Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
Ph.D Classics. Reviews @ Reactor Magazine (ex. Tor.com) and Locus Magazine.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hawkwing_lb
Wordpress: https://lizbourke.wordpress.com
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@hawkwing_lb
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Liz Bourke
@hawkwinglb.bsky.social
· Nov 9
κῆπος τῶν βιβλιοθηκῶν | a garden from the libraries
Liz Bourke: books, history, writing, and culture.
lizbourke.wordpress.com
Hello, new followers! I write reviews of science fiction and fantasy novels for @locusmag.bsky.social and for @reactorsff.bsky.social. On my blog lizbourke.wordpress.com/news-and-upd..., I write about the nonfiction I've been reading lately, and the occasional deeper dive on some aspect of SFF.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Only flaw in this otherwise excellent article is blaming the left: "your bad for not showing your work or coming up with workable solutions."
So much work has been done on UBI, universal healthcare, infrastructure, and appropriate taxation! Peak capitalist brain.
So much work has been done on UBI, universal healthcare, infrastructure, and appropriate taxation! Peak capitalist brain.
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Only flaw in this otherwise excellent article is blaming the left: "your bad for not showing your work or coming up with workable solutions."
So much work has been done on UBI, universal healthcare, infrastructure, and appropriate taxation! Peak capitalist brain.
So much work has been done on UBI, universal healthcare, infrastructure, and appropriate taxation! Peak capitalist brain.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I'm waiting for that "holy shit, I was wrong about racism being a factor too (because when you talked about it you made me uncomfortable, so that's on you)" followup
November 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I'm waiting for that "holy shit, I was wrong about racism being a factor too (because when you talked about it you made me uncomfortable, so that's on you)" followup
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Because people are treating it like a juicy spectacle and not like a significant failure of journalism and a condemnation of the industry.
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Because people are treating it like a juicy spectacle and not like a significant failure of journalism and a condemnation of the industry.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This one hits hard. I very much hope to be posting something like it in a decade or so.
November 26, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This one hits hard. I very much hope to be posting something like it in a decade or so.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I was excited by the premise and it pretty much wholly pulls it off. Beautifully written, too.
THE WOLF AND HIS KING, a retelling of Bisclavret focused on yearning, chronic illness feelings, and the mortifying ordeal of being known, comes out tomorrow! Which is to say, in about an hour! Or in two months if you live in North America, sorry.
finnlongman.com/books/the-wo...
finnlongman.com/books/the-wo...
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS! Do not ask me how my writing is going.
November 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I was excited by the premise and it pretty much wholly pulls it off. Beautifully written, too.
It's an excellent book. Read it.
THE WOLF AND HIS KING, a retelling of Bisclavret focused on yearning, chronic illness feelings, and the mortifying ordeal of being known, comes out tomorrow! Which is to say, in about an hour! Or in two months if you live in North America, sorry.
finnlongman.com/books/the-wo...
finnlongman.com/books/the-wo...
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS! Do not ask me how my writing is going.
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 PM
It's an excellent book. Read it.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
If this is true she should never work as a journalist again.
Hey, congratulations to all of Olivia Nuzzi’s horny media critic defenders. Heckuva job!
November 26, 2025 at 10:43 PM
If this is true she should never work as a journalist again.
A post about tips for reading more. I disagree with some of it, but honestly, reading on paper? Yeah. I'd read more if I had more time that wasn't after the lights were out.
www.shesabeast.co/how-to-read-...
www.shesabeast.co/how-to-read-...
how to read more
from someone who actually struggles
www.shesabeast.co
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A post about tips for reading more. I disagree with some of it, but honestly, reading on paper? Yeah. I'd read more if I had more time that wasn't after the lights were out.
www.shesabeast.co/how-to-read-...
www.shesabeast.co/how-to-read-...
I've just read two different newsletters linking the rise in AI use in education to a pervasive fear of/aversion to failure or a sense of entitlement and anxiety about grades, also linked to aversion to failure. (One a feminist blog, one @jpnudell.bsky.social's Noodlings.) It seems plausible.
November 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I've just read two different newsletters linking the rise in AI use in education to a pervasive fear of/aversion to failure or a sense of entitlement and anxiety about grades, also linked to aversion to failure. (One a feminist blog, one @jpnudell.bsky.social's Noodlings.) It seems plausible.
