Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
@taylorwdriggers.bsky.social
Author, QUEERING FAITH IN FANTASY LITERATURE (Bloomsbury Academic, 2022). Editor & nonfiction writer: fantasy, queerness, theology. 2024 Le Guin Fellow. Secretary of Govanhill Voices. Creative nonfiction at https://buttondown.com/taylordriggers-mcdowall
Pinned
Feasting at the Threshold: Eucharistic Eroticism and Homonationalism in Diane Duane's <i>The Tale of the Five</i>
Diane Duane’s ongoing fantasy series The Tale of the Five (1979–present) is set in a world marked by constant bodily transgressions and surprises, where a human and dragon can occupy the same body and...
dc.swosu.edu
My latest article has been published in the new issue of Mythlore! It's about an unfairly overlooked queer fantasy series - The Tale of the Five by Diane Duane - as well as the sacredness of eating & drinking & what boundaries get drawn around who's welcome to the table. dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...
B/c I'm reading THE DANCERS OF ARUN at the moment, it occurs to me that one way to narrate a history of queerness in fantasy could be one in which earlier works that use fantasy to probe at sexual stigmas & taboos on a broad societal scale give way to a modern emphasis on individual validation.
November 28, 2025 at 11:12 AM
B/c I'm reading THE DANCERS OF ARUN at the moment, it occurs to me that one way to narrate a history of queerness in fantasy could be one in which earlier works that use fantasy to probe at sexual stigmas & taboos on a broad societal scale give way to a modern emphasis on individual validation.
Owen Pallett (2024)
Dead Can Dance (2022)
Björk (2019)
Perfume Genius & Julianna Barwick (2017)
Julianna Barwick (2011)
Dead Can Dance (2022)
Björk (2019)
Perfume Genius & Julianna Barwick (2017)
Julianna Barwick (2011)
Introduce yourself w/five concerts you've seen
Big Country
Peter Gabriel
The Police
Sahara Hotnights
John Denver
Big Country
Peter Gabriel
The Police
Sahara Hotnights
John Denver
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Ringo Starr
Michael Ball
Michael Crawford
Donny Osmond
The Monkees
Ringo Starr
Michael Ball
Michael Crawford
Donny Osmond
The Monkees
November 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Owen Pallett (2024)
Dead Can Dance (2022)
Björk (2019)
Perfume Genius & Julianna Barwick (2017)
Julianna Barwick (2011)
Dead Can Dance (2022)
Björk (2019)
Perfume Genius & Julianna Barwick (2017)
Julianna Barwick (2011)
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
In this week’s @strangehorizons.bsky.social, one of my favourite pieces I’ve edited this year — on orientalism from Star Trek to Game of Thrones.
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence
Dragon fire on white bodies is sad. Dragon fire on not-Muslim bodies is cheered on the screen. We ache when the scimitar prows of not-Muslim ships cleave through a white human captain’s ship. But b…
strangehorizons.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
In this week’s @strangehorizons.bsky.social, one of my favourite pieces I’ve edited this year — on orientalism from Star Trek to Game of Thrones.
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Photon Torpedoes Break the Space Muqarnas: SFF Audiovisuals and Anti-Muslim Violence,” by Tanvir Ahmed —
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Why I Need the Birds
A Love Letters Feature by Amal El-Mohtar - November 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
November 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
took this stance real early on, have been paying close attention, and i have yet to see a single thing that manages to challenge that opinion even a little bit, rather than solidifying it into diamond-hard conviction
I'm an "A.i." abolitionist.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
took this stance real early on, have been paying close attention, and i have yet to see a single thing that manages to challenge that opinion even a little bit, rather than solidifying it into diamond-hard conviction
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
The UK prefers racism over prosperity as Brexit proved
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The UK prefers racism over prosperity as Brexit proved
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
Call and Response Fun Fact Countdown! 10!
We open with “Femme and Sundance,” queer hustlers turned bank robbers with magical complications.
Fun Fact: the diner in the opening, mean patrons, nasty bathroom, and all resembles a real one in Nebraska.
Song pairing: m.youtube.com/watch?v=q3es...
We open with “Femme and Sundance,” queer hustlers turned bank robbers with magical complications.
Fun Fact: the diner in the opening, mean patrons, nasty bathroom, and all resembles a real one in Nebraska.
Song pairing: m.youtube.com/watch?v=q3es...
Orville Peck - Dead of Night [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
YouTube video by Sub Pop
m.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Call and Response Fun Fact Countdown! 10!
We open with “Femme and Sundance,” queer hustlers turned bank robbers with magical complications.
