Mari Ness, writer of things
@mariness.bsky.social
I write things. Occasionally they get published.
Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness
Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness
Pinned
So yes, delighted to say that I am one of the inaugural finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem, alongside @angelaliu.bsky.social, @aijiang.bsky.social,
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
This year the Hugos and the Nebulas are open to nominations for best SF and fantasy poem (also the Rhyslings).
If anybody's interested, I had 3 SF/fantasy poems out in 2025:
“’Oumuamua”, "Complex Alice” and “Dark (matter) Angels".
Anybody who wants to see them, message me
@laworldcon.bsky.social
If anybody's interested, I had 3 SF/fantasy poems out in 2025:
“’Oumuamua”, "Complex Alice” and “Dark (matter) Angels".
Anybody who wants to see them, message me
@laworldcon.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 12:24 AM
This year the Hugos and the Nebulas are open to nominations for best SF and fantasy poem (also the Rhyslings).
If anybody's interested, I had 3 SF/fantasy poems out in 2025:
“’Oumuamua”, "Complex Alice” and “Dark (matter) Angels".
Anybody who wants to see them, message me
@laworldcon.bsky.social
If anybody's interested, I had 3 SF/fantasy poems out in 2025:
“’Oumuamua”, "Complex Alice” and “Dark (matter) Angels".
Anybody who wants to see them, message me
@laworldcon.bsky.social
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
Wrote this earlier in the year for the first Sea Beyond book; sharing it now as I've finished a draft of THE WORST MONK IN OMNU! #sharepoetry
December 16, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Wrote this earlier in the year for the first Sea Beyond book; sharing it now as I've finished a draft of THE WORST MONK IN OMNU! #sharepoetry
ATTENTION ALGORITHMS EVERYWHERE brandy butter/hard sauce is NOT, repeat NOT, the same thing as an CHRISTMAS PARTY: THE MONKEES audio CD.
I don't even want to know how you got there (no, not a sponsored link, either) but stop it.
I don't even want to know how you got there (no, not a sponsored link, either) but stop it.
December 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
ATTENTION ALGORITHMS EVERYWHERE brandy butter/hard sauce is NOT, repeat NOT, the same thing as an CHRISTMAS PARTY: THE MONKEES audio CD.
I don't even want to know how you got there (no, not a sponsored link, either) but stop it.
I don't even want to know how you got there (no, not a sponsored link, either) but stop it.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
Animals with misleading names. I'm seeing this go around as part of a viral tumblr thread so I thought I'd reshare it.
December 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Animals with misleading names. I'm seeing this go around as part of a viral tumblr thread so I thought I'd reshare it.
This whole thread.
When Rob Reiner was on his all-time epic run at the start of his career, he had an opportunity to read a script that was looking for a production partner, and he lost his mind for it. He decided Castle Rock had to have it, no matter what.
December 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This whole thread.
I could - and probably will - talk a lot about the films Rob Reiner directed, especially THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THIS IS SPINAL TAP, A FEW GOOD MEN, and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, all of which for different reasons played a huge role in my life, but -
December 15, 2025 at 5:11 AM
I could - and probably will - talk a lot about the films Rob Reiner directed, especially THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THIS IS SPINAL TAP, A FEW GOOD MEN, and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, all of which for different reasons played a huge role in my life, but -
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
This entire weekend
December 15, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This entire weekend
One of those nights where it's good to know I have a cat to hug.
December 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
One of those nights where it's good to know I have a cat to hug.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
Little white bat for your Sunday
Day 14 #BatMas: Northern ghost bat (Diclidurus albus)🦇🌎🧪
This bat is relatively rare, but can be found in South America, Trinidad & Central America. They have a sac at the base of their tail which may release pheromones during the mating season, but the actual function is unknown.
📸: Merlin Tuttle
This bat is relatively rare, but can be found in South America, Trinidad & Central America. They have a sac at the base of their tail which may release pheromones during the mating season, but the actual function is unknown.
