Michael Pryor

What’s true? What’s not? Michael Pryor and George Ivanoff present three remarkable stories to each other. Two stories are true, but one is totally made up. Subscribe and listen to Michael and George as they try to fool each other into believing absolute nonsense. itstrueorisit.podbean.com

Your country might be great but does it follow Australia’s lead by colour-coordinating its currency with the nation’s favourite snack foods?

The magnificent Torre de Belém, Lisbon.

My latest books cartoon for the @theguardian.com

Visited the Bertrand Bookshop here in Lisbon, the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation. It was founded in the 18th century!

Tolkien talks wisely. www.bbc.com/culture/arti...

They really, really love their sardines here in Portugal. And, yes, that's a Ferris Wheel of sardine tins in the window.

Why isn't there a high stakes, tension filled book/TV series about a pair of mismatched crime fighting clowns, one with a drinking problem and one who has been hit by lightning twice and thus developed hyper sensitive hearing?

Hotel breakfast not for vegans?

Lots of people have a favourite spoon in the cutlery drawer, but some cutlery drawers have the favourite's nemesis, the evil spoon that will ruin an enjoyable bowl of cereal faster than a slug in a milk bottle.

While writing LoTR, Tolkien deleted one section because it was 'inartistic'. I'm going to make that one of my criteria when revising in future.

Behold the fascinating non-fiction in Aurealis #194: ‘How Pop Culture and A.I. Interacted from 2000 to 2025’ by Lynne Lumsden Green, ‘Who put all these tentacles in my eldritch horror story?’ by Annie Mills and ‘Conservative Mythology in Weapons (2025)’ by Ani White.

In 1916 after a German Zeppelin crashed near the UK town of Little Wigborough a baby girl born that night was christened 'Zeppelina', which is a name we *definitely* need to see more often.

It's outright discrimination if visible pensioners have to pay.

I suppose that Modernist dog kennels with a Germanic influence belong to the Bauwauhaus school of architecture.

Well, now. I just realised that Adam the Space Hippy and Tucker McElroy from the Good Old Boys were the same actor. Thespians are so talented.

In my more reflective moments, I admit I have a number of regrets, but foremost of them, I think, is that I never had a long-lost relative who died and left me a mysterious castle in Scotland. Still, mustn't grumble.

Aurealis #194 is proud to present ‘Boy Leaves Girl Inside a Giant Octopus’ by Cameron Semmens, illustrated by Matt Bissett-Johnson, ‘Form a Shape, Besides Yourself’ by C.H. Pearce illustrated by Chris Catlin and ‘The Vineman of Nancy’ by Benjamin George Coles illustrated by Joel Bisaillon.

In Episode 2 of Series 4, Stephen Higgins and I bring you a wartime podiatrist, an outback oddity, a curious card game and more! Find it wherever you find you podcasts or here: apocryphalaustralia.podbean.com

We went to a 'High Cheese' at the Westin. Like a High Tea, but instead of scones, jam and cream it was an array of delicious cheesy morsels. Splendid!

Street sign, Malta. Be warned.

Any time a Roman emperor tries to appeal to the Roman masses as a way to power, I can't understand why historians don't call it the old hoi polloi ploy.

From Australian Women's Weekly Sept 1978. The lad second right is imagining a future where all teens will wear safari suits. Arrested Development Narrator: He imagined wrong.

Spending a few days on a paddlesteamer, chugging down the Murray. Here's last night's sunset

There's a special, complex, modern emotion - part horror, part shame - when you accidentally drop a non-recyclable in the recycling bin.

The first episode of the Apocryphal Australia podcast Series 4 is out now! Extremely extreme weather, a mysterious lake, runaway kitchen appliances and more! Get it wherever you find your podcasts or here: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-itbbt...

I think I'll make one of those Reaction Videos, but instead of me watching a song or a movie, I'll be reading a book. It could be long, a couple of days of me engrossed, occasionally going 'No! No, don't do that!' or giving a triumphant 'Yes!' at appropriate moments. Winner.

'Sometimes, when you look into the ibis, the ibis looks back' - Friedrich 'the Fredster' Nietzsche

Injuries I have suffered because of books: 1. Paper cuts (numerous) 2. Strained neck after violent sneezing caused by dust on an old book 3. Bruised forehead after walking into a lamp post while reading 4. Broken heart (figurative). Worth it, each and every one of them.

I like seeing fantasy maps by Australians, because the south is cold and the north is hot, as it should be.

You know what makes me smile even though I know it's silly? It's reading a UK or US book and there's a passing mention of Australia, or a minor character is Australian. It's like 'Australia! Yes!'

I have a desire to write a novel that would include evocative scratch'n'sniff character names - Violet, Rose, Barbie ...

Dog names that have been deciphered from ancient Egyptian dog mummies(!). Menyupu (‘He is a Shepherd’) Pehtes (‘Blacky’), Ankhu (‘Living One’), Neb (‘The Lordly One’), Behkai (‘Antelope’), Hekenu (‘Exultation’), Abutiyuw (‘Pointed Ears’) Tegra (‘Kettle-black’) and Aya (‘Woofer’).

Put your hand up if a teacher ever told you, 'You can't start a sentence with "and".' Extra points if the same teacher said you can't start a sentence with "but", either.

Subtitles ruin comedies. The punchlines arrive before the joke is finished and the gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice are out of sync with what you've read.

Series 4 of the Apocryphal Australia podcast is coming soon, and here's a sneaky preview! www.podbean.com/eas/pb-bq8ez...

To celebrate our upcoming very special 200th issue in 2027, Aurealis magazine is increasing the payment for all stories published in 2027 from AUD2c a word to AUD6c a word!

Saw this perky kooka on a fence post yesterday.

Working hard with Stephen Higgins on preparing the Apocryphal Australia podcast. Coming soon, more unbelievable stories of rogues, mountebanks and tragic heroes, more fascinating tales of extraordinary events, remarkable natural features and hidden scandals!

Our July 2026 issue is here! Get it, or subscribe, at www.aurealis.com.au

Subscribe for great genre fiction and non-fiction. Support Australian publishing - 30+ years and going strong.

Lift buttons should be connected to a pump hydraulic system so those people who mash the button over and over actually *can* make the lift come faster.

Instead of making lemon butter, I substituted limes and made lime butter. Yum.

A late season bud for Precious Michelle, a delicate shell pink rose, after a rain shower.

Hendiatris is when three words are used to express one idea. Hook, line and sinker. Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Game, set and match. Understood, clear, capisce?

The Hero's Journey Reimagined Where the Hero Stays Home and Does Some Much Needed Maintenance Instead of Journeying.

The intelligent non-fiction in Aurealis #190, our May issue: ‘“The Lonely”: The Twilight Zone Episode That Parallels the 2020s’ by Joseph Sullivan, ‘The Paradox of Nothing: The Anthromorphism of Aliens’ by Todd Sullivan and ‘Ignorance is Creative Bliss’ by Peter Court. Get it at www.aurealis.com.au