Fun Fact: the diner in the opening, mean patrons, nasty bathroom, and all resembles a real one in Nebraska.
Song pairing: m.youtube.com/watch?v=q3es...
We open with “Femme and Sundance,” queer hustlers turned bank robbers with magical complications.
Fun Fact: the diner in the opening, mean patrons, nasty bathroom, and all resembles a real one in Nebraska.
Song pairing: m.youtube.com/watch?v=q3es...
All of the stories in this collection are, well, fantastic but my personal favourites were "The Beekeeper's Garden", "The Calcified Heart of St Ignace Battiste", & "Canst Thou Draw Out the Leviathan".
19. CALL AND RESPONSE (Christopher Caldwell, 2025)
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
November 23, 2025 at 10:26 PM
All of the stories in this collection are, well, fantastic but my personal favourites were "The Beekeeper's Garden", "The Calcified Heart of St Ignace Battiste", & "Canst Thou Draw Out the Leviathan".
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
19. CALL AND RESPONSE (Christopher Caldwell, 2025)
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
November 23, 2025 at 10:17 PM
19. CALL AND RESPONSE (Christopher Caldwell, 2025)
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
I found myself lingering over each sentence of these stories, organised as paired dyads in a nested structure. With gorgeous prose, Chris's stories probe at the complex ways Black people & queer people respond to impermanence in a hostile world.
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
FYI, folks. There is a link to the signing page at the top of the linked letter.
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
November 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
FYI, folks. There is a link to the signing page at the top of the linked letter.
Should this rant I have about an ideological elephant in the room of fantasy studies be a footnote, or should I just make it a full-blown tangent in the main body of this chapter? #amwriting
November 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Should this rant I have about an ideological elephant in the room of fantasy studies be a footnote, or should I just make it a full-blown tangent in the main body of this chapter? #amwriting
Both my husband and I have worked jobs where we've *had* to use VPNs to comply with data security regulations.
The name of the game for this Labour government seems to be gross violations of privacy that also completely obstruct the basic functioning of society. It's their only move.
The name of the game for this Labour government seems to be gross violations of privacy that also completely obstruct the basic functioning of society. It's their only move.
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Both my husband and I have worked jobs where we've *had* to use VPNs to comply with data security regulations.
The name of the game for this Labour government seems to be gross violations of privacy that also completely obstruct the basic functioning of society. It's their only move.
The name of the game for this Labour government seems to be gross violations of privacy that also completely obstruct the basic functioning of society. It's their only move.
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
My dear friend Sama'a has worked herself to the point of exhaustion to bring her family back to Gaza City, and now she needs our help to feed and clothe them as winter approaches. Please give what you can.
gofund.me/db56c7ce3
gofund.me/db56c7ce3
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
My dear friend Sama'a has worked herself to the point of exhaustion to bring her family back to Gaza City, and now she needs our help to feed and clothe them as winter approaches. Please give what you can.
gofund.me/db56c7ce3
gofund.me/db56c7ce3
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
It’s particularly important to note that legislation to limit what kids can do and see online also limits what *everyone* can do and see online, censors broad swaths of the internet, further disempowers marginalized tech users, and allows the fascist government to control what is on the internet
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It’s particularly important to note that legislation to limit what kids can do and see online also limits what *everyone* can do and see online, censors broad swaths of the internet, further disempowers marginalized tech users, and allows the fascist government to control what is on the internet
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
It’s disturbing and discomforting to examine but there are several anti-phone and anti-social media initiatives weaponizing murders and suicides of teens, leveraging grieving parents, and exaggerating or inventing causation to try and limit speech online and restrict tech freedoms
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It’s disturbing and discomforting to examine but there are several anti-phone and anti-social media initiatives weaponizing murders and suicides of teens, leveraging grieving parents, and exaggerating or inventing causation to try and limit speech online and restrict tech freedoms
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
A reminder that we're hosting the first European Conference on the Fantastic, Fantasy's Present Pasts, in Glasgow next summer (23rd-25th June 2026). The Call for Papers and Sessions can be found here: fantasy.glasgow.ac.uk/index.php/20.... Closes 12th December. Please do consider submitting!
Fantasy’s Present Pasts – Call for Papers and Sessions – Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic
fantasy.glasgow.ac.uk
November 9, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A reminder that we're hosting the first European Conference on the Fantastic, Fantasy's Present Pasts, in Glasgow next summer (23rd-25th June 2026). The Call for Papers and Sessions can be found here: fantasy.glasgow.ac.uk/index.php/20.... Closes 12th December. Please do consider submitting!
