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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@patricksamphire.bsky.social
5.3K followers 773 following 9.6K posts

Fantasy writer | Freelance developmental editor | Former physicist. #SPFBO/#BBNYA finalist. He/him. Around the web and my books: linktr.ee/patricksamphire 🏳️‍⚧️ rights are human rights No generative AI ever.

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Jeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 1h
Thrilled to share the cover art for "From An Antique Land," a new short story @reactorsff.bsky.social will publish on November 18! Art by Jon Juarez, editor @annvandermeer.bsky.social
red overhanging rock and blue ruins below. 

 

From an Antique Land

by Jeff VanderMeer

Illustrated by Jon Juarez

Edited by Ann VanderMeer
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 1h
This week's Saturday snippet comes from my cozy-spooky fantasy novella A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience, which you can snap up in ebook or paperback now: books2read.com/undeadInconvenience ...Just in time for the final story in the trio to arrive everywhere on October 14th! #romancelandia
The cover of A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is surrounded by a snippet that reads:
“I am not suffering from dementia, Miss Dunhaven.” Red swept in a sudden, sheening wave across the vampire’s brown eyes, making Margaret suck in a breath, as he sliced out his words with a lethal edge. “You gravely misunderstand me if you think me de-fanged.”

“And you mis-name me, my lord.” Her hand tightened around the handle of her teacup. “As I believe you are fully aware, my name is ‘Lady Riven’ now.”

Lord Riven’s red-sheened eyes narrowed.

She bared a ferocious smile in response.
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Cara N. Delaney 💖💜💙 @caradelaney.bsky.social · 1h
Happy 3rd of October. Probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but looking at the trashfire that is the world right now... Yeah. Happy 3rd of October.
youtube.com
Scorpions - Wind Of Change (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by ScorpionsVEVO
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But Andrew Hickey Died Ten Years Ago This Very Night @andrewhickey.500songs.com · 1h
What I always find fascinating about this stuff is that the "non-brewed condiment" label isn't, as you'd think, to do with modern food-labelling laws. It's because of the temperance movement more than a century ago.
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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 49m
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 2167: For maximum impact, try this: Put the most important word at the end of the sentence. Put the most important sentence at the end of the paragraph. That's all. Just try it. See what changes.
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Scott Edelman @scottedelman.bsky.social · 49m
ICYMI — a new Eating the Fantastic episode went live yesterday with @wiswell.bsky.social! Eavesdrop on our meal and learn how our lives being finite is both terrifying and good, why he’s "a character guy first" before world-building, theme, or plot — plus more. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
scottedelman.com
Chow down on a chicken sandwich with John Wiswell on Episode 294 of Eating the Fantastic ‹ Scott Edelman
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Addison Smith (Addi) @addi.social · 2h
If anyone's looking for inspiration for what to write, I have some cool new premade covers in my gallery. Use one as inspiration and get it customized. <3 addi.studio/premades/
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 1h
It's Evri. Bearing in mind the chances of them actually delivering your parcel on time and to the right place, or at all, is about 10%, a robot that falls over won't make much difference. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Two-legged delivery robot takes to streets of Barnsley in Tech Town trial
Iris will take to the streets of Barnsley delivering small parcels.
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Jon Baker @thejonbaker.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
RANKED. COMPETITIVE. POOPING.
Royal Highland Show sign that says “Toilets For Competition use only”
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Delaney King (She/Her/Whomst) @delaneyking.bsky.social · 4h
Eowyn: I AM NO MAN. Rohan rider 1: stiddy on cuz, we are mostly wimin here, eh? Rohan rider 3: heaps of wimmin bro. Rohan rider 2: yiss, it's true! They didn't have enough wimin riders so they stuck beard on us, hey. Look at thus beard, it's fake as. Witch King of Angmar:... Fuck.
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Tru Skies @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com · 8h
I made a book trailer for The Chosen One Con! My first attempt at making a video ever 😂 youtu.be/boMvX_o0b-c
youtu.be
The Chosen One Con Book Trailer
YouTube video by Trudie Skies
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 2h
Henry VIII: "Pope, would please shut the fuck up about matters you do not understand. You're not a marriage influencer. How many wives do you have?"
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Eldritch Bog Chris @gothcasual.bsky.social · 5h
This is no different to the taliban blowing up ancient monuments.
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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
You're gonna need a bigger chart
Chart showing the daily sea surface temperature for the Nino region of the Pacific, with a red line for 2026 shooting off above every other year in record-setting territory, with the latest spot right at the top of the chart
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 5h
Ahhh I love this review of A Waltz of Sinister Import from the wonderful @marissalingen.bsky.social : marissalingen.com/blog/?p=4459 #romancelandia
marissalingen.com
A Waltz of Sinister Import, by Stephanie Burgis – Novel Gazing Redux
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Angry People in Local Newspapers @apiln.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“Worst day of my life,” said The Doctor.
dailystar.co.uk
Unlucky bloke swept away 'mid poo' as flash flood sends portaloo down street
An incredibly unlucky man was left trapped inside a portable toilet after it was swept away during a terrifying flash flood in Baranquilla, Colombia earlier this week
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Angry People in Local Newspapers @apiln.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Regret to report that the Syncopaticaption system from W1A is out in the wild.
BBC news: Welsh First Minister delivers speech in English and Welsh. 

