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morag

@mordant.bsky.social
367 followers 203 following 388 posts

Nobody loves me and the sun's going to kill me. Dilettante, raconteur, connoisseur of human folly Guaranteed 0.5 or less of the author @mkhardywrites The Needfire, Solaris 2025, out now

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Just a reminder for anybody who's forgotten (you knew once, I promise; you just forgot) that Wichita Lineman, by Jimmy Webb and sung by Glenn Campbell, is the best song ever written.
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MK Hardy @mkhardywrites.com · 24/09/2026
The Haunting of Avis Lovelock is now out in paperback, ebook, and audiobook from @solarisbooks. Join Avis and the other passengers of the Excambion as they undertake a transatlantic crossing full of ghosts, mysterious lights on the water, and hidden secrets... Get your copy today! geni.us/avisl
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Well our book launch got cancelled due to a lack of ticket sales and I didn't get the job that would've saved me from redundancy. Can I go back to bed for the rest of the week plz?
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm in a Facebook group that provides advice and help on energy bills in the UK. From time to time I'll click through to the comments on a post from someone who's struggling to pay what they owe, or who has gotten into debt, and friends... We are not ready for what's coming. 1/5
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Got a new book out today, from Penguin no less. (Splasher, by Billie Host, in all good and probably also bad bookshops now.) Also just been at a trade union rally because the uni we both work at wants to needlessly cut hundreds more jobs, including mine. So a day of ups and downs.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Having a right old Men Are Too Headache could yous all just ease off a bit for a minute?
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Oh cool cool cool now the fact the US has a barbaric healthcare system is going to kill like 300k people in England alone and probably hasten the death of the NHS god I hate it here. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests
Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exports
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Not fair that this happened to Buttigieg, but yes, sure, there are vulnerable adults who have a worse time with CPS. But those kids are the age you start making real memories. One of their earliest memories will now be a stranger interrogating them over whether their dad abused them. A new low.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
I'm sure this joke has been made already but what happens when these boys get home and their mum/wife/gf/flatmate is waiting for them, hands on hips, like "oh so ye can tidy up efter yersel', eh?"
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
As certain demographics of the SFF scene clamour to throw their hats in the ring (in jest or otherwise), I am still here asking when oh when oh when will Doctor Who finally hire Meera Syal as showrunner? We've been waiting decades at this point.
An image of an Asian woman with short, dark wavy hair and a blue top. She is leaning on her hands and has a very slight smile.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Haahahaahahaha what the fuck?
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Another @cymerafestival.co.uk, another "Mo is a buffoon in front of a famous author" story. Relatedly @stephengrahamjones.com, due to a complex set of circumstances upon which I do not care to elaborate, might think my name is Jitney Downpipe.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Maybe not the system I'd want in an ideal world, but tbh I'm not sure we're mature enough for full PR. AV delivers the least bad candidate in the majority's opinion - an extremism killer. Not exciting, but way less undemocratic than FPTP.
A screenshot showing a graphic from social media where a user is complaining that ranked choice voting delivered a candidate to office who did not come first in first preference votes (because they picked up subsequent votes in lower preference in the run off). They are being mocked in the comments for not understanding what makes the system fair.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Are people getting worse at being in a cinema? I stg the number of people in a tiny theatre who couldn't sit still through a movie. The girl next to me kept checking her phone. Anyway Backrooms was entertaining. VERY good second act. Didn't quite stick the landing but what does.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
I see so many 'moderate' outlets in both trad and modern media (TRIP springs to mind) talk about AI and the environment as if the former is vital, and the latter subordinate. We MUST have AI data centres, we MUST power them, therefore net zero MUST be abandoned. www.thenational.scot/news/2614291...
thenational.scot
Outrage as AI data centre 'bigger than our village' planned on site of castle ruins
A local community group has hit out at plans for a huge 600MW data centre that would reportedly be larger than the village it neighbours
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
D'you remember. D'you remember, right. D'you remember when we were all arguing over whether someone had the right to discriminate against a marginalised group? Those were the days. Now we'd just quite like the option to not be FORCED to discriminate whether we want to or not.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
This government has the power to change the law so it makes any sort of sense. They are repeatedly choosing not to. Their hands are NOT tied. Remember that. Make them own it. This is #LaboursBathroomBan
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Another day, another u-turn and it's like why even bother then.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The more weird shit I read about the strange trends and comorbidities of the human body the more I think maybe they had it right back in the day with The Humours and we've been unnecessarily complicating everything ever since.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
AGAIN AGAIN LOUDER LOUDER
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
How to heal the psychic damage from reading The Memory Police
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MK Hardy @mkhardywrites.com · 29/04/2026
I (M) decided to join with @birdwhisperers.bsky.social but couldn't pick a single medium. E did another lovely watercolour she'll hopefully post later. The golden whistler is a wee cutie! #birdwhisperer
Pencil sketch of smol birbFelt tip sketch of smol birb with yellow breastLino cut of smol birb with breast picked out in yellowLino cut of smol birb with yellow breast and slate blue background
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Have been off the internet all day mostly sorry here is the obligatory Labour gif.
media.tenor.com
a cartoon character in a suit and tie stands in front of a fire escape
ALT: a cartoon character in a suit and tie stands in front of a fire escape
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
Noem said Thursday that there would be a federal investigation into the shooting, though she again called the woman’s actions “domestic terrorism.”
