iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon

Image: lots of scientists milling round a very cold air conditioned room that also contains moss, stones and snow. One scientist makes notes on a clipboard.

Caption:
Every summer, professor Singh noted the correlation between rising temperatures in the rest of the institute and the increased number of colleagues visiting his "Moss growth in Arctic conditions" experiment.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

Title:
Who is Haunting The Library of Forbidden Tomes?

Image: five panels showing characters in a gothic library

22% - tormented souls, frozen between life and death (a ghost reading a book)
4% - dank, fetid horrors from the icy depths below (a black slug like creature with a single eyestalk reading a book)
15% - cold, lifeless bones possessed by a corrupt sorcery (a skeleton reading a book)
11% - frigid and malevolent ectoplasmic vapours (a shapeless apparition reading a book)
48% - regular readers happy to away from the heatwave
(A mother, small child and toddler in buggy, all reading books)

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Ergative Absolutive @ergative.wandering.shop.ap.brid.gy · 06/08/2026

Hey, folks! Do you know of any unisex/open toilets? Add them here! I just went on and added my work building, which is fully open to the public during business hours, and has single-sex toilets on the ground floor, but two single-occupancy unisex rooms on the upper floors. (There's a space to […]

wandering.shop

Original post on wandering.shop

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 04/08/2026

In the middle of my game last week, while the players were deciding what they were doing, I was idly mussing on whether I'd need a name for a demon if they went with a summoning plan. Mind latched onto "Zergathrax" and, while I knew it was a reference to _something_, I couldn't work out where it […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

Panel one: a climber reaches the top of a towering cliff. There, among the clouds, a serene figure with a long beard, wearing a robe, sits crosslegged on the bare rock. He is "The Great Wise One of the Mountain"

Panels two, three and four: sitting serenely crosslegged on successively lower clifftops we see the Assistant Wise One of the Mountain, The Post-Doc Research Fellow of the Mountain and a group of PhD Students of the Mountain

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

A publisher's office.

The editor explains "Your draft has all the elements of a masterpiece, they're just not in the right order"
The writer looks at her draft on the table and asks "Elements?"
The editor clarifies, sadly "Letters".

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com Many more here: www.theguardian.com/profile/tom-gauld

Title (in a yellow star): "Offers at our Bookshop"

Panel 1: Buy two, get one free
A figure approaches the till with three books

Panel 2: Buy four, get a free tote bag
The cashier holds up a tote.

Panel 3: Buy one, get talking to staff, leave with five
Customer leaved happily, carrying a full tote and waving to tthe wo staff

Panel 4: Buy none, get a guilty feeling
Customer skulks out of the shop

Panel 5: Buy three as gifts, get the urge to keep them
Customer walking home already reading the books

Panel 6. Get overexcited, buy twelve...Get home, get eye-roll from partner
Customer arrives home reading a book and carrying two full totes.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

A heatwave cartoon for @newscientist.com

1. Title: The North Wind and the Sun quarrelled as to who was the stronger.

2. The Sun says: "I propose a wager: See yonder traveller, let us see who can make him remove his cloak."

3. The northwind blows on the traveller, the sun says: "You blow yet he only wraps it tighter!"

4. The sun shines on the traveller, saying: Observe! . The traveller mutters "nice and warm"

5. The Sun says "See, my kindness brought results!" The traveller has removed hos cloak and begins to sweat. "Fair enough, you win." concedes the North Wind.

6. "Tremble before my gracious heat!" says the sun, smiling bradly. His heat has started a fire. the traveller flees. The North Wind says "I think that’s enough."

7. "Let the world burn with my cleansing benevolence!!" blazes the sun madly, now grown huge in the sky. The land is a burning fireball. "Now you’re scaring me!" says the North Wind anxiously.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com #heatwave

Panel 1
A cartoon book with a face, legs and arms shouts out "Beware! Heatwave reading dangers!"

Panel 2
Caption "Binding glue softened by the sun"
Image: The book stands helplessly as its glue drips and pages fall to the floor.

Panel 3
Caption "Dropped while reading in a cooling bath"
Image: The book splashes into the water

Panel 4
Caption "Mislaid by a heat-addled reader"
Image: The book gestures wildly as the reader stumbles away in a daze.

Panel 5
Caption "Spontaneous combustion"
Image: The book explodes in flame.

Panel 6
"Sweaty hands!" screams the book as it runs away from a large pink hand, dripping with perspiration.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

Title: Presenting My cover designs for a series of Highbrow Literary Novels

Panel one.
Designer shows a book cover to the publisher. It shows a woman and man looking at a burning house with an orange sky behind.
The publisher says
"Not classy enough!"

