John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
@jrberkeley.bsky.social
John (he/him) aka. John Berkeley; Leovinas. UK-based writer of SFF, player of RPGs, Classics/archaeology/ancient history PhD, process/telecoms specialist.
The sort of gay lefty Liberal your mother warned you about. Views my own, etc. (no TERFs or AI, ta)
The sort of gay lefty Liberal your mother warned you about. Views my own, etc. (no TERFs or AI, ta)
Pinned
I'm still not over seeing my name in print - and yes, this is a shameless plug for the IWTTO collection from @bonabooks.bsky.social, which includes my first published short story.
It's a very fun collection of the queer pulp SFF stories you never realised you needed. And it's now on sale! 😁
It's a very fun collection of the queer pulp SFF stories you never realised you needed. And it's now on sale! 😁
This is interesting. I wonder if the solution will be to remove the LLMs, or simply to remove all poets?
Poets are now cybersecurity threats: Researchers used 'adversarial poetry' to trick AI into ignoring its safety guard rails and it worked 62% of the time
Hacking the planet with florid verse.
share.google
November 22, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This is interesting. I wonder if the solution will be to remove the LLMs, or simply to remove all poets?
Happy International Men's Day, folks. I wrote a long thread about it and deleted it... I know, a gay guy with Thoughts (TM) about IMD! Whatever will they think of next?
a green blue and purple flag is flying in the wind
Alt: A graphic of the MLM (men who love men) flag flying in the wind. It's of gradiented stripes going from dark green to white to dark blue.
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Happy International Men's Day, folks. I wrote a long thread about it and deleted it... I know, a gay guy with Thoughts (TM) about IMD! Whatever will they think of next?
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
If you haven't watched the original House of Cards - and especially if you haven't watched the original but have seen the US remake - do yourself a favour and get hold of it somehow.
November 19, 2025 at 12:05 AM
If you haven't watched the original House of Cards - and especially if you haven't watched the original but have seen the US remake - do yourself a favour and get hold of it somehow.
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
Ian Richardson's Francis Urquhart was magnificent, but it was really Susannah Harker as Mattie Storin that made this show work, IMO.
The first episode of House of Cards was broadcast on this day in 1990.
November 18, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Ian Richardson's Francis Urquhart was magnificent, but it was really Susannah Harker as Mattie Storin that made this show work, IMO.
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
It’s really fucking unfair that so many of us have to spend our one precious life fighting for the fundamental right to exist just because some evil fuckheads have decided to waste *their* one precious life trying to eliminate us
November 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
It’s really fucking unfair that so many of us have to spend our one precious life fighting for the fundamental right to exist just because some evil fuckheads have decided to waste *their* one precious life trying to eliminate us
When you thought TW couldn't be any worse, they always find a new way to surprise you...
Thames "Water" is HQ'd here in Reading #RdgUK - we are appalled at their approach to @libdems.org.uk MP @charliemaynard.bsky.social for daring to stand up to them.
It is past time that this cartoonishly-awful company was held to account and made a Public Benefit Corporation.
It is past time that this cartoonishly-awful company was held to account and made a Public Benefit Corporation.
Thames Water tried to make MP pay its legal fees of up to £1,400 an hour
Exclusive: Charlie Maynard accuses the utility of ‘retaliation’ over his push for government to gain control of company
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
When you thought TW couldn't be any worse, they always find a new way to surprise you...
To the left of me I have @rigg.lgbt singing the praises of the mac & cheese lasagne she made earlier, which sounds incredible.
To the right of me I have @scalzi.com singing the praises of the apple pie mac & cheese he made earlier.
I think the universe is trying to tell me to make mac & cheese...
To the right of me I have @scalzi.com singing the praises of the apple pie mac & cheese he made earlier.
I think the universe is trying to tell me to make mac & cheese...
I am making an unholy combination of lasagne and macaroni cheese for dinner tonight. Just so you all know. Instead of flat pasta, layers of macaroni cheese between the layers of ragu.
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
To the left of me I have @rigg.lgbt singing the praises of the mac & cheese lasagne she made earlier, which sounds incredible.
To the right of me I have @scalzi.com singing the praises of the apple pie mac & cheese he made earlier.
I think the universe is trying to tell me to make mac & cheese...
To the right of me I have @scalzi.com singing the praises of the apple pie mac & cheese he made earlier.
I think the universe is trying to tell me to make mac & cheese...
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
The deadline for voting in the #LibDem internal elections is 2pm tomorrow. If you haven't voted already, and you want our party to live its queer-supportive values the @pluslibdems.bsky.social have a handy list of endorsements
Are you a 🔶 @libdems.org.uk member? If so, you get a vote in the party's internal elections, but it's a long ballot. Our recommendations on how to vote are here - some excellent candidates standing. 👇
Candidates for 2025 Internal Elections
LGBT+ Lib Dems and allies standing in the triennial internal party elections
lgbt.libdems.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The deadline for voting in the #LibDem internal elections is 2pm tomorrow. If you haven't voted already, and you want our party to live its queer-supportive values the @pluslibdems.bsky.social have a handy list of endorsements
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
The last two weeks have been a tough one for @libdems.org.uk members, through no fault of their own.
