sean guynes
@guynes.bsky.social
critic and cultural historian of fantasy, horror, sf + senior acquiring editor, @leverpress.bsky.social + associate editor of sf, @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social + read more: seanguynes.com
Pinned
Reading “The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova
In which I return to Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian (2005), a literary fiction vampire novel about historians fighting against Dracula across three generations—which once meant so much to …
seanguynes.com
This has been two months in the making. The essay was written in September, the podcast recorded in October, and now both are available in November.
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
On this front, I read a very funny article today that argues, in sum, "lots of ppl said Eddison's novels expressed fascist ideas about power and who should have it, but in these letters Eddison said he didn't like fascists, so... clearly Eddison's theories of power aren't fascist!" Mind. Blown.
Writing about Eddison's The Mezentian Gate (1958), his final and posthumous novel, third in the Zimiamvia trilogy. This will wrap up my year for the Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series and finish up the "preface novels," so that January can start fresh with the first novel in the series proper.
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
On this front, I read a very funny article today that argues, in sum, "lots of ppl said Eddison's novels expressed fascist ideas about power and who should have it, but in these letters Eddison said he didn't like fascists, so... clearly Eddison's theories of power aren't fascist!" Mind. Blown.
Reposted by sean guynes
Reposted by sean guynes
Blast from the past! A paper I wrote nearly a decade ago about a comic that is now forty years old!
Since DC's wedding anniversary between the Flash and Iris West was on Monday, check out Sean Guynes’s article on the DC multiverse, which originated in a Flash arc.
muse.jhu.edu/pub/30/artic...
@projectmuse.bsky.social @guynes.bsky.social #DetectiveComics #comics #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths #DCComics
muse.jhu.edu/pub/30/artic...
@projectmuse.bsky.social @guynes.bsky.social #DetectiveComics #comics #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths #DCComics
November 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Blast from the past! A paper I wrote nearly a decade ago about a comic that is now forty years old!
An international Star Trek conference with the brilliant @smittermeier.bsky.social as keynote! If you're a Trek scholar, you should probably be there!
#CFP Red Alert!
We are organizing an international #symposium on #StarTrek in September 2026 in Paris, for the 60th anniversary of the franchise. 🖖
We are pleased to announce that Dr. @smittermeier.bsky.social will deliver the keynote address of the symposium!
We are organizing an international #symposium on #StarTrek in September 2026 in Paris, for the 60th anniversary of the franchise. 🖖
We are pleased to announce that Dr. @smittermeier.bsky.social will deliver the keynote address of the symposium!
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
An international Star Trek conference with the brilliant @smittermeier.bsky.social as keynote! If you're a Trek scholar, you should probably be there!
Writing about Eddison's The Mezentian Gate (1958), his final and posthumous novel, third in the Zimiamvia trilogy. This will wrap up my year for the Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series and finish up the "preface novels," so that January can start fresh with the first novel in the series proper.
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Writing about Eddison's The Mezentian Gate (1958), his final and posthumous novel, third in the Zimiamvia trilogy. This will wrap up my year for the Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading series and finish up the "preface novels," so that January can start fresh with the first novel in the series proper.
Reposted by sean guynes
literally fuck off
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
literally fuck off
Reposted by sean guynes
that list of four potential peer reviewers you gave your acquisitions editor? one of them is retired, another is chairing their department and simply can't, the third is on leave and has an autoreply up for months, and the fourth replied within 20 seconds to say "no."
November 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
that list of four potential peer reviewers you gave your acquisitions editor? one of them is retired, another is chairing their department and simply can't, the third is on leave and has an autoreply up for months, and the fourth replied within 20 seconds to say "no."
Reposted by sean guynes
My new & first book, Selling Out Santa, is Open Access!
If you like what you read and can, please consider buying a copy for you and maybe one for a history/film lover at Christmas (it's 40% off)!
It'll likely be my only income in over 2 years once royalties pay next July, so please consider it!
If you like what you read and can, please consider buying a copy for you and maybe one for a history/film lover at Christmas (it's 40% off)!
It'll likely be my only income in over 2 years once royalties pay next July, so please consider it!
Selling Out Santa
Christmas is not just a day or a frame of mind as Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) imparts in Miracle on 34 th Street (1947); Christmas is also a vehicle for national mythmaking as an idealising mirror for...
www.degruyterbrill.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
My new & first book, Selling Out Santa, is Open Access!
If you like what you read and can, please consider buying a copy for you and maybe one for a history/film lover at Christmas (it's 40% off)!
