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Oliver Plaschka

@rainlights.net
757 followers 233 following 2.2K posts

Writer, translator & classically trained hodad (F&SF&everything. PhD from HD, sometimes teaching at HHU. 70s proghead, middle-aged father, decent tour guide, very bad surfer.) GER/ENG ☄️ www.rainlights.net 🖋️ leaflet.rainlights.net

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Reposted by Oliver Plaschka
Hannah Brosch @hanamariab.bsky.social · 10h
Im Oktober erscheint endlich das erste Buch in meinem eigenen Verlag, "In Bernstein gebannt" von Alessandra Reß @fragmentansicht.bsky.social Hier mehr Infos: www.brosch-verlag.de/2026/09/14/d...
brosch-verlag.de
„In Bernstein gebannt“ – Brosch Verlag
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 7h
Falls ihr zwei Stunden Zeit habt, uns bei einem sehr einfachen Thema zuzuhören 😅
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Gekko 🇯🇵 沖縄・Okinawa @gekkolicious.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Mission Beach, #Okinawa 🌊
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kleinleise @kleinleise.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Impftermine ab 6. Lebensmonat in #Pforzheim mit LP.8.1.könnt ihr hier buchen: termine.praxis-hassepass.de/home #Impfung #Covid19 #TeamVorsicht Wer XFG auf eigene Kosten bevorzugt, kann hier den Impfstoff mit meist einem Tag Vorlauf bestellen: www.central-apotheke-pforzheim.de/central-apot...
termine.praxis-hassepass.de
» Die Impfstelle
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Josef Moser (Kaspar Ritter) @josefmoser.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Morgen treffe ich mich mit Robert Corvus, Kai Hirdt und Oliver Plaschka wieder einmal zum "Fantastischen Quartett". Wir reden über Götter und Religion in Science Fiction und Fantasy. Ich bin schon sehr gespannt! Demnächst zu sehen auf meinem YouTube-Kanal.
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Jonas Vogt @l4ndvogt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Ich hab die Tage nochmal den 1999er „The Mummy“ mit Brendan Fraser geschaut. So ein bescheuert-wholesome Film, der viel besser funktioniert, als er eigentlich dürfte. Hab mich dann nochmal an die Review von Roger Ebert dazu erinnert. Perfection.
There is hardly a thing I can say in its favor, except that I was cheered by nearly every minute of it. I cannot argue for the script, the direction, the acting or even the mummy, but I can say that I was not bored and sometimes I was unreasonably pleased.
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 26/09/2026
As I often say at work, there's no shortage of ruined castles in SW Germany
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 26/09/2026
Heute vor 100 Jahren #waitforit
A magpie and chestnut along with a quote from "Die Magier von Montparnasse"
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 25/09/2026
Lunch at the spot
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 25/09/2026
Book madness season is coming up, and I'll be more online than offline again in the following weeks. Still, I'll try to avoid too many online distractions, so if you need to reach me, email is preferred. Thanks!
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 26/08/2026
Quick announcement: I happened to slide into an unplanned period of offline life, and though I miss you, it's been a good experience so far, so I'm going to extend it some more. IDK yet for how long. I guess I'll be back somewhen next month. So long, take care, & email me if you need to reach me!
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William Gibson @greatdismal.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Imagining Mongolian readers scratching their heads at sky above the part being collar of telescopes turned to a dead Chanel.
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TeachermanWZ @teachermanwz.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Up to a few seconds ago I hadn't realised how much I needed that!
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Any Doubts @anydoubts.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Happy International Cat Day!
A world map with a red outline drawn around the continents to resemble a cat, with Australia circled in orange like a toy. Text reads: “THE WORLD IS A CAT” at the top and “PLAYING WITH AUSTRALIA” at the bottom.
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 08/08/2026
Today I was reminded of languages with postposed adjectives
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 08/08/2026
I feel we all should consider living under panels at this point
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knoxxi @linksrheiner.de · 04/08/2026
„KI in der Literatur wird uns völlig neue Wege eröffnen“ Der Weg:
Bild eines Buches mit folgendem Text 

„will last a lifetime. Turn the pages, and let your adventure begin.

