk · 27/07/2026
Love the use of “outwith” in the title. ⭐️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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Kingfisher & Wombat @tkingfisher.com · 27/07/2026
Yaaaaaay!
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Dr Stew Hotston (he/him) @stewarthotston.com · 27/07/2026
A reminder that the FantasyCon banquet early bird tickets end on Friday. If you're coming and thinking of attending now's the time to buy. it's always a great time of celebrating the best of British genre fiction. Much recommend.
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Booniss Everdrunk @bookiesnacksize.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Pals please be careful signing and sharing petitions. I've just seen one doing the rounds to save Jodrell Bank which when you read it includes a dogwhistley lil bit linking science cuts to "people whose presence here is unlawful" 👀
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Mates, pals, buddies who “create content” (I prefer to think I create discontent but there you go) speak to me of Patreon and how I can support my podcast-hosting, book buying and fancy tea* habit * Not a euphemism. We have 8 types of tea in our kitchen.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
New episode, with the music psychologist and singer Dr Annie Czajkowski alibaker68.podbean.com/e/ep-56-weir...
alibaker68.podbean.com
Ep 56: Weird Science with Dr Annie Czajkowski | Fantasy Book Swap
Annie’s choice:The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts  Ali’s choice: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge A short piece by Willo Davis Roberts on writing mysteries for young people Annie has...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
New episode, with the music psychologist and singer Dr Annie Czajkowski alibaker68.podbean.com/e/ep-56-weir...
alibaker68.podbean.com
Ep 56: Weird Science with Dr Annie Czajkowski | Fantasy Book Swap
Annie’s choice:The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts  Ali’s choice: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge A short piece by Willo Davis Roberts on writing mysteries for young people Annie has...
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
I loved The Smiths in the 1980s. Johnny Marr is still one of my favourite guitarists. However, why anyone can claim that someone who fetishised The Krays and skinhead culture isn't racist is beyond me.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Dear Steve Lamaq and Felix White on BBC 6Music, you’re aware that women write and perform indie guitar music, right?
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju... And so it begins
theguardian.com
Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami on UK charges of rape and sex trafficking
Britain to seek extradition over alleged sexual exploitation, ‘extreme pornography’ and assault and indecent images of a child
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
My teen leaves school in 2 days. He is going into special needs provision in a further education college and this is amazing. But the school has been a huge part of all of our lives for 11 years. Stupid leaking eyes
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Tade Thompson @tadethompson.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
static.klipy.com
Cant Sleep: Startled Woman Wakes in Space
Alt: Cant Sleep: Startled Woman Wakes in Space
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I have earwormed myself. I’ve got “So you look just like Snufkin” to the tune of Grace Kelly by Mika on a continuous loop in my brain.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I have just seen a man who looks exactly like Snufkin, except he’s wearing shorts #Brighton #Moomins
static.klipy.com
Snusmumriken Snufkin and Moomin
Alt: Snufkin and Moomintroll
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Juliet E McKenna @julietemckenna.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Did the guy sell Kushner a bridge to get to this island as well?
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
I’m at a symposium on Frances Hardinge. Shana Worthen is doing an excellent talk on food and tea in Frances’s short stories. I love coming to events like this. Fascinating!
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Redwall Feasts Bot @redwallfeasts.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Acorn bread was served with celery-studded yellow cheese, a large quince tart was brought out, and dandelion cordial and 10-season mead flowed freely.
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Sandy Ernest Allen @sandyernestallen.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Louis C.K. has a new Netflix special and candidly this fact makes me sick. That dude’s a sexual predator and folks *just do not care*.
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
What fabulous news! @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social is the new Children’s Laureate!
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Dr Phoenix CS Andrews @thatdocphoenix.com · 06/07/2026
Cry harder Cristiano
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Y VIVA L’ESPAÑA
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Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I really enjoyed this discussion, as you can probably tell from my cackling.
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