M L Clark
@mlclark.bsky.social
Writer (SFWA), translator, humanist, general odd duck • 🇨🇦n in 🇨🇴 • avoids pronouns, they/them if key 🌈🌌
If you know the music of Fela Kuti, you probably already know of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, but this This American Life episode does a wonderful job contextualizing her struggle for Western audiences.
Just a warm reminder that resistance movements of today have strong elder siblings. Learn from them!
Just a warm reminder that resistance movements of today have strong elder siblings. Learn from them!
Mother Knows Best - This American Life
Jad Abumrad tells the story of the "ideological genealogy” of Fela Kuti’s anti-colonial politics–his mother.
www.thisamericanlife.org
December 10, 2025 at 11:40 AM
If you know the music of Fela Kuti, you probably already know of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, but this This American Life episode does a wonderful job contextualizing her struggle for Western audiences.
Just a warm reminder that resistance movements of today have strong elder siblings. Learn from them!
Just a warm reminder that resistance movements of today have strong elder siblings. Learn from them!
#ArtBreak, anyone?
I'm itching to get back to writing sci-fi, if my choice of artist today doesn't give that away. Karel Thole was a Dutch-Italian master of sci-fi surrealism, and his work sparked young imaginations long before we tasted the classic words behind the cover art.
#SFF #ScienceFiction
I'm itching to get back to writing sci-fi, if my choice of artist today doesn't give that away. Karel Thole was a Dutch-Italian master of sci-fi surrealism, and his work sparked young imaginations long before we tasted the classic words behind the cover art.
#SFF #ScienceFiction
December 6, 2025 at 1:35 AM
#ArtBreak, anyone?
I'm itching to get back to writing sci-fi, if my choice of artist today doesn't give that away. Karel Thole was a Dutch-Italian master of sci-fi surrealism, and his work sparked young imaginations long before we tasted the classic words behind the cover art.
#SFF #ScienceFiction
I'm itching to get back to writing sci-fi, if my choice of artist today doesn't give that away. Karel Thole was a Dutch-Italian master of sci-fi surrealism, and his work sparked young imaginations long before we tasted the classic words behind the cover art.
#SFF #ScienceFiction
I really look forward to having a moment to myself / for my own work again soon.
This Sunday I'm teaching neighbourhood kids how to bake cookies and paint Christmas decorations.
I cannot fully describe how "unavailable by text or email" I will be when baking and painting with the barrio kids then.
This Sunday I'm teaching neighbourhood kids how to bake cookies and paint Christmas decorations.
I cannot fully describe how "unavailable by text or email" I will be when baking and painting with the barrio kids then.
December 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I really look forward to having a moment to myself / for my own work again soon.
This Sunday I'm teaching neighbourhood kids how to bake cookies and paint Christmas decorations.
I cannot fully describe how "unavailable by text or email" I will be when baking and painting with the barrio kids then.
This Sunday I'm teaching neighbourhood kids how to bake cookies and paint Christmas decorations.
I cannot fully describe how "unavailable by text or email" I will be when baking and painting with the barrio kids then.
The kid in my care is Latin-American-Catholic, which is perfectly fine in this freethinking household. Today is a feast day in Venezuelan culture, and she's currently whipping up a big ol' meal to pack up and share with street folk.
Couldn't be prouder or happier to see her form of humanism shine.
Couldn't be prouder or happier to see her form of humanism shine.
December 4, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The kid in my care is Latin-American-Catholic, which is perfectly fine in this freethinking household. Today is a feast day in Venezuelan culture, and she's currently whipping up a big ol' meal to pack up and share with street folk.
Couldn't be prouder or happier to see her form of humanism shine.
Couldn't be prouder or happier to see her form of humanism shine.
This is a cartoon from the Great Depression. Hard sometimes to think about how we overcame so much utter misery, only to squander the abundance that emerged from social investment.
We could have kept building toward better. Instead, we'll be lucky if we can halt the backslide now picking up steam.
We could have kept building toward better. Instead, we'll be lucky if we can halt the backslide now picking up steam.
Somewhere in Dreamland (1936) Color Classic
YouTube video by Cult Cinema Classics
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 3:52 AM
This is a cartoon from the Great Depression. Hard sometimes to think about how we overcame so much utter misery, only to squander the abundance that emerged from social investment.
We could have kept building toward better. Instead, we'll be lucky if we can halt the backslide now picking up steam.
We could have kept building toward better. Instead, we'll be lucky if we can halt the backslide now picking up steam.
#PoetryBreak, anyone?
This is from Paul Hostovsky's poetry collection of the same great name, LATE FOR THE GRATITUDE MEETING (2019).
