iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

An #AlternateHistory #Shortstory set in the 1930s that strides the line between #fantasy and #ScienceFiction; about monsters in the world, but it somehow ends on a hopeful note. I liked it very much. Enjoy! #Writersky #Authorsky #AmReading #AmReadingFiction kaleidotrope.net/autumn-2026/...

kaleidotrope.net

'Monsters in the World' by Jenny Rae Rappaport

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I thought I had out-thought Trump when I stocked up on Ellington and Ensign Red whiskeys, the best flavored whisky brands, ahead of the tariffs. But now he's banned them. My stash won't last too far into 2027. Anyone tasted North Korean or Russian flavored whiskey? Those should remain available.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Rewriting, post-critique, I added two hundred words to a story to address points of confusion. A humor piece, it included a new running joke that I found funny but added complexity otherwise unrelated to the story. Pacing suffered. Just deleted all that. Addressed the same issue in 13 words. Onward.

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Reposted by Allan Dyen-Shapiro

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 22/09/2026

Tyrannosaurus xkcd.com/3300/

Comic. [Person with long hair pointing to diagram with Tyrannosaurus Rex standing next to a person.] PERSON: We now believe the primary prey of Tyrannosaurus Rex was these humans who kept standing next to it for scale.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Just caught the #horror/#LoveStory #BoneLake on Netflix. The message: If she's willing to put an axe through the evil maniac's head and make him fall on a chainsaw, she's a keeper. I'm not sure how some folks aren't into romantic movies.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I'm impressed. A magazine (The Phantom Pulse) with submission via Google Form where you're asked for name, title, word count, if you used AI, and attach file. No option for anything else. Submission took 3 minutes. #Writersky #AmWritingFiction #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity #AmWriting #Horror

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Woh. Just caught an excellent #horror #movie on Hulu: #ControlFreak . Truly creepy body horror and a rumination on generational trauma. Highly recommended.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Ellington and Ensign—two best makers of flavored whiskies in my opinion—are both Canadian companies. I stocked up yesterday. Sure, the US is destroying the world climate, dropping bombs everywhere, and terrorizing hard-working immigrants, but raise the price on my alcohol? Trump's a monster.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Well, ultra-selective, fancy-pants journal that’s never published me before, if you're going to send a kind rejection letter well prior to closing your submission window that ends with "We look forward to reading further submissions from you,” your wish is my command. Here’s another. #AmWriting

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I'll bet they'll reimburse me if I place a small deposit for them on the travel. At their in-house travel agency.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Okay, the latest scammers to email went big. "Amazon MGM Studios" wants to acquire the movie rights to my novelette. Will Regal McDonalds be running the concession stand at the theaters that show it? #AmWriting #Writersky #Booksy #AmWritingFiction #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity #WritingLIfe

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

NEW FREEBIE! Reposting my Queer Sci Fi's 2022 contest story, as the anthology has gone out of print. This one is called "Oysters and Other Slimy Creatures." Marine ecology and the rich asshats trying to destroy it. www.allandyenshapiro.com/qsf-stories #Writersky #Microfiction #queer #eco-SF

allandyenshapiro.com

QSF STORIES | literature-blog

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

If you are looking for a fun, dumb movie, I totally recommend #Ick on Amazon Prime. #HarrisonCone 's portrayal of Dylan, a teen constantly quoting and misapplying things he didn't understand (e.g., Foucault) was hysterical.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Today's Google search history: Prices for gold coins Sponsorship requirements for EB-3 visas. How high must blood pressure be to cause death? Yes, officer, it was all for a short story. I'm not trying to hire Nacho Varga as a hitman. Besides, gold futures are trending downward anyway.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

There are some days I miss doing science. There are no days that I miss doing the scrambling for funding that constitute most of what professors spend their days on.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

And de-emphasizing grants to universities in favor of grants to individuals and private companies? While shrinking the government research institutions dramatically? That doesn't sound like a recipe for graft, now does it?

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I've always thought biological sciences and life sciences are synonyms. But what the hell do I know? I've got a Ph.D. from Stanford in biochemistry and had a career in research before Bush II budget cuts ended it.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

"It says federal agencies “should prioritize foundational research in the biological sciences over the life sciences.” From NYT reporting on a new report from the White House science advisor, the first not to have an advanced degree, and his Bachelor's is in political science. What does this mean?