If you want, I can now write the full first chapter of the guide "Welcome to Pitigliano" in a way that pulls the reader in with vivid, modern, and practical insights for 2026.
Do you want me to do that next?”
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 08/08/2026
By now it has become something of a routine: the first 50% of a novel I know exactly what's supposed to happen, but I have no idea what the book is actually *about* I'm at 50% now
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 08/08/2026
The spot is yearning for rain
Heidelberg, riverbank and mountain rather yellowish
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 07/08/2026
Late #fairwaterfriday with what might be my favorite motive: The Silvership. A juvenile fantasy that combined all the emblems that were important to me in another life. And once again, @cfsrebalus.bsky.social ennobles my scribble with her unique style. Love that dragonfly ship, and everything else.
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 07/08/2026
Two months #1 on this jury selected list is a very pleasant surprise. Thanks, dear jury people!
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 06/08/2026
The next two nights will be below 20°, which is incredible
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Burning Shed @burningshed.com · 06/08/2026
Can confirm we are considerably less evil than Jeff Bezos
static.klipy.com
Cryingman as a Scary Devil
Alt: Cryingman as a Scary Devil
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Falko Löffler @falkoloeffler.de · 06/08/2026
Hä? So was geht nicht. KI ist doch unvermeidlich!!! theonion.com/about-us/
AI Policy
The Onion values the creativity and skills of people over machines, despite their unreliability and penchants for compensation, benefits, and breathable air. Generative AI tools used in art, video, and writing are ethically wrong and an existential threat to the livelihood of creative professionals. AI is also a detriment to our audience, whom we reluctantly acknowledge. AI generated art, video, and writing will not be used in any creative endeavor at or affiliated with The Onion.
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 06/08/2026
One week til we know
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 06/08/2026
If "the political center" means "not changing the status quo", it's not a sign of temperance it's not even a center it's the express political goal of the people that profit from it
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lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 05/08/2026
literally every history question has been asked in there and thoroughly, *comprehensively* answered already
Post on r/askhistorians from 7 hours ago: At what point in history could chicken nuggets realistically have been made?post redirecting user to post from r/trevor_culley from 4 years agoThere's really not much to chicken nuggets. Ground chicken mashed into a small clump, breaded, and deep fried. Everything you need for a basic, no frills chicken nugget would have been available to you in the Indus Valley Civilization by at least 3500 BCE if not earlier.

Let's start with chicken because that's kind of crucial. Red jungle fowl were first captured and kept by humans in their native region of southeast Asia and the neighboring islands (ie Indonesia) around 8000 BCE. Strictly speaking, these weren't chickens yet because domestication is a long process, but the novelty of this cool new bird spread quickly and red jungle fowl arrived near the Ganges River by about 7000 BCE. By 4000 BCE, true domestic chickens were being raised and eaten in the Indus Valley, just as the early signs of agriculture and urbanization were starting up.

Those early signs of agriculture included the introduction of domesticated wheat, which had been spreading across the world from its own starting point with early agriculture in Anatolia and upper Mesopotamia around 10,000 BCE. Basically from the start, wheat was ground up into flower, mixed with water, and cooked into some very basic bread. So both flower and bread crumbs are available now too, though the bread was usually flatbread, so expect a different texture.

India is home to all sorts of herbs and spices you could use to add flavor, but the only thing I think would probably be crucial to your chicken nugget breading is salt. Not to worry though, the ruined city known today as Kerala-no-dhoro has you covered. Located on the coast of modern Gujarat and founded around 3700 BCE, it was a center of salt production by collecting and evaporating sea water.

