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John Coxon

@johncoxon.bsky.social
561 followers 469 following 271 posts

Hugo Award winner for @octothorpecast.bsky.social and @royalastrosoc.bsky.social Fowler Award winner for solar-terrestrial science. I play games, read and watch SF, volunteer at conventions, and communicate science. Based in North East England. He/him.

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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Thank you!
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
@ecfriedman.com Hello, please may I ask what lapel mic you use in your videos?
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Yay I will see you there!
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Rockets on Tyne @rocketsontyne.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
What is Rockets on Tyne, you ask? Why, it's a day of SF events taking place on 26 November as part of this year's Books on Tyne festival! Details and tickets here and in the following thread: booksontyne.co.uk
Flyer for Rockets on Tyne, the SF&Fantasy day at the Books on Tyne festival, 26 November 2026. Featuring Adrian Tchaikovsky, Emma Newman, Francis Hardinge, Grace Curtis, and small presses The Braag and Carnyx Press.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Not me looking online for cassette players 👀
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Iris/アイリス 🏳️‍⚧️ @irisdescentbird.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
funniest rom hack reasoning of all time
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Thinking about it more, I cannot think of a single truly international award. The Nobel gets closest but even then I think it's biased away from second/third-world countries (in the strictly correct sense of that terminology).
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I am not sure I think it was possible to make a real international award in 1970. It might be possible (albeit extremely difficult) now?
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Ryan North @ryannorth.ca · 23/09/2026
Pompeii is a UNESCO world heritage site not because it was remarkable in its prime, but because it survived to our era untouched: one moment, preserved for all time. But future generations won't know what OUR world was like unless we do the same. This is why we MUST bury Toronto with a volcano
Picture of the streets of Pompeii, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompei_-_panoramio_(26).jpg. Taken by Tanya Dedyukhina, used under CC
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@scottedelman.bsky.social Please may I ask, what microphone do you use for Eating the Fantastic?
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Stephanie 🍉 @ageofoddish.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
mmygod
the slut gnomes of false berlin jeopardy bluesky posttoday's jeopardy categories. the last 2 are "false berlin" and "bizarre little men"
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michael @modality.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
RASCAL NEWSLETTER: The "Genocide Is Bad" organization has determined that this owners of this golf course actively support genocide. They have asked people not to play golf here, so go forward fully informed about the political context surrounding it. Now watch this drive
A screenshot from Rascal's newsletter which reads:

[Blizzard Entertainment is owned by Microsoft, which has been named a "priority target" by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement over its complicity in Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestine and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. That boycott explicitly extends to Xbox and Microsoft's gaming products. I am about to spend a few paragraphs writing about a game I love (warts and all), so go forward fully informed about the political context surrounding it.]

World of Warcraft has once again activated the siren call, luring me back to shores I've explored for the majority of my life at this point. This latest temptation is the strongest and most devious, nostalgia mixed with big promises in the form of Wow: Forever. (The essay goes on.)
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sam “ludonarrative disinterest” sorensen @samsorensen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
[rings bell] theoryslop! theoryslop! come get yer theoryslop while it's still hot!
one page. header reads "RPG DESIGNER THEORYSLOP ALIGNMENT CHARTS & SHEET." gray text under the header reads "You have 20 points to assign to each stat array, Pendragon-style. For tri- or otherwise multi-polar arrays, express the stats as ranges, e.g. “Gamist 1–7 / Dramatist 8–9 / Simulationist 10–20.”
subheaders followed by lines for writing read: "Designer: / Project: / Link:"
subheader reads "Binary Traits," followed by a list of silly game studies paired descriptors and space to write stats: "Ludologist / Narratologist // Game-as-Activity / Game-as-Object // Proceduralist / Anti-Proceduralist // Diegetic / Endogenous // Suitsian / Non-Suitsian // Closed Lusory Goal / Open Lusory Goal // Toy-Game / Meta-Game // Character-Locked / Authorial // Problem-Solving / Story-Telling // Rulebooks / Adventures."
subheader reads "Special Twinned Binary Traits (the Bartle Zone)," followed by gray text reading "Assign 20 points to each axis, but make a single roll when testing the combined traits." following is a two-axis chart, north-south reading "Social / Non-Social" and west-east reading "Aggressive / Passive." 
in the second column, a subheader reads "Multi-Polar Traits" followed by shapes with stats at their corners: triangle, "Dramatist / Gamist / Simulationist"; square, "Agon / Alea / Mimicry / Ilinx"; hexagon, "Classic / OSR / Trad / Nordic larp / Neotrad / Storygames"; square, "Gamer / Actor / Socialite / Immersive." 
a subheader reads "Skills," followed by a big list of 32 skills, with space for stats next to each: Academia, Acting, Art Direction, Blog, Cartography, Copyediting, Credit Rating, Day Jon, Game Studies, Graphic Design, Illustration, Layout, Line Editing, Livestream, Marketing, Networking, Operations, Organizing, Podcast, Printing, Production, Proofreading, Shitpost, Shortform Video, Social Media, Thirst Trap, Video Essay, Web Dev, Writ. (Adventure), Writing (Lore), Writing (Rules), Other: "
gray text reads "Sam Sorensen, September 2026"same theoryslop designer sheet as before, this time filled out in handwritten green, for me, Sam. I skew towards problem-solving, goal-driven play, as well as towards adventures, imaginary worlds, and simulationism. the notable inclusions in my skills lists are a +6 in game studies, a +4 in academic, blog, layout, line editing, and adventure-writing, and a +2 in "museum," my "other" skill
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Kieron Gillen @kierongillen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Playing a Lord of the Rings Hack of Thirsty Sword Lesbians (i'm an entwife), and it made me make memes mid game, which is always a good sign.
Arrested Development "But it might work for us" meme, with How about Taking the Ring, like Isildur, Deagol and Smeagol as what may work out for them.
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Octothorpe @octothorpecast.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Do you feel that your life has insufficient Octo-ness in it? Want to connect with other people who send a lot of Discord messages? Why not join @octocon.bsky.social, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, and come to a live recording of Octothorpe! www.octocon.com
A graphic for Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, showing that Octothorpe are online guests! Also there's a dragon and a robot.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
@casella.bsky.social Loving the third-wave coffee content in the LAcon V episode!
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I'm going to be an online guest, alongside @bohemiancoast.bsky.social and @lizbatty.bsky.social, at @octocon.bsky.social and they sent me a lovely graphic to plug it!
Graphic with text reading “OCTOCON: THE NATIONAL IRISH SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION. Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2026. Clayton Hotel Cork City & Online. Online Guest: John Coxon – Octothorpe. octocon.com”. The background is a light purple and has a skyline in black with a robot and flying dragon in white and a UFO in green.
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Today’s poem is called ‘You Can’t Judge a Book’.
You Can’t Judge a Book
 
you can’t judge a book
by its cover

but neither can
you cover a judge
with a book

unless the book
is a foldy-out one
with a map or something


Brian Bilston
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qntm @qntm.org · 12/09/2026
terrytao.wordpress.com
A Severe Misalignment of AI in Mathematics
I am proud to be among the list of 25 initial signatories — all Fields Medallists — to the declaration below, which grew out of discussions between ourselves over the last week. We have…
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Friends don't let friends read @tabletopgamingnews.bsky.social – appalling behaviour.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Clearly I need a new flirting face…
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I hope you both recover soon and I'm glad we're friends ❤️
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Mike X. Nichols @mikexnichols.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Thinking about this exchange today
A YouTube video for the Water Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The comments section has an exchange as detailed below. “@TheMrdangles16 • 11y ago: 
i hate the water temple... too confusing :(“ “@KeithHalsell • 2y ago: 
it's been 9 years, i hope you are doing great in life now.” “@TheMrdangles16 • 2y ago: it couldn't be going worse Keith.”
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
My sister-in-law is listening to the radio. "…according to John Coxon, a criminal defence attorney…" Those of you with more common names probably have this a lot, but I am 37 and it was a new and very eerie experience!
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Robin D. Laws @robindlaws.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I hate puzzles in RPGs I get enough of that figuring out how European showers work
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Dan Moren @dmoren.com · 31/08/2026
It was a blast. Thanks to all our panelists! @aahabershaw.bsky.social, @sandrarosner.bsky.social, Nikhil Prabala, @pematson.bsky.social, @johncoxon.bsky.social and @catvalente.bsky.social!
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Paul "Princejvstin" Weimer @princejvstin.com · 29/08/2026
"Sith Puppy" @casella.bsky.social @johncoxon.bsky.social @hugogirlpodcast.bsky.social @worldbuildcast.bsky.social #laconv @laworldcon.bsky.social
John coxon, Kevin anderson and Lori Anderson
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Scott Edelman @scottedelman.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Friday, I pontificated with @johncoxon.bsky.social on a Worldcon panel. Sunday, I partied with him during the Hugos. Today, once I landed back home, he was waiting to whisper in my ear on a new episode of @octothorpecast.bsky.social. There's no escaping him! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/167-way-mo...
Selfie of the two of us, John in a dark suit, me in a jacket of large white and grey checks with red fringe, as well as a garland of red and grey aliens.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Hello new followers 👋
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Ben Miller @extinctmonsters.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The internet was absolutely a mistake but this is one of like five admissible pieces of evidence that it’s good actually
What I'm doing with my life
sometimes sheets can be propped up to be a cave but other times they lie flat like a ground. why is that
I'm looking for
• poposable thumbs
• Tall as counter
• Understanding of locks
• Warms
The first things people usually notice about me i am small enough to use pieces of furniture in different ways that are surprising to humans eg edge of the bed is actually a tiny step for me to use like a borrower
The six things I could never do without cold chickens, heated chickens, small dry pellet chickkens, chickens from a can with picture of cat on it, chickens from the sea (also in can but missing cat picutre on can), chicken from larger animals like beef
The most private thing I'm willing to admit iwill climb on top of you in the night and settle like a tiny rain cloud
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Hey @1password.bsky.social I remember when you were a Mac app that respected and was part of the Mac community, that seems so long ago now 😞
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Sean McCoy @sean.tuesdayknightgames.com · 26/08/2026
Mothership Month is back this year, with one big caveat: no crowdfunding, no new releases. Instead we're investing back in the community: For starters: the Jump-9 Writers Grant will invest $9k in 3 new writers to help them each create a Mothership zine. www.failuretolerated.com/mothership-m...
failuretolerated.com
Mothership Month 2026
<p><strong>Mothership Month is coming November 1 - November 30,</strong> back to our regularly scheduled timeslot. With one big caveat: <strong>No crowdfunding this year.</strong></p> <p>I don’t know ...
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C. Robert Cargill @crobertcargill.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I'm REALLY hoping that Nicholas Hoult had someone whisper in his ear what Rowling has been saying and went "People think I'm fine with WHAT? Tell them I'm busy." I will say, from experience, most Hollywood folk aren't as aware of this stuff as you'd believe. Many don't even go online anymore.
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Finn McLellan @saranadosfiction.com · 24/08/2026
(Also fuck the 'TERF island' rhetoric - the majority of people over here fairly solidly don't care one way or the other, and the sad minority of bigots don't need us helping them by pretending they have more support than they do. They're a small loud group of powerful asshats, and that's *all*)
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Moose is entirely right, and it's a problem. We need more people trying to engage and understand in good faith, as opposed to deliberate misreading to score points with your friends/audience/clique etc!
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
@anilineapps.bsky.social I was trying to type a message and Indigo kept asking for permission to paste from Safari, would not respect me tapping "do not allow". I eventually had to capitulate to finish what I was doing.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
It might be confusing but that doesn't mean you can't know the answer! I'm a physicist, so if the one followed from the other my entire field of study would collapse.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Welcome to 2016! 😉
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
There is a thing that frustrates me, and it's when social media accounts nominally represent 2+ people, but are used by one person as a personal account. Frustrates me even more when it's an account for a male-and-female team and it's a man who's monopolising it. There are multiple examples of this!
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gita “the formalist” jackson @xoxogossipgita.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
when people justify their cruelty to me with variations on "this is what it used to be like in journalism" or "you'd never survive an art crit" or similar, what i want to say is: who do you think succeeds in such an environment, and who gets marginalized?
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Couldn't agree more. It's different in Glasgow – shops can open late in Scotland – but then the bloomin' Subway shuts at 6pm on Sunday so you can't get to them!
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Anon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
People with nicknames like "crazy Kevin" or "wacky Dave" are always the dullest people you are ever likely to meet. I'm convinced most of them came up with the nickname themselves because they're aware of this
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I'd be up for Ancient Greek trains!
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Yessssss this is good news
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Popeye's is good, but I think Nando's is better and Alison is incorrect.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
And I'm the co-director of the Tyneside Games Expo alongside other lovely folks including @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @bags4dice.bsky.social. It's running 17–18 October 2026 at Gateshead International Stadium and you can find out more here!
tynesidegamesexpo.co.uk
Home | Tyneside Games Expo
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I also won the Fowler Award for Geophysics from the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social in 2025 for my work on solar-terrestrial physics (often called space weather). My research primarily focuses on electric currents that flow in and out of Earth's atmosphere: I've made several key discoveries in the field.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Time for a new #introduction! I'm John (he/him) 👋 Scientist by day, keen gamer, SF fan and podcaster by night. I won the Hugo Award in 2024 for cohosting the @octothorpecast.bsky.social podcast, alongside @bohemiancoast.bsky.social and @lizbatty.bsky.social. We mostly discuss conventions!
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I got a C at Physics A-Level, but then got my first-class master's, my PhD, and I'm now lecturing physics. The grade isn't important: the reaction to it is.
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John Coxon @johncoxon.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
@aconytebooks.bsky.social The Lucius Galloway sheet on this page is slightly wrong, it doesn't have his name at the top like all the others do. Please may this be fixed?
arkhamhorror.com
Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebooks: Downloads | ArkhamHorror.com | The Official Arkham Horror Website Fiction
The Kingsport Metamorphosis The Tides of Innsmouth The Darkness Over Arkham Downloadable Investigators Blank Character Sheets
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