These are pictures of an experimental baked blueberry almond white chocolate cheesecake. I have no idea how it tastes - no eating until after dinner - but it looks about right.
November 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
These are pictures of an experimental baked blueberry almond white chocolate cheesecake. I have no idea how it tastes - no eating until after dinner - but it looks about right.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Similarly, I'm going to avoid "consumer" when I mean "audience" or "reader" or "viewer." There's an overtone to that word, like a book is no different from pasta or a car, that I find invidious: we all just exist to be marketed to, not to experience things.
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Similarly, I'm going to avoid "consumer" when I mean "audience" or "reader" or "viewer." There's an overtone to that word, like a book is no different from pasta or a car, that I find invidious: we all just exist to be marketed to, not to experience things.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Inspired by someone elsewhere, I hereby vow to try to avoid the terms "content" and "content creator," unless I *must* talk about work across so many fields that a generic term is the only one that will suffice. Let's not reduce art, criticism, journalism, etc. to an undifferentiated smear of Stuff.
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Inspired by someone elsewhere, I hereby vow to try to avoid the terms "content" and "content creator," unless I *must* talk about work across so many fields that a generic term is the only one that will suffice. Let's not reduce art, criticism, journalism, etc. to an undifferentiated smear of Stuff.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Yes, please. The word "content" reduces complex art and discourse to a status that justifies their use as fodder for the "AI" maw.
And we should consider the phrase "content creator" offensive for that reason.
And we should consider the phrase "content creator" offensive for that reason.
Inspired by someone elsewhere, I hereby vow to try to avoid the terms "content" and "content creator," unless I *must* talk about work across so many fields that a generic term is the only one that will suffice. Let's not reduce art, criticism, journalism, etc. to an undifferentiated smear of Stuff.
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Yes, please. The word "content" reduces complex art and discourse to a status that justifies their use as fodder for the "AI" maw.
And we should consider the phrase "content creator" offensive for that reason.
And we should consider the phrase "content creator" offensive for that reason.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
put this story at the top of the @globalvoices.org newsletter selection this week for some creativity and hopefulness globalvoices.org/2025/11/20/i...
In Guadeloupe, creativity in the service of zero waste
From citizen initiatives and artistic engagement to public policies, Guadeloupe is reinventing itself, turning waste into a resource — but there is still an urgent need to improve waste recovery chann...
globalvoices.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
put this story at the top of the @globalvoices.org newsletter selection this week for some creativity and hopefulness globalvoices.org/2025/11/20/i...
Reposted by Liz Bourke
Modi’s government had a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed in British Columbia two years ago but apparently India is the world’s fifth largest economy and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I met at the G20 Summit today, and launched negotiations for a trade deal that could more than double our trade to $70 billion.
India is the world’s fifth largest economy, and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.
India is the world’s fifth largest economy, and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.
November 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Modi’s government had a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed in British Columbia two years ago but apparently India is the world’s fifth largest economy and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
“The rules on family reunification – where members of a successful asylum seeker’s family can be granted permission to join them in Ireland – would be tightened and limited to immediate family members only” Again, this is already the law, FG/Lab government ended FR for extended family in 2015!
Concern over ‘pull’ factors prompts Government to tighten asylum rules
Concern over ‘pull’ factors prompts Government to tighten asylum rules
Further changes likely in response to UK’s strict new regime, sources say
www.irishtimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
“The rules on family reunification – where members of a successful asylum seeker’s family can be granted permission to join them in Ireland – would be tightened and limited to immediate family members only” Again, this is already the law, FG/Lab government ended FR for extended family in 2015!