We're grateful to the huge number of members, internal election candidates, and fellow Affiliated Organisations like @libdemwomen.bsky.social who have stood alongside us.
Statement below:
We're grateful to the huge number of members, internal election candidates, and fellow Affiliated Organisations like @libdemwomen.bsky.social who have stood alongside us.
Statement below:
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The last two weeks have been a tough one for @libdems.org.uk members, through no fault of their own.
We're grateful to the huge number of members, internal election candidates, and fellow Affiliated Organisations like @libdemwomen.bsky.social who have stood alongside us.
Statement below:
We're grateful to the huge number of members, internal election candidates, and fellow Affiliated Organisations like @libdemwomen.bsky.social who have stood alongside us.
Statement below:
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
Utterly insane that a payment processor of all things has this amount of clout. Your job is literally to process money people have willingly paid for an item or service. It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. That’s irrelevant to your function as a payment processor
greeted by absolutely ~charming~ (/s) news in my e-mail this morning.
anyone else try to launch an NSFW project on Kickstarter recently?
myth of consensual sex, ffs.
(good news is, they approved the project, sigh.)
anyone else try to launch an NSFW project on Kickstarter recently?
myth of consensual sex, ffs.
(good news is, they approved the project, sigh.)
November 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Utterly insane that a payment processor of all things has this amount of clout. Your job is literally to process money people have willingly paid for an item or service. It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. That’s irrelevant to your function as a payment processor
Every year on the 5th of November, we watch V for Vendetta.
Oof. It hits differently these days.
Oof. It hits differently these days.
a man with a mask and a hat says remember remember the 5th of november
Alt: V (Hugo Weaving) from V for Vendetta, a man with a Guy Fawkes mask and mask and black hat, says "Remembe, remember the 5th of November."
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Every year on the 5th of November, we watch V for Vendetta.
Oof. It hits differently these days.
Oof. It hits differently these days.
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
Between Mamdani in NY and D66 in NL, that's two examples of progressives winning that day with a message of hope, unity and solidarity rather than careful milk and water triangulation.
November 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Between Mamdani in NY and D66 in NL, that's two examples of progressives winning that day with a message of hope, unity and solidarity rather than careful milk and water triangulation.
So, I recently finished reading the Realm of Fae quadrilogy by @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social, and it's got me thinking: there are some good MM & FF #Fantasy and #Romantasy stories and series around now, exploring queer characters in the context of monarchy and monarchic power - BUUUT...
1/2
1/2
November 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
So, I recently finished reading the Realm of Fae quadrilogy by @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social, and it's got me thinking: there are some good MM & FF #Fantasy and #Romantasy stories and series around now, exploring queer characters in the context of monarchy and monarchic power - BUUUT...
1/2
1/2
"They're behind you!"
Badenoch says thinking of PMQs 'like a panto' helps her prepare for it - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
"They're behind you!"
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and you won't BELIEVE what else besides remains, click here to find out!
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works and I'm going need the team to review, please use track changes.
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works, I make these
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and you won't BELIEVE what else besides remains, click here to find out!
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
Excellent and sobering piece in @libdemvoice.org today by Cllr. Chris Northwood. All @libdems.org.uk members should read it. 👇
Reflecting on a week as a trans Lib Dem councillor
Last week has been hard and the subject of a lot of soul searching. I’m a Lib Dem for a lot of reasons. I believe in the values of liberalism and appreciate how the party approaches the nuance of thos...
www.libdemvoice.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Excellent and sobering piece in @libdemvoice.org today by Cllr. Chris Northwood. All @libdems.org.uk members should read it. 👇
For the first time in my life I am on a train that *overshot* one of its stops - so we emergency stopped and had to reverse back.
So much for a nice wander around Oxford before @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social and T J Klune's reading... 🫠
So much for a nice wander around Oxford before @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social and T J Klune's reading... 🫠
a little boy is sitting at a desk with his hand on his chin and a sad look on his face .
ALT: a little boy is sitting at a desk with his hand on his chin and a sad look on his face .
media.tenor.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
For the first time in my life I am on a train that *overshot* one of its stops - so we emergency stopped and had to reverse back.
So much for a nice wander around Oxford before @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social and T J Klune's reading... 🫠
So much for a nice wander around Oxford before @benaldersonauthor.bsky.social and T J Klune's reading... 🫠
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees for the British Fantasy Awards! It was a fucking honour to be among you this year.
And there were some fantastic queer voices that took home awards...we are so proud of and happy for you! 🎉🏳️🌈🎉💙🎉
And there were some fantastic queer voices that took home awards...we are so proud of and happy for you! 🎉🏳️🌈🎉💙🎉
November 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees for the British Fantasy Awards! It was a fucking honour to be among you this year.
And there were some fantastic queer voices that took home awards...we are so proud of and happy for you! 🎉🏳️🌈🎉💙🎉
And there were some fantastic queer voices that took home awards...we are so proud of and happy for you! 🎉🏳️🌈🎉💙🎉
I've had worse views during breakfast.