Captions read: you ma God were the anal canal Bob cam.
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Cal Horton (they/them) @fiercemum.bsky.social · 17h
New blog: Leaving the UK with a heavy heart. growinguptransgender.com/2026/10/02/l...
growinguptransgender.com
Leaving the UK with a heavy heart
Today, as a family, we have booked our flights and our one-way ticket out of the UK. This has not felt like a choice. This feels like fleeing to protect ourselves. For the past 7 years we have look…
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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Boosting again for people getting COVID vaccines (thank you for getting vaccinated!!) because my mentions are full of people finding it helpful. There is way more detail (and citations!) in the thread both up and down but this is the key info!
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 21h
Oh hooray, another really lovely book-blog review for A Waltz of Sinister Import! "It was a real pleasure to immerse myself in these pages, and reading this book (or this whole series, to be honest) made me happy!" susyscozyworld.wordpress.com/2026/09/28/a... #romancelandia
susyscozyworld.wordpress.com
ARC REVIEW: A WALTZ OF SINISTER IMPORT, OR YOU NEED THIS SERIES IN YOUR LIFE
Hello hello! I hope your week started in the best possible way! Today I am here with a review for a novella that I loved, so I can’t really ask for a better Monday! Thanks to the Author. I re…
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Anna Megill @annamegill.com · 22h
Heads up, writers!
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Grand Admiral Shaun Duke @shaunduke.net · 21h
Since before the dark times, I've maintained this handy list of space opera novels by cisgender women, trans, and non-binary authors. If that sounds like something you need in your life, check out the spreadsheet. Suggestions always welcome via the form! #books tiny.cc/spaceoperali...
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 21h
AI vigilantes are a scourge. I do not believe they actually care about AI usage. I think they just like the opportunity to start an internet pile-on. They are bullies. (Note: this is not about people genuinely highlighting AI usage when they have the expertise to tell. It's shotgun accusations.)
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Dan Thomas @itsdanthomas.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The most disappointing video you’ll see today.
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Time for #FridayFling! A Waltz of Sinister Import is out today on my Patreon - & arriving everywhere else in 12 days! - so here's a quick taste. Subscribe to my Patreon as a Dragon Ruler to read it today: patreon.com/stephanieburgis Or preorder it now: books2read.com/waltzSinister #romancelandia
The cover of A Waltz of Sinister Import, by Stephanie Burgis, shows a pair of late nineteenth-century dancing slippers hanging over the title and a bat with outstretched wings underneath the author's name. Framing the cover's text are branches with golden leaves. Above, beside, and below that cover image is this snippet of text: “You needn’t bother to restrain yourself for me,” she murmured. “After all, no one else would ever know if we—”
“No.” Lord Riven’s throat flexed above his cravat, but he opened his eyes to meet her gaze full-on with an erotically telltale shimmer of red veiling his light brown irises. “I’ve spent centuries restoring my tarnished honor. I won’t discard it now.” 
Straightening his broad shoulders, he lifted his glass once more, this time as if making a toast. “My love, your curiosity and courage will always be an inspiration, but remember: you have saved me from my solitude and given me the world. No matter how desperately I may wish to give in on this matter, I cannot respond to your generosity by treating you with anything but the greatest of respect—regardless of any witnesses.”
“Hmm.” This time, Margaret’s tone was decidedly displeased.
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David Barnett @davidmbarnett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In case you missed it - though I'm not sure how you would, as I was an absolute bore about it - my fourth folk horror novel TWISTED PIKE was released yesterday: www.canelo.co/books/twiste...
canelo.co
Twisted Pike by David Barnett | Canelo
Paperback and Ebook
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Adrian Tchaikovsky @aptshadow.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The war with the bicycles was over and the humans had won.
Black and white wall photo at Leeds station showing a bunch of people on a hillside with a lot of bicycles lying around.
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Grimdark Magazine @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Dude. He has done it again. Where do I even begin with the review of this masterpiece? Read the full review below:
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
My favourite thing from this article is that Ed and David Miliband's mum held a protest in Downing Street and forced her own son, David, to step over her to get into 10 Downing Street. Bet that went down well at the next family get-together. But a mother far more courageous than her sons.
