Filip Magnus
@filipmagnus.bsky.social
Writer | Critic | Book Blogger | Narrative Designer | All-Around Nerd
Pinned
Filip Magnus
@filipmagnus.bsky.social
· Jan 9
⭐2025 READS THREAD⭐
I see people I follow do this, so why not do it, too, in preparation for my return to book reviews and discussions?
I see people I follow do this, so why not do it, too, in preparation for my return to book reviews and discussions?
Reposted by Filip Magnus
I have written a new blog about what an OSR is. I am told there is a lot of discourse about this, but am confident that this should settle the matter once and for all.
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
What is an OSR? - The Garden Below
a post about not knowing what the OSR is.
thegardenbelow.blot.im
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I have written a new blog about what an OSR is. I am told there is a lot of discourse about this, but am confident that this should settle the matter once and for all.
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a good game, it's excellent science fiction storytelling.
This should be one of the frontrunners for next year's Hugo Award for Best Game.
New blog review: hugoclub.blogspot.com/2025/11/art-...
This should be one of the frontrunners for next year's Hugo Award for Best Game.
New blog review: hugoclub.blogspot.com/2025/11/art-...
November 7, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a good game, it's excellent science fiction storytelling.
This should be one of the frontrunners for next year's Hugo Award for Best Game.
New blog review: hugoclub.blogspot.com/2025/11/art-...
This should be one of the frontrunners for next year's Hugo Award for Best Game.
New blog review: hugoclub.blogspot.com/2025/11/art-...
Yesterday was a a busy day: I shared some design for the excellent ttRPG, Mythic Bastionland, on my Substack.
The Fated Knight, haunted by loss, fated for greatness. open.substack.com/pub/delversc...
The Fated Knight, haunted by loss, fated for greatness. open.substack.com/pub/delversc...
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Yesterday was a a busy day: I shared some design for the excellent ttRPG, Mythic Bastionland, on my Substack.
The Fated Knight, haunted by loss, fated for greatness. open.substack.com/pub/delversc...
The Fated Knight, haunted by loss, fated for greatness. open.substack.com/pub/delversc...
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Vinay reviews James Logan's highly anticipated sequel of The Silverblood Promise, THE BLACKFIRE BLADE:
"A sequel that leans on the adventurous strength of its predecessor while not being afraid to go dark and emotional as needed"
More: tinyurl.com/2j25pejc
@jamesloganauthor.bsky.social
"A sequel that leans on the adventurous strength of its predecessor while not being afraid to go dark and emotional as needed"
More: tinyurl.com/2j25pejc
@jamesloganauthor.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Vinay reviews James Logan's highly anticipated sequel of The Silverblood Promise, THE BLACKFIRE BLADE:
"A sequel that leans on the adventurous strength of its predecessor while not being afraid to go dark and emotional as needed"
More: tinyurl.com/2j25pejc
@jamesloganauthor.bsky.social
"A sequel that leans on the adventurous strength of its predecessor while not being afraid to go dark and emotional as needed"
More: tinyurl.com/2j25pejc
@jamesloganauthor.bsky.social
An anticipated read, and how pleasing it is to see that Baldree does not lose track of the series’ identity even as he puts a greater accent on action in this one.
"Though this story is decidedly more action-packed than the others set in this world, it never loses sight of its heart-filled message, making it another worthy entry in the LEGENDS AND LATTES series."
Thanks Tor for the ARC of BRIGANDS AND BREADKNIVES!
Thanks Tor for the ARC of BRIGANDS AND BREADKNIVES!
Review: Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree
realmsofmymind.wordpress.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
An anticipated read, and how pleasing it is to see that Baldree does not lose track of the series’ identity even as he puts a greater accent on action in this one.
Halloween might be over, but gothic vibes are never out of season! To this end: Two of my favourite fantasy novels set in distinctly gothic cities: City of Last Chances by @aptshadow.bsky.social and The Gutter Prayer by @mytholder.bsky.social.
My write-up:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35Y
youtu.be/PlmCeM_TEUU
My write-up:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35Y
youtu.be/PlmCeM_TEUU
November 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Halloween might be over, but gothic vibes are never out of season! To this end: Two of my favourite fantasy novels set in distinctly gothic cities: City of Last Chances by @aptshadow.bsky.social and The Gutter Prayer by @mytholder.bsky.social.
My write-up:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35Y
youtu.be/PlmCeM_TEUU
My write-up:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35Y
youtu.be/PlmCeM_TEUU
Reposted by Filip Magnus
The president is experiencing OBVIOUS mental and physical decline. Pre$$ ignores. He barks about a third term, and the press asks how he'll do it, rather than pointing out that it's unconstitutional. That's not legal.
Oligarchs purchased the news media and it died.
Corporate news is a cancer.
Oligarchs purchased the news media and it died.
Corporate news is a cancer.