However this day and weekend find you (lookin' atchu, estadounidense friends!), may there be kindness abounding.
www.amazon.com/Late-Gratitu...
This is from Paul Hostovsky's poetry collection of the same great name, LATE FOR THE GRATITUDE MEETING (2019).
However this day and weekend find you (lookin' atchu, estadounidense friends!), may there be kindness abounding.
www.amazon.com/Late-Gratitu...
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
#PoetryBreak, anyone?
This is from Paul Hostovsky's poetry collection of the same great name, LATE FOR THE GRATITUDE MEETING (2019).
However this day and weekend find you (lookin' atchu, estadounidense friends!), may there be kindness abounding.
www.amazon.com/Late-Gratitu...
This is from Paul Hostovsky's poetry collection of the same great name, LATE FOR THE GRATITUDE MEETING (2019).
However this day and weekend find you (lookin' atchu, estadounidense friends!), may there be kindness abounding.
www.amazon.com/Late-Gratitu...
This is a very good episode of Planet Money.
It follows a group trying to fill part of the gap created by the gutting of USAID, which affects my teen ward among many others.
We have lost so much in the way of human decency to nationalist derangement these past few years.
This was all preventable.
It follows a group trying to fill part of the gap created by the gutting of USAID, which affects my teen ward among many others.
We have lost so much in the way of human decency to nationalist derangement these past few years.
This was all preventable.
Saving lives with fewer dollars
pca.st
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 AM
This is a very good episode of Planet Money.
It follows a group trying to fill part of the gap created by the gutting of USAID, which affects my teen ward among many others.
We have lost so much in the way of human decency to nationalist derangement these past few years.
This was all preventable.
It follows a group trying to fill part of the gap created by the gutting of USAID, which affects my teen ward among many others.
We have lost so much in the way of human decency to nationalist derangement these past few years.
This was all preventable.
First time out for a predawn run in many, many weeks. My body has been so tired, and so full of pain, these last few months from overwork. The despair has pretty darned real.
But the end is in sight!
Now to slowly rebuild stamina and strength training.
Poco a poco. Día a día. 💪🏻
But the end is in sight!
Now to slowly rebuild stamina and strength training.
Poco a poco. Día a día. 💪🏻
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
First time out for a predawn run in many, many weeks. My body has been so tired, and so full of pain, these last few months from overwork. The despair has pretty darned real.
But the end is in sight!
Now to slowly rebuild stamina and strength training.
Poco a poco. Día a día. 💪🏻
But the end is in sight!
Now to slowly rebuild stamina and strength training.
Poco a poco. Día a día. 💪🏻
#ArtBreak with Max Ernst. A German surrealist tied to Dadaism, Ernst used techniques that pulled from surfaces under the canvas. He also had a bird character, Loplop, to represent himself in his work. As with many surrealists, what "sells" the work is that he could also do realism--but why would he?
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
#ArtBreak with Max Ernst. A German surrealist tied to Dadaism, Ernst used techniques that pulled from surfaces under the canvas. He also had a bird character, Loplop, to represent himself in his work. As with many surrealists, what "sells" the work is that he could also do realism--but why would he?
This is the first morning in a long time that I've woken with a sense of rest.
I still have plenty to do this week, but a deep anxiety I've been working with since September, when hopping on a project in need of urgent help, has finally passed.
I look forward to enjoying the Outside again soon. :)
I still have plenty to do this week, but a deep anxiety I've been working with since September, when hopping on a project in need of urgent help, has finally passed.
I look forward to enjoying the Outside again soon. :)
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
This is the first morning in a long time that I've woken with a sense of rest.
I still have plenty to do this week, but a deep anxiety I've been working with since September, when hopping on a project in need of urgent help, has finally passed.
I look forward to enjoying the Outside again soon. :)
I still have plenty to do this week, but a deep anxiety I've been working with since September, when hopping on a project in need of urgent help, has finally passed.
I look forward to enjoying the Outside again soon. :)
It's been ages since an #ArtBreak.
Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) was a Danish illustrator who haunted our dreams in Fantasia. His Art Deco style graced fairy tale collections, where he highlighted the strangeness of fantasy realms, and sat with their grimmest edges: realms to be approached with caution.
Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) was a Danish illustrator who haunted our dreams in Fantasia. His Art Deco style graced fairy tale collections, where he highlighted the strangeness of fantasy realms, and sat with their grimmest edges: realms to be approached with caution.
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
It's been ages since an #ArtBreak.
Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) was a Danish illustrator who haunted our dreams in Fantasia. His Art Deco style graced fairy tale collections, where he highlighted the strangeness of fantasy realms, and sat with their grimmest edges: realms to be approached with caution.
Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) was a Danish illustrator who haunted our dreams in Fantasia. His Art Deco style graced fairy tale collections, where he highlighted the strangeness of fantasy realms, and sat with their grimmest edges: realms to be approached with caution.
It's been a tough few weeks, but I see now why people lean into holidays. Having a kid in my care means we'll have Xmas this year, & she's super excited as we budget out gifts for low-income people in her circles. Her excitement at being able to share care in turn is my one bright note on hard days.
November 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
It's been a tough few weeks, but I see now why people lean into holidays. Having a kid in my care means we'll have Xmas this year, & she's super excited as we budget out gifts for low-income people in her circles. Her excitement at being able to share care in turn is my one bright note on hard days.
#ArtBreak
Victorians get a misguided rap. They were as dramatic as any other generation.
Queen has a song about one of these, painted during Richard Dadd's institutionalization after murdering his father.
Real prudishness is allowing ourselves to believe any culture is anything less than complex.
Victorians get a misguided rap. They were as dramatic as any other generation.
Queen has a song about one of these, painted during Richard Dadd's institutionalization after murdering his father.
Real prudishness is allowing ourselves to believe any culture is anything less than complex.
November 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#ArtBreak
Victorians get a misguided rap. They were as dramatic as any other generation.
Queen has a song about one of these, painted during Richard Dadd's institutionalization after murdering his father.
Real prudishness is allowing ourselves to believe any culture is anything less than complex.
Victorians get a misguided rap. They were as dramatic as any other generation.
Queen has a song about one of these, painted during Richard Dadd's institutionalization after murdering his father.
Real prudishness is allowing ourselves to believe any culture is anything less than complex.
I feel hopelessly behind, and today is another such day with Too Much to Do, but here's a #PoetryBreak first.
The world is so awful.
The lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, about our kindness and courage and pursuit of real justice, so often heartbreakingly wrong.
But sometimes...
#Poetry
The world is so awful.
The lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, about our kindness and courage and pursuit of real justice, so often heartbreakingly wrong.
But sometimes...
#Poetry
October 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I feel hopelessly behind, and today is another such day with Too Much to Do, but here's a #PoetryBreak first.
The world is so awful.
The lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, about our kindness and courage and pursuit of real justice, so often heartbreakingly wrong.
But sometimes...
#Poetry
The world is so awful.
The lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, about our kindness and courage and pursuit of real justice, so often heartbreakingly wrong.
But sometimes...
#Poetry
Long overdue for an #ArtBreak.
These are by the Belgian artist Eddy Stevens (eddy.stevens65 on Instagram). He has a long-running series that blends classic symbolic portraiture (e.g. objects beside royalty) with surrealist animal and object fusions, invoking the many complex sides of our lives.
These are by the Belgian artist Eddy Stevens (eddy.stevens65 on Instagram). He has a long-running series that blends classic symbolic portraiture (e.g. objects beside royalty) with surrealist animal and object fusions, invoking the many complex sides of our lives.
October 28, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Long overdue for an #ArtBreak.
These are by the Belgian artist Eddy Stevens (eddy.stevens65 on Instagram). He has a long-running series that blends classic symbolic portraiture (e.g. objects beside royalty) with surrealist animal and object fusions, invoking the many complex sides of our lives.
These are by the Belgian artist Eddy Stevens (eddy.stevens65 on Instagram). He has a long-running series that blends classic symbolic portraiture (e.g. objects beside royalty) with surrealist animal and object fusions, invoking the many complex sides of our lives.
Just found out that Robert R. Chase died on Oct 20. I'd read & loved his last story, "Lost Recall", in the Asimov's Sept/Oct 2024 issue. Thank you to @asimovssfmag.bsky.social's for connecting so many bright voices with readers. We live on in the way our work makes others feel. Chase's gave me hope.
October 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Just found out that Robert R. Chase died on Oct 20. I'd read & loved his last story, "Lost Recall", in the Asimov's Sept/Oct 2024 issue. Thank you to @asimovssfmag.bsky.social's for connecting so many bright voices with readers. We live on in the way our work makes others feel. Chase's gave me hope.
#ArtBreak
I saw this the other day and instantly recognized it as Toronto. Many of Lauren Mercer-Smail's paintings capture back-alley views that instantly invoke my childhood. It's not nostalgia so much as remembering other ways I used to move through the world. What art has that effect for you?
I saw this the other day and instantly recognized it as Toronto. Many of Lauren Mercer-Smail's paintings capture back-alley views that instantly invoke my childhood. It's not nostalgia so much as remembering other ways I used to move through the world. What art has that effect for you?