It'll likely be my only income in over 2 years once royalties pay next July, so please consider it!
If you like what you read and can, please consider buying a copy for you and maybe one for a history/film lover at Christmas (it's 40% off)!
It'll likely be my only income in over 2 years once royalties pay next July, so please consider it!
Reposted by sean guynes
"Device hoarding" lol. Do you have any idea how much phones cost? Upgrading is expensive and produces a ton of e-waste!
If you want to talk about hoarding, the conversation should be around billionaires hoarding wealth!
If you want to talk about hoarding, the conversation should be around billionaires hoarding wealth!
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing economy
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever before, and while it may be consumer smart, it comes at a cost to work productivity and the U.S. economy.
www.cnbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
"Device hoarding" lol. Do you have any idea how much phones cost? Upgrading is expensive and produces a ton of e-waste!
If you want to talk about hoarding, the conversation should be around billionaires hoarding wealth!
If you want to talk about hoarding, the conversation should be around billionaires hoarding wealth!
Saving this to read later but just a glimpse at it and WOW that's some web design!
I love everything about this piece by @gautambhatia88.bsky.social, and bonus is also learning about the Alter Magazine. Read it on a bigger screen, if you're able.
altermag.com/articles/the...
altermag.com/articles/the...
The Secret History of Indian Science Fiction.
Before Asimov, there was Rokeya.
altermag.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Saving this to read later but just a glimpse at it and WOW that's some web design!
Reposted by sean guynes
We do know who killed JFK. The Warren Commission was an incredibly thorough and good-faith effort to prove and document what had happened, which they did. The conspiracy theories arose in spite of best efforts to avoid them, but there really isn't anything they could have reasonably done better.
My first political memory - exactly 62 years ago right now, a 4-year-old boy trying to understand his mom's tears - is still the biggest event in my lifetime. We still (IMO) don't *really* know who killed JFK, but we know the public's trust was shattered. It's a straight line to today's mess
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
We do know who killed JFK. The Warren Commission was an incredibly thorough and good-faith effort to prove and document what had happened, which they did. The conspiracy theories arose in spite of best efforts to avoid them, but there really isn't anything they could have reasonably done better.
Reposted by sean guynes
I really love a light source and other artist's abilities to make the viewer feel emersed in a time and place. So I'm playing with colors and glow a bit rather than working completely flat. (I still love experimenting, learning and changing)
November 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I really love a light source and other artist's abilities to make the viewer feel emersed in a time and place. So I'm playing with colors and glow a bit rather than working completely flat. (I still love experimenting, learning and changing)
Reposted by sean guynes
The evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK while acting alone is abundant; it’s probably one of the best documented and clearly understood events in modern history, and anyone continuing to insist on it being a matter of debate either hasn’t paid attention or is deliberately trying to mislead.
My first political memory - exactly 62 years ago right now, a 4-year-old boy trying to understand his mom's tears - is still the biggest event in my lifetime. We still (IMO) don't *really* know who killed JFK, but we know the public's trust was shattered. It's a straight line to today's mess
November 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
The evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK while acting alone is abundant; it’s probably one of the best documented and clearly understood events in modern history, and anyone continuing to insist on it being a matter of debate either hasn’t paid attention or is deliberately trying to mislead.
I like to imagine she's cosplaying Sharpe.
This is my favourite Kate.
November 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
I like to imagine she's cosplaying Sharpe.
Everyone yapping about Winds of Winter this, Winds of Winter that, how dare you write other things, George, don't you know no one likes Wild Cards blah blah blah! But what the world really needs from GRRM is the sequel to Fire and Blood. And what the world needs even more is to leave the man alone!
George R.R. Martin teases the 'Game of Thrones' universe will finally get to the world after the OG show's divisive finale.
'Game of Thrones' Will Get a Proper Sequel, Eventually
George R.R. Martin teases the 'Game of Thrones' universe will finally get to the world after the OG show's divisive finale.
gizmodo.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Everyone yapping about Winds of Winter this, Winds of Winter that, how dare you write other things, George, don't you know no one likes Wild Cards blah blah blah! But what the world really needs from GRRM is the sequel to Fire and Blood. And what the world needs even more is to leave the man alone!
The funniest thing about this very funny article is that that is not a naginata in the picture.
November 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The funniest thing about this very funny article is that that is not a naginata in the picture.
