Adrian Tchaikovsky

A bit outside my usual but I've been asked to judge the Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism. mailchi.mp/aureliainsti...

I feel like @aptshadow.bsky.social might appreciate this one: scientists have discovered that Portia jumping spiders experience REM-like sleep, and even make up for it when they're deprived. THE SPIDERS ACCRUE SLEEP DEBT. 🕷️ www.sciencealert.com/spiders-can-...

Slay the Spire post: I only just discovered how well Echo Form and Panache synergise. With multiples of each I ended up doing about 100 damage every 6 card plays and playing every card twice.

“Get in, we’re going back to Ilmar.”

For Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of my most anticipated fantasy novels of 2027 with The Grave of Perfection by @aptshadow.bsky.social. An exceptional upcoming book that will bring an end to the epic Tyrant Philophers series, I cannot wait to read this book. unseenlibrary.com/2026/10/24/w...

@pictcon.bsky.social is now half way to breaking even for 2027. Do you live in Scotland or near enough that a one day science fiction and fantasy convention (with an optional dinner the night before, for early arrivals) appeals? Just £30/£20!- we just need to sell 26 more tickets to be on target!

The Grave Of Perfection by @aptshadow.bsky.social is full of a sly wit that keeps bringing to mind Discworld. Not as comedic, but the same joy in language Rincewind might not find himself at home on the streets of Ilmar, but he would at least understand the wry irony of the local Maric patois.

Reread this one after many years - still love it. There’s gorgeous writing, a slow-reveal alien mystery, the corrosive effect of lies, & a heartbreaking depiction of mental illness and one woman’s unraveling. A propulsive build to a fantastic ending. “Planetfall” by Emma Newman. #BookSky 💙📚🪐

While I'm shouting at clouds, UK gov telling everyone to stockpile for climate-change-driven emergencies while fast-forwarding fossil fuel drilling is... I had thought it was the government's responsibility to fix problems, not cause problems and then tell us to deal with the fallout at our expense.

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! The Kickstarter campaign for NAP COMIX: FIRST STEPS, the newest volume collecting the Nap Comix webcomics in beautiful paperback book form, IS HERE! tinyurl.com/firststepsbook I'm so excited!

Think Weirder Volume 2 arrives Oct 29th and my short story "Jennifer Does Pushups" (originally published in @analogsf.bsky.social) made the cut. I'm excited - this is my first time in an anthology, and I'm sharing space with some really excellent SF/F authors. thinkweirder.com/index.html

You know how @fromthemorgue.bsky.social did amazing things with FitD for a|state 2E and equally amazing things with D&D 5E for FiveEvil? Well he's also doing amazing things with the Cold City/Hot War 2E mechanics for @handiworkgames.bsky.social's adaptation of @aptshadow.bsky.social's books.

Autocorrect changing ‘ho ho’ to ‘h oho’ because apparently that’s a thing.

Pssst! The NAP COMIX: FIRST STEPS Kickstarter will be going live at midnight tonight! tinyurl.com/firststepsbook Don't tell anyone though it's a secret!* *It is not a secret please do tell everyone.

Some more orks - characters this time.

Russell Letson reviews ENGINES OF REASON by @aptshadow.bsky.social: “continues the exploration of the collision between magical and materialist views of the world and, more significantly, how the stories they generate interact with the world-as-it-is.”

Signing my name on the moon like Chairface Chippendale. (Tip-in sheets for The Eighth Face)

People who want a realistic Halloween are recommended to watch Nightmare Before Christmas but play all Jack’s songs and dialogue at double speed.

The @cosmiclighthouse.co.uk event at @thoughtbubbleuk.bsky.social will feature @garyerskine.bsky.social @aptshadow.bsky.social and an announcement of our third graphic novel project! Plus two free exclusive prints and a chance to order exclusive editions of the books!

“Starting to”?

New listing for signed copies of @aptshadow.bsky.social's latest upcoming #scifi standalone The Eighth Face on @waterstones.bsky.social #booksky www.waterstones.com/book/the-eig...

Nothing says ‘simple game system’ in a ttrpg than numerical stats with other numbers, and sometimes equations, in parenthesis after them.

Remake Ladyhawke but instead of her turning into a hawk and him into a wolf they each turn into different random animals each time.

¡Nuevo @aptshadow.bsky.social en Freder! Se trata de «Un día todo esto será tuyo», una novela corta de ciencia ficción y humor con viajes en el tiempo y paradojas temporales. Contará con la traducción de Cristina Macía y está cubierta de @borgonhoy.bsky.social.

Executive: so we want an amazing island-scape and wind farms and the SEC building and a castle and a dude on a horse and f’ing Nessie and everything! Artist: ok sure, remind me what your company does. Executive: laundry, obviously.

The Great Tolkien Reread meets "The Uruk-Hai", our first close-up view of Orcs (and our first Merry and Pippin POV chapter). This is an opportunity to talk about how Tolkien humanizes his most problematic invention, and where he stops short. wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-...

OUT NOW! PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, the latest instalment in @aptshadow.bsky.social 's TERRIBLE WORLDS novellas, hits the shelves, & this time...it's illustrated! Tchaikovsky's move into horror features suitably spooky internal artwork from @valdevia.art ! Buy geni.us/preachtc

Congratulations to all the British Fantasy Award winners and nominees.

On the blog this week and also on sale at Fantasycon is the next great instalment on fantastic series - The Green Man’s Debt by Juliet E McKenna www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/10...

To tempt can I just say Space Cats!! Yes you need the novella Beasts kf the Wild Black by RJ Barker www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/10...

Well I could use one of the existing lifts but pi know what, I think I’ll wait for this new one I’ve heard so much about.

📚️ 🩵 @britfantasysoc.bsky.social 's Glasgow FANTASYCON starts today! Here are all of the Solaris folks you can find there! @aptshadow.bsky.social @rainewilson.bsky.social @mkhardywrites.com @rhiannonagrist.bsky.social @caspargeon.bsky.social @samkhorton.bsky.social AND @dtmooreeditor.bsky.social

Please report book marketing/beta reader scammers to Bluesky.

I have promised to ‘do a little dance’ when we hit 2500 sign-ups, and we’re 33 away from that, so… I don’t think doing this on the con floor would be logistically possible. Hmm. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cos...

What would 80s UK slang for marijuana have been?