Panel Two.
Designer shows a book cover to the publisher. It is now the same image in back and white with a text box hiding the house.
The publisher says
"Better, but not right!"

Panel Three.
Designer shows a book cover to the publisher. It is now just white text on a plain navy blue background
The publisher says
"Yes! But take it further!"

Panel Four.
Designer shows a book cover to the publisher. The author name is now gone too, the title is tiny on plain green.
The publisher says
"So close!"

Panel Five.
Designer shows a book cover to the publisher. It is completely blank, white paper.
The publisher says
"Perfection!"

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

Title: "In shops now: Classic literature with added mathematics!"

Image: Four book covers.

The Prime Number of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark.
Empire of the Sum, by JG Ballard.
Wuthering Heights × lengths × widths, by Emily Bronte.
The Remains Of the Data by Kazuo Ishiguro.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Wim De Hert @wimdehert.dungeonalchemist.com · 26/06/2026

Nothing special, but this is the timelapse of making a @dungeonalchemist.com icon in #procreate. It's along the lines of how a lot of the Dungeon Alchemist graphics are created, so feel absolutely free to ask anything you might want to know. #illustration #graphics #UIdesign

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 21/06/2026

Happy solstice. See, see as the counterstrike against the dreaded sun lands and the night begins to draw in once again. The cool and enveloping darkness lengthens across the country, even as we battle through the death throes of the sun's revenge - another heatwave crashes in across the horizon […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

A cartoon in which the speech bubbles are categorised by colour.

Panel 1: A man cooks dinner for a woman who is looking at his bookshelves.
He calls from the kitchen"I hope you're not judging me on my bookshelves?" (Blue)
She replies "Haha, no!" (Orange)

Panel 2: She takes a book off the shelf and asks
"Have you read all of these?" (Blue)
He replies "Of course!" (Orange)

Panel 3: she leafs through the book and asks
"Can I borrow this?' (Blue)
He replies "Sure, I love lending my books!" (Orange)

The key below explains that Blue represents a question and orange represents a lie.

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 16/05/2026

I know there's still a couple of hours to go, but as I'll have guests round for the final, here are my Eurovision thoughts for this evening. SF1 thread: mastodon.online/@Vecna/116563161020… SF2 thread: mastodon.online/@Vecna/116574465775… #ESC2026 #Eurovision2026 […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 12/05/2026

Here we go again. Eurovision semi-finals. Not a year without issues, but I am going to try and enjoy the songs without seeking to diminish those. #ESC2026 #Eurovision2026

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon.

Title: Bertrand Russell, 1933

Panel 1
Bertrand sits at his desk, puffing on his pipe. He says 'The problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubts.'

Panel 2
He gets up and walks over to a mirror.

Panel 3
Pondering his reflection, he muses 'But if I'm certain about this...'

Panel 4
'Does that make ME a fool or fanatic?'

Panel 5
He walks back to his desk.
His reflection in the mirror says 'Talking to yourself in a mirror seems pretty doubtful to me.'
'Good point.' says Bertrand.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

my latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

Two hooded figures with lamps approach a moonlit, isolated cottage.
A woman answers the door.
We have come for the child, says the hooded figure
So soon? she asks
It is time, says the hooded figure.
The woman is distraught. We should never have got him a library card!
What is done cannot be undone, says the hooded figure
We couldn’t see the harm! We just wanted him to enjoy reading!
For most, it ends there, says the hooded figure, turning away and walking into the wilderness
Oh lord, What have I done! says the woman,
the child walks past her and out into the darkness with them.
Do not cry mother.
I am a writer now.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com #manosphere

Image:
A small, angry boy stands in front of his parents. They are in modern clothes, but he is dressed as a regency gentleman with top hat, breeches, cane etc. He says
"No title, no estates, and less than a thousand a year! How am I ever to find a wife!"

Caption:
Noah's parents realise that he has been drawn into the manorsphere.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

17th Shard @17thshard.com · 24/03/2026

Blightfall, the first book in @jancipatterson.bsky.social & @brandonsanderson.com's upcoming Cytoverse series Riftwake (formerly: Skyward Legacy) comes out on September 1, and has cover reveals for both the US and UK editions! www.17thshard.com/news/brandon...

US book cover for Blightfall, the first book in the Riftwake series, depicting a young man and a young woman in flight suits inside a colorful alien cave.

