Jeremy Szal
@jeremyszal.bsky.social
Space opera/fantasy author. Aliens, monsters, asteroid cities, half-human warriors.
Books: STORMBLOOD, BLINDSPACE, WOLFSKIN, BROKEN STARS, etc.
Published by Gollancz. 🇦🇺. Trilingual (🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇯🇵)
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gy9K4r
Books: STORMBLOOD, BLINDSPACE, WOLFSKIN, BROKEN STARS, etc.
Published by Gollancz. 🇦🇺. Trilingual (🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇯🇵)
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gy9K4r
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Sigur Ros (epic, transcendal)
Metallica (saw them last week, and I'm still on a high)
Oasis (Liam G is even more iconic live. Wow)
Midnight Oil (I'm in their documentary, at their last ever concert)
Foo Fighters (it's Dave Grohl)
Sigur Ros (epic, transcendal)
Metallica (saw them last week, and I'm still on a high)
Oasis (Liam G is even more iconic live. Wow)
Midnight Oil (I'm in their documentary, at their last ever concert)
Foo Fighters (it's Dave Grohl)
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Also Pearl Jam (Didn't like Ten much, but live they converted me)
Thunder. (Don't like, but it was impossible NOT to see them in the 90s)
Fields of the Nephilim. (Incredible)
NIN (Unbearably hot, had to leave)
David Eugene Edwards. (Wow.)
Also Pearl Jam (Didn't like Ten much, but live they converted me)
Thunder. (Don't like, but it was impossible NOT to see them in the 90s)
Fields of the Nephilim. (Incredible)
NIN (Unbearably hot, had to leave)
David Eugene Edwards. (Wow.)
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Pearl Jam (a highlight of my teenage years)
Ravi Shankar (a year before he died, so grateful I had the chance, it was transcendent)
PJ Harvey (so good)
Underworld (about 5 times and 100% would go another 5)
Skunk Anansie (dat voice, dat power)
Pearl Jam (a highlight of my teenage years)
Ravi Shankar (a year before he died, so grateful I had the chance, it was transcendent)
PJ Harvey (so good)
Underworld (about 5 times and 100% would go another 5)
Skunk Anansie (dat voice, dat power)
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Sigur Ros (epic, transcendal)
Metallica (saw them last week, and I'm still on a high)
Oasis (Liam G is even more iconic live. Wow)
Midnight Oil (I'm in their documentary, at their last ever concert)
Foo Fighters (it's Dave Grohl)
Sigur Ros (epic, transcendal)
Metallica (saw them last week, and I'm still on a high)
Oasis (Liam G is even more iconic live. Wow)
Midnight Oil (I'm in their documentary, at their last ever concert)
Foo Fighters (it's Dave Grohl)
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
Is OpenAI a turkey because this headline is a stonecold murder
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Is OpenAI a turkey because this headline is a stonecold murder
I've just had some Very Good News drop in my inbox, which rarely ever happens. I may have to break out the good gin tonight.
Watch this space!
Watch this space!
November 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I've just had some Very Good News drop in my inbox, which rarely ever happens. I may have to break out the good gin tonight.
Watch this space!
Watch this space!
Want to read my books for free? Easy.
Get them from a library. I get paid, you're supporting the ecosystem, and you get to read them in print. Everyone wins.
Instead, my work has been stolen over 50,000 times (!) on pirate sites.
Get them from a library. I get paid, you're supporting the ecosystem, and you get to read them in print. Everyone wins.
Instead, my work has been stolen over 50,000 times (!) on pirate sites.
I posted a buy link here to "A Magical Inheritance" a few days ago, and 24 of you immediately went to Anna's Archives and fucking stole it from me.
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
November 24, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Want to read my books for free? Easy.
Get them from a library. I get paid, you're supporting the ecosystem, and you get to read them in print. Everyone wins.
Instead, my work has been stolen over 50,000 times (!) on pirate sites.
Get them from a library. I get paid, you're supporting the ecosystem, and you get to read them in print. Everyone wins.
Instead, my work has been stolen over 50,000 times (!) on pirate sites.
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
Realised that it’s 10 years to the day since my first book was published - a strange old tale set in the 147th century, featuring a giant (but very awkward) hominid protagonist. There’s a lot I’d do differently if I were writing it now, but I had such a great time coming up with so much weird stuff.
