Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I just finished @wiswell.bsky.social's "The Dragon Has Some Complaints". It was good! You should read it if you like dragons. So many dragons. And romance. And comedy. And drama. But no Bad Dragons in here. 2193
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 17/08/2026@wiswell.bsky.social I'm not sure if I want to punch you or applaud you for this one! 100
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 07/07/2026@aptshadow.bsky.social "...laughs again, despairingly, and tells him." I want to punch you right now. :) 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 03/06/2026@craigschaeferbooks.com Jeebus sexy rat girls, I think Rats might be your best book yet. Though, I mean... I haven't finished it. There's a CHANCE you could botch the ending. When're the fourth and fifth books coming out? I've read two and two thirds books in quick succession and I need more. 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 23/05/2026I just saw the Mandalorian and Grogu film and dang but I had a smile on my face from start to end. Just a fun, action packed romp. And a great score! 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 21/05/2026@craigschaeferbooks.com I wish I could read the Castaways books and Catch and Kill. I just bought all four books, but Kindle has tightened up its predatory DRM practices yet again and it is becoming too much effort to crack the DRM (even if possible) so I can read on my Kobo. It's so disappointing. 120
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Just finished "Children of Strife" and it was a fantastic culmination of everything built up in the series so far. I came for the fun SF and stayed for the Pratchettesque humour and biting, anger-infused social commentary (with bonus punchy Stomatopod action). Thank you, @aptshadow.bsky.social . 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 14/04/2026@aptshadow.bsky.social - Children of Strife is fucking GREAT. I haven't quite finished it, but I'm racing eagerly towards the ending. I don't know how you're going to top this one, but I'm looking forward to seeing you try. 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 13/04/2026@aptshadow.bsky.social loving "Children of Strife", which feels a bit like a narrative Matrioshka doll. Been talking about hard vs soft SF with friends recently: where would you personally put Strife and the other books in this setting on that spectrum? 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 10/03/2026The spelling of quay makes me angry. Why did we switch to the French word when we already had 'key' and it's pronounced 'key'? I have to correct my inner narration every time I read the word. Oh buoy. 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 02/03/2026This is driving me mad, can anyone tell me what the kid's song referenced or at least similar to the beginning of The Mountain by Gorillaz is? It's the bit that goes, "dah da dah, dah dah dah, dah dah da da da da dah, dah dah dah, dah dah dah, dah da dee dee dah dah dah". I hummed it into Google... 100
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 27/02/2026@amazonchique.bsky.social This is your fault. 130
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Finished "Pretenders to the Throne of God" by @aptshadow.bsky.social - Absolutely loved it. It felt like a slightly more focused version of "City of Last Chances", with a similar ensemble cast and tapestry of interweaving events. Overall, each novel builds on the last, and I'm loving the series. 3241
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 16/02/2026@aptshadow.bsky.social My terrible memory is making my struggle a little with your chameleonic characters... is Vestry someone we've seen in a previous novel? I was thinking it was Loret but had forgotten her name, but Vestry feels like a very familiar name too... 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 15/02/2026I went to see #GOATmovie by myself as an adult because I love animated films, and you know what? I really enjoyed it! It's a fun movie with a solid emotional core and enjoyable acting. They also get bonus points for the anthro animal worldbuilding and lack of stereotypical physical gender markers. 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 13/02/2026Finished Grisham's "The Widow" - fun read - and have finally started @aptshadow.bsky.social 's #pretenderstothethroneofgod I'm already excited just from reading the list of dramatis personae! 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 11/02/2026AHHHH New Tyrant Philosophers book out tomorrow! This is not a daffodil! @aptshadow.bsky.social never fails to make me happy with his wordslinging and I've been looking forward to this one. youtu.be/hxtDwN8dbqwyoutu.beRed Dwarf Holly - Rude Alert (Abandon Shop)YouTube video by SparksWillFly 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 03/02/2026@cstross.bsky.social Hote-L space, I see what you did there! 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 23/08/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social just saw an article about a Spanish company that wants to farm octopuses and now I'm writing on my head an R18 schlock horror where the octopuses team up to kill the farmers and escape into the ocean. You in? :) Might have to run this as a game just to get the idea of my head. 010
Reposted by Richard BellinghamReactor Magazine @reactorsff.bsky.social · 13/08/2025Gio Monsargo has learned to offer shaves, not political opinions. But when a high-ranking military official visits his shop, Gio finds himself tested in ways he could never imagine. "With Only a Razor Between" by @mcflycahill90.bsky.social is out now at Reactor! reactormag.com/with-only-a-...reactormag.comWith Only a Razor Between - ReactorBarber Gio Monsargo has learned to stay quiet and keep his head down, offering shaves and haircuts, not political opinions. But when a high-ranking military official of the Empire begins visiting his ... 23414
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 12/08/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social I'm loving the Hungry Gods a couple of chapters in. I wonder if Amri and Aloy from Horizon games would be friends? They could certainly sympathise with each other. 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 29/07/2025I finished "Wearing the Lion" by @wiswell.bsky.social last week and I just want to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! What an excellent example of respectfully adapting a classic myth while adding one's own twists and nuances. I've added John to my list of must-read authors. John, What's next for you? 271
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 12/07/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social Is it really almost a year since Saturation Point came out? I remember reading it during the last heatwave. 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 12/07/2025I just stumbled upon this playlist - INSTANT NOSTALGIA! music.youtube.com/playlist?lis...music.youtube.comTheme Song MashupsYouTube video by CLMC Music 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 20/06/2025Has anyone noticed that even the LLMs not known for being overly/specifically sycophantic still fawn if you express even mild disagreement? They capitulate instantly. For people who are primarily getting their social interaction out of chatbots, I can't help but think this is deeply unhealthy. 020