UK book cover for Blightfall, the first book in the Riftwake series, depicting a young man and a young woman in space uniforms looking at a spaceship in the distance.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

A gigantic billboard beside a road shows (at life-size) an enormous, grand building. Text beside it reads:
"Foundation For Astonishingly Extravagant Gestures"
a sticker below adds
"Coming Soon"
Dwarfed by the billboard is a shabby little building with a sign reading
"Institute of Pragmatic Solutions"

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 09/03/2026

It's been 19 years today since "The Heart of Everything" came out... So here are a couple of my favourite tacks. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNDPsFrnnnU www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKwrgWkur00 And the whole album playlist here on Within Temptation's channel […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com

Two scientists walk through a cluttered old-fashioned science laboratory.

The female scientist says
“Analogue instruments! Paper records! Chalk boards! I thought you'd agreed to modernise the laboratory?”

The male scientist replies
“That's what i'm so excited about: we have moved to cloud-based storage for our data!”

They step out onto a balcony. She says:
“Please tell me you haven't built a library zeppelin”

This is exactly what he has done. It floats across the sky and he adds
“It's got a fax machine!”

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books.

Three panels showing a bench on a small hill in London on a grey drizzly day. A man in a fedora carrying a suitcase arrives, then he is joined by a woman carrying an umbrella and a man in dark glasses reading a newspaper. They all look shifty and hurriedly converse:
"Good."
"Very."
"Agreed."
Then they all walk off down the hill.

Caption:
Every month, the Espionage Book Club discuss a classic work of spy fiction at a clandestine meeting. To minimise the risk of exposure, infiltration or surveillance by hostile agents, conversation is restricted to the essentials.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Wim De Hert @wimdehert.dungeonalchemist.com · 27/02/2026

It’s hard to overestimate the complexity and the usefulness of this particular algorithm. @karelcrombecq.bsky.social has been developing this for @dungeonalchemist.com and is opensourcing it for all of you, as promised. 🙂 #indiegamedev #straightskeleton #procgen

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Wim De Hert @wimdehert.dungeonalchemist.com · 19/02/2026

So: where we're at, where we're going, where we've been. This is the #roadmap, don't where it out! 🙂 #dungeonalchemist #indiegamedev #graphicdesign #gameart #ttrpg

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 07/02/2026

Look what turned up this week. @gonzohistory's "Booklet of Bounties". A zine about ... well bounties and fugitives. Some random tables and thoughts about why bounties might even exist in the first place, how to get them, and so on.

The cover of the book.

A hooded and robed figure stands with their back to the viewer looking at a board covered in two dozen or more wanted posters of all sizes and types.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

amos @fasterthanlime.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy · 02/02/2026

...horrifying message without context, thank you

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

One interesting thing you may not know about publishing is that at this point there are only 4 people alive who still purchase a book, open it, and read the words inside. All the stores and campaigns are to reach them. Famous authors like Stephen King sometimes reach as many as 2 with a single book.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

A recent cartoon for @theguardian.com

title: The Writer in January

Panel 1.
“A short stroll...” says the writer aleaving the house. The sun has begun to peek over the horizon.

Panel 2.
“Then back to my desk for a good day's writing in the winter sun.” The sun has risen a little higher.

Panel 3.
“Surely it's not going down yet?” The sun is indeed on its way down.

Panel 4.
“Perhaps I'll catch the last rays.” Says the writer breaking into a sprint.

Panel 5.
The writer is back at home sitting at a desk saying “Damn!”. The sun is gone. The sky is gloomy.

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 07/01/2026

At 94,000 words my second novel is complete. Now for the second draft and some heavy editing... #WritersCommunity #AmWriting #WritersOfMastodon

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 02/01/2026

2026 has begun, so a new reading thread starts. Book 1 is "The Black Bird Oracle" by Deborah Harkness, the fifth All Souls novel. #CurrentlyReading #Bookstodon #DeborahHarkness #AllSouls #TheBlackBirdOracle

The cover of the book.

A black bird in flight, in the centre of a golden circle with six phases of the moon spaced unevenly around the outside, stars in the background.

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 01/01/2025

New year, new reading thread. Starting off 2025 with book 1, "Starborn" by Lucy Hounsom. #CurrentlyReading #Bookstodon #LucyHounsom #TheWorldmakerTrilogy #Starborn

The cover of the book.

A woman in a cloak stands looking forward, some trees in the distance behind her. A map of the zodiac is lightly drawn behind her.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Happy New Year, everyone! This is a @theguardian.com books cartoon from a few years ago.

Title: New year's resolution

A man sits at a table with a coffee writing in a notebook: “This year i will devote myself completely to reading serious, improving literature, forsaking easy pleasures and tirelessly seeking out truth and profundity in the work of the greatest writers.”

