Andrew Lane
@andylaneauthor.bsky.social
Author of over 40 books and many audio scripts. Ex-military scientific advisor. Father to one, informal foster-father to another nine. Bipolar Type II, acromegaly, asthma and gallstones sufferer. All-round decent bloke.
I was yesterday years old when I discovered that a fathom is only six feet. Which means that "Full fathom five thy father lies," means, "Your dad's waterlogged corpse is only thirty feet below the surface."
January 23, 2026 at 8:22 PM
I was yesterday years old when I discovered that a fathom is only six feet. Which means that "Full fathom five thy father lies," means, "Your dad's waterlogged corpse is only thirty feet below the surface."
Forty thousand words into my latest book, last night I set a scene on Poveglia Island in Venice. I only decided at the last minute to set a scene there. It was not in the plan. I had never heard of it before.
Today, Poveglia Island is mentioned in an article in the Guardian.
Strange.
Today, Poveglia Island is mentioned in an article in the Guardian.
Strange.
January 23, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Forty thousand words into my latest book, last night I set a scene on Poveglia Island in Venice. I only decided at the last minute to set a scene there. It was not in the plan. I had never heard of it before.
Today, Poveglia Island is mentioned in an article in the Guardian.
Strange.
Today, Poveglia Island is mentioned in an article in the Guardian.
Strange.
I started reading John Wyndham's 'The Kraken Wakes' last night, and it's brilliant. Alen invasion via the sea told thought the eyes of a married journalist couple. Strong female character who even her husband acknowledges is better at everything than him.
January 23, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I started reading John Wyndham's 'The Kraken Wakes' last night, and it's brilliant. Alen invasion via the sea told thought the eyes of a married journalist couple. Strong female character who even her husband acknowledges is better at everything than him.
Brilliant! So if I set up a company based on AI advice for marketing etc and it fails, OpenAI will pay off some of my debts! I love it!
Lmao the bubble is fit to burst, boys
This is a hysterical and insane choice, I hope they follow through!
This is a hysterical and insane choice, I hope they follow through!
January 23, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Brilliant! So if I set up a company based on AI advice for marketing etc and it fails, OpenAI will pay off some of my debts! I love it!
They look like they are about to break out in a 'Riverdance' style performance, with Blake as Michael Flatley, and I would watch that.
January 23, 2026 at 12:43 AM
They look like they are about to break out in a 'Riverdance' style performance, with Blake as Michael Flatley, and I would watch that.
Unless, bizarrely, he was injected directly in the voice box.
“We do not have any known linkage between flu vaccine and voice disorders like this,” says the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases about new claims from RFK, Jr.
RFK, Jr.’s assertion that his voice condition is linked to the flu shot is not based in science, experts say
The U.S. secretary of health and human services told USA Today that he believed the flu jab was a “potential culprit” for his spasmodic dysphonia that he could not “rule out”
www.scientificamerican.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Unless, bizarrely, he was injected directly in the voice box.
Halfway through my latest novel and I find myself googling the different types of auction, just because I don't want the standard kind of auction you see on the BBC on weekday afternoons (used to be 7PM on a Sunday when Lovejoy was on). I discovered 'auction by candle on a table' which is perfect.
January 22, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Halfway through my latest novel and I find myself googling the different types of auction, just because I don't want the standard kind of auction you see on the BBC on weekday afternoons (used to be 7PM on a Sunday when Lovejoy was on). I discovered 'auction by candle on a table' which is perfect.
"The Trial II: The Revenge'...
poor kafka, forced to churn out new books from his extradimensional prison
January 22, 2026 at 8:26 PM
"The Trial II: The Revenge'...
Reposted by Andrew Lane
There are a lot of dangerous animals here in Australia but one sea creature in particular is a bigger issue than others.
It's anemone of the state
It's anemone of the state
January 21, 2026 at 7:32 AM
There are a lot of dangerous animals here in Australia but one sea creature in particular is a bigger issue than others.
It's anemone of the state
It's anemone of the state
I met him a couple of times, and interviewed him. He was a lovely bloke.
The real question is: now that my daughter has all the books I held onto for her, do I sort the David Gemmell books into order for her? There are many...
David Gemmell is my fav author.
David Gemmell is my fav author.
January 22, 2026 at 12:14 AM
I met him a couple of times, and interviewed him. He was a lovely bloke.
No, I don't. I've read the things several times already during the writing and editing process, so rereading them would be difficult, to say the least. So I don't. Which would explain why the main character's sister accidentally changes name between books ..
writers who have published novels in a series:
Do you typically go back and reread the first book(s) to help write the subsequent ones? Am I just being lazy by not doing so?
