William Preston
@williampreston.bsky.social
Writer (mostly SF, currently in July–August 2025 Asimov's; forthcoming there and elsewhere), reader, former teacher, parent to three grown women. Interests include film, religion, history, many sciences.
he/him ho-hum
he/him ho-hum
Reposted by William Preston
Was this a good use of an hour yesterday? I think yes.
Preorder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741329...
Preorder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741329...
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Was this a good use of an hour yesterday? I think yes.
Preorder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741329...
Preorder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741329...
Why is this a sculpture of women's hands emerging from Hell to scratch a single withered testicle?
This is the most horrific trophy I’ve ever seen. It looks like a cursed object found in a desert crypt.
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Why is this a sculpture of women's hands emerging from Hell to scratch a single withered testicle?
Reposted by William Preston
Hearing reports that some of you have not been informed that we are casting the net far and wide to determine the science fiction and fantasy favorites of the year. Here's me amending that:
Cast Your Vote for the Best SFF of the Year! - Reactor
Books! Movies! TV shows! Video games! Short fiction! And more!!
reactormag.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Hearing reports that some of you have not been informed that we are casting the net far and wide to determine the science fiction and fantasy favorites of the year. Here's me amending that:
Reposted by William Preston
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
Also not how “planting a story“ works.
1. This is not what fog of war means.
2. There is no war
3. He's trying to distance himself from murders he had direct responsibility over
4. All I can think of when I hear this phrase now is Elon Musk complaining that he hates chess because it has no fog of war.
2. There is no war
3. He's trying to distance himself from murders he had direct responsibility over
4. All I can think of when I hear this phrase now is Elon Musk complaining that he hates chess because it has no fog of war.
Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
December 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Also not how “planting a story“ works.
I have to flag this as not actually a parody.
"I’ve concluded that instead of teaching students to read and write, I should be teaching them how to prompt AI better. If only I’d had a better education in AI prompt writing, I’d be able to get AI to create more AI-proof teaching materials for me."
I Need AI to Write Better Lesson Plans So My Students Stop Using AI to Write Their Papers
I care deeply about my students’ learning, but with all the new technologies available to help them cut corners, I worry that they’re not doing the...
buff.ly
December 2, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I have to flag this as not actually a parody.
OK, but if it’s going to be Harry doing his vaudeville act, just send me an email next time. How do people tolerate this ridiculousness masquerading as serious news?
The numbers are not slipping. They are crashing. Ten polls hitting new lows. The country has had enough.
It is time for Trump to go. 25th Amendment.
It is time for Trump to go. 25th Amendment.
December 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
OK, but if it’s going to be Harry doing his vaudeville act, just send me an email next time. How do people tolerate this ridiculousness masquerading as serious news?
Reposted by William Preston
BCS Patreon has fallen below the monthly amount we need to pay our authors a pro rate and our First Readers a worthy honorarium ($125/mo). Sometimes folks need to lower or pause their support; we understand. But less than 1% of BCS readership donates or supports. www.patreon.com/beneath_ceas... 1/3
Get more from Beneath Ceaseless Skies on Patreon
creating an online fantasy magazine & podcast
www.patreon.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
BCS Patreon has fallen below the monthly amount we need to pay our authors a pro rate and our First Readers a worthy honorarium ($125/mo). Sometimes folks need to lower or pause their support; we understand. But less than 1% of BCS readership donates or supports. www.patreon.com/beneath_ceas... 1/3
This is the peace plan I approve of.
Ukrainian underwater drones have struck two tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea, according to an official in Ukraine’s security services (SBU).
https://cnn.it/4ot3tp8
https://cnn.it/4ot3tp8
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This is the peace plan I approve of.
Reposted by William Preston
MAJOR: The Trump Administration has been caught lying about the D.C. shooting suspect.
The truth: He was vetted by Trump. He had a CIA badge, worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, and granted asylum by Trump in April.
Spread this everywhere. Subscribe to support my work, even on Thanksgiving:
The truth: He was vetted by Trump. He had a CIA badge, worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, and granted asylum by Trump in April.
Spread this everywhere. Subscribe to support my work, even on Thanksgiving:
Major Update: The Trump Administration Caught Lying About D.C. Shooting Suspect as CIA Ties Exposed
Good afternoon, everyone.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
MAJOR: The Trump Administration has been caught lying about the D.C. shooting suspect.
The truth: He was vetted by Trump. He had a CIA badge, worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, and granted asylum by Trump in April.