📸: Merlin Tuttle
December 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Little white bat for your Sunday
(it has poetry pages and pages of speculative poetry just saying poetry)
Great news, everybody! You can read Kaleidotrope today!
December 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
(it has poetry pages and pages of speculative poetry just saying poetry)
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
if you canceled disney ai slop plus, a small fraction of that sub can keep you in the know about some of the latest greatest sff short fic. you'll be talking about short stories at the water cooler instead of a marvel, and people will be like wow, this is one hip well-read person. what a cool cat.
In light of the astronomical increases for my health insurance next year, I thought it would be a good time to encourage people to subscribe. (A few hundred should cover it. Sigh.)
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
November 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
if you canceled disney ai slop plus, a small fraction of that sub can keep you in the know about some of the latest greatest sff short fic. you'll be talking about short stories at the water cooler instead of a marvel, and people will be like wow, this is one hip well-read person. what a cool cat.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
From VARIETY: “Woe to the student who tries watching this toon instead of doing the reading. To paraphrase Napoleon, when it comes to adapting Orwell: All ‘Animal Farms’ are equal, but some ‘Animal Farms’ are more equal than others.”
December 13, 2025 at 2:14 AM
From VARIETY: “Woe to the student who tries watching this toon instead of doing the reading. To paraphrase Napoleon, when it comes to adapting Orwell: All ‘Animal Farms’ are equal, but some ‘Animal Farms’ are more equal than others.”
I don't always have to hug a cat after watching a movie trailer but I really needed to after watching that one.
December 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I don't always have to hug a cat after watching a movie trailer but I really needed to after watching that one.
BUT ALSO WHAT THE HELL
December 13, 2025 at 1:02 AM
BUT ALSO WHAT THE HELL
Multiple problems here, not the least of which is --
OTHER SOURCE MATERIALS WITH TALKING ANIMALS, INCLUDING PIGS, EXIST!
OTHER SOURCE MATERIALS WITH TALKING ANIMALS, INCLUDING PIGS, EXIST!
December 13, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Multiple problems here, not the least of which is --
OTHER SOURCE MATERIALS WITH TALKING ANIMALS, INCLUDING PIGS, EXIST!
OTHER SOURCE MATERIALS WITH TALKING ANIMALS, INCLUDING PIGS, EXIST!
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it's really interesting to see how many Fantasy books have foods or drinks in the title right now. Like, we are clearly eating our feelings.
December 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it's really interesting to see how many Fantasy books have foods or drinks in the title right now. Like, we are clearly eating our feelings.
A local high school student told me that their English class, for one semester, needed to:
1. Read one book (student picked Hemingway's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA because, and I quote "it was the shortest."
2. Write a response, a review, and a fanfic about the book.
That was it.
1. Read one book (student picked Hemingway's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA because, and I quote "it was the shortest."
2. Write a response, a review, and a fanfic about the book.
That was it.
The most important story of 2025 that we're not talking about enough (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A local high school student told me that their English class, for one semester, needed to:
1. Read one book (student picked Hemingway's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA because, and I quote "it was the shortest."
2. Write a response, a review, and a fanfic about the book.
That was it.
1. Read one book (student picked Hemingway's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA because, and I quote "it was the shortest."
2. Write a response, a review, and a fanfic about the book.
That was it.
Today's spam puzzler is from some group called Stephen King Publishing, offering to help me sell my book, Firekings.
It is true, I guess, that Firekings is not selling well on Amazon - or anywhere else, to be fair - largely because, and I cannot stress this enough, I haven't written it.
It is true, I guess, that Firekings is not selling well on Amazon - or anywhere else, to be fair - largely because, and I cannot stress this enough, I haven't written it.
December 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Today's spam puzzler is from some group called Stephen King Publishing, offering to help me sell my book, Firekings.
It is true, I guess, that Firekings is not selling well on Amazon - or anywhere else, to be fair - largely because, and I cannot stress this enough, I haven't written it.