October 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The president is experiencing OBVIOUS mental and physical decline. Pre$$ ignores. He barks about a third term, and the press asks how he'll do it, rather than pointing out that it's unconstitutional. That's not legal.
Oligarchs purchased the news media and it died.
Corporate news is a cancer.
Oligarchs purchased the news media and it died.
Corporate news is a cancer.
I’m sorry, are there any actual journalists who read this headline? Does anyone working in media outlets today know the meaning of “ceasefire”?
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I’m sorry, are there any actual journalists who read this headline? Does anyone working in media outlets today know the meaning of “ceasefire”?
Reposted by Filip Magnus
this should be so embarrassing for AI boosters - a claim that ChatGPT had “found” solutions to longstanding maths problems: turned out not that it had SOLVED them but had found solutions by googling for them
they’re seeing what they want to see, not what’s there
garymarcus.substack.com/p/erdosgate
they’re seeing what they want to see, not what’s there
garymarcus.substack.com/p/erdosgate
Erdosgate
“extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” — or at least they used to?
garymarcus.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
this should be so embarrassing for AI boosters - a claim that ChatGPT had “found” solutions to longstanding maths problems: turned out not that it had SOLVED them but had found solutions by googling for them
they’re seeing what they want to see, not what’s there
garymarcus.substack.com/p/erdosgate
they’re seeing what they want to see, not what’s there
garymarcus.substack.com/p/erdosgate
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Philip K Dick still undefeated at correctly predicting our current dystopia
A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required
Too burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for you | TechCrunch
A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required
techcrunch.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Philip K Dick still undefeated at correctly predicting our current dystopia
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Evan Dahm creates some incredible, detailed fantastic worlds, and 3rd Voice is breathtaking in its scope and intricacy. The webcomic at rice-boy.com/3rdvoice/ind... is well into the 2nd sequence, still metering out the secrets of the setting. It's the story of a pair of
October 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Evan Dahm creates some incredible, detailed fantastic worlds, and 3rd Voice is breathtaking in its scope and intricacy. The webcomic at rice-boy.com/3rdvoice/ind... is well into the 2nd sequence, still metering out the secrets of the setting. It's the story of a pair of
Hey @aptshadow.bsky.social, I clocked a pair of typos in the hardcover print run of Lives of Bitter Rain, is there anyone at Head of Zeus I could ping about them for future printings? Loved the novella to bits!
October 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Hey @aptshadow.bsky.social, I clocked a pair of typos in the hardcover print run of Lives of Bitter Rain, is there anyone at Head of Zeus I could ping about them for future printings? Loved the novella to bits!
Not my wallet, victimised by @aptshadow.bsky.social today. What a gorgeous hardback this is! Can’t wait to blaze through it.
October 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Not my wallet, victimised by @aptshadow.bsky.social today. What a gorgeous hardback this is! Can’t wait to blaze through it.
Ian Green’s Extremophile is seriously punk, and deserves to be widely read. If you haven’t picked it up yet, do!
I got the audiobook and loved it to pieces.
I got the audiobook and loved it to pieces.
I've decided that whilst critical success is lovely, I'd like to sell some books.
If you liked EXTREMOPHILE, recommend it to a pal! (If your pal is fucking COOL and not a narc)
Eco-terrorism biohacking body horror, smart shit with dumb characters. Your new favourite book
If you liked EXTREMOPHILE, recommend it to a pal! (If your pal is fucking COOL and not a narc)
Eco-terrorism biohacking body horror, smart shit with dumb characters. Your new favourite book
'A visceral, doesn't-give-a-damn biopunk thriller that treats the "punk" part of that subgenre not as mere window-dressing but as an antifascist shriek... vital and urgent SF that reaches places realist writing never could' ― @interzone.press
If you like cool shit get this 🕶️
geni.us/extremophile
If you like cool shit get this 🕶️
geni.us/extremophile
October 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Ian Green’s Extremophile is seriously punk, and deserves to be widely read. If you haven’t picked it up yet, do!
I got the audiobook and loved it to pieces.
I got the audiobook and loved it to pieces.
A short'n'sweet review of Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo, a science-fiction novella of the close future...An interesting read, that.
My thoughts:
filipmagnuswrites.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/f...
My thoughts:
filipmagnuswrites.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/f...
Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo: A Low-Key Work of Science Fiction | Book Review
I received a copy of this novella from NetGalley some time ago – apologies to Tor for taking this long to review it. Lee Mandelo’s Feed Them Silence is a low-key work of science fiction…
filipmagnuswrites.wordpress.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
A short'n'sweet review of Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo, a science-fiction novella of the close future...An interesting read, that.
My thoughts:
filipmagnuswrites.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/f...
My thoughts:
filipmagnuswrites.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/f...
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Mieko Kawakami's All the Lovers in the Night speaks to the part of the human that yearns for connection. It illustrates, too, the difficulty of reaching out and making those connections, especially in the aftermath of deep and abiding trauma.