Spread this everywhere. Subscribe to support my work, even on Thanksgiving:
The truth: He was vetted by Trump. He had a CIA badge, worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, and granted asylum by Trump in April.
Spread this everywhere. Subscribe to support my work, even on Thanksgiving:
The Madman’s Fa-mi-ly (snap snap)
Interesting attire for a US Ambassador at a formal occasion.
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The Madman’s Fa-mi-ly (snap snap)
Reposted by William Preston
My latest story for Nat Geo is about an adolescent orangutan named Rossa who adopted her sister and saved her life: www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Orangutan adopts little sister after their mother's death
For the first time, scientists have published a detailed report of adoption in the species.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
My latest story for Nat Geo is about an adolescent orangutan named Rossa who adopted her sister and saved her life: www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
The future liberals want
Carcinisation for all
Carcinisation for all
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The future liberals want
Carcinisation for all
Carcinisation for all
It appears that The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has an issue out in digital form (coming soon to "newsstand" shelves, I imagine). weightlessbooks.com/the-magazine...
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Summer 2025
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, founded in 1949, is the award-winning SF magazine which is the original publisher of SF classics like Stephen King’s Dark Tower, Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for A...
weightlessbooks.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
It appears that The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has an issue out in digital form (coming soon to "newsstand" shelves, I imagine). weightlessbooks.com/the-magazine...
Reposted by William Preston
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
"We've got the haunted dolls for the next Conjuring movie!"
November 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
"We've got the haunted dolls for the next Conjuring movie!"
Reposted by William Preston
For a friend: #Pennsylvania 1st amendment attorneys:
I have a friend suddenly fired from his university position for assigning a VERY benign essay about virtue that some auditing students deemed “too political”.
He was given no opportunity to protest, & needs someone pro-bono ASAP.
It’s urgent.
I have a friend suddenly fired from his university position for assigning a VERY benign essay about virtue that some auditing students deemed “too political”.
He was given no opportunity to protest, & needs someone pro-bono ASAP.
It’s urgent.
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
For a friend: #Pennsylvania 1st amendment attorneys:
I have a friend suddenly fired from his university position for assigning a VERY benign essay about virtue that some auditing students deemed “too political”.
He was given no opportunity to protest, & needs someone pro-bono ASAP.
It’s urgent.
I have a friend suddenly fired from his university position for assigning a VERY benign essay about virtue that some auditing students deemed “too political”.
He was given no opportunity to protest, & needs someone pro-bono ASAP.
It’s urgent.
“I didn’t say jihadist. That’s fake news. I said ‘the hottest’!”
November 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“I didn’t say jihadist. That’s fake news. I said ‘the hottest’!”
"Keep sweet"
Trump's Transportation Secretary on how to improve air travel:
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
November 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
"Keep sweet"
I don't watch CNN (or any broadcast news, at this point), but I must ask: Is this the way they always present statistics? With this college football gameday approach? No one is "doing journalism" here.
Enten: "This is probably the worst 10 day period for the president in the polls his entire second term. The numbers are just atrocious ... when your best poll has you 14 points underwater, you know it's truly bad and it's as bad as 26 points underwater ... -43 with independents! They despise him."
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I don't watch CNN (or any broadcast news, at this point), but I must ask: Is this the way they always present statistics? With this college football gameday approach? No one is "doing journalism" here.
Reposted by William Preston
Unlike most apps these days, Scrivener does not use AI in any way. However, if you’re on a Mac, you may see an AI prompt.
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
November 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Unlike most apps these days, Scrivener does not use AI in any way. However, if you’re on a Mac, you may see an AI prompt.
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
Maybe we should let the autopen govern
COLLINS: Today you pardoned the founded of Binance. Can you explain why you did that?
TRUMP: Which one was that?
COLLINS: The founder of Binance
TRUMP: I believe we're talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. I don't know. He was recommended by a lot of people.
TRUMP: Which one was that?
COLLINS: The founder of Binance
TRUMP: I believe we're talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. I don't know. He was recommended by a lot of people.
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Maybe we should let the autopen govern
"Sir, there are additional packets of sauce right over here."
Trump: "No matter who you are, everybody loves something at McDonald's. I like the fish. Khhhhh. I like it. You could do a little bit more tartar sauce though please. Seriously."
November 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"Sir, there are additional packets of sauce right over here."
Reposted by William Preston
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
This feels like the dumber version of Dick Cheney being in charge of the VP search team that ultimately chose Cheney.
November 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This feels like the dumber version of Dick Cheney being in charge of the VP search team that ultimately chose Cheney.