October 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
#ArtBreak
I saw this the other day and instantly recognized it as Toronto. Many of Lauren Mercer-Smail's paintings capture back-alley views that instantly invoke my childhood. It's not nostalgia so much as remembering other ways I used to move through the world. What art has that effect for you?
I saw this the other day and instantly recognized it as Toronto. Many of Lauren Mercer-Smail's paintings capture back-alley views that instantly invoke my childhood. It's not nostalgia so much as remembering other ways I used to move through the world. What art has that effect for you?
It has been my great honour and privilege to work with @ourmankoto.bsky.social in an editorial capacity at SFWA. This series is his solo project: an anthology that never fails to revel in the full spectrum of Canadian SFF. We *do* have distinct voices--and you can treat yourself to their work here!
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It has been my great honour and privilege to work with @ourmankoto.bsky.social in an editorial capacity at SFWA. This series is his solo project: an anthology that never fails to revel in the full spectrum of Canadian SFF. We *do* have distinct voices--and you can treat yourself to their work here!
I didn't quite get the "rest" I needed these last five days - lots of sadness, lots of crisis management outside my working life - but I'm out before dawn and got to say hi to the horses, so that's something.
Will catch up when I get back.
And try to remember what I'm fighting for through it all. 🤞🏻
Will catch up when I get back.
And try to remember what I'm fighting for through it all. 🤞🏻
October 14, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I didn't quite get the "rest" I needed these last five days - lots of sadness, lots of crisis management outside my working life - but I'm out before dawn and got to say hi to the horses, so that's something.
Will catch up when I get back.
And try to remember what I'm fighting for through it all. 🤞🏻
Will catch up when I get back.
And try to remember what I'm fighting for through it all. 🤞🏻
This is the last day of my “vacation” (Thurs-Mon), so I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to write much again for a while, but there was an opportunity to reflect on The Long Walk and the fables we build for our times, so I took it.
May your Thanksgivings and Indigenous Peoples’ Days be bright.
May your Thanksgivings and Indigenous Peoples’ Days be bright.
The Long, Long, Long Walk
Reflecting on Stephen King's 1979 classic, the 2025 remake, and where the fable falls short of reality today
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This is the last day of my “vacation” (Thurs-Mon), so I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to write much again for a while, but there was an opportunity to reflect on The Long Walk and the fables we build for our times, so I took it.
May your Thanksgivings and Indigenous Peoples’ Days be bright.
May your Thanksgivings and Indigenous Peoples’ Days be bright.
#ArtBreak before a writing day.
Richard Sargent illustrated covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, & Photoplay, among others.
His distinction came from his ability to capture the persistence of quirks even in life at its most idyllic: the "American dream" never without its eccentricities.
Richard Sargent illustrated covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, & Photoplay, among others.
His distinction came from his ability to capture the persistence of quirks even in life at its most idyllic: the "American dream" never without its eccentricities.
October 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
#ArtBreak before a writing day.
Richard Sargent illustrated covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, & Photoplay, among others.
His distinction came from his ability to capture the persistence of quirks even in life at its most idyllic: the "American dream" never without its eccentricities.
Richard Sargent illustrated covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, & Photoplay, among others.
His distinction came from his ability to capture the persistence of quirks even in life at its most idyllic: the "American dream" never without its eccentricities.
Guys! Guys! New* writers' prayer just dropped! 😅
(*Well, "new" when it emerged in the 1940 epigraph for Robert Service's "Collected Poems" 😉)
(*Well, "new" when it emerged in the 1940 epigraph for Robert Service's "Collected Poems" 😉)
October 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Guys! Guys! New* writers' prayer just dropped! 😅
(*Well, "new" when it emerged in the 1940 epigraph for Robert Service's "Collected Poems" 😉)
(*Well, "new" when it emerged in the 1940 epigraph for Robert Service's "Collected Poems" 😉)
Reposted by M L Clark
October 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Well, I finally posted something: a piece that reflects on deep time, how to cope with deep disappointment in humanity, and random walks with photons / on the streets.
It's been really hard to juggle everything, but making time for #WorldGrief matters.
Hope you're taking care of your noggins, too.
It's been really hard to juggle everything, but making time for #WorldGrief matters.
Hope you're taking care of your noggins, too.
On "Random Walks" in Awful Times
Seven ways of looking at two scattered months amid atrocity
open.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Well, I finally posted something: a piece that reflects on deep time, how to cope with deep disappointment in humanity, and random walks with photons / on the streets.
It's been really hard to juggle everything, but making time for #WorldGrief matters.
Hope you're taking care of your noggins, too.
It's been really hard to juggle everything, but making time for #WorldGrief matters.
Hope you're taking care of your noggins, too.