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Enjoy! It's terrific. And I liked La Jetee and the Twelve Monkeys TV show quite a bit.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I have a new favorite actress. #IndeNavarette was unbelievable in #Obsession. Her performance made the movie; it's been a while since a horror movie truly creeped me out. The movie is on Peacock, which means it's free for Comcast subscribers. Watch it.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

From "realizing it's not a great idea to do at the same time" category, I'm reading through slush where I'm expected to be brief and say why stories should be rejected (also accepted, but more of the former) while critiquing stories for a Codex contest--written on short deadline, positivity expected

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Gabriela is an eliminator, an assassin who travels through time, employed by NovartisKochHalliburton as part of their strategy to prevent the intercorporate wars and spare the world the devastation from bioweapons. She has an ulterior motive. And she loves '90s grunge music. Love to see you there.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

#Readercon I would love to see a crowd at my reading tonight. 8 pm Empower/Embrace room. I'll be reading from the longish short story I put out in April with Water Dragon Publications: "The Eliminator." #Readercon35 #TimeTravel #Writersky #AmWriting #AmWritingFiction #WritingCommunity #Sci-Fi

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Holy shit! Researchers at U. of Minnesota just made an artificial cell from purified components that will feed, grow, replicate DNA, divide, and even evolve by natural selection. I just downloaded it; I'm about to start reading. #Writersky #AmWriting #AmWritingFiction biotic.org/research/spu...

biotic.org

Biotic | SpudCell

SpudCell and Biotic — announcement and media factsheet.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Cloud Atlas is $1.99 today on Book Bub. I consider it one of the best literary fiction books (with serious genre elements--the movie made from it, which wasn't as good, leaned into the science fiction aspects) written this century. If you've never read it, that's a really good use of two bucks.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

No disrespect perceived. My comment was more for humor purposes, although it was a genuine anecdote.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Well, as a much more notable (award-nominated, agented) friend put it, there's a reason he doesn't have 40-something stories out at once. At some point, it's supposed to get easier when major publishers look at a new story from you with the presumption they will likely buy it. I'm a ways from there.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Current stats: 41 current submissions to short story markets, 8 planned submissions, 16 stories waiting for me to search for another place to send or rejections to open a market, 1 story awaiting a critique group meeting, 3 sold stories awaiting publication. #AmWriting #AmWritingFiction #Writersky

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Just watched the first episode of #TheVampireLestat . Who else thinks it was totally cool? I can't believe I just watched an episode called "Detroit" and I'm psyched for the next one, even if it is called "Toledo." And no, I'm not joking.

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Reposted by Allan Dyen-Shapiro

MFCarter @mfcarter.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

This makes a hell of a lot of sense.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I finally realized the strategy. Exhaustion. When outrages become daily events, those who would otherwise speak out are too exhausted to do so. How long until 2028?

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I like their AI policy a lot. I intend to submit something to them, and I had decided to do so even before I saw this. Wish me luck!

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

And bookshop.org is also carrying "The Eliminator." Same price as Amazon, but the money goes to a nonprofit that gives 80% of the take to indie bookstores. If you want to read the first scene and a half, go to Amazon and click "free sample." #timetravel #Booksky bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

bookshop.org

The Eliminator

Check out The Eliminator - Gabriela is an eliminator, an assassin traveling through time to prevent the intercorporate wars. And save her son.Although she adores the era's music, th...

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

And now you have your choice of billionaire to buy from. Same price everywhere, but the paperback of "The Eliminator" can be pre-ordered from Barnes and Noble and Amazon, and the digital version is also available from Apple Books, Google Play and Kobo. waterdragonpublishing.com/product/elim...

waterdragonpublishing.com

The Eliminator by Allan Dyen-Shapiro

Gabriela is an eliminator, an assassin traveling through time to prevent the intercorporate wars. And save her son.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Coming as a standalone paperback and digitally from Water Dragon Publishing. Gabriela is an eliminator, an assassin who travels through time to spare the world devastation from bioweapons. She has an ulterior motive. And she loves '90s #grunge music. #TimeTravel www.amazon.com/Eliminator-A...

amazon.com

The Eliminator

The Eliminator - Kindle edition by Dyen-Shapiro, Allan. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Eliminator.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Nebula ballots due on the 15th. With a 4-day weekend from work, finally getting time to read the stories I didn't read prior to nominating ballot and reread rest. #AmReading #AmReadingFiction #Writersky #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity #ScienceFiction #AmReadingSciFi #AmReadingScienceFiction

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Revising story from a Codex "contest" that capped it at 750 words. Too many inconsistencies, not enough plot, said the critics. It grew to 2000 words. Now,to go back and make the language pretty again. To send to my Zoom-based critique group. So many steps before the first market gets to reject it.

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Okay, finally back to finishing up my 2025 short fiction reading before submitting a Nebula ballot. I really liked this one. A bittersweet cli-fi relationship story by @chrisblake.bsky.social #Eco-fiction #Writersky #AmReading #AmReadingFiction #ShortStory www.tractorbeam.earth/story/in-eve...

tractorbeam.earth

In Every Seed, A Hope | Tractor Beam

Would you be the seed of your child's future?

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Allan Dyen-Shapiro @allandyenshapiro.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Lots of us. I posted and then saw several others who did. It's getting more and more appropriate.

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