November 19, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Realised that it’s 10 years to the day since my first book was published - a strange old tale set in the 147th century, featuring a giant (but very awkward) hominid protagonist. There’s a lot I’d do differently if I were writing it now, but I had such a great time coming up with so much weird stuff.
Nice bunch of stolen product you have there.
Would be a shame if something happened to it.
Would be a shame if something happened to it.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Nice bunch of stolen product you have there.
Would be a shame if something happened to it.
Would be a shame if something happened to it.
Page 322, line 12, replace 'corpse' with 'carcass'
Page 58, line 29, replace 'mauled' with 'mangled'.
Final proofs are always entertaining.
Page 58, line 29, replace 'mauled' with 'mangled'.
Final proofs are always entertaining.
November 17, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Page 322, line 12, replace 'corpse' with 'carcass'
Page 58, line 29, replace 'mauled' with 'mangled'.
Final proofs are always entertaining.
Page 58, line 29, replace 'mauled' with 'mangled'.
Final proofs are always entertaining.
Pluribus has to be one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. Given who the creator is, that's no surprise, but still.
It's not discussed enough, in my opinion, how utterly horrifying and anxiety-inducing it is. Feels like a horror show at times.
Can't wait to see where it goes.
It's not discussed enough, in my opinion, how utterly horrifying and anxiety-inducing it is. Feels like a horror show at times.
Can't wait to see where it goes.
November 15, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Pluribus has to be one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. Given who the creator is, that's no surprise, but still.
It's not discussed enough, in my opinion, how utterly horrifying and anxiety-inducing it is. Feels like a horror show at times.
Can't wait to see where it goes.
It's not discussed enough, in my opinion, how utterly horrifying and anxiety-inducing it is. Feels like a horror show at times.
Can't wait to see where it goes.
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
@adrianmgibson.bsky.social is a great guy, @sffaddictspod.bsky.social is a great podcast and there are plenty of great authors like @frasierarmitage.bsky.social who feature in this anthology.
I know how much work and care has gone into so please consider backing this amazing anthology!
📚 🍄 👇
I know how much work and care has gone into so please consider backing this amazing anthology!
📚 🍄 👇
🍄 THE BOOK OF SPORES anthology is officially LIVE ON KICKSTARTER 🍄
From stem to cap, we’ve put so much love (and spores) into this project, so we hope you’ll back it. There are a variety of awesome reward tiers available too.
Now, go back The Book of Spores: www.kickstarter.com/projects/fan...
From stem to cap, we’ve put so much love (and spores) into this project, so we hope you’ll back it. There are a variety of awesome reward tiers available too.
Now, go back The Book of Spores: www.kickstarter.com/projects/fan...
November 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
@adrianmgibson.bsky.social is a great guy, @sffaddictspod.bsky.social is a great podcast and there are plenty of great authors like @frasierarmitage.bsky.social who feature in this anthology.
I know how much work and care has gone into so please consider backing this amazing anthology!
📚 🍄 👇
I know how much work and care has gone into so please consider backing this amazing anthology!
📚 🍄 👇
I'm doing something a little different with my newsletters: writing about experiences, opinions, bizarre discoveries I've made during travel, etc. Weekly, maybe fortnightly.
This one is online for all: that time I signed a woman's arm in a Star Wars bar in Japan.
open.substack.com/pub/jeremysz...
This one is online for all: that time I signed a woman's arm in a Star Wars bar in Japan.
open.substack.com/pub/jeremysz...
That Time I signed Human Flesh in Japan
Yeah, you read that right.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I'm doing something a little different with my newsletters: writing about experiences, opinions, bizarre discoveries I've made during travel, etc. Weekly, maybe fortnightly.
This one is online for all: that time I signed a woman's arm in a Star Wars bar in Japan.
open.substack.com/pub/jeremysz...
This one is online for all: that time I signed a woman's arm in a Star Wars bar in Japan.
open.substack.com/pub/jeremysz...
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
Really? A book I translated, that I have dreamed of translating for some 15 years, was released today by a good publisher, an imprint of Hachette, and no one on BlueSky cares at all? Not even a little bit?
#booksky #wheresthelove
#booksky #wheresthelove
At last! My translation of Michio Hoshino's The Traveling Tree is out today in the UK! I’ve been dying to translate this beautiful book for more than 15 years.
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
Read my thoughts on translating it:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Or purchase a copy:
www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-T...