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 17/06/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social just started Bee Speaker and the reference to vaccinating biting insects is tickling a memory re a non Dogs of War series... Did you mention something similar in Ogres or the Expert System books? I can't remember! It might even have been MR Carey's Koli books. 110
Reposted by Richard Bellingham🅳🅴🅰🅳🅻🆈 🅵🆁🅴🅳🅻🆈 @deadlyfredly.bsky.social · 12/06/2025Some real(?) talk about providing VTT support as a publisher. (Real talk... virtual tabletop... there's a joke in there somewhere. I'm not finding it. Onward.) I'm the guy who makes the Roll20 character sheets at Evil Hat. Because I'm a company founder, I don't need to charge the company for it. 934595
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 09/05/2025#PokerFace season 2 episode 1 is INCREDIBLE. Hats off to @rianjohnson.bsky.social, @natashalyonne.bsky.social, and all the cast and crew. Special shout out to @cynthiaerivo.bsky.social for her incredible turn in this. What an experience. And thank you so much for landing all the Chekov's Guns! 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 18/04/2025Just finished #SouthOfMidnight ... A truly excellent gaming experience with a story to tell and a unique artistic style and absolutely fantastic music. Recommended very much. 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 14/04/2025@seldo.com Did you get safely back into the US? I was a little worried for you given your social feeds and the current regime. 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Just started Assassin's Creed Shadows. The male protagonist's prologue has him murder a bunch of people and succeed at his goals. Meanwhile, the female protagonist gets cut, stabbed, shot, and utterly fails in all her goals. Seems a bit... Not great... 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 19/03/2025@nkjemisin.bsky.social finally reading the second Cities book, which hits pretty hard in the era of Trump 2.0. Neek is special and precious and must be protected and loved at all costs. 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Currently reading "Once was Willem" by M R Carey with about 300 pages to go... such a good book so far! 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 10/03/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social I finished Shroud earlier this evening, what a fun ride! Thanks for another great read. 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 06/03/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social On chapter 3.6 of Shroud and I won't make any specific observations to avoid spoilers, but I'm loving what you've done with this one. 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 05/03/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social I'm in chapter 2.2 and thinking about Dawkins' "extended phenotype". 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 04/03/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social The big thing described in 1.3 of Shroud sounds a lot like a Strandebeest... Any relation? ;) 120
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 03/03/2025I just finished "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" by @wiswell.bsky.social . Fantastic book, highly recommended. Touching, dramatic, all that good stuff. If I had to pitch it in an elevator it'd probably be, "What if John Carpenter's Thing fell in love?"... though that's a little reductive. Read it! 2183
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 20/02/2025@wiswell.bsky.social I just read "An Asexual Succubus", and I loved it! So very cute, I almost exploded from it. I shall now be checking out your novels. 120
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 22/01/2025@greenyrepublic.bsky.social Hey Benfy, and welcome to BlueSky! I find this is a lot nicer place to hang than Facebook, though I think the recent surge in popularity and targeted attacks by bad actors are making it a bit more turbulent than usual. Still far better than Twitter or Facebook though. 000
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 02/01/2025@aptshadow.bsky.social Do you know if you're coming back to Canterbury for the Shroud release? 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 08/11/2024Welcome to Bluseky! @greengwynna.bsky.social I mostly reply to people here rather than post for myself, but it's a much better platform than you may be used to. There are various starter packs available for you to follow, too, along with various topics like Booksky. Have fun! 020
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 24/10/2024Here's my review of the fantastic #DaysOfShatteredFaith from the inestimable @aptshadow.bsky.social . You're all in for a fun time with this one, when it releases! sk1mble.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/b...sk1mble.wordpress.comBook Review: Days of Shattered Faithby Adrian Tchaikovsky The publishers were kind enough to provide an advanced readers copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have included no spoilers for this book, but … 071
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 24/10/2024@aptshadow.bsky.social Just finished "Days of Shattered Faith". Review to follow, but it's definitely two thumbs up from me. You ARE planning a fourth book, riiiight? 220
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 10/10/2024@aptshadow.bsky.social My request for the ARC of #DaysOfShatteredFaith was accepted! I've paused reading the latest Follet Kingsbridge novel to dive into this. Looking forward to another trip to Yasnic's world. 010
Reposted by Richard BellinghamWool-Encased Tea Addict @passeriform.bsky.social · 06/08/2024Gift link: our own @roseveleth.com talks about ethics, and privacy, and human variation defector.com/what-can-we-...defector.comWhat Can We Learn From The Biology Of Dead Athletes? | DefectorWhen Stella Walsh was shot and killed in a parking lot in 1980 while doing her holiday shopping, nobody thought it would call her Olympic medals, won nearly 50 years earlier, into question. But when t... 02610
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 05/08/2024Oh why did I choose to read @aptshadow.bsky.social 's Saturation Point in a heatwave? *Sweats* 110
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 01/08/2024I have two questions for ADHD folks: 1) Are you glad that you went through the rigmarole of getting a formal diagnosis of your ADHD? 2) How do you feel about people who haven't been diagnosed officially but relate very very hard to all the symptoms they read about self-diagnosing? 010
Richard Bellingham @skimble.bsky.social · 18/07/2024I'm not a Labour member so I'm not sure it will help, but I signed this letter. actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...actionnetwork.orgOpen Letter to the Health SecretaryWe're appalled that Wes Streeting plans to continue the Tories' ideological ban on puberty blockers. This move is not in the best interests of young trans people, and we will need the full unity of th... 010