HELP.
Do you typically go back and reread the first book(s) to help write the subsequent ones? Am I just being lazy by not doing so?
HELP.
January 21, 2026 at 4:47 PM
No, I don't. I've read the things several times already during the writing and editing process, so rereading them would be difficult, to say the least. So I don't. Which would explain why the main character's sister accidentally changes name between books ..
I would miss Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Jona Louie not so much.
Maybe we don’t need a king of pop because we actually don’t need men in pop music. You could eliminate all pop music by men and we would not actually be losing much, sorry to say.
January 21, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I would miss Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Jona Louie not so much.
They didn't let him fly the plane, did they? "I'm a great pilot. Maybe the best pilot ever. Never had any lessons - I just picked it up naturally, like I did brain surgery."
Trump's rambling speech to world leaders mirrors the course taken by his plane
January 21, 2026 at 4:04 PM
They didn't let him fly the plane, did they? "I'm a great pilot. Maybe the best pilot ever. Never had any lessons - I just picked it up naturally, like I did brain surgery."
"THE EMPEROR DALEK!"
"SCOOBY DOOBY DOO!"
January 21, 2026 at 4:01 PM
"THE EMPEROR DALEK!"
Read it. Liked it. Went back to the top to see who the author was. Realised it was you. Yay!
January 21, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Read it. Liked it. Went back to the top to see who the author was. Realised it was you. Yay!
You misread the news story. We're expecting a massive attack this year, courtesy of President Poopypants.
Just read that we're due a new Massive Attack album this year, so that's one bright spot amongst all the crappy news
January 21, 2026 at 1:02 AM
You misread the news story. We're expecting a massive attack this year, courtesy of President Poopypants.
Frodo, Samwise and Pippin, but they're played by Bees. HIVE TOLKEIN.
Frodo, Samwise and Pippin but they’re played by the Bee Gees. JIVE TOLKIEN
January 21, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Frodo, Samwise and Pippin, but they're played by Bees. HIVE TOLKEIN.
New Mexico. Texas and Georgia. The other 47 Stares, plus Canada and Greenland, will have to wait...
January 20, 2026 at 8:19 PM
New Mexico. Texas and Georgia. The other 47 Stares, plus Canada and Greenland, will have to wait...
Scanning past this photo in the newspaper I could have sworn that it showed a guy wearing glasses snogging a taller bald guy...
January 20, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Scanning past this photo in the newspaper I could have sworn that it showed a guy wearing glasses snogging a taller bald guy...
I've yet to watch The First Man and The Second Man...
Watching old movies is my favorite escape from the news. Currently: The Third Man. Who else has seen it?
January 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM
I've yet to watch The First Man and The Second Man...
So, Oasis then.
*Steps back and puts fingers in ears*.
*Steps back and puts fingers in ears*.
I seem to be the only person on my timeline not even mildly excited for a Blakes 7 reboot.
I tend not to like "reinventions" with none of the original creative team involved. It feels to me like saying "we're making a Beatles album, but without John, Paul, George, or Ringo".
I tend not to like "reinventions" with none of the original creative team involved. It feels to me like saying "we're making a Beatles album, but without John, Paul, George, or Ringo".
January 19, 2026 at 10:23 PM
So, Oasis then.
*Steps back and puts fingers in ears*.
*Steps back and puts fingers in ears*.
I can see why it was changed. Why would either of them want to win if it would condemn their entire race to death. They would both just sit there, looking at each other. It would be the most boring episode of Star Trek ever (and I've seen season two of TNG).
OTD: Star Trek's "Arena." The Metrons said the loser of the Kirk/Gorn battle would be destroyed, but the original script (and James Blish's novelization) said they planned to destroy the victor—a greater threat.
##StarTrek
##StarTrek
January 19, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I can see why it was changed. Why would either of them want to win if it would condemn their entire race to death. They would both just sit there, looking at each other. It would be the most boring episode of Star Trek ever (and I've seen season two of TNG).
I have just discovered that there was a Victorian Scottish inventor named Mungo Ponton, and my life may never be the same.
January 19, 2026 at 8:20 PM
I have just discovered that there was a Victorian Scottish inventor named Mungo Ponton, and my life may never be the same.
Let me explain something about very cold water...
January 19, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Let me explain something about very cold water...
Oh go on then, I'll do the novelisation...
If they get this right, this could be brilliant. Even if they get it wrong, the original is still brilliant. Win-win. www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/bl...
Beloved '70s BBC sci-fi series from Daleks creator confirmed for reboot with Doctor Who director
This is not a drill!
www.radiotimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Oh go on then, I'll do the novelisation...