Sign in

Mark A. Rayner

@markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
202 followers 1 following 407 posts

Human-shaped, monkey-loving, robot-fighting, pirate-hearted, storytelling junkie, Mark is an award-winning author of satire and science fiction. (alt texts: avatar […] [bridged from mas.to/@markarayner on the fediverse by fed.brid.gy ]

PostsRepliesMedia
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 16h
Chim-kin. #dog #dogs #leeloo #fifthelement #humor #humour
a terrier dressed up as leeloo from the fifth element, including orange wig
022
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026
This week's edition of Pirate Ontology is all about the terrible time I lost the funny. Yes, it was worse than writer's block! markarayner.beehiiv.com/p/worse-tha… Sign up to get a free novel! #humor #humour #writing #amwriting #bookstodon #novel #comedy
the tragedy and comedy masks, with very scrotacular chins
003
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026
The vibe when I finally eat dinner. #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #humor #humour [video description: an orange kitten lies on its side in a food bowl, kneading the kibble and eating it.
011
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2026
@davidtheeviloverlord 😆
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2026
That look, when you're caught stealing all the wombats. #wombat #wombats #humor #humour
a man looks guilty as he holds one wombat in his arms and another wombat looks out from his bag
3813
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2026
A writer's solution to the eternal problem. #cat #cats #castsofmastodon #humor #humour #writing #amwriting [video description: a cat sleeps in the sunshine while its hooman types on a keyboard resting on the cat's side.]
053
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 05/10/2026
October is off to a humiliating start. #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #october #pumpkin #humor #humour
a cat looking very grumpy after its hooman balanced a tiny pumpkin (gourd) on its head
1814
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
It's Sunday, so here is the required Jesus content. Sorry, best I could do. #keanu #Capybara #humor #humour
keanu reeves as jesus holding a sleepy capybera
011
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 03/10/2026
Worst #caturday ever. #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #dog #dogs #humor #humour
four big dogs pooping in a yard
142
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026
No, that's just the disembodied skull bebop you're hearing. #scoobydoo #daphne #fred #humor #humour #spooky
Daphne and Fred from the scooby doo gang, looking worried while a skull plays the trumpet in the background with the caption: There's something mighty spooking going on around here.
001
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2026
"Is Canadian conspiracy." #rocky #bullwinkle #cartoons #humor #humour
boris and natasha from rocky and bullwinkle show saying to trump:
"Tell them is fake news, work of moose and squirrel."
026
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 30/09/2026
It's not an oxymoron, it's a superposition! #dickens #quantum #humor #humour #schrodinger
Dickens: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Schrodinger: Nice
032
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 29/09/2026
Spooky season is almost here. #soon #skeleton #october #humor #humour
giant skeleton holding up a sign that says "soon"
025
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 28/09/2026
Wow, that guy really wanted that last parking space. #monday #mondaymotivation #humor #humour
032
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 27/09/2026
Are you crying? There's no crying in *checks notes* in the Zipper! markarayner.com/the-zipper #carnies #rides #humor #humour
sign that says: rid will only be stopped by an emergency (crying is not an emergency)
012
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 26/09/2026
Yet another confusing #caturday for this kitten that thinks it's a duck. #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #humor #humour [video description: a little black kitten meowing in a store, sounding more like a duck than a cat]
030
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2026
@tezoatlipoca Yes, desiccated but at the same time, also rotting.
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2026
@tezoatlipoca Yeah, maybe just some dried-out carrot sticks.
100
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2026
Do you get fries with that? Or is that more of a mashed potatoes dish? #dystopia #weird #signs #humor #humour
restaurant sign that says:
Today's specials
crushing dystopian sadness 2.55
146
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026
"Wacky with a sustaining thread of raw existential angst. .. Mark A. Rayner juggles it all in his black humor, satirical multiverse romp layered over the big questions of identify, meaning and what matters when everything is jumbled up." –Lynda Williams, author of the […] [Original post on mas.to]
5 star-review
Wacky with a sustaining thread of raw existential angst.

Ever been troubled by the mess a multiverse would make of your identity, life, and the meaning of a special night together in a tent? Or wondered what different versions of you might have in common. Or not.

Mark A. Rayner juggles it all in his black humor, satirical multiverse romp layered over the big questions of identify, meaning and what matters when everything is jumbled up.