Very excited for this. Sofia Samatar is one of my favourite living writers so I will be attending!
Call for Papers and Sessions
Fantasy’s Present Pasts
University of Glasgow
Tuesday 23rd – Thursday 25th June 2026
Keynote Speakers: Stefan Ekman, Sofia Samatar and Helen Young
More details on the conference in the post linked below - deadline for proposals is Friday 12th December.
Fantasy’s Present Pasts
University of Glasgow
Tuesday 23rd – Thursday 25th June 2026
Keynote Speakers: Stefan Ekman, Sofia Samatar and Helen Young
More details on the conference in the post linked below - deadline for proposals is Friday 12th December.
Fantasy’s Present Pasts – Call for Papers and Sessions – Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic
fantasy.glasgow.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Very excited for this. Sofia Samatar is one of my favourite living writers so I will be attending!
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Amazon has launched a new AI-driven translation service, Kindle Translate, for Kindle Direct Publishing authors 👇 #BookSky
Amazon launches AI translation service for indie authors
ebx.sh
November 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
someone got indicted on the basis of “transporting antifa materials” for allegedly transporting a box of ZINES
THEY’RE PROSECUTING PEOPLE FOR DOMESTIC TERRORISM OVER ZINES
THEY’RE PROSECUTING PEOPLE FOR DOMESTIC TERRORISM OVER ZINES
Alarming criminalization of green card holder based on "Antifa Materials" - another attempt to silence dissent and target people critical of this administration
Release Des and the Prairieland Defendants!
Release Des and the Prairieland Defendants!
November 6, 2025 at 5:16 AM
someone got indicted on the basis of “transporting antifa materials” for allegedly transporting a box of ZINES
THEY’RE PROSECUTING PEOPLE FOR DOMESTIC TERRORISM OVER ZINES
THEY’RE PROSECUTING PEOPLE FOR DOMESTIC TERRORISM OVER ZINES
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
The racism was bad enough, the subsequent lies, gaslighting and bullying campaign against the people who pointed it out was beyond disgusting
BBC Sounds: "We're doing a very nuanced look at the Kate Clanchy affair."
BBC News: "Publisher apologises to Kate Clanchy" 😐
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News: "Publisher apologises to Kate Clanchy" 😐
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Publisher apologises for 'the hurt' it caused Kate Clanchy over controversy
Kate Clanchy was accused of using racist descriptions of children in her book.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The racism was bad enough, the subsequent lies, gaslighting and bullying campaign against the people who pointed it out was beyond disgusting
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
but i wouldn’t!!! 😅😅😅😅😅
(unless he became a zombie)
(unless he became a zombie)
Not pictured: the moment @clclark.bsky.social calculated that they could easily behead me with a longsword across the table.
November 5, 2025 at 10:47 PM
but i wouldn’t!!! 😅😅😅😅😅
(unless he became a zombie)
(unless he became a zombie)
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
Taking a wee break from final year panic to catch @clclark.bsky.social at Waterstones Argle ST (Taylor Driggers-McDowall and D hosting).
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Taking a wee break from final year panic to catch @clclark.bsky.social at Waterstones Argle ST (Taylor Driggers-McDowall and D hosting).
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
This conversation was an absolute joy! Here's a pic of me being very absorbed in @clclark.bsky.social's wisdom.
Here's another from a wonderful chat that has me excited to start this one.
November 5, 2025 at 10:38 PM
This conversation was an absolute joy! Here's a pic of me being very absorbed in @clclark.bsky.social's wisdom.
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
This was such a great event! Stop 2 on The Great North Tour did not disappoint!
Taking a wee break from final year panic to catch @clclark.bsky.social at Waterstones Argle ST (Taylor Driggers-McDowall and D hosting).
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
@waterstonesargyle.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This was such a great event! Stop 2 on The Great North Tour did not disappoint!
Reposted by Taylor Driggers(-McDowall)
18. FATE'S BANE (C. L. Clark, 2025)
If you're based in Glasgow, you can hear me discuss this book with the author tomorrow (Wednesday 5th November) at Waterstones Argyle Street at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
If you're based in Glasgow, you can hear me discuss this book with the author tomorrow (Wednesday 5th November) at Waterstones Argyle Street at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM
18. FATE'S BANE (C. L. Clark, 2025)
If you're based in Glasgow, you can hear me discuss this book with the author tomorrow (Wednesday 5th November) at Waterstones Argyle Street at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...
If you're based in Glasgow, you can hear me discuss this book with the author tomorrow (Wednesday 5th November) at Waterstones Argyle Street at 7 p.m. Get your tickets here: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...