(Answer goes on for another 2000 characters but I'm approaching the word limit)
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 06/08/2026
I think I hate "tropes" "Tropes" are what happens when social media spills its hashtags over literature Tropes are useful for talking *about tropes*, but not for classifying texts It's like describing cuisines by listing ingredients #tomatoes #potatoes or sorting music by #drumroll #reprise
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 06/08/2026
I made the worst decision (probably), but thanks y'all for the input! Will report
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 05/08/2026
I'm looking for budget over-ear headphones. They don't need to have any special stuff. Probably Bluetooth, but that's about it. I'm tempted to choose a brand I'm familiar with (as opposed to made-up Chinese brands on Amazon) and the choice seems to be JBL vs. Sony. Any thoughts? Other options?
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 05/08/2026
TIL fried rice syndrome is also a pasta thing 😭
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 05/08/2026
Präsidentin des Deutschen Caritasverbands: also die jungen Frauen die freiwillig für lau für uns arbeiten finden wir geil, da wollen wir doch keine männlichen Zwangsdienstleistenden, die am Schluss mehr verdienen
tagesschau.de
Verhaltene Reaktionen von Sozialverbänden auf Zivildienstpläne
Die Bundesregierung lotet derzeit Pläne für einen Zivildienst aus. Einige Sozialverbände sorgen sich, dass dieser zu Lasten der Freiwilligendienste gehen könnte. Wünsche haben sie auch für die Dauer u...
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 04/08/2026
- First album? - Me in the woods, regular guitar. - Second album? - Me in the woods, double neck. Why do you ask? #NowPlaying #Canterbury
amarxe.bandcamp.com
Tom Penaguin II, by Tom Penaguin
6 track album
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 04/08/2026
I'm not a crime writer but I often wonder why they don't just rob a bank given all their awesome knowledge about it
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Seanan McGuire @seananmcguire.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
"I don't understand why you, a fantasy writer, don't appreciate the value of making bargains with the fae."
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 04/08/2026
Zwangsdienst kommt (für Menschen mit Penis).
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 03/08/2026
Today in dystopian headlines
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 03/08/2026
All well and normal, our most trusted allies
timesofisrael.com
Court freezes transfer of crocodiles to Ben Gvir prison moat after animal rights petition
* * *
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Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan @warringtonruncorn.com · 02/08/2026
I know I’ve not been keeping up with the latest pop news, but I feel this is a sentence I might have thought I’d read if I was suffering from concussion.
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 02/08/2026
I've never been to Scandinavia, but I love the mood of their psychedelic and progressive tradition. And when you shake it long enough, another highly gifted keyboardist falls out :) #NowPlaying
johnlonnmyr.bandcamp.com
Aftonland, by John Lönnmyr
8 track album
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 02/08/2026
I defreezed our freezer and put the drawers out on the back porch. Seems the white is appealing
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 02/08/2026
A tedious amount of atrocities in human history was committed over questions of dick: where people should put it, if one should cut it, why putting it somewhere was better than having it put, why dicks should rule the world but God was born without any dick action
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 01/08/2026
Me: ok, let's see how far behind your schedule you're actually are, it can't be THAT bad Schedule: could you come a bit closer, it's difficult to talk when you're 11 chapters away
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 01/08/2026
Awesome visualizations of solar eclipses on other planets
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 01/08/2026
From my publisher's newsletter: You can get my translation of Peter S. Beagle's "I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons" -- also ja, auf Deutsch! -- for five bucks this month www.klett-cotta.de/produkt/pete...
klett-cotta.de
Ich fürchte, Ihr habt Drachen von Peter S. Beagle
Im Königreich Bellemontagne stehen die Zeichen auf Hochzeit. König Antoine und Königin Helen streben eine Vermählung ihrer Tochter Cerise mit
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 01/08/2026
Well, then ... when my historical novel comes out next year or so, I guess nobody needs to look up the location of Ceuta any more, right? So that's a ... win?
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DLR-next @dlr-next.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Spannende Frage! Und nicht ganz einfach zu beantworten. Einerseits: Ja, von den insgesamt über 400 Monden im Sonnensystem sind nur wenige groß genug, um eine totale Sonnenfinsternis auf ihrem Planeten zu erzeugen. Andererseits: Auch auf Gasplaneten kann es - sogar recht oft - dazu kommen.
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Alasdair Beckett-King @misterabk.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I saw a post saying that any critic would get a backlash after trashing a popular film. And I'm just not sure that should be normal. It's fun when a critic hates something! We should want reviewers with high standards and weird/obtuse opinions. A film isn't a sports team you support!
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Ralph Bakshi @ralphbakshi.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Have a great weekend!
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Oliver Plaschka @rainlights.net · 31/07/2026
I was bored enough to ask the Google AI about a minor grammar thing I never figured out, and its answer was still bullshit. So, we're not done yet.
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