I've just experienced what might be the nichest surge of sff pride and joy: I have a fantasy novel that is not listed on ISFDB.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I've just experienced what might be the nichest surge of sff pride and joy: I have a fantasy novel that is not listed on ISFDB.
Reposted by sean guynes
Henry H. Sapoznik talked with @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about his new book, The Tourist's Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City. tinyurl.com/43c7pndn
#podcast #ReadUP #nyc #newyorkcity
#podcast #ReadUP #nyc #newyorkcity
November 20, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Henry H. Sapoznik talked with @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about his new book, The Tourist's Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City. tinyurl.com/43c7pndn
#podcast #ReadUP #nyc #newyorkcity
#podcast #ReadUP #nyc #newyorkcity
Reposted by sean guynes
Hey so bad news, there's a phishing email going around pretending to pay for free Thanksgiving dinners at Costco. Please tell your leas internet savvy friends this is a horrible, heartless scam and they SHOULD NOT CLICK ANYTHING
![Gmail preview of a phishing email pretending to be Costco.
I have included the titles exactly as they appeared.
Title: You've won a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner from Costco [myemail] [thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:09:21 +0000] red emoji exclamation point
From: Costco - Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner etdenix@iszgxhz.aaq.missouri.uk.com
To: me@aol.com (not my actual email)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rspmvkykyekzvboa4kalkzy6/bafkreigkvh2cafvfzijskbmnbiqnohezcd36clsa7kk2hbx2pydllz7efy@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Hey so bad news, there's a phishing email going around pretending to pay for free Thanksgiving dinners at Costco. Please tell your leas internet savvy friends this is a horrible, heartless scam and they SHOULD NOT CLICK ANYTHING
I've become enough of a Stargate fan -- and it's been long enough since we've had any new Stargate -- that the announcement of a new, original (not reboot) series filled me with excitement, rather than dread.
New ‘Stargate’ TV Series Ordered at Amazon From ‘Blindspot’ Creator Martin Gero
Amazon is officially moving forward with a new "Stargate" TV series, Variety has learned.
variety.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I've become enough of a Stargate fan -- and it's been long enough since we've had any new Stargate -- that the announcement of a new, original (not reboot) series filled me with excitement, rather than dread.
Reposted by sean guynes
Episode 46: Sapiens
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
Sapiens
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 11/20/2025 · 1h 38m
podcasts.apple.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Episode 46: Sapiens
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
Reposted by sean guynes
In this new essay, I take a look at Thomas Burnett Swann's fifth novel, THE GOAT WITHOUT HORNS, an attempted satire of the Gothic romance that doesn't do satire very well, is incredibly racist, and is narrated by a dolphin. Also, the dolphin is definitely queer for the Byronic hero protagonist.
Reading “The Goat Without Horns” by Thomas Burnett Swann
Thomas Burnett Swann’s The Goat Without Horns (1971) is the author’s fifth novel, an attempted Gothic satire set in the colonial Caribbean. It is not very good and pretty damn racist. Also, t…
seanguynes.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:40 AM
In this new essay, I take a look at Thomas Burnett Swann's fifth novel, THE GOAT WITHOUT HORNS, an attempted satire of the Gothic romance that doesn't do satire very well, is incredibly racist, and is narrated by a dolphin. Also, the dolphin is definitely queer for the Byronic hero protagonist.
Reposted by sean guynes
This has been two months in the making. The essay was written in September, the podcast recorded in October, and now both are available in November.
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
Reading “The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova
In which I return to Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian (2005), a literary fiction vampire novel about historians fighting against Dracula across three generations—which once meant so much to …
seanguynes.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This has been two months in the making. The essay was written in September, the podcast recorded in October, and now both are available in November.
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
So here it is: my 10k word essay on the overlong and bafflingly insubstantial 2005 vampire historical thriller about Dracula, Kostova's THE HISTORIAN
Did not expect a note about Saddam Hussein to show up in the Wikipedia entry about the famous fantasy artist Rowena, but it's hilarious:
![Text reads: "Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, art which appeared to be Morrill's original paintings King Dragon and Shadows Out of Hell were discovered hanging in one of his houses.[10][11] According to Morrill, they were copies, as she had sold the originals to a Japanese collector.[12]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:fwhewdkhdzgln4zzjuchuo4c/bafkreierxaow4kmn2mhrvsb2g4kb5omnbmgg4ec7vue3vrr3zphnwgdswa@jpeg)
November 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Did not expect a note about Saddam Hussein to show up in the Wikipedia entry about the famous fantasy artist Rowena, but it's hilarious: