John Birmingham

You know it’s not fair to call Elon a racist. He’s responsible for the deaths of plenty of white kids too. I mean, sure, he’s not an equal opportunity mass murderer but come on people. Points for trying.

Nelson Muntz Ha Ha Gif for all the Serbian, Brazilian and (any moment now) American fascist soft cock losers.

I just watched Mayday. It was fun.

His stuff keeps turning up in my TL, and I hope he wins, but if he doesn't, he's got a real future in stand-up. This bit is just a bit better than okay, but I've seen a bunch of routines now where he just fucking kills it as a narrative comedian.

Whadyamean 'if'?

Surrounded, outnumbered and outgunned, the resistance cannot hold out. #TheForeverDead: the thrilling conclusion to @birmo.bsky.social epic sci-fi adventure, #TheCruelStars trilogy, Out now: https://geni.us/TFDorgsoc

Ukraine didn’t kill the Putinbots. But it did hand Musk and Trump an excuse www.crikey.com.au/2026/10/22/u...

I’m about 1/2 way in The Forever Dead by John Birmingham and the building up to what I’m guessing is the final battle is damn cool! Can’t wait to see what an Armada-level intellect will do with a fleet of ships. Space Nazis are going to eat some sh-t. How cool are RAN stealth corvettes?

Don’t be schooner shamed. You can still have a pot.

In a functioning society, Elon Musk would be going to jail soon.

These morons are all like Elmore Leonard characters who got themselves transplanted into a John Le Carré novel

If you're in Melbourne on the 16th of November... so am I! Launching the essay.

My auto mailer message to unsubscribers

Just had an email telling me the Quarterly Essay is off to print. Which means I can never look at it again, lest it explode with typos and howlers that have hidden themselves between the lines.

What... there are people who have not read this... If you are one of them... fix this ASAP

Really enjoying The Forever Dead! Like a fun action sci-fi blockbuster movie. So much fun! #Booksky

While everybody’s talking about the flying car, the clock is ticking on the treason.

It’s been a while since I read Simon Sebag Montefiore’s Stalin bio, but I half remember some NKVD goon who knew he was doomed and went out in a blaze of orgiastic excess. Trump is starting to remind me of him.

Huzzah!

Re-reading @birmo.bsky.social ‘s Disappearance trilogy and all those numpties saying “I never thought these horrors could happen in the US” clearly know squat about history but also never cracked open a SFF/alt history book cos damn! but the post-wave sections of this trilogy are prescient.

Readers in the British Empire and subject dominions can get this bad boy now. Americans, sorry. Sucks to be you for another two weeks.

*%# yes. Book 3 is out! My weekend is SET. #Booksky

Only in the US. Dropping everywhere else on schedule. I think the schedule was slightly delayed there because of the collapsing civilisation thing.

The revolt against the new, useless, non-fizzy Berocca grows.

Currently drinking endless cups of tea in my library while reading Garth’s new novel to get ready for Thursday night

Some billionaire chud changed the formula for Berocca, and now they don’t fizz as much, and I hate late stage capitalism

Trump: Zelenskyy better damn well stop blowing up Russian refineries. Zelenskyy: Blows up Russian data centres. Trump: No not like that damn it!

I tried to understand that feeling you get when your love of a cute animal video turns to sick realisation you're watching AI slop.

📖 As I’m currently reading @birmo.bsky.social “The Cruel Stars”, when I saw @genericitis.bsky.social mention “The Javan War” prequel story I immediately went and looked it up for myself. So now I’m reading an intro. to Subby Hardy and other characters 🤗 📚🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky #ReaderSky 🦋

I wonder if yo could crowdfund a drone strike simply to clean up your timeline?

All of your bookshelves could be like this if you really loved me.

ITS FINALLY HAPPENIIIIINNNGG

But my book and you will get a cheque for $5000. In a few weeks. After the royalties.

Don’t freak out about Bolsonaro Junior winning in Brazil. It means Trump has somewhere to go into exile rather than nuking the world when it all falls apart for him in a couple of months

Oh? A plague outbreak in Russia, you say? Cool, cool, very cool. Is there any reason I should pay my taxes or mortgage this month?

Just finished watching Neagley. It was very good.

From the Quarterly Essay copy edit. I do shiver with pleasure at the firm smack of editorial correction.

David Shoebridge is about 20 years too early...

📕 Following along in the wake of The @scifiscavenger.bsky.social I’ve today made a start on “The Cruel Stars” by @birmo.bsky.social and @headofzeus.bsky.social Met the calm Lieutenant, the grumpy old boy, and now a gang with the cold head 😳 📚🚀 #SciFiBooks 🪐📚💙 #BookSky #ReaderSky 🦋

Every time I see this image, I imagine Jack Smith imagining Ralph Wiggum saying “I’m in danger”, and then trying very very hard not to laugh.

Neither is being a college professor.

I've been eagerly awaiting the final novel in the Cruel Stars trilogy by @birmo.bsky.social – and it's nearly here. Get your pre-orders in at the Bezos' big rock-candy mountain. www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B...

Ted has realised his cone of shame confers superpowers, such as denying access to any and all rivals who would challenge him for dinner plate clean up action