Highly recommend Coffee Under Pressure in the churchyard of Reading Minster, should you wish to partake yourself (of either breakfast or the view).
Not pictured: the bells.
Highly recommend Coffee Under Pressure in the churchyard of Reading Minster, should you wish to partake yourself (of either breakfast or the view).
Not pictured: the bells.
November 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I've had worse views during breakfast.
Highly recommend Coffee Under Pressure in the churchyard of Reading Minster, should you wish to partake yourself (of either breakfast or the view).
Not pictured: the bells.
Highly recommend Coffee Under Pressure in the churchyard of Reading Minster, should you wish to partake yourself (of either breakfast or the view).
Not pictured: the bells.
With the new Guillermo Del Toro version, perhaps now there are enough film versions of #Frankenstein that someone could make an ultimate version supercutting clips from all the different adaptations together.
Just a Halloween thought... 🎃
Just a Halloween thought... 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
With the new Guillermo Del Toro version, perhaps now there are enough film versions of #Frankenstein that someone could make an ultimate version supercutting clips from all the different adaptations together.
Just a Halloween thought... 🎃
Just a Halloween thought... 🎃
On Monday, I had a wonderful conversation with my best friend about writing and then immediately was presented with a dumpster fire that has dominated the whole rest of my week.
Let's see if I get any writing done this weekend.
Sometimes the world feels like a conspiracy to keep me from writing...
Let's see if I get any writing done this weekend.
Sometimes the world feels like a conspiracy to keep me from writing...
October 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
On Monday, I had a wonderful conversation with my best friend about writing and then immediately was presented with a dumpster fire that has dominated the whole rest of my week.
Let's see if I get any writing done this weekend.
Sometimes the world feels like a conspiracy to keep me from writing...
Let's see if I get any writing done this weekend.
Sometimes the world feels like a conspiracy to keep me from writing...
Reposted by John Berkeley Grout 🏳️🌈🔶
I am in search of good, out-of-copyright / creative commons, creepy sci-fi stories.
No one wants me to sing for my supper, but I can narrate for my (& my team's) dinner.
This Friday, I'm doing a spooky fundreading.
1) What kind of cosplay should I wear?
2) What should I read?
cqx-fy26.org
No one wants me to sing for my supper, but I can narrate for my (& my team's) dinner.
This Friday, I'm doing a spooky fundreading.
1) What kind of cosplay should I wear?
2) What should I read?
cqx-fy26.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I am in search of good, out-of-copyright / creative commons, creepy sci-fi stories.
No one wants me to sing for my supper, but I can narrate for my (& my team's) dinner.
This Friday, I'm doing a spooky fundreading.
1) What kind of cosplay should I wear?
2) What should I read?
cqx-fy26.org
No one wants me to sing for my supper, but I can narrate for my (& my team's) dinner.
This Friday, I'm doing a spooky fundreading.
1) What kind of cosplay should I wear?
2) What should I read?
cqx-fy26.org
I stayed in this hotel for one night in 2012 before collecting the keys to new student digs.
It's a memory that I treasure, for the simple reason that I am a writer - the surprise at waking up alive, the relief walking across Palmer Park with my new house ahead of me and this place behind me...
It's a memory that I treasure, for the simple reason that I am a writer - the surprise at waking up alive, the relief walking across Palmer Park with my new house ahead of me and this place behind me...
Hotel demolition plan for Reading's Wokingham Road rejected again
The inspector says the plan for Wokingham Road in Reading would have been
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I stayed in this hotel for one night in 2012 before collecting the keys to new student digs.
It's a memory that I treasure, for the simple reason that I am a writer - the surprise at waking up alive, the relief walking across Palmer Park with my new house ahead of me and this place behind me...
It's a memory that I treasure, for the simple reason that I am a writer - the surprise at waking up alive, the relief walking across Palmer Park with my new house ahead of me and this place behind me...
Happy to confirm I have submitted all my votes, and my first pref for FCC went to @rigg.lgbt because she's flipping awesome.
Dearest Lib Dem friends: when it comes to voting in internal elections please don't forget to put a number 1 next to your favourite Bi Chaos Gremlin for FCC 🤞🖤
My manifesto is here:
My manifesto is here:
FCC manifesto 2025
Vote Jennie Rigg for FCC You are going to see a lot of manifestos from a lot of very busy people who have never been on FCC, and have very little idea how much work is involved, promising all sorts o...
docs.google.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Happy to confirm I have submitted all my votes, and my first pref for FCC went to @rigg.lgbt because she's flipping awesome.
Why is it that every time I square up to writing, something immediately catches fire and needs dealing with?
Sometimes I think the world is a conspiracy to stop me writing...
Sometimes I think the world is a conspiracy to stop me writing...
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Why is it that every time I square up to writing, something immediately catches fire and needs dealing with?
Sometimes I think the world is a conspiracy to stop me writing...
Sometimes I think the world is a conspiracy to stop me writing...