Find my review here:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35x
Find my review here:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35x
October 3, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Mieko Kawakami's All the Lovers in the Night speaks to the part of the human that yearns for connection. It illustrates, too, the difficulty of reaching out and making those connections, especially in the aftermath of deep and abiding trauma.
Find my review here:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35x
Find my review here:
wp.me/p8LkPa-35x
An excellent review of The Lords of the Summer Season by @wsbookclub.bsky.social. Bizarre is just another word for fun in my vocabulary, so: gimme!
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2025/10/02/b...
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2025/10/02/b...
Book Review: The Lords of the Summer Season: A Psychedelic Fantasy by Peter W. Blaisdell
Bradan grew up in Camelot and grew famous during the Summer of Love. He’s nearly immortal, a talented musician, but only a mediocre magician.That’s unfortunate because he’ll need more than pretty l…
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog
October 3, 2025 at 8:33 AM
An excellent review of The Lords of the Summer Season by @wsbookclub.bsky.social. Bizarre is just another word for fun in my vocabulary, so: gimme!
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2025/10/02/b...
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2025/10/02/b...
Reposted by Filip Magnus
So for this year's somewhat abbreviated Oktobersketch I'm experimenting with group scenes, one per week. Here are some stalwart defenders of some small European nation circa 1800(?). Group first then the individual originals.
October 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM
So for this year's somewhat abbreviated Oktobersketch I'm experimenting with group scenes, one per week. Here are some stalwart defenders of some small European nation circa 1800(?). Group first then the individual originals.
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Absolutely appalling.
I had the worst lunch. Honestly.
Maybe @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social could cover the rise in the far right, in racist attacks and, you know, the effect on millions of British people instead of platforming them every night
I'd settle for @theguardian.com doing even basic coverage of racism in the UK
Maybe @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social could cover the rise in the far right, in racist attacks and, you know, the effect on millions of British people instead of platforming them every night
I'd settle for @theguardian.com doing even basic coverage of racism in the UK
Today I sat next to racists planning openly planning to murder people in a cafe
How have we come to a place where racists can openly talk about murdering people in public with no consequence?
stewarthotston.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Absolutely appalling.
I just backed Apex Magazine (@apexmag.bsky.social) 2026 on Kickstarter, and you should, too, because they're great!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Apex Magazine 2026
An award-winning digital literary magazine of science fiction, dark fantasy, and horror.
www.kickstarter.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I just backed Apex Magazine (@apexmag.bsky.social) 2026 on Kickstarter, and you should, too, because they're great!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ape...
Reposted by Filip Magnus
I forgot to mention - the latest Wyrd Science is out. Look at that cover. You should order all the copies, and then if there's no copies left, fight over the copies. It's the best RPG zine in the world, sez I*
Wyrd Science Vol.1 / Issue 7 [Print]
PLEASE NOTE - THIS ISSUE WILL SHIP IN EARLY/MID SEPTEMBER, ANYTHING ORDERED AT THE SAME TIME WILL BE SENT OUT TOGETHER PLEASE PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU WANT A SUBSCRIPTION, AND TO SAVE 10% ON THE COVER PRI...
shop.wyrd.science
September 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I forgot to mention - the latest Wyrd Science is out. Look at that cover. You should order all the copies, and then if there's no copies left, fight over the copies. It's the best RPG zine in the world, sez I*
Reposted by Filip Magnus
Coming soonish from Subterranean Press - the first collection of my short fiction in about a decade - here's the cover (by @alisonsampson.bsky.social ) and table of contents for your delectation.
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Coming soonish from Subterranean Press - the first collection of my short fiction in about a decade - here's the cover (by @alisonsampson.bsky.social ) and table of contents for your delectation.
Reposted by Filip Magnus
christ on tiny little crackers, climateworld, we've got to ask people to do good things that they can do, and which help them, rather than asking them to volunteer for an emotionally devastating existential-threat experience without exits into action
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
September 29, 2025 at 12:15 AM
christ on tiny little crackers, climateworld, we've got to ask people to do good things that they can do, and which help them, rather than asking them to volunteer for an emotionally devastating existential-threat experience without exits into action
Reposted by Filip Magnus
THE BOOKS THAT MADE US - Where I discuss the fantastic GARRET PI series by Glen Cook. Noir detective in fantasyland. beforewegoblog.com/the-books-th... #books #fantasy #urbanfantasy @beforewegoblog.bsky.social @bethtabler.bsky.social
The Books that made Us – Garrett PI by Glen Cook
Glen Cook is primarily known for his Black Company series and that's something that I have a horrifying confession to make as a grimdark stan: I could never rea
beforewegoblog.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
THE BOOKS THAT MADE US - Where I discuss the fantastic GARRET PI series by Glen Cook. Noir detective in fantasyland. beforewegoblog.com/the-books-th... #books #fantasy #urbanfantasy @beforewegoblog.bsky.social @bethtabler.bsky.social