He looks at it
Says: Hmm...
then “Scratch Scratch Scratch scratch” scribbles out words until the text reads: “This year I will read for Fun”

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books.

The 27th of December...

“I think Dad got too many books for christmas this year.” Says a daughter.

“Don't worry, he'll get through them.” Says the mother, looking up from her book.

“But until then..?” Asks the daughter.

“He'll be fine on turkey sandwiches until he's reduced the front piles”

The father is completely surrounded by high teetering walls of stacked books. He is reading within and the daughter has thrown a sandwich in to him.

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Quality footnote

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 21/12/2025

Today is the 175th day of my current writing streak. I also at some point in the last couple of weeks passed without noticing 150,000 words written this year. Will I finish my current project by the end of the year as planned? Unclear, I've slipped behind this week but I've got little to do for […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Generate a heartwarming advert for your bookshop:

Title: Heartwarming christmas television advert plot generator for bookshops.

(choose one from each column to come up with a sentence)

Choices in column 1:
A lonely
A grumpy
A workaholic
An elderly
A poor

Column 2:
Book Shop Owner Learns The True Meaning Of

Column 3:
Literature
Christmas
Community
Wealth
Friendship

Column 4:
With help from a

Column 5:
Wise
Celebrity
Magical
Kindly
Clumsy

Column 6:
Child
Mouse
Parsnip
Snowman
Ghost

Additional text below:
Just add: twinkly music, wooly jumpers, computer-generated snow, poetry, bells.

11527176

Reposted by Dr Richard Hussey

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

A small child approaches his scientist father who is working at a large, strange, contraption. His face pressed to a viewing tube.

“Are you looking forward to Christmas, papa?” Asks the child.

“Yes,” replies the scientist“ turning round, “that is exactly what I am doing” then he adds “Thank you for the socks.”

We can now see that the viewing tube breaks the border of the comics panel, passes through complicated machinery and allows the scientist to see into the next comic panel:

Caption: December 25th

A Christmas scene. The child and father-scientist open presents before a Christmas tree. The father has just unwrapped some socks.

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 01/12/2025

I've got two advent "calendars" this year. One of which I'll be posting pictures of and the other I won't... The latest in the #Journal29 series, and a gift calendar of greatest themed book related items. #AdventCalendar #Advent2025

A green book. The title is "Journal 29 Advent Calendar" with a subheading "Interactive Book Game".

A notecard on top of tissue paper. It reads "The Fairytale & Fantasy Advent Calendar 2025".

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 09/11/2025

I'm behind with posting my Not NaNo word counts as I haven't been that well most of the month. Here we are: Day 1: 1,093 (vs 1,666) Day 2: 2,030 (vs 3,333) Day 3: 2,401 (vs 5,000) Day 4: 3,341 (vs 6,666) Day 5: 4,785 (vs 8,333) Day 6: 5,474 (vs 10,000) Day 7: 8,895 (vs 11,666) Day 8: 9,554 (vs […]

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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17th Shard @17thshard.com · 21/11/2025

July 2025 art commission 🎨 Artist: www.instagram.com/nozomi_seirei/ 📖 Book: Mistborn ~ #BrandonSanderson #Cosmere #Mistborn

A digital illustration of a younger Lord Ruler walking out of a burning building unscathed. He is walking towards the viewer, rings decorating his fingers, his long coat and formal-looking outfit partially ablaze, revealing unmarred skin underneath. His long dark hair is similarly untouched by the flames. His downcast eyes hide a dark look, but the array of weapons and tools surrounding him, and subtly attached to his chest with blue steel lines, reveal his destructive intent. A multi-story building, perhaps an inn, has gone up in flames behind him, and fire similarly trails his footsteps.

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 09/11/2025

mastodon.online

Original post on mastodon.online

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com

Panel 1
An author in their agent's office says:
"This book will be my magnum opus, the book that I was put on the planet too write, and the pinnacle my writing and your publishing careers."

Panel two
The agent looks over a manuscript with a neutral expression. The author continues:
"Unless you don’t like it. In which case it’s just one of a number of ideas I’m playing around with."

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Dr Richard Hussey @vecna.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy · 03/11/2025

Adhoc reminder for my Bluesky followers: if you're not following the bridge bot (bsky.app/profile/ap.brid.gy) then I'm not going to be able to see your posts. :⁠-⁠)

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

A halloween books cartoon for @theguardian.com

Image: The library of an ancient castle. A full moon shines through a gothic window. A vampire creeps up behing a carpenter.
Caption: "It had not been easy, but the Count was glad that he had resisted drinking the carpenter's blood until his beautiful new bookshelves were complete."

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