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Dr Alfredo Carpineti @drcarpineti.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This reminds me of the extremely understated footnote in a paper that referenced the mathematical work of Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber)
The mention of Kaczynski has a footnote that says better known for other work
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Luke Ontario @coolhand.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Every time I see a serial killer tv show advertised I think of this
My dad used to work with Ted Bundy at the University of Utah and every Friday my dad would say, "See ya Monday-Bundy" and I can't imagine how much Ted actually thought about murdering him for
it.
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Stéphanie says… 🏴‍☠️🦈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @stephaniejane.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
How Gender Criticalism has moved on from “We just have legitimate concerns” to cheering on those who killed a trans person.
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Bargain bin catgirl @edivimo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Part of the GC beliefs is that trans people shouldn't exist. How they're going to "solve the problem" is what they usually hide. All the "discourse" surrounding trans health care in minors is based in the GC premise that blocking that, they would get rid of future trans people.
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ahhh and what lovely timing to discover this wonderful review of A Waltz of Sinister Import from @booksbonesbuffy.bsky.social ! "Now that the series is complete, it’s the perfect time (and season!) to do a binge read. I promise you’ll have a wonderful time!" booksbonesbuffy.com/2026/10/02/a...
booksbonesbuffy.com
A WALTZ OF SINISTER IMPORT by Stephanie Burgis – Review
The nitty-gritty: Lady and Lord Riven have one last magical adventure in this exciting conclusion to Stephanie Burgis’s lively historical fantasy series. As far as I know, this is the last bo…
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I just posted a new blog entry: www.stephanieburgis.com/2026/10/a-wa... #romancelandia
stephanieburgis.com
A Waltz of Sinister Import on Patreon - Stephanie Burgis
Hooray! A Waltz of Sinister Import, the third and final novella in The Supernatural Adventures of Lady & Lord Riven, is available in ebook on my Patreon now for all of my subscribers at the Dragon Rul...
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Draculosity Jones: Ghost Skeleton @brainmage.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Hey guys! I'm Burke, he's Hare, and before we get into today's unboxing video, we just wanna talk a little about today's sponsor, Surfshark
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Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A Waltz of Sinister Import - the 3rd & final novella in the Supernatural Adventures of Lady & Lord Riven - is available now on my Patreon! Subscribe at the Dragon Ruler level to download your copy now (along with all the other ebooks available there): patreon.com/stephanieburgis #romancelandia
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SimzArt @simzart.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Cocoon. 📖
A character with black butterfly wings drinking from a cup and reading. The smoke coming from the cup has a ghost cat shape. The character is surrounded by plants and there's a window behind them. A lamp is lighting the scene from the top.
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alexis simpson is confused by display name changes @amutepiggy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
amazon prime should make a button that customers can push that will, at any time, any location, make jeff bezos's pants immediately fall down
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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
this would be an incredible film if you started it with all the normal serial killer hunting tropes
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JohannesVIII @johannesviii.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Commissioned set of 4 antropomorphic divinities based on prehistoric animals, for a personal project of the client, @skodamz.bsky.social
Illustration in blue and purple tones of "Haikou", an imaginary goddess based on Haikouichtys, the Cambrian, and water. She's an anthropomorphic jawless fish with a toga, holding a bright fish egg and a strand of dna. She's standing at the bottom of a shallow Cambrian sea full of colorful sponges, jellyfish and anomalocaris.Illustration in green and red tones of "Pneumani", an imaginary god based on Arthropleura, the Carboniferous, and earth. He's an anthropomorphic centipede with a toga, holding a hoedag. He's standing on rocks in the middle of a Carboniferous swamp full of fern trees, with amphibians and dragonflies.Illustration in green and purple-blue tones of "Deino", an imaginary goddess based on Tyrannosaurus, the Cretaceous, and air. She's an anthropomorphic tyrannosaurus with a toga, holding a spear and a shield with a clawed raptor foot drawn on it. She's standing on a cliff overlooking a cloudy Cretaceous forest, with a long-necked sauropod and a few pterosaurs.Illustration in purple and red tones of "Toumai", an imaginary god based on early hominids, the early Pleistocene, and fire. He's an anthropomorphic ape with a toga, holding a spiral of fire and a hammer. He's standing on flat rocks overlooking a stormy early Pleistocene savana struck by lightning, with a few mammoth-looking elephants and two saber-tooth tigers.