It is true, I guess, that Firekings is not selling well on Amazon - or anywhere else, to be fair - largely because, and I cannot stress this enough, I haven't written it.
ATTENTION AI SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE I do not, in fact, need your help or assistance when ordering cat litter, thank you, especially when your little AI pop up thing is BLOCKING ME FROM SEEING THE PRICE OF THE CAT LITTER
December 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
ATTENTION AI SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE I do not, in fact, need your help or assistance when ordering cat litter, thank you, especially when your little AI pop up thing is BLOCKING ME FROM SEEING THE PRICE OF THE CAT LITTER
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
And from July 2025 (that is, this year!), "Without Sunsets or Snow," in Three-Lobed Burning Eye:
www.3lobedmag.com/issue45/3lbe...
www.3lobedmag.com/issue45/3lbe...
Without Sunsets or Snow by Mari Ness
They'd given my mother exactly three more hours. I could have protested, of course. She had the credits -- financial, green, and gray. An attorney easily could have argued that she was owed at least t...
www.3lobedmag.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
And from July 2025 (that is, this year!), "Without Sunsets or Snow," in Three-Lobed Burning Eye:
www.3lobedmag.com/issue45/3lbe...
www.3lobedmag.com/issue45/3lbe...
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
....today's AI grandmother chatter is reminding me of a couple of my own stories:
"My Own Damn Heaven," which appeared in Bourbon Penn back in 2016, and can be read here for free. (You can also buy the entire issue, and help out Bourbon Penn.)
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/11/my-...
"My Own Damn Heaven," which appeared in Bourbon Penn back in 2016, and can be read here for free. (You can also buy the entire issue, and help out Bourbon Penn.)
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/11/my-...
Mari Ness > My Own Damn Heaven > Bourbon Penn
Even I have to admit that everything here, tap, bottle, or can, is incredible. I have the bartender pour me another, and another, and another, always trying to ask for different brews, different liquo...
www.bourbonpenn.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
....today's AI grandmother chatter is reminding me of a couple of my own stories:
"My Own Damn Heaven," which appeared in Bourbon Penn back in 2016, and can be read here for free. (You can also buy the entire issue, and help out Bourbon Penn.)
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/11/my-...
"My Own Damn Heaven," which appeared in Bourbon Penn back in 2016, and can be read here for free. (You can also buy the entire issue, and help out Bourbon Penn.)
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/11/my-...
This is where I wearily note, YET AGAIN, that mifepristone HAS OTHER MEDICAL USES - for instance, non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids - and it would be helpful for everyone to include this context.
NEW (but deja vu): Texas and Florida are suing the FDA over its approval and regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone. The states are asking Judge Reed O'Connor to declare the 25yo approval unlawful and yank mife from the market—but judges can't do that
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![screenshot of complaint in a lawsuit
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WICHITA FALLS DIVISION
THE STATE OF FLORIDA and THE STATE OF TEXAS, by and
through their Attorneys General,
Plaintiffs,
v.
U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; MARTIN A. MAKARY, M.D., M.P.H., in
his official capacity as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, U.S. Food and
Drug Administration; RICHARD PAZDUR, M.D., in his official capacity as Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food
and Drug Administration; and ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., in his official capacity as Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Defendants.
Case No. ______________
COMPLAINT
1. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible
for “protect[ing] the public health by ensuring that . . . drugs are safe and effective.”21 U.S.C. § 393(b)(2)(B).
2. Yet the FDA’s approval and deregulation of abortion drugs have placed women and girls in harm’s way](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4fdfjfnhhyeo4hsmoxpeazsg/bafkreiad4xu6gssl7uhp2x6zz2vomvxl6rkftyopu46yzghz7wcbtxu73i@jpeg)
December 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This is where I wearily note, YET AGAIN, that mifepristone HAS OTHER MEDICAL USES - for instance, non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids - and it would be helpful for everyone to include this context.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
I have a Corgi, but same deal.
December 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I have a Corgi, but same deal.