iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 12h

So now authors accusing other authors of using AI is going to be the latest example of the left eating itself. Was bound to happen. Good ol’ human ego.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

I’m now up to receiving about five to ten emails a day from AI bots pretending to be literary agents, famous authors, etc. It will likely never end, even if I never write another book in decades. When you think about this, it’s quite literally insane.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

It’s possible that the most boring thing in the universe is the combination of Eric Clapton and music (Cream excepted).

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I only know it because I happen to own that one as well. And have read it six or seven times.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I love the scary teeth in the sky cover.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Some writers deserving of being a Nobel laureate who never would be given the honor: Le Guin, Moorcock, Octavia Butler, Mieville, Pratchett, Aldiss, Ballard, Lem, Dick, Bradbury, Iain Banks, Brunner, Liu Cixin - and, yes, Tolkien.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Maybe. Good theory. I think it’s the science fiction thing too. Get no respect, I tell ya.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

At this point, you have to wonder if the Nobel committee is just punishing Margaret Atwood for having TV shows made from her work, meaning regular people might actually be familiar with it. Or has she done too much speculative fiction?

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I feel really bad for young people. I’ve had several decades to fully assimilate the fact that humanity is flushing itself down a toilet to extinction. You get used to the feeling.

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Reposted by Allister Thompson

Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Atmospheric rock music doesn’t get better than this. youtu.be/CJrS-TCHU-Y?...

youtu.be

Lanterns On The Lake - Beings (The Quay Sessions)

YouTube video by BBC

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Now you just need a follow from the Great Horned One.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Indeed they do. Some people have considerably more money than sense.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Thank you, likewise. I’ve always responded well to your work, no matter what kind of ‘fi’ you are aiming for in each project!

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Yes, that would be reason three to embrace it. I sometimes have done that.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I feel stupid now for once being self-conscious about my self-produced music being ‘lo-fi.’ First, only twits care about sound quality more than emotional effect, and second, it’s the mark of human authenticity to do the best you can with what you can afford.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

You’d think I could have gotten some ‘elbows up’ action for an affectionate album of 80s and 90s Canadian cover versions, but nooooo, it’s all ‘where can I source Canadian-grown avocados’ instead. thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com/album/nowher...

thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com

Nowhere Is the Dreamer: Songs from a Gen X Canadian Youth, by Allister Thompson

16 track album

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just watched Lynch’s ‘Dune’ for the 1st time in 20 years. Despite its flaws like being overly campy and positively racing through the middle section (and the endless internal whispering), it’s still worlds better than that recent soulless Tim Chalet nonsense. Bonus points for Toto’s excellent work!

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

When you know without checking that Clive Davis would have signed Danko's solo album, not Lou Adler, you know you have gone too deep into the lore.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Currently editing a book about The Band...my super fanboy knowledge has allowed me to fact-check a number of chronological issues and also made me want to listen to The Band. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaKD...

youtube.com

King Harvest - The Band (720p HD Quality High Def sound)

YouTube video by Raskvidh

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I swear, fancy schools of writing must tell their earnest prospective novelists, "literary fiction must ALWAYS be about a series of very bad, tragic, dreary things happening to people." ALWAYS.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Oh, he’s something all right. I’ve had many cats, and this one takes the cake. In a good way.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Just hanging out in a flower pot in the sun, as you do, daydreaming of the possibility of people buying Daddy’s work on Bandcamp Friday.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My reaction to 99 out of each 100 shows and films made in the last 15 years that I’ve attempted to watch.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Well, it is really good and you probably aren’t familiar with the story, so you should watch it.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Fall is the best time to be a Canadian.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Also, the Rolling Stone writer is genuinely obtuse. I’m plenty culturally engaged, but I may never hear this song at all unless it’s playing in a store. You’re right; one of the few positives these days is you CAN curate the musical experience you want and avoid commercial radio altogether.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It does not, hence my irritation, but I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Did you feel ‘zen’ afterward?

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Reposted by Allister Thompson

Breakfast in the Ruins Podcast @breakfastruins.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

New episode: It's release day for the ninth album by The Belbury Poly, so Jim Jupp dropped by Derry & Toms to talk about his love of Moorcock, genre fiction, electroica, hauntology and all that good stuff, as well as @ghostboxrecords.bsky.social and various other things. Join us!

breakfastintheruins.com

Sorcery by The Belbury Poly – a conversation with Jim Jupp

Jim Jupp drops by Derry & Toms to talk about his love of genre fiction, his path into making music as Belbury Poly, and the beginnings of Ghost Box Records, the label he founded with Julian Hou…

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Grows like mad here. Covered in bumblebees.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Of course, now I can just get the agreement I seek by plugging the above into a chatbot.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The best way to look at AI chatbots is as a heaving, pulsating, eldritch collected mass of every emotion and impulse lurking in the minds of human beings, all congealed together. And when you ask this oracle to justify whatever emotions you’re feeling, it will promptly do that and egg you on.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I’m sure even amateur gardeners know this already, but it’s kind of neat that sedum grows so easily but also attracts tons of bees and butterflies in the fall. Makes the flower beds seem useful.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Re: the latest ‘Did AI write this award-winner?’ scandal: People who say that at this time you can’t tell for sure if AI was heavily used to draft a novel are full of crap, IMO. An experienced editor should be able to read a couple of chapters and detect it immediately. Caveat: at this time…

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Fortunately, for me, there’s not nearly enough delay pedals used in country music for me to listen to it.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I sure hope there’s a lot of archival unheard Dolly Parton songs out there, because if her last ever recorded vocal on an original song is with Bono…gross.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I always appreciate it when people make nice long albums. This new one from Marine Eyes is a beauty. A whole hour! marineeyes.bandcamp.com/album/hidden...

marineeyes.bandcamp.com

hidden hour, by marine eyes

18 track album

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

While it’s true that identity stuff is a declared and open factor in arts funding of individuals (people can feel however they want about that, I guess), it’s really about giving successful artists more money so they can go on being successful. In a nutshell.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I am referring to them, yes. I’m not saying their music is bad, but anybody with a listening history with avant-garde music would find it pleasant but maybe a little ho hum. I imagine the people going apeshit for it love the costumes and have never been exposed to anything even vaguely interesting.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It’s pretty clear that progressive rock people have had it all wrong for quite some time. If they go back to putting on zany costumes, they’ll clean up all the prizes and be taken seriously again.

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Listened to this one while I was walking the cat this morning. Definitely helped my vibes.

Morton Feldman, for Samuel Beckett on the Kairos label

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Well, here's something pretty darn neat, being recognized by the Toronto Urban Book Expo group for my efforts as an acquisition editor to promote and amplify the voices of Black Canadian writers. I'm quite moved to receive this! tubookexpo.com/awards

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Allister Thompson @allistert.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This is Richard Thompson's (no relation) "Calvary Cross," performed by me and Matt Borghi. You listen, you like. thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com/track/calvar...

thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com

Calvary Cross (Richard Thompson), by Allister Thompson - The Gateless Gate

from the album Unwanted Compliments - The Best Cover Versions

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