#japaneseliterature
November 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Really? A book I translated, that I have dreamed of translating for some 15 years, was released today by a good publisher, an imprint of Hachette, and no one on BlueSky cares at all? Not even a little bit?
#booksky #wheresthelove
#booksky #wheresthelove
I have voted in the Goodreads choice awards.
And that is all I will say about the Goodreads choice awards. :)
And that is all I will say about the Goodreads choice awards. :)
November 11, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I have voted in the Goodreads choice awards.
And that is all I will say about the Goodreads choice awards. :)
And that is all I will say about the Goodreads choice awards. :)
I think a lot of people, myself included, hate the pressure and expectation and struggle that comes from writing, internal or external (from publishing etc).
Writing should be enjoyable and rewarding, but sometimes it can be a massive pain, or fiendishly difficult. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Writing should be enjoyable and rewarding, but sometimes it can be a massive pain, or fiendishly difficult. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I think a lot of people, myself included, hate the pressure and expectation and struggle that comes from writing, internal or external (from publishing etc).
Writing should be enjoyable and rewarding, but sometimes it can be a massive pain, or fiendishly difficult. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Writing should be enjoyable and rewarding, but sometimes it can be a massive pain, or fiendishly difficult. They aren't mutually exclusive.
The Long Walk is an excellent film.
And dare I say... it also has excellent pacing.
And dare I say... it also has excellent pacing.
November 9, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The Long Walk is an excellent film.
And dare I say... it also has excellent pacing.
And dare I say... it also has excellent pacing.
I really enjoyed this one. Gets a recommendation from me, too.
Today's review:
A sharp, magic-tinged fantasy with a strong opening, a welcome lack of romance, and a prickly protagonist you can’t help but root for.
fantasy-faction.com/2025/anji-ki...
💙📚🪐 #FantasyFaction #SFFbookRecommenfation
A sharp, magic-tinged fantasy with a strong opening, a welcome lack of romance, and a prickly protagonist you can’t help but root for.
fantasy-faction.com/2025/anji-ki...
💙📚🪐 #FantasyFaction #SFFbookRecommenfation
November 7, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I really enjoyed this one. Gets a recommendation from me, too.
What's this? An exclusive excerpt of Wolfskin's prologue, you say? 👀
(Be warned, major spoilers lie ahead.)
(Be warned, major spoilers lie ahead.)
The conclusion to Jeremy Szal’s space opera The Common has a release date, and after the un-put-downable Stormblood and the expansive Blindspace it’s time to wrap up this story with Wolfskin. Head to the blog to check out an exclusive excerpt.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: from Wolfskin by Jeremy Szal
Read our exclusive excerpt of Jeremy Szal's upcoming novel Wolfskin, the final part of his The Common series.
www.grimdarkmagazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:04 PM
What's this? An exclusive excerpt of Wolfskin's prologue, you say? 👀
(Be warned, major spoilers lie ahead.)
(Be warned, major spoilers lie ahead.)
Well, Adrian is saying it, so it must be true. 👀
Jeremy's work is always a lot of fun.
From @jeremyszal.bsky.social ...do preorder this outstanding SF novel, which completes his remarkable debut serues!
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Well, Adrian is saying it, so it must be true. 👀
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
Jeremy's work is always a lot of fun.
From @jeremyszal.bsky.social ...do preorder this outstanding SF novel, which completes his remarkable debut serues!
I can't believe I finally get to announce this:
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
November 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Jeremy's work is always a lot of fun.
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
From @jeremyszal.bsky.social ...do preorder this outstanding SF novel, which completes his remarkable debut serues!
I can't believe I finally get to announce this:
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
November 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
From @jeremyszal.bsky.social ...do preorder this outstanding SF novel, which completes his remarkable debut serues!
Reposted by Jeremy Szal
First two books in the series were some of my favourites of the last few years. Book 3 is an automatic pre order!
I can't believe I finally get to announce this:
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
November 3, 2025 at 11:36 AM
First two books in the series were some of my favourites of the last few years. Book 3 is an automatic pre order!
I can't believe I finally get to announce this:
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
November 3, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I can't believe I finally get to announce this:
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Wolfskin, Book 3 in the Common Saga, will be coming out in March 2026. It is, I think, the best thing I've ever written.
I've been out of the public and literary consciousness for a while, so any support is appreciated.
(pre-order links below)
Sigh. Here we go again.
October 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Sigh. Here we go again.
Well, that's certainly an acquired taste...
October 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Well, that's certainly an acquired taste...