“This vehicle was used to hit this officer,” Noem said. “It was used as a weapon, and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy.”
Vice President JD Vance said the shooting was justified and referred to Good’s death as “a tragedy of her own making.” 
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara gave no indication that the driver was trying to harm anyone when he described the shooting to reporters Wednesday. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had watched videos of the shooting that show it was avoidable.
[text from an AP article]
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Just called this a hot take, then deleted it in case it's actually not, really. But anyway, an argument I anticipate having a bunch in the next year: Pluribus isn't a working allegory for AI at all and if you think it is you misunderstand either AI, the themes of the show, or both.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Parent-of-autistic-child-who-wrote-a-memoir-about-it jump scare, but this is good. A missing piece as usual is that folk who might not've met official diagnostic criteria for ADHD 25 years ago now do because modern life is increasingly designed to break us. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
TODAY is the last day you can post your ballot and be pretty sure of it reaching head office.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
REMINDER FOR MY FRIENDS IN UK ACADEMIA If you're Unison, Unite, UCU, EIS, PLEASE POST YOUR BALLOT BACK by tomorrow. We're balloting for amounts to a general strike in HE. This EXISTENTIAL for the sector. Please, please get your vote in as we need to make quorum.
A black and white illustration of a group of men carrying tools raising their arms into the air, forming a single upraised fist.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
What the hell man.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
That can't be right; I heard Scotland was a drain on the UK economy...
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
For anybody seeking context on this one: this policy on its face would result in the deportation of my wife, who has been living in Scotland for 17 years, is married to a Scot, shares the mortgage on a house, and works in a university. Lots of perfectly comfortable people earn < £38k.
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MK Hardy @mkhardywrites.com · 21/10/2025
We should probably post an update about our various authorly goings on but here have this naval gazing instead. (Subscribe to our newsletter for more stuff and nonsense.)
mkhardywrites.beehiiv.com
Aware
In which Morag rambles a bit about ADHD
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
An utter lack of humanity. Skimmed the comments on a Torygraph article of all things, a Brit writing that a theoretical ILR scrap would break up her family. Bot and human alike: "Deport them all then." That's me. That's my family. But rather than challenge, Labour panders. Weathervanes, every one.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Tfw you realise belatedly that you've dressed like an extra from Man In The High Castle...
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Nobody actually cares about this for their own sake, Keir. Nobody is actually personally worried about this. You know why? Because it's not a real problem. When will you stop dancing to Farage's vicious racist little tune and start paying attention to the stuff that matters?
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Finally made it to a Worldcon panel I'm not on. Female panelist: [after being asked about romantasy by the moderator] Romantasy has its place but I don't really read it. Old dude panelist: When you say Romantasy has its place that sets off subversive thoughts for me. Slavery has its place. Welp.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Some good insights in Ian's article but let's be clear here: there are LOADS of progressive male influencers trying to promote nontoxic masculinity online; they just get zero traction compared to extreme grievance media. The issue is the algo, not that there's nobody promoting these messages.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Friendly reminder that as of Theresa May's Snooper's Charter YOU SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A VPN IF YOU LIVE IN THE UK. If you don't, the second best time to get one is now. There are lots of good ones and at least one will have a sale on right now.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
I know what you're thinking but let me answer your question with a question: why don't YOU have a deer skull in your back garden?
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MK Hardy @mkhardywrites.com · 20/07/2025
Required reading.
patreon.com
A.I.: The Apocalypse of Intent | Film Crit Hulk
Get more from Film Crit Hulk on Patreon
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Fml. Note the battery % for extra Fml.
A screenshot of an eta showing the RAC will be with me in four and a half hours if I'm lucky. Also my battery is under 50%.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Welp.
A broken down red car at the side of a dual carriageway
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Got some stuff coming up...
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Whyyy have I given my data to billionaire fascists for free if it still takes a month for me to run across @lindsayellis.bsky.social video essaying about Tori Amos? (My reminder to actually WATCH Nebula, not just pay the subscription so I feel less guilty about watching YouTube...)
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MK Hardy @mkhardywrites.com · 04/07/2025
New jewellery! I (M) have been looking for just the right labrys pendant for ages so eventually I just had a conversation with a smith! @taitayaforge.bsky.social work in iron as well as precious metals, which I love. So many gorgeous pieces over at taitaya.etsy.com - am sure I'll be back for more!
A picture of a plump middle aged bespectacled butch trying to look cool staring pensively off to the side while wearing a fabulous iron labrys (double-headed axe) pendant.A blackened iron labrys (double-headed axe) pendant lying on a wooden surface.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
First 'like' on this by my local trade union branch says a lot about the week we just had.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
I was not NOT drunk before I made a very alcoholic chartreuse cocktail.
A close up of a light green cocktail
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
"It is precisely this kind of unlawful government action that critics of the UK’s terrorism laws warned would come one day.” Hey look @felicityhannah.bsky.social It's Brave New 1984 Man :-P
amnesty.org.uk
UK: Amnesty's response to Home Secretary's announcement that Palestine Action will be proscribed a terrorist organisation
We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.
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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
That time of year in Scotland where every time you're at the shops you're all "BUYING LOCALLY IS OBJECTIVELY VIRTUOUS."
Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.
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