Reposted by Liz Bourke
This week's Sunday snippet comes from Enchanting the Fae Queen, which arrives in just over 2 months. Preorder here:
stephanieburgis.com/books/enchanting-the-fae-queen
And if you haven't read the 1st fantasy rom-com in this series, grab that now: stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen
stephanieburgis.com/books/enchanting-the-fae-queen
And if you haven't read the 1st fantasy rom-com in this series, grab that now: stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This week's Sunday snippet comes from Enchanting the Fae Queen, which arrives in just over 2 months. Preorder here:
stephanieburgis.com/books/enchanting-the-fae-queen
And if you haven't read the 1st fantasy rom-com in this series, grab that now: stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen
stephanieburgis.com/books/enchanting-the-fae-queen
And if you haven't read the 1st fantasy rom-com in this series, grab that now: stephanieburgis.com/books/wooing-the-witch-queen
Reposted by Liz Bourke
It’s that time again… 👀 🎄
If you are a business or creator and you’d like to donate something to our Christmas giveaway please do drop us an email at [email protected]
We’ve got most of it covered but always grateful for such things 🥰
If you are a business or creator and you’d like to donate something to our Christmas giveaway please do drop us an email at [email protected]
We’ve got most of it covered but always grateful for such things 🥰
November 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
It’s that time again… 👀 🎄
If you are a business or creator and you’d like to donate something to our Christmas giveaway please do drop us an email at [email protected]
We’ve got most of it covered but always grateful for such things 🥰
If you are a business or creator and you’d like to donate something to our Christmas giveaway please do drop us an email at [email protected]
We’ve got most of it covered but always grateful for such things 🥰
Reposted by Liz Bourke
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
Reposted by Liz Bourke
I live in (what I think I'm correct in saying is) the most diverse constituency in the whole country - Dublin Central, D1 - *and* I'm old enough to remember what this place was like before significant immigration, and the idea that immigration hasn't been good for this country is fucking laughable
November 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I live in (what I think I'm correct in saying is) the most diverse constituency in the whole country - Dublin Central, D1 - *and* I'm old enough to remember what this place was like before significant immigration, and the idea that immigration hasn't been good for this country is fucking laughable
Reposted by Liz Bourke
The Syrian Civil War saw 22% of its population become asylum seekers, that would be the equivalent of over 75 million Americans.
Even something more localized, like the Rohingya Genocide, turned 3% of Myanmar's population into refugees. That'd be akin to 10.3 million Americans refugees.
Even something more localized, like the Rohingya Genocide, turned 3% of Myanmar's population into refugees. That'd be akin to 10.3 million Americans refugees.
I'm not sure what plans Canada could form that would help them handle a serious American refugee crisis.
Another day where you have to wonder whether the Canadian and Mexican governments have prepared contingency plans to handle any regional fallout from serious civil disorder in the United States
November 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
The Syrian Civil War saw 22% of its population become asylum seekers, that would be the equivalent of over 75 million Americans.
Even something more localized, like the Rohingya Genocide, turned 3% of Myanmar's population into refugees. That'd be akin to 10.3 million Americans refugees.
Even something more localized, like the Rohingya Genocide, turned 3% of Myanmar's population into refugees. That'd be akin to 10.3 million Americans refugees.
Reposted by Liz Bourke
hey man, i know you don't want to hear this, but:
if you want to "clean up" your parks you gotta get these people stable housing and income. for like 50% of homeless people a few thousand dollars worth of well-targeted resources is enough to get them "back on their feet."
if you want to "clean up" your parks you gotta get these people stable housing and income. for like 50% of homeless people a few thousand dollars worth of well-targeted resources is enough to get them "back on their feet."
"The longer visible signs of social decay are allowed to fester, the more inclined those with means will be to simply check out ... leaving those without the ability to relocate to deal with playgrounds littered with drug paraphernalia." www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: We have normalized delinquent, disorderly behaviour in our cities for too long
There is nothing normal about an encampment forcing toddlers in the daycare next door to stay inside
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
hey man, i know you don't want to hear this, but:
if you want to "clean up" your parks you gotta get these people stable housing and income. for like 50% of homeless people a few thousand dollars worth of well-targeted resources is enough to get them "back on their feet."
if you want to "clean up" your parks you gotta get these people stable housing and income. for like 50% of homeless people a few thousand dollars worth of well-targeted resources is enough to get them "back on their feet."
Reposted by Liz Bourke
this isnt cranky, this is literally journalism 101. These people are not journalists they are corporate lackeys who use Word instead of Excel
while I’m being cranky, access journalism needs to go. When the president does his “I’m alpha because I insulted you” thing somebody needs to fall on his sword and say “what the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” on a hot mic. the hero of the wizard of Oz is Toto.
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
this isnt cranky, this is literally journalism 101. These people are not journalists they are corporate lackeys who use Word instead of Excel
Reposted by Liz Bourke
The prominently displayed copy of General 'Sir' Mike Jackson's autobiography in the local Oxfam Books....
Once again, we are way too relaxed about the fact that "shooting Irish people is good actually" is a mainstream political position on the neighbouring island.
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The prominently displayed copy of General 'Sir' Mike Jackson's autobiography in the local Oxfam Books....