A fun read that's occasionally poignant in a nippy way. cover art for alpha max by mark a. rayner
022
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026
Just kittens? Surely, puppies too? And what about baby otters? #cat #cats #kittens #humor #humour #catsofmastodon
sign that says: nuclear war is bad for kittens with a picture of a kitten reaching a paw upwards
011
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026
Yeah, yeah. The time knife. We've all seen it. [video description: Eckhart Tolle discussing how the future does not exist over pretty images of sunsets, etc ... ] #thegoodplace #eckharttolle #time #existentialism #humor #humour
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026
This setup really puts the "loo" in ballooning. #prollyAI #balloon #loom #humor #humour
balloon basket with a toilet inside and a roll of toilet paper on the outside.
003
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026
Same here vending machine. You got this. #monday #mondayvibe #humor #humour #darkhumor
food vending machine that has a sign on it that says: the light inside is broken but i still work
11652
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 20/09/2026
Sunny Day Sweepin' the tanks away Looking for cookies to eat Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Ka-i-ju Street #cookiemonster #grover #thatTail #kaiju #godzilla #humor #humour
toy that looks like gozilla's body, but with cookie monster's head, and grover's face on the tail -- all blue, not green
109
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 19/09/2026
Somehow, the brother IN the box is still winning.
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 19/09/2026
It's another brotherly #caturday! #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #humor #humour
a grey cat squishing an orange cat inside a shoebox
2740
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 18/09/2026
Very weird dogs have a cute case of the zoomies! #Iknowtheyarebovines #bovines #cattle #dog #dogs #humor #humour
012
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 17/09/2026
Uh, guys, I know you're operating out of a former fast food joint, but typography still matters. #Taintstore #TaintGoodDesign #humor #humour
a former pizza hut repurposed into a paint store with a sign that reads "Taint" store
032
Reposted by Mark A. Rayner
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 03/09/2026
Some days you just need to say "fuck it" and go for a walk in the rain with an ungulate. #deer #Ithink #antlers #ungulate #humor #humour
a young man with a blue umbrella standing on a busy sidewalk in the rain with a deer with antlers
3822
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026
Today's Pirate Ontology is all about dark humor and why we need it. (Especially these days, but I'd argue humans require it always.) It's an essay you can check it out on my website directly: markarayner.com/what-is-dark-comedy… […] [Original post on mas.to]
a gallows with two hanging nooses, with the sun shining brightly from behind
012
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026
I'm not sure what's happening here, but this lady's milliner is certifiable. #sillyHat #verySillyHat #namethatmovie #humor #humour
a woman holding a golden ax wearing an extremely silly hat
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 14/09/2026
If you like to review books, are a librarian, a bookseller, or in the book trades generally, you can get an advanced reading copy of Beta Max, the second novel in the Tundraverse series. It's chock-full of Maximilian Tundras, this time featuring a few dinosaurs and […] [Original post on mas.to]
cover art for beta max by mark a. rayner
001
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 14/09/2026
The irony police have been alerted. #robot #sweeping #humor #humour
a woman sweeping the floor of a robotic vacuum shop
052
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 13/09/2026
When the company is finally fed up with the ballet master's perfectionism. #ballet #master #rifles #humor #humour
ballerinas holding rifles in a black and white picture, probably rehearsing the nutcracker
012
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026
If my brother is doing it then I'm doing it too
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026
Just hanging out on another super-normal #caturday! #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #catstodon #humor #humour
11033
Reposted by Mark A. Rayner
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 11/09/2026
Robot existentialism. (Art by Eric Joyner.) #robot #robots #existentialism #theThinker #humor #humour
an old-fashioned robot sitting on a plinth like rodin's thinker -painting by Eric Joyner
026
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 11/09/2026
Some fabulous writing by Tom Junod about the Falling Man and 9/11: www.esquire.com/news-politics/a4803… #911anniversary #fallingman
esquire.com
The Falling Man
Do you remember this photograph? In the United States, people have taken pains to banish it from the record of September 11, 2001. The story behind it, though, and the search for the man pictured in it, are our most intimate connection to the horror of that day.
011
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 11/09/2026
Robot existentialism. (Art by Eric Joyner.) #robot #robots #existentialism #theThinker #humor #humour
an old-fashioned robot sitting on a plinth like rodin's thinker -painting by Eric Joyner
026
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 10/09/2026
The cosmic ballet goes on. #gull #sheep #apotheosis #humor #humour
102
Reposted by Mark A. Rayner
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 11/08/2026
Sharing this insightful review by Shannon Pilcher of The Gates of Polished Horn in full. "Intelligent, original, and consistently entertaining, Mark A. Rayner's collection will resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction infused with speculative imagination […] [Original post on mas.to]
Goodreads review by Shannon Pilcher, august 3, 2026:
5 stars
The Gates of Polished Horn: A Collection of Stories is an imaginative and thought-provoking collection that effortlessly blends literary fiction, speculative fiction, satire, and philosophical inquiry. Mark A. Rayner demonstrates remarkable versatility, crafting stories that entertain while inviting readers to question the nature of reality, morality, and human consciousness.

What immediately stood out to me was Rayner's ability to balance intellectual depth with wit and accessibility. Whether exploring artificial consciousness, time travel, existential identity, or the fragile line between truth and illusion, each story presents provocative ideas without sacrificing compelling characters or engaging storytelling. The collection consistently surprises while remaining emotionally grounded.

I was particularly impressed by the recurring exploration of perception and reality. Inspired by Homer's metaphor of the Gates of Polished Horn, the stories ask readers how they respond when confronted with unsettling truths. Rather than providing definitive answers, Rayner encourages reflection through humor, irony, and inventive speculative scenarios that linger long after each story concludes.

Ultimately, The Gates of Polished Horn is more than a collection of short fiction, it is a celebration of curiosity, imagination, and the enduring power of storytelling to challenge the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Intecover art of the gates of polished horn a collection of stories by mark. a. rayner
013
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 09/09/2026
When your goblin enjoys your beverage more than you. #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #catstodon #humor #humour
012
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 08/09/2026
It's the fall, so that means a-woo school starts again. #husky #awoo #dog #dogs #dogsofmastodon #dogstodon #humor #humour
0154
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 07/09/2026
It's hard to stay hydrated when you're really confused. #FartFreeWater #humor #humour #badDesign #weird #signs
a badly designed sign that says free water twice, but reads more like w - fart -free-water
0512
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 06/09/2026
Weird dog, making its own Jacuzzi . #IknowitsABear #dog #dogs #bear #humor #humour [description: a black bear frothing up a large tub of water like its a jacuzzi.]
031
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 05/09/2026
Wow, this is a really judgy #caturday. #surveillance #cat #cats #catsofmastodon #humor #humour
an orange cat looking extremely suspicious as it stares from behind a surveillance camera
195
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 04/09/2026
A modern-age Tantalus. #balls #roof #childhood #tantalize #humor #humour
a boy looks longingly at a roof filled with rubber and soccer balls
032
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 03/09/2026
@ToshInMacc 😅
000
Mark A. Rayner @markarayner.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 03/09/2026
@Virginicus 😂
000