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If disabled young people have support for getting into work taken away, will they still be blamed for not getting jobs and have the rest of their benefits taken away as a result? (Of course they will.)
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Cara N. Delaney 💖💜💙 @caradelaney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A woman called home by estranged family. People going missing, but not missed. A town's second life built on a horrific truth. And secrets to swallow them all. Dive into October with DARK HEART OF ILMOURE, a Lovecraftian horror novella: books2read.com/dark-heart-o... #horrorlit 🌈📚😱
The cover for the novella "Dark Heart of Ilmoure" by author Cara N. Delaney. Pictured is a woman in white clothes with her back to the viewer. She is standing in front of a dark, foreboding house, about to enter. The windows are black and there is no view of the inside. The title is in red at the top, the author's name in white at the bottom.
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Patrick Samphire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @patricksamphire.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Name an instrumental song. Obviously this one. It was the first Iron Maiden song I heard, aged 14 or 15, and therefore the first heavy metal song I heard, and it set my musical taste for life. youtu.be/rGJnjSATu50?...
youtu.be
The Ides of March (2015 Remaster)
YouTube video by Iron Maiden - Topic
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Geraint @geraintg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
SHOP ME: Hello, have you got any Quorn? S: Yes, what variety? ME: on the Quob? S: Please leave
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Django Wexler @djangowexler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Happy to report that THE ONLY WAY OUT IS UP is one of Amazon's Best Books of the Month for October! In some very good company, too. www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_li...
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Jordan Kurella @jordankurella.com · 01/10/2026
waking up every day in 2026 like:
a construction sign on the side of the highway that says "IT'S COMING IT'S BAD"
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Tru Skies @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com · 01/10/2026
It has been a whole month since The Chosen One Con came out. It's sitting at 21 ratings at 4.6 stars on Goodreads and 10 ratings at 4.7 on Amazon! 💙 A big THANK YOU to everyone that has read and reviewed so far! It's available online and in paperback. books2read.com/thechosenone...
A promo image for The Chosen One Con, out now on Kindle, Kobo, and Itch. It shows the book cover to the Chosen One Con (a young white man in a trench coat holding a glowing blue potion bottle as though trying to steal it) and the following text: Magic spoke to me, whispering promises of fortune and fame. It spoke when I switched on the old MV and the screen came alive with the blue glow of magic, the faint spark and pop of aether flowing through the cables.
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Stephen Cox - "funny, raunchy, romantic, satisfyingly twisted" @stephencoxauthor.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
#October is #spooky month. The Our Child of the Stars books have several #Halloween s in them, the one night the alien boy Cory can run among the other children. The Crooked Medium books are set in Victorian London, and have two distinctly dodgy spiritualist older women... #SFF #historical #books
Four books clearly two in each sequence
The Our Child of the Stars books
Our Child of the Stars and Our Child of Two Worlds, beautiful book covers. Both show a boy silhouetted against a mysterious sky.  Our Child of the Stars shows a misty night, but many bright stars.  Our Child of Worlds shows dawn breaking pink and blue, with yellow birds rising and a mysterious planet.
The Crooked Medium books
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox
A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating.
A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just  visible.
There are pink highlights on some of the letters.
Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Terror
A striking book cover clearly in the same series as The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Terror.
The lettering and detail are pale against a dark and sinister red-brown. The Title is in large Victorian lettering emphasising the word Terror by size of font and red added to letters – not dripping blood! - and framed by gold. Three roundels show icons related to the book; left, a half folded cutthroat razor streaked with red, top right, pearl jewellery with three pearls and a pearl effect locket; bottom right a burning railwayman’s lamp.
The effect is striking.
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