How about you and me start being mad, being wrong, and being happier?

The title is a quote from this week's newsletter from Warren Ellis, Orbital Operations. If you're not subscribed, why the hell not? 

Also, Warren mentioned my book in his 27 July newsletter. I spent the next week in a silent squeal of delight. 

Charlie Stross on where we are.

This isn't my usual post content, but I recommend it.

Antipope, The Pivot

Innsmouth Literary Festival 2025

 This year's Innsmouth Literary Festival was a ton of fun--great seeing everyone and a helpful discussion with the attendees at my author session. 

 Many thanks to those in the session! I'll credit you in the paper (assuming it comes about and doesn't get too big to handle).

 Now to decide what next year's NecronomiCon Providence article is going to sail toward, given the discussion and response.  

A quick catch-up and a fun short story.

I'm almost...ALMOST finished editing the paper on Melville and Lovecraft. The due date to the editor is this Friday, August 15. Yikes. But I think I'm just about there. I'm happy with how it's turning out. As always, the time it's taken has been necessary, and as always, I don't grasp that until I'm nearing the end.

Here's a fantastic short story:

http://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fiction/librarians-in-the-branch-library-of-babel/

It's called "Librarians in the Branch Library of Babel" as in the URL and is best read if you've already read Jorge Luis Borges's short story "The Library of Babel." I urge you to take the time. 

A Weekend with Good Friends 2025: Panels and Links

Improvising as a Player or GM

Featuring: Scott Dorward, Matt Sanderson, Newman, Tom Malcolm Wright, and Heather M. Moderated By: Hedge

Managing Information and Player Attention in Investigative Horror

Featuring: Sue Savage, Keris McDonald, Leslie “XPLovecat” Horn, and Lydia Moderated By: Heather M.

A Weekend with Good Friends on YouTube

The Haunted Life of Edgar Allan Poe (updated 22 July 2025)

I'll need to give this some more thought, but it's gotten me thinking more about Poe's unity of effect and Lovecraft's theories on writing. 

The Haunted Life of Edgar Allan Poe

Edited 22 July 2025 to improve link and font.

Good Friends of Jackson Elias interview, part 2

It's out!!!

Haunted Landscapes on Good Friends of Jackson Elias

In this part of the interview, I talk with Matt Sanderson and Scott Dorward about the idea of haunted landscapes, how it's not the same idea as hauntology, why ghosts have nothing to do with it, and how it ultimately points to both Lovecraft and Call of Cthulhu. 

I hope you find it as delightful to listen to as I found it to record!

I'm delighted to share the new episodes of Gunpowder and Glass, the AP that I'm in on WasabiBurger's channel and Patreon. Gunpowder and Glass takes place in Pyrrhion, Wasabi's world set in the Worlds Without Number RPG system.

The first episode has Bernard's character on an adventure (Bernard's a Discord buddy, I've no idea of his last name):

Gunpowder & Glass - Worlds Without Number Actual Play #1

The episode below (second in the series) has Martin's character, a good-natured but vaguely slippery type, on his own adventure (Martin's a Discord buddy as well):
Gunpowder & Glass - Worlds Without Number Actual Play #2

And the third episode is mine!

Gunpowder & Glass - Worlds Without Number Actual Play #3

I play Amethelia Vexx, a courtesan-turned-necromancer who's joined the Venators because they seem like they're doing good in Pyrrhion.

Another player, Dan, has episodes of his own, soon to be published, and future episodes have our four characters together for an adventure. Consult the oracles for visions of the future posts to come.

I keep this video on my desktop to remind myself that I needn't be like the others. I'm sure other people are holding on to it, too. 

Here's the source of the video. I thank Mr. Rodney kindly.